Roll Type Patents (Class 160/238)
  • Patent number: 11834904
    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: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: MECHOSHADE SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Eugene Miroshnichenko, Stephen Hebeisen, Xi Ming Liarno
  • Patent number: 11052827
    Abstract: A cargo space cover for a motor vehicle, the cargo space cover including a winding shaft housing with a winding shaft arranged rotatably therein and configured to receive a cover web movable between a functional position where the cover web is at least partially pulled off from the winding shaft and a storage position where the cover web is substantially wound onto the winding shaft; a first support and a second support arranged opposite to one another and at least indirectly attached to the motor vehicle body; a first end cap arranged at a first face of the winding shaft housing; a second end cap arranged at a second face of the winding shaft housing, wherein the first support includes a first receiving space for receiving the first end cap, wherein the first receiving space includes a receiving opening that is oriented towards the second support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Macauto Industrial Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Holger Seel, Sven-Oliver Seel
  • Patent number: 10867592
    Abstract: The invention relates to a curtain providing a barrier against light, noise, heat, fire and electromagnetic radiations. The curtain comprises two textile layers, each having a combination of non-woven textile material and woven textile material, subjected to a fire-proofing treatment; an inner layer sandwiched between the textile layers and formed by sound insulation wool; and a cover layer adjacent to the outer side of one of the textile layers, formed by a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum and copper. The curtain as a whole has a total thickness between 0.5 cm and 3 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE VALENCIA
    Inventors: Jesús Alba Fernandez, Romina María Del Rey Tormos, Vicente Jorge Sanchís Rico
  • Patent number: 10188002
    Abstract: A flexible screen module comprises a rotating shaft, a flexible screen and a connector. The rotating shaft has an external wall and a passage extending through the rotating shaft in an axial direction thereof, and one end of the flexible screen is fixed on the external wall and is rollable around the rotating shaft. The connector comprises a body, a first connecting part which is on one end of the body and electrically connected to the flexible screen, and a second connecting part on another end of the body, wherein the body at least partially passes through the passage, and the first and the second connecting parts are located outside two sides in the axial direction of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ROYOLE TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Songling Yang, Zihong Liu
  • Patent number: 10161173
    Abstract: A device for damping movement, in particular, of a movable furniture part, having a bearing housing, is proposed. According to the invention, a movement absorber is mounted so as to be movable on the bearing housing and a rotary element is mounted so as to be rotatable, comprising gearbox means by way of which a movement of the movement absorber is convertible to a rotary movement of the rotary element, wherein the bearing housing has a chamber into which at least a plunger portion of the rotary element reaches, wherein a damping fluid is present in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Grass GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Boris Kruedener, Gabriele Schneider
  • Patent number: 10048099
    Abstract: A metallic decorative part for a vehicle display device includes a substrate body molded from a synthetic resin, a metal thin film that is formed of metal and deposited on a surface of the substrate body, and a plurality of grooves deposited on a surface of the metal thin film in accordance with a shape of the surface of the substrate body. The grooves are formed so that a width is larger than 0 and equal to or smaller than 3.0 ?m, and a height is larger than 0 and equal to or smaller than 1.0 ?m. Accordingly, the metallic decorative part for a vehicle display device can properly secure a metallic texture recognized by a viewer with a configuration in which the metal thin film is deposited on the surface of the substrate body made of resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuya Hattori, Sunao Fujita
  • Patent number: 9850705
    Abstract: A shading assembly configured to have a first selectable state that is transmissive to more than 40% of solar light and reflects more than 35% of solar heat, a second selectable state that blocks more than 75% of the solar light and transmits more than 50% of the solar heat, and a third selectable state that transmits more than 50% of the solar light and more than 50% of the solar heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Dean, John D. Rudolph
  • Patent number: 9834983
    Abstract: An apparatus for automating a set of window blinds is described. The apparatus includes a motor and a microcontroller. The motor includes a window blind coupler that couples a window blind tilt rod to the motor. The microcontroller stores instructions that, when executed, instruct the microcontroller to dynamically actuate the window blind coupler via the motor. The instructions include obtaining a desired room temperature, calculating a first temperature gradient between the window-side of the window blinds and the room-side of the window blinds based on a window-side temperature and a room-side temperature, and calculating a second temperature gradient between the room-side temperature and the desired temperature. The instructions further include retrieving a tilted state related to the first temperature gradient, the desired room temperature, and a zero-value second temperature gradient, and activating the motor to turn the window blind coupler to tilt the window blinds to the tilted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Joe Fox, Jedediah Knight, Austin Carlson, Kevin Rees, Emily Brimhall, Jerome Miles
