Patent Publication Number: US-2013247336-A1

Title: Roller shutter bead chain connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a roller shutter bead chain connector, and more particularly to a roller shutter bead chain connector, which can be connected with two ends of the bead chain or any section of the bead chain as necessary to restrict the movement distance of the bead chain, whereby the roller shutter curtain can be located at a desired height. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Each end of a bead chain of a roller shutter is generally connected with a connection box. The connection box includes a box body and a cover body. Two sidewalls of the box body are formed with through holes for the bead chain to pass through. The cover body is used to cover and seal the box body to connect the connection box with the end of the bead chain and prevent the bead chain from detaching from the connection box. It is difficult, time-consuming and laborious to assemble the connection box with the bead chain so that the cost is very high. Especially, the conventional bead chain lacks any stop effect. In operation of the roller shutter, it is uneasy to move the roller shutter up and down or locate the roller shutter. Moreover, when the roller shutter is positioned in a topmost position, the roller shutter will idle if the bead chain is continuously pulled. This is likely to cause damage to the control seat of the roller shutter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a roller shutter bead chain connector including a connector main body. The connector main body has a receiving space for receiving at least two beads of the bead chain. Two engagement slots are formed at two ends of the connector main body. Each engagement slot has a coiled passage, whereby a string segment between two beads can be engaged into the engagement slot through the coiled passage to connect the connector main body with the bead chain. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide the above roller shutter bead chain connector, which can be fitted on any section of the bead chain as necessary to restrict the movement distance of the bead chain. When the bead chain is pulled, the connector main body is stopped by a control seat of the roller shutter to locate the roller shutter curtain at a desired height. 
     The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing that the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention is to be assembled with a bead chain; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing that the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention is to be assembled with the bead chain; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view showing that the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention is assembled with the bead chain; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing that the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention is assembled with the bead chain; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing that the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention is to be assembled with the bead chain in another use mode; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing that the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention is assembled with the bead chain in the other use mode; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the installation of the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a plane view showing the installation of the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a plane view showing the operation of the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a plane view showing that the roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention is stopped by the control seat of the roller shutter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1 . The roller shutter bead chain connector of the present invention includes a connector main body  1  and two engagement slots  10 ,  11  formed at two ends of the connector main body  1 . The connector main body  1  has a receiving space  12  with one single opening. Each of the engagement slots  10 ,  11  has a guide entrance  100 ,  101  and a coiled passage  102 ,  103 . 
     When assembled, the connector main body  1  is fixedly fitted on the bead chain  2  of a roller shutter (with reference to  FIG. 2 ). Two beads  20  are received in the receiving space  12  of the connector main body  1 . The string segment  21  between two beads  20  is engaged into the engagement slot  10 ,  11  in such a manner that the string segment  21  is guided by the guide entrance  100 ,  101  to move through the coiled passage  102 ,  103  into the engagement slot  10 ,  11  (with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Accordingly, the connector main body  1  is secured to the bead chain  2  (with reference to  FIG. 5 ). 
     According to the above arrangement, the connector main body  1  is connected with each of two ends of the bead chain  2  of the roller shutter. Two ends of the bead chain  2  are conducted through a roller shutter control seat  3  and suspended from the control seat  3 . The beads  20  and the string segments  21  of the two ends of the bead chain  2  are respectively engaged into the receiving space  12  and the engagement slots  10 ,  11  of the connector main body  1  to fixedly connect the two ends with the connector main body  1  (with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). In this case, the bead chain  2  is mounted on the control seat  3  in the form of a loop. Accordingly, the bead chain  2  can be pulled left and right to control lifting/lowering of the roller shutter curtain  30  of the roller shutter (as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 ). 
     The connector main body  1  of the present invention is connected with the ends of the bead chain  2 . Alternatively, in another use mode, the connector main body  1  serves to locate the roller shutter curtain  30  at a desired height. In operation, the connector main body  1  is fitted on a predetermined section of the bead chain  2 . When the bead chain  2  is pulled downward to lift the roller shutter curtain  30 , the connector main body  1  is moved upward along with the bead chain  2  (as shown in  FIG. 10 ) until the connector main body  1  touches the control seat  3  and is stopped. Under such circumstance, the bead chain  2  cannot be further pulled so as to locate the roller shutter curtain  30  (as shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
     The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.