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EP-4739873-A1 - WINDOW SHADE AND ACTUATING SYSTEM THEREOF

EP4739873A1EP 4739873 A1EP4739873 A1EP 4739873A1EP-4739873-A1

Abstract

An actuating system for a window shade includes a transmission axle rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, and a speed stabilizer including a housing having an inner wall, and a rotary plate disposed inside the housing and configured to rotationally couple to the transmission axle, the rotary plate carrying a plurality of friction elements angularly spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis of the transmission axis, the rotary plate being rotatable along with the transmission axle with the friction elements rubbing against the inner wall of the housing.

Inventors

  • HUANG, CHIN-TIEN
  • WU, WEN-CHIN

Assignees

  • Teh Yor Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240703

Claims (15)

  1. 1. An actuating system for a window shade, comprising: a transmission axle rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof; and a speed stabilizer including: a housing having an inner wall; and a rotary plate disposed inside the housing and configured to rotationally couple to the transmission axle, the rotary plate carrying a plurality of friction elements angularly spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis of the transmission axle, the rotary plate being rotatable along with the transmission axle with the friction elements rubbing against the inner wall of the housing.
  2. 2. The actuating system according to claim 1, wherein the friction elements are in lubricated contact against the inner wall of the housing.
  3. 3. The actuating system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the friction elements are connected fixedly to a plurality of supporting arms that are coupled to the rotary plate, the supporting arms being biased to displace the friction elements toward the inner wall of the housing as the transmission axle and the rotary plate rotate in unison about the longitudinal axis.
  4. 4. The actuating system according to claim 3, wherein the supporting arms are biased by centrifugal forces to press the friction elements against the inner wall of the housing as the transmission axle and the rotary plate rotate in unison about the longitudinal axis.
  5. 5. The actuating system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each of the supporting arms is pivotally connected to the rotary plate.
  6. 6. The actuating system according to claim 5, wherein the rotary plate has a pivot pin, and multiple ones of the supporting arms are pivotally connected about the pivot pin.
  7. 7. The actuating system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the supporting arms include two supporting arms that are respectively connected pivotally to the rotary plate at two locations away from the longitudinal axis.
  8. 8. The actuating system according to claim 7, wherein the two supporting arms are respectively connected pivotally to the rotary plate at two diametrically opposite locations.
  9. 9. The actuating system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each of the two supporting arms has a coupling end and a distal end, each of the two supporting arms being pivotally connected to the rotary plate at the coupling end thereof, the coupling end of one of the two supporting arms being disposed adjacent to the distal end of the other one of the two supporting arms.
  10. 10. The actuating system according to claim 9, wherein each of the two supporting arms holds at least one of the friction elements at a location that is closer to the coupling end thereof than the distal end thereof.
  11. 11 . The actuating system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each of the friction elements is at least partially cylindrical in shape.
  12. 12. The actuating system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the friction elements are made of a material including oil resistant rubber, fluorocarbon rubber and silicone rubber.
  13. 13. The actuating system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the housing includes a casing and a lid fastened to each other to at least partially delimit an inner cavity in which the rotary plate and the friction elements are disposed, the transmission axle extending through the casing and the lid.
  14. 14. The actuating system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further including a control module connected to the transmission axle, the control module being operable to cause the transmission axle to rotate for expanding or collapsing a shading structure, the speed stabilizer being disposed apart from the control module along the transmission axle.
  15. 15. A window shade comprising: a head rail; a shading structure suspended from the head rail; and the actuating system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, being mounted to the head rail, the actuating system being operable to expand and collapse the shading structure.

Description

WINDOW SHADE AND ACTUATING SYSTEM THEREOF CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application no. 63/525,530 filed on July 7, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to window shades, in particular to actuating systems for window shades. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Some window shades may use an operating cord for raising a bottom part of the window shade and a wand for lowering the bottom part. More specifically, the operating cord may be pulled to drive a rotary part in rotation, which can be transmitted to a transmission axle so that the transmission axle can rotate for winding a suspension cord connected to the bottom part. When a user rotates the wand, an arrester coupled to the wand can release the transmission axle, which can rotate freely as the bottom part lowers under gravity action. This free fall of the bottom part may accidentally hit a user, and damage components of the window shade. SUMMARY [0006] The present application describes an actuating system for a window shade that can address at least some of the aforementioned issues. [0007] According to one aspect, the actuating system includes a transmission axle rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, and a speed stabilizer including a housing having an inner wall and a rotary plate disposed inside the housing and configured to rotationally couple to the transmission axle, the rotary plate carrying a plurality of friction elements angularly spaced apart from one another about the longitudinal axis of the transmission axis, the rotary plate being rotatable along with the transmission axle with the friction elements rubbing against the inner wall of the housing. [0008] According to another aspect, the present application provides a window shade including the aforementioned actuating system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of a window shade in different states; [0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the window shade shown in FIG. 1; [0011] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a speed stabilizer provided in an actuating system for a window shade; [0012] FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating the speed stabilizer of FIG. 4 from another angle of view; [0013] FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views illustrating exemplary operation of the speed stabilizer shown in FIG. 4; and [0014] FIG. 8 is an exploded view illustrating a variant embodiment of the speed stabilizer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views illustrating an embodiment of a window shade 100 in different states, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the window shade 100. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the window shade 100 can include a head rail 102, a movable rail 104, a shading structure 106 and an actuating system 108. The window shade 100 is shown in a retracted or raised state in FIG. 1 , and in an expanded or lowered state in FIG. 2. [0016] The head rail 102 may be affixed at a top of a window frame, and can have any desirable shapes. According to an example of construction, the head rail 102 can have an elongate shape including a cavity for at least partially receiving the actuating system 108 of the window shade 100. [0017] The movable rail 104 can be suspended from the head rail 102 with a plurality of suspension elements 110 (shown with phantom lines in FIG. 2). According to an example of construction, the movable rail 104 may be an elongate rail having a channel 104A adapted to receive to the attachment of the shading structure 106. The channel 104A of the movable rail 104 may be closed at two opposite ends with two end caps 112. Examples of the suspension elements 110 may include, without limitation, cords, strips, bands, and the like. The suspension elements 110 may be respectively connected to the movable rail 104 via fasteners 114. According to an example, the movable rail 104 may be a bottom rail of the window shade 100. A weighing element 116 may be disposed inside the channel 104 A to add stability to the movable rail 104 during use. [0018] The shading structure 106 may have any suitable structure that can be expanded and collapsed between the head rail 102 and the movable rail 104. According to an example of construction, the shading structure 106 can have a cellular structure, which may include, without limitation, honeycomb structures. In one embodiment where the shading structure 106 has a cellular structure, two stiffened strips 118 A and 118B may be respectively attached to an upper end and a lower end of the cellular structure for facilitating its assembly with the head rail 102 and the movable rail 104. During use, the shading structure 106 and the movable rail 104 can be suspended from the head rail 102, and the shading structure 106 can be expanded or collapsed by dis