Patents Examined by John W Hanes, Jr.
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Patent number: 12054985Abstract: A securing mechanism for blind fascia is provided. The mechanism includes a removable fascia connector that is movable between an engaged position that effects the securing of the fascia and a disengaged position that allows the fascia to be removed.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2021Date of Patent: August 6, 2024Assignee: LES ENTERPRISES SMARTLUX INC.Inventor: Fan Zhou
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Patent number: 12031366Abstract: A hinge includes: a first and second gear; a cover configured to attach the gears; a first outside surface associated with the first panel; a second outside surface associated with the second panel; wherein when the first and second outside surfaces are in a generally co-planer orientation, a tooth from one of the first and second gears fits next to a tooth from the other of the first and second gears to form a water shedding joint. A method of forming a hinge includes: extruding a gear together with a panel having a first outside surface; a second panel a second outside surface; wherein when the first and second outside surfaces are in a generally co-planer orientation, a tooth from one of the first and second gears fits next to a tooth from the other of the first and second gears to form a water shedding joint.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2021Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Overhead Door CorporationInventor: Bradley J. Lee
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Patent number: 12024948Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrostatic shutter system including an electrostatic shutter configured to be selectively raised and lowered based on a voltage applied to the electrostatic shutter, at least one sensor system configured to detect a position of the electrostatic shutter, and a controller communicatively coupled to the electrostatic shutter and the at least one sensor system. The controller is configured to apply an initial voltage to the electrostatic shutter to lower the electrostatic shutter, receive an output signal from the at least one sensor indicating the electrostatic shutter has reached a predetermined position, and based on the received output signal from the at least one sensor, apply an updated voltage to the electrostatic shutter to hold the shutter at the predetermined position.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: July 2, 2024Assignee: Pella CorporationInventor: Sebastian Tomasz Tomczyk
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Patent number: 12006765Abstract: A window covering includes a headrail, a covering material located below the headrail, a rotating member connected to the covering material and provided in the headrail, a motor provided in the headrail and coupled to the rotating member, and a control device provided in the headrail and electrically connected to the motor. The headrail has a longitudinal direction. The rotating member is adapted to drive the covering material to expand or collapse. The motor drives the rotating member to rotate. When a moving speed of a lower end of the covering material decreases and such a situation lasts for a predetermined time, the control device controls the motor to stop operating. Whereby, no matter whether the covering material is fully expanded, fully collapsed, or encounters resistance somewhere in between, the motor can be stopped.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2020Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chao-Hung Nien, Jui-Pin Jao, Chin-Chu Chiu, Ping-Yu Chu
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Patent number: 12006984Abstract: The invention provides an operator for a roller closure. The operator includes an output drive comprising a rotating crown wheel. The crown wheel is configured to receive for attachment at least one output drive extension element selected from at least one first output drive extension element of a first size and shape or at least one second output drive extension element of a second, different size and shape, based on one or more physical characteristics of the particular drum wheel of the roller closure.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2021Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Automatic Technology (Australia) Pty LtdInventors: Raymond Hawkins, Kanav Gupta, Travis Smith, Grant Nicholls
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Patent number: 11970903Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are described herein for pre-winding a motorized roller shade. The motorized roller shade may include a roller tube, a flexible material attached to the roller tube, a motor drive unit, and mounting brackets configured to support respective ends of the roller tube. The roller tube of the roller shade may be slid to an extended position. A configuration procedure may be determined to have been initiated. The flexible material may be secured, for example, to prevent the flexible material from unrolling. The roller tube may be wound a predetermined number of rotations with the flexible material and a hembar of the roller shade secured, for example, to prevent the flexible material from being raised or lowered. Winding the roller tube may include pre-winding a spring that is coupled to the roller tube. The flexible material may be unsecured when the roller tube has been pre-wound.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2021Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventor: Olli T. Friman
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Patent number: 11970904Abstract: A flexible curtain defines a major surface and is configured to repeatedly actuate to move between a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. Two sensors are configured to detect different condition and are removably attached to two sensor attachment locations. The major surface extends across an operational surface of a target system such that the sensors detect the conditions of the target system when the flexible curtain defines the deployed configuration. The flexible curtain and the sensors converge at a predetermined edge of the flexible curtain to expose the operational surface of the target system when the flexible curtain defines the stowed configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Christian Eggenberger, Jens Rathgeber, Toby Zenerino, Michael Egger
