Skylight shade

Details Skylight shade Skylight shade

1999-10-18

2001-03-27

Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)

Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel

Plural and/or with rigid closure

Diverse types

C160S265000, C160S310000, C052S200000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06206076

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shade. More particularly this invention concerns such a shade used on a glass roof window, that is on a window or skylight installed in a roof at a small acute angle to the horizontal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A skylight or glass roof such as is used in a greenhouse is typically provided with a shade that can be drawn to keep out light when desired. Such shades can be mounted externally or internally, the former normally being preferred when inside space is at a premium.
The standard external-mount shade assembly comprises a rod mounted at the upper edge of the window and around which the shade is wound. Mechanism extending down from the leading edge of the shade can draw it down to the lower eave edge.
Thus with this system the assembly always blocks at least part of the roof window. Thus some of the benefit of the window is lost. In addition the shade assembly creates an unattractive encumbrance on the roof plane and can catch debris and snow.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved roof-window or skylight shade.
Another object is the provision of such an improved roof-window or skylight shade which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which does not, when rolled up, block the window and which is an unobtrusive structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A roof window having an upper edge and a lower edge is provided with a shade assembly that has according to the invention a flexible shade having a pair of opposite ends, a rotatable shaft attached to one of the shade ends, and a mount rotatably supporting the shaft at the lower window edge. A motor and spring unit attached to the shaft and to the other of the shade ends can wind the shade around the shaft in an open position of the assembly and unwind the shade from the shaft and pull it up along the window until the other shade end is at the upper edge in a closed position of the assembly.
Thus with this system the shaft and motor can all be put completely out of the way. In accordance with the invention a rain gutter is fixed at the lower window edge and the mount and shaft are in the gutter. The shade is completely out sight when not closed.
The means for moving the shade includes a pair of guides extending generally parallel to each other between the window edges. The one shade end is displaceable along the guides and respective cables attached to the one shade end extend along the guides.
The shade assembly further has according to the invention a stiff bar extending along the one shade edge and rollers on ends of the bar riding in the guide rails and attached to the cables. The guides are stiff aluminum profile rails forming horizontally open confronting guide grooves in which the respective rollers ride. In addition the roof window has a glass pane with side edges fixed in the profile rails below the respective grooves.
A biasing or spring unit is attached to the cables for maintaining same under tension. Two such spring units are each braced between a respective one of the guide rails and a respective end of the bar. Each spring unit includes a respective fixed end member in the respective rail at the upper end thereof and carrying at least one wheel over which the respective cable passes, a respective movable end member longitudinally displaceable in the respective rail and carrying at least one wheel over which the respective cable passes, and a respective longitudinally extensible spring element in the respective rail braced against the respective movable end member and urging same away from the respective fixed end member. Thus these spring units, which provide the motive force that actually closes the shade, are completely concealed in the rails.
The shaft is connected to a motor that rotates it. In addition the rails each-have a lower fixed part and an upper retaining part removably clipped to the fixed part and pressing a respective edge of the window against the fixed part and holding the spring unit. It is also possible for the spring unit to be mounted on the bar or for a plurality of such shade assemblies to be arranged one next to the other and interconnected by a horizontal beam extending along all of the assemblies. In this latter case the spring unit is connected to the beam and is mounted above an upper edge of the window.
Furthermore for big installations steel reinforcements extend longitudinally in the guide rails.


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patent: 5752557 (1998-05-01), Crider et al.
patent: 5765324 (1998-06-01), Schulz
patent: 40 31 471 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 34 08 379 (1994-09-01), None

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