Patent Publication Number: US-11655673-B2

Title: Drive hub dampening posts

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority to, U.S. Ser. No. 16/654,895 filed on Oct. 16, 2019 and entitled “Roller Shade System.” The &#39;895 application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/746,332 filed on Oct. 16, 2018 and entitled “Roller Shade System.” All of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure generally relates to integrating a dampener with a drive hub that engages a shade tube and/or a brake hub. 
     BACKGROUND 
     With reference to  FIG.  1   , roller shade systems  100  typically include a window covering attached to a shade tube  105 , wherein the window covering rolls up onto a shade tube  105 . The shade tube  105  is mounted between brackets  125  and at least one of the brackets  125  is connected to a series of mechanical components such as gears, bearings, clutches, shafts, sprockets  130  and hubs  110 . A bead chain is mounted onto the sprocket  130 . Pulling on the bead chain rotates the sprocket  130 , which opens up the clutch (e.g., wrap spring). Opening the clutch allows rotation of a driving hub attached to the tube. The driving hub rotation rotates the tube which lowers (or raises) the shade. The clutch may include a wrap spring and the hub and/or shaft may be oil impregnated, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,428 for “Wrap Spring Shade Operator”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     The hub  110  may engage a shade tube  105 . When a user pulls a shade too quickly and it reaches an end limit, a bead stop on the chain hits the bracket  125  housing and stops suddenly, which occasionally leads to the chain snapping. In particular, the chain sometimes breaks because the clutch does not close immediately, so the momentum of the shade tube  105  and fabric back-drives from the shade tube  105 , through the drive hub  110 , through the brake (which has not closed yet), into the sprocket  130 , and causes excessive forces on the chain. In addition to chain breakage, the system may experience damage to the clutch, sprocket  130 , chain, bead-stop, and/or housing of a drive bracket  125  due to excessive rotational speed of a shade being raised or lowered. 
     SUMMARY 
     Systems and methods are disclosed for an improved roller shade system that provides increased support, additional adjustments and/or increased safety. In various embodiments, the system may include a window shade system may comprise a slip plate engaged with a drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanism rotates forward in response to the slip plate disengaging from the drive mechanism. The slip plate may re-engage with the drive mechanism after a predetermined rotation of the drive mechanism. The slip plate may include one or more protrusions (e.g., knuckles) that engage with one or more slots in the drive mechanism. The slip plate may include one or more protrusions that disengage from one or more slots in the drive mechanism, and wherein the drive mechanism rotates forward in response to the one or more protrusions disengaging from the one or more slots in the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism may comprise an actuator (or brake hub). 
     In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a drive hub having a dampener (e.g., tube adapter) comprised of dampening material, wherein the drive hub engages with at least one of a shade tube and/or a brake hub. The dampener may include one or more tabs that engage the brake hub. The dampener may be configured to dampen the torque from a spinning of the shade tube. The dampener may be comprised of urethane. The dampener may be incorporated onto an outside surface of the drive hub. The dampener may be located within the drive hub. The drive hub may be at least partially hollow. The drive hub may be in the form of a cap that fits over the dampener. The drive hub may include rounded corners. The dampener may be configured in the form of a cylindrical rod. The dampener may comprise four rods. The dampener may be located around a shaft that may be received by the drive hub. A first end of the dampener interfaces with an actuator. A spacer may be located next to the dampener. A spacer may be located next to the dampener, and wherein the spacer includes a slit. A spacer may be located between two dampeners. The drive hub may be in the form of a cap that fits over the dampener and one or more spacers. 
     A sprocket may have a back wall that engages with an element that is concentric with a sun gear. The concentric element may be a flange comprising a non-tooth portion of the sun gear. 
     In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a shade band and a lock, wherein the lock is configured to restrict the shade band from unrolling. The unrolling may be in response to a clutch system being removed in a multi-banded shade system. The lock may be a slide lock that includes a first opening that allows rotation of the shade band and a second opening that restricts rotation of the shade band. 