  • Patent number: 9512671
    Abstract: Provided is a cord embedded roman shape, including: a first curtain 10; a second curtain 20; a connection belt 30 connecting the first curtain 10 to the second curtain 20; a cord 40 fixed to lower ends of the first curtain 10 and the second curtain 20 by passing through the connection belt 30; and a curtain adjusting member 50 adjusting the cord 40. Therefore, the cord embedded roman shade is integrally woven without separately forming the ring, thereby preventing the accidents that the cord is wound around the child's body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DAEKYEONG TRIPLE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang-Gun Cha
  • Patent number: 9282845
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a roman blind fabric on which loops are formed and a roman blind using the same. More particularly, rings for inserting loop cords thereinto are woven integrally with a loop-forming fabric in such a manner as to be formed transversely and longitudinally at the time when the loop-forming fabric is woven, and the loop-forming fabric and a roll-up fabric are provided as a double layer to prevent the loop cord from being wrapped around the neck of a child. Further, the upper end of the loop-forming fabric is fixed to a frame; the upper ends of a roll-up fabric which is placed on the back side of the loop-forming fabric and a plurality of loop cords are fixed to a winding rod; and the lower ends of the loop-forming fabric, the roll-up fabric and the loop cords are fixed to a weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: WINPLUS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tae Woong Byun
  • Patent number: 8960621
    Abstract: A slide lock to releasably secure a roller blind fascia to the end plate of a roller blind. The slide lock comprises a lock body slidably received along an interior surface of the fascia. The lock body has an engaged position, where the lock releasably secures the fascia to the roller blind end plate, and has a disengaged position, where the lock releases the fascia from the end plate to permit the fascia to be removed therefrom. The lock body includes a flexibly resilient leg member that releasably engages between the fascia and the roller blind end plate. The leg member includes a deflection zone such that when the leg member engages between the fascia and the roller blind end plate at least a portion of the leg member is compressed or deflected about the deflection zone to releasably secure the lock body between the roller blind end plate and the fascia, thereby releasably securing the fascia to the end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: ZMC Metal Coating Inc.
    Inventor: Norman Wills
  • Publication number: 20150000849
    Abstract: A roller tube comprising a tube body which defines on its outwardly facing surface one or more blind substrate or shutter substrate receiving portions, wherein the tube body includes a plurality of sound damping elements located circumferentially around its inwardly facing surface, the sound damping elements extending longitudinally along at least part of the length of the tube body and defining a plurality of sound channels inside the tube
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Antony Barnes, Andrew Greening
  • Patent number: 8899300
    Abstract: A roller shade assembly comprises a tubular roller having a generally cylindrical internal cavity, an generally tubular extension telescopically mounted within the internal cavity of the tubular roller, and an outer tube mounted over the extension. The extension includes an outer wall and a plurality of winged splines located around the outer circumference of the outer wall which extend along at least a portion of the length of the extension tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph J. Daniels
  • Patent number: 8887792
    Abstract: A winder, including a support member having a wall portion and a spindle; and a housing rotatably mounted onto said spindle, said housing having a drive portion for receiving a cord that controls the rotation of said housing for extending and retracting a blind; wherein said housing is selectively moveable along the spindle between an open position and a closed position, such that when the housing is placed in the open position, the drive portion is exposed for receiving said cord, and when the housing is placed in the closed position, the wall portion covers at least a part of the drive portion to resist disengagement of the entire cord from the drive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Carmelo Joseph Licciardi Di Stefano
  • Patent number: 8875773
    Abstract: A cover device for at least partially closing off a cavity includes at least one cover element for closing off the opening of the cavity, and a support structure in the form of an elongate body for supporting and positioning the cover element in or close to the cavity. The cover element is in the form of a pneumatic mattress equipped with return elements for urging it back into a most compact configuration in which it is rolled up about a free one of its sides and forms a spirally wound roll, the free side being formed by the side of the mattress that is opposite from the connecting side of the mattress via which side the mattress is connected to the support structure. This device includes at least one support arm for supporting the mattress while going from its rolled-up most compact configuration to its rolled-out least compact configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Inventor: Pierre Reus
  • Patent number: 8851146
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a curtain assembly including a curtain and a plurality of rails. The curtain can be used to cover a variety of openings. The plurality of rails can be attached to and disposed horizontally on the curtain to provide rigidity to the curtain when in an open position (covering the opening). The plurality of rails can be made of two main sections, a first and a second coupled to opposite sides of the curtain. The second section can be configured to provide the lateral stability to the curtain, permitting the first section to be made of almost any material. Typically both sections are metal. The first section can also include folded over portions which wrap around the edges of the curtain. The folded over portions provide for attachment and also insure no sharp edges exist on the exterior sides of the curtain. The plurality of rails can be bonded to the curtain using an adhesive. The curtain can include prepared bonding surface to receive the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Inventor: Rajiva A. Dwarka
