Patents Examined by Beth A. Stephan
  • Patent number: 11643874
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator (11) for a closure, obscuring or solar protection installation (6) includes a motor assembly (16), including an electric motor (261) and a reduction gearbox (265), first and second (133) mechanical modules for filtering vibrations, and an output shaft (20), inserted at least partially in a casing (17), the electromechanical actuator (11) extends along a longitudinal axis (X), the first and the second mechanical modules (33, 133) being disposed on either side of the motor assembly (16) along the longitudinal axis (X) and each having a rigid transmission coupling, with at least a first degree of freedom perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (X), allowing the motor assembly (16) to move along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X), the electromechanical actuator also comprising at least one elastic module (130) that limits the movement of the motor assembly (16) along the perpendicular plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventors: Eric Lagarde, Héléna Robert, Dylan Mohamed
  • Patent number: 11643873
    Abstract: Home-automation actuator (11) comprising a motor (16), a housing (17), a mechanical module for filtering vibrations (33; 33a; 33b; 33c), a module for absorbing vibrations (130) and a torque support (21), the mechanical module comprising a first end (35, 135) and a second end (39, 139), —the first end (35, 135) being connected to the housing (17), —the second end (39, 139) being connected to the torque support (21), the mechanical module providing the connection between the housing (17) and the torque support so as to rotate around a first axis (X) of the actuator, the absorption module translationally connecting the housing (17) to the torque support (21) allowing a rotational degree of freedom between the housing (17) and the torque support (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventors: Cyril Schuehmacher, Sébastien Lemaître, Jérôme Pezet, Adrien Brondex, Eric Lagarde
  • Patent number: 11643871
    Abstract: An idler end for roller blinds is provided. The idler end includes limiting counterparts such that the maximum length of the idler end may be adjusted. A method for using the idler end is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: LES ENTREPRISES SMARTLUX INC.
    Inventor: Fan Zhou
  • Patent number: 11634942
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to electric, potentially-driven shades usable with insulating glass (IG) units, IG units including such shades, and/or associated methods. In such a unit, a dynamic shade is located between the substrates defining the IG unit, and is movable between retracted and extended positions. The dynamic shade includes on-glass layers including a transparent conductor and an insulator or dielectric film, as well as a shutter. The shutter includes alternating conductive and dielectric layers, supported by one or more resilient polymer-based layers. A first set of electrostatic forces help cause the shutter to extend and remain in an extended position, whereas an electric field can be setup to help encourage the retraction of the shutter from an extended or at least partially extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GUARDIAN GLASS, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Koskulics
  • Patent number: 11634947
    Abstract: An electromechanical actuator comprises a housing, a torque support (21) and a module for filtering vibrations (33). The torque support (21) comprises a shaft (35) extending along an axis of rotation (X) of the actuator. The module (33) is arranged inside the housing and comprises a transmission element (36), a stop (38) and first and second viscoelastic elements (39, 40). The transmission element (36) is mounted around the shaft (35) and is attached to the housing. The stop (38) is connected to the shaft (35). The first viscoelastic element (39) is arranged between the torque support (21) and a first end (36a) of the transmission element (36). The second viscoelastic element (40) is arranged between a second end (36b) of the transmission element (36) and the stop (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
    Inventors: Cyril Schuehmacher, Yann Rouxel
  • Patent number: 11634945
    Abstract: A roller blind (10) with a curtain that can be wound up on a winding shaft and can be unwound against a spring tension, with a spring (31) for generating the spring tension. The spring (31) is configured such that the curtain remains in each unwound position in a self-retaining manner. A manufacturing effort can be reduced during the assembly by the spring drive being assembled from one or more modularly connected, prefabricated partial springs (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Elmar Taubenrauch, Guido Tants
  • Patent number: 11624196
    Abstract: End fittings may be designed so that they connect to each other in more than two configurations. A first end fitting may be connected to an adjoining end fitting, removed, rotated ninety degrees and reconnected with the adjoining end fitting without jeopardizing stability of the position of each end fitting relative to the other. The first end fitting may be connected to the adjoining end fitting, removed, rotated an additional ninety degrees and reconnected with the adjoining end fitting without jeopardizing stability of the position of each end fitting relative to the other. The first end fitting may be connected to an adjoining end fitting, removed, rotated a yet further ninety degrees and reconnected with the adjoining end fitting without jeopardizing stability of the position of each end fitting relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Apache Industrial Services, INC
