Window Shade Actuating Assembly With Short Pull-Cord Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional window shades with long operating cords pose safety risks for children and are inconvenient to use due to entanglement issues, and existing solutions often require different actions for raising and lowering the shades.
Innovation Solution
A window shade actuating system with a transmission axle, a driving unit, and a rod assembly that allows for selective mode operation by rotating the rod assembly to switch between modes for raising and lowering, using a pull member to drive the transmission axle in opposite directions for winding and unwinding suspension members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the operating cord length is increased to cover greater vertical lengths, then the window shade can be operated for taller windows, but the outer appearance is affected and child safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The operating cord is segmented into multiple sections with beads or segments that can be pulled in sequence. Each segment pulls a corresponding section of the cord, allowing the full length of cord to be pulled through a limited travel distance, effectively resolving the contradiction between needing long cord for tall windows and maintaining short visible cord for safety and aesthetics
Solution Approach 2:
A transmission mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's pulling action and the shade movement. The mechanism includes a pull member with segments that interact with a transmission assembly containing corresponding segments, converting the pulling motion into controlled shade raising while keeping the visible cord length short
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the operating cord is maintained at a higher position to reduce child accessibility, then safety is improved, but the cord still moves to a lower position when pulled and becomes accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the position and function of the pull member. The pull member can be positioned high for safety, but when pulled, it temporarily extends lower to engage the transmission mechanism. The segmented design ensures the cord returns to its safe elevated position after each pulling cycle, maintaining both safety and operability
3Length of moving object
If a longer operating cord is used, then the window shade can be operated for greater vertical lengths, but the cord may become entangled and operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The operating cord is divided into discrete segments with beads or sections that can be pulled independently. This segmentation prevents the cord from tangling because each segment pulls in a controlled manner through the transmission mechanism, eliminating the entanglement issues associated with long continuous cords
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional direct-pull cord mechanism is replaced with a segmented pull member system that interacts with a transmission assembly. This mechanical substitution transforms the operation from directly pulling a long cord (prone to tangling) to pulling segmented sections through a controlled mechanism, greatly improving ease of operation
4Ease of operation
If existing approaches with repeated pulling actions are used, then the window shade can be raised, but a manual action different from the pulling action is required
Solution Approach 1:
The same pulling action on the pull member performs multiple functions: it raises the shade, lowers the shade (when pulled in reverse), and can be used for both upward and downward movement. This universal pulling mechanism eliminates the need for different manual actions for different operations, simplifying the user interface while maintaining functional complexity through the transmission mechanism
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 system provides a safe and convenient operation by reducing cord length, allowing for easy switching between raising and lowering modes with a single pull member, minimizing entanglement and ensuring the shade can be easily adjusted to desired heights.
Implementation Method 1
a transmission axle rotatable to collapse and expand a window shade... the transmission axle rotates in the second direction to cause unwinding of the suspension member from the winding unit for lowering the bottom part, and in the first direction to wind the suspension member into the winding unit for raising the bottom part
Implementation Method 2
a drive transmission assembly connected with the transmission axle and including a switch member... the rotational output of the driving unit in the first direction driving rotation of the transmission axle in a second direction opposite to the first direction in the first mode of transmission
Data Source
AI summary
The structures described herein use an actuating system that can selectively switch between a lower and a raise mode of operation by rotating a rod assembly in two different directions, and use a downward displacement of a pull member to lower and raise the window shade depending on its switching state. The actuating systems are simple to operate, allow convenient adjustment of the window shade, and are safe as the pull member has a limited length of extension.