Electric Operation Or Control Patents (Class 160/310)
  • Patent number: 5222541
    Abstract: An industrial roll-up door, having a releasable beam and a tension bracket retention mechanism. The door includes a flexible door panel, which is wound in coiled form on a drum, and an elongated beam is attached to the lower end of the door panel. The ends of the beam are releasably connected to brackets that can be movable in vertical guide tracks mounted along the sides of the doorway. A biasing mechanism attached to each bracket exerts a downward tensioning force on the door panel when in the closed position. A pair of belts each having the same thickness as the door panel are wound on the drum adjacent the side edges of the door panel, and the free end of each belt is connected to the respective bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Kelley Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy G. Hornberger
  • Patent number: 5203392
    Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the raising and lowering of a door comprises a speed reduction gearing, a high speed input shaft and a low speed output shaft connected to the gearing, a governor mounted on the input shaft for regulating the input shaft's rotational speed whereby also regulating the output shaft's rotational speed, a first mechanism for operatively connecting the input shaft to a second mechanism for rotating the input shaft, a mechanism for operatively connecting the output shaft to a slatted retractable door, a brake for preventing rotation of the output shaft, and a release-mechanism the brake to permit rotation of the output shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Anchuan Corporation
    Inventor: Tsung-Wen Shea
  • Patent number: 5198974
    Abstract: Safety device for motorized rolling shutter comprising a generator of a signal representing the displacement of the rolling shutter and a logic processing unit (10) capable of working in learning mode and in operating mode for recording and processing signal samples and for comparing the values obtained in operating mode with the values obtained in learning mode in order to control the stopping of the motor (5) of the rolling shutter when there is an obstacle and for providing, if necessary, other functions such as the automatic stopping in the high position and in the low position, or the triggering of an alarm. The generator comprises a pulley on which is wound a flexible element (9) whose other end is connected to the end (8) of the rolling shutter, such that the unrolling of the rolling shutter (1) drives the pulley whose axis is mechanically connected to a signal generator, for example a synchronous motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Somfy
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Orsat
  • Patent number: 5186231
    Abstract: In summary, the present invention contemplates an improved tarpaulin deployment and retraction apparatus which includes a plurality of removable or permanent tracks installed at intervals over the load carrying compartment of a vehicle. A leading edge slider travels to and fro on the tracks under the influence of deployment/retraction mechanism. A ridgepole slider is towed to a mid-deployment position due to a latch on the ridgepole slider engaging a towing pin on the leading edge slider. Upon reaching the mid-deployment position, a de-coupling pin upon each of the tracks cooperates with a camming surface on the latch to disengage the ridgepole slider from the leading edge slider. The leading edge slider then is further urged to a fully deployed position. A leading edge pole, to which is attached the leading edge of a tarpaulin, is connected to the leading edge sliders on the tracks. As the sliders are urged into their deployed positions the tarpaulin is unfurled from its stowed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Inventor: Milburn Lewis
  • Patent number: 5179991
    Abstract: A covering apparatus, for a receptacle having an open top, including a cover having a first end and a second end and a length and width sufficient to cover the open top, a spring loaded roller, rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle, and to which the first end of the cover is attached, the roller being adapted for retracting and winding the cover about the roller, a cable having a first end and a second end, the first end of the cable attached to said second end of the cover and adapted for unwinding said cover from the roller, a cable spool, rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle and attached to which is the second end of the cable, the cable spool being adapted for spooling and unspooling the cable, and an energizing means for causing the cable spool to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Pioneer Consolidated Corporation
    Inventor: Edward N. Haddad, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5170833
    Abstract: A rolling door assembly including a flexible curtain having an inner end, an outer end and side edges. The inner end of this curtain is mounted to a rotatable curtain roll. The assembly includes a sprocket mounted on the curtain roll and a continuous chain loop that extends around this sprocket and is connected to a motor drive to form a curtain winding and unwinding mechanism. Two drive loop members are in operable engagement with the curtain roll for purposes of loop travel during rotation of the roll. The bottom end of the curtain is secured to the two drive members so that the bottom end and the drive loop members travel together. There are also two adjusting mechanisms connected between the bottom end of the curtain and the two loop members to accommodate a difference in speed of travel between the loop members and the bottom end of the curtain, the latter moving at a variable speed as the curtain is wound or unwound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: M & I Door Systems Limited
