Motorized Curtain Rod System

Abstract

A curtain rod system has a support rod surrounding a drive member with a worm screw thereon. A powered carrier engaged on the worm screw provides powered translation of a curtain engaged thereto, upon rotation of the drive member by an electric motor. The drive member can be customized for length through by assembling it from drive member segments to allow for width adjustment of the curtain rod system. The worm screw may be formed of two separate parallel thread portions forming a double helix around the exterior of the drive member.

Claims

1. A curtain rod system, comprising: a support rod, said support rod having a sidewall surrounding an axial passage, said support rod adapted for engagement with a mount to a wall surface; a drive member extending between a first end and a second end, said drive member in a rotational engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; said drive member having a worm screw formed on an exterior thereof; an electric motor engaged with said first end of said drive member; a powered carrier, said powered carrier having a body having a cavity communicating therethrough, said cavity having threads complimentary to said worm screw; said body of said powered carrier having a support member extending therefrom, said support member configured to engage a leading edge of a curtain having a curtain body; at least one non-driven carrier configured to connect to said curtain, said non-driven carriers in a sliding engagement with said support rod; said electric motor being energizable by an electric power source to rotate said drive member in either of a first direction or opposite second direction; and whereby said drive member rotating in said first direction translates aid powered carrier in a first direction along said support rod, and said drive member rotating in said second direction translates said powered carrier in a second direction opposite said first direction along said support rod.

2. The curtain rod system of claim 1, additionally comprising: said drive member assembled from a plurality of drive member segments; each of said drive member segments in said plurality thereof, having mating connectors on respective opposing ends which connect to respective mating segments on adjacent said drive member segments.

3. The curtain rod system of claim 1, additionally comprising: said worm screw on said exterior of said drive member having a first helical thread running parallel to a second helical thread thereon thereby forming said worm screw in a double helix thereon.

4. The curtain rod system of claim 2, additionally comprising: said worm screw on said exterior of said drive member having a first helical thread running parallel to a second helical thread thereon thereby forming said worm screw in a double helix thereon.

5. The curtain rod system of claim 1 wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

6. The curtain rod system of claim 2 wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

7. The curtain rod system of claim 3 wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

8. The curtain rod system of claim 4 wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

9. The curtain rod system of claim 1 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; said elongated sleeve positioned within said axial passage of said support rod; and said drive member located within said axial passageway.

10. The curtain rod system of claim 2 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; and said drive member located within said axial passageway.

11. The curtain rod system of claim 3 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; and said drive member located within said axial passageway.

12. The curtain rod system of claim 4 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; and said drive member located within said axial passageway.

13. The curtain rod system of claim 5 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; said drive member located within said axial passageway; said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

14. The curtain rod system of claim 6 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; said drive member located within said axial passageway; said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

15. The curtain rod system of claim 7 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; said drive member located within said axial passageway; said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

16. The curtain rod system of claim 8 additionally comprising: an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; said drive member located within said axial passageway; said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier.

17. The curtain rod system of claim 8 wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises: a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage.

18. The curtain rod system of claim 9 wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises: a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage.

19. The curtain rod system of claim 11 wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises: a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage.

20. The curtain rod system of claim 12 wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises: a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive examples of embodiments and/or features of the motorized curtain rod system and/or employment thereof. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative of the invention herein, rather than limiting of it, in any fashion.

In the drawings:

[0023] FIG. 1 depicts the curtain rod system herein in a fully assembled configuration ready for sliding positioning of a curtain thereon.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the components of the system of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the curtain rod as shown in FIG. 1 showing the operatively positioned components located within an axial passage of the support rod.

[0026] FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of a typical mode of the curtain rod support system herein showing an elongated slot, formed in the support rod, with projecting support members engaged to a respective body of a powered carrier, projecting therefrom.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a cut-away view of a mode of the system herein which operates in the same fashion of that of FIG. 1, but employs a single powered carrier for closing and opening a curtain hung therefrom.

[0028] FIG. 6 depicts individual segments of the drive member of the system herein, which may be assembled to form a drive member of the appropriate length for the support rod and window.

[0029] FIG. 7 depicts an especially preferred configuration of the drive segments having independent threads formed on the segments and assembled drive member in a double helix configuration.

[0030] FIG. 8 shows a drive member formed of a plurality of the drive segments and showing the two projecting gears encircling the drive member in the dual helix configuration.

[0031] FIG. 9 shows the sleeve of the system herein having an interior passage sized for operative rotation of the assembled drive member or members therein, and ribs located in-between a plurality of ribs which contact an interior wall of the axial passage of the support rod.

