Motorized window shade mechanism

Abstract

A motorized window shade assembly for controlling an amount of light through a porthole. A spring roller is positioned by a first side of the porthole and has a torsion spring for imparting a rotating force to the spring roller. A shade is supported by the spring roller and has a first end fixed to the spring roller and a second end extendable over the porthole. A shade actuator is connected to the shade, the shade actuator having one or more of a pulley and cable for moving the second end of the shade across the porthole. A motor assembly is positioned proximate a second side of the porthole, the motor assembly having a motor which receives operating power from a power source. The motor is releasably coupled to the shade actuator for selectively supplying motor-controlled operation to the shade actuator.

1 . A motorized window shade assembly for controlling an amount of light through a porthole formed in a panel, the porthole having a first side and second side, comprising:
 a spring roller positioned proximate the first side of the porthole and having a torsion spring for imparting a rotating force to the spring roller;   a shade supported by the spring roller and having a first end fixed to the spring roller and a second end extendable over the porthole;   a shade actuator connected to the shade, the shade actuator having one or more of a pulley and cable for moving the second end of the shade across the porthole;   a motor assembly positioned proximate the second side of the porthole, the motor assembly having a motor which receives operating power from a power source, the motor being releasably coupled to the shade actuator for selectively supplying motor-controlled operation to the shade actuator, wherein when the motor is coupled to the shade actuator and operating power is supplied to the motor, the second end of the shade can be selectively extended over, and retracted from, the porthole; and   a manually operated mechanism connected to the motor assembly, the mechanism causing decoupling of the motor from the shade actuator during activation of the mechanism, wherein if the second end of the shade is positioned away from the spring roller, the second end of the shade is retracted towards the spring roller under the influence of the rotating force, and wherein the motor is re-coupled to the shade actuator upon deactivation of the mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor assembly comprises a movable table and a spring which biases the table in a direction towards the shade actuator so that the motor is in a position to control operation of the shade actuator. 
     
     
         3 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanism comprises an actuator arm connected to the table for moving the table in a direction away from the shade actuator to cause decoupling of the motor from the shade actuator upon activation of the release mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the mechanism further comprises a cam arm. 
     
     
         5 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the panel is a panel for an airplane, wherein the first side of the porthole comprises a top of the porthole and wherein a second side of the porthole comprises a bottom of the porthole. 
     
     
         6 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric, the phantom fabric being positioned between the porthole and the pleated fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a first end of the phantom fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the pleated fabric and phantom fabric comprise translucent material. 
     
     
         8 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric, the phantom fabric being positioned between the porthole and the pleated fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a first end of the phantom fabric. 
     
     
         9 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the spring roller comprises a first spring roller, the shade comprises a first shade, the shade activator comprises a first shade activator, and the motor assembly comprises a first motor assembly, the shade assembly further comprising:
 a second spring roller proximate the first spring roller;   a second shade supported by the second spring roller and having a first end fixed to the second spring roller and a second end extendable over the porthole;   a second shade actuator connected to the second shade and having one or more of a pulley and cable for moving the second end of the second shade across the porthole;   a second motor assembly positioned proximate the second side of the porthole, the second motor assembly having a motor releasably coupled to the second shade actuator, wherein when the second motor is coupled to the second shade actuator and operating power is supplied to the second motor, the second end of the second shade can be selectively extended over, and retracted from, the porthole; and   wherein said manually operated mechanism is connected to the second motor assembly, the mechanism causing the first and second motors to decouple from their respective first and second shade actuators, wherein if the second ends of the first and second shades are positioned away from their respective first and second spring rollers, the second ends of the first and second shades are retracted towards their respective spring rollers under the influence of their respective rotating forces, and wherein the first and second motors are re-coupled to their respective shade actuators upon deactivation of the mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second shade comprises an opaque material. 
     
     
         11 . The motorized window shade assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the manually activated mechanism comprises a contact surface for engagement by a tool applying a pressing force. 
     
     
         12 . An improved motorized window shade assembly for controlling an amount of light through a porthole formed in a panel, the porthole having a first side and second side, the window shade assembly having a spring roller positioned proximate the first side of the porthole and having a torsion spring for imparting a rotating force to the spring roller, a shade supported by the spring roller and having a first end fixed to the spring roller and a second end extendable over the porthole, a shade actuator connected to the shade, the shade actuator having one or more of a pulley and cable for moving the second end of the shade across the porthole, and a motor positioned proximate a second side of the porthole which receives operating power from a power source, the improvement comprising:
 a movable table mounted to the motor for releasably coupling the motor to the shade actuator for selectively supplying motor-controlled operation to the shade actuator, wherein when the motor is coupled to the shade actuator and operating power is supplied to the motor, the second end of the shade can be selectively extended over, and retracted from, the porthole; and   a manually operated mechanism connected to the movable table, the release mechanism moving the movable table for decoupling the motor from the shade actuator during activation of the release mechanism, wherein if the second end of the shade is positioned away from the spring roller, the second end of the shade is retracted towards the spring roller under the influence of the rotating force, and wherein the motor is re-coupled to the shade actuator upon deactivation of the mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . The improved motorized window shade assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a spring which biases the table in a direction towards the shade actuator so that the motor is selectively maintained in a position to control operation of the shade actuator. 
     
     
         14 . The improved motorized window shade assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the mechanism comprises an actuator arm connected to the movable table for moving the table in a direction away from the shade actuator to cause decoupling of the motor from the shade actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The improved motorized window shade assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the mechanism further comprises a cam arm. 
     
     
         16 . The improved window shade assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the panel is a panel for an airplane, wherein the first side of the porthole comprises a top of the porthole and wherein a second side of the porthole comprises a bottom of the porthole. 
     
     
         17 . The improved motorized window shade assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric, the phantom fabric being positioned between the porthole and the pleated fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a first end of the phantom fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The improved motorized window shade assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the shade comprises a pleated fabric and a phantom fabric, the phantom fabric being positioned between the porthole and the pleated fabric, and wherein the first end of the shade comprises a first end of the phantom fabric.