System and method for an adjustable connector
View Patent ↗A coupler system which changes the relationship of two or more rotating shade tubes is disclosed. The invention enables the installer to compensate for the height of the hembar by rotating the tube forward or backward any desired number of degrees. The coupler includes a cam which is adjusted by opposing set screws. The cam may be rotated by about 15 degrees in each direction. Adjusting the cam adjusts the second tube without adjusting the first tube (e.g., the drive or motor end tube). The adjustment device is configured to rotate the cam which, in turn, rotates the second tube to align a second hem bar hanging from the second tube with a first hem bar hanging from the first tube. The adjustments may be accomplished with minimal or no removal or adjustment of the other shades, and with minimal friction on the aligned shade.
1. A coupler system comprising:
a first head component comprising a first drive and a cam comprising a cam engagement surface;
a second head component comprising a second drive and a wall defining a recess, wherein the second head component is positioned relative to the first head component such that the first drive and second drive are maintained in a substantially coaxial relationship about a rotation axis and the wall and the cam are adjacent to one another, wherein the first head component is rotatable relative to the second head component within the recess about the rotation axis; and
a first fastener comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first fastener protrudes through and is held relative to the wall, wherein the second end is adjustable such that adjusting the second end causes a change in a length of the first end protruding from the wall into the recess, wherein the first end contacts and applies a force against the cam engagement surface rotating the cam in the recess such that the angle of the first head component changes relative to the angle of the second head component about the rotation axis based on the change in length of the first end protruding from the wall toward the cam; and
a first tube coaxial with and non-rotatably engaged with the first drive and a second tube coaxial with and non-rotatably engaged with the second drive, wherein the change in angle of the first head component relative to the angle of the second head component causes the angle of the first tube to change relative to the angle of the second tube about the rotation axis, wherein rotation of the first head component relative to the second head component causes rotation of the first tube relative to the second tube.
2. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first drive is recessed a first distance into the first tube and the second drive is recessed into the second tube a second distance less than the first distance.
3. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener comprises a set screw.
4. The coupler system of claim 1 , further comprising a second fastener held relative to the wall, wherein the first fastener comprises a first set screw which exerts a force on a first side of the cam engagement surface causing a first torque on the cam, and the second fastener comprises a second set screw which exerts a force on a second side of the cam engagement surface causing a second torque on the cam.
5. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener is configured to rotate the cam by about 30 degrees about the rotation axis.
6. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener rotates the cam which, in turn, rotates the second tube to rotationally align the second tube with the first tube.
7. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first tube and the second tube comprise shade tubes in a multi-band arrangement.
8. The coupler system of claim 7 , wherein a shade is attached to the shade tubes.
9. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first tube and the second tube comprise more than two tubes.
10. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first head component includes a male shaft and the second head component includes an inlet configured to rotatably receive the male shaft.
11. The coupler system of claim 1 , further comprising a bracket configured to support and act as a bearing surface contacting at least one of the first head component and the second head component.
12. The coupler system of claim 1 , wherein the first fastener rotates the cam which, in turn, rotates the first tube relative to the second tube aligning a first hem bar hanging from the second tube with a first hem bar hanging from the first tube.