Patents Examined by Scott Denion
  • Patent number: 9784024
    Abstract: A door opener assembly may include an opener housing including a well and at least one hook member. A pin-reception channel may be formed through a portion of the well. The hook member(s) is configured to hook onto a portion of a frame. The door opener assembly may also include a frame-securing member having a pin retained within the pin-reception channel. The frame-securing member is configured to be urged into the well to lock the opener housing to the portion of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Collado, Mark Rimkus
  • Patent number: 9593519
    Abstract: A magnetic levitation system for sliding door and window, includes at least a movable module for the lower part of the sliding door and window which includes one or more permanent magnets; several fixed modules for the lower part of the frame of the sliding door and window, which includes one or more electromagnets to produce a variable repulsive magnetic field of the magnetic field of said magnets of the movable module. It has the advantage of eliminating the friction, mechanical wear and noise associated to the sliding, allowing, when deactivated, a greater air and water tightness and terminal and acoustic insulation, allowing the electromagnetic closure or locking of the door and window, increasing the security, and as is a modular system its operation and construction are simpler and more economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: HIPERJANELAS LDA
    Inventors: Rui Fernando Branco Teixeira, Carla Sofia Carvalho Da Rocha, Senen Lanceros Méndez, Vítor Manuel Gomes Correia
  • Patent number: 9556667
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for at least partially environmentally isolating a volume, such as by environmentally isolating the cargo compartment from the passenger compartment of an aircraft. In the context of an apparatus, a barrier curtain is provided that partially defines the volume. The apparatus also includes a cable extending along one or more walls that partially define the volume. The barrier curtain is supported by the cable. The apparatus may also include a cable release mechanism. The cable is held in place by the cable release mechanism and the cable release mechanism is configured to detach the cable at a predetermined load, thereby permitting the barrier curtain to drop in response to a decompression event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: William Robert Clos
  • Patent number: 9546515
    Abstract: A method in accordance with the invention includes prompting a user to align a mobile device with a geometric feature (e.g., a window sill, corner, etc.) of a window. The method further determines a position and orientation of the window using sensors of the mobile device. Based on the position and orientation of the window, the method determines a position of the sun over time relative to the window. The method automatically adjusts a window covering of the window to take into account the position of the sun over time. For example, the method may automatically tilt slats of a window blind or open or close a window covering to take into account the position of the sun over time. A corresponding system is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventor: David R. Hall
  • Patent number: 9540868
    Abstract: A shade includes a main unit and a plurality of magnetic members. The main unit includes a shade cloth member and a plurality of transverse bars. The shade cloth member is provided with a first tubular portion and a second tubular portion and divided into a first shading portion and a second shading portion. The second shading portion is divided into a plurality of movable shading pieces each provided with a plurality of transverse mounting sleeves. The transverse bars are mounted in the second tubular portion and the mounting sleeves. The magnetic members are mounted in the transverse bars. Thus, the second shading portion can regulate the incident sunlight passing through the shade cloth member by expanding, partially folding or fully folding each of the movable shading pieces to adjust the shading effect of the shade cloth member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: My Home Global Company
    Inventor: Ju-Huai Chen
  • Patent number: 9534441
    Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, there is provided an interlocking rolling sheet door and a method for assembling the interlocking rolling sheet door. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the interlocking rolling sheet door includes at least one curtain panel. Each curtain panel includes a first curl on a lateral end and a second curl on an opposing lateral end. One of the first curl and the second curl is an interior curl portion, and the other of the first curl and the second curl is an exterior curl portion. The first curl of one curtain panel is configured to rotationally engage an inner portion of the second curl of an adjacent curtain panel, whereby the first curl rotationally engaging the second curl until a distal end of the first curl fouls out against an inner surface of the second curl. The first curl and the second curl are configured to rotationally engage one another to form an interlocking mechanism between adjacent curtain panels to form the interlocking rolling sheet door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DBCI
    Inventor: LaBraylon Allen
  • Patent number: 9500024
    Abstract: An impact resistant sectional door includes a plurality of interlockingly coupled extruded thermoplastic polymer elongated panels. An elongated panel edge includes a channel and an adjacent edge of an adjacent panel includes a protrusion. The protrusion nests in the channel. Each end cap is rotatingly coupled to an adjacent end cap by a door hinge. The roller is adapted to ride in a door track and to pivot about a rolling plane of the roller. An impact load applied to one or more elongated panels causes one or more of the elongated panels to elastically deform at a spring rate in response to the impact and one or more of the protrusions to slide away from one or more of the channels. The impact resistant sectional door remains substantially undamaged. A method for protecting a sectional door from an impacting force is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: DL Manufacturing
