U.S. patent application number 13/089375 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-25 for winding device for cordless roman shade.
Invention is credited to JAMES KO.
Application Number | 20120267056 13/089375 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47020381 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120267056 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KO; JAMES |
October 25, 2012 |
WINDING DEVICE FOR CORDLESS ROMAN SHADE
Abstract
A winding device for a cordless Roman shade includes an upper
frame. A shade includes an upper end engaged with a side of the
upper frame. A resilient winding mechanism is directly or
indirectly coupled to the upper frame. A winding cloth includes an
upper end engaged with a distal end of a winding route of the
resilient winding mechanism. The winding cloth further includes a
lower end engaged with a lower end of the shade. When the resilient
winding mechanism moves in a winding direction, the winding cloth
is wound, and the shade is folded. By providing the winding cloth
for folding the shade, strangling by the winding cloth is less
likely to occur, providing enhanced safety.
Inventors: |
KO; JAMES; (KAOHSIUNG CITY,
TW) |
Family ID: |
47020381 |
Appl. No.: |
13/089375 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/84.04 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/262 20130101;
E06B 2009/2622 20130101; A47H 23/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/84.04 |
International
Class: |
A47H 5/02 20060101
A47H005/02; A47H 23/04 20060101 A47H023/04 |
Claims
1. A winding device for a cordless Roman shade comprising: an upper
frame including a first side; a first shade including an upper end
engaged with the first side of the upper frame, with the first
shade further including a lower end; a resilient winding mechanism
directly or indirectly coupled to the upper frame; and a winding
cloth including an upper end engaged with a distal end of a winding
route of the resilient winding mechanism, with the winding cloth
further including a lower end engaged with the lower end of the
first shade; wherein when the resilient winding mechanism moves in
a winding direction, the winding cloth is wound, and the first
shade is folded.
2. The winding device for a cordless Roman shade as claimed in
claim 1, further comprising: a second shade including an upper end,
with the upper frame including a second side opposite to the first
side, with the upper end of the second shade engaged with the
second side of the upper frame, with the second shade having a
portion connected to the first shade, with the second shade is
folded when the winding cloth is wound while the resilient winding
mechanism moves in the winding direction.
3. The winding device for a cordless Roman shade as claimed in
claim 2, with the portion of the second shade connected to the
first shade by a plurality of connecting members spaced in a
vertical direction, with each of the plurality of connecting
members having a first end connected to an inner face of the first
shade and a second end connected to an inner face of the second
shade, with a space defined by each of the plurality of connecting
members, with the winding cloth extending through the spaces
defined by the plurality of connecting members.
4. The winding device for a cordless Roman shade as claimed in
claim 1, with the winding cloth having a width of at least 10
cm.
5. The winding device for a cordless Roman shade as claimed in
claim 1, with a channel formed in a front edge of each of the
plurality of connecting members, with a rod extending through each
of the channels, reinforcing a regular wound state of the first
shade of balanced upward or downward movement.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a winding device for a
window shade and, more particularly, to a safe winding device for a
cordless Roman shade.
[0002] Privacy and beauty of living environments are important
issues to modern people. Thus, window shades become almost a
necessity in every house for decoration of windows to improve the
taste of living while avoiding peeking and shielding the sun.
[0003] Regulations regarding pull cords for controlling movement of
the shades or shade moving mechanisms have been adopted in many
countries that valve product safety (particularly children safety).
As a result, cordless shade winding or moving mechanisms are
demanded.
[0004] FIG. 7 shows a conventional Roman shade including an upper
frame 81 for support and fixing. A shade 82 includes an upper end
fixed to a side of the upper frame 81. The shade 82 includes a
plurality of separation lines. Vertically spaced rings 84 are
mounted along each separation lines. A resilient winding mechanism
83 is directly or indirectly coupled to the upper frame 81. A
winding string 85, 85A is extended through the rings 84 on each
separation line and fixed to the bottommost ring 84. Thus, the
shade 82 is folded when the winding strings 85 are wound by the
resilient winding mechanism 83. The winding string 85A includes an
actuation block 86 at a bottom end thereof. The actuation block 86
is larger than the diameter of the bottommost ring 84A on the
associated separation line. When the winding string 85A is wound by
the resilient winding structure 83, the actuation block 86 presses
against the bottommost ring 84A and, thus, moves the shade 82.
