Abstract: A roll-up apparatus including a curtain suspended within a room to be divided or partially closed off and a roll member at the bottom edge of the curtain around which the curtain winds and unwinds. The curtain is raised by rolling the curtain up from the bottom around the roll member, and lowered by unrolling the curtain from around the roll member. Belts spaced along the width of the curtain are looped under the curtain wound roll member and windably attached to a motor driven take-up shaft. When wound around the take-up shaft, the belts are pulled upward to effect a rolling of the curtain around the roll member that raises the curtain. The belts are structured, such as by the provision of a coating material, to adhere to the material of the curtain to prevent belt slippage relative to the curtain and to thereby effect a relatively tight curtain winding. Crowned rollers which achieve a self-centering effect on the belts are also provided to cause the belts to wind about themselves on the take-up shaft.

Abstract: A masking apparatus for masking portions of the viewing surface of a projection screen. The masking apparatus includes an upper roller, upon which is wound an upper masking screen, and a lower roller, upon which is wound a lower masking screen operatively connected to the upper roller. When the upper roller is rotated in a first direction, the upper masking screen is unwound and lowered to mask the upper region of the screen and the lower masking screen is unwound and raised to mask the lower region of the screen. When the upper roller is rotated in an opposite second direction, the upper and lower masking screens are wound to non-masking alignments. In an alternate embodiment, the masking apparatus can be used to mask side regions of a projection screen viewing surface.

Abstract: An electrically actuated trap door system for a projection screen case. The system includes a trap door having first and second opposing edges. The first edge of the trap door is pivotally connected to the case such that the trap door is movable between a closed position in which the trap door is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the case and an open position in which the second edge of the trap door is disposed within the interior of the housing to form an opening in the bottom surface of the case. A motorized roller rotatable in first and second directions about its longitudinal axis is disposed within the case, and a ribbon connects the trap door and the roller to translate the rotation of the roller into movement of the trap door between its closed position and its open position.

Abstract: A retention system for operable flexible shades. The system includes a flexible sheet of a size which substantially covers a wall opening, and which is connected at its top edge to an operable roller. A side casing having a channel is mounted at each side edge of the wall opening. A plurality of generally parallel stays is applied to one of the opposing surfaces of the sheet for providing rigidity to the sheet, and to assist in keeping the edges of the sheet within the channels when a positive pressure is applied to the sheet. A grommet sized to remain within a channel during the rolling and unrolling of the sheet is affixed at each end of at least some of the stays.

Abstract: A casing for a projection screen and a motorized projection screen system and method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. The casing includes a fascia and endcaps which are affixed to the casing spine without the use of tools thereby providing easy access to the working components housed within the casing and providing flexibility to the consumer in the appearance of the casing. The motorized projection screen system includes a roller having a projection screen attached thereto and a reversible motor operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the motor causes the roller to rotate and the projection screen to be raised or lowered. The system also includes a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the roller to lower the projection screen biases the roller toward rotation in the opposite direction. The biasing mechanism reduces the power requirements of the reversible motor of the system as it assists in lifting the weight of the projection screen.

Abstract: A casing for a projection screen and a motorized projection screen system and method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. The casing includes a fascia and endcaps which are affixed to the casing spine without the use of tools thereby providing easy access to the working components housed within the casing and providing flexibility to the consumer in the appearance of the casing. The motorized projection screen system includes a roller having a projection screen attached thereto and a reversible motor operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the motor causes the roller to rotate and the projection screen to be raised or lowered. The system also includes a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the roller to lower the projection screen biases the roller toward rotation in the opposite direction. The biasing mechanism reduces the power requirements of the reversible motor of the system as it assists in lifting the weight of the projection screen.

Abstract: The invention comprises a multiple rear projection screen assembly which includes a plurality of rear projection screens and framing members between adjacent screens. Each screen has edges and a front and rear side, and are positioned in an adjacent relationship to form a contiguous viewing area such that each screen has at least one edge abutting the edge of an adjacent screen. Framing members are disposed along abutting edges of the screens with at least one of the framing members including a front bracket located along the front side of the abutting edges of two screens, and a rear bracket located along the rear side of the abutting edges of the two screens. The front bracket is spaced from the rear bracket and a fastener passes between the abutting edges of the screens. The fastener fastens the front bracket to the rear bracket such that the abutting edges of rear projection screens are simultaneously compressed between the front and rear brackets.