U.S. patent application number 13/979118 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-20 for motorized window shade mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to Aerospace Technologies Group Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Byron Knowles. Invention is credited to Byron Knowles.
Application Number | 20140048219 13/979118 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46507452 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140048219 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Knowles; Byron |
February 20, 2014 |
MOTORIZED WINDOW SHADE MECHANISM
Abstract
A motorized window shade assembly for controlling an amount of
light through a porthole. A spring roller is positioned by a first
side of the porthole and has a torsion spring for imparting a
rotating force to the spring roller. A shade is supported by the
spring roller and has a first end fixed to the spring roller and a
second end extendable over the porthole. A shade actuator is
connected to the shade, the shade actuator having one or more of a
pulley and cable for moving the second end of the shade across the
porthole. A motor assembly is positioned proximate a second side of
the porthole, the motor assembly having a motor which receives
operating power from a power source. The motor is releasably
coupled to the shade actuator for selectively supplying
motor-controlled operation to the shade actuator.
Inventors: |
Knowles; Byron; (West Palm
Beach, FL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Knowles; Byron |
West Palm Beach |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Aerospace Technologies Group
Inc.
Boca Raton
FL
|
Family ID: |
46507452 |
Appl. No.: |
13/979118 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
January 13, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US12/21179 |
371 Date: |
October 29, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61432489 |
Jan 13, 2011 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/331 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/327 20130101;
E06B 9/74 20130101; A47H 5/0325 20130101; E06B 9/262 20130101; E06B
2009/2625 20130101; B64C 1/1492 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/331 |
International
Class: |
A47H 5/032 20060101
A47H005/032 |
Claims
1. A motorized window shade assembly for controlling an amount of
light through a porthole formed in a panel, the porthole having a
first side and second side, comprising: a spring roller positioned
proximate the first side of the porthole and having a torsion
spring for imparting a rotating force to the spring roller; a shade
supported by the spring roller and having a first end fixed to the
spring roller and a second end extendable over the porthole; a
shade actuator connected to the shade, the shade actuator having
one or more of a pulley and cable for moving the second end of the
shade across the porthole; a motor assembly positioned proximate
the second side of the porthole, the motor assembly having a motor
which receives operating power from a power source, the motor being
releasably coupled to the shade actuator for selectively supplying
motor-controlled operation to the shade actuator, wherein when the
motor is coupled to the shade actuator and operating power is
supplied to the motor, the second end of the shade can be
selectively extended over, and retracted from, the porthole; and a
manually operated mechanism connected to the motor assembly, the
mechanism causing decoupling of the motor from the shade actuator
during activation of the mechanism, wherein if the second end of
the shade is positioned away from the spring roller, the second end
of the shade is retracted towards the spring roller under the
influence of the rotating force, and wherein the motor is
re-coupled to the shade actuator upon deactivation of the
mechanism.
2. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 1, wherein the
motor assembly comprises a movable table and a spring which biases
the table in a direction towards the shade actuator so that the
motor is in a position to control operation of the shade
actuator.
3. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 2, wherein the
mechanism comprises an actuator arm connected to the table for
moving the table in a direction away from the shade actuator to
cause decoupling of the motor from the shade actuator upon
activation of the release mechanism.
4. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 3, wherein the
mechanism further comprises a cam arm.
5. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 3, wherein the
panel is a panel for an airplane, wherein the first side of the
porthole comprises a top of the porthole and wherein a second side
of the porthole comprises a bottom of the porthole.
6. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 1, wherein the
shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric, the phantom
fabric being positioned between the porthole and the pleated
fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a first
end of the phantom fabric.
7. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 6, wherein the
pleated fabric and phantom fabric comprise translucent
material.
8. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 3, wherein the
shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric, the phantom
fabric being positioned between the porthole and the pleated
fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a first
end of the phantom fabric.
9. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 8, wherein the
spring roller comprises a first spring roller, the shade comprises
a first shade, the shade activator comprises a first shade
activator, and the motor assembly comprises a first motor assembly,
the shade assembly further comprising: a second spring roller
proximate the first spring roller; a second shade supported by the
second spring roller and having a first end fixed to the second
spring roller and a second end extendable over the porthole; a
second shade actuator connected to the second shade and having one
or more of a pulley and cable for moving the second end of the
second shade across the porthole; a second motor assembly
positioned proximate the second side of the porthole, the second
motor assembly having a motor releasably coupled to the second
shade actuator, wherein when the second motor is coupled to the
second shade actuator and operating power is supplied to the second
motor, the second end of the second shade can be selectively
extended over, and retracted from, the porthole; and wherein said
manually operated mechanism is connected to the second motor
assembly, the mechanism causing the first and second motors to
decouple from their respective first and second shade actuators,
wherein if the second ends of the first and second shades are
positioned away from their respective first and second spring
rollers, the second ends of the first and second shades are
retracted towards their respective spring rollers under the
influence of their respective rotating forces, and wherein the
first and second motors are re-coupled to their respective shade
actuators upon deactivation of the mechanism.
10. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 9, wherein the
second shade comprises an opaque material.
11. The motorized window shade assembly of claim 9, wherein the
manually activated mechanism comprises a contact surface for
engagement by a tool applying a pressing force.
12. An improved motorized window shade assembly for controlling an
amount of light through a porthole formed in a panel, the porthole
having a first side and second side, the window shade assembly
having a spring roller positioned proximate the first side of the
porthole and having a torsion spring for imparting a rotating force
to the spring roller, a shade supported by the spring roller and
having a first end fixed to the spring roller and a second end
extendable over the porthole, a shade actuator connected to the
shade, the shade actuator having one or more of a pulley and cable
for moving the second end of the shade across the porthole, and a
motor positioned proximate a second side of the porthole which
receives operating power from a power source, the improvement
comprising: a movable table mounted to the motor for releasably
coupling the motor to the shade actuator for selectively supplying
motor-controlled operation to the shade actuator, wherein when the
motor is coupled to the shade actuator and operating power is
supplied to the motor, the second end of the shade can be
selectively extended over, and retracted from, the porthole; and a
manually operated mechanism connected to the movable table, the
release mechanism moving the movable table for decoupling the motor
from the shade actuator during activation of the release mechanism,
wherein if the second end of the shade is positioned away from the
spring roller, the second end of the shade is retracted towards the
spring roller under the influence of the rotating force, and
wherein the motor is re-coupled to the shade actuator upon
deactivation of the mechanism.
13. The improved motorized window shade assembly of claim 12,
further comprising a spring which biases the table in a direction
towards the shade actuator so that the motor is selectively
maintained in a position to control operation of the shade
actuator.
14. The improved motorized window shade assembly of claim 13,
wherein the mechanism comprises an actuator arm connected to the
movable table for moving the table in a direction away from the
shade actuator to cause decoupling of the motor from the shade
actuator.
15. The improved motorized window shade assembly of claim 14,
wherein the mechanism further comprises a cam arm.
16. The improved window shade assembly of claim 15, wherein the
panel is a panel for an airplane, wherein the first side of the
porthole comprises a top of the porthole and wherein a second side
of the porthole comprises a bottom of the porthole.
17. The improved motorized window shade assembly of claim 12,
wherein the shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric,
the phantom fabric being positioned between the porthole and the
pleated fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a
first end of the phantom fabric.
18. The improved motorized window shade assembly of claim 15,
wherein the shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric,
the phantom fabric being positioned between the porthole and the
pleated fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a
first end of the phantom fabric.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention is directed to a motorized window
shade assembly adapted in particular for use in windows of
airplanes, that is readily assembled and installed, and which
provides convenient and reliable operation. More particularly, the
present invention is directed to an improved motorized window shade
assembly for an airplane which provides a mechanism for opening a
window shade in the assembly without electrical power, such as in
an emergency condition.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The motorized window shade assembly disclosed in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,186,211 was a major improvement over other mechanisms of this
type known at that time. For example, it was highly effective in
reducing the number of components required, increasing reliability,
and meeting the rigid requirements associated with use aboard
aircraft. Further improvements of window shade mechanisms are
disclosed in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/943,569 filed on Nov. 10,
2010, which is incorporated by reference herein.
