The present disclosure relates generally to the field of architectural-structure coverings, and relates more particularly to an improved tilt-control assembly for use in an architectural-structure covering.
Architectural-structure coverings may selectively cover an architectural structure such as, for example, a window, a doorway, a skylight, a hallway, a portion of a wall, etc. Architectural-structure coverings may come in a variety of configurations. One common type of architectural-structure covering is a horizontally-extending architectural-structure covering.
A horizontally-extending architectural-structure covering may include a head rail assembly and a covering. In use, the covering or components thereof are suspended from the head rail assembly. The head rail assembly is operatively associated with a control system. The architectural-structure covering may also include an operating mechanism including an operating element such as, for example, a tilt wand and pull cord system to move the covering between an extended position and a retracted position. As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, in the extended position, the covering may extend widthwise across the architectural structure (e.g., window), while in the retracted position, the covering may be retracted to reveal the architectural structure. That is, in use, the operating mechanism is used to extend and to retract (e.g., move) the covering in a horizontal direction along a length of the head rail assembly. Thus, the operating mechanism may be used to control the amount of extension or retraction of the covering across the architectural structure.
In addition, the operating element may also operatively control the angle of the covering or components thereof to move the covering or components thereof between an open configuration and a closed configuration. As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, in the open configuration, the covering or components thereof are rotated, pivoted, tilted, etc. (used interchangeably herein without the intent to limit) so that view through the covering is possible, while in the closed configuration, the covering or components thereof are rotated relative to each other to prevent, or at least substantially inhibit, view through. Thus, in use, the operating mechanism may also be arranged and configured to pivot the covering or components thereof. That is, with the covering in the extended position, the operating mechanism of the horizontally-extending architectural-structure covering may be used to pivot the covering or components thereof to substantially block view through. By controlling the rotation of the covering or components thereof in the extended position and by moving the covering between the extended and retracted positions, the user can control view through the covering and hence, as applied to coverings or windows, the user is able to vary the amount of natural light permitted to enter, for example, the room via the window by adjusting the angular position of the covering or components thereof.
For a variety of reasons, it would be beneficial to control the amount or extent of rotational movement of the covering or components thereof. It is with respect to these and other considerations that the present improvements may be useful.
This Summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form, a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Disclosed herein is an improved tilt-control assembly for use in an architectural-structure covering such as, for example, a horizontally-extending architectural-structure covering, to control the amount of rotation of the covering or components thereof. In use, the tilt-control assembly may be used in connection with an operating mechanism of the architectural-structure covering to control the amount of rotation of the covering or components thereof. In one embodiment, the tilt-control assembly includes a limiter having an external helix or screw thread formed thereon and a ball. In use, the ball is operatively associated with the limiter so that, during use, rotation of the operating mechanism for rotating the covering or components thereof by a user causes the ball to move with respect to the limiter. In use, when the ball contacts the end of the helix or screw thread formed on the limiter, additional rotation of the limiter relative to the ball, and thus additional rotation of the operating mechanism, is thereby prevented.
In one embodiment, the external helix or screw thread formed on the limiter includes variable pitch threads. For example, in one embodiment, the screw thread in the middle portion of the limiter may be different from the screw thread adjacent to the end portions of the limiter. By incorporating variable pitch threads, a shorter limiter than otherwise possible can be utilized, thus saving valuable space within the operating mechanism.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the limiter and/or screw thread formed on the limiter may include a variable diameter. For example, in one embodiment, the diameter in the middle portion of the screw thread may be different from the diameter adjacent to the end portions.
Various features, aspects, or the like of a tilt-control assembly for use with an operating mechanism of an architectural-structure covering will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more aspects of the tilt-control assembly will be shown and described. It should be appreciated that the various features, aspects, or the like may be used independently of, or in combination, with each other. It will be appreciated that a tilt-control assembly as disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will convey certain aspects of the tilt-control assembly to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout unless otherwise noted.
