AU2019100851A4

AU2019100851A4 - Elasticity adjustment apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2019100851A4
Application number: AU2019100851A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yi-Chin Tao
Original assignee: Sunmaster Blinds Co Ltd
Current assignee: Sunmaster Blinds Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-01
Filing date: 2019-08-01
Publication date: 2019-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 2027-08-01

Abstract

The present invention is an elasticity adjustment apparatus comprises: an axle shaft; an operating member; a first elastic member; and an adjustment securement mechanism comprising a second elastic member, a controller, an axle base, a securement seat and a C shape locking ring; the controller comprises an adjustment portion. The present invention is an elasticity adjustment apparatus, used for adjustment a first elastic member, comprises: an adjustment securement mechanism comprising a controller and a second elastic member mounted onto the controller; the controller comprises an adjustment portion. By operating the adjustment portion, the controller is rotated to change the first elastic potential energy of the first elastic member, and the second elastic potential energy of the second elastic member is changed to drive the controller to reset, thereby achieving the effect of adjusting the first elastic member retraction force and securing adjustment state without removal of the roller of roller blind. //

Description

[0001] The technical field relates to an elasticity adjustment apparatus, and a roller using such elasticity adjustment apparatus and applied to a roller blind.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] A traditional vertical roller blind typically uses a rolling mechanism comprising a spring to roll the blind upward and downward. When hand or pulling cable, bead chain structure etc. is used to pull the blind downward, the rolling mechanism is able to use gear or other engagement structure to store elastic potential energy during the same time when the blind is rolled downward. In addition, to pull the blind upward for retraction, the spring is able to release the elastic potential energy stored to drive the rolling mechanism to rotate in order to retract the blind to be wrapped onto the retraction mechanism, thereby reducing the energy required to be consumed by the user.

[0003] Taiwanese Patent No. M317232 discloses a roller blind labor-saving elastic shaft apparatus, comprising a securement shaft, a securement head, a labor-saving spring, a movable rotator, a hollow sleeve and a controller attached onto a blind frame in order to control the rolling of a blind. In addition, it also includes a tool hole formed at an outer side of the securement head, capable cooperating with the use of a wrench to change the tension of the labor-saving spring in order to change the rolling force of the roller blind.

[0004] However, since springs are typically installed at the middle section of the rolling mechanism, in the situation where after the blind installation is complete, if the rolling force is found to be too strong or too week, it is necessary to remove the entire rolling mechanism along with the blind in order to adjust the tension of the spring for changing rolling force. Furthermore, if the spring tension is still found to be inappropriate again after the re-installation of the blind, it would be necessary to remove such mechanism again for adjustment, which can be extremely time and labor consuming. In particular, when the roller blind is of relatively large size and volume, frequency and difficult

2019100851 01 Aug 2019 removal and installation processes can cause inconvenience and hassle to users and manufacturers or installers.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0005] To allow the tension of the spring to be adjusted from the external directly and to further secure the spring in order to maintain the elasticity state of the spring after adjustment, the inventor of the present invention provides an elasticity adjustment apparatus, comprising: an axle shaft; an operating member installed at one end adjacent to the axle shaft; a first elastic member mounted onto the axle shaft, one end of the first elastic member secured onto the axle shaft, and another end thereof secured onto the operating member; an adjustment securement mechanism, comprising an axle base arranged at another end corresponding to the axle shaft, a controller arranged inside the axle base and a second elastic member mounted onto the controller, two ends of the second elastic member received inside the axle base, and the controller having a first securement portion detachably attached onto a second securement portion of the axle base, and the controller having an adjustment portion protruded out of the axle base;

[0006] In addition, by operating the adjustment portion, the first securement portion of the controller is disengaged from the second securement portion of the axle base, during which the second elastic member stores a second elastic potential energy, and subsequently, the controller is rotated to allow the controller to drive the axle shaft to rotate, thereby twisting the first elastic member relative to the operating member in order to store a first elastic potential energy; by stop operating the adjustment portion, the second elastic member releases the second elastic potential energy to reset the controller in order to allow the first securement portion of the controller to be locked at the second securement portion of the axle base. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first elastic member and the second elastic member are springs.

[0007] Furthermore, the adjustment securement mechanism comprises a securement seat and the securement seat is arranged on the axle base in order to secure the second elastic member inside the axle base. The adjustment securement mechanism further comprises a C-shape locking ring, and the C-shape locking ring is used to secure the axle base and the securement seat.