However, many winding strings 85 and 85A are required, causing the
risk of entanglement. Children are liable to be strangled by any
entangled winding string 85, 85A.
[0005] Thus, a need exists for a winding device for a window shade
with increased safety.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention solves this need and other problems in
the field of safety of window shades by providing, in a preferred
form, a winding device for a cordless Roman shade including an
upper frame. A shade includes an upper end engaged with a side of
the upper frame. A resilient winding mechanism is directly or
indirectly coupled to the upper frame. A winding cloth includes an
upper end engaged with a distal end of a winding route of the
resilient winding mechanism. The winding cloth further includes a
lower end engaged with a lower end of the shade. When the resilient
winding mechanism moves in a winding direction, the winding cloth
is wound, and the shade is folded. By providing the winding cloth
for folding the shade, strangling by the winding cloth is less
likely to occur, providing enhanced safety.
[0007] Preferably, the winding device further includes a second
shade. The upper frame includes a second side opposite to the first
side. An upper end of the second shade is engaged with the second
side of the upper frame. The second shade has a portion connected
to the first shade. The second shade is folded when the winding
cloth is wound while the resilient winding mechanism moves in the
winding direction.
[0008] Preferably, the portion of the second shade is connected to
the first shade by a plurality of connecting members spaced in a
vertical direction. Each of the plurality of connecting members has
a first end connected to an inner face of the first shade and a
second end connected to an inner face of the second shade. A space
is defined by each of the plurality of connecting members. The
winding cloth extends through the spaces defined by the plurality
of connecting members.
[0009] Preferably, the winding cloth has a width of at least 10
cm.
[0010] Preferably, a channel is formed in a front edge of each of
the plurality of connecting members. A rod extends through each of
the channels, reinforcing a regular wound state of the first shade
of balanced upward or downward movement.
[0011] The present invention will become clearer in light of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this
invention described in connection with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The illustrative embodiments may best be described by
reference to the accompanying drawings where:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a window device having a
single shade according to the preferred teachings of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 1A shows an enlarged view of a circled portion of FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a rear elevational view of the winding device
of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 2A shows an enlarged view of a circled portion of FIG.
2.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a winding device having
two shades according to the preferred teachings of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows a front elevational view of the winding device
of FIG. 3 in an unfolded state.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a front elevational view of the winding device
according to the preferred teachings of the present invention in a
folded state.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows a partial, exploded, perspective view of the
winding device according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 shows a front elevational view of a conventional
window shade.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1-6, a winding device for a cordless
Roman shade according to the preferred teachings of the present
invention includes an upper frame 1 for support and fixing. A first
shade 2 has an upper end engaged with a side of the upper frame 1
by such as hook and loop fasteners respectively on the side of the
upper frame 1 and an inner face of the upper end of the first shade
2, providing easy mounting and detachment. The first shade 2 can be
in the form of gauze or thin cloth. A resilient winding mechanism 3
is directly or indirectly coupled to the upper frame 1. In an
example of indirect coupling, the upper frame 1 has an end member 7
on each of two ends thereof, and the resilient winding mechanism 3
is mounted between the end members 7, indirectly mounting the
resilient winding mechanism 3 to the upper frame 1. A winding cloth
4 has an upper end engaged with a distal end of a winding route of
the resilient winding mechanism 3. The distal end of the winding
route is the distal, free end of the winding route when the
resilient winding mechanism 3 uses various springs for resilient
winding. Thus, the winding cloth 4 is wound when the resilient
winding mechanism 3 moves in a winding direction. A lower portion
of the winding cloth 4 is fixed to a lower end of the first shade
2. Thus, the first shade 2 is folded when the winding cloth 4 is
wound while the resilient winding mechanism 3 moves in the winding
direction. The winding cloth 4 has a width of at least 10 cm or
even wider, providing a piece of cloth of a certain width.
[0023] Although the above-mentioned structure achieves the safe
effect, the winding device according to the preferred teachings of
the present invention can include a second shade 5 to prevent the
winding cloth 4 from being accessed by children, as shown in FIG.
