Patent Publication Number: US-2015083351-A1

Title: Shade motor with latch assembly and bracket

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates generally to roller shade motors, and more particularly to a system and method for quickly and easily coupling/decoupling a roller shade motor to/from a mounting bracket. 
     2. Background Art 
     Typically, to mount a roller shade motor to a wall, the shade motor must be coupled to a mounting bracket. Existing methods for coupling a shade motor to a mounting bracket include attaching a cleat to the shade motor and coupling the cleat to the mounting bracket, or coupling the shade motor directly to the mounting bracket using screws. Both methods are cumbersome and time consuming. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is to be understood that both the general and detailed descriptions that follow are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention. 
     Disclosure of the Invention 
     According to one aspect, the invention involves a roller shade motor system. The roller shade motor system includes a roller shade motor that includes an end portion, a latch assembly disposed on the end portion, and a bracket. The latch assembly includes an alignment member and at least one moveable clip. The bracket includes a clip contact surface and defines an alignment member opening dimensioned and arranged for receiving the alignment member therein. The at least one moveable clip is retracted into the alignment member during insertion of the alignment member into the alignment member opening and is extended out of the alignment member and contacts the clip contact surface after insertion of the alignment member into the alignment member opening and thereby couples the roller shade motor to the bracket. 
     In one embodiment, the latch assembly includes a keying tab disposed on one side of the alignment member. In another embodiment, the bracket defines a keying slot dimensioned and arranged for receiving the keying tab therein when the alignment member is disposed in the alignment member opening. In still another embodiment, the latch assembly includes a latch release button configured for retracting the at least one moveable clip into the alignment member when pressed and allowing the at least one moveable clip to extend out of the alignment member when released. In yet another embodiment, the at least one moveable clip includes a sloped surface dimensioned and arranged to enable the at least one moveable clip to be pushed into the alignment member when the sloped surface contacts an edge of the alignment member opening while the alignment member is being pushed into the alignment member opening. 
     According to another aspect, the invention involves a roller shade motor coupling system. The latching system includes a latch assembly configured for attaching to an end portion of a roller shade motor, and a bracket. The latch assembly includes an alignment member and at least one moveable clip. The bracket includes a clip contact surface and defines an alignment member opening dimensioned and arranged for receiving the alignment member therein. The at least one moveable clip is retracted into the alignment member during insertion of the alignment member into the alignment member opening and is extended out of the alignment member and contacts the clip contact surface after insertion of the alignment member into the alignment member opening and thereby couples the latch assembly to the bracket. 
     In one embodiment, the latch assembly includes a keying tab disposed on one side of the alignment member. In another embodiment, the bracket defines a keying slot dimensioned and arranged for receiving the keying tab therein when the alignment member is disposed in the alignment member opening. In still another embodiment, the latch assembly includes a latch release button configured for retracting the at least one moveable clip into the alignment member when pressed and allowing the at least one moveable clip to extend out of the alignment member when released. In yet another embodiment, the at least one moveable clip includes a sloped surface dimensioned and arranged to enable the at least one moveable clip to be pushed into the alignment member when the sloped surface contacts an edge of the alignment member opening while the alignment member is being pushed into the alignment member opening. 
     According to another aspect, the invention involves a method of coupling a roller shade motor to a bracket. The method includes providing a motor that includes a latch assembly that includes an alignment member, at least one moveable clip, and a latch release button configured for retracting the at least one moveable clip into the alignment member when pressed and allowing the at least one moveable clip to extend out of the alignment member when released. The method further includes providing a bracket that includes a clip contact surface and defines an alignment member opening dimensioned and arranged for receiving the alignment member therein. The method further includes pressing the latch release button to retract the at least one moveable clip into the alignment member, inserting the alignment member into the alignment member opening, and releasing the latch release button to extend the at least one moveable clip out of the alignment member and contact the clip contact surface and thereby couple the roller shade motor to the bracket. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying figures further illustrate the present invention. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to illustrative rather than limiting. 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative isometric view of a roller shade motor including a latch assembly with moveable clips in an extended position and decoupled from a mounting bracket, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative isometric view of a roller shade motor including a latch assembly with moveable clips in a retracted position and decoupled from a mounting bracket, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative isometric view of a roller shade motor including a latch assembly with moveable clips in a retracted position and coupled to a mounting bracket, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative isometric view of a roller shade motor including a latch assembly with moveable clips in an extended position and coupled to a mounting bracket, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative flow diagram of the steps for coupling a roller shade motor with latch assembly to a mounting bracket, according to one embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS FOR THE MAJOR ELEMENTS IN THE DRAWING 
     The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings in numerical order.
       102  roller shade motor     104  motor bracket     106  latch assembly     108  alignment member     110  keying tab     112  keying slot     114  alignment member opening     116  through hole     118   a  moveable clip     118   b  moveable clip     120  clip contact surface     122  latch release button     124  end portion     126  surface     128  gap     130  sloped surface     132  edge     134  cavity     136  vertical portion     502  Insert gudgeon pin into gudgeon bracket     504  Press the latch release button to retract the clips into the alignment member     506  Insert the alignment member into the alignment member opening     508  Release the latch release button to extend the clips out of the alignment member   