     In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a multi-banded shade system having a support connector between each shade band, wherein the support connector is configured to retract to allow removal of the shade band. The support connector may comprise a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion retracts into the second portion. The support connector may be between a first shade tube and a second shade tube, wherein the support connector retracts by sliding into the first shade tube and out of the second tube. 
     In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a bracket having a first side and a second side; a drive shaft having a first portion that extends from the first side of the bracket and a second portion that extends from the second side of the bracket; a sprocket received by the drive shaft; a chain around the sprocket; a first shade tube engaged with the first portion of the drive shaft; and a second shade tube engaged with the second portion of the drive shaft. 
     In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise a support connector; an adjustment arm having a first end, a middle portion and a second end, wherein the middle portion of the adjustment arm engages the support connector; and an adjustment screw engaging a first end of the adjustment arm, wherein in response to turning the adjustment screw, the adjustment arm rotates and adjusts the support connector. The adjustment screw may comprise a head with flat cuts, wherein upon rotation of the adjustment screw, the flat cuts provide tactile and audible feedback. The adjustment screw may comprise a head with flat cuts, wherein the flat cuts prevent back-rotation of the adjustment screw. 
     In various embodiments, a window shade system may comprise shade fabric with a first end and a second end; a rod that includes the second end of the shade fabric rolled around the rod; and a hembar engaging the rod within the hembar, wherein turning the rod adjusts a position of the hembar relative to the fabric. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals depict like elements, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. In the drawings: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an exploded view of a shade system, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS.  2 A- 2 B  illustrate an assembled shade bracket with various components, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS.  3 A- 3 B  illustrate an exemplary slip plate, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an exemplary center drive mechanism, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS.  5 A- 5 C  illustrate exemplary dampener configurations, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an exemplary back wall on the sprocket that allows the sprocket  130  to rest on a surface to minimize impact on the gears, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS.  7 A- 7 I  illustrate various components of an exemplary adjustment arm, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIGS.  8 A- 8 B  illustrate an exemplary slide lock for a support connector, in accordance with various embodiments; and 
         FIGS.  9 A- 9 B  illustrate an exemplary hembar variably attached to the fabric, in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In various embodiments, and as set forth in  FIG.  1   , a shade system  100  may include a first shade tube  105 , a drive hub  110 , a drive shaft  115 , support bearing  120 , shade bracket  125 , sprocket  130 , a bead chain (not shown) that rotates around the sprocket  130 , a brake hub  135  (that includes a sun gear  140 ), planetary gears  145  surrounding the sun gear  140 , a planetary carrier  150  for the planetary gears  145 , a wrap spring  165  in the brake hub  135  (shown in  FIG.  2 B ), a bearing shaft  115 , a drive hub  110  and a second shade tube  105 . In various embodiments, the system may include one or more improvements such as a slip plate  170 , center drive mechanism, dampener  160 , back wall  200  on the sprocket  130 , adjustment arm  215 , shade band removal system and/or hembar  245  adjustment device, all of which are further described in detail below. 
     In proper operation, as initially set forth in  FIG.  1   , and in response to pulling the chain, the clutch (e.g., wrap spring) retracts away from the inside of the brake hub  135  to allow the brake hub  135  to rotate (and thus sprocket  130  to rotate) such that the chain around the sprocket  130  can be pulled down. Conversely, in response to the pulling force being released, the spring re-engages with the inside of the brake hub  135  and the wrap spring stops the rotation of the shade. In prior systems, the brake hub  135 /sun gear  140  is permanently affixed to the bracket  125  and the planets rotate around the sun gear  140 . Therefore, when users pull on the shade or hembar  245  ( FIG.  9 A ) of the shade (i.e., back-driving the clutch) with too much force, the clutch components (e.g., wrap spring  165  ( FIG.  6   ), brake hub  135 , gears, etc) may be damaged or break. 
