Abstract: A roller shade is disclosed having a counterbalancing assembly with an optimally pretensioned spring that lowers the torque load on the motor of the roller shade throughout the rolling up or rolling down cycles. The roller shade comprises a roller tube, a gudgeon pin having a first stop, a gudgeon body having a through bore and rotatably connected about the gudgeon pin and operably connected to the roller tube, a limit nut operably connected to the gudgeon body and adapted to axially travel along the gudgeon pin within the through bore, a spring, a first spring carrier connected to the first end of the spring and operably connected to the gudgeon pin, and a second spring carrier connected to the second end of the spring and operably connected to the roller tube. The spring is pretensioned and the limit nut abuts the first stop thereby locking the pretension.

Abstract: An involute gear is disclosed. A circular base has a surface that includes an inner region and an outer region. A gear tooth extends outward from the outer region of the surface. A shape of the gear tooth is defined by a varying cross-sectional involute profile. Starting from a first involute profile that is in a plane parallel to the surface of the circular base and extending outward from a center of the circular base, each location on the first involute profile is rotated about a corresponding axis while traversing a path defined by a corresponding imaginary ray extending from the center of the circular base to that location in the first involute profile.

Abstract: An involute gear bracket system includes first and second involute gears. Each includes a circular base and a plurality of gear teeth extending outward from an outer region of a surface and evenly spaced apart from each other along a plurality of locations on the outer region of the surface. The shape of each gear tooth is defined by a varying cross-sectional involute profile, wherein starting from a first involute profile that is in a plane parallel to the surface of the circular base and extending outward from a center of the circular base, each location on the first involute profile is rotated about a corresponding axis while traversing a path defined by a corresponding imaginary ray extending from the center of the circular base to that location, the corresponding axis being tangential to an imaginary circle that encompasses the inner region of the surface and perpendicular to the corresponding imaginary ray.

Abstract: A roller shade is disclosed having a counterbalancing assembly with an optimally pretensioned spring that lowers the torque load on the motor of the roller shade throughout the rolling up or rolling down cycles. The roller shade comprises a roller tube, a gudgeon pin having a first stop, a gudgeon body having a through bore and rotatably connected about the gudgeon pin and operably connected to the roller tube, a limit nut operably connected to the gudgeon body and adapted to axially travel along the gudgeon pin within the through bore, a spring, a first spring carrier connected to the first end of the spring and operably connected to the gudgeon pin, and a second spring carrier connected to the second end of the spring and operably connected to the roller tube. The spring is pretensioned and the limit nut abuts the first stop thereby locking the pretension.

Abstract: A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to dampen the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal.

Abstract: An enclosure system with a temperature control system including an enclosure, a thermoelectric module having first and second portions, and a thermal controller. The enclosure includes a main body with an open end, a cover coupled to the open end of the main body, and an interior sized and configured to receive an electronic device therein, the interior defined by the main body and the cover. The enclosure further includes a sealing member provided at an interface between the main body and the cover such that the interface is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The first portion is positioned within the interior. The second portion is coupled to or is otherwise in contact with a portion of the enclosure exposed to an external environment. The thermal controller is electrically coupled to the thermoelectric module and operable to control heating and/or cooling of a portion of the thermoelectric module.

Abstract: A display enclosure having a thermal management system may include a display enclosure sized and configured to receive a display device in an interior of the display enclosure. The display enclosure may include a thermoelectric module having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is positioned within the interior of the display enclosure and may heat or cool the interior of the display enclosure. The second portion is coupled to a portion of the display enclosure exposed to an external environment to dissipate heat or cool to the external environment. A thermal controller electrically may be coupled to the thermoelectric module and operable to control the heating or cooling of the first portion of thermoelectric module.

Abstract: A media device enclosure includes a housing with an interior sized and configured to receive a media device therein, a front opening, and a back opening. The media device enclosure further includes a front cover coupled to the housing and configured to cover the front opening and a back cover coupled to the housing and configured to cover the back opening. The media device enclosure further includes a vent plug configured to allow the ingress and egress of air and resistant to liquid ingress, and a check valve configured to allow egress of air. The housing, the front cover, and the back cover form a substantially sealed structure that is resistant to the ingress of liquid or air into the interior.

Abstract: An enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display. A bezel includes a peripheral surface defining an enclosure area and an inner edge defining a display opening. A substantially transparent front cover operatively connects to the bezel and covers the display opening. An enclosure housing includes a front opening and an access opening substantially opposite the front opening. An access opening cover is configured to cover the access opening. A sealing member receiving region is defined by one of the enclosure housing and the access opening cover, and a sealing member is operatively connected to the sealing member receiving region. When the access opening cover is operatively connected to the enclosure housing, an interface between the enclosure housing and the access opening cover is substantially sealed and is resistant to liquid ingress.

