Patents by Inventor John E. Morris

John E. Morris has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20110094685
    Abstract: A Roman shade includes shade material and a lining panel connected to the shade material at a plurality of discrete connections located along horizontal rows of cord rings for lift cords of the shade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: John E. Morris, Christopher J. Malin, Julie S. Kober
  • Publication number: 20110094162
    Abstract: A sliding panel track system has a headrail with traversing rails therein, the traversing rails having open-ended channels with downwardly facing slots. Panels for the system are attached to hangers, including different hangers for different types of panels. The hangers are readily and easily inserted into and withdrawn from the channels and slots via the open ends thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: John E. Morris, Christopher J. Malin
  • Publication number: 20090050280
    Abstract: A sliding panel track system has a headrail with traversing rails therein, the traversing rails having open-ended channels with downwardly facing slots. Panels for the system are attached to hangers, including different hangers for different types of panels. The hangers are readily and easily inserted into and withdrawn from the channels and slots via the open ends thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: John E. Morris, Christopher J. Malin
  • Patent number: 7100663
    Abstract: A window covering including two sheets of material extending from a take-up member and having a plurality of substantially horizontal slats disposed between the sheets of material is described. The horizontal slats can be adjusted between open and closed positions when the window covering is in a plurality vertical positions. In certain embodiments, the horizontal slats can be positioned independently from the movement of the sheets of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Springs Window Fashions LP
    Inventors: Yihong Zhang, Toralf H. Strand, John E. Morris
  • Patent number: 6672359
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable bracket for mounting a valance to a headrail includes a clip having a tongue and an arm for attachment to a headrail. A slide has a groove which receives the tongue and a twist and lock cam connector which releasably and lockingly engages an elongated groove on the rear of a valance. A rib on the slide and a ridged surface on the tongue make the bracket adjustable in small increments. Another embodiment includes a second tongue and groove connection which makes the horizontal distance between the valance and the headrail similarly adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Springs Window Fashions LP
    Inventor: John E. Morris
  • Publication number: 20030221794
    Abstract: A vertically adjustable bracket for mounting a valance to a headrail includes a clip having a tongue and an arm for attachment to a headrail. A slide has a groove which receives the tongue and a twist and lock cam connector which releasably and lockingly engages an elongated groove on the rear of a valance. A rib on the slide and a ridged surface on the tongue make the bracket adjustable in small increments. Another embodiment includes a second tongue and groove connection which makes the horizontal distance between the valance and the headrail similarly adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Springs Window Fashions LP
    Inventor: John E. Morris
  • Patent number: 6036861
    Abstract: Porous Zirconia particles of specific gravity of 2.5-3.5 g/cm.sup.3 and mean particle sizes of 30-400 .mu.m can be synthesized using oil emulsion methods from colloids and used for protein adsorption in stable expanded beds. Expanded beds of less than 1.0 settled bed height to diameter (approximately 10 ml bed volume) are stable at linear fluid velocities of at least about 100 cm/hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Michael C. Flickinger, Michael J. Robichaud, John E. Morris, Colleen M. Griffith, Michael J. Annen, Peter W. Carr, Christopher Dunlap
  • Patent number: 5837826
    Abstract: Porous zirconia particles of specific gravity of 2.5-3.5 g/cm.sup.3 and mean particle sizes of 30-400 .mu.m can be synthesized using oil emulsion methods from colloids and used for protein adsorption in stable expanded beds. Expanded beds of less than 1.0 settled bed height to diameter (approximately 10 ml bed volume) are stable at linear fluid velocities of at least about 100 cm/hour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Regents of The University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Michael C. Flickinger, Michael J. Robichaud, John E. Morris, Colleen M. Griffith, Michael J. Annen, Peter W. Carr, Christopher Dunlap
  • Patent number: 5533560
    Abstract: A venetian blind headrail and bracket system in which the headrail has a downwardly extending light block panel along a rear edge of the bottom wall, a front upper rim on the front wall and a rear upper rim on the rear wall. The mounting bracket includes an upwardly opening front notch for receiving a lower edge of the front upper rim and a downwardly opening rear notch spaced rearwardly from the front notch for receiving the rear upper rim, and a support ledge spaced below the rear notch for engaging a lower edge of the light block panel to support the headrail in a mounted position on the bracket with a clearance between the rear upper rim and the base of the rear notch. The rear notch has a width sufficiently less than the outer width of the rear upper rim to have an interference fit therewith when the headrail is in the mounted position on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Springs Window Fashions Division, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Morris
