Window Covering Winding Mechanism Obstacle Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing window coverings with vertically moving mechanisms fail to stop unfolding when encountering obstacles, leading to tilting, cord scattering, and operational issues due to continuous cord release and twisting.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a stopper mechanism within the winding mechanism, where a rotating member with a detent can pivot to abut against a stationary block, preventing further rotation and cord release when the covering material meets an obstacle, allowing for automatic stopping of the unfolding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If the covering material is allowed to unfold continuously without obstruction detection, then the covering area can be maximized, but the lifting cord becomes scattered and twisted when an obstacle is encountered
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is pre-positioned on the rotating member, and the block is pre-positioned in the fixed rail at a location corresponding to the fully unfolded state of the covering material. When the covering material unfolds and the rotating member rotates, the stopper automatically engages with the block to prevent over-unfolding and cord scattering, thus protecting the system before damage occurs.
2Reliability
If the rotating member is constrained to rotate only with the reel, then cord scattering is prevented, but the covering material cannot stop unfolding when meeting an obstacle
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating member is designed with dynamic rotational characteristics: it can rotate synchronously with the reel during normal operation, but can also rotate independently when the covering material meets an obstacle. This independent rotation allows the stopper to engage with the block and stop the unfolding process automatically, providing both cord organization and automatic stopping capability.
3Ease of operation
If the stopper protrudes during synchronous rotation, then automatic stopping is triggered unnecessarily, but if it remains recessed, then stopping function is lost when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is designed to dynamically change its position relative to the rotating member surface: it protrudes only when the rotating member rotates independently from the reel (indicating obstacle detection), allowing the stopper to engage with the block for automatic stopping. During synchronous rotation, the stopper remains recessed, avoiding unnecessary stopping and maintaining smooth operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A window covering includes a fixed rail, a covering material, a lifting cord and a winding mechanism, wherein the covering material is positioned under the fixed rail, and the winding mechanism includes a reel, a rotating member and a stopper. The reel is adapted to wind up or release the lifting cord, in order to drive the covering material to move toward the fixed rail to fold, or to move away from the fixed rail to unfold. The rotating member passes through the reel. The stopper is operably pivoted relative to the rotating member. When the rotating member rotates independently from the reel, the stopper is driven to pivot, and is protruded from a surface of the rotating member, and the stopper would abut against a block of the fixed rail to stop the rotation of the rotating member. Therefore, when a covering material of the window covering is unfolded and meets an obstacle, the covering material could stop unfolding automatically.