Abstract:
A force reducing device and method for adjusting shutter ropes is provided wherein winding boxes are divided into two sets. Two winding box winding box sets are symmetrically disposed with respect to a center of the upper beam, and each winding box set is fixed with a rope. The two ropes pass through respective holes in the slats, and then wind through a first pulley on the lower beam, and then extend and wind through a second pulley. The two ropes pass upwardly through the respective hole in the slats. Then, the two ropes pass through the outlets of the balance strip and are combined as a first combined rope. The first combined rope passes through an opening of the rope retaining seat to be combined with opposing ends of another rope.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a force reducing device for adjusting shutter ropes, wherein, in addition to pulling a shutter with less force, the shutter can be assembled easily. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shutters of large size cannot be used to replace cloth window curtains due to the large force necessary to operate the rope of the shutters. The current force reducing device for shutters has pulleys in the lower beam thereof. The ropes pass through the same holes in the slats, so that the holes must be elongated. In addition to being difficult to assemble, the strength of each of the slats is weakened. In order to reduce the required force, the length of the rope must be elongated in an inverse ratio to the amount of fore reduction. However, a long rope spoils the appearance of the shutters. Furthermore, the operation of those shutters is inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a force reducing device for adjusting shutter ropes, wherein, in addition to pulling shutter ropes with less force, the shutters can be assembled easily. 
     To achieve that object, the present invention provides a force reducing device, for adjusting shutter ropes and the method thereof. 
     An upper beam is embedded with a plurality of pulley boxes, a slat angle drive, a plurality of winding boxes and a rope retaining seat. Each winding box has a rolling shaft. The rope retaining scat has a balance strip. A lower beam has a plurality of holes and a plurality of pulleys. A plurality of slats each have holes formed therethrough. The winding boxes are divided into two sets. The two winding box sets arc symmetrically arranged with respect to a center of the upper beam, and each winding box set is fixed with a respective rope. The two ropes pass through respective holes in the slats, and then wind through a first pulley on the lower beam. Then, the ropes extend and wind through a second pulley of the same set with the first pulley on the lower beam. The two ropes then pass upwards through the respective holes on the slats, and then pass through the upper sides of a rolling shaft below the winding boxes. The two ropes pass through outlets at an upper and a lower side of the balance strip, and then the two ropes arc combined as a first combined rope. Then, the first combined rope passes through an opening at another side of the rope retaining seat to be coupled to opposing ends of another rope to form a second combined rope. When the second combined rope is pulled, one end of the rope will lift the shutter, and another end of the rope will be received in an inner space of the upper beam. 
     The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the path of the rope of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing that two pulleys of the lower beam of FIG. 1 are formed as one set. 
     FIG. 4 is a left side view of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing that two pulleys of the lower beam of FIG. 5 arc formed as one set. 
     FIG. 7A shows a left side view of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 7B shows a right side view of FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic pcrspective view of a plug. 
     FIG. 9 is an exploded cross sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing that two coupling means of FIG. 9 are formed as one set. 
     FIG. 11 is a left side view of the coupling means in the third embodiment. 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic perspcctive view of the plug in the third embodiment. 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded schematic view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view showing that two coupling means of FIG. 13 are formed as one set. 
     FIG. 15A is a left side view of a coupling means in the fourth embodiment. 
     FIG. 15B is a right side view of another coupling means in the fourth embodiment. 
     FIG. 16A is a perspective view of a winding box  31  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 16B is a schematic cross sectional view along line  16 B— 16 B of the winding box  31  of FIG.  16 A. 
     FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a winding box  32  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17B is a schematic cross sectional view along line  17 B— 17 B of the winding box  32  of FIG.  17 A. 
     FIG. 18A is a perspective view of a winding box  33  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 18B is a schematic cross sectional view along line  18 B— 18 B of the winding box  33  of FIG.  18 A. 
     FIG. 19A is a perspective view of a winding box  34  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19B is a schematic cross sectional view along line  19 B— 19 B of the winding box  34  of FIG.  19 A. 
     FIG. 20 is a schematic perspective view of one slat in the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In order that those skilled in the art can further understand the present invention, the invention will be described in the following detailed description. However, these description and the appended drawings are provided to aid those skilled in the art to understand the objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, but should not be used to confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  16 A,  16 B,  17 A,  17 B,  18 A,  18 B,  19 A and  19 B, the upper beam  5  is sequentially embedded with a pulley box  1 , a slat angle drive  2 , a winding box  31 , a winding box  32 , a winding box  33 , a winding box  34 , and a rope retainer  4 . The pulley box  1  is installed with a pulley  1   a.  The slat angle drive has a guide groove  21 , a guide groove  22 , a hook  23 , a rotary rod  24  and a link shaft  25  penetrating through the winding box  31 , winding box  32 , winding box  33  and winding box  34 . 