    Inventors: Douglas B. Taylor, Craig Jerry
  • Patent number: 5165461
    Abstract: A covering apparatus for a receptacle having an open top including, a cover having a first end and a second end and a length and width sufficient to cover the open top of the receptacle, a spring loaded roller, rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle and to which the first end of the cover is attached, the roller being adapted for retracting and winding the cover about said roller, a pair of first cable pulleys, one of each of the first cable pulleys rotatably mounted at one end of the receptacle, a pair of second cable pulleys, one of each of the second cable pulleys rotatably mounted at the other end of the receptacle, a cable loop engaging the first cable pulley and the second cable pulley, the second end of said cover attached to the cable loop, and an energizing device for causing the pair of first cable pulleys to rotate so as to cause the cable loop to move about the first and said second cable pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Pioneer Consolidated Corporation
    Inventor: Edward N. Haddad, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5161593
    Abstract: A shutter assembly for a bay window to close an opening by moving a shutter curtain upward from a containing space in the bottom of the bay window and to open it by way of a downward movement of the curtain under the influence of a coil spring. The basic driving system for the shutter is located either in the roof or in the lower containing space of the bay window. Various devices are disclosed including a seal for sealing the space between the leading member of the curtain and the roof of the bay window, a structure for installing the driving motor, a structure for detachable connection of the driving shaft, hainging members used to raise and lower the curtain, a structure for supporting the winding drum on the driving shaft, as well as features to allow maintenance of the shutter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1992
    Assignee: Sanwa Shutter Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Hirabayashi, Yoshitsugu Utsumi, Masakazu Makino, Hirosaburou Mori
  • Patent number: 5159967
    Abstract: A roller door assembly has means for tensioning same wherein a load is applied to a bottom edge of the roller and means for counterbalancing the weight of the door wherein a load is applied to the roller, the loads exerted by both said means being dependent on the amount of door off the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Clark Door Limited
    Inventors: Paul Ashley, John U. Chapman
  • Patent number: 5141044
    Abstract: A roll-up door in which the bottom bar is attached to the flexible door curtain has a transverse opening at an end adjacent to a jamb of the frame of the door. A breakaway shaft travels in a track in the jamb and has one end that normally seats in the transverse opening and provides a link between the bottom bar and the jamb. The other end of the shaft is restrained so that the shaft is held in a generally horizontal attitude. The opening in the bar and the breakaway shaft have cooperating means to normally retain the shaft in the opening but which are releasable upon a force striking the curtain or bottom bar. The breakaway shaft will separate from the bar upon impact thereby freeing the bar from engagement withthe jamb and preventing damage. The breakaway shaft may thereafter be reinserted into the opening in the bar to reconnect the bottom bar to the track and permit continued operation of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: ASI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clement Hying, Gregory S. Hahn
  • Patent number: 5139074
    Abstract: An industrial door includes a door panel that is movable between an open position and a closed position where the door panel encloses a doorway. A flexible beam is attached to the lower edge of the door panel and the beam is composed of superimposed strips of resilient material, such as rubber, with flexible metal strips disposed between adjacent resilient strips. Each end of the beam is provided with a longitudinal open-ended slot and an extension of a guide member is mounted within each slot in a manner such that the extensions will freely slide in the slots in a direction parallel to the plane of the door panel and will be released from the slots if the beam is subjected to a substantial accidental impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Kelley Company Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Warner
  • Patent number: 5139075