     To help solve this problem, the system may include a slip plate  170  to avoid or minimize damage. In particular, with respect to  FIGS.  3 A and  3 B , in various embodiments, the system may include a slip plate  170  (also known as a detent clutch or slipper clutch) engaged with the brake hub  135  (e.g., but not permanently affixed to the brake hub  135 ). In particular, the slip plate  170  includes any number or size of tangs  175  that engage with the brake hub  135 , wherein the tangs  175  are received within any number of slots in the brake hub  135 . The slip plate  170  allows the brake hub  135  to ratchet or slip forward any number of degrees (e.g., 90 degrees to the next slot, as shown in  FIG.  3 B ) to reduce or avoid breaking the clutch components. The tangs  175  of the slip plate  170  may include any number of “protrusions”  180  and “fingers”  185 . For example, the slip plate  170  may include four “protrusions”  180  that extend outward from the shade bracket  125  and into four “pockets” (or slots  190 ) in the brake hub  135 . The 4 respective “fingers”  185  are received into the shade bracket  125  to hold the slip plate  170  against the shade bracket  125 . When the user pulls the shade or hembar  245  with excessive force, the protrusions  180  pop out (or flex out) of their pockets  190  in the brake hub  135 , thus allowing the brake hub  135  to “slip” forward and rotate (e.g., 90 degrees), until the knuckle  180  is caught again in the next pocket  190 . The user may feel a ratcheting action as the protrusions  180  rotate through the “pockets”  190  while the force is applied. When the brake hub  135  slips forward, any portion or all of the drive mechanism (e.g., the sun gear  140  (that is part of the brake hub  135 ), planetary carrier  150 , the bearing shaft  115 , the drive hub  110 , the dampener  160  and the shade tube  105 ) also slip forward to minimize or avoid breakage. However, the ratcheting action may not affect the relationship between the bead stop locations and the resulting hembar  245  position. 
     As mentioned above, when a user pulls a shade too quickly and it reaches an end limit, a bead stop on the chain hits the bracket  125  (or the bottom of the bracket housing) and stops suddenly, which occasionally leads to the chain snapping. In particular, the chain sometimes breaks because the clutch does not close immediately, so the momentum of the shade tube  105  and fabric back-drives from the shade tube  105  through any dampener, through the drive hub  110 , through the brake (which has not closed yet), into the sprocket  130 , and causes excessive forces on the chain. Such back-drive may occur in the milliseconds before the clutch can close the brake and stop the system. The back-drive is what causes the sprocket  130  to continue pulling on the chain after the chain stops on the bead stop, thereby breaking the chain. In other words, the shade tube  105  may still spin due to momentum and because the clutch may stay open for a fraction of a second, even after the bead on the chain hits the stop point. The spinning of the shade tube  105  (while the bead chain is stopped and before the clutch can lock) causes the sprocket to continue turning, imparting the rotational momentum of the tube system into the chain after it hits the bead stop, causing a shock that can break the chain. Other systems may include a bumper on the bead stop to act as a shock absorber, but such bumper placement typically is unsightly and/or the bumper placement gets in the way of various forms of chain guides. 
     As such, with respect to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , in various embodiments, dampeners  160  dampen the torque and absorb some of the force from the spinning tube. In particular, the flexible and soft dampener  160  dampens some of the force back-driving from the shade tube to the drive hub  110  and subsequently through the rest of the drive train. The dampeners  160  help to protect the components and mitigate chain breakage. The dampeners  160  may also minimize or prevent damage to the clutch, sprocket  130 , chain, bead-stop, and/or housing of a drive bracket  125  due to excessive rotational speed of a shade being raised or lowered. 
