Patent · US Expired

Head rail-mounted actuator for window coverings

US5698958A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
50References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 1995
Grant dateDec 16, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 15, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B80/00
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A mini-blind actuator has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. The rotor of the motor is coupled to the baton of the mini-blind for rotating the baton and thereby opening or closing the slats of the mini-blind. Alternatively, the rotor is coupled to the tilt rod of the blind to rotate the tilt rod and thereby open or close the slats of the mini-blind. A control signal generator generates a control signal for completing the electrical circuit between the battery and the motor. The control signal can be generated in response to a predetermined amount of daylight or in response to a user-generated remote command signal. The actuator can be used to rotate the slats of horizontal or vertical blinds, or the sections of a pleated shade. Or, the actuator can be used to rotate the hollow rotatable tube of a roll-up shade.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.