ELECTRIC ROLLER SHADE

An electric roller shade includes a roller shade assembly, a mounting assembly, a blocking plate, and a charging assembly. The roller shade assembly includes a roller tube, a covering material connected to and wound around the roller tube, a motor, and a power supply device. The motor is adapted to be driven by the power supply device to rotate the roller tube, whereby to retract or release the covering material. The mounting assembly includes two support brackets, between which the roller tube is disposed. The blocking plate is fixedly connected to the mounting assembly. The charging assembly includes a charging connector, which is disposed on the blocking plate and electrically connected to the power supply device, and a charging unit, which is detachably and correspondingly connected to the charging connector. When connected, the charging connector transmits electric power from the charging unit to the power supply device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an electric roller shade, and more particularly to an electric roller shade which is capable of charging a power supply device which provides electric power.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Generally, most electric roller shades have a motor for providing a driving force to rotate the roller tube. The power supply designed for conventional electric roller shades has a power plug that comes out from one end of the roller tube and is electrically connected to the motor; the power plug can be connected to a mains power socket, whereby to provide electric power to the motor. However, this kind of electric roller shade would have an adverse influence on the aesthetics of interior design due to the exposed cables. Furthermore, if the position where an electric roller shade is installed is remote from the mains power socket, an extension cord which connects the mains power socket and the vicinity of the installation position of the electric roller shade has to be applied to connect the power plug, thereby providing electric power to the electric roller shade. However, using an extension cord is inconvenient for users. In some countries with strict power regulations, extension cords may even require a licensed professional to perform the installation. This inconvenience also reduces users' willingness to select electric roller shades.

To address the problems previously described, some electric roller shades use batteries to provide electric power to the motor. In such cases, batteries, like the motor, can be installed in the roller tube of a roller shade; alternatively, the batteries can also be installed at a concealed position between the upper edge of the entire electric roller shade and the window frame. Either way, the use of batteries can solve the problems that the aesthetics may be marred by exposed cables and consumers' preferences for electric roller shades may be reduced because of the inconveniences in constructing the extension cords. However, after using this kind of battery-powered electric roller shade for a period of time, the battery may drain, making the electric roller shade inoperable, and therefore the battery must be replaced. No matter where the batteries are installed, e.g., in the roller tube of a roller shade, or between the upper edge of the entire electric roller shade and the window frame, the batteries are located at the top end of the window frame. Users may have to use a ladder or similar tools to reach the height of the top end of the window frame just to replace the batteries, which is rather bothersome.

Therefore, to overcome the above-mentioned known problems, electric roller shades still need a solution for conveniently charging the batteries after the electric roller shade is installed, so that the batteries could have sufficient electric power to supply to the motor for lowering and retracting the covering material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of the present invention is to provide an electric roller shade. With a charging connector disposed on the blocking plate and electrically connected to the power supply device, a connection position capable of charging the power supply device is provided. Also, by connecting the external charging unit to the charging connector, the power supply device could be charged directly. Thus, the problem of the inconvenience in replacing batteries of conventional electric roller shades could be solved. Moreover, when the charging unit is connected to the charging connector, they could remain connected by themselves, and the electric power could be transmitted from the charging unit to the power supply device. The user may charge the power supply device through the charging connector without the need to support the charging unit by hand or any additional support. After the charging is completed, the charging unit could be detached from the charging connector.

To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides an electric roller shade including a roller shade assembly, a mounting assembly, a blocking plate, and a charging assembly. The roller shade assembly includes a covering material, a roller tube, a motor, and a power supply device, wherein the covering material is connected to and wound around the roller tube. The motor is adapted to be driven by the power supply device to drive the roller tube to rotate, whereby to retract or release the covering material. The mounting assembly includes two support brackets, and the roller tube is disposed between the two support brackets. The blocking plate is connected to the mounting assembly in a fixed manner relative to the mounting assembly. The charging assembly includes a charging connector and a charging unit. The charging connector is disposed on the blocking plate and electrically connected to the power supply device, wherein the charging unit and the charging connector are detachably and correspondingly connected to each other. When the charging unit is connected to the charging connector, the charging connector transmits electric power from the charging unit to the power supply device.