    Abstract: A rolling or overhead door assembly is disclosed comprising a shaft having an external thread bounded by a first and second bearing surface, a hub screwingly engaging the shaft and adapted to travel along the shaft, a first sprocket rotatably mounted on the first bearing surface and operably connected with a take-down device for unrolling a flexible door and a second sprocket mounted on the second bearing surface and operably connected with a take-up roller for rolling up the door, and abutments on opposite sides of the first and second sprocket. Upon rotation of the shaft the hub advances along the shaft and frictionally engages the first sprocket until the first sprocket and shaft rotate together and upon counter rotation of the shaft the hub advances back along the shaft and frictionally engages the second sprocket until the second sprocket and shaft rotate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Inventor: Eddy Desrochers
  • Patent number: 5131450
    Abstract: A closure assembly which is adapted to be used with structural members has a pair of guides and a closure member which is in mechanical interengagement with the guides so as to permit relative sliding movement in opening and closing the closure. The closure member has a pair of tracking members disposed on opposite edges which may take the form of tape members. These tracking means are retained within the guides.The guides may have secured thereto shoes which are engaged within guide channels secured to frame members so that relative lateral movement between the guides and frames is permitted. A biasing assembly which enhances lateral tension on the closure member may be employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Inventor: Dale Lichy
  • Patent number: 5129442
    Abstract: A roll-up door for enclosing the doorway in a building. The door comprises a horizontal rotatable drum mounted above the doorway and a flexible door panel is wound on the drum. A pulley is secured to each end of the drum and the first ends of a pair of belts are secured to each pulley and the belts are wound in overlapping relation on pulley so that adjacent convolutions of each belt are separated by convolutions of the other belt. The free end of one belt is dead-ended on the frame, and a counterbalancing weight is attached to the belt intermediate its ends and exerts a counterbalancing force to wind the door panel on the drum. The free end of the second belt is connected to the lower end of the door panel and a pair of springs are connected to the second belt intermediate its ends and the springs exert a tensioning force to stretch the door panel when the door panel is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Kelley Company Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Warner
  • Patent number: 5123474
    Abstract: A roll-up garage closure device of flexible material such as insect screen which is rolled up on a tubular motor driven cylindrical, finned, aluminum roll drum supported by bearings on each end. The screen is attached to the roll drum within a groove formed between two adjacent fins while opposite vertical edges are hemmed over bead chain cording, captured by vertical tracks, and adapted to slide vertically up and down as the screen is rolled up on the drum. A crossbar, containing a semi-rigid guide, two steel bar weights, and a weather seal is attached to the bottom edge of the screen and pulls the screen down as the motor unrolls the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Inventor: Richard C. Smith
  • Patent number: 5105871
    Abstract: A winding device comprising a winding tube inside which is housed a tubular motor whose profiled output shaft is fitted into a profiled hole in a transverse member fastened to the winding tube, in such a manner that the output shaft is fixed in respect of rotation with said transverse member. The profiles permit interengagement in at least two different angular positions. The output shaft has at least one resiliently retractable hook. The transverse member has at least one hooking point and a number of release passages at least equal to the number of hooks, the dimension of the release passages being such that the hook engaged in a release passage is inoperative, the hook being designed to hook automatically on a hooking point in at least one interengagement position. The positions of the hooks and release passages may be reversed.Depending on the tube in which the motor is mounted, its output shaft may or may not be axially fastened to the drive disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Somfy
    Inventors: Andre Baud, Claude Y. R. Brichaux, Rolf E. Haering
  • Patent number: 5088543
    Abstract: A shade unit having a frame defining a skylight opening, to which is attached a motor assembly and a shade assembly. A control unit consisting of an open stop switch, a close stop switch controls the motor assembly with a relay switch charging the motors polarity. A wall switch controls the relay switch and a photoelectric switch which can also control the relay switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Inventor: Paul J. Bilbrey
  • Patent number: 5083600
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for an industrial door. A rotatable drive member is operably connected to the door and rotation of the drive member in one direction through operation of a motor will move the door to the closed position while rotation of the member in the opposite direction will move the door to the open position. A clutch mechanism interconnects the motor and the drive member and is movable between an engaged and disengaged position. The clutch mechanism is biased to the engaged position, and by manually pivoting an actuating member that is connected to the clutch mechanism, the clutch mechanism can be moved to the disengaged position, and is retained in the disengaged position until manually released. A switch is operably connected to the motor, and when the actuating member is pivoted to a position to disengage the clutch, the switch will be actuated to shut off power to the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Kelley Company Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Weishar, Joe M. Delgado
