Abstract: Electromechanically actuated bifolding closure apparatus including a vertical support post; a pair of generally C-shaped frame members disposed in facing relationship and pivotally joined together at their distal extremities such that in a closed disposition the two C-shaped members lie in a single plane and form a rectangularly configured super-structure, and in an opened disposition lie in different, spaced apart parallel planes rotated either 90 degrees relative to or parallel to the closed plane; hinge apparatus pivotally connecting one of said C-shaped units to the vertical post; a motive power source carried by one of the C-shaped members at a position proximate the support post; a gear drive mechanism associated with the hinging apparatus at the post and at the pivotal connection of at least one set of the distal ends of the C-shaped members; and a mechanical drive linkage coupling the motive power source to each of the gear mechanisms, such that when the motor caused the associated drive linkage to be

Abstract: A manually operated device for raising and lowering shades on glass-enclosed atrium or greenhouse walls which includes a self-leveling feature which corrects for uneven shade position and enables one to operate a shade on an atrium or greenhouse wall without the use of a motor-driven system.Also disclosed is a manually operated device for raising and lowering shades on glass-enclosed atrium or greenhouse walls which may be raised or lowered with one hand grasping a handhold on either side of the shade, making it unnecessary to use both handholds.

Abstract: A knock-down awning construction which comprises an upper mounting strip and a lower transverse arm, each having tubular portions, a curtain with the upper end thereof detachably but reliably engagable within the tubular portion of the mounting strip. The lower portion of the curtain is detachably but lengthwise adjustably receivable within the tubular portion of the lower transverse arm; there being pivotally mounted return arms interconnecting the lower transverse arm and the awning support surface. A manually controlled flexible elongated member is provided for swinging the awning between downward or operative condition and upward or inoperative condition.

Abstract: An assembly of a plurality of hooks with a particular curtain structure is disclosed. The curtain structure includes straps which extend from an edge of a curtain and a fabric layer attached to the curtain in the vicinity of each strap. Each hook has first and second spaced legs which depend from a web, and a third leg which depends from the web between the first and second legs, and has an upturned free end which constitutes a hook member. The legs of the hooks are supported relative to the curtain by the fabric layer. The straps of the curtain structure have free ends with openings therethrough, and are so sized that the curtain structure can be installed by passing the straps over a suitably mounted rod and slipping the openings in the free ends thereof over the hook members. The hook members are so shaped that, when the curtain is so installed, a second curtain can be installed by slipping openings in the vicinity of its upper edge over the hook members.

Abstract: An awning having a modular frame with frame pieces, having longitudinal recesses, junctions joining the frame pieces to form a composite awning frame, flexible plastic panels stretched over the composite frame and fastened in the longitudinal recesses, and, elongated flexible wedging strips shaped to be force-fitted into the recesses together with portions of the flexible panels thereby wedging the portions of the flexible panels and securing them.

Abstract: A pleated fabric is connected between an upper fixed sill and a movable sill. The movable sill is between the upper fixed sill and a lower fixed sill. Two string loops are resiliently secured to the sills and slidably frictionally engaged with the movable sill symmetrical relative to the sills and to a central axis parallel to the direction of movement of the movable sill. The tension in the strings is adjustably set by a single tension spring and a turnbuckle connected between and to the loops. The friction engagement of the strings to the movable sill is set to a friction load having a value which provides smooth operation and tends to keep the movable sill in place at whatever location the sill is moved to regardless the blind orientation relative to gravity.

Abstract: A guided cord system for a slatted blind assembly having a plurality of slats interposed between a movable bottom rail and a fixed headrail. The system has at least one lift cord that extends from an end of the bottom rail around a turning point fixed to a frame structure and positioned near the end of the bottom rail opposite the plurality of slats. The lift cord then extends to a guide means associated with the headrail and then back to the bottom rail to which it is connected to form an operating loop. The blind is retracted when the cord moves in one direction and extended when moved in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A motor-driven curtain-operating unit for horizontally slidable curtains or the like comprises an elongate support (2) forming a channel (3) having two channel sections (3a, 3b) laterally separated by a longitudinally extending central wall, each channel section (3a, 3b) housing a respective run of a closed loop chain (4) one end of which loop passes over a sprocket (5) driveable by a remotely controllable motor (6) and the other end of which passes over a pair of return rollers (20) at the other end of the elongate support (2) from the motor (6). Curtain displacement carriages (10), attachable to a movable edge of a curtain, are slidable in the channels (3a, 3b), and each incorporates a sleeve portion (11) through which the chain (4) can pass to form a connection between the chain (4) and the carriage (10).

Abstract: A motor driven device for raising and lowering shades on glass-enclosed atrium walls, including a self-leveling feature which corrects for uneven shades and permits shades of different lengths to be operated from the same motor and shaft.

Abstract: A thermally protective drapery construction comprises retaining rod means and inner and outer panels of drapery material arranged in suspended, separated relationship on the retaining rod means. The separated drapery panels are supported in a manner such that a thermally resistant critical air spacing is provided and extends between the panels and at a substantially uniform value. In the case of folds of respective inner and outer panels which are moved toward and away from one another along the retaining rod means, uniformity of the spacing is maintained during such movement.The critical air spacing consists of a thermally resistant air space provided by locating the panels apart from one another a distance lying in a range of from 0.25 inches up to approximately 0.5 inches.

