Narrow Profile Blind Control Drive Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window blind control systems fail to minimize the gap between the window shade and the window frame effectively, leading to unwanted light infiltration and safety concerns, especially for children, as they often rely on endless loops or flexible gear drives that can bind or pose hazards.
Innovation Solution
A control module with a drive mechanism located in a shell within a housing to rigidify a reduced thickness, using a single rod to activate the mechanism, and incorporating a spur gear or worm/bevel gear system to minimize the gap between the window shade and the frame, with a clutch and drive gear arrangement that prevents unrolling and allows safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If a drive mechanism with reduced thickness is used to minimize the gap between the window shade and window frame, then the gap is reduced, but the drive mechanism becomes flexible and wanders, causing it to bind
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is nested within a housing structure that provides lateral support. The housing contains the drive gear and clutch assembly, preventing them from wandering while maintaining the reduced thickness profile needed to minimize the gap between the window shade and window frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds structural support in the lateral dimension (perpendicular to the thickness) by incorporating a housing with side walls. This allows the drive mechanism to maintain reduced thickness in the radial direction while gaining stability in the lateral direction through the housing structure.
2Ease of operation
If an endless loop control element is used for blind operation, then the blind can be operated, but it poses safety hazards to children
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hazardous endless loop control element from the system and replaces it with a single rod control mechanism. The rod is contained within or protected by the housing structure, eliminating the looping cord that could pose entanglement risks to children while maintaining the ability to operate the blind.
Solution Approach 2:
The single rod acts as an intermediary control element between the user and the drive mechanism. Instead of using an endless loop that hangs freely, the rod provides a controlled, contained interface for operating the blind, reducing safety hazards while enabling operation.
3Reliability
If spur gears and worm or bevel gears are used to drive the clutch, then the drive mechanism can function, but the gap between the window shade and window frame increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gear system is arranged in a configuration where the gears operate in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the gap measurement. By positioning the drive gear and clutch such that the gear engagement occurs laterally rather than radially, the functional drive mechanism is maintained without increasing the radial thickness that determines the gap.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces the gap between the window shade and the frame, minimizing light infiltration while ensuring safe and secure operation, particularly by using a single rod to activate the mechanism, thus addressing both functionality and safety concerns.
Implementation Method 1
a drive gear engageable at one end of the clutch for rotatably driving said clutch and shade roll
Data Source
AI summary
A blind control for a window covering having a narrow profile; and particularly relates to a control module for a window shade where the location of the drive mechanism is selected to minimize the gap between the end of the window shade and inside edge of a window opening; locating the drive mechanism in a shell disposed in a housing to rigidity a reduced thickness of the drive so as to minimize the gap; and use a single rod depending from the control module to activate the drive mechanism in a safe and secure manner.The invention also includes a housing with an end wall adjacent one end of the shade; a clutch projecting from said end wall and rotatable about a clutch axis, a drive gear engageable at one end of the clutch for rotatably driving said clutch and shade, said drive gear disposed in said housing adjacent said end wall; and a wand for driving said drive gear.