  • Patent number: 8757241
    Abstract: A protective screen for a vehicle, in particular a sun screen for a vehicle roof is configured as a flexible planar structure for fastening in the region of the vehicle roof or of a trunk compartment. The flexible planar structure has a first layer, which, at least in some sections, is of elastically stretchable configuration, and an overlying second layer, which is configured as a UV protective layer. Alternatively, the flexible planar structure has a main region having lower elasticity and/or air permeability, and secondary regions of a first type, having higher elasticity and/or air permeability than the main region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Stark
  • Publication number: 20140110064
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting damage to a door system by detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic source attached to the door system for stopping motion or reversing motion of the door to prevent any further damage to the door system. For example, a roll-up type door may be damaged by a vehicle and pulled from its vertical support guides; detecting this event causes stopping of any motion of the door, such as opening or closing the door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: RYTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: CURTIS EGGERT, Andrew Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20140060758
    Abstract: A woven screen can include at least one first fiber oriented in a main direction of the woven screen and having a polymer coating and a first stiffness value, and at least one second fiber oriented in a direction of the woven screen different from the main direction, configured to intersect with the at least one first fiber, and having a modified polymer coating and a second stiffness value about 20% to about 70% greater than the first stiffness value. The modified polymer coating can include a polymer, a crosslinking agent, a catalyst, and a free radical initiator. The at least one first fiber can include the warp and the at least one second fiber can include the weft, respectively, of the woven screen. The second stiffness value can be about 40% greater than the first stiffness value over a temperature range of about ?40° Celsius to about +40° Celsius.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Rubén Cuatepotzo, Víctor Manuel Castro
  • Publication number: 20140060757
    Abstract: A canopy for use with a retractable, roll-up awning has lateral sides that taper in width from a wider stationary edge to a slightly narrower leading edge. The lateral edges of the canopy may be hemmed and the taper may be designed such that sections of the hems along each edge corresponding in length to a circumference of a roller tube roll up on the roller tube immediately adjacent but laterally further outward from a prior section of hem wrapped around the circumference of the roller tube during the prior rotation of the roller tube. The hems may house wires in a linear pocket defined therein. The wires connect with the roller tube to provide power or control signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CAREFREE/SCOTT FETZER COMPANY
    Inventors: Scott P. Thompson, Jeffrey Rutherford, Mark Lyle Goth, Peter Adamkovics
  • Publication number: 20140053989
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening including a support tube and a panel operably connected to the support tube and configured to be wound around the support tube. The panel includes a support sheet and at least one cell operably connected to the support sheet. The at least one cell includes a vane material operably connected to a first side of the support sheet and a cell support member operably connected to the vane material and configured to support the vane material at a distance away from the support sheet when the panel is in an extended position with respect to the support tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Paul G. Swiszcz
  • Patent number: 8651166
    Abstract: A roller shade assembly comprises a tubular roller having a generally cylindrical internal cavity, an generally tubular extension telescopically mounted within the internal cavity of the roller tube, and an outer tube mounted over the extension. The extension includes an outer wall and a plurality of winged splines located around the outer circumference of the outer wall which extend along at least a portion of the length of the extension tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Joseph J. Daniels
  • Publication number: 20130240163
    Abstract: A lining of aircraft door frames and a door frame lining above an aircraft door is provided. The upper door frame lining in turn includes a first component designed for visually covering the door area. Complete visual covering of the door area is possible. The first component is designed for attachment above the aircraft door and is designed for mechanical affixation to the primary structure of the aircraft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Mosler, Jovan Ulbrich-Gasparevic
  • Publication number: 20130239856
    Abstract: An extensible partition includes a partition including a display area for displaying an image and configured to be rolled, and a roller for rolling the partition, the roller being coupled with a first end of the partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Do-Young Lee, Oh-Hun Kwon, Seon-Hee Gu
  • Publication number: 20130213589
    Abstract: A flexible screen material can be cut out of square, or part of the screen frame can be formed out of square such that when the screen is fitted to the screen frame, there is less sagging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Centor Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Craig Frederick Hicks, Charles Bilek, Martin Haberland, Nigel Spork, Glen Pacholke, Robin Simeon