[0032] FIG. 10 depicts an end view of the sleeve of the system showing the plurality of ribs radially projecting therefrom in operative contact with the interior wall of the support member and showing an end of the drive member and a support member projecting through the slot in the support rod.

[0033] FIG. 11 shows the sleeve, as in FIG. 10, having the drive member operatively positioned within the axial passageway running a length of the sleeve.

[0034] FIG. 12 depicts a perspective end view of the sleeve similar to FIG. 10, and also showing recesses formed into an interior wall of the support member configured to engage with the distal ends of the ribs of the sleeve.

[0035] FIG. 13 depicts an overhead view of a mode of the system herein showing that it is configurable to open and close multiple curtains hung from a plurality of support rods concurrently.

[0036] FIG. 14 shows a controller which may be remotely activated to energize one or a plurality of motors powering individual, respective drive members, to concurrently open and close a plurality of curtains.

[0037] FIG. 15 depicts a mode of the system herein wherein the support member additionally includes a race for rolling positioning of the non powered carriers for a curtain therein.

[0038] FIG. 15A is a view of a powered carrier of the system showing the complimentary double helix threaded cavity and also shows a preferred releasing connector for engagement of a curtain.

[0039] FIG. 16 shows a method of configuring the system herein to a length of windows to which it will engage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] In this description, the directional prepositions of up, upwardly, down, downwardly, front, back, top, upper, bottom, lower, left, right and other such terms refer to the device as it is oriented and appears in the drawings and are used for convenience only and such are not intended to be limiting or to imply that the motorized curtain rod system herein disclosed has to be used or positioned in any particular orientation.

[0041] Now referring to drawings in FIGS. 1-16, wherein similar components are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in FIG. 1, the curtain rod system 10 herein in a fully assembled configuration ready for sliding positioning of a curtain in a sliding engagement (not shown but well known, hereon. Conventionally, such curtains employ clips or non driven carriers which slide upon the exterior of a support rod 12 or as shown in FIG. 15, the non driven carriers 14 slide on a race 16 formed on the support rod 12. Mounts 18 conventionally hold the support rod 12 elevated and spaced from a wall to which the mounts 18 engage.

[0042] Shown in FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the system 10 used in all modes such as shown in FIGS. 3-5. As shown, the support rod 12 has an axial passage 20 communicating therethrough between a first end and second end. A sleeve 22 is sized for positioning within the axial passage 24 and has an axial passageway 24 communicating therethrough sized of operative rotation of one or a plurality of drive members 26 therein. As described below, the drive member 26, has a worm screw 28 threaded exterior. Each drive member 26 is engaged with a powered carrier 30 having a body 31 having a complimentary threaded cavity 32 running therethrough whith threads which are complimentary to the worm screw 28 on the threaded exterior of the drive member 26.

[0043] Support members 34 project from the body 31 of the powered carrier 30 and extend through a sleeve slot 36 communicating with the axial passageway 24 of the sleeve 22, which aligns with a rod slot 38 communicating through the sidewall 39 forming the support rod 12 with the axial passage 20 thereof. Ribs 40 extending from the exterior of the sleeve 22 may be provided to engage with the axial passage 20 to hold the sleeve 22 operatively therein.

[0044] Also shown in FIG. 2, and other figures herein, an electric motor 42 is connected with one end of the drive member 26 and provides a powered rotation thereof when energized by electric power provided by a battery 44 and/or a connection to a power supply or building AC power. As noted below, a remote control communicating with a controller is preferred to switch close a circuit to connect electric power to the motor 42 to rotate. The motors 42 are reversible in rotating direction to thereby cause the engaged drive member 26, to rotate in one direction to pull the curtain engaged with a powered carrier 30 in the open or closed direction for that curtain. Also shown in FIG. 2, two drive members 26 with one having a worm screw 28 drive exterior being a left hand screw configuration and one being a right hand screw configuration. Thus, when one motor 42 rotates both of the drive members 26, the curtains connected with a respective powered carrier 30 engaged thereon, will move to close and open at the same time, in reverse directions. Spacers 46 may be positioned at opposing ends fo the sleeve 22 and have openings therein for engagement of the motor 42 with one end of the drive member 26.

[0045] Shown in FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the curtain rod system 10 as shown in FIG. 1. As depicted, the drive member 26 is formed with the worm screw 28 drive exterior where one half is right hand threaded and the opposite half is left hand threaded and the two halves are joined by a connector. This mode of the system 10, as noted, can employ a single motor 42 which connects during use, to electric power such as a battery 44. Using a controller either built into the motor 42, or a dedicated controller as in FIG. 14, the motor 42 can be activated to rotate in one or the other of two directions, thereby rotating the engaged drive member 26, to translate the respective engaged powered carriers 30 concurrently toward or away from each other.

