Roller Stop with Serrated Catch for Shade Fabric Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller stops for architectural openings suffer from noise issues and fabric soiling due to constant contact with the shade material, particularly when the hinge connection is used in prior art designs.
Innovation Solution
A roller stop comprising a main body and a secondary body with vertically disposed serrated teeth and a catch mechanism that allows selective engagement between the teeth, positioning the abutment edge closely adjacent but spaced from the fabric to prevent further rotation of the roller without soiling, using a pivotally connected design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hinge connection is used to connect the limit stop components, then the roller stop can be compact and effective, but it generates objectionable noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hinge connection from the roller stop design. Instead of using a hinged connection between the limit stop components, the invention uses a direct rigid connection, thereby extracting the noise-generating element while maintaining the compact and effective structure of the roller stop.
2Reliability
If the limit stop constantly contacts the shade material, then it can effectively prevent over-retraction, but it causes soiling of the fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the limit stop engages with the roller itself rather than directly contacting the shade material. The roller acts as a mediator, allowing the limit stop to prevent over-retraction by engaging with the roller's surface, thereby avoiding direct contact with and soiling of the fabric.
3Manufacturing precision
If the roller stop is positioned closely adjacent to the fabric, then it can effectively limit retraction, but it risks soiling the fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the roller as an intermediary between the limit stop and the fabric. The limit stop is positioned to engage with the roller surface at a precise location, allowing accurate control of retraction limits while the roller itself prevents direct contact between the limit stop and the fabric, thus avoiding soiling.
Data Source
AI summary
A roller stop for connection to the head rail of a covering for an architectural openings is releasably connectable to a rear edge of the head rail in overlying relationship with a roller having shade material thereon with the shade material having a bottom rail. The roller stop has a pivotally mounted body selectively positionable in closely adjacent but spaced relationship from the outer wrap of shade material on the roller and in a position to engage the bottom rail when the shade material is fully wrapped on said roller. A catch arm is selectively engageable with serrated teeth to releasable hold the pivotal body in a preselected desired position.