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles of the inventions as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”. 
     MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed are a system and method for quickly and easily coupling/decoupling a roller shade motor to/from a mounting bracket. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment, a roller shade motor system is shown. The system includes a motor bracket  104  and roller shade motor  102  with a latch assembly  106 . The bracket  104  defines two or more mounting through holes  116 , an alignment member opening  114 , and a keying slot  112 . The bracket  104  also includes a clip contact surface  120 . The latch assembly  106  is coupled to (or integrated with/part of) an end portion  124  of the roller shade motor  102 . The latch assembly  106  includes an alignment member  108 , a keying tab  110 , moveable clips  118   a,    118   b,  and a spring-loaded latch release button  122 . 
     When the latch release button  122  is in an unpressed state, the clips  118   a,    118   b  extend downward out of the alignment member  108  (latch closed), as shown in  FIG. 1 . When the latch release button  122  is in a pressed state, the clips  118   a,    118   b  retract into the alignment member  108  (latch open), as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the latch release button  122  is released (from being pressed), the clips  118   a,    118   b  again extend out of the alignment member  108 . 
     In one embodiment, in operation, the motor bracket  104  is mounted on one side above a window or inside a window box using screws disposed through the plurality of through holes  116 . A gudgeon bracket (not shown) is mounted on the opposite side above the window or inside the window box using means similar to the means used for mounting the motor bracket  104 . The gudgeon bracket is dimensioned and arranged to couple to, or receive, a spring-loaded gudgeon, a description of which is beyond the scope of this disclosure. The shade motor  102  is partially disposed inside one end of a roller shade roller tube (not shown). A spring loaded gudgeon assembly (not shown) is partially disposed inside the other end of the roller shade roller tube. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in one embodiment, to mount the roller shade over the window, a gudgeon pin (not shown) of the gudgeon assembly is first inserted into the gudgeon bracket (Step  502 ). Next, the latch release button  122  of the latch assembly  106  is pressed and the clips  118   a  and  118   b  retract into the alignment member  108  (Step  504 ). The alignment member  108  is inserted into the alignment member opening  114  of the bracket  104 , with the keying tab  110  oriented to slide into the keying slot  112 , as shown in  FIG. 3  (Step  506 ). It should be noted that the spring-loaded gudgeon allows for lateral translation of the roller shade roller tube during insertion of the alignment member  108  into the alignment member opening  114 . 
     After the alignment member  108  has been inserted into the alignment member opening  114 , the latch release button  122  is released and the clips  118   a  and  118   b  again extend out of the alignment member  108 , contact the clip contact surface  120 , and lock the alignment member  108  in place, thereby coupling the motor  102  to the bracket  104 , as shown in  FIG. 4  (Step  508 ). In other words, the motor  102  (and latch assembly  106 ) is prevented from separating/detaching from the bracket  104 . It should be noted that a gap  128  exists between each of the clips  118   a  and  118   b  and the surface  126  of the latch assembly  106 . The gap  128  is only as wide as the thickness of the bracket  104  proximate to the alignment member opening  114  to allow the clips  118   a  and  118   b  enough room to extend out of the alignment member  108  and contact the bracket surface  120  when the alignment member  108  is in the alignment member opening  114  and the latch surface  126  is flush with the bracket  104  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     It should also be noted that the alignment member opening  114  is disposed in a cavity  134  (see  FIG. 1 ) and thus offset from the vertical portion  136  of the bracket  104  (i.e., the part of the bracket that contacts a wall) by a distance that is slightly greater than the distance the alignment member  108  protrudes through the alignment member opening  114 . This allows for the bracket  104  to be mounted flush against a wall while allowing the latch assembly  106  to couple to the bracket  104  properly. 
     In another embodiment, the alignment member  108  is pushed into the alignment member opening  114  without first pressing the latch release button  122 . The clips  118   a  and  118   b  have sloped or angled (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) surfaces  130 . As the alignment member  108  is pushed into/through the alignment member opening  114 , the sloped surfaces  130  of the clips  118   a,    118   b  contact an edge  132  of the alignment member opening  114  and the clips  118   a,    118   b  are pushed/forced to slide (retract) into the alignment member  108 . Once the alignment member  108  is pushed far enough through the alignment member opening  114 , the clips  118   a,    118   b  automatically (via spring-loading) extend out of the alignment member  108 , contact the clip contact surface  120 , and lock the alignment member  108  in place, thereby coupling the motor  102  to the bracket  104 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . In other words, the motor  102  (and latch assembly  106 ) is prevented from separating/detaching from the bracket  104 . 
     The motor  102  is easily detached/decoupled from the motor bracket  104  by pressing the latch release button  122 , which pushes the clips  118   a,    118   b  into the alignment member  108 . Once the clips  118   a,    118   b  have been retracted into the alignment member  108 , the alignment member  108  can be pulled out of the alignment member opening  114 . 
     In various embodiments, the various parts of the above-described system are made of plastic, fiberglass, aluminum, or stainless steel, or any other suitable material known to those skilled in the art. 
     In yet another embodiment, the latch assembly described above is separate from (rather than integrated with/part of) the shade motor. In this embodiment, the latch assembly is configured to attach/couple to a wide variety of shade motors using methods known to those skilled in the art (e.g., via screws, friction fit, adhesives). In this embodiment, the latch assembly and bracket can be used with existing shade motors. 
     ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS 
     Variations, modifications, and other implementations of what is described herein may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be defined only by the preceding illustrative description.