    Inventors: Donald L. Metz, David M. Martini, Kristian P. Garrow, Kyle J. Berean
  • Patent number: 9482050
    Abstract: A shade lock assembly for a shade assembly is provided. The shade lock assembly may include a spool rotatably attached to a housing, with the housing defining a pull cord channel. A pull cord may be provided that extends through the pull cord channel and wraps at least partially around the spool. The pull cord channel may include a roller wheel configured to interact with the pull cord and a second wall of the pull cord channel such that it may move between a locked and an unlocked position based at least in part by the angle at which the pull cord is held relative to a plane defined the shade assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventor: Toralf Strand
  • Patent number: 9482046
    Abstract: A window covering for a fenestration product having a viewing area includes a plurality of slats extending substantially horizontally, a ladder extending substantially vertically and supporting the slats, and a blind mechanism. The blind mechanism includes a lift mechanism and a tilt ring. The lift mechanism is operably connected to the slats to raise and lower the slats. The tilt ring is operably connected to the ladder and to the lift mechanism such that the tilt ring rotates with the lift mechanism through at least a portion of a revolution of the lift mechanism to tilt the slats when the lift mechanism rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: PELLA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Randy Lee Black
  • Patent number: 9481229
    Abstract: A protection device for a vehicle interior having a flexible planar formation movable between stored rest and tensioned protection positions. The formation is provided at a front end region in a tensioning direction with a dimensionally stable draw-out profile member guided between the rest and protection positions by at least one guide arrangement. The draw-out profile member includes a longitudinal compensator to compensate for deviations between movement directions of the guide arrangement and the draw-out profile member. The guide arrangement has at least one linearly guided carrier element, and the draw-out profile member includes an undercut compensation groove which extends in the longitudinal direction of the draw-out profile member and which is open towards the carrier. The carrier comprises a longitudinally displaceable sliding or rolling element which is retained in a positive-locking manner in the receiving groove in the opening direction of the compensation groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Fischer, Christoph Beutel, Danja Sperr, Nina Roeschinger, Darren Ketteringham
  • Patent number: 9482047
    Abstract: A window covering comprises slats suspended from a tilt cord such that the tilt cord may rotate the slats between an open position and a closed position. An elastic seal is provided on the slats to contact adjacent slats when the slats are in the closed position. A mechanism such as a spring or a magnet applies a closing force to the slats in the closed position separate from the tilt cord where the closing force moves the slats toward one another. An elastic seal is provided on the slats to contact adjacent slats when the slats are in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Newell Window Furnishings, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Anti, Peter Bates, Michael Defenbaugh, Joshua Maust, Teresa Williamson, Alexandra Unger
  • Patent number: 9476254
    Abstract: A slatted horizontal blinds system has separate positional controls for distinct subsets of slats. Odd and even slats can be moved relative to each other both horizontally and vertically. With a scalloped upper and lower edge, overlapping slats can produce a variety of light allowing and esthetic modes. Some versions only support up and down movement and some slats are rectangular. This is caused by hiding and exposing of slat portions and voids between slats by the relative movement of odd and even slats. Slats may have translucent colored portions, apertures or printed designs. The absolute movement may only be of one subset of slats while other slats stay in position. In other cases all slats can move simultaneously in relation to each other. Mechanisms include screw drive with “lost motion” operation and movement latches. Also slidable carriages, end-cams, and linear motors can be used. In some cases the bottom rail has mechanisms as well as the head rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Diamond View Technology, LLC
    Inventors: James Safarik, George P White, Victor Rossi
  • Patent number: 9476246
    Abstract: A door apparatus includes a door, actuating mechanism, and tie rod mechanism, the actuating mechanism actuating the tie rod mechanism to impart a substantially translating motion to the door. The actuating mechanism can include a drive yoke coupled to the tie rod mechanism with a one-way coupling. The tie rod mechanism can include a primary tie rod coupled to a secondary tie rod coupled to a latch. In another aspect a door apparatus includes an actuator, a first door, a second door, a first linkage assembly coupling the actuator to the first door, and a second linkage assembly coupling the first door to the second door, the actuator configured to activate the first linkage assembly to move the first door, the first door imparting motion to the second linkage assembly to move the second door in a synchronous and opposite motion with respect to the motion of the first door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Greenpoint Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean J. Fairchild
  • Patent number: 9470039
    Abstract: A framed architectural mesh panel system including a mesh panel; a frame assembly; and a tensioning system; wherein the tensioning system is integrated within the frame assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Cambridge International, Inc.