     In various embodiments, the dampener  160  may be incorporated inside the clutch mechanism to further dampen and prevent chain breakage. The dampeners  160  may be any dampening or soft material such as, for example, rubber or urethane. The dampener  160  may be any shape or size. The dampener  160  may be located anywhere on or around the bracket or clutch. In various embodiments, the dampener  160  may be sized and shaped to engage with different tube sizes and shapes. For example, the drive hub  110  is typically rigid (e.g., comprised of plastic), so the dampener  160  may be incorporated onto the outside of the drive hub  110  such that the dampener  160  provides a semi-rigid surface around the outside of the drive hub  110 , which may result in improved dampening. The tube  105  fits over dampener  160 . The dampener  160  may include a semi-rigid element that has a limited amount of flexibility. The dampener  160  may serve as a semi-rigid element of the drive hub  110  that may have a certain amount of shock absorption built into the element. When the clutch stops and the tube stops spinning, the dampener  160  may deform and dampen the sudden stop. However, including the dampener  160  on the outside of drive hub  110 , while the tube  105  fits over the dampener  160 , may cause the tube  105  to impact the dampener  160 . In particular, the tube  105  is often a cut metal piece with sharp edges and corners. As such, tube  105  may scratch or deform dampener  160 . 
     In various embodiments, with respect to  FIG.  5 C , dampener  160  may be located within the drive hub  110 . Including dampener  160  inside of the drive hub  110  may avoid or reduce tube  105  scratching or deforming dampener  160 . The drive hub  110  may include a partially or fully hollow interior. In that regard, drive hub  110  may be in the form of a hub cap that is configured to fit over the dampener  160 . Thus, the dampener  160  may be between drive hub  110  and shaft  115 . Tube  105  fits over drive hub  110 . The drive hub  110  may include rounded corners for easier tube installation over dampener  160 . The rounded corners of drive hub  110  may also provide better mating and a tighter engagement with the rounded surfaces of dampener  160 . In various embodiments, the drive hub  110  may pressure fit and/or snap-fit over the dampener. The drive hub  110  may be secured with or without fasteners. With the dampeners  160 , when the system suddenly stops, tube  105  transfers its momentum to the drive hub  110  that tube  105  is sitting on, and dampener  160  dampens such momentum. When the system stops, dampener  160  deforms and prevents drive hub  110  from suddenly stopping. In other words, when the drive hub  110  over-rotates in response to excessive force, the rotation of drive hub  110  may be dampened. The dampening occurs because friction exists between the inside of the cap of drive hub  110  and the dampener  160 , so the dampener  160  provides a cushion for the hub cap. Moreover, the hub cap may be configured to slide along the dampener  160 . Furthermore, when the drive hub  110  rotates in response to excessive force, the drive hub does not break (or experiences less stress) because dampener  160  absorbs some of the excess pressure. 
     Dampener  160  may comprise any portion or all of the inside of the drive hub  110 . Dampener  160  may be formed in any shape. One end of the dampener  160  may interface with the actuator. Dampener  160  may include any number of components or sub-parts. In various embodiments, dampener is in the form of one or more rods (cylinders or pegs). For example, dampener  160  may include 4 rods and the drive hub  110  in the form of a hub cap fits over the 4 rods. A first end of each of the rods may interface with the actuator and a second end of each of the rods may extend from the actuator. The 4 rods may be located on the actuator such that, when the hub cap is placed over the rods, each of the rods respectively interface with the hub cap at or near each of the inside corners of the hub cap. The shaft  115  may be located inside a hole  155  in the drive hub  110 . The shaft  115  may also extend through the drive hub  110 . As such, dampener  160  may be located on or near the outside of the shaft. 
