Leveling Assembly for Architectural Covering Bottom Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window coverings often have bottom rails that are not level due to manufacturing tolerances and assembly methods, leading to skewed orientations when extended, as the effective lengths of lift cords can vary, making it difficult to achieve consistent levelness.
Innovation Solution
A leveling assembly is integrated within the window covering system, allowing for adjustment of the lift cord lengths by moving a motor slide laterally within the rail, which adjusts the effective cord lengths to level the bottom rail, using mechanisms like cam-type or rack-and-pinion actuation to vary the cord travel path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manufacturing tolerances and assembly methods are used without adjustment mechanisms, then production efficiency is maintained, but the bottom rail becomes skewed or non-level due to variations in lift cord effective lengths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a leveling assembly with adjustable components that allow the effective length of lift cords to be modified after assembly. The adjustable cord length mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of the bottom rail orientation, transforming a static structure into one that can adapt to manufacturing variations and achieve proper levelness.
2Manufacturing precision
If the effective lengths of lift cords are made equal during manufacturing, then the bottom rail achieves proper levelness, but manufacturing complexity and time increase due to precise measurement and adjustment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling assembly is pre-configured with adjustment mechanisms during manufacturing, allowing for quick field adjustment without requiring precise measurement and matching of lift cord lengths during assembly. The preliminary preparation of adjustable components enables rapid installation while maintaining the capability to achieve equal effective lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable cord length mechanism allows installers or users to self-adjust the lift cord effective lengths to achieve proper levelness without requiring specialized tools or extensive technical expertise. The system provides its own adjustment capability, eliminating the need for external precision measurement equipment or complex assembly procedures.
3Measurement precision
If adjustable mechanisms are added to correct bottom rail levelness, then orientation accuracy improves, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leveling assembly is integrated into the existing covering system structure, combining multiple functions into a single unified component. The adjustment mechanism is merged with the cord suspension system, allowing levelness correction without adding separate independent components. This integration minimizes the increase in overall system complexity while achieving the desired orientation accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a leveling assembly for adjusting the levelness or skew angle of a bottom rail of a covering for an architectural structure includes at least one movable or slideable component configured to be moved or slid laterally relative to the bottom rail or a headrail of the covering to adjust the length(s) along which one or more of the lift cords extend within the bottom rail or headrail, which, in turn, adjusts the effective length of such lift cord(s) defined between the bottom rail and the headrail of the covering. Such adjustment of the effective length(s) of the lift cord(s) results in the horizontal orientation or skew angle of the bottom rail being varied, thereby allowing the levelness of the bottom rail to be adjusted, as desired.