     The winding box  31  is installed with a guide groove  311 , a guide groove  312 , a guide groove  313 , and a rolling shaft  31   a.  The winding box  32  is installed with a guide groove  321 , guide groove  322 , guide groove  323 , and rolling shaft  32   a.  The winding box  3  is installed with a guide groove  331 , a guide groove  332 , a guide groove  333 , and a rolling shaft  33   a.  The winding box  34  is installed with a guide groove  341 , a guide groove  342 , a guide groove  343 , and a rolling shaft  34   a.    
     The rope retainer  4  is formed with an opening  41 , and an opening  42 , a balance strip  43 , an outlet  44 , a fixing wheel  45  and a fixing wheel  46 . 
     The ladder rope  11 , ladder rope  12 , ladder rope  13  and ladder rope  14  respectively pass by the slats  61 ,  62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  65  and  66 . The upper ends of the ladder rope  11 , ladder rope  12 , ladder rope  13  and ladder rope  14  respectivcly pass through the hole  5   a,  hole  5   c,  hole  5   d,  hole  5   f,  hole  5   g,  hole  5   i,  hole  5   j  and hole  51  of the upper beam  5  to be respectively fixed to the winding box  31 , winding box  32 , winding box  33 , and winding box  34 . The lower ends thereof are fixed to the holes of the lower beam  7   x  corresponding to the winding box  31 , winding box  32 , winding box  33 , and winding box  34 , by the plug  91 , plug  92 , plug  93  and plug  94 . The shaft  811 , shaft  821 , shaft  831 , and shaft  841  pass through the pulley  810 , pulley  820 , pulley  830 , and pulley  840  and are fixed to the lower beam  7   x.    
     The winding box  31  and winding box  32  define one set and winding box  33  and winding box  34  define another set. The rope  15  is fixed to the rolling shaft  32   a  of the winding box  32  and then passes downwards through the hole  5   e  and openings in the slat  61 , slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66 , at positions corresponding to the hole  5   e.  Then, it winds through the right side of the pulley  820  in the lower beam  7   x  and then passes over pulley  810  and through respective holes in the slat  61 , slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66  corresponding to the hole  5   b.  Then the rope passes through the hole  5   b  to the rolling shaft  31   a,  guide groove  313 , guide groove  323 , guide groove  333 , and guide groove  343  to the outlet  44  of the rope retaining seat  4 . The rope  16  is fixed to the rolling shaft  33   a  of the winding box  33 , and then passes through the holes  5   h  and corresponding holes of slat  61 , slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66 . Then, it passes over the left side of the pulley  830  on the lower beam  7   x  to the right side of the pulley  840 . The rope  16  then passes upwards through corresponding holes of the slat  61 , slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66 , and through the hole  5   k.  Then, the rope  16  passes through the rolling shaft  34   a,  and guide groove  343  of the winding box  34  to the outlet  44  of the rope retaining seat  4 . 
     The rope  15  and rope  16  are combined and fixed together external to the outlet  44 . The extension of the combined ropes  15  and  16  are combined with a rope  17 . The rope  17  passes through the opening  42  to enter into the upper beam  5 . Then it passes through the guide groove  341 , guide groove  331 , guide groove  321 , guide groove  311 , and guide groove  21  to pass over the pulley  1   a  and then it passes through the guide groove  22 , guide groove  312 , guide groove  322 , guide groove  332 , and guide groove  342 . Then, the rope  17  passes out through the opening  41  and passes through the fixing ring  47  with the opposing end of the rope  17  and ropes  15  and  16 , and is combined therewith. 
     When the fixing ring  47  or the rope  17  below the fixing ring  47  is pulled leftwards and downwards, the rope  15 , rope  16  and rope  17  are also pulled. The rope  15  and  16  lift the lower beam (shutter) upwards. The rope  17  stores the rope  15  and rope  16  in the inner space of the upper beam  5 , along the periphery of the upper beam  5 . If the rope  17  is released rightwards and upwards, then the rope  15  and rope  16  are buckled between the fixing wheel  45  and fixing wheel  46 . Therefore, in addition to force being reduced and being easily assembled, the rope is stored. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the lower beam  7   x  the pulley  810  and pulley  820  define one set and are installed with an upper left panel  71 , an upper right panel  72 , a left panel  73 , a hole  73   a,  a right panel  74 , a hole  74   a,  a hole  74   b,  a hole  75   a,  and a hole  75   b.  The shaft  811  and shaft  821  respectively pass through the pulley  810  and pulley  820  to be fixed to the lower beam  7   x.  The rope  15  winds downwards over the right side of the pulley  820  and upwards from the left side of the pulley  810 . The hole  75   a  and hole  75   b  on the bottom plate  75  respectively receive plug  91  and plug  92  therein to fix the ladder rope  11  and ladder rope  12  in the lower beam  7   x.  The upper left panel  71  and upper right panel  72  can support the weight of the slat  61 , slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66  without deformation. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5,  6 ,  7 A and  7 B, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The difference of this embodiment from the first embodiment is that the structure of the lower beam  7   y  is different from the lower beam  7   x,  while the other parts are identical. 
