Disclosed is an electromechanical actuator including a spring brake including a helical spring, a drum, an input member and an output member. The drum includes a friction surface configured to cooperate with at least one turn of the spring. The output member includes at least one lug. The lug includes a recess provided with at least a first bearing surface configured to cooperate with one of the first and second legs of the spring. The first bearing surface of the recess is inclined with respect to an axis of rotation of the brake at an angle of inclination of non-zero value.

An improved operating system for use in an architectural-structure covering for extending and retracting a covering portion is disclosed. The operating system including an operating element for raising the covering portion and for transitioning the operating system between a retraction mode to raise the covering and an extension mode to lower the covering. To transition between the retraction and extension modes, an operator may move the operating element in a preset direction, such as, in the manner akin to a switch. For example, moving the operating element in a first direction (e.g., a rearward direction away from the operator) shifts the operating system into the retraction mode, while moving the operating element in a second direction (e.g., a forward motion toward the operator) shifts the operating system into the extension mode. In one embodiment, the first and second directions may be transverse to a longitudinal axis of the architectural-structure covering.

A screen assembly includes a support structure. A roller assembly is mounted on the support structure. A flexible panel with a distal end is mounted on the roller assembly so that the flexible panel can be wound on to and off the roller assembly as the flexible panel is retracted and extended. Two opposed track assemblies are arranged on the support structure, sides of the flexible panel and each track assembly being configured so that the sides of the flexible panel can slide within the track assemblies as the flexible panel is retracted and extended. At least one of the track assemblies has a static support that is fixed relative to the support structure and a dynamic support that is displaceable relative to the static support. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the static and dynamic supports to adjust a lateral position of the dynamic support relative to the static support. An elongate guide assembly is mounted on a proximal end of the flexible panel to guide movement of the flexible panel with respect to the track assemblies. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the static and dynamic supports to adjust a lateral position of the dynamic support relative to the static support. An insert is mounted on at least one end of the guide assembly. The dynamic support of said at least one of the track assemblies includes a runner in which the insert is received to slide or roll with respect to the dynamic support as the flexible panel is retracted and extended.

A screen assembly includes a support structure. A roller assembly is mounted on the support structure. A flexible panel with a distal end is mounted on the roller assembly so that the flexible panel can be wound on to and off the roller assembly as the flexible panel is retracted and extended. Two opposed track assemblies are arranged on the support structure, sides of the flexible panel and each track assembly being configured so that the sides of the flexible panel can slide within the track assemblies as the flexible panel is retracted and extended. At least one of the track assemblies has a static support that is fixed relative to the support structure and a dynamic support that is displaceable relative to the static support. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the static and dynamic supports to adjust a lateral position of the dynamic support relative to the static support. An elongate guide assembly is mounted on a proximal end of the flexible panel to guide movement of the flexible panel with respect to the track assemblies. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the static and dynamic supports to adjust a lateral position of the dynamic support relative to the static support. An insert is mounted on at least one end of the guide assembly. The dynamic support of said at least one of the track assemblies includes a runner in which the insert is received to slide or roll with respect to the dynamic support as the flexible panel is retracted and extended.

The present invention provides a cordless blind apparatus and a method of adjusting the balance of a cordless blind apparatus. The cordless blind apparatus includes a roller, a screen wound or unwound on the roller, and a torsion spring contracting or stretching by rotating with the roller, in which an increasing ratio of torque applied to the roller by the screen and an increasing ratio of torque applied to the roller by the torsion spring are matched to each other through the correlation equation satisfied by parameters as the wire diameter ‘d’ of the torsion spring, the Young's modulus ‘E’ of the torsion spring, the diameter ‘D’ of the torsion spring, the winding number ‘N’ of the torsion spring, the density ‘ρ’ of the screen, the thickness ‘t’ of the screen, the width ‘S’ of the screen, the radius ‘R’ of the roller, and gravitational acceleration ‘g’.

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for use with blinds and louvres, hereinafter referred to, in a non-limiting manner, as blinds and which includes roller blinds, roman blinds and Venetian blinds. The apparatus and method allows the free end of the blind to be selectively positioned and retained at a predetermined position intermediate the fully retracted and fully extended positions and to be retained at that position.

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for use with blinds and louvres, hereinafter referred to, in a non-limiting manner, as blinds and which includes roller blinds, roman blinds and Venetian blinds. The apparatus and method allows the free end of the blind to be selectively positioned and retained at a predetermined position intermediate the fully retracted and fully extended positions and to be retained at that position.

A cordless roller blind includes a roller tube, a blind fabric wound around the roller tube, and at least one brake device. A coil spring is arranged in the roller tube, and the torsion of the coil spring changes as the roller tube rotates. The torsion force of the coil spring, the friction force provided by the brake device and the weight of a hanging portion of the blind fabric are mutually balanced, so that the blind fabric remains stationary at any position without an external force. When the external force pushes the blind fabric to move upward, pressure acting on the brake device decreases as the external force offsets the weight of the blind fabric, and the friction decreases accordingly, and the torsion force of the coil spring drives the blind fabric to wind up.

A cordless roller blind includes a roller tube, a blind fabric wound around the roller tube, and at least one brake device. A coil spring is arranged in the roller tube, and the torsion of the coil spring changes as the roller tube rotates. The torsion force of the coil spring, the friction force provided by the brake device and the weight of a hanging portion of the blind fabric are mutually balanced, so that the blind fabric remains stationary at any position without an external force. When the external force pushes the blind fabric to move upward, pressure acting on the brake device decreases as the external force offsets the weight of the blind fabric, and the friction decreases accordingly, and the torsion force of the coil spring drives the blind fabric to wind up.

A cordless roller shutter structure includes a roller shutter fixing seat, a sleeve controller, a tension adjuster and a shutter sheet locating unit. The sleeve controller is fitted in a sleeve and securely disposed on the roller shutter fixing seat. The shutter sheet is controlled to suspend downward or roll upward directly by means of pulling and releasing the lower weight of the shutter sheet without using the bead chain. A bearing is received in each of two collars so that the sleeve can more easily drive the shutter sheet to save strength. In addition, by means of the adjustment disc of the tension adjuster and the shutter sheet locating unit, the ascending/descending speed of the shutter sheet can be adjusted and the sunshade position of the shutter sheet can be locked. Accordingly, the utility and effect of the cordless roller shutter are enhanced.