Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-contained, self-regulating intelligent automated window treatment with increased energy efficiency consisting of: (1) a headrail; (2) a tube located within the headrail; (3) a motor located within the headrail, preferably within the tube; (4) window treatment fabric with one terminus of the fabric affixed to the tube within the headrail, and with the fabric extending from the tube and out from the headrail; (5) a smart bottom rail attached to the terminus of the shade fabric furthest from the tube with the bottom rail containing, at least one sensor, at least one control button, and a battery that provides power to the sensor(s) and control button(s), and wherein the smart bottom rail communicates with the motor in the headrail. Types of sensors used may include environmental sensors, motion sensors, and inertial sensors. In another embodiment of the invention, the battery in the bottom rail may be a rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A covering system for an architectural feature having a roller, the roller including a main body portion and a flapper portion pivotable relative to the main body portion. The covering system also includes a first support member operatively associated at one end to the main body portion and at a second end to a bottom rail, as well as a second support member operatively associated with and laterally moveable relative to the first support member, wherein a first end of the second support member is operatively associated with the flapper portion and a second end of the second support member is operatively associated with the bottom rail. The covering system also includes a limiting mechanism configured to interact with the flapper portion of the roller to maintain the bottom rail in a horizontally level position as the second support member is moved laterally with respect to the first support member.

Abstract: A door mechanism for a compartment on an aircraft that includes a door with a first lower guide, a second lower guide, a first upper guide, and a second upper guide. The door mechanism includes a first lower track, a second lower track, a first upper track, and a second upper track, each having a guide track. The first lower guide, second guide, first upper guide, and second upper guide being configured to travel along the corresponding guide track to enable the door to move between open and closed positions. The door in the open position may be positioned within a portion the compartment or may be positioned above the compartment. The first and second lower tracks may include a first a second gap that enables the door to be selectively uncoupled from the first and second lower track guides permitting the door to swing away from the compartment.

Abstract: A wirelessly controllable, motorized and battery powered drapery apparatus is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure in its surface. The rotatable drive is inserted through the open interior of a plurality of grommets in the shade material. A grommet driver is positioned over the rotatable drive element and connected to one of the plurality of grommets. The grommet driver has at least one tooth that is in communication with the guide structure in the rotatable drive element. As the rotatable drive element is rotated, the grommet drive is driven along the length of the rotatable drive element thereby moving the shade material between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: An arrangement for securing an end cap onto a rail of a covering for an architectural opening includes an elongated rail extending in a longitudinal direction and an end cap having a slightly arcuate shape when at rest. At least one post projects inwardly from the end cap into the rail to contact a surface that is fixed relative to the rail to secure the end cap to the rail in a flattened condition. When the end cap is coupled the rail, the arcuate shape of the end cap is flattened out.

Abstract: A position-fixing system includes a pole, a guiding member adjacent to the pole, and a movable member fitting around the pole. The pole is immovable relative to a window covering. The guiding member includes a principal axis parallel to an extension axis of the pole, and includes a retaining face substantially extending in the direction of the principal axis, but non-coplanar with it. The movable member corresponds to the retaining face. The movements of the movable member and the guiding member are related to that of a shaft of the window covering. When the window covering is being operated, the movable member is driven to rotate around the pole, and moves along the pole and the guiding member. Due to the retaining face, the movable member keeps contacting the pole to create a friction therebetween. Therefore, the position of a covering material of the window covering can be precisely fixed.

Abstract: A cover for a vehicle includes two straps with at least one strap forming a connector at one end; a cover panel with at least one of top and bottom loops along top and bottom peripheries of the cover panel and at least one of a first and second opening along at least one of the one of top and bottom loops configured to receive a connector on the end of the at least one strap; and at least one of a first and a second pole disposed through the loop of the cover panel and engaging the connector on the end of the at least one strap. The connector is configured to releasably secure the strap to the cover panel. The cover panel may be placed against one side of a visor with the straps against the other side of the visor to form a system. A method for assembling the cover and system are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to a self-contained, solar-powered, self-regulating intelligent automated window treatment with increased energy efficiency.

Abstract: A base slat pry stopper, such as a base slat locking bracket, for locking a rolling shutter curtain covering an opening of a structure is disclosed. The base slat pry stopper may include a bracket base plate mounted to an opening bottom wall on an interior side of the shutter curtain, and a base slat engagement portion extending upward from the bracket base plate and above a top surface of the opening bottom wall. When the shutter curtain is unrolled to cover the opening, the base slat engagement portion engages the base slat to prevent the base slat from deflecting upward away from the opening bottom wall when a force applied from an exterior side of the shutter curtain causes the base slat to deflect toward the interior side of the structure and the shutter curtain. The base slat pry stopper may be permanently or removably installed.

