The invention relates to a tubular home-automation actuator for driving a winding tube (310), said actuator comprising a head system (100) including a fixed point (1), a bush bearing (2), and a head (3A; 3B). The fixed point (1) forms a bearing surface (11) for guiding the bush bearing (2) in rotation, said bush bearing (2) partially covering a tube (210) of the tubular home-automation actuator. The head (3A, 3B) comprises a bore (32) having a first connecting element (33) that engages with a second connecting element (13) provided on the outer periphery of the fixed point (1) such as to connect the head and the fixed point in a rotatable manner. The head comprises a stop element (31) serving as an axial stop to the bush bearing along the longitudinal axis when the head is mounted on the fixed point.

Example architectural opening coverings powered by rotary motors are described. An example architectural opening covering apparatus includes a rotatable member, a covering mounted to the rotatable member, a motor having a drive shaft which is capable of rotating the rotatable member in a first direction to raise the covering and in a second direction opposite the first direction to lower the covering, and a drive shaft coupling substantially preventing the motor from applying torque in the second direction.

The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.

A controller assembly includes a housing, first and second tube units, and first and second runners. Each of the first and second runners slides on a respective one of the first and second tube units when the respective one of the first and second tube units is driven to rotate. In response to sliding of the first runner to bring the first runner into abutment with the second runner, the first runner is prevented from sliding over the second runner, whilst impeding rotation of the first tube unit. In response to sliding of the second runner to bring the second runner into abutment with the first runner, the second runner is prevented from sliding over the first runner, whilst impeding rotation of the second tube unit.

Methods and apparatus to operate a covering of an architectural covering are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a clutch to disengage a motor from moving a covering to facilitate manual operation of the covering of an architectural covering when the motor is not in use; and a controller: to track a covering position based on a first encoder measurement from a first encoder; and to track a motor position when the motor disengages based on a second encoder measurement from a second encoder different from the first encoder.

Methods and apparatus to operate a covering of an architectural covering are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a clutch to disengage a motor from moving a covering to facilitate manual operation of the covering of an architectural covering when the motor is not in use; and a controller: to track a covering position based on a first encoder measurement from a first encoder; and to track a motor position when the motor disengages based on a second encoder measurement from a second encoder different from the first encoder.

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 controller assembly includes a housing, first and second tube units, and first and second runners. Each of the first and second runners slides on a respective one of the first and second tube units when the respective one of the first and second tube units is driven to rotate. In response to sliding of the first runner to bring the first runner into abutment with the second runner, the first runner is prevented from sliding over the second runner, whilst impeding rotation of the first tube unit. In response to sliding of the second runner to bring the second runner into abutment with the first runner, the second runner is prevented from sliding over the first runner, whilst impeding rotation of the second tube unit.

The invention relates to a tubular home-automation actuator for driving a winding tube (310), said actuator comprising a head system (100) including a fixed point (1), a bush bearing (2), and a head (3A; 3B), The fixed point (1) forms a bearing surface (11) for guiding the bush bearing (2) in rotation, said bush bearing (2) partially covering a tube (210) of the tubular home-automation actuator. The head (3A, 3B) comprises a bore (32) having a first connecting element (33) that engages with a second connecting element (13) provided on the outer periphery of the fixed point (1) such as to connect the head and the fixed point in a rotatable manner. The head comprises a stop element (31) serving as an axial stop to the bush bearing along the longitudinal axis when the head is mounted on the fixed point.

A limiter assembly to limit extension or retraction of a blind, the limiter assembly comprising an actuator having a limit position and a free position; a first limit member selectively engageable with a blind cylinder, for movement in response to rotation of a blind cylinder during extension or retraction of the blind, the first limit member moving with respect to a stop position only when the actuator is set to the limit position; and a stop to resist movement of the first limit member past the stop position when the actuator is set to the limit position, thereby resisting further rotation of the blind cylinder.