Window shade, actuating system and operating method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9938764-B2
Application number	US-201514732899-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 8, 2015
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

The structures described herein use an actuating system that can selectively switch between a lower and a raise mode of operation by rotating a rod assembly in two different directions, and use a downward displacement of a pull member to lower and raise the window shade depending on its switching state. The actuating systems are simple to operate, allow convenient adjustment of the window shade, and are safe as the pull member has a limited length of extension.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuating system for a window shade, comprising:
a transmission axle rotatable to collapse and expand a window shade;
a driving unit including a pull member and a ring, the pull member being operable to cause the driving unit to provide a rotational output in a first direction and drive rotation of the ring in the first direction;
a drive transmission assembly connected with the transmission axle, wherein the drive transmission assembly includes a central gear arranged coaxial with respect to the transmission axle and rotationally coupled with the transmission axle, a plurality of planetary gears pivotally supported by a carrier and arranged around the central gear, and a switch member rotationally coupled with the carrier, the planetary gears respectively meshing with the central gear, the ring being arranged around the planetary gears and internally meshed with the planetary gears, the switch member being movable between a first and a second position to selectively enable either of a first and a second mode of transmission of the drive transmission assembly for transmitting the rotational output from the driving unit to the transmission axle, the rotational output of the driving unit in the first direction driving rotation of the transmission axle in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the first mode of transmission, and the rotational output of the driving unit in the first direction driving rotation of the transmission axle in the same first direction in the second mode of transmission; and
a rod assembly connected with the switch member via a switch actuating mechanism, the switch actuating mechanism including a movable arm that holds the switch member and is connected with the rod assembly, the rod assembly being respectively rotatable in a first switching direction to displace the arm and the switch member to the first position, and in a second switching direction opposite to the first switching direction to displace the arm and the switch member to the second position;
wherein while the drive transmission assembly is in the first mode of transmission, the switch member is in the first position disengaged from the ring and engaged with a fixed stop member so that the switch member and the carrier are kept stationary, a rotation of the driving unit in the first direction that is transmitted in the first mode of transmission causing respective rotations of the planetary gears relative to the carrier, which drives rotation of the central gear and the transmission axle in the second direction opposite to the first direction;
wherein when the drive transmission assembly is in the second mode of transmission, the switch member is in the second position engaged with the ring so that the switch member and the carrier are rotatable in unison with the ring.

2. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the rod assembly has an end provided with a gear, and the arm has a toothed portion meshed with the gear, a rotation of the rod assembly causing a sliding movement of the arm and the switch member.

3. The actuating system according to claim 2 , wherein the arm slides along a displacement axis substantially parallel to the transmission axle.

4. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the arm is arranged through a housing portion that is affixed with a detent, the detent retaining the switch member in any of the first and second position.

5. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the arm is affixed with a bracket that pivotally supports the switch member.

6. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the rod assembly includes:
a wand extending along a lengthwise axis, and
a rotary part pivotally connected with the wand, the rotary part being rotatable about the lengthwise axis of the wand.

7. The actuating system according to claim 6 , wherein the rotary part is restricted to rotate relative to the wand within an angular range defined between a first and a second angular position, the rotary part being rotated to the first angular position to displace the switch member to the first position, and the rotary part being rotated to the second angular position to displace the switch member to the second position.

8. The actuating system according to claim 7 , wherein the wand has a marking visually indicating the first and second angular position of the rotary part.

9. The actuating system according to claim 6 , wherein a portion of the pull member is arranged through a hollow interior of the wand and a hollow interior of the rotary part.

10. The actuating system according to claim 6 , wherein the pull member has an end connected with a handle that is positionable adjacent to the rotary part.

11. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the first mode of transmission is selected to lower a window shade, and the second mode of transmission is selected to raise the window shade.

12. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the switch member is assembled for sliding relative to the carrier along the axis of the transmission axle.

13. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the switch member has a plurality of first teeth protruding toward the stop member, and a plurality of second teeth protruding toward the ring at a side opposite to that of the first teeth.

14. The actuating system according to claim 1 , further including a casing having a cavity, and a spring arranged in the cavity and having two spaced-apart prongs, the transmission axle having a first and a second flange surface, the first flange surface being able to push against a first one of the two prongs for enlarging the spring while the ring remains stationary, the enlarged spring being in frictional engagement with an inner sidewall of the cavity to prevent rotation of the transmission axle.

15. The actuating system according to claim 14 , wherein the transmission axle is connected with an actuating part, the actuating part pushing against either of the two prongs for contracting the spring when the transmission axle rotates in the first or second direction, the contracted spring thereby loosening the frictional engagement with the inner sidewall.

16. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the driving unit further includes a spool, the spool being spring biased to rotate in the second direction to wind the pull member while the transmission axle remains stationary.

17. A window shade comprising:
a head rail, a bottom part, and a shading structure arranged vertically between the head rail and the bottom part;
a winding unit having a suspension member connected with the bottom part; and
the actuating system according to claim 1 , being arranged in the head rail, the winding unit being rotationally coupled with the transmission axle, wherein the transmission axle rotates in the second direction to cause unwinding of the suspension member from the winding unit for lowering the bottom part, and in the first direction to wind the suspension member into the winding unit for raising the bottom part.

18. The actuating system according to claim 1 , wherein the arm pivotally supports the switch member.

19. An actuating system for a window shade, comprising:
a transmission axle rotatable to collapse and expand a window shade;
a driving unit including a pull member, the pull member being operable to cause the driving unit to provide a rotational output in a first direction;
a drive transmission assembly connected with the transmission axle and including a switch membe

Assignees

• Teh Yor Co Ltd
• Tehyor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Huang Chin-Tien
• Yu Fu-Lai

Classifications

• E06B9/322 Primary

  Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives ({operating devices E06B9/68} ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34) · CPC title

• E06B9/323

  Structure or support of upper box · CPC title

• E06B2009/2627

  Cellular screens, e.g. box or honeycomb-like · CPC title

• E06B9/262

  with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds {, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens} · CPC title

• F16H3/54

  one of the central gears being internally toothed and the other externally toothed · CPC title