     In various embodiments, spacers  162  may be placed between each of the rods. Spacers may be placed around the center opening. Dampener  160  may deform, but the spacers limit the maximum deflection of the dampener  160 . If dampener  160  was allowed to deform too much, drive hub  110  could rotate beyond the drive hub  110  intended rotation. Spacers  162  also prevent drive hub  110  from slipping around dampener  160 . Any portion of spacers  162  may be molded to brake hub  135  (or actuator). A first end of each of the spacers  162  may interface with (e.g., molded to) the actuator and a second end of each of the spacers  162  may extend away from the actuator. Each of the spacers  162  may be configured between each pair of rods such that the drive hub  110  fits over both the rods and spacers  162 . Spacers  162  also help to center the cap of the drive hub  110  with respect to the actuator. Such spacers  162  may provide stability and maintain separation between each of the dampener  160  rods, while providing a cradle for dampener  160  rod to rest in. The spacers  162  may be comprised of any material such as, for example, plastic. Such spacers  162  may include a groove or slit, such that the spacers  162  may retract or expand, in response to rotation of drive hub  110 . The top and bottom spacers  162  may be a lower height since the flat portions of drive hub  110  expand across the top and bottom spacers  162 . Moreover, the spacers may be configured to avoid the drive hub  110  from rubbing against the spacers. 
     Shafts (drive shaft  115  and/or bearing shaft  135 ) and hubs (drive hub  110  and/or brake hub  135 ) may be composed of any material with frictional characteristics such that when the material is engaged with the spring, an increase in the inner diameter of the spring may allow the spring to rotate smoothly around drive hub  110 . The shafts and/or hubs may, therefore, be composed of any suitable metal alloy or plastic. For example, in various embodiments, shafts and/or hubs may be composed of a self-lubricating metal, such as, sinterized steel with an oil impregnation. In various embodiments, shafts and/or hubs may be composed of a self-lubricating plastic material with sufficiently low coefficient of friction to allow smooth rotation of the spring, the plastic material being of sufficient hardness to resist the “grooving effect” that may be caused by the rotation of the spring. The “grooving effect” is the effect caused by the rotation of a spring around drive hub  110 , wherein the spring cuts or wears tracks into the surface of drive hub  110 . For example, a suitable plastic for drive hub  110  and/or brake hub  135  may be composed of a 5-10% Teflon in delryn, or a like plastic material. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the material chosen for drive hub  110  may impact the coefficient of friction between drive hub  110  and the spring, thereby effecting the level of drag friction which results from the rotation of the spring about drive hub  110 . The clutch may include a wrap spring and the hubs and/or shafts may be oil impregnated, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,428 for “Wrap Spring Shade Operator”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , in various embodiments, the sun gear  140  is a stationary component that allows the planetary gears  145  (that are held by the planetary carrier  150 ) to rotate around the sun gear  140  clutch. The planetary gears  145  rotate within the sprocket  130  (ring gear), so the load on the chain pulling on the sprocket  130  is typically pushing down on and putting weight on the planetary gears  145 . This arrangement causes the sprocket  130  and planetary gears  145  to be off-center and wobble. As such, with respect to  FIG.  6   , in various embodiments, the system includes a “back wall  200 ” support on the sprocket  130  that provides support for the sprocket  130 . In various embodiments, the back wall  200  may engage any element that is concentric to the sun gear  140 , thereby supporting the load from pulling the chain. For example, the back wall  200  includes an opening of a smaller radius, so the back wall  200  sits on a flange (e.g., non-toothed portion) on the backside of the sun gear  140 . As such, when the chain pulls down on the sprocket  130 , at least a portion of the inner circumference of the opening in the back wall  200  of the sprocket  130  pushes against the flange  205  on the backside of the sun gear  140 , and does not put pressure on the planetary gears  145 . This arrangement keeps the brake hub  135 /sun gear  140  centered and prevents wobble that leads to smoother operation. Having the brake hub  135  integrated with the sun gear  140  also makes for a smaller package and reduced quantities of system components. 
     When multiple shades (e.g., 2-6 shade bands) are installed next to each other across a large window, each shade would typically need its own drive bracket  125  (with its own sprocket  130 , chain, etc.) that controls the movement of the single shade. A shading system may also include a multi-banded system in which a multitude of individual shadebands are driven by a single manual drive chain or motor that interfaces with a first shade. A shade band may consist of a shade tube  105 , dampeners  160 , and a fabric band. The fabric band may comprise a spline (which may be welded to the top of the fabric) and the hembar  245  (which may be attached to the bottom of the fabric). In various embodiments, the system drives multiple shade bands through a single chain by using a support connector  210  (e.g., multi-band coupler between two shade bands). The support connector  210  fits within an accompanying bracket  125  between each shadeband. A single drive bracket  125  may be configured at one end of the group of shadebands being controlled. Pulling on the chain drives a first shadeband attached to the drive bracket  125 , which is coupled to two or more shadebands, wherein each band is driven via a support connector  210  in a serial fashion from the first shadeband. 