[0005] In the event of an emergency condition in an airplane which,
in certain instances, may result in a loss of cabin power and
require an emergency landing, motorized window shades are rendered
inoperable. Thus, any window shades that are partially or fully in
their deployed (i.e. closed or light blocking) position, will
remain in that position and cannot be easily opened. Although a
passenger or flight crew member may be able to force a shade to its
opened position by the application of manual force, such action may
cause damage to certain components of the shade assembly. In
addition, the existence of certain flight regulations require crew
members to have visual confirmation of the outside environment of
the aircraft before an airplane safety hatch and/or emergency
egress chute is deployed. Thus, there is a need to provide airplane
crew members with the ability to raise a shade of a motorized shade
assembly to an opened position, such as in the event of a loss of
cabin power, and without damaging components of the shade
assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] One object of the present invention is to provide an
improved motorized window shade assembly.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
motorized window shade assembly for an airplane having a manual
override feature which allows the shade to be moved to an opened
(i.e. not light blocking) position without the use of external
electrical power.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
motorized window shade assembly for an airplane having two
electrically deployable shades which can both be simultaneously
moved from a fully or partially closed position to an opened
position upon activation of a manual override switch.
[0009] These and other objects are attained in accordance with one
aspect of the present invention directed to a motorized mechanism
for operating a window shade for controlling the amount of light
admitted through a window of an airplane. The motorized mechanism
includes a window shade adapted to be extended from and retracted
onto a torsion spring roller rod disposed proximate an airplane
window or porthole. A motor is included in the window shade
assembly and is coupled to a motor-driven pulley. A cable is looped
between the motor-driven pulley and a second pulley, the second
pulley being secured to the housing remotely from the first pulley
and, preferably, to an end of the torsion spring roller rod. A
component is coupled to a leading edge of the window shade and
guided by a rail assembly based on motion of the cable in response
to motor driven rotation of the motor-driven pulley to extend or
retract the window shade across the window. The torsion spring
roller rod is mounted on one side of the airplane window (e.g. the
top) and the motor is mounted on the other side (e.g. the bottom).
The motor is movably seated in a cam holder connected to a manual
switch. Activation of the switch unseats the motor from the cam
holder and allows the shade to move to its closed position under
the influence of stored mechanical energy in the torsion spring
roller.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a motorized
window shade assembly is disclosed for controlling an amount of
light through a porthole formed in a panel. The window shade
assembly includes a spring roller positioned proximate a first side
of the porthole and having a torsion spring for imparting a
rotating force to the spring roller, a shade supported by the
spring roller and having a first end fixed to the spring roller and
a second end extendable over the porthole, a shade actuator
connected to the shade, the shade actuator having one or more of a
pulley and cable for moving the second end of the shade across the
porthole. The shade assembly further includes a motor assembly
positioned proximate a second side of the porthole, the motor
assembly having a motor which receives operating power from a power
source, the motor being releasably coupled to the shade actuator
for selectively supplying motor-controlled operation to the shade
actuator, wherein when the motor is coupled to the shade actuator
and operating power is supplied to the motor, the second end of the
shade can be selectively extended over, and retracted from, the
porthole. The shade assembly also includes a manually operated
mechanism connected to the motor assembly, the mechanism causing
decoupling of the motor from the shade actuator during activation
of the release mechanism, wherein if the second end of the shade is
positioned away from the spring roller, the second end of the shade
is retracted towards the spring roller under the influence of the
rotating force, and wherein the motor is re-coupled to the shade
actuator upon deactivation of the mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of a window shade assembly which
includes a motorized window shade mechanism in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front view of the window shade assembly of FIG.
1 with the shade fabric removed.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the shade fabric rolls of the
window shade assembly of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view taken at line 4-4 of
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view taken at line 5-5 of
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a close-up, top, perspective view of the drive
motor and manual release assembly employed in the window shade
assembly of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a side view of a motor mount used for mounting a
drive motor in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a top view of the motor mount assembly of FIG. 7
and depicting a manual activation switch.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the window shade assembly of
FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a motor mount
assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a window shade assembly
1 is installed on an airplane side panel having a porthole 3 and
window shades 5, 7. The shades are movable through operation of a
respective motor across the porthole 3 to control the amount of
light entering the porthole. The shades include an opaque shade 5
constructed of an opaque fabric to prevent most, if not all, of the
light from entering the porthole, and a pleated shade 7 constructed
of a translucent fabric to allow a portion of light through the
porthole when the shade 7 is extended over the porthole in its
intended manner.