It should be understood that, as described herein, an “embodiment” (such as illustrated in the accompanying Figures) may refer to an illustrative representation of an environment or article or component in which a disclosed concept or feature may be provided or embodied, or to the representation of a manner in which just the concept or feature may be provided or embodied. However, such illustrated embodiments are to be understood as examples (unless otherwise stated), and other manners of embodying the described concepts or features, such as may be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon learning the concepts or features from the present disclosure, are within the scope of the disclosure. In addition, it will be appreciated that while the Figures may show one or more embodiments of concepts or features together in a single embodiment of an environment, article, or component incorporating such concepts or features, such concepts or features are to be understood (unless otherwise specified) as independent of and separate from one another and are shown together for the sake of convenience and without intent to limit to being present or used together. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used separately, or with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present subject matter covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As will be described in greater detail below, the tilt-control assembly of the present disclosure may be used in connection with an operating mechanism of an architectural-structure covering such as, for example, a horizontally-extending architectural-structure covering. Generally speaking, horizontally-extending architectural-structure coverings may be movable between an extended position and a retracted position. In this manner, the covering of the architectural-structure covering may be moved between the extended position, where the covering extends widthwise across a head rail assembly so that the architectural structure (e.g., window) is covered, and the retracted position, where the covering is positioned or stacked adjacent to one or both ends of the head rail assembly so that the architectural structure is substantially exposed. In addition, the covering or components thereof may be tiltable, rotatable, pivotable, etc. (used interchangeably herein without the intent to limit) so that the angle of the covering or the components thereof may be controlled so that the covering or components thereof may be moved between an open configuration, in which the covering or components thereof are orientated so that view through the covering is possible, and a closed configuration, in which the covering or components thereof are orientated to prevent, or at least substantially inhibit, view through (e.g., covering or components thereof are rotatable to block, or at least substantially block, view through).
In one embodiment, the operating mechanism for rotating the angle of the covering or components thereof may include or be operatively associated with or coupled to a tilt-control assembly for controlling the amount of rotation that the covering or components thereof can undergo. That is, in one embodiment, a tilt-control assembly for use with an operating mechanism of an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The tilt-control assembly comprising a limiter having an external screw thread, the screw thread including a first end, a second end, and a middle portion positioned between the first and second ends; and a ball operatively associated with the external screw thread so that rotation of the limiter moves the ball relative to the limiter; wherein the screw thread includes variable pitch threads.
In another embodiment, a horizontally-extending architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The architectural-structure covering comprising: a head rail assembly including a control system; a covering operatively coupled to the control system, the covering being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and the covering being pivotable between an open configuration and a closed configuration; an operating mechanism for actuating the control system to move the covering between extended and retracted positions, and for pivoting the covering between the open and closed configurations; and a tilt-control assembly for controlling an amount of pivoting of the covering. The tilt-control assembly including: a limiter having a first end, a second end, and an external screw thread positioned between the first and second ends; and a ball operatively associated with the external screw thread so that rotation of the limiter moves the ball relative to the limiter; wherein the screw thread includes variable pitch threads.
During use, operation (e.g., movement, rotation, etc.) of the operating mechanism for rotating the covering or components thereof by a user causes the ball to move with respect to the limiter. In use, when the ball contacts the end of the screw thread formed on the limiter, additional rotation of the limiter relative to the ball, and thus additional operation (e.g., movement, rotation, etc.) of the operating mechanism, is thereby prevented. As such, in use, with the covering or components thereof in the open configuration, the ball may be located in a first position, approximately positioned in a middle of the external threaded screw thread. Thereafter, operation of the operating mechanism by a user causes the limiter to rotate, which causes the ball to move relative to the externally threaded screw thread to a second position. In the second position, the ball reaches or contacts an optional stop such as, for example, one of the first and second end portions of the screw thread formed on the limiter. Once the ball reaches the end of the screw thread formed on the limiter, further rotation of the limiter is prevented. In this manner, movement of the ball relative to the limiter prevents over-rotation of the operating element and operating mechanism, thus minimizing the potential for damage.