    Inventor: James J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9464648
    Abstract: A device for securing curtain ends to walls preferably includes a curtain retention device and a magnet. The curtain retention device could be a curtain retention clip or a butterfly clutch pin. The curtain retention clip includes a spring-loaded clip and a decorative fascia. Alternatively, a clip magnet may be secured to a rear of the spring-loaded clip and used with a wall mounted ferrous wall plate. The butterfly clutch pin includes a decorative tack pin and a butterfly retention clutch. The magnet may be attached to a wall with any suitable method. If the curtain retention clip is used, the spring-loaded clip is secured to the curtain and the spring-loaded clip is secured to the magnet. If the butterfly clutch pin is used, a pin portion of the decorative tack pin is inserted through the curtain and into the butterfly retention clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Arlene R. Smith, John C. Heglin
  • Patent number: 9447616
    Abstract: One embodiment of window opening control device that limits the maximum amount by which a window can be opened includes a spool assembly for varying the amount by which the window can be opened and a slider assembly for engaging the spool assembly such that the amount by which the window can be opened does not exceed the maximum amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Vinylast, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Leary, Benjamin Yin
  • Patent number: 9428037
    Abstract: A roller-blind shaft for a protective apparatus in a vehicle interior on which at least one flexible flat structure is held such that it can be wound up and unwound, the roller-blind shaft having a curved bearing axle and sleeve-like roller-blind shaft sections which are mounted rotatably on the bearing axle and are connected axially to one another to form a rotationally locked unit. In each case at least one axially inserted and axially secured sliding ring is provided for each roller-blind shaft section for mounting the roller-blind shaft sections on the bearing axle, which sliding ring mounts the roller-blind shaft section in a contactless manner at a radial spacing from the bearing axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Guenter Renz, Cristian Winkler
  • Patent number: 9428957
    Abstract: The gate may be fixed within a doorway or into walls above stairs. The gate is constructed of two horizontal beams pivotally connected by vertical beams, joined by pivot pins. At one end, the horizontal beams are pivotally connected to a hinge so that they may pivot vertically relative to the hinge, which is connected to one side of a door frame and permits the gate to swing open and closed. When closed, the gate latches into saddles on the opposite side of the door frame. When open, the entire gate pivots vertically to incline in a direction of the stairs. When pivoting vertically, the vertical beams remain vertical and the horizontal beams incline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventor: Robert Lee Swafford
  • Patent number: 9414697
    Abstract: A modular privacy panel with a concave front surface and a parallel convex rear surface which panel is adapted to be disposed in side by side abutting relation with identical adjacent panels and provide a resultant combination screen with both faces appearing as a serpentine shape as seen in top view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: INSCAPE CORPORATION
    Inventor: David Parshad
  • Patent number: 9410363
    Abstract: Example insulated pliable door panels or curtains include various internal vapor barriers. The vapor barriers have a relatively high water vapor transmission rate that inhibits water vapor from permeating through the door panel. With such vapor barriers, outer sheets of the door panel can be made of polyurethane or other tough materials that might have an inadequate water vapor transmission rate. In some examples, the vapor barrier encircles or encloses a thermally insulating pad. In some examples, the door panel includes a sleeve or pocket that holds the vapor barrier in place. Some examples include means for draining water that might condense within the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Perry W. Knutson