With the charging connector disposed on the blocking plate and electrically connected to the power supply device, a connection position could be provided out of the roller shade assembly to connect the charging unit, and the power supply device could be charged thereby. Also, the power supply device may be charged by connecting the external charging unit to the charging connector. Thus, the inconvenience in replacing batteries for conventional electric roller shade could be eliminated. In this way, when the user connects the charging unit to the charging connector, the electric power of the charging unit could be transmitted to the power supply device through the charging connector, whereby to charge the power supply device. In addition, once the user connects the charging unit to the charging connector, the charging unit could remain connected to the charging connector by itself without needing to be supported by hand, additional supports, or other external forces. After the charging procedure of the power supply device is completed, the charging unit could be detached from the charging connector to keep the electric window covering aesthetic and safe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer toFIG. 1toFIG. 8, the electric roller shade1includes a roller shade assembly10, a mounting assembly20, a charging assembly30, and a blocking plate40. As shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the roller shade assembly10includes a covering material12, a roller tube14, a motor (not shown), and a power supply device (not shown). The motor and the power supply device are disposed in the roller tube14and electrically connected to each other. The power supply device provides electric power to the motor, and the motor is driven by the electric power to drive the roller tube14to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the roller tube14. However, the installation positions of the motor and the power supply device are not limited to the above. In practice, one or both of the power supply device and the motor may also be installed outside the roller tube but near the position of the roller tube. One end of the covering material12is connected to the roller tube14. When the roller tube14is rotating, the covering material12could be wound around the roller tube14to get retracted or released from the roller tube14to be lowered.

The mounting assembly20includes a mounting bracket21and two support brackets22, wherein the two support brackets22are respectively connected to two ends of the mounting bracket21. The roller tube14is disposed between the two support brackets22, and two ends of the roller tube14are respectively connected to the two support brackets22to be supported thereby. The blocking plate40includes a front decorative valance41, which is connected to the mounting bracket21and disposed in front of the roller tube14, so that the front decorative valance41is fixed relative to the mounting bracket21and covers the front of the roller tube14. In practice, the front decorative valance41may also be directly connected to one or both of the support brackets22without being connected to the mounting bracket21, in a manner that the front decorative valance41is fixed relative to the support brackets22and covers the roller tube14. In other words, the objective of providing the front decorative valance41that is fixed relative to the mounting assembly20and covers the front of the roller tube14could also be achieved in this way. In the present embodiment, the front decorative valance41may be used to cover at least a part of the roller shade assembly10, so that the appearance of the electric roller shade1may be more compact and beautiful. Specifically, when the electric roller shade1is lowered, the front decorative valance41may cover the roller tube14and part of the covering material12which is still wound around the roller tube14, and may therefore only expose another part of the covering material12that has been released from the roller tube14.

The charging assembly30is adapted to supply electric energy to the power supply device for charging. In the embodiment of the present invention, the charging assembly30includes the charging connector32and the charging unit34, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2. The charging connector32is disposed on the blocking plate40and electrically connected to the power supply device. In the present embodiment, the charging connector32is disposed on a side surface411, facing the roller shade assembly10, of the front decorative valance41of the blocking plate40, and is electrically connected to the power supply device disposed in the roller tube14through a conductive wire31, as shown inFIG. 3A.

InFIG. 3B, the front decorative valance41has a side surface411and a guide slot412disposed on the side surface411. The charging connector32has a flange323, which may be correspondingly connected to and fixed in the guide slot412, so that the charging connector32is fixedly disposed on the front decorative valance41. In the present embodiment, the charging connector32is covered by the front decorative valance41, so the aesthetics of the appearance of the front decorative valance41would not be marred. InFIG. 3A, the charging connector32has an electric power input member322and a first fixing member324which are disposed adjacent to each other. In the present embodiment, the first fixing member324is, as an example, a magnetic member having a magnetic force or a magnetic member that could be attracted by magnetic force. The first fixing member324may be a magnet or a magnetic attracting material (such as an iron sheet). The charging connector32has a recessed slot321, and the electric power input member322and the first fixing member324are provided corresponding to the slot321. The electric power input member322is a recessed-type connector, such as a socket, of which an interface may be exposed through the slot321, while the first fixing member324is embedded in a bottom of the slot321. However, this is not a limitation of the present invention.