[0046] FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of a typical mode of the curtain rod support system 10 herein in all modes, whether carrying a single curtain to open and close, or two curtains toward and away from each other. As shown, the support members 34 engaged to respective powered carriers 30, project through the rod slot 38, which as noted is aligned with the sleeve slot 36 of the sleeve 22 operatively positioned within the axial passage 20 of the support rod 12. Also shown through the aligned slots are the battery 44 which may be operatively engaged to provide power to the motor 42 using wiring.

[0047] Depicted in FIG. 5 is a cut-away view of a mode of the system 10 herein which operates in the same fashion of that of FIG. 1. In this mode of the system 10, the drive member 26 is formed with only a right or left handed worm screw 28 thereon which engages a complimentary threaded passage 32 of a single powered carrier 30. The motor 42 is engaged to one end of the formed drive member 26, and is switchable between rotation directions by a controller and remote control or wired switch, to move the powered carrier 30 and connected curtain thereto, between the open and closed positions.

[0048] As noted, in the particularly preferred mode of the system 10 herein, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the device is configurable for length on site, by trimming the length of the support rod 12, and the sleeve 22 and forming the drive member 26, from segments 27 which engage at abutting ends to form the elongated drive member 26. Each segment 27 has mating connectors 50 at each end configured to engage the mating connector 50 of the adjacent segment 27 forming a drive member 26. Thus the user can assemble the segments 27 to form the proper length drive member 26 needed. The segment 27 on the end of the formed drive member 26, opposite that which operatively connects to the motor 42, can also be trimmed to reach a desired drive member 26 length.

[0049] Additionally, in all modes of the system 10, the motor 42 will have a mating connector 50 which will engage with the mating connector 50 on an engagement end of the drive member 26 be it from segments 27 or a single piece. Such a mating connector 50 may be shown as the depicted post 52 engageable in a recess 54 shown in FIGS. 7-8.

[0050] Also shown in FIG. 7 and in FIG. 8, are an especially preferred configuration of the drive member 26, whether formed in a single section or formed of a plurality of drive segments 27. As shown, the drive member 26, has two independent worm screw 28 threads 58 and 60, projecting therefrom in a double helix configuration. Each projecting thread has a respective starting point 56 at one end of the formed drive member 26 whether formed of segments 27 such as in FIG. 8, or one piece as in FIG. 7 or FIG. 5.

[0051] This double helix of parallel helical worm screw 28 threads, thus provides two different projecting threads for engagement within the complimentary threaded cavity 32 of a powered carrier 30 which would also have two threads and two thread recesses therebetween. This double helix winding provides a significant increase in the speed in which the powered carrier 30 translates in both directions upon the drive member 26. Additionally, the two individual worm screw threads such as a first helical thread 58 and a second helical thread 60, both independently impart power during rotation of the drive member 26, to the powered carrier 30. Thus, torque force is more equally communicated and should one of the two helical threads 58 or 60. Further, should either the first helical thread 58 or second helical thread 60 become damaged, the system 10 will still operate since the other of the two helical threads 58 or 60 will still be engaged with the complimentary threaded cavity 32 which also has two independent helical threads and passages therebetween.

[0052] Shown in FIG. 9 is the sleeve 26 employed in the system 10 herein in all modes. As noted, the sleeve 26 has an exterior circumferential surface 62 which contacts with an interior surface 19 of the support member 12 defining the axial passage 20 such as shown in FIG. 2. Preferably, this exterior circumferential surface 62 is formed at the distal ends of a plurality of ribs 40 extending from the exterior of the wall 64 of the sleeve 22 which surrounds the axial passageway 24. This rib 40 configuration is preferred as it provides pathways 65 between the ribs 40 where wires may communicate between the motor 42 on one end of the support member 12 and a battery 44 on the other when configured as such, or for circuits communicating with a controller and the motor or motors to control multiple support rods 12 as in FIGS. 13-14.

[0053] In FIG. 10 is shown an end view of the sleeve 14 operatively engaged within the axial passage 20 by a plurality of ribs 40 projecting from the exterior of the wall 64 thereof. Also shown is the mating connector 50 on one end of the drive member 26 which is rotationally engaged within the axial passageway 24 of the sleeve 22. As noted a motor 42 will have a complimentary mating connector 50 to thereby engage to the drive member 26. As also shown, the powered carrier 30 has a support member 34 which projections through the sleeve slot 36 and the rod slot 38.

