Patents Examined by Blair M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9914342
    Abstract: Shading device for a transparent surface part of a motor vehicle having a flexible shading structure, two non-parallel lateral guide arrangements fixed with respect to the vehicle and having a dimensionally stable pull-out profile displaceable in parallel fashion by in each case one guide carriage in the respective lateral guide arrangement via a drive device, lateral shading structure sections protruding, in a manner dependent on the displacement travel of the shading structure, into lateral receiving spaces fixed with respect to the vehicle. To the lateral shading structure sections, there are fastened in each case two support bodies spaced apart from one another in the pulling-out direction of the shading structure and the thickness of which is greater than a thickness of the respective shading structure sections. The support bodies are guided in transversely supported fashion with play in complementary support channel sections of the receiving spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Maier, Herbert Walter
  • Patent number: 9915094
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller shutter (10, 32, 42, 51) for opening and closing a doorway having a door leaf (11) and side rails (17) for guiding the door leaf (11), and having a coiling device (14) for selectively rolling up the door leaf (11) for opening the doorway and unrolling the door leaf (11) for closing the doorway. For reducing or avoiding the risk of creating a polygon effect and for providing a roller shutter (10, 32, 42, 51) comprising a door leaf having rigid shutter elements with an increased height and/or with the possibility of applying an increased speed for opening and/or closing the door leaf the roller shutter (10, 32, 42, 51) is characterized in that a separate guiding device (21, 33, 43) is provided for guiding the door leaf (11) in the area between the side rail (17) and the coiling device (14), wherein the guiding device (21, 33, 43) is arranged to adjust to an increasing diameter and to a decreasing diameter of the coiling device (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ASSA ABLOY ENTRANCE SYSTEMS AB
    Inventor: Friedhelm Frede
  • Patent number: 9909361
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a rotatable outer roller, a rotatable inner roller, a first shade secured to the outer roller, and a second shade secured to the inner roller. The outer roller may define an elongated slot extending along a length of the outer roller and opening to an interior of the outer roller. The inner roller may be received within the outer roller and may define a central longitudinal axis. The first shade may be retractable onto and extendable from the outer roller. The second shade may extend through the elongated slot and may be retractable onto and extendable from the inner roller. The elongated slot may be substantially horizontally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner roller when the first shade is in a fully extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Terrence M. Drew, Kenneth M. Faller, Kent A. Smith
  • Patent number: 9909359
    Abstract: A covering device comprises a 1st cover which has a plurality of 1st slats interconnected in an articulated manner and a 2nd cover which has a plurality of 2nd slats interconnected in an articulated manner. The covers can each be adjusted between a rest position and a covering position, said covers facing each other with slat end faces when in the covering position. At least one of the 1st slats comprises a 1st engagement part on its end face facing the 2nd slats and at least one of the 2nd slats comprises a 2nd engagement part on its end face facing the 1st slats, said 1st engagement part being able to be brought to engage with the 2nd engagement part such that the first cover is connected to the 2nd cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Bernhard Bachmann
  • Patent number: 9909358
    Abstract: An example of a vertically operating door includes a flexible panel comprising two pliable sheets of material with a plurality of pads or mats of thermal insulation between the two sheets. In some examples, a plurality of horizontally elongate baffles made of pliable strips of material are installed between the two sheets. The baffles effectively divide one large interior volume between the sheets into more manageable smaller volumes or chambers. The baffles restrict the air between the sheets from being forced to the bottom of the panel as the panel ascends and bends across an overhead roller. Without the baffles and smaller chambers, the panel sheets in the area near the bottom of the panel would tend to bulge outward as the door opens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: RITE-HITE HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Ungs, Glenn R. Manich
  • Patent number: 9903157
    Abstract: A rail, such as a head rail, for an architectural covering. The rail includes a housing having elongate walls extending along a length of the housing and defining therebetween a width of the housing. A drive shaft is rotatable about a drive axis extending along the length of the housing and is configured to wind and unwind lift cords or blind material of the architectural covering. A spring assist module, e.g. a spring motor has an output shaft rotatable about an output axis with rotation of the drive shaft. The spring assist module is mounted in the housing with the output axis parallel to the drive axis. The spring assist module extends outwardly in a width direction beyond the width of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Nicolaas (a/k/a Nico) Dekker, Ralph Steenbergen