2019100851 01 Aug 2019 [0008] In addition, the adjustment portion includes an adjustment hole. In an embodiment of the present invention, the shape of the adjustment hole is hexagon, and it can be used to cooperate with a tool for operation, such as a hex wrench.

[0009] Moreover, the present invention can also be an elasticity adjustment apparatus, used for adjusting a first elastic member, comprising: an adjustment securement mechanism, comprising an axle base, a controller arranged inside the axle base and a second elastic member mounted onto the controller, two ends of the second elastic member received inside the axle base, and the controller having a first securement portion detachably attached onto a second securement portion of the axle base, and the controller having an adjustment portion protruded out of the axle base; wherein by operating the adjustment portion, the first securement portion of the controller is disengaged from the second securement portion of the axle base, during which the second elastic member stores a second elastic potential energy, and subsequently, the controller is rotated to allow the controller to drive the first elastic member to twist, thereby storing a first elastic potential energy; by stop operating the adjustment portion, the second elastic member releases the second elastic potential energy to reset the controller in order to allow the first securement portion of the controller to be locked at the second securement portion of the axle base.

[0010] According to the aforementioned technical features, the following technical effects can be achieved:

[0011] 1. With the use of the adjustment securement mechanism, an L-shape adjustment shaft can be used directly to adjust the elastic force of the first elastic member without removal of the roller of the roller blind. In addition, by using the elastic potential energy of the second elastic member, the controller can be reset in order to secure the elastic force of the first elastic member after the adjustment.

[0012] 2. The elasticity adjustment apparatus can be used for the rolling of a vertical roller blind or curtain that is a rope, ropeless type of blind or a blind made of any materials. Furthermore, such elasticity adjustment apparatus can be used in other applications with the need of adjusting the elastic force of internal springs, such as projection screen, roller gates etc.

2019100851 01 Aug 2019 [0013] 3. Two ends of the first elastic members are secured onto the operating member and the mounting portion respectively. Therefore, regardless whether it is to roll the roller blind or to change the tension of the first elastic member, one of the two ends can be secured stationary while the other end can be rotated in order to achieve the rolling or tension adjustment. As a result, the apparatus is able to simplify the configuration and to facilitate the implementation thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is an overall exploded view of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the adjustment securement mechanism of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 3 is an overall cross-sectional view of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention;

[0017] FIG. 4 is an overall outer appearance view of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional actuation view 1 of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention, showing a hex wrench inserted into the adjustment hole;

[0019] FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional actuation view 2 of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention, showing force being applied to disengage the controller from the axle base;

[0020] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional actuation view 3 of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention, showing a hex wrench is rotated to drive the first elastic spring to rotate and to store a first elastic potential energy;

2019100851 01 Aug 2019 [0021] FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional actuation view 4 of the roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention, showing the controller is locked back to the axle base.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0022] In view of the aforementioned technical features, the primary technical effects of an elasticity adjustment apparatus and a roller of a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention are described in detail in the following exemplary embodiments.

[0023] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A roller for a roller blind using the elasticity adjustment apparatus of the present invention comprises: a sleeve (1), an adjustment securement mechanism (2), an axle shaft (3), a first spring (4), a mounting tube (5), an operating (6), an outer tube (7), a movable rotating axle (8) and two brackets (9). The adjustment securement mechanism (2) comprises a second spring (21), a controller (22), an axle base (23), a securement seat (24) and a C-shape locking ring (25). The controller (22) comprises a first securement portion (221), an abutment portion (222) and an adjustment portion. The adjustment portion comprises an adjustment hole (223). The adjustment hold (223) can be operated in cooperation with a hex wrench (A). The axle base (23) comprises a second securement portion (231), two first protrusions (232), and two first ring slots (223) are formed on the two first protrusions (232) respectively. The securement seat (24) comprises two second protrusions (241) and two concave slots (242), and two second ring slots (243) are formed on the two second protrusions (241) respectively. The two second protrusions (241) and the two concave slots (242) are alternatively arranged at the perimeter of the securement seat (24). The axle shaft (3) comprises a mounting portion (31), a first insertion pin (32) and a second insertion pin (33). The operating member (6) comprises a bearing (61) and a through hole (62).

[0024] Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The sleeve (1) is mounted onto at an outer side the adjustment securement mechanism (2). The adjustment securement mechanism (2) is arranged at one end of the axle shaft (3). The second spring (21) is mounted onto the controller (22). The controller (22) is arranged inside the axle base (23). The adjustment hole (223) of the controller (22) protrudes out of the axle base (23). The adjustment hole

2019100851 01 Aug 2019 (223) has a shape of hexagon, and it can allow the use of a hex wrench (A) to rotate the controller (22) in order to drive the axle shaft (3) to rotate. The securement seat (24) is arranged on the axle base (23). The axle shaft (3) is a hollow rectangular column, and the controller (22) is a solid rectangular column structure, such that the controller (22) can be inserted into the axle shaft (3). The controller (22) uses the first insertion pin (32) to be secured onto the axle shaft (3) in order to drive the axle shaft (3) to rotate.

