Abstract: A level adjusting device for the bottom rail of a window covering is disclosed. This device has a housing having a base, a top and a sidewall extending between the base and the top. The top has an opening through which a lift cord passes. The base has a first opening through which a lift cord passes and a second opening. A spindle is positioned within the housing, such that the bottom end of the spindle is positioned over the second opening in the bottom of the housing. That bottom end is configured to receive a tool for turning the spindle. The spindle has a peripheral edge with spaced apart notches that are engaged by a projection extending from the housing. Turning the spindle causes the lift cord to be wound around or unwound from the spindle which shortens or lengthens that lift cord to level the bottom rail.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling blind systems and other systems with moving parts are disclosed. Certain systems and methods couple to a blind system, and include one or more transceiving, processing, sensor, motion delivery, power delivery, and various other components for collectively or individually controlling a blind system to open or close its blinds. Certain systems and methods utilize preprogrammed control instructions stored locally, or user-initiated control signals received from remote devices to control the blind system.

Abstract: Presented is a roller shade mounting bracket. The bracket includes a main bracket that includes a top member defining a plurality of elongated openings extending therethrough, where each elongated opening is dimensioned and arranged for receiving a mounting screw and enabling movement along a first axis. The bracket further includes a first sub-bracket movably coupleable to the main bracket, where the first sub-bracket is movable along a second axis. The bracket further includes a second sub-bracket movably coupleable to the first sub-bracket and coupleable to a roller shade motor or a roller shade idler, where the second sub-bracket is movable along a third axis and rotatable about the first axis.

Abstract: A door assembly for covering an opening includes a curtain supported at a first end of the opening. The curtain includes a first lateral edge supporting at least one first curtain magnetic device. The door assembly includes a first track portion extending along a first opening side of the opening between the first end and an opposing second end. The first track portion includes at least one first magnetic assembly. The first curtain magnetic device magnetically couples with the first magnetic assembly of the first track portion such that the curtain is magnetically supported at the first lateral edge of the curtain.

Abstract: An operating control system for a retractable shade including a roller reversibly rotatable within a headrail includes a clamp system for gripping an endless operating cord in a neutral position to prevent rotation of the roller and a tensioner if properly mounted in a fixed position will release the clamp system to permit rotation of the roller while positioning the runs of the endless cord in a closely spaced relationship to minimize the risk of an infant or child becoming entangled in the cord.

Abstract: An enclosed drive system for use in conjunction with a lift cord extending from a headrail of an architectural cover. The enclosed system encases and engages the lift cord with a drive mechanism within the enclosure, thereby avoiding hazardous loops. A method for retro-fitting an architectural cover lift cord assembly including a lift cord associated with a cord lock and extending from a headrail of the architectural cover is also described, for modifying the architectural cover to eliminate hazardous loops therefrom. Also disclosed in this disclosure is a cord lock mechanism that pinches the cord, a handle that actuates the cord lock mechanism, and a driving mechanism having a cord guide that engages the cord and a slider that slides along the handle to actuate the cord while the cord is enclosed within an enclosure defined by the handle.

Abstract: A sunshade holding structure comprises a flexible frame, a sunshade cloth and at least one positioning member. The flexible frame has at least one notch on the circumference thereof. The sunshade cloth covers the flexible frame to form a sunshade. The positioning member has two flanges extended towards the sunshade, a latch groove formed between the flanges to latch on the notch of the flexible frame, and a housing compartment opposite to the latch groove to hold a magnetic element. The positioning member is latched on one side of the notch of the flexible frame and turned to align with the circumference of the flexible frame so that the positioning member can be held securely on the flexible frame. Moreover, the magnetic element of the positioning member also attracts the inner side of a vehicle window frame to form secure positioning. Installation and disassembly also can be done quickly.

Abstract: A sunshade assembly for installation on a window frame includes a curtain, a bar connected to the curtain, a pivot connection member disposed inside the bar, an abutment member disposed inside the pivot connection member, a transmission rod extending into the pivot connection member to engage the abutment member, and a drive unit driving the transmission rod to move. When the drive unit drives the transmission rod to move upward, the transmission rod pushes upward the abutment member to move upward the bar and to thereby stretch the curtain. When the bar abuts against the window frame, the transmission rod is not deformed.

Abstract: A retractable awning having a roller, a flexible canopy having one end secured to the roller and rollable onto the roller, and a motor operable to rotate the roller to roll the flexible canopy onto or off the roller. The motor includes a protective housing, with a manual motor override on the motor within the housing. An aperture in the housing proximate the override is aligned with and permits access to the override through the aperture.

Abstract: A keyable brace system for stretched canvases provides for keying-out the stretcher bars of a stretcher frame when needed, using interchangeable brace components that can be used face-up or face-down. The braces are of low profile, suitable even for stretcher frames of nominal ¾ inch depth, about ½ inch at inner side of the stretcher bar. Instead of relying on a tongue at the end of each brace to extend into a groove in the side of the frame's stretcher bar, the brace end and the side of the stretcher bar are both grooved and a tapered key is relied on to engage with both the brace and bar grooves to hold the brace in place.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a bottom bar fixing device of Venetian blinds comprising: at least on first fixing elements attached to a lower face of a bottom bar of the Venetian blinds each including an engaging portion having a plurality of hooks formed thereon and an operation portion extending outwardly and upwardly from the engaging portion; and at least one second fixing elements attached to a wall, each second fixing element having loops for engaging with the hooks of the first fixing element in order to hold the bottom bar to the wall when the Venetian blinds is in a fully extended state by engaging the first and the second fixing elements.