  • Patent number: 5058650
    Abstract: A cord equalizer for gripping a plurality of lift cords in a window covering. The cord equalizer includes a molded first body member having an elongated channel extending from a lower to an upper end, and a second body member overlying the channel and having a rib intermediate its ends extending crosswise of the channel. The first and second body members are slidably interconnected for relative movement in a direction lengthwise of the channel and a notch extends inwardly from the upper end of the second body member in registry with the channel to provide a passage for lift cords that opens laterally of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Graber Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Morris
  • Patent number: 4921031
    Abstract: A valance for concealing window blind headers or drapery fixtures. The valance includes a front panel and end panels, and each of the panels have an upper rail adjacent the upper edge defining a downwardly projecting lip, a lower rail adjacent the lower edge defining an upwardly projecting lower lip, and an intermediate rail defining an upwardly projecting intermediate lip and a downwardly projecting intermediate lip. Upper and lower valance face members are provided for each panel and each face member has a front wall, a reentrant channel extending lengthwise along one rear edge and an internal hook portion spaced inwardly from a second rear edge. The reentrant channels on the upper and lower valance face members are arranged to receive the respective upper and lower intermediate lips and the internal hook portions on the upper and lower face members are respectively arranged to receive the upper and lower lips on the associated panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Graber Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Wagner, John E. Morris
  • Patent number: 4848434
    Abstract: A vertical blind of the type having a horizontal carriage guide channel and a blind operating rod extending lengthwise of the channel and slat carriages guidably mounted in a first trackway extending lengthwise of the side walls of the channel. One or more movable auxiliary carriages are provided in the guide channel and have guide shoes extending laterally from opposite ends at locations to guidably support the auxiliary carriages in a second trackway on channel vertically offset from the trackway that supports the slat carriages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Graber Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: John E. Morris, Ronald G. Darner
  • Patent number: 4830081
    Abstract: A curved vertical blind comprising a generally horizontal longitudinally curved guide track and a normally straight resiliently bendable operating rod rotatably supported on the track. Slat support carriages are provided and which have a first carriage part guidably mounted on the curved guide track for movement therealong and a second carriage part guidably mounted on the first part for movement relative thereto in a direction crosswise of the guide track. The second carriage part guideably engages the blind operating rod for shifting thereby relative to the first carriage part crosswise of the guide track to accommodate changes in the spacing between the operating rod and the guide track. Slat carriers are rotatably supported on the second carriage part for turning about generally upright axis, and a drive means is provided on the second carriage part for drivingly connecting the blind operating rod to the slat carriers for rotating the latter in response to turning of the operating rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Graber Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Morris
  • Patent number: 4827199
    Abstract: A traverse rod having a reversible torque responsive motor-drive assembly for operating the traverse rod. The motor-drive assembly includes a stationary casing fixed to the rod and a movable casing mounted in the stationary casing for angular movement relative thereto about a turn axis. A reversible DC motor in the movable casing is connected through a planetary gear speed reducer to a traverse cord drive wheel for applying driving torque thereto. The movable casing is arranged to turn about the turn axis in opposition to the torque applied to the drive wheel and is yieldable urged angularly about the turn axis toward a preselected neutral position relative to the stationary casing. The motor-drive assembly has a torque responsive motor control including stationary brush contacts fixed on the stationary casing and adapted for connection to a power supply and movable electrically conductive segments fixed on the movable casing and electrically connected to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Graber Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Kaucic, John E. Morris
  • Patent number: D355093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Springs Window Fashions Division, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Morris
  • Patent number: D385449
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Springs Window Fashions Division, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Morris