[0022] The pleated shade 7 is made from any known type of pleated
material, such as fabric, etc., conventionally used for window
shades which can be compressed relatively tightly to a height less
than one-half inch, for example, so that it occupies a minimal
amount of space proximate the porthole 3 to provide an unimpeded
view and to allow light to pass completely unobstructed through the
porthole. As shown in FIG. 3, the pleated shade has a zigzag
cross-section and is connected at a first or fixed end to a shade
support 50. A second or leading end of the pleated shade 7 is
attached to a motor controlled movable rail member 25 which
provides for expansion and contraction of the shade 7 across the
porthole 3 in a manner explained below.
[0023] Guide holes are provided near left-side and right-side edges
of the pleated shade 7, through which a left-side shade alignment
cord 52 (FIG. 3) and a right-side shade alignment cord (not shown
in FIG. 3) are provided to ensure proper alignment of the pleats in
the shade 7 as the shade is expanded and contracted. Each alignment
cord is fixed at a first anchor point 53 on the shade support 50
and at a second anchor point 54 (see FIG. 2) positioned near the
drive motors, as explained more fully below.
[0024] In addition to the pleated shade 7, the translucent shade
also includes a carrier fabric such as a non-pleated translucent
fabric (hereinafter, "phantom fabric") positioned between the
pleated shade 7 and the porthole 3. As used herein, "translucent
shade" includes the pleated shade 7 and the phantom fabric 9. The
phantom fabric 9 has a first or fixed end attached to a spring
roller 70 (FIG. 3) in any known manner, such as by an adhesive or
fastener. A second or leading end of the phantom fabric is joined,
along with the leading end of the pleated shade 7, to the movable
rail member 25 such that, during normal operation, the pleated
shade and phantom fabric will, together, extend across and retract
from the porthole 3 based on motion of the rail member 25.
[0025] The rail member 25 operates in a similar manner to the guide
rail of the device depicted and described in U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/943,569. For example, the rail member 25 is maintained
between a left-side frame member and a right-side frame member (47,
49 in FIG. 1) and is attached to a synchronous cable 63 (see FIG.
6) driven by a motor 69 that is activated by a user operated
switch. Selecting "up" on the switch will cause motor 69 to drive
the synchronous cable in a first direction to raise the guide rail
25--thereby simultaneously collapsing the pleated shade 7 and
causing the phantom fabric 9 to be rolled up on the spring roller
70. Selecting "down" on the switch will cause the motor 69 to drive
the synchronous cable 63 in an opposite direction to expand the
pleated shade and unroll the phantom fabric from the spring roller
70.
[0026] The spring roller 70 includes a torsion spring which, when
tensioned, exerts a torque on the spring roller to bias the phantom
fabric 9 in an "up" or open direction, i.e., to cause an extended
portion of the phantom fabric 9 to roll up on the spring roller.
The spring roller 70 operates in a manner similar to a standard
shade roller mechanism typically used for home window treatments,
wherein, so long as a tension is applied to a free end of a shade
material connected to such a roller mechanism, or the roller
mechanism is otherwise locked to prevent rotation, the shade
material will remain in its extended position. However, if the
shade mechanism is unlocked or a force on a free end of the shade
material is removed, the torsion spring will cause the shade
material to roll up around the roller mechanism.
[0027] The opaque shade 5 has a fixed end attached to a second
spring roller 72 positioned above, and slightly misaligned with,
the spring roller 70 (FIG. 3). A first or fixed end of opaque shade
5 can be attached to the spring roller 72 in any known manner, such
as by an adhesive or fastener. A second or leading end of the
opaque shade is fixed to a movable rail member 25a (see FIG. 2)
such that, during normal operation, the opaque shade 5 will extend
across and retract from the porthole 3 based on motion of the rail
member 25a in a manner similar to the operation of rail member
25.
[0028] Focusing initially on the operation of the translucent shade
7, an axle, or shaft, 33 is configured to be inserted into a
through-hole in the movable rail member 25. As best shown in FIGS.
2 and 4, the ends of axle 33 protrude from the rail member so that
they can carry gears. One such gear is identified as gear 35 and
engages a rack 46 in the left-side frame member 47. Another gear
(not shown in the figures but identified as gear 37 in U.S.
application Ser. No. 12/943,569) engages a rack 48 in the
right-side frame member. Each gear is also connected to a carrier.
