Patents Assigned to Hunter Douglas, Inc.
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Patent number: 11156031Abstract: The present disclosure describes roll-up coverings of custom length and/or width for architectural openings, and a method of assembling the same. The custom covering includes at least one outer elongate tape, at least one inner elongate tape, and a plurality of slats. The tapes preferably have lengths along central longitudinal axis extending between first ends and second ends of the tapes that are selected to correspond to the custom length of the covering. The slats are preferably transverse to, spaced apart along, and coupled to the tapes at any desired location along the tape lengths to achieve desired spacings of the slats, thereby providing a subassembly of custom length. The slats may have lengths extending between first ends and second ends of the slats, orthogonal to the central axis of the tapes, and selected to provide a custom width of the subassembly.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS, INC.Inventor: Wendell B. Colson
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Publication number: 20210324678Abstract: An architectural-structure covering and corresponding method of manufacturing, assembly, or the like is disclosed. The architectural-structure covering including a covering comprising a front layer, a rear layer, and an intermediate barrier layer, wherein the intermediate barrier layer is coupled to a rear side of the front layer and to a front side of the rear layer so that the intermediate barrier layer is positioned between the front and rear layers. The architectural-structure covering further comprising a plurality of lift elements arranged and configured to move the covering between extended and retracted positions. The lift elements being positioned being the intermediate and rear layers. In this manner, the lift elements may be sandwiched between the intermediate and rear layers thus rending the lift elements inaccessible, or at least greatly limiting accessibility, to an end user.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Applicant: Hunter Douglas, Inc.Inventors: Joseph E. Kovach, James M. Anthony
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Patent number: 11149489Abstract: A transmission for use with an architectural-structure covering for moving a covering of the architectural-structure covering between an extended position and a retracted position is disclosed. The transmission may include a drive shaft, a driven shaft including a tapered shaft portion, a transmission cord operatively coupled to the drive shaft and the driven shaft for transferring rotation between the drive shaft and the driven shaft, and a geared assembly. The geared assembly may include an intermediate member, first and second gears coupled to the intermediate member, a first shaft, and an end cover coupled to the intermediate member and the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Spray, Mark Schwandt, Paul D. Mischo
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Patent number: 11136821Abstract: An improved operating system for use in an architectural-structure covering for extending and retracting a covering portion is disclosed. The operating system including an operating element for raising the covering portion and for transitioning the operating system between a retraction mode to raise the covering and an extension mode to lower the covering. To transition between the retraction and extension modes, an operator may move the operating element in a preset direction, such as, in the manner akin to a switch. For example, moving the operating element in a first direction (e.g., a rearward direction away from the operator) shifts the operating system into the retraction mode, while moving the operating element in a second direction (e.g., a forward motion toward the operator) shifts the operating system into the extension mode. In one embodiment, the first and second directions may be transverse to a longitudinal axis of the architectural-structure covering.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Nicholas Buccola
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Patent number: 11136819Abstract: A static mitigation end cap for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a head rail having an end cap. The end cap may include a housing extending along a longitudinal length of the head rail and defining a chamber. The end cap may include a printed circuit board received within the chamber and configured to control a motor assembly operatively connected to the at least one end cap. The end cap may include an actuation member slidably coupled with the end cap for selective engagement with the printed circuit board.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup
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Patent number: 11118396Abstract: A covering for an architectural feature having generally horizontal vane elements extending between generally inner and outer vertical support members that can adjust and control the amount and quality of light transmitted through the covering is described. In one embodiment, the covering has elongate tapes as vertical support members that have a width substantially less than the length of the vane elements, and adjacent inner and adjacent outer elongate tapes are separated by a distance. In one embodiment, the vane elements are multi-layered, cellular vanes. The elongated multilayered vanes may include elongate stiffeners that may be associated with, coupled to, and or inserted within pockets formed in, the multilayered vanes. Also disclosed is a method of operation and manufacture.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Wendell B. Colson, Ko Kuperus, David P. Hartman, Matthew A. Difrancesco
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Patent number: 11111721Abstract: A covering for architectural openings includes a cord drive with a pulley that is supported by a bearing surface which lies in the plane of the cord.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Robert E. Fisher, II, Donald E. Fraser, Stephen R. Haarer
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Patent number: 11098528Abstract: A tensioner for use with an architectural-structure covering including an operating element (e.g., a cord, a chain, or the like) is disclosed. The tensioner selectively securing a position of the operating element relative to the tensioner. In one embodiment, the tensioner includes a body, a slider, a bearing, and an optional biasing member. The body may include a first body member coupled to a second body member. The slider is movably positioned within the body between first and second positions to selectively enable movement of the operating element relative to the tensioner. The bearing includes a projection for coupling to the second body member to prevent the second body member from being decoupled from the first body member. In this manner, when the bearing is enclosed within the body, a user cannot readily open the body (e.g., a user cannot readily separate the first and second body members).Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Michael True, Jeffrey L. Spray
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Patent number: 11097494Abstract: A system and method for laser sealing an edge portion of a covering of an architecture-structure covering is disclosed. In one embodiment, after cutting a covering of an architectural-structure covering to an appropriate size, lasering the cut edge portions or surfaces of the covering to seal the cut edge portions or surfaces of the covering to prevent fraying. The beam of the laser may be positioned to contact the cut edge portions or surfaces of the covering in a plane of the fabric. Subsequently, the beam of the laser scans or moves across the surface of the cut edge portion of the covering. In use, the beam of the laser is arranged and configured to apply heat to the surface of the fabric material at discrete points or spots to vaporize any loose fibers located along the cut edge portion of the covering.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2020Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: David Lynch, Stephen T. Wisecup, Patrick Foley, Wayne Rayman