  • Patent number: 9889788
    Abstract: Embodiments of a connector with integrated lighting are provided. The connector may be used with an awning assembly of an RV, for non-limiting example. The connector includes a retaining channel having a relief opening from which an awning canopy may extend. The retaining channel may be directly connected to a luminaire mount or may be connected to the luminaire mount by the connector. The connector may be mounted to a rail on an RV or sidewall of other structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Jon Beland, Dale Malott, Pat McConnell
  • Patent number: 9890587
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Thomas W. Brenner, Brandon J. Detmer, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Joel S. Spira
  • Patent number: 9890582
    Abstract: A door hoist includes a bracket, drive sprocket, ring gear, hub assembly, set of planetary gears, and governor shaft. The drive sprocket has a drive sprocket axis. The ring gear is fastened to the drive sprocket. The ring gear has a ring gear axis that is in alignment with the drive sprocket axis. The hub assembly includes a connector to receive a door drive shaft and secure the door drive shaft in a fixed rotational alignment with the hub assembly. The set of planetary gears is rotationally mounted to the hub assembly. The set of planetary gears is configured to mate with the ring gear. The governor shaft includes a sun gear, brake assembly, and link. The sun gear is configured to mate with the set of planetary gears. The brake assembly has an engaged position and a disengaged position. The sun gear is rotationally fixed relative to the bracket in response to the brake assembly being in the engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Daus, Alvin Eiterman
  • Patent number: 9890588
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a shade associated with the roller, and an operating system operably associated with the roller. The operating system may include a base, a drive mechanism, a transmission, an actuator arm, and an engagement arm. The drive mechanism may be associated with the base to provide an input torque. The transmission may be associated with the drive mechanism to selectively transmit the input torque to the roller. The actuator arm may be associated with the base to indirectly set a rotation direction of the roller. The engagement arm may be associated with the base and engageable with the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Smith
  • Patent number: 9890586
    Abstract: A sunshade structure is disclosed, which is installed on a window frame, and includes a main shading member and an auxiliary shading member. The main shading member is a window covering having a headrail, a bottom rail, and a covering assembly which connects the headrail and the bottom rail. The auxiliary shading member includes at least one movable plate. When the bottom rail is located at a first position away from the headrail, the at least one movable plate approaches the covering assembly to cover a gap formed between the covering assembly and a lateral side of the window frame; when the bottom rail leaves the first position and moves toward a second position near the headrail, the at least one movable plate pivots to stop blocking out light from outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NIEN MADE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: De-Jun Zhang, Keng-Hao Nien
  • Patent number: 9890584
    Abstract: A shade assembly includes a first shading unit, a plurality of second shading units detachably connected with the first shading unit and arranged at the bottom of the first shading unit, and a third shading unit detachably connected with the first shading unit and arranged at the front face of the first shading unit. Thus, the shade cloth of each of the second shading units and the shade cloth of the third shading unit are expanded and folded to regulate the shading effect and the indoor brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: My Home Global Company
    Inventor: Ju-Huai Chen
  • Patent number: 9879477
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventor: Richard N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9879478
    Abstract: We disclose a window blind which includes at least one conformable seal which may inhibit light and/or heat transmission. The slats of the window blinds may include conformable seals on one or more of their edges. The conformable seals may include interlocking teeth, intermingled bristles, or a continuous strip of material which may form a lip. The window blinds may also include a conformable seal around an orifice through which a cord may be inserted. The conformable seal around the orifice may be designed similar to those of the slats or may include overlapping flaps of material. The slats may also include materials with different properties on either side of the slats. These may include light reflecting material and heat absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Terrece Pearman, Emily Brimhall
  • Patent number: 9868338
