Motorized gearbox assembly with through-channel design

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540871-B2
Application number	US-201514682077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 8, 2015
Priority date	Apr 8, 2014
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a motor and a gearbox coupled to the motor and configured to apply torque to a tilt rod of a window blind. The gearbox is configured to enable the tilt rod to pass completely through the gearbox. In certain embodiments, the gearbox includes a shaft configured to apply torque to the tilt rod. This shaft may extend from a first end of the gearbox to a second end of the gearbox and may include a through-channel to enable the tilt rod to pass completely therethrough. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a motor; and
a gearbox comprising an internal enclosure and an external enclosure, wherein the internal enclosure encloses gears, and wherein the external enclosure encloses the internal enclosure and creates a cavity between the internal enclosure and the external enclosure;
an output shaft comprising a through-channel, the output shaft extending through the internal enclosure and the external enclosure, wherein the gears apply torque to the output shaft;
a window covering tilt rod that passes through the through-channel of the output shaft;
a selectable tilt rod adapter insert fixedly disposed within the through-channel of the output shaft,
the adapter having an internal shape complementary to the tilt rod and an external shape complementary to the through-channel of the output shaft, wherein the output shaft applies torque to the tilt rod via the tilt rod adapter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft is geared to enable torque to be applied to the shaft.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output shaft is offset relative to a centerline of the gearbox.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the through-channel is keyed to interlock with the tilt rod.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a retention feature to retain the adapter insert within the through-channel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the adapter insert snaps into the through-channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the motor resides within the gearbox.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a method of using the apparatus, the method comprising:
removing the tilt rod from a blinds tilting mechanism;
introducing a gearbox assembly into the blinds titling mechanism, the gearbox assembly comprising the motor and the gearbox coupled to the motor and configured to apply torque to the tilt rod; and
reinstalling the tilt rod such that the tilt rod passes completely through the gearbox.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising attaching the gearbox assembly to a headrail containing the blinds tilting mechanism.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein attaching the gearbox assembly to the headrail comprises inserting a headrail bracket into a top of the headrail and securing the headrail bracket to the headrail and the gearbox assembly.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein introducing the gearbox assembly comprises introducing the gearbox assembly with the adapter insert configured to interlock with the tilt rod.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein introducing the gearbox assembly with the adapter insert comprises snapping the adapter insert into the gearbox assembly.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein reinstalling the tilt rod comprises inserting the tilt rod through the shaft of the gearbox.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the shaft extends from a first end of the gearbox to a second end of the gearbox.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein shaft is offset relative to a centerline of the gearbox.

16. The method of claim 8 , wherein the motor resides within the gearbox.

Assignees

• Hall David R

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Carlson Austin Benjamin
• Miles Jerome Lee
• Brimhall Emily

Classifications

• F16H57/02

  Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein · CPC title

• E06B9/68

  Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive · CPC title

• G08C17/02

  using a radio link · CPC title

• H01H17/08

  Operating part, e.g. cord · CPC title

• F16H57/023

  Mounting or installation of gears or shafts in the gearboxes, e.g. methods or means for assembly · CPC title