US2891614A - Window shade roller construction - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent "ice 2,891,614 WINDOW SHADE ROLLER CONSTRUCTION Edward Grupp, Glendale, Calif. Application October 25, 1956, Serial N0. 618,379 6 Claims. (Cl. 160-301) This invention relates to a self-locking readily releasable lock mechanism for selectively positioning a spring loaded rotatable member and more particularly to an automatically releasing and self-locking mechanism for a window shade roller.

Prior proposed lock means for selectively positioning a window shade have included gravity actuated pawls pivoted about axes parallel to the shade roller axis and engageable with a notched disc or ratchet member, the pawls and notched disc usually being exposed at one end of the roller and lying in a plane transverse to the axis of the roller. The construction of such prior proposed shade roller lock means required precision toolingincluding punch press dies and maintenance of close manufacturing tolerances. The assembly of such prior proposed lock means included assemblyiof many small parts in limited space, and present production procedure includes long assembly lines involving considerable labor cost. Such prior proposed lock means were exposed at the end of the shade roller, and as a result collected dust and lint, and after a period of time would not consistently automatically release or lock the roller. Usually such prior lock means required some lubrication, and such lubrication only tended to increase the collection of dust and lint.

This invention contemplates a novel design of a selflocking automatically releasable lock mechanism for a window shade roller which is conveniently assembled, requires no close manufacturing tolerances and which is positive in operation. The lock mechanism is made of relatively few parts as compared to prior proposed lock devices for shade rollers and in a preferred embodiment, the lock mechanism is protected against the accumulation of dust and dirt therein.

One of the principal features of the lock mechanism of this invention is the provision of a free floating lock pin which lies longitudinally of the axis of the shade roller. In one embodiment, the 'lock pin may be free, loose, and not positively connected to the rotatable part with which it is associated, and in another embodiment the lock pin may be pivotally connected to such associated rotatable part with free pivotal movement about such connection for radial movement of the pin.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to design and provide a lock mechanism for a rotatable member such as a window shade roller which operates in a novel positive trouble-free manner.

An object of this invention is to disclose and provide a lock mechanism for a spring-loaded rotatable member which does not require close manufacturing tolerances and in which use and wear of the lock mechanism do not cause malfunctioning thereof.

A further object of this invention is to design and provide such a lock mechanism which requires no lubricantsand can be inexpensively manufactured from various types of material A more specific object of this invention is to disclose and provide a self-locking, automatically releasable lock mechanism for a window shade roller wherein a longitudinally disposed free floating lock pin cooperates with a lock disc carried by a stationary member of the lock mechanism; The lock mechanism is so designed that a plurality of such lock pins may be provided so as to afford selective positioningof the roller member.

;Generally speaking, this invention contemplates a lock mechanism for a window shade roller provided with an axial chamber at one end and with a coil spring positioned in said chamber in customary well known manner. The invention contemplates a closure fitting or member for said chamber to engage and hold one end of said spring, said closure fitting being provided with a through bore and with one or more radially arranged and longitudinally extending tapered slots opening into said through bore. An elongated stationary axle means is receivable in said through bore, one end of said axle means being adapted to engage the inner opposite end of the spring to hold said end of the spring against rotation. The opposite outer end of the axle means may be provided with a polygonal section end portion adapted to, seat in a roller supporting bracket for holding the axle means against rotation in well known manner. Self-locking and automatically releasable lock means selectively interconnect the stationary axle means and the closure member and may include a notched lock element on the axle means and a free floating longitudinally extending pin disposed in the radial slot, said pin having an end portion extending over the edge of the lock element and being adapted to engage said notch by gravity. A closure cap may cover the lock element and lock pin at the end of the roller.

These and many other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings in which two exemplary embodiments of this invention are shown. 3

. In the drawings:

f Fig. l is a longitudinal fragmentary sectional view bisecting one end of a window shade roller member and showing a preferred embodiment of this invention.

, Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken in the same plane as Fig. l, but showing the locking mechanism in release position permitting rotation of the roller.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line IVIV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 1, illustrating assembly thereof.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of one end of a window shade roller showing a diflerent embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 6, the locking mechanism being in release position.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by line IXIX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the locking mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

In the preferred embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, one end of a window shade roller 15 is shown with the locking mechanism of this invention illustrated in locked position to prevent rotation of the roller 15 when the shade is in selected position. It is understood that while this invention is exemplarily shown as employed on a window shade roller, it may be used on any spring loaded, rotatable member to releasably hold such a rotatable member against rotation in one direction. The roller 15 may have attached thereto a. window.

shade (not shown) in well known manner, such window shade roller being mounted on usual supporting brackets (not shown) fixed to a window frame.

The roller may be made of any suitable material, usually Wood. At the end illustrated, the roller 15 may be provided with an elongated axial bore providing a spring chamber 16 within which may be positioned an elongated coil spring 17. The chamber 16 is provided with an open end 18.

A closure member 20 may be frictionally fitted in said opening 18 and may comprise a cylindrical elongated body portion 21 and an end flange 22 which provides an annular shoulder 23 for abutment with the end face of roller 15. Preferably, the closure member 20 may be made of antifriction material such as hard Woods or selflubricating plastic material so that it may serve as a bearing means for a stationary axle means 25'. The closure member 20 is provided with an axial through bore 26 of uniform diameter and is also provided with one or more longitudinally extending radially disposed internal slots 27. In this example, three of such slots 27 are shown equally angularly spaced about the axis of the closure member 20. Each slot 27 has a longitudinal opening 28 to the through bore 26 and an outer radial end opening 29 in the outer face of the closure member. slot 27 is defined by a radially inwardly tapering wall 30 extending from the end opening 29 to an internal transverse end wall 31 which provides an internal radial shoulder.

The closure member 20 may also be provided with a longitudinally extending groove 33 provided in the external cylindrical surface of body portion 21, said groove joining a radial groove 34 provided in the surface of the shoulder 23 formed by flange 22. Grooves 33 and 34 receive the outer end 35 of spring 17, said end 35 being bent at 36 so that said outer end of the spring is firmly seated and interlocked with the closure member 20 whereby rotation of the roller 15 will tension spring 17 as further later described.

Stationary axle means 25 is mounted in the end of roller 15 and in this example may comprise a single elongated shaft or axle 39 having a diameter which will pass through bore 26 in closure member 20 and permit rotation of member 20 thereon. The shaft 39 is supported at its outer end portion by closure member 20 and at its inner end 40 in a bearing bushing 41 of any suitable material seated in the inner end of chamber 16 and provided with an axial recess 42 to receive end 40. End 40 may be provided with a longitudinally extending diametric slot 43 having an open end so as to receive and engage an inner bent end 44 of coil spring 17. Thus, the inner end of spring may be held against rotation.

The outer end of shaft 39 is provided with a polygonal section outer end 46 which is adapted to seat in a well known shade roller-supporting bracket (not shown) provided with a vertically disposed slot of corresponding size so as to hold the stationary axle means 25 against rotation. It should be noted that when mounted in such supporting brackets, the outer end 46 is always vertically disposed.

Self-locking, automatically releasable lock means are provided at the end of roller 15 and may comprise a lock element 4-8 carried by shaft 39 adjacent to outer end 46. Lock element 48 in this example is positioned in an axial circular recess 52 in the outer end face of closure 5 member 20 and may be formed in any suitable manner. In this example, lock element 48 is shown as being integral with shaft 39 and formed by upsetting the metal thereon. It may also be formed as a separate annular element or disc slipped over shaft 39 and secured thereto in well known manner. Lock element 48 includes a pair of diametrically opposed locking notches 49, each notch as being configured to provide, in the circumferenti'al edge'ofelement 48, a tapered relatively long edge surface 5 and a rather sharply curved retaining edge 51 Each for positively holding a cooperable lock pin 53 as later described.