Abstract: A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to dampen the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal.

Abstract: A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to damp the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal. The mechanism further includes a solenoid that is activated locally or remotely by a switch.

Abstract: An enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display for viewing that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The enclosure comprises a bezel, a substantially transparent front cover, and an enclosure housing. The bezel has a peripheral surface defining an enclosure area, an inner edge defining a display opening, and a rear surface. The substantially transparent front cover is operatively connected to the bezel and covers the display opening. The enclosure housing has a front opening and a flange disposed about and extending from the front opening. The bezel and the enclosure housing are joined together at a joining region that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The bezel, the front cover, and the enclosure housing define the enclosure, which is configured to receive a flat panel display therein.

Abstract: A display enclosure with a monitoring system includes a display enclosure having an interior, a sensor positioned within the interior of the display enclosure, and a monitoring device coupled to the sensor. The interior of the display enclosure is sized and configured to receive a display device. The monitoring device includes a memory including a plurality of stored values defining a range, a processor communicatively connected to the memory, and a communication interface configured to communicate with a remote device. The processor is configured to process a signal output from the sensor indicative of a property of the interior of the display enclosure. The processor is configured to transmit a status message to the remote device via the communication interface if the property indicated by the signal is outside of the range defined by the stored values.

Abstract: Presented is a gudgeon assembly that includes a gudgeon body, a first ball bearing, a second ball bearing, a gudgeon pin, a first spring plate, a second spring plate, and two springs. The gudgeon pin extends through the gudgeon body and is coaxial with the first and second ball bearings. The first spring plate is coupled to a distal portion of the gudgeon pin. The second spring plate defines an opening and is coupled to the second ball bearing. The opening is coaxial with the second ball bearing and the gudgeon pin. The two springs are coupled to the first spring plate and the second spring plate. Longitudinal axes of the two springs are coplanar and non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the gudgeon pin. The gudgeon pin, the first spring plate, and the second spring plate rotate together as a single unit and rotate independently of the gudgeon body.

Abstract: Presented is a roller shade motor system that includes a motor with an end portion, a latch assembly disposed on the end portion, and a bracket. The latch assembly includes an alignment member and at least one moveable clip. The bracket includes a clip contact surface and defines an alignment member opening dimensioned and arranged for receiving the alignment member. The moveable clip is retracted into the alignment member during insertion of the alignment member into the alignment member opening and is extended out of the alignment member and contacts the clip contact surface after insertion and couples the motor to the bracket.

Abstract: Presented is a gudgeon assembly that includes a gudgeon body, a first ball bearing, a second ball bearing, a gudgeon pin, a first spring plate, a second spring plate, and two springs. The gudgeon pin extends through the gudgeon body and is coaxial with the first and second ball bearings. The first spring plate is coupled to a distal portion of the gudgeon pin. The second spring plate defines an opening and is coupled to the second ball bearing. The opening is coaxial with the second ball bearing and the gudgeon pin. The two springs are coupled to the first spring plate and the second spring plate. Longitudinal axes of the two springs are coplanar and non-coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the gudgeon pin. The gudgeon pin, the first spring plate, and the second spring plate rotate together as a single unit and rotate independently of the gudgeon body.

Abstract: A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to damp the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal. The mechanism further includes a solenoid that is activated locally or remotely by a switch.

Abstract: An enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display for viewing that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The enclosure comprises a bezel, a substantially transparent front cover, and an enclosure housing. The bezel has a peripheral surface defining an enclosure area, an inner edge defining a display opening, and a rear surface. The substantially transparent front cover is operatively connected to the bezel and covers the display opening. The enclosure housing has a front opening and a flange disposed about and extending from the front opening. The bezel and the enclosure housing are joined together at a joining region that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The bezel, the front cover, and the enclosure housing define the enclosure, which is configured to receive a flat panel display therein.

Abstract: An enclosure for enclosing a flat panel display for viewing that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The enclosure comprises a bezel, a substantially transparent front cover, and an enclosure housing. The bezel has a peripheral surface defining an enclosure area, an inner edge defining a display opening, and a rear surface. The substantially transparent front cover is operatively connected to the bezel and covers the display opening. The enclosure housing has a front opening and a flange disposed about and extending from the front opening. The bezel and the enclosure housing are joined together at a joining region that is substantially sealed and resistant to liquid ingress. The bezel, the front cover, and the enclosure housing define the enclosure, which is configured to receive a flat panel display therein.