[0025] It shall be noted that the second spring (21) is secured inside the axle base (23), and the securement method between the axle base (23) and the securement seat (24) shall be noted. The axle base (23) includes a receiving space (234) concave inward. The bottom portion of the receiving space (234) includes the second securement portion (231). The controller (22) is of a shaft shape and the first securement portion (221) is arranged at the end portion thereof. The abutment portion (222) of the controller (22) is arranged at a rear side of the first securement portion (221). After the controller (22) is mounted with the second spring (21), it is placed into the receiving space (234) in order to allow the first securement portion (221) to be locked onto the second securement portion (231). The securement seat (24) is mounted onto the axle base (23), and the securement seat (24) further includes a retaining wall (244) extended to the opening of the receiving space (234) of the axle base (23). By abutting one end of the second spring (21) at the abutment portion (222) and abutting another end thereof at the retaining wall (244), the second spring (21) is secured inside the axle base (23). Consequently, when the securement seat (24) is mounted onto the axle base (23), the positions of the two first protrusions (232) of the axle base (23) are corresponding to the positions of the two concave slots (242) of the securement seat (24), in order to allow the two first protrusions (232) to be received inside the two concave slots (242) of the securement base (24). At this time, the first protrusions (232) and the second protrusions (241) form a complete circle. Furthermore, the two first ring slots (233) of the axle base (23) and the two second ring slots (243) of the securement seat (24) are connected to each other to form a closed ring slot. Next, the C-shape locking ring (25) is used to lock inside the closed ring slot formed by the two first ring slots (233) and the two second ring slots (243), in order to secure the axle base (23) and the securement seat (24) together.

[0026] Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The mounting portion (31) is arranged at one end of the axle shaft (1) opposite from the operating member (6). The mounting portion (31)

2019100851 01 Aug 2019 uses the second insertion pin (31) to be secured with the axle shaft (3) in order to allow the first spring (4) and the mounting tube (5) to have a stable supporting point. The first spring (4) is mounted onto the axle shaft (33), and one end thereof is secured onto the mounting portion (31) while another end thereof is secured onto the operating member (6). The mounting tube (5) is arranged at an outer side of the first spring (4), and one end thereof abuts against the mounting portion (31) while another end thereof abuts against the operating member (6). The operating member (6) is arranged at another end of the axle shaft (3), and the axle shaft (3) penetrates through the operating member (6) via the through hole (62) of the bearing (61). The operating member (6) is able to rotate relative to the axle shaft (3) via the bearing (61). The axle shaft (3) can also rotate relative to the operating member (6); however, the axle shaft (3) and the operating member (6) are configured to not move together. The outer tube (7) is arranged at the outer most side of the axle shaft (3) and the adjustment securement mechanism (2). The outer edge is wrapped with a roller blind (B), and the inner edge uses a plurality of ribs (not shown in the drawings) to lock onto a plurality of indented strips (not shown in the drawings) on the sleeve (1), the operating member (6) and the movable rotating axle (8). The movable rotating axle (8) is arranged at another end of the outer tube (7), such that the movable rotating axle (8) can be rotated to roll up or down the roller blind (B). The brackets (9) are installed at two ends of the outer tube (7) respectively, and they can be secured onto wall or ceiling. The adjust hole (223) of the controller (22) protrudes out of the brackets (9).

[0027] Please refer to FIG. 5 to FIG. 8. The hex wrench (A) is used to insert into the adjustment hole (223), and an external force is applied onto the hex wrench (A) to press the controller (22) toward the direction of the axle shaft (3) in order to allow the first securement portion (221) of the controller (22) to disengage from the second securement portion (231) of the axle base (23). The abutment portion (222) compresses the second spring (21) at the same time, and during which the second spring (21) stores a second elastic potential energy. Subsequently, an external force is applied to rotate the hex wrench (A) in order to allow the controller (22) to drive the axle shaft (3) to rotate. At this time, the operating member (not shown in the drawings) is secured due to the outer edge locked onto the inner edge of the outer tube (7), such that the first spring (4) is able to twist relative to the operating member (not shown in the drawings) in order to store a first elastic potential energy. Finally, the external force applied is removed to stop operating the adjustment hole (223), and the second spring (21) releases the second elastic potential