A free floating elongated lock pin 53 cooperates with said lock element 48 to hold the roller against rotation in one direction. In this example, lock pin 53 may comprise a plain straight pin of uniform diameter and of any suitable stock material. Lock pin 53 is disposed in slot 27 with its inner end positioned against inner wall 31 of the slot and resting upon shaft 39. Pin 53 has a length sutficient to overlie the circumferential edge of lock element 48 and the outer end of pin 53 normally is cooperably received in top locking notch 49, said pin falling into such engagement by gravity. As shown in Fig. 3 during rotation of roller 15, and associated closure memher 29 the outer ends of pins 53 confined in their respective slots 27 are urged radially outwardly by centrifugal forces imparted thereto during rotation. Such radial outward movement of each pin 53 is limited by the tapered slot wall 30.

To retain the closure member 20 and stationary axle means 25 in assembly with the end of roller 15, a retaining end cap 55 may be seated against the end face of flange 22 and may be provided with a circumferential inwardly directed flange 56 which may be crimped as at 57 into the adjacent material of roller 15. The cap 55 includes a wall 58 which extends over the opening 29 of each slot 27 and partially over the locking notches 49, thereby retaining the free floating pins 53 within said slot in either locked or unlocked position. Wall 58 is provided with a port 59 which may be defined by an outwardly curled flange which may serve to position the cap in spaced relation to the roller bracket which receives the outer end 46 of the stationary axle means.

it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that assembly of the locking mechanism of this invention may be readily accomplished. The end of roller 15 is provided with chamber 16 and with the inner bearing bushing 41 seated therein as by dropping and driving the bushing into proper positionin chamber '16. Coil spring 17 may be then dropped into spring chamber 16 with the outer end 35 lying against intemal surfaces of the spring chamber and bent end 36 against the end face of the roller. Closure member 21) is then positioned at the open end 18 so that grooves 33 and 34 are aligned with the spring end 35, 36. Closure member 20 may then be pushed inwardly interlocking the spring end in grooves 33 and 34 until the flange 22 seats on the end face of roller 15. The stationary axle means 25 may then be passed into through bore 26 and turned until the slot 43 of the inner end 4t} engages the inner end 44 of spring 17 and until the locking element 48 seats in recess 52 in the closure member 20. The free floating pins 53 may then be dropped through openings 29 into slots 27 and the end cap 55 placed over the end of the closure mem ber 21 and secured to the roller as by crimping. It will thus be readily apparent that close manufacturing tolerances are not needed to provide proper assembly of the locking means of this invention.

In operation, the shade roller 15 is mounted with outer end 46 vertically disposed in a supporting bracket provided with a cooperable slot therefor. As the shade is drawn downwardly, the roller 15 and closure member Ztl may rotate counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, and the locking pins 53 will be disengaged from looking notches 49 by movement along notch edge so as to permit such rotation. When the desired position of the shade is reached, one of locking pins 53 when positioned above and opposite to the top locking notch 49, will fall thereinto by gravity. Since drawing of the shade downward or counterclockwise rotation of the roller tensions spring '17, the roller is spring loaded with the outer end of locking pin 53 cooperably interengaged with top notch 49. When it is desired to raise the shade, a slight initial downpull on the shade releases locking pin 53 from notch 49 and than as the shade is raised upwardly by clockwise rotation of the spring biased roller, the pins 53 are radially outwardly urged by centrifugal force against the tapered walls 30 of slots 27, the outer ends of said pins being spaced outwardly from the circumferential edge of the locking element 48 so as not to engage said locking notches during such counter rotation. After the shade is raised to selected height, stopping of rotation of roller 15 will again cause one of the pins 53 to drop into the top locking notch 49 when positioned thereabove. It will be readily apparent that the plurality of locking pins 53 and retaining slots 27 provided therefor provide for selective positioning of the shade.