InFIG. 4, the charging unit34includes a fixing seat341, an electric power output member342, a shaft body343, and a second fixing member344. In the present embodiment, both the second fixing member344and the first fixing member324are magnetic members having magnetic force or magnetic members that could be attracted by magnetic force. However, the second fixing member344and the first fixing member324must be able to attract each other. For example, the first and the second fixing members324,344are both magnets, so they can be attracted by each other; or, one of them is a magnet and the other is a metal that can be magnetically attracted. The fixing seat341has an engaging portion3411and an insert portion3412which are disposed at opposite positions. The engaging portion3411is connected to one end of the shaft body343. The electric output member342and the second fixing member344are disposed adjacent to each other at the insert portion3412. In the present embodiment, the insert portion3412has an opening3412a, and a part of the electric power output member342protrudes out of the surface of the insertion portion3412through the opening3412a; the second fixing member344is disposed within the insertion portion3412. Regarding the structural configuration of the present embodiment, the insertion portion3412of the fixing seat341and the slot321of the charging connector32are correspondingly provided, and the slot321may accommodate at least a part of the insert portion3412. When the insert portion3412goes into the slot321, the insert portion3412matches the slot321to get connected in pairs. At the same time, the electric output member342and the electric power input member322may be connected to each other in pairs, while the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344may be paired by attraction. With these configurations, the charging unit34may be connected to the charging connector32in a detachable manner.

Please refer toFIG. 5andFIG. 6at once.FIG. 5andFIG. 6are both partial sectional views of the electric roller shade1seen from the rear. The electric output member342is a protruding-type connector, such as a plug, but is not limited thereto. When the insert portion3412of the charging unit34is inserted into and connected to the slot321of the charging connector32, the electric power output member342may be inserted into the electric input member322, establishing an electrical connection. In practice, the design of connectors of the electric power input member322and the electric power output member342is not limited thereto. Any design that can establish an electrical connection when the electric power input member322and the electric power output member342are connected should be included. In the present embodiment, the number of the first fixing member324is two, each of which is respectively disposed adjacent to one of two sides of the electric power input member322. Also, the number of the second fixing member344is two, each of which is respectively disposed adjacent to one of two sides of the electric power output member342. When the electric power output member342and the electric power input member322are connected, the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344may be mutually attracted at the same time and get connected, so that the insert portion3412could be firmly engaged within the slot321, and the stability of the connection between the electric power input member322and the electric power output member342would be improved. In addition, through the connection of the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344, the charging unit34could still remain connected to the charging connector32even if the charging unit34is not supported by hand, object, or any other external forces. In the present embodiment, although the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344are represented by members capable of being magnetically attracted by each other, it should be realized that they may also be any kind of fixing members that can be detachably and correspondingly connected, such as tightly fitted fixing members having complementary shapes, which may also provide the effect of keeping the charging unit34connected to the charging connector32while they can still be easily separated. Therefore, the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344are not limited to be magnetic members.

InFIG. 5, the shaft body343includes an electric power transmission circuit3432which is electrically connected to the electric power output member342. In the present embodiment, the shaft body343may accommodate a battery-type power supply device therein or may be directly connected to an external electric power source (such as mains electricity or a portable charger). The electric power P could be transmitted to the electric power output member342through the electric power transmission circuit3432. If a user wants to charge the power supply device of the electric roller shade, he/she could hold and move the shaft body343of the charging unit34to have its insert portion3412inserted into and connected to the slot321of the charging connector32, without the need to use a ladder or similar tools. Since the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344are attracted and connected to each other, the insert portion3412could be firmly connected to the slot321. Meanwhile, the correspondingly provided electric power output member342and the electric power input member322are also electrically connected, so that the electric power P transmitted to the electric power output member342could be transmitted to the power supply device through the electric power input member322, whereby to charge the power supply device. After the user holds and moves the shaft body343to have the charging unit34and the charging connector32correspondingly engaged, the charging unit34and the charging connector32may remain firmly connected through the attraction force and connection generated and established between the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344, and therefore the user could let go the shaft body343and leave it at where it is. In this way, while the power supply device is being charged, the charging unit34could remain connected to the charging connector32by itself, and would not need the support from hands, external forces, or any additional supporter.