     At times, one shade in the multi-banded system may need to be removed due to service or maintenance. However, if the shade band attached to the drive bracket (the bracket with the sprocket and clutch/brake mechanism) is removed, then all the shades may unroll because the clutch system at the drive bracket  125  is no longer restricting the shade tube  105  rotation. Moreover, if a second shade in a multi-banded system is removed, then the third shade, fourth shade, etc. may also unroll because, while the clutch system may still restrict the first shade, the clutch system is no longer restricting the shade tube  105  rotation in the subsequent shades. To prevent the shades from unrolling, some service people would tape the hembar  245  onto the rest of the window shade roll. However, the use of tape is often unreliable and requires additional time and effort to tape each individual shade. In various embodiments, the present system may allow an individual shade band in a multi-banded system to be removed without disturbing the rest of the bands in the system. Prior to a shade band being removed, any subsequent bands would be locked into place. The system may include a lock to prevent the shade tube  105  from unrolling when other shades in a multi-banded system are removed. The lock may be any device that restricts the rotation of the shade band and/or support connector  210 . For example, a slide lock  240 , a fork, pin or pawl that interfaces with the shade tube  105  and/or support connector  210 . A slide lock  240  is shown in  FIGS.  8 A and  8 B , wherein the support connector  210  extends through the slide lock  240  that includes a larger opening (that allows rotation in  FIG.  8 A ) and a restricted opening (that restricts rotation in  FIG.  8 B ). When the slide lock  240  is in the down position, the support connector  210  extends through the larger opening such that the support connector  210  is able to rotate. When the slide lock  240  is in the up position, the support connector  210  extends through the restricted opening such that the support connector  210  is restricted from rotation. 
     Moreover, the center-support brackets  125  in a multi-banded system typically include a support connector  210  that goes through the center-support bracket  125 , such that a first shade tube  105  interfaces with the support connector  210  on the first side of the bracket  125  and a second shade tube  105  interfaces with the same support connector  210  on the second side of the bracket  125 . This arrangement may repeat for subsequent shades in a multi-banded system. Because of this arrangement, when service personnel needs to remove, for example, a third shade band, they first need to remove the first shade band and the second shade band in order to be able to remove the third. In various embodiments, the present system provides a support connector  210  configured to be removed or moved out of the way, such that any shade band can be removed, without needing to remove the other shade bands. For example, the center-support connector  210  may be comprised of two shafts that interface with each other at the middle of the center-support bracket  125 . These halves can individually be retracted into its respective shade tube  105 , thereby allowing the shade band to be removed independently. In another example, the system may have the support connector  210  be a single shaft that can slide into either the first shade tube  105  or the second shade tube  105  in their respective shade bands on either side of the center-support bracket  125 . 