  • Patent number: 5056839
    Abstract: A cover assembly for an automobile has a case and a rotary shaft mounted within the case. The case can form an integral component of the automobile bumper and can be either curved or straight. The rotary shaft onto which a cover is rotated can also be straight or curved. The cover assembly includes an operating mechanism which features an assembly for curving the rotary shaft and devices for extending or shortening the rotary shaft. The operating mechanism also includes a bearing assembly that provides the shaft with freedom of movement in a vertical direction and in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. A cap is pivotably supported to the case and the cover assembly includes a locking device for securing the cap in place. The cover has a main sheet and an auxiliary sheet, with the auxiliary sheet designed for securement with the locking device such that the main sheet can cover above and below the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Inventor: Yi C. Yoon
  • Patent number: 5048588
    Abstract: A roll-up door for enclosing a doorway in a building. The door comprises a horizontal rotatable drum mounted above the doorway and a flexible door panel is wound on the drum. A pair of first pulleys are secured to opposite ends of the drum and one end of a flat belt is secured to each first pulley, while the opposite end of each belt is dead-ended on a fixed object. A counterbalancing weight is attached to the belt intermediate its ends and exerts a counterbalancing force to wind door panel on the drum. A pair of second pulleys are secured to opposite ends of the drum and located adjacent the first pulleys. One end of a second flat belt is secured to each second pulley, while the opposite end of each second belt is connected to the lower end of the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: Kelley Company Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Weishar, Joe M. Delgado
  • Patent number: 5044417
    Abstract: Roller assemblies having a drum upon which a closure is wound and unwound and wherein a drive mechanism within the drum is meshed with a plurality of elongated ribs extending along the inner surface of the drum and wherein the limiting controls for the drive mechanism include a pair of travelling nuts which are also meshed with the ribs of the drum for mechanically actuating the limiting controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: SIMU
    Inventor: Rene Bresson
  • Patent number: 5040843
    Abstract: A cover for an open-bodied truck is movable between retracted and extended positions. A pair of guides are mounted on the side walls of the open body, and a cover assembly includes a plurality of rectangular panels linked to one another and extending across the open body. End portions of the panels are slidably mounted in the guides. A drive mechanism is provided for translating the cover assembly between the retracted and extended positions, and an enclosure is mounted at the forward end of the open body for receiving and storing the cover assembly in its retracted position. The tailgate of the open body is maintained in a closed and locked condition when the cover assembly is in its fully extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: E. L. "Jack" Shockey
    Inventors: Edward Russell, Ronald W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 5035091
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatically operated opening and closing roof composed of a sheet or tarpaulin; a frame constituting the whole rim of the roof; a drum supported rotatably on the frame and holding an end of the sheet whereby allowing it to roll out and roll up the sheet; a slider holding the other end of the sheet and slidably supported by a guide rail which is mounted on the frame for allowing the slides to move toward and away from the drum; and an actuator mounted on the frame for driving the slider and/or the drum along the guide rail whereby covering over the frame with the sheet or uncovering the frame. A rain sensor for detecting rain, snow and other wetness; and a controller for switching the actuator on when a signal reaches it from the rain sensor are used for covering the sheet over the frame, and counter-switching the actuator when a reverse signal reaches the controller when the rain stops, thus uncovering the sheet from the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daimon
    Inventor: Sakae Ebato
  • Patent number: 5033527
    Abstract: A motorized roller blind comprises a housing in which at least one roller member is rotatably mounted, and a strip of material forming the blind member which is fixed to the roller member at one end and to a pull bar at the other end. Actuating means comprise first and second links each having a first end pivotally fixed to the pull bar in the vicinity of a respective end thereof, and a second end pivotally fixed to a coupling member which is itself fixed to a respective end of a rack drive member adapted to be displaced by a drive pinion drive by a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Ets Farnier & Penin
    Inventors: Gaston Ouvrard, Jean-Marie Jeuffray
  • Patent number: 5016701
    Abstract: A window shade conveyor system for use with a window assembly having parallel frame members supporting a window pane therebetween, the frame members being non-vertically oriented, includes a shade roller rotatably disposed between the frame members at an upper portion of the frame members, the roller carrying a window shade wound thereon and adapted to be unwound to cover the window pane between frame members. A continuous drive shaft is supported between frame members adjacent the shade roller. Gearing is connected between the drive shaft and the roller to provide rotary motion to the roller to wind or unwind the window shade. A conveyor assembly is supported by each of the frame members, which conveyor assembly includes a rotatable driving member engaged to the drive shaft. An idler is supported at a portion of the frame member distal the driving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Inventor: Danny D. Vore
  • Patent number: 4976302
    Abstract: A rolling door mechanism employing an idler drive member freely supported about an idler roll of a roll door assembly. An adjusting element, for example, a coiled spring which surrounds the idler roll, accommodates differences in speed of the idler drive member and the idler roll. The adjusting element is connected at one end for rotation with the idler drive member and at the other end for rotation with the idler roll. In one preferred embodiment the coiled spring is tensioned during rotation of the idler drive member in one direction by drive means and this tension is released during rotation of the idler drive member in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: M & I Door Systems Limited
    Inventor: Douglas B. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4974658
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sheet shutter which is a shutter of the type in which a sheet-form shielding material is lifted and lowered to be used as a partition of the entrance or passage of factory, warehouse or the like. The sheet shutter comprises (a) a pair of sheet guides erected parallel with a predetermined spacing therebetween, each sheet guide having an uppr end; (b) a sheet case provided between the upper ends of the sheet guides; (c) a take-up drum rotatably supported within the sheet case, the take-up drum having an interior space; (d) a flexible sheet having a top edge and both of side edges, the both side edges being guided by the sheet guides in such a manner that the flexible sheet is lifted and lowered, and the top edges being attached to the take-up drum; and (e) a motor for rotationally driving the take-up drum, and motor being fixed to the sheet case and accommodated in the interior space of the take-up drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Komatsu Denki Sangyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Komatsu, Nakayoshi Imada, Shuichi Katsura, Tohru Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4953608
    Abstract: A safety device, particularly intended to be used in roll-up doors to cause reversal of the door closing movements in case an obstacle obstructs the path of movement of the door. The device comprises at least a couple of photoelectric cells which are arranged at a certain distance from the closing edge of the door leaf in alignment with the door leaf on a support arm which is displaceable in the direction of closing of the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: Nomafa AB
    Inventor: Nils H. I. Larsson
  • Patent number: 4951730
    Abstract: A window blind system for a window comprising a longitudinal casing which is arranged to be transversely fixed to a window frame above a window to be shaded, a roller blind mechanism carrying an opaque blind and mounted to the casing in a position under the casing and a driving assembly and a control circuit and a control unit for operating the roller mechanism unit to roll out or rewind the blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Inventor: Chi-Hsueh Hsu
  • Patent number: 4941320
    Abstract: A door operator having a fluid drive motor and a manual override. The bidirectional hydraulic motor connects to a drive shaft through a power train including a shiftable --quill--type manual clutch mechanism which allows an alternate connection of the drive shaft to a manually-operated wheel. When the cable which shifts the clutch for manual drive is pulled, a switch disables the control for the hydraulic motor. When the motor is not provided with pressured fluid from the pump a hydraulic brake engages the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: ASI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Otto E. Kersten, Jack E. Moll, George C. Balbach
  • Patent number: 4898224
    Abstract: A rear window shade assembly (10) comprises a base (18) which can be set on a back-seat shelf (12) of an automobile with a roll shade mechanism (38), a winch (44), and an angularly adjustable crane arm (70) mounted thereon. A cord (60) extending from the winch along the crane arm is attached to an outer end of a shade (42) on the roll-shade mechanism for deploying and retracting the shade. The crane arm is constructed of a flexible tube so that its position is automatically angularly adjustable relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Inventor: Wesley L. Woodworth
  • Patent number: 4887660
