Motorized Window Treatment Service Position for Easy Battery Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-powered motorized window treatments have poor battery life and require expensive, difficult-to-replace batteries, making them impractical for widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered motorized window treatment system with a compartmentalized enclosure for batteries, allowing easy access and replacement without tools, using a rotating mechanism that pivots away from the window, enabling extended battery life of approximately three years with standard, inexpensive batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If battery-powered motorized window treatments are used to eliminate wiring, then installation cost and complexity are reduced, but battery life becomes too short (one year or less) and battery replacement becomes difficult and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the window treatment system into separable components: the motorized mechanism remains permanently installed while the battery pack is made removable and replaceable. This segmentation allows the battery compartment to be accessed and serviced independently, enabling easy battery replacement without affecting the main system installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery pack is extracted as a separate, removable component from the motorized window treatment system. This extraction allows batteries to be easily removed and replaced by the end user without requiring professional service or affecting the permanent installation of the motorized mechanism.
2Shape
If batteries are enclosed inside the headrail for aesthetic purposes, then appearance is improved, but battery replacement requires complete removal of the headrail which is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The headrail is segmented into a permanent mounting portion and a removable battery access portion. This segmentation creates a service position that can be accessed independently, allowing battery replacement without removing the entire headrail from the window treatment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrail incorporates a movable or rotatable service position that can be dynamically accessed. The service position can be rotated or moved to an accessible location, allowing easy battery replacement while maintaining the aesthetic appearance during normal operation.
3Ease of operation
If the service position is made accessible for easy battery replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but the aesthetic appearance may be compromised due to visible access points
Solution Approach 1:
The service position is designed to be dynamically accessible - it can be rotated or moved to an accessible location only when needed for battery replacement. During normal operation, the service position remains in a concealed or aesthetic configuration, maintaining the appearance of the window treatment system.
Data Source
AI summary
A battery-powered motorized window treatment for covering at least a portion of a window may be adjusted into a service position to allow for access to at least one battery that is powering the motorized window treatment. A headrail of the motorized window treatment may be adjusted to the service position to allow for easy replacement of the batteries without unmounting the headrail and without requiring tools. The motorized window treatment may comprise brackets having buttons that may be actuated to release the headrail from a locked position, such that the head rail may be rotated into the service position. The headrail easily rotates through a controlled movement into the service position, such that a user only needs one free hand available to move the motorized window treatment into the service position and change the batteries.