[0054] In FIG. 11 is shown the sleeve of the system 10 such as in FIG. 10 having the drive member 26 operatively positioned within the axial passageway 24 running a length of the sleeve 22. Also shown are the preferred ribs 40 which form pathways 65 therebetween with the sleeve 22 operatively engaged within the axial passage 20 of the support rod 12.

[0055] Shown in FIG. 12 is a perspective end view of the sleeve of the system 10 similar to FIG. 10, in a particularly preferred mode of engagement with the interior surface 19 of the support rod 12. This mode is favored because it maintains the sleeve slot 36 aligned with the rod slot 38, and prevents rotation of the sleeve 22 within the axial passage 20 which might be caused by the force of rotation of the drive member 26. As shown, recesses 67 are formed into the interior surface 19 of the wall 64 of the support rod 12, into which the ribs 40 engage. So engaged, the ribs 40 maintain the sleeve 22 in a fixed position within the axial passage 24 of the support rod 12.

[0056] FIG. 13 shows an overhead view of a mode of the system 10 herein showing that it is configurable to open and close multiple curtains hung from a plurality of support rods 12. Each support rod 12 will have an appropriate drive member 26 positioned therein to translate a curtain engaged to that respective support rod 12. While shown at angled positions, the individual support rods 12 can be in any orientation to the other, as this figure is to show the system can be used to control multiple curtains.

[0057] FIG. 14 shows the system 14 having a controller 47 which may be remotely activated by a wireless remote or a smart phone or the like by wireless communication, or a wired switch. In this mode, a single support rod 12 configuration with one curtain can be so controlled, and it should be noted the controller 47 may be a component engaged in the motor 42.

[0058] As noted above, when multiple curtains are hung from multiple assembled support rods 12, the controller 47 may be employed to concurrently open and close all of the multiple curtains. For example, using a feedback circuit 43 or the like, monitoring the electric current used by each electric motor 42 in the plurality, and software adapted to the task, the controller 47 can control a rotation speed of each respective motor 42 in the plurality, to control the translation of teach respective powered carrier 30 to reach a respective open or closed position of an engaged curtain at the same time. The software on the controller 47 is configured to learn when each curtain reaches its fully closed or open position by monitoring the electric current used in each motor 42, which will rise significantly once the powered carrier 30 engaged to a curtain reaches a maximum point of closing or opening. This is because the motor 42 will slip on a clutch but concurrently show a peak current use. The software is configured for calculating appropriate motor speeds to achieve appropriate translation speeds of the individual powered carriers 30 to cause reaching concurrent closed and open positions at the same time.

[0059] FIG. 15 depicts a mode of the system 10 herein wherein the support member 12 additionally includes a race 16 for rolling or sliding of the non powered curtain carriers 14 thereon. As shown, the system 10 is configured and operates in the same fashion as the other modes of the system 10 noted above, but for the non driven carriers 14 running on a race 16 or the like, rather than on the exterior surface of the support rod 12.

[0060] Shown in FIG. 15A is a perspective end view of the powered carrier 30. As noted above, the powered carrier 30 is operatively engaged with the drive member 26 by the complimentary threaded cavity 32 running axially through the body 31 of the powered carrier 30. The complimentary threaded cavity 32 will have threads formed on the sidewall thereof which are complimentary and operatively engaged the threads upon the drive member 26. As noted and shown, preferably the configuration of the threads formed on both the drive member 26 and the complimentary threaded cavity 32 are in the form of a worm screw 28 with two separate double helix configured threads. This, as noted, speeds up the translation of the powered carrier 30 and engaged curtain, and doubles the contact area between the powered carrier 30 and drive member 26 to communicate torque, and provides the ability to work with only one of the threads should one become damaged.

[0061] Additionally shown in FIG. 15A, is a releasing connector 35 which engages with a hook or similar support on the lead end of a curtain used herewith. The releasing connector 35 as shown, has a rotating member 37 which locks in place to hold the curtain hook or support, but easily rotates open to disconnect the powered carrier 30 from the curtain should power to the motor 42 fail. This allows the user an easy means to disconnect the curtain from the powered carrier 30 and pull it manually, if required.

[0062] Finally, FIG. 16, depicts typical steps in configuring and assembling the system 10 herein to a length adapted in size for a window where the system is to be installed.

[0063] It should be noted that any of the different depicted and described configurations and components of the motorized curtain rod system herein, can be employed with any other configuration or component shown and described as part of the device herein. Additionally, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof and/or steps in the method of production or use, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instance some features, or configurations, of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims.