Electric Operation Or Control Patents (Class 160/310)
  • Patent number: 8602081
    Abstract: To provide a sheet shutter in which an urging member for urging an unwound, sheet toward the left and right outer side is provided so that the sheet is made to smoothly slide in the left and right direction and the wear of the urging member is suppressed. The sheet shutter according to the present invention is configured such that a rail groove is provided in each of left and right support posts, such that an inner rail is accommodated and supported in the rail grooves, such that engagement guides for guiding the lifting and lowering of the sheet formed in the inner rails, and such that, when the urging member is provided in the rail groove, an elastic sheet section for partitioning the inside of the rail groove into front and rear portions is provided at the urging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Komatsu Electric Industru Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Komatsu, Hitoyuki Adachi, Yoshiaki Horie, Takeshi Fujii
  • Publication number: 20130312920
    Abstract: A roll shade system is disclosed. The roll shade system includes a motor configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, a support shaft supporting the motor wherein the support shaft is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, and a roll shade tube configured to be rotatable about the motor and the support shaft during operation of the motor. The roll shade system further includes stationary components including a wiring connector, an input wiring system, a bearing, an antenna, a coaxial cable, a motor controller, a counterbalance spring. The roll shade system also includes rotatable components including a bearing housing and one or more O-rings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, William Ashton Lee Cutts Lucas, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 8575872
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Ben L. Garcia, Victoria Baynes Mullet, Matthew Warren Kirkland
  • Publication number: 20130276995
    Abstract: A motorized roller shade includes a roller shade tube including an outer surface, an inner surface defining an inner cavity, and at least one end portion, a shade attached to the outer surface of the roller shade tube, and a counterbalancing unit configured to provide a counterbalancing force to the roller shade. The motorized shade further includes a motor configured to provide rotational exertion to the roller shade, a controller configured to provide control signals to the motor, a power supply configured to provide power at least to one of the motor and the controller, and a transfer device configured to transfer one of the control signals to the motor that is configured to rotate and power to the controller that is configured to rotate from a stationary external source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: HOMERUN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Willis Jay MULLET, Darrin W. BRUNK, Richard Scott HAND, William Ashton Lee Cutts LUCAS
  • Patent number: 8564162
    Abstract: This electro-mechanical actuator is used to operate a curtain mounted to slide along an axis. It comprises a motor (24), a power supply unit (22) for powering the motor and a box (20), the motor (24) and the power supply unit (22) being received in a first housing (L1) that is internal to the box (20). The box (20) forms at least one second internal housing (L2, L?2), separated from the first internal housing by a wall (35, 43) of the box, and in which an electrical or electronic component (28, 50) of the actuator is received that is distinct from the motor (24) and from the power supply unit (22). A removable cover (33, 41) isolates the or each second housing (L2, L?2) from the outside of the box (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Somfy SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Charleux, Scot Cochran, Jean-Michel Perache, Rich Scharf
  • Patent number: 8540005
    Abstract: An apparatus and method associated with the extension and retraction of a covering for an architectural opening. More particularly, an apparatus and method which monitors the extension of a shade to control the extension and position when the extension motion of the shade is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: James Baugh, Daniel Fluckey, Michael S. Holford
  • Publication number: 20130220560
    Abstract: There is provided a motorized roller shade that includes a roller shade tube including an outer surface, an inner surface defining an inner cavity, and two end portions. The motorized shade further includes a shade attached to the outer surface of the roller shade tube, a counterbalancing unit configured to provide a counterbalancing force to the shade, and the roller shade tube further comprising substitution configurations to allow the roller shade tube to receive and operate with either a motor assembly or a manual operation assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: HOMERUN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Willis Jay MULLET, Darrin W. BRUNK, Richard Scott HAND, Fred C. HIGGINS
  • Patent number: 8513845
    Abstract: A tubular electric motor unit (10) for roll-up elements, such as blinds, curtains or similar items. It is the type intended to be housed inside a tube (11) for winding the roll-up element. The unit (10) has a tubular body (12) inside which is housed a geared motor (13) with its drive output at one end of the tubular body and a limit stop unit (14) at the other end. To transmit the rotation to the limit stop unit there is a first transmission ring (15) that is fitted so it can be rotated on a protruding portion of the limit stop unit to couple kinetically with the limit stop unit and that has an external peripheral surface intended to couple peripherally with minimal clearance with the inside surface of a tube for winding the roll-up element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: FAAC S.p.A.
    Inventor: Claudio Angelini
  • Patent number: 8498747
    Abstract: A drapery assembly extends and retracts a drape with a powered carrier. The carrier receives both a power signal and a command signal from a controller via an electrically powered surface of a drapery rod. The carrier supports a portion of the drape and moves linearly along the length of the drapery rod in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Crestron Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: George Feldstein
  • Publication number: 20130153162
    Abstract: A battery-powered motorized window treatment for covering at least a portion of a window may be adjusted into a service position to allow for access to at least one battery that is powering the motorized window treatment. A headrail of the motorized window treatment may be adjusted to the service position to allow for easy replacement of the batteries without unmounting the headrail and without requiring tools. The motorized window treatment may comprise brackets having buttons that may be actuated to release the headrail from a locked position, such that the head rail may be rotated into the service position. The headrail easily rotates through a controlled movement into the service position, such that a user only needs one free hand available to move the motorized window treatment into the service position and change the batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
  • Patent number: 8464776
    Abstract: Viscoelastic transmission device (100) for a mechanical connection between a shaft (4) of an actuator the axis (XX?) of which defines an axial direction, and a driving wheel (6) of a winding tube (5) of a blind, of a roller shutter or of a roll-up screen, which comprises a first component (10) that has an output profile that complements an input profile of a second component of the device, the first and the second components adhering to an intermediate component (30) made of viscoelastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Somfy SAS
    Inventor: Sebastien Anthoine
  • Publication number: 20130146233
    Abstract: A cargo screen structure may include a housing mounted at an upper portion of a vehicle luggage room in a horizontal direction, a shaft rotatably provided in the housing, a screen provided on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft and wound and unwound from the housing, and a switch provided in the housing and set to be turned on/off according to a winding amount of the screen around the outer peripheral surface of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jae Hwan Kim, Seong Hyeon Lee, Yong Chae Kim, Jae Yong Lee, Moon Gyu Park, Min Ho Cho, Sang Woo Park, Eun Jeong Yang, Hyoung Shin, Ah Sal Moon, Jae Hak Joo, Jin Ho Hwang, Hak Song Lim, Eun Su Jang
  • Patent number: 8459329
    Abstract: A system positioning a flexible partition at a desired vertical position includes an elongated cylinder extending across the entire partition, connected to the partition to divide the partition into upper and lower portions. An outer bearing is fixed to an outside surface of a first end of the elongated cylinder. A proximal end of an arm is coupled to the outer bearing outer surface, the outer bearing permitting rotation of the elongated cylinder with respect to the arm. A counterweight is fixed to a distal end of the arm, to inhibit movement of the arm during any rotation of the elongated cylinder. A rotor portion of a motor is coupled to the elongated cylinder for rotating the cylinder, and a bracket is fixed to stator portion of the motor and to the arm proximal end to inhibit rotation of the stator during any rotation of the elongated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Gared Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: James J. Connerley
  • Publication number: 20130126107
    Abstract: Presented is a roller shade system that includes a roller shade drive unit that includes a shade motor and a motor crown that includes one or more grooves. The system further includes a roller shade tube, and a motor crown adapter. The motor crown adapter includes a flange and a cylindrical portion that includes one or more tabs. The cylindrical portion is disposed inside, and coupled to, the roller shade tube. The flange and cylindrical portion together define an opening for receiving the shade motor therethrough. The one or more tabs are configured for engaging the one or more grooves to releaseably couple the motor crown adapter to the motor crown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: Crestron Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: George Feldstein, Timothy Wickham
  • Publication number: 20130118695
    Abstract: A motorized roller tube for reeling and unreeling a flexible member between fully open and fully closed conditions operates with minimized sound level. A variable controller energizes a motor with a controllable RPM driving a gear reduction assembly. The motor has a speed versus torque characteristic which extends linearly from a high maximum RPM and low minimum torque, to a low minimum RPM and high maximum torque, and having a peak efficiency at a given RPM. The motor moves the flexible member between its fully open and fully closed positions at a motor speed less than the given peak efficiency RPM and less than 50% of its high maximum RPM, and at a motor efficiency which is less than 25% of the peak efficiency whereby the motor is intentionally operated in a high torque and low efficiency manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventor: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130105095
    Abstract: A motorized roller shade includes a shade tube, including an outer surface upon which a shade is attached, an inner surface defining an inner cavity and two end portions, a motor/controller unit, disposed within the shade tube inner cavity and mechanically coupled to the shade tube inner surface, including a support shaft configured to attach to a mounting bracket, and a DC motor having an output shaft coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket. A wireless receiver is coupled to the motor/controller unit to receive wireless signals and an antenna is arranged on or in at least one of the two end portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: HOMERUN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Craig Peter ANDERSON, Ben L. GARCIA, Matthew Warren KIRKLAND
  • Publication number: 20130068404
    Abstract: A motor-drive system for retractable covering having a headrail with a horizontally disposed roller supporting a top edge of a flexible fabric material includes an electric motor mounted within a housing and interconnected to the roller to selectively rotate the roller in opposite directions while minimizing noise created from vibrations within the system. This system includes motor mounts within the housing which separate and absorb vibrations of the motor within the housing and a drive disk of a moderately soft material, which is firm enough to transfer torque from the motor to the roller while being soft enough to absorb vibrations which would otherwise be transmitted from the motor to the roller. An interconnect mounting the drive disk to the drive shaft of the motor is also made of a third relatively soft material, which is harder than the drive disk to more ably transmit torque but soft enough so as not to unduly transmit noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventor: Hunter Douglas Inc.
  • Patent number: 8381442
    Abstract: A hand pulling drive mechanism includes a hand drive device and a shaft connected with the hand drive device. The mechanism further includes a gear pair, a rotation propelling device connected with the shaft, and an eccentric pulling device including a shaft pin placed on the shaft and a torsion jacket pivotally connected to the shaft and rotated relative to the shaft pin. The gear pair includes a drive gear sleeved on the shaft for switching, and a follower gear secured to a motor shaft. The rotation propelling device is connected with the drive gear. The torsion jacket and the drive gear pull the torsion jacket through eccentric rotation of the shaft pin when the shaft is rotated, so that the drive gear moves in an axial direction and the follower drive engages with and disengages from the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Wei Wan
  • Patent number: 8371358
    Abstract: In a window covering system with a shade roll, a removable battery pack system includes a battery tube conformed to fit within a shade roll with a hollow interior where the battery tube is electrically connected with the shade roll but, preferably, does not rotate with the shade roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Homerun Holdings Corp
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Christopher Lee Wysoczynski, Richard Scott Hand, Doug Real
  • Patent number: 8368328
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides methods for manually and/or remotely controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube and a microcontroller. One method includes detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor, determining a displacement associated with the manual movement, and, if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. Another method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Darrin W. Brunk, Christopher Lee Wysoczynski, Harry Edward Asbury, Richard Scott Hand, Yan Rodriguez, Benjamin Anthony Bruckner
  • Patent number: 8307878
    Abstract: A motor-drive system for retractable covering having a headrail with a horizontally disposed roller supporting a top edge of a flexible fabric material includes an electric motor mounted within a housing and interconnected to the roller to selectively rotate the roller in opposite directions while minimizing noise created from vibrations within the system. This system includes motor mounts within the housing which separate and absorb vibrations of the motor within the housing and a drive disk of a moderately soft material, which is firm enough to transfer torque from the motor to the roller while being soft enough to absorb vibrations which would otherwise be transmitted from the motor to the roller. An interconnect mounting the drive disk to the drive shaft of the motor is also made of a third relatively soft material, which is harder than the drive disk to more ably transmit torque but soft enough so as not to unduly transmit noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Faller, Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 8299734
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: HomeRun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Darrin W. Brunk, Christopher Lee Wysoczynski, Harry Edward Asbury, Richard Scott Hand, Yan Rodriguez, Benjamin Anthony Bruckner
  • Publication number: 20120255687
    Abstract: To provide a sheet shutter which, when a shutter electrical unit is provided in a support post, prevents the shutter electrical unit from greatly projecting from the support post. The sheet shutter according to the present invention, which includes a sheet case, a support post arranged at each of the left and right end portions of the sheet case, a sheet guide section that is provided at each of left and right inner portions of the support posts to guide the lifting and lowering of the sheet, and a shutter electrical unit is featured in that a storage space which detachably accommodates and supports the shutter electrical unit along the direction of the support post is formed on the left and right outer side of the sheet guide section in the support post.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Akio Komatsu, Hitoyuki Adachi, Yoshiaki Horie, Takeshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 8258993
    Abstract: A take-up pipe 1 is placed along an upper edge of a window of a building and is rotatably supported by side brackets 2R. An upper end of the screen having a weight bar attached to a lower end thereof, is fixed to the take-up pipe, so that the take-up pipe is rotated in forward and reverse directions by a motor 5 to wind up and down the screen. A light receiving unit 27 to receive a pulsed optical signal applied from a remote controller is mounted on the side bracket and is arranged so that it can be switched to two different orientations where the light receiving directions are symmetric with respect to a vertically downward direction and the phases are different from each other. By virtue of this, irrespective of the installation constraint of the electric roll screen, the remote-control of the electric roll screen can be effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Shinsei Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Inoue, Mutsumasa Funaishi
  • Patent number: 8230759
    Abstract: An integrated brake and chain disk device for a door operator includes an electrical motor with a main shaft coupled to a gear box for rolling a rolling door through an output shaft of the gear box; a brake device for braking the main shaft; a chain disk device for manually rotating the main shaft upon power failure; a clutch device which disengages the intermediate shaft from the chain disk device or engages the intermediate shaft with the chain disk device. The brake device includes at least one torsion spring fitting on a fixed hub. The torsion spring tightly fits on the hub and becomes immovable when a force in a spiral direction of the torsion spring is exerted on either end of the torsion spring, and can be released from the hub when a force in a direction opposite to the spiral direction of the torsion spring is exerted on either end of the torsion spring. In this way, the brake device and the chain disk device are integrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Chung Hsien Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8220521
    Abstract: A device for darkening a cabin window, with a drive shaft (11) for moving a first shading member (6), which is guided in two guide rails (3, 4), for to and fro movement, wherein the drive shaft (11) and the guide rails (3, 4) are combined in a common mounting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Diehl Aircabin GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Tischer, Erik Martinus Johannes van den Dolder
  • 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: 20120145335
    Abstract: An anti-fall transmission device for a handling door (1) having a flexible curtain (5) to be stacked or rolled about a drive shaft (4) during the movements thereof between an open and a closed position, includes a separate electric motor or gear motor (7) attached along a rotational axis which is offset and parallel to that of the drive shaft (4), as a protective anti-fall device (8) for connecting the motor or the gear motor (7) to the drive shaft (4) and for preventing the flexible apron (5) from accidentally falling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: SOFINECO
    Inventors: Anne-Sophie Panseri, Romain Simon
  • Patent number: 8182381
    Abstract: A wheel turns about a fixed shaft to reel in or pay out an aperture closure member. A motor provides drive to the wheel through a belt. The motor is mounted on a slider plate which can slide relative to a fixed plate, which is secured to the shaft. As the slider plate slides away from the shaft, the belt comes into tension allowing the motor to drive the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Bruce Stanley Gunton
  • Patent number: 8146646
    Abstract: A window covering system used to adjust the position of window covers. Each cover hangs from a support that includes a roller. The covers are adjusted in position by the rotation of the roller. A slave gear is attached to each roller to facilitate rotation. A drive gear is provided that is sized to intermesh with each of the slave gears on the rollers. An adjustment mechanism is provided for rotating the drive gear. A second adjustment mechanism is provided for selectively moving the drive gear between various positions. At different points in its movement, the drive gear engages different slave gears from different rollers. Accordingly, a selected roller can be rotated. Thus, a single drive gear and a single manually operated mechanism can be used to individually rotate any number of rollers, thereby adjusting any number of window coverings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Ellis Toder
  • Patent number: 8141614
    Abstract: An actuator to be inserted in a headrail of a window covering, the actuator comprises a damping body configured to reduce vibrations when the actuator is operating, and an expanding mechanism configured to expand the damping body against the headrail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Harmonic Design
    Inventors: Joel Friedrick, Sarah Reymond, Adrien Brondex, Jean Pierre Lefebvre, Miguel Leleu, Eric Lagarde
  • Publication number: 20120061032
    Abstract: A retractable barrier system includes an example gear assembly that can be manipulated for rapidly deploying a flexible barrier, exerting high torque for the initial tightening of the barrier, maintaining high static tension in barrier when in use, and/or rapidly retracting barrier for storage. In some examples, the gear assembly is a worm drive with a worm that can be selectively disengaged from a worm gear. Other optional features of the barrier system include selective right-hand/left-hand configurations, an electric switch that can be added to indicate whether the barrier system is in use, an intermediate coupling that joins the distal ends of two barriers for creating an extra long barrier system, and removable vehicle-mounted posts for certain loading dock applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Ronald P. Snyder, Jason D. Miller, Donald P. Grant, Paul J. Maly, Mike Gallenberger, Aaron J. Wiegel, Daniel M. Anderson, Daniel Quarles, Eric Bublitz, James Oates, Joe Korman, Matthew C. McNeill, Jason Dondlinger
  • Patent number: 8113263
    Abstract: A motorized operator for moving a barrier, such as a garage door, between open and closed positions, includes a magnetic sensor for determining position and/or velocity of the barrier. The operator motor is drivingly connected to a speed change transmission which is connected to the barrier. The magnetic sensor includes a housing supporting a speed change mechanism including an output shaft supporting a magnet. The magnet is mounted adjacent a Hall effect sensor circuit which measures the change in the magnetic field generated by the magnet to determine position of the barrier, as well as speed. Control circuitry enables accurate determination of the position of the barrier for setting open and closed limit positions, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Brett A. Reed, Ralph C. Angiuli
  • Patent number: 8113266
    Abstract: Barrier systems and associated methods, including vapor and/or fire barrier systems, are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a barrier system that includes a barrier coupled to a spool. The barrier is positioned to be wound onto and off of the spool as the barrier moves between a deployed position and a retracted position by a drive assembly. The system further includes a seal assembly positioned in a housing and contacting the spool to create a barrier to smoke and vapor migration through the housing. The system still further includes a sensor operably coupled to a control system and positioned to sense barrier position as the barrier moves between the deployed and the retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Smoke Guard, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Cloninger, Kelsey S. Aldrich, Curtis Gonzales
  • Publication number: 20120031571
    Abstract: A motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade tube in which a motor unit, a controller unit and a power supply unit are disposed. The controller unit includes a controller to control the motor. The power supply unit includes at least one bearing rotatably coupled to a support shaft. The motor unit includes at least one bearing, rotatably coupled to another support shaft, a DC gear motor and a counterbalancing device. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to a mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: HOMERUN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Richard Scott Hand, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Publication number: 20120031567
    Abstract: A door system includes a support connected to a structure, and a door mounted on the support and movable relative to the support between an opened position and a closed position. The door includes a detection device and a remote module coupled to the detection device. The remote module includes a battery and an RF module for supporting two-way communication and sending signals indicative of the status of the detection device and the battery. The door system also includes a motor to drive the door, and a controller to control the motor. The controller includes a user interface and a memory. The door system also includes a base module coupled to the controller for receiving signals from the remote module. The received signals are indicative of the status of the detection device and the battery. The base module also sends signals related to successful transmission acknowledgements to the remote module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: William W. SHIER, Lee H. Theusch, Allan B. Czubin, Robert J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20110297334
    Abstract: A roller blind including a roller of having a roller length and a roller outer diameter, a fabric attached to said roller for winding and unwinding from said roller. The fabric has a fabric length, a fabric weight, a fabric height, and fabric thickness. The blind includes a bottom bar having a bottom bar weight, and at least one spring operatively connected to the roller to drivingly rotate the roller in at least one direction of rotation. The spring is selected according to a Protocol such that it's length ensures that it drives the roller with a constant operating force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: HUNTER DOUGLAS INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Jorg Bohlen, Lars Koop
  • Patent number: 8069897
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fast door comprising: a structure having in particular two posts (3) in each of which is provided a slide rail (16) and a transverse lintel-forming element (4), and a flexible curtain (12) connected to the structure at the lintel-forming element (4) via electromechanical means controlling the lowering and lifting of the curtain (12), the curtain (12) incorporating at least one flexible reinforcing bar (13, 29) inserted in receiving means provided in the curtain (12), the flexible reinforcing bar (13, 29) capable of being engaged at its ends in each of the slide rails (16) and capable of bending to be released at least from one rail (16) without being subjected to permanent deformation which would impair the operation of the door once reinstalled in its rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nergeco
    Inventor: Bernard Kraeutler
  • Publication number: 20110277945
    Abstract: The drive device, which serves for the transport of the cover of a liquid container, particularly a swimming pool, is installed or installable in device compartment, which is arranged separate from the liquid container. The drive device includes at least one winding shaft that interacts with the cover and that is coupled to a first drive unit. The winding shaft serves for the rolling-up of the cover, which can be guided over a deflection device to an outlet opening of the device compartment and, at the end facing the winding shaft, is connected to an outer tractive element, which is acting against the side of the cover that is opposite to the side which faces the deflection device, which outer tractive element presses the cover under tension against the deflection device, and which outer tractive element is held and can be tensioned by a first traction device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Arthur Schwerzmann
  • Publication number: 20110265958
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an architectural window covering having a programmable electric motor. The programmable electric motor is housed within a roller for raising and lowenng the window covering, and includes dual stacked motors and light-transmitting control actuation buttons. In one embodiment an architectural window covering, composing a shade, a roller defining a bore coupled to the shade, and at least two motors axially aligned and electrically coupled in parallel and positioned at least partially in said bore and rotatably coupled to the roller is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Skinner, Richard Langille, Philip Chermak
  • Patent number: 8037922
    Abstract: A device for monitoring motion of a movable closure arranged for travel between limit positions, comprising an absolute position encoder for identifying whether the closure is in one of a plurality of sectors of travel, a relative position encoder for monitoring the speed and relative position of the closure, and a drive means for operatively coupling the relative position encoder and the absolute position encoder to the closure, such that there is a fixed relationship between motion of the closure and movement of both encoders, wherein the absolute position encoder features an adjustment assembly comprising a first element and a second element, the first element being selectively adjustable in position relative to the second element to adjust the absolute position encoder without movement of the drive means or the relative position encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Automatic Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Ray Hawkins, Toan Dang
  • Patent number: 8033313
    Abstract: A side window roller blind is provided. The roller blind includes a support rod having a free end connected to a tension bar. In order to prevent rattling noises, the ends of the tension bar are provided with rollers that contact the window pane such that the support rod is elastically bent during extension of the blind. In addition, the window blind is provided with aligning aids that prevent the tension bar from hitting on the slot edges during retraction of the blind, and from blocking additional retraction, due to vibrations about the longitudinal axis of the tension bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: BOS GbmH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Melf Hansen
  • Patent number: 8016017
    Abstract: Barrier systems and associated methods, including vapor and/or fire barrier systems, are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a barrier system that includes a barrier coupled to a spool. The barrier is positioned to be wound onto and off of the spool as the barrier moves between a deployed position and a retracted position by a drive assembly. The system further includes a control system coupled to the drive assembly and configured to command operation of the drive assembly. The system still further includes a sensor operably coupled to the control system and positioned to sense barrier position as the barrier moves between the deployed and the retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Smoke Guard, Inc.