In one embodiment, as previously mentioned, in accordance with a separate and independent aspect of the present disclosure, the external screw thread formed on the limiter includes variable pitch threads. For example, in one embodiment, the limiter includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion positioned between the first and second ends. The screw thread in the middle portion of the limiter including a different thread pitch than the screw thread adjacent to the ends of the limiter. As such, in one embodiment, the limiter includes a middle thread pitch in the middle portion of the screw thread and an end thread pitch adjacent to the ends of the screw thread, the middle thread pitch being smaller than the end thread pitch. In addition, the first and second ends of the limiter may include the same or different thread pitches relative to each other. For example, the first end of the screw thread may include a first end thread pitch, the second end of the screw thread may include a second end thread pitch, the middle thread pitch being smaller than the first end thread pitch and the second end thread pitch.
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the limiter and/or screw threads formed on the limiter may include a variable diameter. For example, in one embodiment, the diameter of the limiter and/or screw thread in the middle portion of the screw thread may be different than the diameter adjacent to the ends of the screw threads. As such, in one embodiment, the screw thread may include a middle diameter in the middle portion and an end diameter adjacent to the ends, the middle diameter being smaller than the end diameters. In addition, the first and second ends of the limiter may include different diameters relative to each other. For example, the first end of the screw thread may include a first end diameter, the second end of the screw thread may include a second end diameter, the middle diameter being smaller than the first end diameter and the second end diameter.
In addition, and/or alternatively, in one embodiment, the ball may reside in (e.g., positioned within) a groove formed in a surface of the operating mechanism, the groove being substantially aligned with and spaced from the external screw threads formed on the limiter. In use, the surface of the operating mechanism maintains a constant distance from the external screw thread of the limiter. Thus, in the embodiment where the limiter and/or screw threads have a variable diameter, the surface of the groove may include a corresponding contoured surface that substantially corresponds (e.g., matches) to the outer contoured surface of the limiter (e.g., the surface of the groove may include a contoured, curved, or the like surface that substantially corresponds to the outer contoured surface of the external helix or screw thread formed on the limiter).
Additionally, and/or alternatively, the first and second ends of the screw threads may include substantially spherically shaped end portions for receiving the ball therein.
Referring to
As shown, the architectural-structure covering assembly 10 may include a head rail assembly 20 and a covering 30. In use, the covering 30 or components thereof may be suspended from the head rail assembly 20. In one embodiment, the covering 30 may be manufactured from a continuous sheet of material. Alternatively, the covering 30 may be manufactured from individual strips of material that may be coupled together. In yet another embodiment, the covering 30 may be made of a plurality of individual vanes. The covering 10 may be manufactured from any suitable material now known or hereafter developed including, for example, fabrics, plastics, metal, etc.
The head rail assembly 20 may include, for example, brackets (not shown) for mounting the architectural-structure covering 10 to a wall or other structure. As will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the covering 30 of the architectural-structure covering 10 may be suspended from the head rail assembly 20 and may be movable along a length of the head rail assembly 20 between an extended position (shown in
As shown, the head rail assembly 20 includes a control system 40 for moving the covering between the extended and retracted positions, and for rotating the covering 30 or components thereof. In use, the covering 30 or components thereof may be coupled to the control system 40 via a coupling mechanism, which for example, may be a tilt rod or pivot shaft coupled to a plurality of carriers, clips, hanger pins, etc. For example, as illustrated, the covering 30 or components thereof may be coupled to the control system 40 (e.g., tilt rod, pivot shaft, etc.) via vertically extending, carriers 42 (
The architectural-structure covering 10 may also include an operating mechanism, which is operatively coupled to one or more operating elements 60 (
As will be described herein, the features according to the present disclosure may be used with any suitable architectural-structure covering now known or hereafter developed. As such, the features of the present disclosure that will be described herein should not be limited to the details of the architectural-structure covering unless specifically claimed. Moreover, additional details regarding construction and operation of the architectural-structure covering are omitted for sake of brevity of the present disclosure. Additional information on the structure and operation of an architectural-structure covering and the components thereof, can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,369 entitled Fabric Window Covering with Vertically Rigidified Vanes; U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,883 entitled Drapery and Vertical Blind System; United States Published Patent Application No. 2017/0241198 entitled Dual Cord Operating System for an Architectural Covering; and United States Published Patent Application No. 2018/0298684 entitled Vertically-Suspended Architectural Structure covering, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
For the sake of convenience and clarity, terms such as “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” “up,” “down,” “vertical,” “horizontal”, “inner,” and “outer” may be used herein to describe the relative placement and orientation of various components and portions of the architectural-structure covering 10, and are non-limiting. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.