     In the lower beam  7   y,  the pulley  810  and pulley  820  are formed as one set and have an upper left panel  7   a,  a flange  7   a   1 , an upper right panel  7   b,  a flange  7   b   1 , a middle plate  7   e,  a bottom plate  7   d,  a hole  7   d   1 , a hole  7   d   2 , plug  71   a,  a flange  71   a   1 , a plug  71   b,  a flange  71   b   1 , an opening  714 , and opening  715 , a plug  72   a,  a flange  72   a   1 , a plug  72   b,  a flange  72   b   1 , an opening  724 , and an opening  725 . The rope  15  passes downwards through the right side of the pulley  820  and then passes upwards from the left side of the pulley  810 . The hole  7   d   1  and hole  7   d   2  on the bottom plate  7   d  respectively receive the plug  91  and plug  92  to fix the ladder rope  11  and ladder rope  12  in the lower beam  7   y.  The upper left panel  7   a  and upper right panel  7   b  can support the weight of the slat  61 , slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66  without deformation. In addition to increasing the strength of the lower beam  7   y,  the middle plate  7   c  has the function of fixing the plug  71   a,  plug  71   b,  plug  72   a  and plug  72   b.    
     In assembly, the shaft  811  and shaft  821  pass through the pulley  810  and pulley  820  and then enters into the lower side of the upper left panel  7   a  and upper right panel  7   b  through the opening  714 , opening  715 , opening  724  and opening  725 . Then, the plug  71   a,  plug  71   b,  plug  72   a  and plug  72   b  are each respectively inserted into the opening  714 , opening  715 , opening  724  and opening  725 . Thc flange  7   a   1 , flange  7   b   1 , flange  71   a   1 , flange  71   b   1 , flange  72   a   1 , and flange  72   b   1  servo to retain the shaft  811  and shaft  812  in proper positions in the lower beam  7   y.    
     The shaft  831  and shaft  841  respectively pass through the pulley  830  and pulley  840  and enter into the lower beam  7   y  to form another set. The structure is identical to the set formed by the pulley  8   10  and the pulley  820 . 
     As shown in FIG. 8, a schematic perspective view of the plug  91  is illustrated. The plug  91  has a round cylinder  911 , a groove  911   a,  a groove  911   b,  and a round sleeve  912 . The structures of the plug  92 , plug  93 , and plug  94  are identical to that of the plug  91 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 9,  10 ,  11 , and  12 , FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The difference of FIG. 9 from the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is that the lower beam  7  has a coupling means  81 , a coupling means  82 , a coupling means  83  and a coupling means  84  which are coupled thereon. The other parts are identical. 
     In the lower beam  7 , the coupling means  81  and the coupling means  82  are formed as at set and have a pulley  810 , a shaft  811 , a shaft  812 , an upper left panel  81   a,  an upper right panel  81   b,  a left panel  81   c,  a hole  81   c   1 , a hole  81   c   2 , a right panel  81   d,  a hole  81   d   1 , a hole  81   d   2 , a bottom plate  81   e,  a hole  81   e   1 , a pulley  820 , a shaft  821 , a shaft  822 , an upper left panel  82   a,  an upper right panel  82   b,  a left panel  82   c,  a right panel  82   d,  a hole  82   d   1 , a hole  82   d   2 , a bottom plate  82   e,  a hole  82   e   1 , etc. The bottom of the lower beam  7  has a hole  713 , a hole  723 , a hole  733  and a hole  743  with respect to a coupling means  81 , a coupling means  82 , a coupling means  83  and a coupling means  84 . The hole  713  and hole  723  are respectively located with respect to the hole  81   e   1 , and the hole  81   e   2  on the bottom plate  81   e  and bottom plate  82   a,  at the bottom of the coupling means  81  and coupling means  82 . The holes  713  and  723 , and holes  81   c   1  and  81   c   2  can respectively receive the plug  91   a  and plug 
       92   a,  so that the ladder rope  11  and ladder rope  12  are fixed in the lower beam  7 , and the coupling means  81  and coupling means  82  are fixed on the lower beam  7 . The shaft  811  and shaft  821  respectively pass through the pulley  810  and pulley  820  and then are fixed to the coupling means  81  and coupling mcans  82 . The rope  15  winds through the right side of the pulley  820  and then passes upwards from the left side of the pulley  810 . The shaft  812  penetrates through the hole  81   d   1  and hole  912   a,  hole  81   c   2  and the lower beam  7  for enhancing the coupling between the coupling means  81  and lower beam  7 . Similarly, the coupling means  82 , coupling means  83  and coupling means  84  have respective shafts passing through the lower beam  7 , plug  92   a,  plug  93   a  and plug  94   a  to enhance the coupling between the coupling means  82 , coupling means  83 , coupling means  84  and lower beam  7 . 