    Abstract: A lightweight, high speed roll-up door, or curtain, is unrolled from and rolled upon a cylindrical tube disposed above or within an opening in a wall by a drive motor/drive shaft combination coupled to one end of the tube. A non-rotating support shaft is attached to the other end of the tube which has disposed within respective ends thereof first and second coiled springs. A pair of belts are coupled to lower opposed ends of the door and are wrapped around respective pulleys positioned at each end of the tube and mounted to the drive and support shafts, respectively. With one end of each of the coiled springs coupled to the tube and each of the other ends respectively coupled to one of the pulleys, the coiled springs urge the two pulleys and the tube in opposite directions of rotation to maintain the door in a tightly stretched condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Frommelt Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kraus
  • Patent number: 4884617
    Abstract: A device having a shutter windable around a spindle and especially adapted to close a bay or other opening by the unwinding of the shutter, the same having flexible side edges which project beyond the shutter plane and which are retained with reduced friction in substantially continuous guideways during the unwinding and winding up of the shutter, that shutter edges may disengage from their guideways when subjected to a predetermined pull transversely to guideway. Each guideway has near and upstream of the shutter spindle an access passage through which the projecting edge of any shutter which has disengaged from the guideway can re-engage, as the shutter winds around its spindle, in that part of the particular guideway concerned which is disposed beyond the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Inventor: Benoit J. Coenraets
  • Patent number: 4874026
    Abstract: A vehicle window screen assembly selectively and alternately operable to cover or uncover a vehicle window. The assembly includes a first flexible screen for blocking at least a portion of light impinging thereon, and a spring-loaded, generally cylindrical roller about which the screen is wrapped with a free end exposed, the roller being mountable at its ends on a side of the window to be covered so that when the free end of the screen is pulled toward the opposite side of the window, the roller rotates to unwind the screen and when the free end is released, the roller retracts and rolls up the screen. A screen positioning device is attached to the free end of the screen and is controllable to selectively pull the screen toward the opposite side of the window to substantially cover it, or to release the screen to allow it to be retracted and rolled up on the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: Dayer Worrall
  • Patent number: 4864783
    Abstract: A structural arrangement is provided which is particularly useful in connection with solar greenhouses. The structural member is suitable for use in a parallel arrangement of the same particularly for the purpose of providing controlled shading. The structural member is provided as a hollow bar of elongated form provided with at least one longitudinally extending track channel having a relatively narrow longitudinally extended slot-mouth. The bar may be provided with two such channels and these channels are substantially circular in cross-section with the mouths defining reentrant angles therewith. In a solar greenhouse, members of the above type support a glazing with a curved-eave section, the bars being curved to shape and the channels therein accommodating the bulbous lateral edges of shades which are retained therein. The shades are transferred from one roller in the direction of a second roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Four Seasons Solar Products Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Esposito
  • Patent number: 4850418
    Abstract: A device for automatically releasing the braking mechanism of roller blinds or shutters or the like which are selectively operated by a motor drivingly connected to the drum of the blind wherein a drive shaft for the drum is prevented from rotating by gripping a brake disk between two rotating plates. Releasing of the brake is automatically effected as soon as the motor is activated by magnetic attraction of a yoke, which includes one of the rotating plates, against a spring element. In the event of an electrical failure, the brake may be released manually by mechanically urging the yoke from the brake disk against the action of the spring element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle Du Metal Usine (SIMU)
    Inventor: Rene Bresson
  • Patent number: 4848823
    Abstract: A remotely controlled power-assisted vehicle cover is attached to a take-up spool winding and unwinding mechanism which is housed in an eccentric-shaped containment tube, mounted under the front or back bumper areas of a vehicle. The vehicle cover is extracted from the cylindrical cover containment tube and placed over a vehicle by a wand fastened to the l eading edge of the vehicle cover and houses a wireless control system including a remote motor control and a transmitter to send: on/off, single or variable speed, and reversing controls to the drive motor of the cover extracting/retracting mechanism. In addition to controlling the co ver drive motor, the control wand is used to physically guide the protective cover on or off the vehicle. The control wand can easily be operated with one hand and enables precise control of the power-assisted application or removal of the vehicle cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Entretec, Inc.
