Patents Examined by Blair M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9834983
    Abstract: An apparatus for automating a set of window blinds is described. The apparatus includes a motor and a microcontroller. The motor includes a window blind coupler that couples a window blind tilt rod to the motor. The microcontroller stores instructions that, when executed, instruct the microcontroller to dynamically actuate the window blind coupler via the motor. The instructions include obtaining a desired room temperature, calculating a first temperature gradient between the window-side of the window blinds and the room-side of the window blinds based on a window-side temperature and a room-side temperature, and calculating a second temperature gradient between the room-side temperature and the desired temperature. The instructions further include retrieving a tilted state related to the first temperature gradient, the desired room temperature, and a zero-value second temperature gradient, and activating the motor to turn the window blind coupler to tilt the window blinds to the tilted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Joe Fox, Jedediah Knight, Austin Carlson, Kevin Rees, Emily Brimhall, Jerome Miles
  • Patent number: 9834985
    Abstract: A panel assembly including a panel that can be positioned in an opening, the panel including a plurality of locking members spaced apart along at least part of a length of and proximate to opposing longitudinal edges of the panel and a guide extending along either side of the opening, each guide including at least one locking flange extending along at least part of a length of the guide, wherein in use the panel is received in the guides so that the locking members selectively engage the flanges to limit lateral movement of the panel edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Reliance Doors Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Nicholas Storen, Stuart Steele
  • Patent number: 9834952
    Abstract: Various embodiments of an awning assembly, specifically an angled gear motor are provided. Present embodiments provide a motor for an awning assembly, wherein the motor is positioned in the awning hardware. Specifically, the motor may be supported by the awning hardware. The awning assembly may also have an angled transmission connected to the motor. The transmission and motor provide rotating movement of the awning roller tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB
    Inventors: Clayton Hendry Meyers, Kyle Patrick Albertson
  • Patent number: 9822583
    Abstract: A safety window blind includes a headrail, a blind body and two control units. Each control unit has a spacer cord having a plurality of cord loop units, a plurality of rings, and a control cord passing through the rings, being operable to retract and expand the blind body, and having a plurality of holding segments. Each of the cord loop units has first and second cords respectively forming first and second loops. For each holding segment and a corresponding cord loop unit, the holding segment has a first extending section passing through the first loop, a first turning section bent around the second cord, a second turning section bent around the first cord, and a second extending section passing through the second loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Inventor: Ya-Yin Lin
  • Patent number: 9816317
    Abstract: A spring-assisted cordless roller shade without clutch system includes a tubular body defining an internal space. A shade is wound on the tubular body. The internal space has a first section and a second section. In each of the first and second sections are mounted a connector, a central shaft assembled with the connector, a fixing member connected with the central shaft and a subsidiary shaft disposed on the fixing member. An elastic member is disposed between the connector and the central shaft to provide a frictional force. A rotational member and a torsion spring are mounted on the subsidiary shaft of the first section and rotatable along with the tubular body. A constant force belt spring module is assembled with the subsidiary shaft of the second section. When the operational force applied to the shade disappears, the shade is immediately located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Inventors: I-Ming Chen, Yao-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 9809325
    Abstract: An aircraft system component carrier system includes at least one aircraft system component carrier module, at least one aircraft system component that is fastened via an aircraft system component holder to the aircraft system component carrier module, and an aircraft structural element of a fuselage upper shell, to which element the aircraft system component carrier module is fastened via a structural holder in such a way that the aircraft system component carrier module, the aircraft system component and the aircraft structural element form an assembly group that is capable of being handled independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Sabrina Moje, Dirk Humfeldt
  • Patent number: 9810018
    Abstract: An elastic cord device for use in combination with a window covering device of the type comprising a pulley, a plurality of lift cords, a head rail, the lift cords used to raise and lower a window covering material. The elastic cord device can have a spiral helical shape. The elastic cord device is exposed and accessible so that the elastic cord device can be pulled to raise and lower the window covering material. A window covering device comprising an elastic cord device, a head rail, a pulley, window covering material and lift cords; the elastic cord device is used to operate the window covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: David Louis Jaggli
  • Patent number: 9803420
    Abstract: A closing element for roller shutters comprising a central portion designed to be arranged, in use, according to a closing plane of an access opening of a room to at least partly close the access opening, and at least two connecting portions located on opposite edges of the central portion, each of which designed for connection of the closing element with at least one other closing element. Each connecting portion extends about a respective axis and defines a cavity for housing a connecting bar. The connecting portion has an open profile so that the cavity is accessible transversely to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MASINARA S.P.A.
    Inventor: Alessandro Ronchetti
  • Patent number: 9797188
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening includes a first rail, a second rail adjustably connected to the first rail, and a magnetic retention assembly configured to removably connect the first and second rails. The magnetic retention assembly includes a magnet coupled to one of the first rail or the second rail, and a receiver coupled to the other of the second rail or the first rail, the receiver configured to form a magnetic connection with the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC
    Inventor: Dirk Jeremy Rettig
  • Patent number: 9797134
    Abstract: An article of flexible furniture having a core formed from a plurality of laminar panels of a flaccid material and each panel having a pair of oppositely directed major faces, adjacent faces of said panels being inter-connected to provide a cellular structure upon movement of abutting faces away from each other, a pair of supports at opposite ends of said core and connected to respective ones of said faces, said supports being self-supporting to provide rigidity to said core whereby said supports may be moved apart to expand said cellular and extend the length of said partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: molo design, ltd.