Referring now to
As previously mentioned, the operating mechanism may include a first operating mechanism operatively associated with a first drive mechanism for moving the covering between the extended and retracted positions. In addition, the operating mechanism may include a second operating mechanism operatively associated with a second drive mechanism for moving (e.g., rotating) the covering 30 or components thereof between open and closed configurations. As will be described herein, the tilt-control assembly is used to control an amount of rotation of the covering 30 or components thereof. As such, for sake of brevity, the operating mechanism for moving (e.g., rotating) the covering 30 or components thereof between open and closed configuration will be described and illustrated herein. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the architectural-structure covering may also include an operating mechanism for moving the covering between the extended and retracted positions.
Referring to
As illustrated, in one embodiment, and as will be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the operating mechanism 100 includes a first or horizontal tilt rod 110, and a second or vertical tilt rod 120. In use, the second or vertical tilt rod 120 is operatively associated or coupled, directly or indirectly, with an operating element 60 (
In use, the second end 124 of the vertical tilt rod 120 may be operatively associated or coupled to an operating element such as, for example, operating element 60, which may be in the form of, for example, a wand, a rod, a cord, etc. In use, the operating element provides a convenient touch point for the user to operate (e.g., rotate) the vertical tilt rod 120. For example, in one embodiment, an operating wand may be rotated by a user about its longitudinal axis to rotate the vertical tilt rod 120, which rotates the horizontal tilt rod 110, which controls and/or moves the control system 40 to move (e.g., rotate) the covering 30 or components thereof between open and closed configurations.
Referring to
In use, the tilt-control assembly 150 is operatively associated with the horizontal tilt rod 110. The limiter 160 may be operatively associated with the horizontal tilt rod 110 by any suitable mechanism now known or hereafter developed. For example, in one embodiment, as shown in
Referring to
In use, as previously described, rotation of the horizontal tilt rod 110 causes the ball 170 to move along the length of the externally threaded screw thread 165 formed on the limiter 160 until the ball 170 contacts an optional stop and/or an end of the screw thread 165, at which point further rotation of the limiter 160 and the horizontal tilt rod 110 is prevented. For example, as illustrated in
For example, as illustrated in
Referring again to
Referring to
In addition, as shown, the groove 115 formed in the top surface 103 of the housing 102 may include a contoured, curved, or the like surface that substantially corresponds to (e.g., matches) the contoured, curved, or the like profile of the limiter 160 and/or the externally threaded screw thread 165 formed on the limiter 160. By providing corresponding contoured surfaces, the ball 170 remains in contact with the externally threaded screw thread 165 formed on the limiter 160 so that rotation of the limiter 160 moves the ball 170 relative thereto. Alternatively, the groove 115 and the limiter 160 and/or the externally threaded screw thread 165 formed on the limiter 160 may have different profiles including, for example, parallel surfaces.
Referring to
Referring to
The limiter may be manufactured from any suitable material now known or hereafter developed. In use, the material selected will depend on the mechanism in which the limiter is used and the forces that will be applied. For example, in one embodiment, the limiter may be manufactured from a zinc alloy while the housing may be manufactured from a plastic such as, for example, a polycarbonate, a glass filled polycarbonate, a nylon, etc.
The foregoing description has broad application. Accordingly, the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be explanatory and is not intended to suggest that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to these example embodiments. In other words, while illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art.
The term “a” or “an” entity, as used herein, refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof are open-ended expressions and can be used interchangeably herein. The phrases “at least one”, “one or more”, and “and/or”, as used herein, are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, “one or more of A, B, and C”, “one or more of A, B, or C” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.
All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, front, back, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, radial, axial, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of this disclosure. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other. Identification references (e.g., primary, secondary, first, second, third, fourth, etc.) are not intended to connote importance or priority but are used to distinguish one feature from another. The drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto may vary.
This is a non-provisional of, and claims the benefit of the filing date of, pending U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/804,496, filed Feb. 12, 2019, entitled “Tilt-Control Assembly for Use with an Operating Mechanism in an Architectural-Structure Covering,” which application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62804496 | Feb 2019 | US |