Patents by Inventor Matthew DiFrancesco

Matthew DiFrancesco 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: 20220074266
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to operate a covering of an architectural covering are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a clutch to disengage a motor from moving a covering to facilitate manual operation of the covering of an architectural covering when the motor is not in use; and a controller: to track a covering position based on a first encoder measurement from a first encoder; and to track a motor position when the motor disengages based on a second encoder measurement from a second encoder different from the first encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Kevin Dann, Joseph Kovach, Wendell Colson, Daniel Fluckey, Matthew DiFrancesco, Michael Siebenaller, Jeffrey Spray
  • Patent number: 11187036
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to operate a covering of an architectural covering are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a clutch to disengage a motor from moving a covering to facilitate manual operation of the covering of an architectural covering when the motor is not in use; and a controller: to track a covering position based on a first encoder measurement from a first encoder; and to track a motor position when the motor disengages based on a second encoder measurement from a second encoder different from the first encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Dann, Joseph Kovach, Wendell Colson, Daniel Fluckey, Matthew DiFrancesco, Michael Siebenaller, Jeffrey Spray
  • Publication number: 20210363818
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural feature having generally horizontal vane elements extending between generally inner and outer vertical support members that can adjust and control the amount and quality of light transmitted through the covering is described. In one embodiment, the covering has elongate tapes as vertical support members that have a width substantially less than the length of the vane elements, and adjacent inner and adjacent outer elongate tapes are separated by a distance. In one embodiment, the vane elements are multi-layered, cellular vanes. The elongated multilayered vanes may include elongate stiffeners that may be associated with, coupled to, and or inserted within pockets formed in, the multilayered vanes. Also disclosed is a method of operation and manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Ko Kuperus, David P. Hartman, Matthew A. Difrancesco
  • Patent number: 11118396
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural feature having generally horizontal vane elements extending between generally inner and outer vertical support members that can adjust and control the amount and quality of light transmitted through the covering is described. In one embodiment, the covering has elongate tapes as vertical support members that have a width substantially less than the length of the vane elements, and adjacent inner and adjacent outer elongate tapes are separated by a distance. In one embodiment, the vane elements are multi-layered, cellular vanes. The elongated multilayered vanes may include elongate stiffeners that may be associated with, coupled to, and or inserted within pockets formed in, the multilayered vanes. Also disclosed is a method of operation and manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Ko Kuperus, David P. Hartman, Matthew A. Difrancesco
  • Publication number: 20200232275
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to operate a covering of an architectural covering are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a clutch to disengage a motor from moving a covering to facilitate manual operation of the covering of an architectural covering when the motor is not in use; and a controller: to track a covering position based on a first encoder measurement from a first encoder; and to track a motor position when the motor disengages based on a second encoder measurement from a second encoder different from the first encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Dann, Joseph Kovach, Wendell Colson, Daniel Fluckey, Matthew DiFrancesco, Michael Siebenaller, Jeffrey Spray
  • Patent number: 10648231
    Abstract: A dual control architectural covering is disclosed. A dual control architectural covering includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a manual control to move the covering of the architectural opening while the motor is disengaged. The dual control architectural covering further includes a braking element to resist movement of a drive element of the covering when the motor is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Dann, Joseph Kovach, Wendell Colson, Daniel Fluckey, Matthew DiFrancesco, Michael Siebenaller, Jeffrey L. Spray
  • Patent number: 10358870
    Abstract: A dual control architectural covering is disclosed. A dual control architectural covering includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a manual control to move the covering of the architectural opening while the motor is disengaged. The dual control architectural covering further includes a braking element to resist movement of a drive element of the covering when the motor is disengaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Dann, Joseph Kovach, Wendell Colson, Daniel Fluckey, Matthew DiFrancesco, Michael Siebenaller, Jeffrey L. Spray
  • Publication number: 20180119487
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural feature having generally horizontal vane elements extending between generally inner and outer vertical support members that can adjust and control the amount and quality of light transmitted through the covering is described. In one embodiment, the covering has elongate tapes as vertical support members that have a width substantially less than the length of the vane elements, and adjacent inner and adjacent outer elongate tapes are separated by a distance. In one embodiment, the vane elements are multi-layered, cellular vanes. The elongated multilayered vanes may include elongate stiffeners that may be associated with, coupled to, and or inserted within pockets formed in, the multilayered vanes. Also disclosed is a method of operation and manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Ko Kuperus, David P. Hartman, Matthew A. Difrancesco
  • Publication number: 20170204661
    Abstract: A dual control architectural covering is disclosed. A dual control architectural covering includes a clutch to disengage a motor when the motor is not in use. The dual control architectural covering further includes a manual control to move the covering of the architectural opening while the motor is disengaged. The dual control architectural covering further includes a braking element to resist movement of a drive element of the covering when the motor is disengaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Kevin Dann, Joseph Kovach, Wendell Colson, Daniel Fluckey, Matthew DiFrancesco, Michael Siebenaller, Jeffrey L. Spray