    Inventors: James N. Cloninger, Kelsey S. Aldrich
  • Publication number: 20110203748
    Abstract: The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: HOMERUN HOLDINGS, CORP
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Darrin W. Brunk, Christopher Lee Wysoczynski, Harry Edward Asbury, Richard Scott Hand, Yan Rodriguez, Benjamin Anthony Bruckner
  • Publication number: 20110162809
    Abstract: A solar-powered automated system for the operation of drapery, roller blinds, and similar window coverings. The solar panel (102), or photovoltaic source provides the sole power to drive common types of window drapery and blinds in a compact system having a solar panel (photovoltaic source), actuator (104) and head rail (120). The solar panel (102) is to be mounted onto the frame of a window or elsewhere to collect sufficient light. A connecting cable links the solar panel (102) to the actuator (104) to draw electrical power from the solar panel. The actuator is attached to the head-rail (120) to provide the required driving force. The actuator (104) includes the control circuit boards, a single rechargeable battery (110), an electric motor (106) and output mechanism. An RF remote control receiver (116) is built inside the actuator (104). A low voltage control port (114) allows the actuator (104) to be accessible by a control interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Alex Liu
  • Publication number: 20110048655
    Abstract: The screening device comprises a tubular element with an axis of rotation and rotatable in relation to a shaft device. It further comprises a screening body with one end secured to said tubular element and a free opposite end, which on rotation of said tubular element is adapted to move between a first position, in which the screening body is completely rolled up on said tubular element, and a second position, in which the screening body extends over said aperture in order to screen it. A drive unit for driving said tubular element comprises a motor connected to said tubular element and said shaft device such as to provide said rotation of said tubular element in relation to said shaft device. A control unit controls operation of said motor and comprises a printed circuit board with an electronic motion sensor. Said printed circuit board is located in a fixed position in relation to said axis of rotation of said tubular element and/or in relation to said shaft device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: VKR HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Bjarne Ravndal Andreasen, Martin Armand Mortensen, Ulrik Ulriksen
  • Publication number: 20110048656
    Abstract: Provided is a blind device using solar cells. The blind device includes a plurality of solar cell panels, and a plurality of electric wires connecting the solar cell panels to each other in series. Each of the solar cell panels includes a first electrode and a second electrode on a surface, and a bypass device short-circuiting the first and second electrodes when light is not incident to the solar cell panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Moo Jung CHU, Soo Young Oh
  • Patent number: 7896058
    Abstract: A window roller blind that has a shade, the free end of which is connected to a pull rod. In order to guide movement of the pull rod during extension and retraction of the roller blind, a support rod is connected to pull rod by means of articulated connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: BOS GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Melf Hansen
  • Publication number: 20110036511
    Abstract: A window blind, in particular a Roman blind, having a blind panel (2) and at least one blind ribbon (4) fastened to one side of the blind panel (2) and having a traction mechanism (8) connected thereto, and a winding device (11) disposed at one end of the blind panel (2) having an electromotive drive (13) that is connected to a rechargeable battery (14), and the battery (14) is electrically charged by means of at least one photovoltaic solar cell (15). The solar cell is attached to the blind panel (2), wherein the electric connection between the battery (14) and the solar cell (15) is formed by electric conductors (6a, 6b) that are attached to the blind ribbon (4) and/or the traction mechanism (8). The electrical conductors can be integrated into the blind ribbon and/or a cord which is part of the winding device (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Sascha Dempwolffe
  • Publication number: 20110031764
    Abstract: The invention relates to the recovery of the potential energy from the apron of a roller blind including driving means provided with a motor connected to autonomous supply means during the expansion or retraction phase of the apron. More particularly, during the expansion or retraction phase of the apron, the method comprises determining an energy recovery phase corresponding to a motor torque applied by the apron on the driving means. The invention also allows energy recovery without damaging the components of said blind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2008
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicants: BUBENDORFF, COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventor: Antoine Labrunie