  • Publication number: 20130126106
    Abstract: A door sealing system comprises a roll-up door assembly including at least one door panel and a pneumatic seal apparatus including an elastic membrane defining a channel therethrough and a base member fixedly attached to the elastic membrane via a neck portion. The elastic membrane is expandable by injection of pressurized air such that an expanded membrane applies outward force against the door panel to seal the roll-up door assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Translead
    Inventor: Donald James Hindman
  • Patent number: 8408274
    Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided a curtain assembly including a curtain and a plurality of rails. The curtain can be used to cover a variety of openings. The plurality of rails can be attached to and disposed horizontally on the curtain to provide rigidity to the curtain when in an open position (covering the opening). The plurality of rails can be made of two main sections, a first and a second coupled to opposite sides of the curtain. The second section can be configured to provide the lateral stability to the curtain, permitting the first section to be made of almost any material. Typically both sections are metal. The first section can also include folded over portions which wrap around the edges of the curtain. The folded over portions provide for attachment and also insure no sharp edges exist on the exterior sides of the curtain. The plurality of rails can be bonded to the curtain using an adhesive. The curtain can include prepared bonding surface to receive the rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Inventor: Rajiva Dwarka
  • Publication number: 20120318468
    Abstract: This invention provides improved lightweight reinforced roll-up door panels (20) The improvement includes: the panel being formed of an extruded plastic material, such as EX75 Resin ABS, and having upper and lower longitudinal edges (25, 31); the panel having an outer skin (22) and an inner skin (22) spaced from said outer skin; at least one pocket (24) positioned between the skins; and an insert (28) positioned within the pocket. The insert is so configured and arranged as to resist flexural deformation of said panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventor: Mark J. Szczygielski
  • Publication number: 20120318465
    Abstract: An insulating shade assembly for an architectural opening includes a roller and an insulating shade. The insulating shade includes a shade core attached to and between first and second outer shade sheets. The shade core includes a number of inner shade sheets which are stacked upon one another and attached to one another in an offset manner. The shade core is expanded by moving the first and second outer shade sheets relative to one another, creating a number of cells for insulating air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell B. Colson
  • Patent number: 8316736
    Abstract: A cover assembly for covering a steering column of a telescoping steering assembly is provided. The cover assembly includes a roller portion, a blind portion, and a clip portion. The roller portion is attached within a meter panel, and includes a rod mounted between a pair of tensioners. The blind portion includes a film that is attached at a proximal end to the rod, such that the film is wound and unwound around the rod. The rod is biased by the tensioners to pull the film in a wound direction. At a distal end, the film is attached to the clip portion. The clip portion engages a hook in the film and attaches the film to a steering base. As the steering column moves in a linear, telescoping manner, the film covers the steering column while remaining taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Buchheit
  • Publication number: 20120241110
    Abstract: An overhead roll-up door assembly for a vertically moving door to permit and prohibit access to an opening, the door assembly having a door panel with two faces and opposing marginal and lateral edges, and at least two wind locks attached proximate each marginal edge. The at least two wind locks extend away from one face of the door panel in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and are spaced apart vertically along each respective side edge of the door panel. The assembly further includes a drum for winding and unwinding the door panel to permit and prohibit access to the opening, and, a pair of opposing parallel side columns aligned and spaced apart such that each of the opposing side edges engage one of the side columns in a manner in which at least a portion of the side columns guide vertical movement of the door panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: RYTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Norbert Drifka, Christopher Gontarski
  • Patent number: 8267146
    Abstract: A counterbalance system for a rollup door system having a drum in which the counterbalance provides a counter force acting at a distance from the center of rotation of the drum. The counter force is variable in both direction and magnitude at various angular positions of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
    Inventor: Friedhelm Frede
  • Patent number: 8210229
    Abstract: A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating hembar contained within a hembar pocket of the shade fabric. The hembar is characterized by a non-linear shape, such as a serpentine shape, for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The hembar may comprise a plurality of C-shaped hembar sections flexibly coupled to each other. The system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear (e.g., serpentine) path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Kirby
  • Patent number: 8210228
    Abstract: A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The pleated roller shade system comprises a drive system, such as a motor or manual drive system, for controlling of the rotation of the roller tube. The roller shade system may comprise a pleating hem bar that is contained within a hem bar pocket of the shade fabric and has a non-linear shape for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The roller shade system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Kirby, Matthew R. Hontz