Abstract: A closure apparatus for covering a portal is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the closure apparatus includes a curtain assembly having one or more curtains and a spindle assembly mounted superjacent a portal on an exterior of the portal. The spindle assembly is operably engaged with the curtain assembly to extend the curtain assembly to cover the portal and retract the curtain assembly to uncover the portal. Channels disposed on lateral sides of the portal engage the curtain assembly when the curtain assembly is extended to cover the portal. Front channel members, which are pivotably connected to corresponding adjacent supports, pivot to release the curtain assembly from engagement with the channels upon application of sufficient force to the curtain assembly to allow egress or ingress through the portal when the closure apparatus is not operational, for example, during loss of power. Related methods of operation of the closure apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fastening system for a window shade includes a first and a second clipping base, and a first and a second clipping plate. In a first configuration, the first and second clipping bases are attached to each other with each of the first and second clipping plates respectively disposed between and in contact with the first and second clipping bases, whereby a first panel can be held between the first clipping base and the first and second clipping plates and a second panel can be held between the second clipping base and the first and second clipping plates. In a second configuration, the first and second clipping bases are attachable to each other without the first and second clipping plates, whereby a single panel of a window shade can be held between the first and clipping bases.

Abstract: An improved bottom rail for an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The bottom rail includes one or more channels. In use, a first channel may receive a bottom edge of the covering while a weight channel receives a weighted, longitudinal rod therein. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the bottom rail may include pucks for retaining the weighted, longitudinal rod within the weight channel. In use, the pucks are rotatable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position. In the first position, the pucks are slidably positionable along an outer surface of the longitudinal rod. In the second position, the pucks contact the longitudinal rod to thereby exert an additional downward force onto the longitudinal rod so that the longitudinal rod is retained within the weight channel.

Abstract: Present disclosure relates to several adjustable roller shades. Adjustable roller shade includes: roller shade fabric winding shaft, weight, movable pulley, traction rope, and a pair of winders. A roller shade fabric is wound on roller shade fabric winding shaft 1 forming upper edge of adjustable roller shade. Weight is attached to bottom of roller shade fabric forming lower edge of adjustable roller shade. Movable pulley is fixedly attached to one end of the roller shade fabric winding shaft. The traction rope is wound around the movable pulley and pair of winders and pair of tensioning wheels. One or more driving motors drive the pair of winders to rotate in different combination of directions to raise or lower both upper edge and lower edge of adjustable roller shade, resulting the adjustable roller shade to be opened or closed freely from both upper and lower edges of the adjustable roller shade.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting a tilt angle of a plurality of slats in a window blind. The window blind includes a headrail having disposed therein a shaft that rotates responsive to rotation of an externally accessible angle adjustment wand. The apparatus includes a pulley coupled with the shaft and the slats. The pulley causes adjustment of the tilt angle of the slats in response to rotation of the shaft, provides a first torque at a first position corresponding to an open position of the slats and a second torque at a second position corresponding to an approximately closed position of the slats, where the second torque is greater than the first torque.

Abstract: A freezer blast cell fabric roll up door is disclosed, wherein the freezer blast cell fabric roll up door is built to reliably withstand the high velocity wind loads and harsh freezing environments of a blast freezer. In one example, the presently disclosed freezer blast door comprises a drive or main assembly that further comprises a head plate bracket assembly, a brush bar assembly, a barrel assembly, a guide assembly, and a curtain assembly.

Abstract: A roll-up wall system including a frame having a longitudinal axis, a first roller disposed in the frame, a second roller disposed in the frame, and a tube disposed in the frame. A screen may be connected to the tube. The screen may be supported by the first roller and the second roller. Further, the screen may be movable between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the screen is rolled around the tube which is spaced a first distance from the first roller. In the second configuration, the screen forms a barrier adjacent the frame, and the tube is spaced a second distance from the first roller. The second distance may be less than the first distance. Also, the roll-up wall system may be an acoustic barrier which achieves a Sound Transmission Class rating ranging from approximately 31 STC to approximately 53 STC.

Abstract: A reduced visibility window/door screen includes a particularly formed narrow profile frame and mesh applied to the frame. The frame is formed from a single elongated member that is bent to form four corners and four corresponding sides, with joining of the adjacent first and second ends. A high-strength adhesive bonds the mesh to the frame, which is pinch rolled thereon for exceptional pull-out strength. Another embodiment includes a leaf spring movably secured to the frame, to bias and center the screen within the master frame. Another embodiment further includes a plunger pin slidably disposed in the frame with one end fixedly secured to the leaf spring, and handle movably connected to the other end of the plunger pin. The handle member being movable between first and second positions to respectively actuate the leaf spring between an undeformed condition, and a deformed, flattened condition permitting installation/removal of the screen.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A curtain may include a blind shade stretched or contracted in a first direction to adjust transmittance of light, a base coupled to one end portion of the blind shade in the first direction thereof, and a transmittance adjusting device to adjust the transmittance of the light passing through the blind shade by pulling outward or releasing inward an other end portion of the blind shade in the first direction thereof, in the state that spacing from the base in the first direction is fixed.

Abstract: 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.