Patent Application
20200032581
This patent application generally relates to techniques for variably covering an area. More particularly, this application is related to techniques for covering a desired portion of the area. Even more particularly, this patent application is related to techniques for covering a desired portion of the area while leaving other portions uncovered.
Shades have been used to cover an area, such as a window. But shades have not been able to cover desired portions while leaving other portions uncovered. Improvement has been needed, and such an improvement is provided by the current patent application.
One aspect of the present patent application is a device for variably covering an area. The device includes a first shade and a first driver. The first shade includes a first roller, a first draw bar, and a first curtain. The first roller is configured for mounting in a first fixed position. The first curtain has one end connected to the first roller and another end connected to the first draw bar. The first curtain is windable on the first roller to uncover the area and unwindable from the roller to cover the area. The first draw bar includes two ends, and the first driver is connected to the two ends for evenly pulling the first draw bar away from the first roller and unwinding the first curtain.
Another aspect of the present patent application is a device for variably covering an area. The device includes a first shade and a second shade. The first shade includes a first roller, a first draw bar, and a first curtain. The first roller is configured for mounting in a first fixed position. The first curtain has one end connected to the first roller and another end connected to the first draw bar. The second shade includes a second roller, a second draw bar, and a second curtain. The second roller is configured for mounting in a second fixed position substantially orthogonal to the first roller. The second curtain has one end connected to the second roller and another end connected to the second draw bar. When the first and the second curtains are extended to cover the area, the first curtain extends in a plane in front of the second curtain.
Another aspect of the present patent application is a method of using a device for variably covering an area. The method includes: providing a first shade and a second shade. The first shade includes a first roller, a first draw bar, and a first curtain. The first curtain has one end connected to the first roller and another end connected to the first draw bar. The second shade includes a second roller, a second draw bar, and a second curtain. The second curtain has one end connected to the second roller and another end connected to the second draw bar. The method further includes mounting the first roller in a first fixed position and mounting the second roller in a second fixed position substantially orthogonal to the first roller. When the first and the second curtains are extended, the first curtain extends in a plane in front of the second curtain.
The foregoing and other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present inventors created apparatus and method for variably covering portions of an opening, such as a window.
In one embodiment, a device for variably covering area 28 includes shade 30a and driver 32a, as shown in
Draw bar 36a has two ends, draw bar end 40a′ and draw bar end 40a″ and driver 32a is connected to both of them. Driver 32a is connected to draw bar end 40a′ by way of transmission 42a′. Driver 32a is connected to draw bar end 40a″ by way of transmission 42a″. By simultaneously pulling both of draw bar ends 40a′, 40a″ driver 32a evenly pulls draw bar 36a away from roller 34a, evenly unwinding curtain 38a from roller 34a.
In one embodiment, transmission 42a′ includes lead screw 44a which is supported at one end by axle 45a of motor 46a and at the other end by bearing 48a, which is supported in pillow block 50a. Lead screw 44a extends through lead screw nut 52a. Lead screw nut 52a is connected to and extends through draw bar end 40a′, as shown in
Transmission 42a″ includes cord 54a, which is connected to draw bar end 40a′ and which extends around pulleys 60, 62, and 64 to draw bar end 40a″, as shown in
As draw bar end 40a′ moves away from roller 34a, cord 54a of transmission 42a″ is pulled. Via pulleys 60, 62, and 64, cord 54a pulls on draw bar end 40a″ so both ends of draw bar 36a are pulled simultaneously, both by operation of motor 46a and transmissions 42a′, 42a″.
In another embodiment, two sets of simultaneously turned lead screws 44a(1), 44a(2) and lead screw nuts 52a(1), 52a(2) are used, one set on each side of shade 30a, to pull equally on both draw bar ends 40a (1), 40a(2), as shown in
In one alternative of this two-lead screw embodiment a central electronic control operates pair of motors, each motor 46a(1), 46a(2) rotating one of the two lead screws 44a(1), 44a(2), as shown in
In a prototype used to verify functionality, motors 46a-46d were Nema 17 stepper motors, model 17HD48002H-22B from Zyltech Engineering, Houston, Texas. The motors were controlled by stepper motor drivers DRV8825 from Pololu Robotics & Electronics, Las Vegas, Nev.. The computer used to control the motor drivers was a Model b plus from Raspberry Pi, Cambridge, England.