  • Publication number: 20120118514
    Abstract: A device for fitting to a window or other glazing panel comprises first and second parallel rollers disposed at spaced apart positions on opposite sides of the device and an elongate substrate sheet extending between the rollers, the substrate sheet being provided at its upper end with a series of spatially separated optical elements arranged to reflect incident sunlight upwardly. The lower end of the substrate is free of elements and is preferably formed of a material which controls the amount of long wave infra-red radiation leaving the room in which the window is provided. The position of the ends of the substrate can be varied by turning the rollers to variably control the solar energy entering a building and to control the amount heat exiting the room. The device may also provide a sealed air gap across the window to act as a thermal barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventor: Brian John Howard Hughes
  • Patent number: 8132609
    Abstract: A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating bar mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines, for example, a serpentine path. The shade fabric is received through the fabric-receiving opening and is folded by the pleating bar, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. The shade fabric is neatly wrapped around the roller tube (i.e., bunching of the shade fabric is avoided) and is stored out-of-sight when rolled up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20120018105
    Abstract: A sunshade includes a roller and a screen. The roller has an intermediate portion, two end portions extending respectively from opposite ends of the intermediate portion, and a screen-stretching portion disposed on an outer surrounding surface of the intermediate portion. The screen has a main body and two lateral portions. The main body is wound on the screen-stretching portion and the intermediate portion of the roller and has opposite ends. The lateral portions are connected respectively to the opposite ends of the main body and are wound respectively on the end portions of the roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: MACAUTO INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Publication number: 20120012704
    Abstract: Indicated herein is a lounge module for crewmembers of an aircraft, which exhibits a screen device, such as a privacy roller blind. This privacy roller blind can be used to visually demarcate a first aisle area from a second aisle area, thereby creating a private area for the aircraft crew.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Mosler, Jovan Ulbrich-Gasparevic
  • Patent number: 8066591
    Abstract: An example portable, retractable surface protection device. The example device includes a rotatable support bar, a first support base positioned to a first end of the support bar, a second support base positioned to a second end of the support bar, and a surface cover. A plurality of wheels are positioned to the second support base such that the device is wheelable. The device additionally includes a handle connected to the support bar for wrapping and unwrapping the surface cover onto the support bar. A plurality of removable weights positioned in the surface cover at least partially restrict movement of the surface cover when in a fully or a partially deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Larry Zilverberg
  • Patent number: 8042597
    Abstract: A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating hembar contained within a hembar pocket of the shade fabric. The hembar is characterized by a non-linear shape, such as a serpentine shape, for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The hembar may comprise a plurality of C-shaped hembar sections flexibly coupled to each other. The system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear (e.g., serpentine) path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Kirby
  • Patent number: 8006736
    Abstract: A device for correcting skew in roll-up retractable coverings for architectural openings includes a friction device positioned within the head rail for movement between releasably fixed positions and disposed for engagement with the fabric of the covering to regulate the rate at which the fabric is wrapped about a roller in the covering at selected locations along the length of the roller to correct for any inherent skew in the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Hoffmann, Stephen P. Smith, James L. Miller
  • Publication number: 20110204186
    Abstract: Deployable structures are disclosed having collapsible structural members that include a stowed configuration with a volume smaller than the expanded configuration. Such structures can include and/or be used for litters, bridges, support structures, solar arrays, and more. These structures can be easily transported to a new location and deployed from the stowed configuration into a larger functional structure. In some embodiments these structures can use one or more slit-tube longerons that can have two resting states: deployed and rolled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: Composite Technology Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip N. Keller, Robert Taylor, Dana Turse, Larry G. Adams
  • Publication number: 20110203742
    Abstract: A window blind assembly includes a roller blind unit, a curtain member unit, and a clamping unit. The roller blind unit includes a roller rod that extends horizontally and that is rotatably mounted at or in proximity to an upper edge portion of the window, and a roller blind piece a top edge of which is connected to the roller rod and which is able to be wound around and extended from the roller rod. The curtain member unit includes a curtain member having a sheltering portion and a plurality of partitioning portions. The clamping unit includes a plurality of connecting members associated respectively with the partitioning portions. Each of the connecting members has a confining portion, and two securing portions connected to opposite ends of the confining portion and that connect the confining portion to a respective one of the partitioning portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventor: Shih-Ming LIN