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Patent number: 11089899Abstract: A drape has a longitudinal pocket on two or both sides of the drape, A stabilizer is placed within the pocket and extends the length of the pocket. The stabilizer is supported by a drapery support such as a rod or track in a manner which enables the panel to move along the drapery support from a closed, drawn position to an open, slacked position. The stabilizer is supported by the drapery support and is free to move within the pocket. The stabilizer prevents the drape from flaring at the bottom. A wand may be attached to the stabilizer or to a carrier or other assembly to which the stabilizer is attached.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventor: Ren Judkins
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Patent number: 11091955Abstract: A light blocking element is movably coupled to and recessed into one of a first rail and a movable rail, and, when the movable rail moves to a position closest to the first rail, the light-blocking element enters into a recess in the other of said first rail and said movable rail and thereby is recessed into both said first rail and said movable rail.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 17, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventor: Richard N. Anderson
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Patent number: 11078723Abstract: A skew adjustment mechanism is used for adjusting the length of a lift cord on a window covering. The lift cord extends from a lift spool at a first end to an anchor drum at a second end. A cord wrap post is provided between the lift spool and the anchor drum so that the lift cord can be wrapped around the cord wrap post to provide friction between the lift cord and the cord wrap post when the lift cord is taut in order to reduce the amount of holding force that is needed to prevent the anchor drum from rotating.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventor: Richard N. Anderson
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Patent number: 11072976Abstract: Example methods and apparatus can be used to reduce noise in motor assemblies, such as those used in architectural coverings. An example apparatus includes a first driver configured to be coupled to and rotated by an output shaft of a motor, a second driver, and a plurality of vibration-absorbers disposed between the first driver and the second driver. The second driver is configured to be coupled to a rotating member to transfer rotational motion from the first driver to the rotating member via the vibration-absorbers.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.Inventors: James M. Anthony, Daniel M. Fogarty, Paul A. Brayford, Robert Fisher, II, Daniel A. Huber, Jan Pruegner, Clark Brace, Kevin Dann, Max Oelschlager, Todd Nelson, Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Michael Goldberg
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Patent number: 11047169Abstract: A shutter panel for an architectural opening is provided. The shutter panel may include a frame and a louver rotatably coupled to the frame. The louver may be automatically closable based on an angular orientation of the louver. The shutter panel may include a closure device operably associated with the louver. The closure device may be actuated based on the angular orientation of the louver. The shutter panel may include a damping device operably associated with the louver. The damping device may be actuated based on the angular orientation of the louver. The shutter panel may include a tension device operably associated with the louver.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2019Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Michael S. Holford, James M. Anthony, Joseph E. Kovach
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Patent number: 11028640Abstract: A handle is releasably secured to a rail wall by means of fasteners extending from inside the rail. An actuator shaft pushes against a contact plate to move a movable braking member to stop the rotation of a rod inside the rail.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Eugene W. Thompson, Robert E. Fisher
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Patent number: 11021908Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening has a dual cord operating system. The covering may include a head rail, blind panels depending from the head rail, and an operating system. The operating system may include a housing connected to the head rail, a first drive assembly rotatably mounted within the housing and operable to move the blind panels between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, and a second drive assembly rotatably mounted within the housing and operable to move the blind panels between a closed configuration and an open configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2020Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: David B. McNeill, Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup, David Lynch, Christopher R. Mueller
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Patent number: 11015385Abstract: In one aspect, a shutter assembly includes a shutter frame and a plurality of louvers supported by the frame. The shutter assembly also includes a louver drive assembly and a motor positioned within the frame. The motor is configured to rotationally drive a drive shaft extending within the frame. Additionally, the shutter assembly includes a clutch assembly rotationally coupled between the drive shaft and the louver drive assembly. The clutch assembly is configured to disengage or decouple the drive shaft from the louver drive assembly when a torque transmitted through the clutch assembly exceeds a given torque threshold.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2020Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventor: Donald E. Fraser
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Publication number: 20210148164Abstract: A covering for a vertically-suspended architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The covering is formed from a plurality of assembled vanes suspended from a headrail assembly. Each assembled vane may be made via a strip process. Each vane including a strip of material (e.g., translucent fabric), and at least one slat (e.g., arcuate opaque material) coupled to the strip of material. For example, in one embodiment, the vanes may include first and second slats coupled to an intermediate strip of material on either side of the intermediate strip of material along the vertically extending side portions thereof, respectively. The first and second slats preferably each include a complementary curved surface so that when the assembled vanes are coupled to the headrail assembly, the first slat of a first assembled vane is coupled to or nested with the second slat of a second, adjacent assembled vane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: Hunter Douglas, Inc.Inventors: MICHAEL J. SIEBENALLER, KEVIN DANN, JOSEPH E. KOVACH, KEN WITHERELL, DAVID LYNCH
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Patent number: 11002070Abstract: A blind is arranged such that minimal force is required to rotate the tilt drum to tilt the slats from the fully open to the fully closed position and back, with each of the front and rear tilt cables sharing the load nearly equally throughout the entire path from the fully open to the fully closed position and back.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.Inventors: Donald E. Fraser, Richard N. Anderson
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Patent number: D928728Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Fred Bould, Anson Cheung, Joshua Cope-Summerfield, Scott Stephenson, Kevin Dann, Jesse Perreault