    Inventors: Todd P. MacAllen, Stephanie J. Forsythe
  • Patent number: 9797191
    Abstract: A driving device includes a mounting frame, a driving rod, a driving gear, a worm, primary and auxiliary input members, and a reduction gear train. The mounting frame is connected to a frame unit. The driving rod is connected to a blind unit and is rotatable about a first axis. The driving gear is connected to the driving rod. The primary input member is rotatable about a second axis. The worm is connected to the primary input member and meshes with the driving gear. The auxiliary input member is rotatable about the second axis. The reduction gear train is connected between the primary and auxiliary input members, such that rotation of the auxiliary input member drives the primary input member to rotate at a speed different from that of the auxiliary input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TAICANG KINGFU PLASTIC MANUFACTURE CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Szu-Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 9797190
    Abstract: The invention discloses a louver roller system with an intermittent gear turning mechanism, comprising a base and a top cover, wherein a roller mechanism and an intermittent gear turning mechanism are mounted on the base, the roller mechanism is wound with ladder tapes, the roller mechanism is in axial connection with the intermittent gear turning mechanism, and the roller mechanism and the intermittent gear turning mechanism are driven to rotate by a square shaft. The roller mechanism controls horizontal rising and falling of secondary louver blades, and the roller within the roller mechanism rotates to wind or unwind the ladder tapes thereon and sequentially drives various secondary louver blades to rise and fall horizontally. When various secondary louver blades rise to a predetermined position, the intermittent gear turning mechanism drives a turning cylinder to rotate, so as to achieve turning of all louver blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Yifei Zhang, Chengshang Wu
  • Patent number: 9764624
    Abstract: Shading device for a transparent surface part of a motor vehicle having a shading structure, two non-parallel lateral guide arrangements fixed with respect to the vehicle and flanking a displacement travel of the shading structure on opposite sides, and a pull-out profile which, at opposite face sides, is displaceable by in each case one guide carriage, 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 and assigned to the guide arrangements. Each lateral guide arrangement and the associated receiving space are integrated in one housing structure fixed with respect to the vehicle and having a guide slot for the passage of the guide carriage from the pull-out profile to a drive device the guide slot running along the displacement travel of the shading structure and opening toward the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: BOS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Maier, Herbert Walter
  • Patent number: 9765565
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening including a first rail, a second rail moveable relative to the first rail, and a lift regulator coupled to the first rail. The lift regulator includes a drag mechanism, and the lift regulator automatically engages the drag mechanism to resist the second rail moving away from the first rail. In addition, the lift regulator automatically disengages the drag mechanism when the second rail moves toward the first rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SPRINGS WINDOW FASHIONS, LLC
    Inventor: John Morris
  • Patent number: 9765567
    Abstract: An overhead roll-up door assembly for a vertically moving door to permit and prohibit access to an opening, the door assembly having a door panel with two faces and opposing marginal and lateral edges, and at least two wind locks attached proximate each marginal edge. The at least two wind locks extend away from one face of the door panel in a direction substantially perpendicular thereto, and are spaced apart vertically along each respective side edge of the door panel. The assembly further includes a drum for winding and unwinding the door panel to permit and prohibit access to the opening, and, a pair of opposing parallel side columns aligned and spaced apart such that each of the opposing side edges engage one of the side columns in a manner in which at least a portion of the side columns guide vertical movement of the door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: RYTEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian Norbert Drifka, Christopher Gontarski
  • Patent number: 9751386
    Abstract: A vehicle door screen for a side window assembly includes a track system incorporating a glass window track and a screen track. The system is provided with electrical motorized actuators to enable a user to operate the track system from inside the vehicle. The window track is provided with a glass windowpane to complement the profile of the side door window opening. The screen track is provided with a frame to complement the profile of the side door window opening. The screen material is made of a ventilating mesh material. The window and screen tracks may be operated concurrently or independently by a user, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Inventor: Wanda Attig
  • Patent number: 9752382
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a system and article of manufacture for a door assembly for rolling and unrolling, or retracting and extending, a door curtain. The door assembly may include various mechanisms to protect a door curtain from wear and abrasion, as well as muffle noise associated with the operation of the door curtain. The door assembly may comprise a curtain shaft. A door curtain may roll and/or unroll (e.g., open and/or close) on the curtain shaft. The door assembly may further include an insulator shaft, which may receive or hold a door curtain insulator or insulators. A door curtain insulator may attach to the insulator shaft as well as the curtain shaft and/or door curtain itself. In operation, as the door curtain is rolled up, one or more lengths of insulator may be unrolled from the insulator shaft and layered, or interleaved, between consecutive layers of rolled up door curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: CORNELL IRONWORKS ENTERPRISES
    Inventor: David Lueker
  • Patent number: 9751388
    Abstract: A removable cover system may include a first cover member and a second cover member joined by an adjustable pivot system that is adjustable to accommodate different seat/headrest and windshield positions across a diverse spectrum of car designs and models. A removable connection may secure the cover system to an automobile windshield and a seat back or headrest member. During use, the cover system provides a convenient shield from sun radiation and post use may be conveniently stored without rendering a permanent change to the automobile. The cover members of the system may be opaque, translucent, and/or transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: CRESTING WAVE, LLC
    Inventor: John Roth
  • Patent number: 9739089
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller, a shade, and an assembly associated with the roller. The assembly may include a biasing element and a retention element. The biasing element may be operably associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller. The biasing element may be preloaded. The retention element may be associated with the biasing element. The retention element may be operable to release the preload in the biasing element at an extended shade position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Smith
  • Patent number: 9739087
    Abstract: A modular shade includes at least one module that consists of a head rail unit, a foot rail unit, at least one intermediate rail unit, and a plurality of slat components. A top slat may be coupled to the head rail unit and the intermediate rail unit, and a bottom slat component may be coupled to the intermediate rail unit and the foot rail unit. Further, additional intermediate rail units and intermediate slat components may be added to the module to alter the shape and size of the module, and the module may be coupled to one or more additional modules to change the overall shape and size of the modular shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Jason B. Teuscher