  • Publication number: 20110192553
    Abstract: The invention relates to an at least three-layer, biaxially oriented polyester film with two white outer layers and carbon-black-filled base layer, where the thickness of the outer layers is from 4 to 15 ?m, the thickness of the base layer is ?the total of the thicknesses of the outer layers, the white outer layers comprise at least 15% by weight of TiO2, the base layer comprises at least 4% by weight of TiO2, the carbon-black-containing base layer comprises from 1 to 8% by weight of carbon black, and the SV value of the film is at least 600, where all % by weight data are based on the weight of the respective layer, and also to a process for the production of this type of film and to the use of the film in particular in blinds, including roller blinds, Venetian blinds, or projection screens, or in displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Holger KLIESCH, Bodo Kuhmann, Dirk Broeder, Ingo Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110192552
    Abstract: The invention relates to an at least three-layer, biaxially oriented polyester film with a carbon-black-filled outer layer and with two TiO2-containing layers, where a TiO2-containing layer is also an outer layer and where the thickness of the outer layers is from 4 to 15 ?m, the thickness of the base layer is ?the total of the thicknesses of the outer layers, the white outer layer comprises at least 15% by weight of TiO2, the base layer comprises at least 4% by weight of TiO2, the carbon-black-containing outer layer comprises from 3 to 15% by weight of carbon black, and the SV value of the film is at least 600, where all % by weight data are based on the weight of the respective layer, and also to a process for the production of this type of film and to the use of the film in particular in blinds, including roller blinds, Venetian blinds, or projection screens, or in displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventors: Holger Kliesch, Lothar Bothe, Dirk Broeder, Ingo Fischer
  • Patent number: 7913739
    Abstract: A high-speed industrial roller door includes a door leaf that is guided in lateral guides and a drive that acts on the door leaf to displace the latter from an open position into a closed position and vice versa. The door leaf is held in the open position so that adjacent areas of the door leaf are not in contact with one another, in a spiral section of the lateral guides located in the vicinity of the door lintel. The roller door also includes a weight compensation device. The drive has two extension arms that are coupled via joints to the lintel end of the door leaf, said arms being situated at a distance from one another across the door width and being synchronously pivoted about a pivoting axis in a central area of the spiral section. The distance between the coupling points of the extension arms on the door leaf and the pivoting axis of the extension arms can be varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Efaflex Inzeniring D.O.O. Ljubljana
    Inventors: Gabrijel Rejc, Matjaz Sentjurc, Joze Breznikar
  • Patent number: 7909083
    Abstract: A method of fastening a flexible sheet-like structure on a tubular winding shaft including: introducing, in a circumference of the tubular winding shaft, at least one aperture which passes through a wall of the winding shaft, a width of the aperture being greater than the thickness of the flexible sheet-like structure, cutting into the flexible sheet-like structure to produce at least one angleable tab, and inserting the tab into the aperture of the winding shaft. Additionally, a roller blind includes a winding shaft and a flexible sheet-like structure fastened thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dieter Debert, Marina Ehrenberger
  • Publication number: 20110036515
    Abstract: A sunshade assembly includes a base unit, a spool, a flexible screen body, a driving unit, and a cover unit. The base unit has an opening. The spool is disposed rotatably in the base unit. The flexible screen body is wound on the spool, and has a free end that is movable through the opening in the base unit. The driving unit is provided on the free end of the flexible screen body. The cover unit is coupled pivotably to the base unit. When the free end of the flexible screen body moves from an extended position to a retracted position, the driving unit drives rotation of the cover unit from an open position to a closed position, where the cover unit covers the opening in the base unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: MACAUTO INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Paul Lin
  • Publication number: 20110024062
    Abstract: A roller shutter curtain sectional slat is provided with thermal insulation between an inside and an outside. For this purpose, the sectional slat preferably has two panel elements only connected with each other by an intermediate element of poorer thermal conductance than the material of the panel elements. Hinge profile areas are only present on one of the two panel elements. Moreover, a roller shutter curtain is made of such sectional slats and a roller shutter equipped therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: HORMANN KG DISSEN
    Inventor: Stephan Hörmann
  • Publication number: 20100300631
    Abstract: A design wall has a design surface attached to a roller, which is attached to a wall and allows the design surface to be rolled up out of the way when not in use. An ideal design surface has a fabric backing and batting front, which will hold design elements, such as fabric samples in place. Another design surface is made of a flexible material, and design elements are attached by adhesive applied to the design surface, or by pinning or other means of attachment. Design elements are applied to the design wall and moved around to test different designs. When not in use, the design wall is rolled up and can be hidden behind a valance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Marilyn Sullivan