Abstract: A venetian blind tilter mechanism housing has a first surface which bears against the front wall of the headrail, and a longitudinally extending slot on the surface facing the headrail back wall forming a spring plate which fits under a downwardly turned headrail back wall edge securing the housing within the headrail. The tilter mechanism has a spur gear received onto a control axle for common rotation. The spur gear has a smooth peripheral portion extending for a substantial angular extent that lacks gear teeth with conventional gear teeth over the remainder. An elongated shaft with a worm gear extends upwardly into the housing through an opening in the headrail bottom wall for meshing engagement with the spur gear.

Abstract: A multi-section overhead door having an impact-proof bottom panel for improved safety and durability is disclosed. The door is displaced vertically along parallel tracks to which it is coupled by means of rollers. Impact with the bottom panel of the door when in a raised position results in the disengagement of the track rollers from the bottom panel and the displacement of the bottom panel from alignment with the tracks. With the impact force removed, the bottom panel resumes its original position between the tracks to which it can be remounted by conveniently repositioning the track rollers thereon. The bottom panel includes front and rear rubber surfaces with a urethane filler therebetween and a flexible bottom nosing seal.

Abstract: A sun blind for a window opening is disclosed. The sun blind comprises a first rail disposed adjacent the top of the window opening, a second rail disposed adjacent the bottom of the opening, a third moving rail disposed between the first and second rails, a sun blinding member attached to the first and third rails, a first cord arrangement disposed adjacent a side of the window opening, a second cord arrngement partially disposed adjacent the first cord arrangement and also through a plurality of aligned openings in the sun blinding member for raising and lowering the third rail and a coupler connecting the first and second cord arrangements together. The coupler comprises first and second plates between which are clamped the cords of the second cord arrangement. The ends of the cords of the first cord arrangement are coupled to one of the plates.

Abstract: A children'expandable, accordian-type gate is disclosed which includes safety features for closing off the open, upper V-shaped openings of the latticework of the gate, which latticework is comprised of a first series of slats parallel to each, and a second series of salts parallel to each other but angularly oriented differently from the first series. The upper V-shaped openings are closed off by upper extensions of the slats forming the boundaries of the V-shaped openings, which extensions project above the two, mutually-pivoted upper slat-ends from two adjacent V-shaped openings.

Abstract: The device comprises a foldably extensible and collapsible shade member, and means for forming corresponding sets of laterally projecting trunnions at spaced intervals along opposing edges of the shade member. It also comprises a pair of elongated track defining members which are adapted to be mounted on opposing sides of the window frame so that tracks thereof are oppositely disposed to one another across the frame. The track defining members have opposing sets of carrier elements slidably engaged on the respective tracks thereof, which are adapted to support the trunnions of the shade member on spaced parallel axes extending crosswise the sides of the frame. In addition, there are means for extending and retracting the shade member when the trunnions thereof are supported on the sets of carrier elements, and means whereby the respective sets of carrier elements and trunnions can reciprocate in relation to one another along the aforesaid axes when the shade member is extended and retracted thereon.

Abstract: A louvre assembly between two transparent covers of a housing comprises lightweight louvres suspended and pivoted by lightweight filaments. A counterbalanced beam for pivoting the louvres can be operated by an electrical driving arrangement such as one including a piezoelectric bimorph driver. The electrical power for operating the driver may be obtained from solar cells. A louvre guide system spaces the louvres from the transparent walls of the housing and guides the louvres.

Abstract: A support for an operating element of a vertical blind assembly when the blind assembly is in an open position. The support is positioned in a stationary manner with respect to a headrail and is adapted to be moved into and out of supportive engagement with the operating element. The supporting means comprises an L-shaped arm having a short leg and a long leg adapted to be contacted by a movable member and where contact with the member will cause the arm to pivot so that the long arm will move into and out of engagement with the operating element.

Abstract: A device for operating a roll-screen having a winding roll for winding up a screen cloth thereon, which comprises a changeover wheel and a guide wheel in confronting relation with each other, one of which is rotated with the winding roll in screen raising and lowering directions and the other of which is rotated with the winding roll only in the screen lowering direction, the wheels being so arranged that when the screen cloth is lowered two wheels are rotated together, when the screen cloth is stopped and subjected to screen raising force the one wheel is not rotated in screen raising direction due to engagement thereof with the other wheel, and when the roll is slightly rotated in screen lowering direction the one wheel is released from the other wheel whereby the one wheel is freely rotated to make the winding roll wind up the screen cloth thereon.

Abstract: A cordlock structure adapted to be applied to an end of a headrail supporting a blind assembly. The structure has a base member adapted to be fixed to the headrail and a cap member. The cap member includes a locking dog assembly which is moved to a cord unlocking position by moving operating cords hanging from the assembly in a direction away from the plane of the blind assembly or in a direction parallel to the plane of and towards the center of the blind assembly.The cordlock structure includes wear surfaces having superior wear properties over which the cords pass and may include a cover member adapted to overlay the cap member.

Abstract: An improved upper bracket is provided for a retractable awning of the type which includes a flexible cover sheet anchored along one edge to a vertical support surface with the opposite edge of the cover sheet being secured to a roll bar adapted to be moved toward and away from the supporting surface so that the awning can be retracted or extended respectively. The roll bar has a pair of support arms connected at opposite ends thereof which are adapted to support the roll bar at a pre-selected elevation from the horizontal surface and a pair of brace members extendable from an upper bracket to an associated end of the roll bar to hold the roll bar in an extended position spaced from the vertical support surface. A lower bracket is also mounted on the vertical support surface beneath the upper bracket and is adapted to retain the distal end of an associated brace member as well as a lower end of an associated support arm when the awning is in its retracted position.