In particular, an active carrier 36 is positioned about gear 35 and
a passive carrier 38 is positioned about the right-side gear. The
synchronous cable 63 is attached at both ends, via set screws 80,
81, for example, to the active carrier 36 and extends across a
motor drive gear 126 (FIG. 6), driven by motor 69, and a pulley 64
mounted at a left end of the opaque shade spring roller rod 72
(FIG. 9). When motor 69 is operated, the motor will engage the
synchronous cable 63 by engaging a pulley 126 (FIG. 6) which, in
turn, will move the active carrier 36 via engagement of gear 35
with rack 46 to cause movement of the translucent shade. Because of
connection between the active carrier 36 to the passive carrier 38
by the axle 33 in rail member 25, when the active carrier 36 is
driven, the passive carrier 38 will move via the right-side gear
against rack 48.
[0029] A similar operating arrangement is provided for the opaque
shade 5 except that a synchronous cable 63a is used by motor 69a to
directly drive an active carrier 44 positioned in the right-side
rack 48 which causes indirect movement, via coupling with axle 33a
in rail member 25a, of a passive carrier 42 engaged with the
left-side rack 47. As explained more fully in U.S. application Ser.
No. 12/943,569, each passive carrier provides a pass-through bore
through which the respective synchronous cables 5 (63, 63a) can
extend so that operation of, for example, motor 63 for controlling
movement of the translucent shade will not cause movement of the
opaque shade and vice versa.
[0030] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, and as described above, the
active and passive carriers 36, 38 for the opaque and translucent
shades 5, 7 are disposed for movement along a common pair of racks
46, 48. It is contemplated that both shades can be controlled
independently of each other. For example, motor 69 can be activated
to extend the translucent shade over the porthole 3 and then motor
69a can be activated to extend the opaque shade partially (or
completely) over the porthole. However, because the carriers for
both shades share a common set of racks, and the opaque shade
carriers 42, 44 are positioned in the racks above the translucent
shade carriers 36, 38, the carriers 42, 44 for the opaque shade are
configured as having an extension region 45. The extension regions
are dimensioned such that they can extend in a gap behind the
active and passive carriers 36, 38 of the translucent shade. This
feature is best shown in FIG. 5 where the leading end of the opaque
shade 5 is affixed to the extension regions 45 such that both
shades can be extended a distance coterminous with each other.
Without extension region 45, the leading end of the opaque shade 5
would not be capable of extending to the same vertical position of
the translucent shade 7.
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6-10, a manual shade
mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
will now be described. Under normal operating conditions, movement
of each shade is controlled by its respective motor 69, 69a. In the
depicted embodiment, motor 69 controls the movement of the
translucent shade 7 (along with the coupled phantom fabric 9) upon
selection of an appropriate function switch, e.g., "up", "down".
Likewise, motor 69a controls movement of the opaque shade 5.
Operating power is supplied to the motors from an airplane power
bus in a manner well known in the art and as more fully described
in U.S. application Ser. No. 12/943,569.
[0032] A close-up depiction of a motor assembly having a mount 100
and the motor 69 is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 10. It will be
appreciated that a similar motor assembly having a mount for motor
69a is provided. For the sake of clarity, and unless otherwise
warranted, only a discussion of the motor assembly having the mount
100 is provided below. The mount 100 includes a movable table 102
slidably engaged to a fixed support 104 via a slot connection. The
fixed support includes one or more throughholes 103 for
accommodating fasteners 101 to connect the mount 100 to a bottom
frame member 51 (FIG. 2).
[0033] A gear support 110 is provided for mounting a shaft 130 to
the frame member 47. The shaft 130 is connected to a pair of
bearing gears 120, 121 and a pulley 126. The pulley includes a slot
127 for receiving the synchronous cable 63 so that rotation of the
shaft 130 will cause raising and lowering of the translucent shade.
Coupling of the motor 69 to the shaft 130 allows the motor to raise
and lower the translucent shade. This coupling is accomplished by
providing a rotor seat 125 in the shaft 130. With the motor 69
mounted on the motor mount 100 and, specifically, on the movable
table 102, a front face of the motor is received in an upstanding
part 106 of the movable table. The upstanding part contains a
throughhole 108 through which a rotor 128 (see FIG. 2) of the motor
extends so that, under normal operating conditions, the rotor 128
is received in rotor seat 125 for operating the pulley 126.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, movable table 102 has a slot 112
positioned over a well 105 formed in fixed support 104 to
accommodate a coil spring 114. The coil spring is anchored at one
end against a contact point ("X") on movable table 102, and at the
other end against another contact point ("Y") on the fixed support
104. The spring 114 biases the movable table 102 toward the pulley
shaft 130 to seat the rotor 128 in rotor seat 125.