    Inventors: Arno K. Flohr, Edward J. Fasiska
  • Patent number: 4844140
    Abstract: A releasable drive assembly is described, suitable for use with a rolling door. The illustrated assembly comprises a chassis, a final drive unit rotatably mounted to the chassis for operating the door, a motor fixed with respect to the chassis, drive means interconnecting the motor with the final drive unit, the drive means including a clutch for releasing and re-engaging the motor and the final drive unit, the clutch including a slidable clutch unit keyed for rotation with one part of the drive means and having axially projecting formations respectively engageable and disengageable with mating formations on the other part of the drive means upon sliding movement of the clutch unit, latchable disengagement means for selective engagement with the slidable clutch unit for sliding the clutch unit into and out of engagement with the mating formations, the disengagement means being latchable to hold the clutch unit in its disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Byrne & Davidson Doors (N.S.W.) Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Richard E. Jones, Mitchell J. Billows
  • Patent number: 4815515
    Abstract: An improved window shade structure which comprises two sets of brackets mounted on a window frame; two rollers, to be fixed on the brackets; a shade to the be fixed to rollers and having length larger than the distance between the two rollers; a driving mechanism with a motor therein to drive the shade to move and wind the shade between the two rollers; andthe window shade having a plurality of holes in various sizes along its length and being adjusted to a desirable position so as to obtain a suitable intensity of light by the function of the driving mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Song L. Lee
  • Patent number: 4807684
    Abstract: The invention provides a roll up closet door in a tubular housing. Spring or electrical roll up and roll down assist mechanics are included and the door housing is extendable to fit a variety of household closet door widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Inventor: John G. Melton
  • Patent number: 4782887
    Abstract: A rolling door drive assembly including a chassis, a final drive unit rotatably mounted to the chassis for operating the door, a motor fixed with respect to the chassis, a drive device interconnecting the motor and the final drive unit, a housing defining a mounting channel on the assembly remote from the final drive unit, the mounting channel extending transversely to the axis of rotation of the final drive unit and adapted to receive part of a mounting bracket, and a mounting member extending into the mounting channel in a direction parallel to the axis for engagement with the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Byrne & Davidson Doors (N.S.W.) Pty. Limited
    Inventors: Richard E. Jones, Mitchell J. Billows
  • Patent number: 4766941
    Abstract: An electrically powered window shade with selectively variable shading characteristics is installable within a window opening for selectively blocking (by absorption or reflection), filtering and/or transmitting light through the window shade into a room for purposes of energy control and/or decoration, etc. This window shade comprises an upper roller assembly, a lower roller assembly, and an elongate flexible web wound on the upper and lower roller assemblies, with the web being longer than the spacing between the upper and lower roller assemblies. Each of the roller assemblies comprises an elongate tubular roller, bearings engageable with the end of the roller for rotatably journaling the ends of the roller with respect to the window. The web is scrolled onto and from the rollers as the latter are rotated about their respective longitudinal axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Sytron Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Sloop, Hsiang-Lin Yu
  • Patent number: 4744403
    Abstract: A retrofittable insulation system for solar rooms having glass bays supported by sills along the bottom and separated by vertically extending glazing bars. The system includes extruded, plastic double channel tracks secured to the inside of the glazing bars and extending substantially the full length thereof. An insulating shade sheet is carried by a roller supported on brackets mounted at the tops of adjacent glazing bars. The shade sheet has corded edges captured within the channels of the tracks and a batten is secured to its lower edge. Spring motors are mounted on the sill adjacent the bottom of each track, and cables connect the spring motors to the ends of the batten. The shade is operated by an actuator connected to the shade roller, which acts against the spring motors. In a preferred embodiment, the spring motors exert a pull force on the shade that varies in accordance with the force required to retract the shade which is a function of the relative position of the shade in the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Appropriate Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Hausmann, Allan McLane, Jr., Daniel B. Bump, Andrew E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4727919