In one alternative of this two-lead screw embodiment (not shown) a single motor is used, this single motor linked with a gear, belt, chain, cord, or pulley transmission to rotate the two lead screws simultaneously.
In another embodiment driver 32a includes hand crank 67a, as shown in
In another embodiment driver 32a and transmission 42a′ are combined in hand pull cord 68a, as shown in
Transmission of the force to draw bar end 40a″ is, as before, along cord 42a″ from draw bar end 40a′ and around pulleys 60, 62, and 64.
In this embodiment, non-rotating support bars 76a′, 76a″ extend through holes or bushings 78a′, 78a″ in draw bar 36a to stabilize draw bar 36a as it slides along support bars 76a′, 76a″. Support bars 76a′, 76a″ are themselves supported by brackets 74.
In these embodiments, roller 34a is spring loaded, so curtain 38a is automatically wound on roller 34a when motor 46a, hand crank 67a, or hand pull cord 68a reverses direction relaxing tension on draw bar 36a and curtain 38a.
Curtain 38a in any of these embodiments may be configured for attenuating light, such as by a light-attenuating fabric. It may also be configured of a material that entirely blocks transmission of light, such as black material.
Second shade 30b and second driver 32b may be included in any of these embodiments, as shown in
Second shade 30b and second driver 32b work similarly to shade 30a and driver 32a, with similar parts. Second draw bar 36b has 2 ends, draw bar end 40b′ and draw bar end 40b″. Second driver 32b is connected to both of these ends. Second driver 32b is connected to draw bar end 40b″ by way of transmission 42b″. By simultaneously pulling both of draw bar ends 40b′, 40b″ driver 32b evenly pulls draw bar 36b away from roller 34b, evenly unwinding curtain 38b from roller 34b.
In one embodiment, transmission 42b′ includes lead screw 44b which is supported at one end by axle 45b of motor 46b and at the other end by bearing 48b, which is supported in pillow block 50b. Lead screw 44b extends through lead screw nut 52b. Lead screw nut 52b is connected to and extends through draw bar end 40b′, as shown in
Transmission 42b″ includes cord 54b, which is connected to draw bar end 40b′ and which extends around pulleys 64, 62, and 60 to draw bar end 40b″, as shown in
As draw bar end 40b′ moves away from roller 34b, cord 54b of transmission 42b″ is pulled. Via pulleys 64, 62, and 60, cord 54b pulls on draw bar end 40b″ so both ends of draw bar 36b are pulled simultaneously, both by operation of motor 46b and transmissions 42b′, 42b″.
Lead screw 44a extends through hole or bushing 86a in draw bar end 40b″, as shown in
In one embodiment, rollers 34a and 34b are mounted in parallel at opposite ends of area 28, curtain 38a winds in a direction opposite curtain 38b, and draw bars 36a and 36b extend toward each other, as shown in
In one alternative, curtain 38a extends in the same plane as curtain 38b. In this embodiment, draw bars 36a and 36b may meet, as also shown in
In another embodiment, the two rollers are mounted orthogonal to each other, as shown for rollers 34a and 34c in
Any of these embodiments may include third shade 30c and third driver 32c, as shown in
In this embodiment, third draw bar 36c has two ends, draw bar end 40c′ and draw bar end 40c″. Third driver 32c is connected to both of these ends. Third driver 32c is connected to draw bar end 40c″ by way of transmission 42c″. By simultaneously pulling both of draw bar ends 40c′, 40c″ driver 32c evenly pulls draw bar 36c away from roller 34c, evenly unwinding curtain 38c from roller 34c.
In one embodiment, transmission 42c′ includes lead screw 44c which is supported at one end by axle 45c of motor 46c and at the other end by bearing 48c, which is supported in pillow block 50c. Lead screw 44c extends through lead screw nut 52c. Lead screw nut 52c is connected to and extends through draw bar end 40c′, as shown in
Transmission 42c″ includes cord 54c, which is connected to draw bar end 40c′ and which extends around pulleys 64, 62, and 60 to draw bar end 40c″, as shown in
As draw bar end 40c′ moves away from roller 34c, cord 54c of transmission 42c″ is pulled. Via pulleys 64, 62, and 60, cord 54c pulls on draw bar end 40c″ so both ends of draw bar 36c are pulled simultaneously, both by operation of motor 46c and transmissions 42c′, 42c″.