It should be noted that each lock pin 53 in top position is inclined, and some longitudinal and lateral movement of the pin 53 is permitted in slot 27. Upon rotation of the roller member 15, contact of the inner end of pin 53 with axle means 25 tends to agitate pin 53, to eliminate any binding and to provide free floating action thereof. This agitation together with centrifugal force acting upon the pin causes the pin to lay against the tapered slot wall 30 and to positively maintain disengaged position with respect to locking element 48. g

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above preferred embodiment of this invention may be slightly modified so as to provide more complete positive sealing against dirt and dust at end cap 55. In such a modification, the closure member 20 may be reversed in position so that the tapered slot faces inwardly instead of outwardly and locking element 48 is positioned further inwardly of the open end of the roller. The cap 22 then may be provided with a circular port cooperable with a cylindrical portion of the shaft 38 adjacent to the polygonal section outer end thereof.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive, a self-locking automatically releasable locking mechanism embodying the same principle of operation as the prior embodiment is shown. The construction of the lock means, however, is slightly difierent in the pivoted mounting of the lock pins and in the split arrangement of the closure member. In Fig. 6, roller is provided with a spring chamber 16 having an open end 18 as above.

Closure member 20' may comprise a pair of mating closure portions 65 interlocked by an internal lug 66 on each portion 65 cooperably received within a corresponding internal lug-receiving recess 67, such interlocking of portions 65 preventing longitudinal and angular displacement thereof. When assembled, the closure member 20 includes a cylindrical body portion 21', an end flange 22' and a through bore 26. Closure member 20, in this example, is provided with a pair of generally diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots 69 formed by spacing apant portions of the meeting faces of the closure portions 65, each slot 69 having an opening 70 in the end face of the closure member 20'. It will be noted in this example that each slot 69 extends entirely through the closure member and does not have an opening to through bore 26'.

Within chamber 16' is coil spring 17' having an outer end 72 which is retained within a transverse port 73 provided in the inner end of one of the closure portions 65. The inner end 74 of spring 17' is retained within a slot 75 provided in the inner end 76 of stationary axle means generally indicated at The stationary axle means 25 in this embodiment includes different construction than that in the first embodiment and it will be noted that the inner end 76 is not provided with bearing support at the inner end of chamber 16 as in the prior embodiment. The stationary means 25' may include an internal shaft portion 78 provided with an axial bore 79 at its outer end. Bore 79 receives inner end 80 of a stub shaft member 81, said member 81 being provided with an annular collar 82 adapted to seat against the end face of internal shaft portion 78. A diametrically disposed securing pin 83 inter- 6 locks member 81. and shaft portion 78 against relative rotation. Member 81 extends through bore 26' and is provided with supporting bearing engagement therewith for rotation of the closure member about member 81. At its outer end 183, member 81 is provided with a polygonal section as in the prior embodiment.

The locking means in this embodiment may comprise a lock element 84 formed on shaft member 81 in a manner and configuration similar to that of the prior embodi ment and provided with locking notches 85. Lock ele ment 84 is received within a circular recess 86 provided in the end face of closure member 20'. A lock pin 87 is longitudinally positioned in each slot 69 and is pivotally mounted at its inner end as by bending inner end 88 of pin 87, said end 88 being pivoted in a transverse hole 89 provided in closure portion 65. The pivotal mounting of the bent end 88 in hole 89 is loose so that the outer end 'of pin 87 is free to move radially outwardly and inwardly in response to gravitational and centrifugal forces. The outer end of each pin 87 overlies the circurnferential edge of lock element 84 and is cooperable with locking notches in a manner similar to that of the prior embodiment.

An end cap 90 provided with a relatively large central opening 91 in its wall 92 may be positioned over the end flange 22' of the closure member and circumferential flange 93 of cap 90 may be crimped into the material of the roller 15 as in the prior modification.

Assembly of the lock means of this embodiment is somewhat different than that of the prior embodiment. In assembly, the closure portions 65 are provided with the locking pins 87 pivotally mounted therein. The outer end of spring 17 is likewise inserted into hole 73 to connect the end of the spring to the closure member 20'. The stub shaft member 81 may then be positioned in bore 26', and the closure portions 65 joined together. Shaft portion 78 may then be sleeved within coil spring 17 with its bore 79 receiving therein end 80 which may then be locked by pin 83. The inner end of spring 17 may then be interengaged with slot 75. This entire assembly may then be inserted into spring chamber 16 until the flange 22' abuts the end face of roller 15'. Cap 90 may then be positioned over the assembly and crimped onto the end of roller 15 to secure the parts in assembly in the roller end.