     The upper left panel  81   a,  upper right panel  81   b,  upper left panel  82   a,  and upper right panel  82   b  can support the weights of the slat  61 , slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66  without deformation. 
     The coupling means  83  and coupling means  84 , which are formed as another set, have the same structure, and principle as the set formed by the coupling means  81  and coupling means  82 . 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the plug  91   a.  The plug  91   a  has a round cylinder  911 , a groove  911   a,  groove  911   b,  a round sleeve  912 , and a hole  912   a.  The hole  912   a  penetrates through the round sleeve  912 . The structures of the plug  92   a,  plug  93   a,  and plug  94   a  are identical to that of the plug  91   a.    
     As shown in the FIGS. 13,  14 ,  15 A and  15 B, FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The difference of this embodiment from the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is that the lower beam  7  has a coupling means  8   a,  a coupling means  8   b,  a coupling means  8   c  and a coupling means  8   d  which are coupled thereon. The other pants are identical. 
     In the lower beam  7 , the coupling means  8   a  and coupling means  8   b  are formed as a set and have an upper left panel  8   a   1 , a flange  8   a   11 , a stopper  8   a   12 , an upper right panel  8   a   2 , a flange  8   a   21 , a stopper  8   a   22 , a middle plate  8   a   3 , a bottom plate  8   a   4 , a hole  8   a   41 , a hole  8   a   5 , a plug  8   a   6 , a groove  8   a   61 , a groove  8   a   62 , a flange  8   b   21 , a stopper  8   b   22 , at middle plate  8   b   3 , at bottom plate  8   b   4 , a hole  8   b   41 , a hole  8   b   5 , a plug  8   b   6 , a groove  8   b   61 , a groove  8   b   62 , a pulley  810 , a shaft  811 , a pulley  820 , a shaft  821 , etc. The bottom of the lower beam  7  has a hole  713 , a hole  723 , a hole  733  and a hole  743  disposed in respective correspondence to the bottoms of the coupling means  8   a,  coupling means  8   b,  coupling means  8   c  and coupling means  8   d.  The shaft  811  and shaft  821  respectively pass through the pulley  810  and pulley  820  and then enter into the coupling means  8   a  and coupling means  8   b  along the space between the middle plates  8   a   3  and  8   b   3  and flanges  8   a   11  and  8   a   21  of the coupling mcans  8   a  and coupling means  8   b.  Then, they are retained in the selected positions in the coupling means  8   a  and coupling means  8   b  by the stopper  8   a   12 , stopper  8   a   22 , stopper  8   b   12 , and stopper  8   b   22 . The hole  713  and hole  723  are respectively disposed with respect to the hole  8   a   41  and hole  8   b   41  in the bottom plate  8   a   4  and bottom plate  8   b   4 , at the bottoms of the coupling means  8   a  and coupling means  8   b.  The holes  713  and  723  and  8   a   41  and  8   b   41  respectively receive the plug  91  and the plug  92 , to fix the ladder rope  11  and ladder rope  12  in the lower beam  7  and then fix the coupling means  8   a  and coupling means  8   b  on the lower beam  7 . The rope  15  winds downwards through the right side of the pulley  820  and then passes upwards from the left side of the pulley  810 . The upper left panel  8   a   1 , upper right panel  8   a   2 , upper left panel  8   b   1 , and upper right panel  8   b   2  can support the weight of the slat  6 l, slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65  and slat  66  without deformation. 
     The coupling means  8   c  and coupling means  8   d  which are formed as another set have the same structure and principle as the set formed by the coupling means  8   a  and coupling means  8   b.    
     A schematic perspective view of tie slat  61  is illustrated in FIG.  20 . The slat  61  has hole  611 , hole  612 , hole  613  and hole  614  which form channels for the rope  15  and rope  16 . Similarly, the slat  62 , slat  63 , slat  64 , slat  65 , slat  66  have corresponding holes. 
     By the above structure of the present invention, and in its practical utilization, the number of winding boxes of each rope set can be changed with respect to the number of winding boxes in each product. If the number of winding boxes is six, then the first, second and third winding boxes are defined as one set, and the fourth, fifth and sixth winding boxes are defined as another set. The space for receiving the ropes can be installed in any space, such as the upper side or lower side or front side or the rear side of the upper beam. The constructions are identical to the previously described embodiment. 
     From the description of the present invention, as thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one killed in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.