Roller Shade Assembly with Nested Inner Webs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional roller shades offer only a single shade configuration, limiting consumer customization for aesthetics and lighting effects in architectural openings.
Innovation Solution
A roller shade assembly with multiple rollers and shade webs that allow for different configurations by unwinding inner shade webs along the interior of a continuous loop formed by outer shade webs, enabling transparent, semi-transparent, light filtering, and blackout settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single shade material is used in conventional roller shades, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the adaptability and versatility of the shade configuration are significantly limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing multiple shade webs (different materials and opacity levels) inside a single roller housing. The roller contains multiple concentric layers of shade material that can be independently unwound, allowing one roller assembly to provide multiple shade configurations (transparent, semi-transparent, light filtering, blackout) without requiring multiple separate roller devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the shade material into multiple distinct webs, each with different optical properties (transparent, semi-transparent, light filtering, blackout). These segmented shade webs are arranged in a specific sequence within the roller and can be selectively deployed to provide different shade configurations, transforming a single-function roller into a multi-function system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple shade materials are integrated into a single roller assembly, then the adaptability for different lighting effects is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal roller assembly that can perform multiple functions (providing transparent, semi-transparent, light filtering, and blackout configurations) through a single device. The roller is designed with a standardized structure that accommodates multiple shade webs, allowing one assembly to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate shade products, thereby simplifying the overall system while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If inner shade webs are unwound along the interior of the continuous loop, then the ability to provide multiple shade configurations is improved, but the mechanical complexity of the roller system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic roller mechanism where the roller can rotate in different directions to selectively unwind or wind different shade webs. The system transitions from a static single-configuratio}n roller to a dynamic multi-configuration system where the operational state (which shade web is deployed) changes based on the direction and extent of roller rotation, enabling flexible adaptation to different lighting and privacy requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a roller shade assembly for an architectural opening may generally include a first roller, a second roller and a looped shade extending around the first and second rollers. The looped shade may include at least one outer shade web forming a continuous loop around the rollers. In addition, the roller shade assembly may include an inner shade web configured to be wrapped around the first roller or the second roller such that the inner shade web is positioned within the continuous loop. The inner shade web may be coupled to the outer shade web(s) at a location along an inner perimeter of the continuous loop. Additionally, rotation of the first roller and/or the second roller in an unwinding direction may result in the inner shade web being unwound from the first roller or the second roller along the inner perimeter of the continuous loop.