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Chevis, Jonathon Daub
  • Patent number: 11619093
    Abstract: An improved roller shade system provides increased support, additional adjustments and/or increased safety. The slip plate allows the brake to slip forward and minimize damage to the clutch spring when a user pulls too hard on the hembar. The center drive mechanism extends through a bracket to allow the drive shaft to distribute power in both directions and drive two shade tube simultaneously. The tube adapter absorbs force from the spinning shade tube to minimize damage to the other components and the bead chain. The sprocket has a back wall supporting the sprocket, allowing the sprocket 130 to rest on the back flange of the sun gear to minimize pressure on the gears. An adjustment arm is adjusted to help level the shade band. The shade bands may be removed without disturbing the other shade bands in the system. A height of a hembar may be adjusted by rotating a rod within the hembar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene Miroshnichenko, Stephen Hebeisen, Xi Ming Liarno
  • Patent number: 11613891
    Abstract: A composite building system comprising a structural frame and walls which is made of pultrusion fiber reinforced polymer (PFRP) material. PFRP provides increased performance, strength, protection, and longevity for mobile and fixed building structures, enclosures or vehicles, commonly found in residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, aerospace, government defense, energy, and agriculture sectors. The PFRP material comprises fibers embedded in a resin matrix. Exemplary fibers are glass, carbon, and synthetic fibers. PFRP products can be formed using a pultrusion method that eliminates outgassing. An intumescent fire barrier can be applied to the PFRP to meet National Fire Protection Association fire endurance codes and standards. The composite building system increases personal safety while reducing weight, labor costs, construction time, and total cost of ownership over the life of the structure while being resistant to ballistic, seismic, corrosion, rotting, impact, and insect damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventor: Paul A. Inglese
  • Patent number: 11603656
    Abstract: A reinforced building wall includes a foundation and an anchor rod anchored to the foundation; a first stud wall disposed above the foundation; the first stud wall having a first bottom plate, a first top plate and first and second vertical studs operably joined to the first bottom plate and the first top plate; a horizontal first bridge member disposed between the first stud and the second stud, the first bridge member having a first vertical opening; a rod post having one end operably connected to the anchor rod and operably connected to the first bridge member to transfer downward forces from the first bridge member and the second bridge member to the rod post; the anchor rod is attached to an anchor; and the anchor is disposed in an upper portion of the foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: CENTRES HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. Espinosa
  • Patent number: 11598085
    Abstract: An anchor bolt for an adhesive anchor or the like that can be caused to exert substantial tensile strength at a relatively shallow embedding depth. An anchor bolt for an adhesive anchor that is fixed via adhesive to an anchor hole formed in a fixed body includes: a head part that is inserted into a hole back part of the anchor hole; a shank part that is continuous with the head part and formed to have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the head part; and a sleeve part into which the shank part is inserted, the sleeve part extending from an opening part to the hole back part of the anchor hole and having a tip end thereof abutted onto the head part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: FS TECHNICAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shogo Fujita
  • Patent number: 11598103
    Abstract: A panel (assembly) having an inner panel member (sheet) and an outer panel member (sheet), with the member being secured to the member so that the member applies an outward force to the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Gordon Andrew Geddes
  • Patent number: 11598148
    Abstract: An improved roller shade system provides increased support, additional adjustments and/or increased safety. The slip plate allows the brake to slip forward and minimize damage to the clutch spring when a user pulls too hard on the hembar. The center drive mechanism extends through a bracket to allow the drive shaft to distribute power in both directions and drive two shade tube simultaneously. The tube adapter absorbs force from the spinning shade tube to minimize damage to the other components and the bead chain. The sprocket has a back wall supporting the sprocket, allowing the sprocket 130 to rest on the back flange of the sun gear to minimize pressure on the gears. An adjustment arm is adjusted to help level the shade band. The shade bands may be removed without disturbing the other shade bands in the system. A height of a hembar may be adjusted by rotating a rod within the hembar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC.