Abstract: A shutter for protecting an opening. The shutter comprising a plurality of horizontal curtain slats for covering the opening, wherein horizontal refers to a direction when viewing slats from a front surface, and wherein the curtain slats hang freely from a upper region of the opening; an upper transition slat movably affixed to a lower end of a first curtain slat; a lower transition slat movably affixed to an upper end of a second curtain slat; and a horizontal reinforcing member comprising at least an upper and a lower reinforcing slat, wherein the upper reinforcing slat is rotatably affixed to a lower end of the first transition slat and the lower reinforcing slat is rotatably affixed to an upper end of the second transition slat, and wherein the upper and lower reinforcing slats are rotatably joined.

Abstract: A cord enclosure assembly to encase one or more lift cords extending from the headrail of an architectural covering, such as a blind or shade system, is disclosed, for the purpose of avoiding exposed cords capable of creating a hazardous loop. The cord disclosure assembly comprises an enclosure having a pivot cup portion and an adaptor. The adaptor is configured to be selectively attached to the pivot cup portion about a pivot point. The adaptor is also configured to connect the enclosure to the headrail about a swivel point. At least one of the pivot point and the swivel point at a top of the enclosure allows the enclosure to swivel, or move in a lateral direction when attached to the headrail. This lateral movement allows the enclosure to be positioned substantially horizontally such that it may be stored under the headrail behind the blind or shade assembly.

Abstract: An article of manufacture for use as an insulated overhead door that is designed to roll open and closed in tracks, with a sheet of thermoplasitc material that acts as the outer door membrane and barrier to entry, a sheet of insulating material that acts as a base insulating barrier adhered to the thermoplastic membrane.

Abstract: A composite covering structure for providing protection against sun and rain comprises a plurality of adjoining and overlapping swinging blades, coupled to a driving mechanism adapted, by a single operation, at first to cause the blades to gradually turn about their longitudinal axis, while being held in a same position, for providing a partial protection against sun, and then to cause said blades to slide on a horizontal plane, so as to compact said blades on a side, for uncovering the previously covered area.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting damage to a door system by detecting the presence or absence of a magnetic source attached to the door system for stopping motion or reversing motion of the door to prevent any further damage to the door system. For example, a roll-up type door may be damaged by a vehicle and pulled from its vertical support guides; detecting this event causes stopping of any motion of the door, such as opening or closing the door.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a device to securely support a solar radiation reducing shade screen in a spaced apart relationship to an underlying window. In one embodiment the device is a discrete spacer configured for permanent attachment to a perimeter frame portion of the window, with a bottom surface adjacent the window frame, and a top surface for supporting a perimeter frame portion of the shade screen above the window frame at a uniform height. The device may further include a clamp attachable to the spacer, and operable between a locked position in which the clamp secures the shade screen frame to the spacer, and a released position in which the shade screen frame is not constrained by the clamp.

Abstract: A woven screen can include at least one first fiber oriented in a main direction of the woven screen and having a polymer coating and a first stiffness value, and at least one second fiber oriented in a direction of the woven screen different from the main direction, configured to intersect with the at least one first fiber, and having a modified polymer coating and a second stiffness value about 20% to about 70% greater than the first stiffness value. The modified polymer coating can include a polymer, a crosslinking agent, a catalyst, and a free radical initiator. The at least one first fiber can include the warp and the at least one second fiber can include the weft, respectively, of the woven screen. The second stiffness value can be about 40% greater than the first stiffness value over a temperature range of about ?40° Celsius to about +40° Celsius.

Abstract: The present invention describes a window covering which is useful for securing to objects having windows without using permanent attachment devices. The window covering preferably contains a plurality of magnets arranged along the upper end and along the lower end. The magnets are arranged so that they are coupleable or securable to a metal part of a window itself or a metal surface which houses the window as well as one or more additional magnets positioned within the window covering. The window covering further comprises one or more non-magnetic surface adapters constructed and arranged to secure to at least one magnet along a first surface and to a second, non-magnetic surface along a second surface. The window covering provides at least one contact point for securing to at least one non-magnetic surface.

Abstract: Movable partition systems include a drive mechanism including a motor positioned at least partially on a side of a track opposite a movable partition. Automatically movable partition systems include a movable partition movable along a track and a motor configured to move the movable partition, the motor positioned on a side of the track opposite the movable partition. Methods of installing a movable partition system include coupling a movable partition to a track, positioning a drive mechanism at least partially on a side of the track opposite the movable partition, and coupling an elongated drive member to the movable partition. Methods of moving a movable partition along a track include actuating a drive mechanism positioned at least substantially in a header recess. Drive modules for a movable partition system and other methods of installing a movable partition system including attaching a motor to a section of track are also disclosed.