Adjustable Tube Shade Roller

This invention relates to window shade rollers, and more specifically a shade roller with adjustable shafts at each end making it fully adjustable in length, and having a replacable motor, that requires no tools or special talents or training to replace. All replacements or adjustments can be made completely independent of the materials on the main body of the roller. In the case of extreme length adjustments, the main body with the materials on the body and the shaft with the pin inserted in the body, can be cut for length utilizing a standard high speed power chop saw with a fine tooth blade. (A chop saw of the type Rockwell International Manufactures is ideal) Cutting the roller and materials in this manner greatly reduces labor costs and simplifies work that prior to this invention, had to be accomplished at great labor cost with big cutting tables, by people with great skills in the art of making shades. The roller is also easily convertable to a cord and reel type operation or any other motor type desirable.

Shade rollers are common to the industry and have been used for many many years. All previously known rollers however are only adjustable in length before the materials are installed on the roller, and are only adjustable at one end. None of the previously known art had replaceable motors. If the motor failed the shade had to be taken down, returned to a shade shop that was properly equipped to remove the roller and re-install a completely new roller at great cost to the consumer.

The shade installer, when arriving on the job to install the roller of prior art, would find in the case of a mis-measure, that he would have to return to the shop and the adjustment in length had to be made within the shop by skilled personnel, using special tables, special tools and special training. If the installer had had the invention that is the subject of this application, he could have made the adjustments and completed the installation, thereby saving himself an additional trip to the job. All of the prior art has either bumps, ridges, grooves or indents or are made in sections that result in bumps, ridges, grooves or indents that are very damaging to delicate shade fabrics such as transparent shade materials. The methods of installing the materials on the prior art tend to leave materials hanging unevenly, or in the case of staples or nails, they are damaging to delicate shade materials such as the transparent shade materials. None of the prior art, with the exception of the wooden and cardboard and other rollers of materials similar could be cut for length after the materials are installed on the roller. Though these types can be cut on a special shade cutter, after they are cut to length, there are no other proper length adjustments that can be made. If a mistake is made, there is no room for error and a new shade must be cut.

In its basic concept, the present invention provides an advanced window shade roller for the industry that can be adjusted for length at both ends by simple means either before or after the materials have been installed. It provides for the consumer, a shade roller with a replaceable motor, that can be replaced by him with minimum cost within his own home. It provides a roller that can be converted to use with any type motor or drive unit desired, by the mere removal of one type of motor and the insertion of another type in its place. This invention, by its design, also provides a perfectly smooth body with no bumps, ridges, grooves or indents to damage any type of shade fabric that may be used on it.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partially in section of a window shade of the preferred embodiment ready for installation.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section, with certain parts shown in elevation, at an enlarged scale taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section at an enlarged scale showing the driving connection, taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross section showing the use of common washers as shims for precise adjustment of length.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross section showing the use of common screws as the means of making precise length adjustments.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross section showing the use of a spring to exert a constant pressure on the shaft, thereby allowing for length adjustments without any further parts, tools or adjustments in the shop.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view partially in section of a window shade utilizing an electric or other type external mounted motor for shade operation.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a window shade utilizing a standard cord and reel adapter for manual shade operation.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view partially in section of a window shade during the cutting operation, showing manner in which tip end of roller shaft is reversed into the main body of roller and the entire shade with the materials installed can be cut with a standard chop saw (High speed w/fine tooth blade) to provide the proper length.

In the description of the preferred embodiment, the various components of the preferred embodiment are designated by reference numerals as indicated below:

1. Main body of shade roller

2. Shade materials

3. Drive Block or insert

4. Tube Filler or insert

5. Lock block screw

6. Lock block washer

7. Tip Shaft

8. Motor shaft

9. Motor tip

10. End tip

11. Washer locking nail.

12. Length adjustment screw.

13. Length adjustment shims

14. Length adjustment spring

15. Cord and reel adapter

16. Electric or other type motor adapter

17. High speed -- fine tooth saw blade

18. Cord and reel operating cord

In FIG. 1. there is shown a drawing to reduced scale of an embodiment of the invention in its completed form, with the shade materials on the main body. The roller, by its design can use any standard or otherwise motor (8) and at the same time, the motor shaft is adjustable in length within the main body (1) of the roller, using any adjustable length means such as screw adjustments (12), shims (13), springs (17) etc. One end of the motor would have a tip (9) that would fit into any standard shade mounting bracket, and the other end would be made to lock into a drive block (3) mounted permanently into the main body (1) in such a manner that would prevent the motor shaft (8) from turning within the main body (1) and at the same time leave the motor shaft 8) fully adjustable in length. The drawings show one form of such connection with a common washer (6) as the locking part of the drive block (3). The other end of the roller is comprised of a sliding shaft (7) that is mounted in much the same manner as the motor shaft (8), and is fully adjustable by similar means of screw adjustments (12) shims (13), springs (17) etc. as is the motor end. The tip shaft (7) is not necessary to be locked into a drive block (3) as it may turn or spin within the main body as it will. At the end of this shaft (7) is a standard roller pin (10) that will fit into a standard shade mounting bracket. The length adjustments and motor replacements are designed to be accomplished fully independent and without disturbing the shade materials. The main body (1) is in the form of a tube in which an inexpensive tube filler (4) constructed of a material such as cardboard can be placed. The tube filler (4) prevents the tip shaft (7) from sliding fully inside the main body (1) of the roller. This tube filler (4) can be of any length depending upon the length desired in the tip shaft (7). The main body (1) is made of a continuous tube, thus eliminating any flaws in the surface.

By its design, the motor shaft (8) can be easily converted to any type of motor or manual operation that is desired. Two typical types are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

This roller, by its design, can be cut with a high speed power saw common to the industry either before or after the shade materials (2) have been installed on the main body (1) of the roller. Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the main body (1) of the roller with the materials (2) installed on the roller and the tip shaft (7) inserted in the end of the main body (1) with the end tip (10) to the inside of the main body (1) and within a recess of the tube filler or insert (4), the completed product can then be cut with an ordinary high speed saw blade (17). After the cutting operation, the tip shaft (7) is then pulled out and reinserted into the main body (1) with the end tip (10) to the outside and the operation is completed.