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Patent number: 11965381Abstract: An upright (1) comprising two sidewalls (2, 3) between which a profiled element (100) for a shading system can be inserted, and an end wall (6) between the two sidewalls (2, 3). The upright is characterized in that one of the sidewalls is removable, and elastic means (200) are arranged between the removable sidewall (2) and the non-removable sidewall (3), in order to retain the removable sidewall (2) between the end wall (6) and the non-removable sidewall (3).Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: PLASTEX SAInventor: Marco Lombardini
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Patent number: 11952836Abstract: A roller shutter includes a chamber with an opening, a roller curtain movable between being fully contained within the chamber and extended beyond the chamber through the opening, and at least one guide rail along and relative to which the roller curtain is movable between being retracted and extended, wherein the roller curtain includes a plurality of slat members interlocked with each other for relative pivotal movement, the plurality of slat members collectively forming first and second major surfaces, and a first layer of fire-resistant and/or heat-resistant fabric fixedly mounted to the first major surface of the slat members and a second layer of fire-resistant and/or heat-resistant fabric fixedly mounted to the second major surface of the slat members, and wherein the guide rail includes at least a first sealing member which, when the roller curtain is extended, contacts or presses into the first layer of fire-resistant and/or heat-resistant fabric.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2021Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: CHUNG TAI ROLLER SHUTTERS COMPANY LIMITEDInventor: Ho Yan Lai
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Patent number: 11946318Abstract: A closure system may include a closure movable between an extended state and a retracted state. The closure may be configured to at least partially obstruct an opening in the extended state and allow access through the opening in the retracted state. The closure may include a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion. The closure may deflect by a first deflection distance when a vertical force is applied to the closure. The closure system may include a strap coupled to the first portion of the closure. The closure with the strap coupled thereto may deflect by a second deflection distance when the vertical force is applied to the closure. The first deflection distance may be at least 100 percent more than the second deflection distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: CornellCookson, LLCInventor: Milton Prosperi
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Patent number: 11933103Abstract: A motorized window blind includes a top rail, a bottom rail, a plurality of slats assembled between the top rail and the bottom rail, and a control device received in the bottom rail so as to control movement of the slats. The control device includes a transmission unit, a motor, a first cord, a second cord and a power supply. The power supply provides electric power to the motor which is connected to the transmission unit. The first and second cords are respectively connected to the transmission unit, and extend through the slats, and are connected to the top rail. The transmission unit is driven by the motor to lift and lower the slats. The control device includes a detection unit and an angle detection member. The slats are lowered when the detection unit detects the power supply is low. The angle detection member angularly controls the salts status.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: CHING FENG HOME FASHIONS CO., LTD.Inventor: Wen Ying Liang
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Patent number: 11927056Abstract: A retractable screen system for a fenestration assembly includes a catch assembly, a pair of edge rails, and a screen assembly. The catch assembly is configured to couple to an outer surface of a sash. The catch assembly includes a catch element. The screen assembly includes a roller housing, a roller assembly, a control bar, and screen material. The roller housing is configured to couple to an outer surface of the frame. The control bar includes a hook element extending along at least a portion of the control bar. The hook element is configured to selectively engage the catch element. The roller assembly is configured to apply tension to the screen material to permit the screen material to unwind from the roller assembly under a tension applied by moving the catch assembly away from the roller assembly when the hook element engages the catch element.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Inventor: Evan E. Vande Haar
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Patent number: 11885178Abstract: A screen device intended for a window or a door in a building or vehicle. The device includes a first elongated frame part having two ends; a further frame part and a third one, respectively, being arranged at each end of the first frame part at right angles to the first frame part and connected to a first one of its two ends. Two crossbars are arranged in parallel to the fixedly arranged first frame part and movable independently of each other along the two further frame parts. A pleated screen element is arranged between the first crossbar and the second crossbar, and the crossbars are guided by guide cords. At least one of the crossbars is formed by two profiles that are arranged in parallel to each other and leave a space between them in which a strip provided with holes for respective ones of the guide cords is received.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Inventor: Hans Grützner