    Abstract: An electric door curtain for a vehicle includes: guide rails disposed at both sides of a door panel of the vehicle; a curtain guide fixing shaft fixed to lower ends of the guide rails; a curtain moving shaft disposed over the curtain guide fixing shaft, coupled to the guide rails, and configured to move up and down; a motor equipped in the door panel, connected to the curtain moving shaft to supply power thereto, and supplying power to the curtain moving shaft to cause the curtain moving shaft to move up and down; a screen-type curtain with a lower end that is fixed to the curtain moving shaft and wound on the curtain guide fixing shaft and with an upper end that is connected to a curtain support bar; and a curtain tensioner disposed in a door glass frame at a top of the door panel, coupled to the curtain support bar, and pulling the screen-type curtain with a particular tension to keep the screen-type curtain taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Wan Su Park
  • Patent number: 9861222
    Abstract: A hanger (100) for a hanging item (1400) is provided. The hanger can define an aperture (102). The aperture can include a split rotated concave cardioid upper contour (104). The split rotated concave cardioid upper contour can include a first portion (105) and a second portion (106). The first portion and the second portion can be separated by an inverted convex cardioid (109). The inverted convex cardioid can be suspended into the aperture by two concave sidewalls (112,113). The aperture can include an intersecting concave lower contour (114) comprising a cusp (117).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Medline Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Bauer, Erin Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9850704
    Abstract: The present invention provides an under-structure of a blind apparatus. An under-structure of a blind apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first bar that holds the lower end of a screen; a plug that is coupled to an end of the first bar and has a first through-hole at the center; a second bar that receives the first bar and has a slit through which the screen comes out; a cover that is fixed to an end of the second bar and has a second through-hole communicating with the first through-hole; and a wrench plug that is coupled to the outside of the cover and is fitted in the first through-hole through the second through-hole to transmit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Wintec Korea Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Ryong Jang
  • Patent number: 9850703
    Abstract: The present invention is generally a movable barrier assembly that includes a screen garage door that may be remotely operated to open and close an entry to a garage, thereby facilitating ventilation, and preventing debris such as leaves, insects, etc. from entering the garage. In an exemplary embodiment, a screen assembly includes a first track running substantially parallel to a second track on which a garage door travels. A movable barrier operator that actuates the garage door and screen door may include a first motor to operate the screen door, and a second motor to operate the garage door. In exemplary embodiments, a single control unit is configured to operate both motors and thus operate each movable barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Maryam Alirezaei
  • Patent number: 9845639
    Abstract: A window body brake mechanism for non pull cord window blind includes a rolling-up unit including two coil spring winding wheels meshed together and a coil spring connected between the coil spring winding wheels, a transmission unit including two transmission gears respectively meshed with the coil spring winding wheels and two transmission cords respectively connected to the transmission gears, and a brake unit including an operating button having a braking portion disposed between the two coil spring winding wheels and so configured that when the operating button is operated into a press position, the braking portion is released from the coil spring winding wheels for allowing synchronous rotation of the coil spring winding wheels; when the operating button is operated into a release position, the braking portion is engaged with the coil spring winding wheels to stop the coil spring winding wheels from rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Inventor: Chin-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 9834986
    Abstract: An architectural covering having a drive mechanism for extending and retracting a covering member between opposite first and second end positions. The drive mechanism includes an electric motor unit having a stationary end and a rotating end for rotating a winding core, such as a roller blind shaft, for receiving wound layers of a flexible element, such as a sheet of flexible material thereon. The drive mechanism further includes a motor head, separate from the electric motor unit, providing external electrical control for the motor unit via an electrical interface. A printed circuit board accommodated in the motor head may include at least one of end position limit switches, a switch for setting the first and second end positions, electronic communication means, or a remote control receiver. The electrical interface may include an electrical connector plug, an electrical socket, and/or an electrical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Jorg Bohlen, Lars Koop