    Abstract: A counterweight (12) provided at the end of a shaft (8) for winding up the door-raising belts (3) of a concertina type door. The counterweight (12) is designed to open the door to a fraction of its height. It co-operates with the motor (7) when the door is being opened and closed under normal circumstances. A motor and brake unit (14) is provided including both the motor (7) and a brake for locking the shaft (8) when the motor is not in operation. Catch means may also be provided on the bottom of the door. Manual means are provided for releasing the shaft-locking brake means in the event of a power failure. The device is essentially a safety device and in the event of a motor breakdown or a power failure it enables the concertina-type door to be rapidly opened, at least partially. Similarly, in the event of the coupling between the drive shaft and the motor being broken, the device prevents the door from falling to its closed position in a catastrophic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Nergeco
    Inventor: Bernard Kraeutler
  • Patent number: 4721146
    Abstract: A clutch or rolling door operating mechanism permits use of two sources of power for moving the door between open and closed positions. A drive gear rotates about an eccentrically mounted shaft which itself is turned through a clutch of the fixed drag type to swing the gear into engagement with the drive train for moving the door via manual power and to permit the gear to swing into disengagment with such drive train for moving the door by electric power operation. In one form a circuit interlock prevents motor operation during manual driving of the door; in a second form an audible "clacker" sounds to indicate manual operation of the operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: The Cookson Company
    Inventor: Russell Wardlaw
  • Patent number: 4712104
    Abstract: A remote control system for window blinds including a control unit provided for each of a plurality of blinds which are opened and closed freely, each blind further including rotatable slats. The control unit is provided with a signal receiver, and through the use of a transmitter, which is provided separately, the control unit controls the individual blind as well as slats thereof, and a plurality of control units can be successively actuated so that two or more blinds and the slats thereof can be controlled at the same time from a distance. By means of this remote control system, a centralized control of the blinds can be performed without requiring a special control board, and erroneous operation can be avoided as blind operation is done after the blind number is designated. When the blind operation is completed, the system is automatically reset for the next operation command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1987
    Assignee: Kuron Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4706727
    Abstract: A door operator for an overhead garage door having a reversible electric motor and a gear train driving the door. Limit stops are provided, one for the "up" limit and another for the "down" limit. Each of the limit stops is independently zero setable to cut off current to the motor at a pre-selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Firmagroup Australia Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Simon Leivenzon, Zvi Leivenzon
  • Patent number: 4690195
    Abstract: An operator for a rolling door having a curtain barrel shaft rotatable for actuating the door and including a drive gear adapted for connection to one end of the curtain barrel shaft and a second gear adapted for connection to one end of an idler roller. The idler roller in use engages one surface of the door and extends horizontally across the top of the door opening. A third gear is rotatably mounted in the region of the drive gear and the second gear and an electric motor is provided to rotate this third gear. In one version of the invention there is a moveable fourth gear in meshing engagement with the third gear and driven thereby. The fourth gear can be swung from a first position where it is in meshing engagement with the second gear to a second position where it is in meshing engagement with the drive gear. A chain loop connectable to the door is driven when the second gear and the idler roller rotate and it is provided to close the door even under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Cooper Cliff Door Manufacturing (1980) Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas B. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4683932
    Abstract: A rolling shutter includes a winding and/or unwinding shaft for a sectional structure consisting of blades provided with a catch mechanism engageable by a driving mechanism rotatably rigid with a second shaft disposed downstream of the winding shaft and held by lateral flanges of the shutter housing. The shutter further includes guide rails slidably engaged by the lateral ends of the blades. The second shaft includes at either end a driving mechanism having a backlach consistent with the variable pitch existing between the catch mechanism of two adjacent blades. The driving mechanism is adapted to be actuated by a motor for causing the rotation of the winding shaft in one or the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Inventor: Richard Bubendorff
  • Patent number: 4665965
    Abstract: This control system for a roller-blind or the like comprising swivel blades coupled to a master blade carrying at one end a stud adapted, during its downward movement, to travel in a slide groove disposed behind a rocker and, during its upward movement, to engage both the slide groove, and the rocker, this control system comprises a microcomputer having stored in its non-volatile memory a control program of which the instruction groups are adapted to control the stud movements and the blind movement in relation to four predetermined stop points with respect to the rocker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: SOMFY
    Inventors: Henri Pasquier, Dominique Jacquel