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Patent number: 11871882Abstract: A space creating shower liner can have a window with a hoop fin rotatably and removably engaging a shower rod, a plurality of stiffening folds providing partial stiffness to the window, and a height less than a distance from the shower rod to a tub. Further, a liner can be removably engaged to the window, comprising a liner height less than the distance from the shower rod to the tub. The hoop fin causes the window and the liner to rotate about the shower rod, and the height and the liner height is greater than or equal to the distance from the shower rod to the tub.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Inventor: Patrick Raymond
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Patent number: 11851947Abstract: In example implementations, a universal endlock is provided. The universal endlock includes a body, a first side along a first edge of the body, a second side along a second edge of the body opposite the first edge, a first lip on a first end of the first side, and a second lip on a first end of the second side. The body includes an intersecting hole pattern on a center portion of the body. The first side and the second side are each bent towards a back side of the body. The first lip is bent away from a first edge of the body and the second lip is bent away from the second edge of the body.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: CORNELLCOOKSON, LLCInventors: Joseph L. Balay, Christopher J. Rebarchak, Thomas Balay
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Patent number: 11850452Abstract: A harness with continuous lineman's loop includes a saddle having an upper strap and a lower strap. The saddle has a front side, a back side, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge wherein the first and second lateral edges are used to engage a bridge line such that the bridge line can be secured to a tree. A pair of lineman's loops is attached to the saddle and used to engage a lineman's rope. Each of the lineman's loops is positioned adjacent to one of the first and second lateral edges. The lineman's loops are comprised of a continuous loop of webbing including an upper portion is attached to the upper strap and a lower portion is attached to the lower strap. The lineman's loops are formed of lateral portions of the continuous loop extending between the upper and lower portions.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Inventors: Walter Ernest Power, II, Gregory Alan Godfrey, Carl Eugene Kossuth, III
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Patent number: 11851930Abstract: A hinge for movably attaching parts together incudes a first gear, a second gear, a cover configured to attach the first gear to the second gear, first and second sliding surfaces on the cover wherein the first gear slides on the first sliding surface and the second gear slides on the second sliding surface when the hinge is operated, and an area on the first gear with no teeth configured to slide past the second gear to allow the first gear to enter the cover. Assembling a hinge includes moving a surface without gear teeth on a first gear past a toothed surface on a second gear, moving the first and second gears into a cover, meshing a tooth on the first gear with a tooth on the second gear, and holding the first and second gears together with the cover.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Overhead Door CorporationInventor: Bradley J. Lee
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Patent number: 11788347Abstract: A guide rail device for laterally guiding a rolling door or rolling grille armor of a rolling door or rolling grille includes a guide rail for vertically guiding the rolling door or rolling grille armor, an infeed funnel for guiding the rolling door or rolling grille armor into an entry area of the guide rail, with the infeed funnel being movable relative to the guide rail, and a damping body connected to the infeed funnel which dampens vibrations and shocks of the infeed funnel. Further, a rolling door or rolling grille includes a first guide rail device and a second guide rail device. In particular, the guide rail of the first guide rail device is fixed laterally on the building opening, and the guide rail of the second guide rail device is fixed laterally on the opposite side of the building opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Hörmann KG DissenInventors: Bastian Zimmermann, Thomas Langkamp
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Patent number: 11739590Abstract: A rail for a covering for an architectural opening is provided. The rail may be attachable to a shade member of the covering. The rail may include a magnet assembly that is at least partially positioned within a retention channel formed in the rail to releasably secure the rail to a head rail. The magnet assembly may be positionable along a longitudinal axis of the rail and may include a cam lock assembly that releasably secures the magnet assembly within the retention channel of the rail. According to the present disclosure, the head rail and the rail are held in close proximity to each other to inhibit the passage of light between the rail and a head rail.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Schwandt, Martin A. Stebenne
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Patent number: 11724579Abstract: An insertable roll-up door for a vehicle is formed from a header, left and right guide members and, optionally, a bottom sill. These components are assembled at a first geographic location to form a dimensionally stable subassembly. A flexible door panel is connected with a roller and installed in the subassembly where ends of the roller are received at top portions of the guide members and supported to rotate about a roller axis to wind the door panel onto and off from the roller. Edges of the door panel are guided by the guide members to move vertically to open and close the door. The assembled door is shipped to a second location to be installed on a vehicle. At the second location, an opening is created in the vehicle sized to receive the door. The door is inserted in the opening and fixed to the vehicle with fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems ABInventor: Scott Bennett