Patents Examined by John W Hanes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11970904
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christian Eggenberger, Jens Rathgeber, Toby Zenerino, Michael Egger
  • Patent number: 11970903
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
    Inventor: Olli T. Friman
  • Patent number: 11965381
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: PLASTEX SA
    Inventor: Marco Lombardini
  • Patent number: 11952836
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: CHUNG TAI ROLLER SHUTTERS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Ho Yan Lai
  • Patent number: 11946318
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: CornellCookson, LLC
    Inventor: Milton Prosperi
  • Patent number: 11933103
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CHING FENG HOME FASHIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wen Ying Liang
  • Patent number: 11927056
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Inventor: Evan E. Vande Haar
  • Patent number: 11885178
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Inventor: Hans Grützner
  • Patent number: 11871882
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventor: Patrick Raymond
  • Patent number: 11851930
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Overhead Door Corporation
    Inventor: Bradley J. Lee
  • Patent number: 11851947
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CORNELLCOOKSON, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph L. Balay, Christopher J. Rebarchak, Thomas Balay
  • Patent number: 11850452
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventors: Walter Ernest Power, II, Gregory Alan Godfrey, Carl Eugene Kossuth, III
  • Patent number: 11788347
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hörmann KG Dissen
    Inventors: Bastian Zimmermann, Thomas Langkamp
  • Patent number: 11739590
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Schwandt, Martin A. Stebenne
  • Patent number: 11724579
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Assa Abloy Entrance Systems AB
    Inventor: Scott Bennett
  • Patent number: 11686153
    Abstract: A top-down bottom-up window covering has a headrail, a middle rail, a bottom rail, a lifting control structure installed at the headrail, and a covering structure installed between the middle rail and the bottom rail. The lifting control structure controls a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft to respectively receive or release a first cord and a second cord. The first cord drives the middle rail to move, and the second cord drives the bottom rail to move. A one-way clutch and a pre-stress unit are further provided at the headrail. When the bottom rail pushes the middle rail to move upward, the one-way clutch breaks a link between the first rotating shaft and the lifting control structure. Consequently, a driving force generated by the pre-stress unit immediately drives the first rotating shaft to receive the first cord to keep the first cord taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 11680444
    Abstract: A leveler for a window covering is disclosed. A fixed portion is secured to a headrail of a window casing, and moving portion is secured to the window covering. The moving portion is movable upward and downward relative to the fixed portion to allow for vertical adjustment of one end of the window covering relative to the window casing to straighten the window covering in the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Medic, Inc.
    Inventors: David R Hall, Austin Carlson, Casey Webb, Corey Webb, Jerome Miles
  • Patent number: 11653784
    Abstract: Disclosed are various examples of drapery systems one of which includes a drapery rod operatively connected to a structure by a first bracket and a second bracket. In one nonlimiting embodiment the drapery rod has an exterior surface with a guide structure and a hollow interior having a feature. At least one example drapery system includes a drive coupler and a motor operatively coupled to the drive coupler, wherein the drive coupler is configured to be inserted within the hollow interior of the drapery rod and the drive coupler is configured to engage the feature of the drapery rod, wherein when the motor operates the drive coupler rotates, and rotation of the drive coupler causes rotation of the drapery rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Current Products Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Scott Hand, Jon Smidt
  • Patent number: 11549308
    Abstract: A window blind includes a housing, a slat assembly, a slat angle adjusting device, and a first cord. The slat assembly is provided below the housing, and has multiple slats and a bottom end portion. The slat angle adjusting device includes a rotating shaft assembly provided in the housing, and a ladder assembly which includes at least two ladders connected to the rotating shaft assembly for turning the slats. The first cord passes on a front or a rear side of the slats, and connects the rotating shaft assembly and the bottom end portion. Throughout the duration of the rotation of the rotating shaft assembly, the first cord and a warp, which belongs to the ladder assembly and on the same side as the first cord, are both reeled into or out of the housing concurrently, and the slats and the bottom end portion are all rotated concurrently as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lei Luo, Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 11457763
    Abstract: A drapery system having a drive element extending the length that is connected to a structure by a pair of brackets. The drive element has a cylindrical shape with an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the drive element has a guide structure, which in one arrangement is a plurality of helical grooves. A plurality of rings are positioned around the drive element that are used to connect shade material to the drive element. The rings include a partial driver ring, a full driver ring and idler rings. In a center closing arrangement, partial driver rings are positioned as the inward most rings followed by full driver ring which is followed by a plurality of idler rings. The partial driver ring and the idler rings have a stabilizer that fits around the exterior surface of the drive element thereby providing smoother and quieter travel along the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Current Products Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Scott Hand, Phillip Dugger