The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 08, 1983
Filed:
Mar. 18, 1981
Martin Waine, Riverside, CT (US);
Jules Nisenson, Stamford, CT (US);
General Clutch Corp., New York, NY (US);
Abstract
There is disclosed a bi-directional clutch, particularly useful in window shade applications. The bi-directional clutch includes a first or core member and an unwrap spring, that is, a spring having an inside diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the core, the spring being wound around the core. The unwrap spring has a number of helical turns and spring tangs which extend outwardly past the circumference of the spring and generally perpendicular to the axis of the spring. The spring is controlled by a second, control or driving member which, when rotated, applies force to one or the other of the spring tangs to unwrap or loosen the spring, thereby allowing the spring to rotate relative to the core. As the spring rotates, one of the spring tangs abuts a third or driven member. The third or driven member is rotated by the spring, allowing the third member to rotate relative to the first or core member. The third or driven member continues to rotate, relative to the first or core member, until the second, control or driving member stops rotating. However, when the driven member is rotated directly, the spring is locked onto the core member and further rotation of the driven member is prevented.