2019100851 01 Aug 2019 energy to restore back to the original shape and to push the abutment portion (222), such that the controller (22) is driven to reset, causing the first securement portion (221) of the controller (22) to use the gear structure to lock onto the second securement portion (231) of the axle base (23) in order to achieve the securement thereof. In addition, since the controller (22) is secured with the axle shaft (1), the first spring (4) is also secured in order to maintain at the elastic state after adjustment without returning back to the original state. In other words, the technical effect of securing the controller (22) after completing the adjustment of the elasticity of the first spring (4) in order to maintain an elastic state after adjustment can be achieved.

[0028] The actuation through the use of hand, rope chain or other method to rotate the movable rotating axle (8) is a known technique; therefore, it is not shown in the drawings, and only a brief description is provided here. Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. When the movable rotating axle shaft (8) is to be rotated, since the movable rotating axle (8) is locked onto the outer tube (7) with each other, the outer tube (7) is able to rotate along with the movable rotating axle (8), such that the operating member (6) locked onto the outer tube (7) can also be driven to rotate. In addition, when the operating member (6) is rotated, the first spring (4) is twisted relative to the mounting portion (31) in order to store the first elastic potential energy. It shall be noted that during the rotation of the movable rotating axle (8), since the axle shaft (3) is secured with the controller (22) without rotation, the mounting portion (31) of the axle shaft (3) is still secured, and the first spring (4) is driven by the operating member (6) to twist relative to the mounting portion (31) in order to store the first elastic potential energy. This is an exact opposite of the situation where the hex wrench (A) is used to adjust the tension of the first spring (4), and the operating member (6) is secured in order to allow the mounting portion (31) of the axle shaft (3) to drive the first spring (4) to twist relative to the operating member (6).

[0029] In view of the description of the aforementioned embodiments, the operation and use of the present invention as well as the technical effects generated by the present invention can be sufficiently understood. It shall be noted that the above embodiments describe the preferred examples of the present invention only, which shall not be treated as limitations of the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the scope of the claims and description content of the present invention shall be considered to be within the scope of the claim of the present

Claims

1. An elasticity adjustment apparatus, comprising:

an axle shaft;

an operating member installed at one end adjacent to the axle shaft;

a first elastic member mounted onto the axle shaft, one end of the first elastic member secured onto the axle shaft, and another end thereof secured onto the operating member;

an adjustment securement mechanism, comprising an axle base arranged at another end corresponding to the axle shaft, a controller arranged inside the axle base and a second elastic member mounted onto the controller, two ends of the second elastic member received inside the axle base, and the controller having a first securement portion detachably attached onto a second securement portion of the axle base, and the controller having an adjustment portion protruded out of the axle base;

wherein by operating the adjustment portion, the first securement portion of the controller is disengaged from the second securement portion of the axle base, during which the second elastic member stores a second elastic potential energy, and subsequently, the controller is rotated to allow the controller to drive the axle shaft to rotate, thereby twisting the first elastic member relative to the operating member in order to store a first elastic potential energy; by stop operating the adjustment portion, the second elastic member releases the second elastic potential energy to reset the controller in order to allow the first securement portion of the controller to be locked at the second securement portion of the axle base.

2. The elasticity adjustment apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the adjustment securement mechanism comprises a securement seat and the securement seat is arranged on the axle base in order to secure the second elastic member inside the axle base.

3. The elasticity adjustment apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the adjustment securement mechanism further comprises a C-shape locking ring, and the C-shape locking ring is used to secure the axle base and the securement seat.

2019100851 01 Aug 2019

4. The elasticity adjustment apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the adjustment portion includes an adjustment hole.

5. An elasticity adjustment apparatus, used for adjusting a first elastic member, comprising:

an adjustment securement mechanism, comprising an axle base, a controller arranged inside the axle base and a second elastic member mounted onto the controller, two ends of the second elastic member received inside the axle base, and the controller having a first securement portion detachably attached onto a second securement portion of the axle base, and the controller having an adjustment portion protruded out of the axle base;

wherein by operating the adjustment portion, the first securement portion of the controller is disengaged from the second securement portion of the axle base, during which the second elastic member stores a second elastic potential energy, and subsequently, the controller is rotated to allow the controller to drive the first elastic member to twist, thereby storing a first elastic potential energy; by stop operating the adjustment portion, the second elastic member releases the second elastic potential energy to reset the controller in order to allow the first securement portion of the controller to be locked at the second securement portion of the axle base.