It will be thus noted in this second embodiment that the locking pins 87 cannot fall out of slots 69 and that the entire assembly is held in position by end cap 90. In operation, the locking means of this embodiment functions substantially the same as that described above and a description of its operation will not be repeated.

It will thus be understood by those skilled in the art that an extremely simple assembly of a novel construction of a self-locking automatically releasable locking mechanism for a window shade roller has been provided. It is understood that the locking mechanism may be used with other spring loaded rotatable members and that various modifications of the arrangement and size of the locking pins and cooperable locking element may be made. The virtually free floating locking pin does not depend for its positive operation upon close manufacturing tolerances, and wear on the several parts of the locking mechanism will not interfere with the positive operation thereof. It is important to note that in the preferred embodiment, the number of parts and the steps required to assemble the locking mechanism have been reduced to a minimum and as a result, considerable saving in labor cost and material cost is achieved.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made in the locking mechanism described above which come within the spirit of this invention and all such changes which come within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

neonate- I claim:

1. A window shade roller construction comprising: a rotatable member provided with a chamber having an open end; a cylindrical closure member receivable within said chamber through said open end and having a cylindrical flange seated on said rotatable member at said open end, said closure member being provided with a through bore and with a longitudinally elongated, radially directed slot having an opening at one end of said closure member and being closed at the other end of said closure member; a spring means in said chamber; means on said closure member cooperably engaging one end of said spring means; a stationary axle means supported in said through bore and having an inner end interengageable with the other end of said spring means, said stationary axle means including a portion adapted to be held against rotation; lock means to hold said rotatable member and said stationary axle means against relative rotation in one direction and comprising a lock element carried on the stationary axle means at the opening of said slot and provided with a circumeferential edge having a lock notch therein; and an elongated inclined, cylindrical lock rod disposed in said radial slot with one end thereof overlying said circumferential edge of the lock element for interengagement with said lock notch and the other end thereof being positioned against the closed end of said slot.

2. A construction as stated in claim 1 wherein said lock rod is free floating in said slot and wherein an end cap extends over said flange on said closure member for engagement with said rotatable member to retain said construction in assembly and said lock rod in said slot.

3. A self-locking, automatically releasable locking means for use with a spring loaded rotatable means supported on stationary axle means comprising, in combination: a rotatable member associated with said rotatable means and having an elongated body portion provided with an axial bore aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotatable means, said body portion being provided with means defining a radial slot open at one end and closed at its other end, said slot being elongated in the direction of the axis of rotation; a stationary member associated with the stationary means extending through the axial bore and provided with a transversely disposed lock element at the open end of said radial slot; and an elongated cylindrical lock pin longitudinally disposed in said slot with its inner end restrained against radial movement at the closed end of the slot and having its outer end at the open end of said slot for cooperable engagement and disengagement with the lock element.

4. A locking means as stated in claim 3 wherein said rotatable member includes a circumferential flange adapted to seat against said rotatable means and an end cap positioned over said flange for engagement with said r0- tatable means for holding said locking means in assembly.

5. A locking means as stated in claim 3 wherein said lock pin is pivotally mounted about a transverse axis remote from the portion of the pin engageable with said lock element.

6. A self-locking, automatically releasable locking means for use with a spring-loaded rotatable means supported on stationary axle means comprising, in combination: a rotatable member associated with said rotatable means and including an elongated body portion provided with an axial bore aligned with the axis of rotation of the rotatable means, said body portion being provided with means defining a slot open at one end and closed at its other end, said slot being elongated in the direction of the axis of rotation and extending in a radial direction; a stationary member associated with the stationary means extending within the axial bore and provided with a transversely disposed lock element at the open end of said slot; and an elongated cylindrical lock pin longitudinally disposed in said slot with its out r end at the open end of said slot for cooperable engagement and disengagement with said lock element and the inner end thereof being at the closed end of said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 94,866 Burns Sept. 14, 1869 184,811 Willis Nov. 28, 1876 335,449 Hartshorn Feb. 2, 1886 FOREIGN PATENTS 419,229 Germany Sept. 22, 1925 483,757 Canada June 3, 1952

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