IP Library Granted Patent US 10,174,548
Granted Patent B2
US 10,174,548 · App. 15/585,977 · Granted Jan 8, 2019

Window covering motorized lift and control system gear train

Inventor: Michael Graybar (Madison, WI)
Assignee: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC
E06B9/322E06B9/42E06B9/68E06B9/70E06B9/72F16H1/46F16H57/082G05B15/02H02K11/215E06B2009/3222E06B2009/6827E06B2009/6836E06B2009/6845E06B2009/725
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,174,548
App. No.
15/585,977
Granted
Jan 8, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A window covering includes a movable window covering material, lift cords for moving the material, a lift cord take-up shaft for gathering and releasing lengths of the lift cords to move the window covering material, and a motorized lift assembly. The motorized lift assembly includes a motor assembly including a motor, a gear train drivingly connected to and operated by the motor, and a driveshaft drivingly connected to the gear train and to the lift cord take-up shaft. The gear train includes a plurality of planetary gear stages.

Claims (28)

1. A gear train comprising:

a plurality of speed reducing planetary gear stages, at least one gear stage including a planet gear carrier having:

a support surface;

a plurality of legs projecting from a first side of the support surface; and

a sun gear projecting from a second side of the support surface, opposite the first side,

wherein each leg includes a laterally projecting foot positioned at an end distal the support surface, and

wherein each leg includes a sloped surface.

2. The gear train of claim 1 , wherein the sloped surface is positioned at the end distal the support surface.

3. The gear train of claim 2 , wherein the sloped surface defines a thinner region of each leg.

4. The gear train of claim 3 , wherein the thinner region of each leg increases in thickness from the end distal the support surface towards an end proximal the support surface.

5. The gear train of claim 1 , wherein the sloped surface is positioned on a side of each leg opposite the laterally projecting foot.

6. The gear train of claim 1 , wherein each leg includes a collar, the collar being spaced from the laterally projecting foot.

7. The gear train of claim 6 , wherein the collar at least partially surrounds the corresponding leg.

8. The gear train of claim 6 , wherein each leg is configured to receive a planetary gear, the planetary gear being positioned between the collar and the laterally projecting foot.

9. The gear train of claim 1 , wherein the second side of the support surface includes a sloped surface that extends radially outward from the sun gear.

10. A planet gear carrier comprising:

a support surface; and

a plurality of legs projecting from a first side of the support surface,

wherein each leg includes a laterally projecting foot positioned at an end distal the support surface, and

wherein each leg includes a sloped surface.

11. The planet gear carrier of claim 10 , wherein the sloped surface is positioned on a side of each leg opposite the laterally projecting foot.

12. The planet gear carrier of claim 10 , wherein the sloped surface defines a thinner region of each leg.

13. The planet gear carrier of claim 12 , wherein the sloped surface is positioned at the end distal the support surface, the thinner region of each leg increases in thickness along the sloped surface from the end distal the support surface towards an end proximal the support surface.

14. The planet gear carrier of claim 10 , wherein each leg includes a collar, the collar being spaced from the laterally projecting foot, each leg being configured to receive a planetary gear, the planetary gear being positioned between the collar and the laterally projecting foot.

15. The planet gear carrier of claim 10 , further comprising a sun gear projecting from a second side of the support surface, opposite the first side.

16. The planet gear carrier of claim 10 , further comprising a boss projecting from a second side of the support surface, opposite the first side.

17. The planet gear carrier of claim 16 , wherein the boss defines an axial hole extending through the boss and the support surface.

18. The planet gear carrier of claim 17 , further comprising a shaft received by the axial hole, a portion of the shaft extending through the support surface.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT AT R/F 057723/0616 Recorded Jan 3, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPRINGS WINDOWS FASHIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 069848/0249 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2024
From: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC; MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC; MARIAK INDUSTRIES, INC.; HORIZONS HOLDINGS, LLC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071382/0587 →
SUPER-PRIORITY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 19, 2024
From: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069747/0227 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 047433/0431 Recorded Oct 7, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK, PLC AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SPRINGS INDUSTRIES, INC.; SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC; HORIZONS HOLDINGS, LLC; MARIAK INDUSTRIES, INC.; MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC; SUNSETTER PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
Reel/Frame 057747/0896 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT RECORDED AT R/F 047433/0256 Recorded Oct 7, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK, PLC AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: SUNSETTER PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP; SPRINGS INDUSTRIES, INC.; SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC; HORIZONS HOLDINGS, LLC; MARIAK INDUSTRIES, INC.; MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057747/0469 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057723/0616 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 6, 2021
From: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC; MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC; MARIAK INDUSTRIES, INC.; HORIZONS HOLDINGS, LLC; SUNSETTER PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057822/0694 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2018
From: GRAYBAR, MICHAEL
To: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 047584/0212 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 6, 2018
From: SPRINGS INDUSTRIES, INC.; SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC; HORIZIONS HOLDINGS, LLC; MARIAK INDUSTRIES, INC.; MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC; SUNSETTER PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047433/0431 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 6, 2018
From: SPRINGS INDUSTRIES, INC.; SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC; HORIZIONS HOLDINGS, LLC; MARIAK INDUSTRIES, INC.; MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC; SUNSETTER PRODUCTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047433/0256 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14777276
Provisional Application 61792226 · Mar 15, 2013
Related Publication 20170234066A1 · Aug 17, 2017