[0035] As explained above, under normal operating conditions
electrical power from the airplane is used to power the motors 69,
69a such that when a user activates a control switch, the motors
will raise or lower the translucent shade 7 and the opaque shade 5
in their intended manner. In the event of a power failure or an
otherwise malfunction of the motorized shade assembly, and in the
event the shades are deployed over the porthole 3--thereby
obstructing view to the environment outside of the airplane--the
shades must be capable of being returned to their opened position
so that the outside environment of the airplane can be observed.
This is accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by
providing a passive mechanism such as a switch 150. It is intended
that the passive switch be accessible via a throughhole on an
airplane panel behind which the shade assembly is installed. For
example, activation of the mechanism 150 can be accomplished by
inserting a narrow tool, such as a pin, etc., into the throughhole
to activate the mechanism 150.
[0036] As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the mechanism 150 includes
an activation surface or "button" 151 which is preferably
accessible through a front panel by inserting an appropriate tool
in a direction indicated by arrow "B". mechanism 150 also includes
a pair of cam arms 152, 152a which are connected at one end to the
switch 150 and at another end to respective pivot fasteners 154,
154a. Each cam arm includes an anchor 156, 156a for receiving an
end of a connection cable 118. The other end of connection cable
118 is anchored at 119 to an actuator arm 116 formed at an end of
the movable table 102. The connection cable 118 can be made of any
suitable gauge wire or of a strap or other type of connector, so
long as it can serve its intended purpose of moving table 102 in
the intended manner discussed above. Switch 150 also includes a
cover plate 160 (FIG. 6) which serves as a dust cover and,
otherwise protects cam arms 152, 152a from being obstructed.
[0037] In a typical environment of the motorized window shade
assembly 1, the translucent and opaque shades may be fully or
partially deployed to extend over the porthole 3. As explained
above, when the shades are extended, they are unrolled, via
movement of synchronous cables 63, 63a from their respective spring
rollers 70, 72. The unrolling of the shades increases the spring
tension in the spring rollers, as is known in the art. The motor
69, 69a are of a particular design wherein, when the rotor 128 is
seated in pulley shaft 130 and the motor is in an "off" state, i.e.
an up/down switch is not selected, the spring tension in the spring
rollers 70, 72 is insufficient to cause rotation of the rotor. If
this was not the case, involuntary raising of the shades would
result when the motors are "off". It should be appreciated,
however, that for heavier shades and/or for other types of motors,
a brake mechanism may be employed to hold the shades in their
intended deployed positions.
[0038] In the event operating power to the shade assemblies ceases,
or a shade assembly otherwise malfunctions, the shades can be
returned to their fully-opened positions by activation of switch
150. This is accomplished by applying a force to the button 151 in
a direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 8. Activation of the switch
causes rotation of cam arm 152 (in a counter-clockwise direction).
That rotation causes movement of connection cable 118 as shown by
direction arrow C which, in turn, urges movable table 102 against
the force of spring 114 in direction C.
[0039] When movable table 102 is moved, rotor 128 becomes unseated
from rotor seat 125. Once this occurs, torsion spring force in the
spring roller 70 will cause the translucent shade 7 to roll up
about its spring roller 70 and, thereby, expose the porthole 3.
Specifically, the spring roller 70 will roll up the phantom fabric
9 which will cause collapsing of the pleated shade. As will be
appreciated, raising of the opaque shade 5 occurs in a similar
manner via rotation of cam arm 152a in a clockwise direction which
will cause the opaque shade 5 to roll up on spring roller 72.
[0040] It should be noted that the switch 150 is a passive, i.e.
"mechanical" switch which does not require any electricity for
activation. The switch, therefore, allows the deployed shades to be
raised by way of stored torsion spring force from the respective
spring rollers 70, 72. It should also be noted that the switch 150
will need to be depressed for a specific amount of time (typically
less than several seconds) so that the rotor 128 remains dislodged
from the rotor seat 125 until the shades are returned to their
fully-opened positions above porthole 3. Once the switch 150 is
released, table 102 returns to its position depicted in FIG. 7
under the urging of spring 114 to, again, couple motor 69 with
pulley shaft 130 whereupon normal motorized shade operation can
resume.
* * * * *