In the present embodiment, the electric power output member342and the electric power input member322are connectors having physical electrical connection, but this is not a limitation of the present invention. The electric power output member342and the electric power input member322may also be the type that transmits electric power through induction coils. In the manner of transmitting electric power by induction, the electric power output member342only needs to be adjacent to the electric power input member322, and does not need a physical electrical connection. That is, after the user holds the shaft body343and moves the charging unit34to have the insert portion3412of the charging unit inserted into and connected to the slot321of the charging connector32, the insert portion3412may be firmly connected into the slot321through the attraction and connection between the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344. At this time, the electric power output member342is correspondingly adjacent to the electric power input member322, and the electric power P could be transmitted from the electric power output member342to the electric power input member322through induction coils.

InFIG. 6, when a user holds the shaft body343, without using a ladder, and moves the charging unit34in a direction away from the charging connector32until the first fixing member324and the second fixing member344are no longer attracted by and connected to each other, the charging unit34is detached from the charging connector32. At this time, the electric power P of the electric power output member342would no longer be transmitted to the electric power input member322, and the electric power P supplied to the power supply device would be therefore stopped. That is, the charging procedure of the power supply device is terminated.

Next, please refer toFIG. 7andFIG. 8. The charging unit34further includes a cushion member345. The cushion member345is disposed between the shaft body343and the engaging portion3411of the fixing seat341. In the present embodiment, one end of the cushion member345is connected to the shaft body343while the other end is connected to the engaging portion3411. In the present embodiment, the cushion member345is a vibration-absorbing spring, and the shaft body343and the engaging portion3411are respectively equipped with a fixing pin (not shown) to fix two ends of the spring. When the charging unit34is connected to the charging connector32, and the shaft body343is shaken by an external force (e.g., being accidentally hit by the user), the vibration could be absorbed by the spring to avoid affecting the attraction and connection between the first fixing member324of the charging connector32and the second fixing member344of the charging unit34, as well as the corresponding connection between the electric power output member342and the electric power input member322or the stability in the vicinity.

Please refer toFIG. 9andFIG. 10. The blocking plate40of the electric roller shade2includes an end plate42. The end plate42is disposed at one end of the roller tube14of the roller shade assembly10. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the end plate42is disposed between one end of the roller tube14and the support bracket22. The end plate42is connected to the roller tube14, the support bracket22is connected to the endplate42, and the charging connector32is disposed at a bottom surface421of the end plate42. Accordingly, the conductive wires used for the interconnection established between the charging connector32and the power supply device disposed inside the roller tube14may be hidden in the end plate42and the roller tube14instead of being exposed. InFIG. 10, the slot321of the charging connector32is formed by recessing the bottom surface421of the end plate42. The electric power input member322is disposed in the slot321. Furthermore, as in the previous embodiment, a first fixing member (not shown) may be embedded in the slot321. When the insert portion3412of the charging unit34inFIG. 10is inserted into the slot321, the electric power output member342would be in direct contact with the electric power input member322and generate an electrical connection to transmit electric power by the corresponding connection between the first fixing member (not shown) of the charging connector32and the second fixing member344(shown inFIG. 4) of the charging unit34; alternatively, the electric power output member342could be located adjacent to the electric power input member322without physical contact to transmit the electric power in an inductive manner, as shown inFIG. 9. At this time, the charging unit34and the charging connector32could remain in a connected state by themselves, and the electric power of the charging unit34could be transmitted to the power supply device through the electric power output member342and the electric power input member322, whereby to charge the power supply device.

By the design of the present invention, the electric roller shade could provide a connection position for charging the power supply device through a charging connector which is electrically connected to the power supply device. Also, the charging connector of the power supply device is disposed at the front decorative valance or the end plate of the blocking plate in a manner that the charging connector is exposed out of the roller shade assembly without affecting the overall appearance and the mounting of the electric window blind. In addition, since the power supply device could be charged through the connection of the external charging unit and the charging connecter, the troublesome and burdensome task in replacing the batteries of conventional electric roller shades or in arranging wires to use the mains electricity could be resolved. Also, when the charging unit is connected to the charging connector, they could remain in a connected state by themselves, and the electric power could be transmitted from the charging unit to the power supply device. In other words, a user may charge the power supply device through the charging connector without using hands or any additional supporter to support the charging unit, making it easy to perform the charging operation. After the charging is completed, the charging unit may be detached from the charging connector to maintain the overall aesthetics and safety of the electric window blind.