In one embodiment, rollers 34a and 34b are mounted in parallel at opposite ends of area 28, and roller 34c is mounted orthogonal to rollers 34a, 34b so curtain 38c extends in a plane different from the plane or planes of curtains 34a, 34b.
This embodiment may also include fourth shade 30d and fourth driver 32d, as shown in
In this embodiment, fourth draw bar 36d has two ends, draw bar end 40d′ and draw bar end 40d″. Fourth driver 32d is connected to both of these ends. Fourth driver 32d is connected to draw bar end 40d″ by way of transmission 42d″. By simultaneously pulling both of draw bar ends 40d′, 40d″ driver 32d evenly pulls draw bar 36d away from roller 34d, evenly unwinding curtain 38d from roller 34d.
In one embodiment, transmission 42d′ includes lead screw 44d which is supported at one end by axle 45d of motor 46d and at the other end by bearing 48d, which is supported in pillow block 50d. Lead screw 44d extends through lead screw nut 52d. Lead screw nut 52d is connected to and extends through draw bar end 40d′, as shown in
Transmission 42d″ includes cord 54d, which is connected to draw bar end 40d′ and which extends around pulleys 60, 62, and 64 to draw bar end 40d″, as shown in
As draw bar end 40d′ moves away from roller 34d, cord 54d of transmission 42d″ is pulled. Via pulleys 60, 62, and 64, cord 54d pulls on draw bar end 40d″ so both ends of draw bar 36d are pulled simultaneously, both by operation of motor 46d and transmissions 42d′, 42d″.
In one embodiment, rollers 34a and 34b are mounted in parallel at opposite ends of area 28, and rollers 34c and 34d are mounted orthogonal to rollers 34a, 34b.
In one alternative, curtain 38c extends in the same plane as curtain 38d and this plane is different from the plane or planes of curtains 38a, 38b. In this embodiment, draw bars 36c and 36d may meet. Draw bar 36c has edge 88c that fits within groove 88d in draw bar 36d. In one alternative, curtain 38a extends in the same plane as curtain 38b and curtain 38c extends in the same plane as curtain 38d and this plane is different from the plane or planes of curtains 38a, 38b.
In another alternative, curtain 38c extends in a plane different from curtain 38d. Curtains 38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d may all extend in different planes, one in front of the other so each one can operate independent of the position of the others.
In the embodiment with two sets of simultaneously turned lead screws 44a(1), 44a(2), second pair of lead screws 44b(1), 44b(2), lead screw nuts 52b(1), 52b(2), and motors 46b(1), 46b(2) is used to operate second shade 30b, as shown in
In the embodiment in which driver 32a includes hand crank 67a, additional hand cranks 67b, 67c, 67d operate additional lead screws 44b, 44c, and/or 44d of transmission 42a′ 42b′, 42c′ and cord 54b, 54c, 54d of transmission 42b″, 42c″, 42d″, as shown in
In one embodiment, motors 46a-46d are operated with controller 100 that is mounted to frame 35, as shown in
In another embodiment, motors 46a-46d are operated with hand-held mobile device 120 that has touch screen 122, as shown in
A flow chart showing steps of a process running on CPU 102 used to operate motors 46a-46d when controller 100 is used is shown in
If no rocker switch 110a-110d is pressed, as shown in step 201, CPU 102 checks whether “all open” button 112a is pressed, as shown in box 206. If yes, then CPU 102 directs all motor drivers 104a-104d to turn their corresponding motors 46a-46d counterclockwise, as shown in box 207 to fully allow springs in rollers 34a-34d to pull on all curtains 38a-38d, wind all rollers 34a-34d, move all draw bars 36a-36d toward corresponding rollers 34a-34d, and open all shades 30a-30d.