     There are times when obstacles in the room (e.g., couches, tables, desks, etc.) could be obstructing access to the chain used to operate the group of shades in a multi-band arrangement. The chain may be hidden behind a column or recess preventing easy access to the chain in order to operate the shade. As such, with respect to  FIG.  4   , in various embodiments, the system may employ a center-drive mechanism such that the chain now is positioned at a location within the shade group where there is no obstacle obstructing access to it. The center drive mechanism may comprise a hole in the bracket  125  and the drive shaft  115  that goes through the bracket  125  (the drive shaft  115  can be any shape capable of transferring torque (e.g., hexagonal)). The drive shaft  115  controls the first drive hub  110  (on the left) that rotates the first shade and also controls the second drive hub  110  (on the right) that rotates the second shade. As such, when the one chain is pulled to rotate the sprocket  130 /ring gear, the single drive transfers the rotational force to two shades on either side of the drive bracket  125 . In other words, the center drive mechanism drives two bands of a shade in multi-band system via one central sprocket  130  where the two bands, on either side of the drive bracket  125 , are driven in a parallel manner (as opposed to a serial manner). Either or both of the shade bands (on either side of the bracket  125 ) may themselves include a support connector  210  (as described above) on the end opposite of the drive bracket  125 , so the center-drive mechanism may drive more than one shade on either or both sides of the bracket  125 . In that regard, the center-drive mechanism may not necessarily be in the center of the various shade bands (e.g., may have 1 shade band on the left, and 2 coupled shade bands on the right). 
     In the past, installers would use a shim with the bracket  125  to try to align the brackets  125  when mounting the brackets  125 , for example, on an uneven ceiling. The installers would place one or more shims of various thicknesses between the ceiling and the top mounting flange of the bracket to lower all brackets to the same level as the lowest bracket in a group. However, the installers would need to create and/or carry different shims. To try to minimize or avoid the use of shims, the installers may adjust a set screw that engages with a support connector  210  (e.g., at a center support in a multi-banded arrangement, as shown in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 D ) and/or a set screw that engages with a shade band at an idle end (as shown in  FIGS.  7 E- 7 H ). For example, a support connector  210  typically rests within a support connector  210  holder on the bracket  125 . The support connector  210  holder is mounted with a fastener within a channel such that the support connector  210  holder may be configured to move up or down. A shade bracket  125  would include a screw below the support connector  210  holder and pushing against the support connector  210  holder, wherein turning the screw would raise or lower the support connector  210  holder. A similar set screw arrangement existed for a shade band at an idle end. In particular, shade systems would use a moveable element that supports the center-line of a shade. This moveable element rests on a screw via gravity alone. Adjusting this screw adjusts the centerline up and down. Such adjustments were used to even out the shade band to make the shade parallel to the window sill or to compensate for an uneven ceiling. However, such a screw assembly has disadvantages including that the assembly is underneath the unit, so the assembly increases the overall height of the bracket and takes up more space, especially inside a pocket. 
     As such, with respect to  FIG.  7 A- 7 I , in various embodiments, the system includes a cam type pivot system (e.g., adjustment arm  215 ) to even out the shade band and adjust the centerline of a shade system. The adjustment arm  215  may include a first portion, a middle portion and a second portion. The middle portion of the adjustment arm engages the shaft, an adjustment screw engages a first portion of the adjustment arm and the second portion of the adjustment arm comprises the pivot point. As shown in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 D , center support bearing  225  is located around at least a portion of the support connector  210 . When the center support bearing  225  is moved up or down, the shade band on each side of the bracket  125  also moves up or down. Similarly, as shown in  FIGS.  7 E- 7 H , when the shaft on the idle end band is moved up or down, the shade band including the lam spring  235  also moves up or down. The adjustment arm  215  allows for height adjustment by a swinging arc that may be self-locking and indexing. The system employs a centerline adjustment arm  215  that is used on the idle end to avoid the gears, and in order to ensure the centerline can be leveled for each band independently. The adjustment arm  215  allows for a curved path of travel for the center-line. The centerline translates horizontally as well as vertically. By having a cam like device, the pathway can be straight, vertically up and vertically down (without curving too much horizontally). Also, most screws (described above) have the adjustment mechanism resting below the support connector  210  or the idle end shaft. In the present device, as shown in  FIG.  7 I , the adjustment screw  220  is resting on the side (e.g., head) of the adjustment device. As shown in  FIG.  7 G , a spring-loaded locking pawl  230  retains the support connector  210  or lam spring  235  at a certain level. In response to turning the adjustment screw, the support connector  210  or idle end band is adjusted, while the spring-loaded locking pawl  230  continues to retain the support connector  210  or idle end band in the newly adjusted location. 
