Nested Roller Architectural Covering with Elongated Slot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coverings for architectural openings with nested rollers face challenges in achieving darkening and varying patterns or appearances without increasing the size and weight of the structure, as they often require separate rollers and control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A dual roller system where a first shade is secured to an outer roller and a second shade is secured to an inner roller, with the second shade extending through an elongated slot in the outer roller, allowing for independent operation and integration into a single head rail system, utilizing a lock mechanism to control rotation and a bottom rail to engage and disengage the outer roller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate rollers are used for supplemental functions, then light control and aesthetic options are improved, but the size and weight of the covering structure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested roller configuration where an inner roller is positioned within an outer roller, both sharing a common axis. The inner roller carries a second shade while the outer roller carries a first shade. This nesting arrangement allows multiple shades to be controlled by a single operating mechanism while maintaining a compact head rail structure, thereby providing versatile light control and aesthetic options without significantly increasing the overall size and weight of the covering system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate rollers are used for supplemental functions, then light control and aesthetic options are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control mechanisms by providing a single operating mechanism that controls both the outer roller and the inner roller. The inner roller is rotatably coupled to the outer roller such that rotation of the outer roller also rotates the inner roller. This combination of control systems simplifies the overall device complexity while still enabling independent operation of both shades for versatile light control and aesthetic options.
3Weight of stationary object
If nested rollers with single operating mechanism are used, then the size and weight are reduced, but the ease of operation may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the operation into two independent control modes: the outer roller can be operated independently to control the first shade, and the inner roller can be operated independently to control the second shade. The lock mechanism allows the outer roller to be locked in position while the inner roller operates, enabling users to control each shade separately for precise light control and aesthetic adjustments, thereby maintaining ease of operation despite the integrated nested structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a rotatable outer roller, a rotatable inner roller, a first shade secured to the outer roller, and a second shade secured to the inner roller. The outer roller may define an elongated slot extending along a length of the outer roller and opening to an interior of the outer roller. The inner roller may be received within the outer roller and may define a central longitudinal axis. The first shade may be retractable onto and extendable from the outer roller. The second shade may extend through the elongated slot and may be retractable onto and extendable from the inner roller. The elongated slot may be substantially horizontally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner roller when the first shade is in a fully extended position.