If “all open” button 112a is not pressed, then CPU 102 checks whether “all closed” button 112b is pressed, as shown in box 208. If yes, then CPU 102 directs all motor drivers 104a-104d to turn their corresponding motors 46a-46d clockwise, as shown in box 209 to fully move draw bars 36a-36d away from corresponding rollers 34a-34d, unwinding rollers 34a-34d, and closing all shades 30a-30d. In the embodiment where opposing shades are in the same plane, “all closed” has draw bar 36a meeting draw bar 36b and draw bar 36c meeting draw bar 36d. In the embodiment where opposing shades are al in different planes, “all closed” has draw bar 36a, 36b, 36c, 36d, all fully extended across opening 28.
If “all closed” button 112b is not pressed, then CPU 102 checks whether any of “preset” buttons 114a-114d is pressed, as shown in box 210. If yes, then CPU 102 checks whether any of “preset” buttons 114a-114d is tapped briefly, as shown in box 211. If yes, then CPU 102 checks whether the current operating position of shade 30a-30d, as determined from motor position, is different from what its corresponding “preset” button 114a-114d directs, as shown in box 212. If so, then CPU 102 directs corresponding motor driver 104a-104d to move its corresponding motor 46a-46d until it matches the preset condition, as shown in box 213. If any of “preset” buttons 114a-114d is pressed for an extended time then CPU 102 stores in memory the current position of each motor, as shown in box 214.
If any of “preset” buttons 114a-114d is not pressed, as shown in box 210, then CPU 102 checks whether a remote device is requesting position information, as shown in box 215. If yes, then CPU 102 sends the current positions of shades 30a-30d to the remote device, such as via the internet, as shown in box 216. The program then directs CPU 102 to check for the next incoming signal, as shown in box 200.
If no remote device is requesting position information, as shown in box 215, then CPU 102 checks whether a remote device is sending position information, as shown in box 217. If not, then CPU 102 determines that the incoming signal was an unknown signal, as shown in box 218. The program then directs CPU 102 to check for the next incoming signal, as shown in box 200.
If a remote device is sending position information, as shown in box 217, then CPU 102 directs corresponding motor driver 104a-104d to move its corresponding motor 46a-46d until it matches the input from the sending remote device, as shown in box 219, and all motor positions are stored, as shown in box 220. The program then directs CPU 102 to check for the next incoming signal, as shown in box 200.
A flow chart showing steps of a process running on CPU 102 used to operate motors 46a-46d when a computing device, such as hand-held mobile device 120, is used to issue instruction for operation of motors 46a-46d, is shown in
A microprocessor (not shown) running on hand-held mobile device 120 checks whether a finger has been lifted from screen 122 of hand-held mobile device 120, as shown in box 300. If no finger has been lifted, this step is repeated. If yes, the microprocessor checks whether there was a freehand input to screen 122, as shown in step 301. If yes, a program running on the microprocessor of hand-held mobile device 120 determines top, right, bottom, and left boundaries of the input shape that was drawn by the user's finger on screen 122, as shown in step 302. The microprocessor then obtains the dimensions and current motor positions of currently selected device 124 from memory in CPU 102, as shown in box 303. The hand-held mobile device microprocessor then converts the input-shape boundaries input by the user to physical positions of shades 30a-30d, as shown in box 304.
Then the processor in hand-held mobile device 120 determines whether the positions input by the user are different from the current motor positions determined in box 303, as shown in box 305. If different, CPU 102 directs motor drivers 104a-104d to move their corresponding motors 46a-46d until they match the positions specified by the user, as shown in box 306. If input positions as determined from screen 122 are not different from the current shade positions, as shown in query box 305, then input is discarded, as shown in box 307. In either case the program then directs the processor in hand-held mobile device 120 to check for any further direction from the user, as shown in box 300.
If there has been no freehand input from the user to screen 122, as shown in step 301, the hand-held mobile device microprocessor then checks whether there has been a slide button input, as shown in
If the hand-held mobile device microprocessor finds that any of steps 308 to 311 is yes, the microprocessor sends the corresponding direction to motor driver 104a-104d to turn motor 46a-46d as described herein above for controller 100, as shown in boxes 313-316.
While several embodiments, together with modifications thereof, have been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident that various further modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Nothing in the above specification is intended to limit the invention more narrowly than the appended claims. The examples given are intended only to be illustrative rather than exclusive.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62711011 | Jul 2018 | US |