     In various embodiments, and as shown in  FIG.  7 I , the head of the adjustment screw  220  has one or more flat cuts  222  into at least a portion of the head. The housing of the adjustment device is resting on the head, as shown in  FIG.  7 I . The flat cut  222  allows the rotation of the adjustment screw  220  to provide feedback in the form of a tactile and/or audible click. The feedback allows the rotation of the adjustment screw  220  to be indexed (e.g., every 180 degrees). The indexing gives the user a reference point for how many turns they have made. The flat cut  222  also prevents the adjustment screw  220  from back-driving or loosening (e.g., helps lock the adjustment screw  220  so that it does not turn on its own). In various embodiments, the system may also employ an adjustable dogbone-type coupling device allowing the system to level each shade band independently, as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 7,625,151, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     Adjacent shade bands may not always be aligned vertically with each other, so the present system allows for adjustment of one or more hembars  245  to maintain visual consistency. In various embodiments, the system may also include mechanisms that allow the hembar  245  to be variably attached to the fabric. In various embodiments, as shown in  FIGS.  9 A and  9 B , the bottom position of the hembar  245  is not fixed and can be shifted up (as in  FIG.  9 A ) or down (as in  FIG.  9 B ) to allow for adjustment of the hembar  245  vertically on the fabric  250 . The fabric  250  at the bottom of the window shade may be rolled around a small tube  255  that can be rigidly fixed inside the hembar  245 . Tube  255  may include a rod with a head that can be turned. For example, the head of the rod may include a hex head that can be turned with a hex key, a channel that can be turned with a flat head screw driver, or a cross-hair that can be turned with a Philips screw driver. By rolling up a small amount of fabric  250 , the position of the hembar  245  can be adjusted up or down vertically as it hangs from the bottom of the fabric  250 . 
     The roller shade system may be controlled by a shade control system. As such, this application incorporates by reference for all purposes and in their entirety: U.S. Ser. No. 14/692,868 filed on Apr. 22, 2015 and entitled “Automated Shade Control System Interaction With Building Management System”; PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/066316 filed on Oct. 23, 2013 and entitled “Automated Shade Control System Utilizing Brightness Modeling”; PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/066316; U.S. Ser. No. 13/671,018 filed on Nov. 7, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,890,456 entitled “Automated Shade Control System Utilizing Brightness Modeling”; U.S. Ser. No. 13/556,388 filed on Jul. 24, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,432,117 entitled “Automated Shade Control System”; U.S. Ser. No. 13/343,912 filed on Jan. 5, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,248,014 entitled “Automated Shade Control System”; U.S. Ser. No. 12/475,312 filed on May 29, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,120,292 entitled “Automated Shade Control Reflectance Module”; U.S. Ser. No. 12/421,410 filed on Apr. 9, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,125,172 entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System”; U.S. Ser. No. 12/197,863 filed on Aug. 25, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,977,904 entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System”; U.S. Ser. No. 11/162,377 filed on Sep. 8, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,417,397 entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System”; U.S. Ser. No. 10/906,817 filed on Mar. 8, 2005, and entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System”; and U.S. Provisional No. 60/521,497 filed on May 6, 2004, and entitled “Automated Shade Control Method and System.” 
     The detailed description of various embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments by way of illustration. While these various embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented. Moreover, any of the functions or steps may be outsourced to or performed by one or more third parties. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure. For example, the components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component may include a singular embodiment. Although specific advantages have been enumerated herein, various embodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages. 
     In the detailed description herein, references to “various embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to ‘at least one of A, B, and C’ or ‘at least one of A, B, or C’ is used in the claims or specification, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Although the disclosure includes a method, it is contemplated that it may be embodied as computer program instructions on a tangible computer-readable carrier, such as a magnetic or optical memory or a magnetic or optical disk. All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described various embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present disclosure, for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for”. As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.