    Inventors: Eugene Miroshnichenko, Stephen Hebeisen, Xi Ming Liarno
  • Patent number: 11598142
    Abstract: A fenestration assembly includes a glazing unit includes a pane spacer between exterior and interior panes proximate glazing unit edges. A fenestration frame is coupled around the glazing unit and includes a frame core extending around the glazing unit. The frame core includes a unitary core wall including a composite material that is hollow and extends continuously from a core interior face to a core exterior face. A metal glazing cap is coupled with the frame core. The metal glazing cap having a cap end indirectly engaged with the glazing unit along the interior pane, and the cap end is remote from the pane spacer. Each of the core exterior face, the pane spacer and the metal glazing cap are thermally isolated from each other with the frame core including the unitary core wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Marvin Lumber and Cedar Company, LLC
    Inventors: Bradley D. Woodward, Kyle C. Koch, Daniel Jon Curtis, Timothy R. Bentow, Chris Ylitalo
  • Patent number: 11598090
    Abstract: A deck framing system includes a perimeter support member that has a joist support wall and a web wall extending perpendicularly from the joist support wall and an overhang wall extending perpendicularly from the web wall. First and second joist support brackets include a joist support portion and a pair of attachment wings, where each one of the pair of attachment wings contacting the web wall of the perimeter support member. First and second joists each include a deck support wall and a lower wall. The deck support walls of the first and second joists are disposed between the overhang wall and the joist support portions, and the lower walls are disposed between the joist support portions and the joist support wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Fortress Iron, LP
    Inventors: Kevin T. Burt, Matthew Carlyle Sherstad, Kevin B. Flatt, Aaron Jesiolowski, Geoff T. Luczycki
  • Patent number: 11598147
    Abstract: A novel roller blind shaft is provided, comprising a roller blind having a reel, a lower curtain rod, a curtain fabric arranged between the reel and the lower curtain rod, and a driving device for driving the reel to rotate. A bearing seat is correspondingly provided at both ends of the reel. The novel roller blind shaft comprises: moving devices, which are respectively a first moving device and a second moving device arranged parallel to each other, arranged on the bearing seats at both ends of the reel and perpendicular to the reel and configured to drive the reel to move back and forth to adjust a gap between the curtain fabric and the wall, and a control device electrically connected to the first and second moving devices and configured to synchronously control the first and second moving devices to synchronously drive the reel to move back and forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Inventor: Jeff Wh Li
  • Patent number: 11591803
    Abstract: A panel fastening system includes a panel having a visible side and a rear side, at least one slot which is introduced into the rear side of the panel and which extends along a longitudinal axis, and which has at least one stop face, wherein a first slot portion extends between the at least one stop face and the rear side, and wherein a second slot portion extends between the at least one stop face and the slot base, and at least one fastening element which is inserted into the slot and which has a fastening portion and a contact face, wherein the contact face of the fastening element abuts against the at least one stop face, wherein the panel fastening system further comprises at least one securing element which can be arranged in the slot to secure the fastening element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Swisspearl Group AG
    Inventor: Aristide Gervasoni
  • Patent number: 11591853
    Abstract: An improved roller shade system provides increased support, additional adjustments and/or increased safety. The slip plate allows the brake to slip forward and minimize damage to the clutch spring when a user pulls too hard on the hembar. The center drive mechanism extends through a bracket to allow the drive shaft to distribute power in both directions and drive two shade tube simultaneously. The tube adapter absorbs force from the spinning shade tube to minimize damage to the other components and the bead chain. The sprocket has a back wall supporting the sprocket, allowing the sprocket 130 to rest on the back flange of the sun gear to minimize pressure on the gears. An adjustment arm is adjusted to help level the shade band. The shade bands may be removed without disturbing the other shade bands in the system. A height of a hembar may be adjusted by rotating a rod within the hembar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene Miroshnichenko, Stephen Hebeisen, Xi Ming Liarno
  • Patent number: 11591852
    Abstract: An improved roller shade system provides increased support, additional adjustments and/or increased safety. The slip plate allows the brake to slip forward and minimize damage to the clutch spring when a user pulls too hard on the hembar. The center drive mechanism extends through a bracket to allow the drive shaft to distribute power in both directions and drive two shade tube simultaneously. The tube adapter absorbs force from the spinning shade tube to minimize damage to the other components and the bead chain. The sprocket has a back wall supporting the sprocket, allowing the sprocket 130 to rest on the back flange of the sun gear to minimize pressure on the gears. An adjustment arm is adjusted to help level the shade band. The shade bands may be removed without disturbing the other shade bands in the system. A height of a hembar may be adjusted by rotating a rod within the hembar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene Miroshnichenko, Stephen Hebeisen, Xi Ming Liarno
  • Patent number: 11578532
    Abstract: A smart window including a motorized shade is provided, particularly where the smart window includes a frame portion having a first subframe and a second subframe for mounting the smart window and routing the motor wirings. In a described embodiment, the smart window comprises: a frame portion including a wiring chase positioned internal to the frame portion and a glass portion. The glass portion may comprise a motorized shade, the motorized shade including a motor, a motor wiring, and a shade roll; a first pane of glass attached to the frame portion on an exterior side of the smart window; and a second pane of glass attached to the frame portion on an interior side of the smart window; wherein the frame portion surrounds the glass portion, wherein the motorized shade is attached to the frame portion between the first pane of glass and the second pane of glass by a hanging system, and wherein the motor wiring is positioned internal to the frame portion and the wiring chase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: WINCO Window Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Snader, Gantt Miller, III, Gantt Miller, IV, Lothar Erkens, Dennis Brosch