3. As an example, in a case that the first shade 2 is too thin, the
second shade 5 can shield the light. The second shade 5 has an
upper end fixed to the other side of the upper frame 1 opposite to
the side to which the upper end of the first shade 2 is engaged. A
portion of the second shade 5 is fixed to the first shade 2. Thus,
the second shade 5 is folded when the winding cloth 4 is wound due
to movement of the resilient winding mechanism 3 in the winding
direction. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of connecting
members 6 is provided for connection between the first and second
shades 2 and 5. Each connecting member 6 includes an end connected
to an inner face of the first shade 2. The other end of each
connecting member 6 is connected to an inner face of the second
shade 5. The first and second shades 2 and 5 move jointly due to
provision of the connecting members 6.
[0024] To allow balanced winding of the winding cloth 4 in the
upward direction and balanced unwinding of the winding cloth 4 in
the downward direction, a channel 24 is formed in a front edge of
each connecting member 6. Namely, a channel 24 is provided at each
of a plurality of folding marks 21 of the first shade 2 spaced in
the vertical direction, as shown in FIG. 1A. A rod 22 is extended
through each channel 24. FIG. 3 shows that the lowest rod 22 is
partially pulled out of the channel 24. This enhances the stability
of each folding mark 21, so that the first shade 2, after being
wound, presents a regular wound effect of balanced upward or
downward movement.
[0025] To assure passage of the winding cloth 4, a space P is
defined by each connecting member 6. These spaces P form a
passageway for the winding cloth 4 to extend downward.
[0026] With reference to FIG. 1, winding, returning energy is
created in the resilient winding mechanism 3 when the first shade 2
is moved to the unfolded state. With reference to FIG. 3, a weigh
rod 23 is mounted to a lower edge of the first shade 2. The weight
of the weight rod 23, the balance between the first shade 2 and the
resilient winding mechanism 3 can not be broken easily by external
force while the first shade 2 is in the unfolded state. FIG. 4
shows the first shade 2 in the unfolded state. Since the cordless
Roman shade uses the resilient winding mechanism 3 instead of a
pull cord, the user can move the first shade 2 downward to a
further unfolded state or move the first shape 2 upward 2 to break
the balance such that the resilient winding mechanism 3 can release
the winding, returning energy. Since the upper end of the winding
cloth 4 is fixed to the distal end of the winding route of the
resilient winding mechanism 3, the winding cloth 4 is moved upward
and wound, as shown in FIG. 5. The bottommost connecting member 6
(FIG. 3) is moved upward and comes in contact with and is slightly
impeded by an upper connecting member 6. At the same time, the
first shade 2 is folded upward. The procedure continues until the
first shade 2 is moved to a desired position. The folding marks 21
of the first shade 2 spaced in the vertical direction provide
regular folding. The folding marks 21 can be located in the
positions aligned with the connecting members 6, allowing more
regular winding of the first shade 2 and even the second shade
5.
[0027] Since the winding cloth 4 is a single piece of cloth of a
certain width, uniform winding effect can be obtained while
presenting a smooth appearance instead of untidiness. Furthermore,
preparation of the winding cloth 4 is simple and easy, saving time
and costs. Further, the winding cloth 4 is less likely to entangle,
significantly reducing the risk of strangling a playful child near
the winding device.
[0028] With reference to FIG. 1, the resilient winding mechanism 3
can further include a winding buffering device 9. The winding
buffering device 9 can be of a conventional design. The winding
buffering device 9 prevents impact resulting from uncontrolled
resilient force of the resilient winding mechanism 3, reducing the
damage and reducing the impact noise thereby avoiding irregular
winding effect. Thus, the Roman shade can present an aesthetic
appearance due to provision of the winding device according to the
preferred teachings of the present invention. Furthermore, by
adjusting the resilient winding mechanism 3, the upward, winding
speed of the first shade 2 actuated by the resilient winding
mechanism 3 can be adjusted, as shown in FIG. 3. Further, a pull
ring 41 can be added to the lower section of the winding cloth 4.
When the first shade 2 is in a wound state, the pull ring 41 can be
pulled downward to move the first shade 2 to the unfolded state
while creating the winding, returning energy in the resilient
winding mechanism 3. Then, the pull ring 41 is pulled again to
release the winding, returning energy, moving the first shade 2
upward. Thus, the first shade 2 can present a wound state shown in
FIG. 5. Further, the winding buffering device 9 can adjust a
position fixer to adjust the positioning spacing of the winding
device according to the preferred teachings of the present
invention, so that the winding cloth 4 can be positioned in any of
a plurality of positions spaced by the positioning spacing,
providing the effect of a Roman shade without using a pull
cord.
[0029] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible
without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of
the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.
* * * * *