Patents Examined by Johnnie A Shablack
  • Patent number: 11072975
    Abstract: A side-inserted cord rolling device for a non-pull cord window blind includes a base, first and second wheels disposed on the base and respectively located near an end plate and an opening provided at two ends of the base, a torsion spring, and two lift transmission cords. The first wheel has top, middle and bottom layers separated by disc portions. The torsion spring connects the bottom layer of the first wheel and the second wheel. An end of the lift transmission cords are connected to the top and middle layers of the first wheel respectively. Another end of the lift transmission cords are inserted through the opening of the base to be located out of the base for being connected with a bottom beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Jumbo Home Deco. Corporation (Cayman)
    Inventor: Po-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 11072976
    Abstract: Example methods and apparatus can be used to reduce noise in motor assemblies, such as those used in architectural coverings. An example apparatus includes a first driver configured to be coupled to and rotated by an output shaft of a motor, a second driver, and a plurality of vibration-absorbers disposed between the first driver and the second driver. The second driver is configured to be coupled to a rotating member to transfer rotational motion from the first driver to the rotating member via the vibration-absorbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Anthony, Daniel M. Fogarty, Paul A. Brayford, Robert Fisher, II, Daniel A. Huber, Jan Pruegner, Clark Brace, Kevin Dann, Max Oelschlager, Todd Nelson, Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Michael Goldberg
  • Patent number: 11060350
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a protective frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a first frame including an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface opposite to the inner wall surface. The inner wall surface includes a channel. The frame assembly also includes a second frame including a front wall surface and a rear wall surface. The rear wall surface of the second frame faces the inner wall surface of the first frame. The frame assembly further includes a spline received within the channel of the first frame. The frame assembly also includes a mesh sandwiched between the inner wall surface and the rear wall surface. The spline engages with the mesh within the channel to retain the mesh in a tensioned state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: MR. SCREEN, LLC.
    Inventor: James Lawrence Randall
  • Patent number: 11053733
    Abstract: A system comprising: a sliding shield equipped with horizontally sliding cloth movable by means of a handle bar between a lateral box and a closure upright, and a guiding and tensioning retractable device for sliding shields comprising a plurality of first guiding modules and a plurality of second guiding modules, consecutively and alternately coupled between them forming a guiding body foldable and insertable within the handle bar and comprising a first terminal end fixable to the lateral box and a second terminal end adapted to be free of sliding within the handle bar, the first guiding modules and the second guiding modules being interposable between the handle bar and the lateral box. The sliding shield comprises at least a lower pocket and the guiding and tensioning retractable device comprises at least a tensioning element provided with a first end anchored to the second terminal end and a second free end inserted within the lower pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: MV LINE S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Montanaro
  • Patent number: 11047170
    Abstract: A slat assembly may include a slat having a first and second receiving portion. The first and second receiving portions being a pair of bent portions forming an acute angle. The slat assembly may further include an insulation layer lined on the slat. The slat assembly may further include a retaining mechanism disposed on the insulation layer to press a first portion of the insulation layer into the first receiving portion of the slat and to press a second portion of the insulation layer into the second receiving portion of the slat such that the retaining mechanism may cooperate with the first and second receiving portions to hold the insulation layer between the retaining mechanism and the slat without puncturing or penetrating the insulation layer with fasteners. A roller shutter including the slat assembly. A method of manufacturing a slat assembly and a method of manufacturing a roller shutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Gliderol Doors (S) Pte Ltd
    Inventor: Lok Yung Wong
  • Patent number: 11047172
    Abstract: A cord-resistance adjusting device for a venetian blind includes limiting blocks disposed in a casing unit containing a scroll spring and cord reels. Each of two side casing parts of the casing unit has inner and outer limiting columns mounted thereinside. Each limiting block is movably disposed in the respective side casing part between the inner and outer limiting columns. A lift cord bends around and frictionally contacts the respective limiting block when moving from the inner limiting column to the outer limiting column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: TAICANG KINGFU PLASTIC MANUFACTURE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Szu-Chang Huang
  • Patent number: 11041339
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a screen apparatus is provided. The screen apparatus is comprised of a base and a screen case. Disposed within the base are a power inverter, one or more batteries, a fuse panel, and a first screen roller. Disposed within the screen case is a second screen roller. The screen case is further provided with a means for hanging the screen case from a stable structure. The screen case is pulled away from the base to expose a screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventors: Robert Edward Miller, Michael Ray Blair
  • Patent number: 11033138
    Abstract: An architectural covering is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure and a plurality of idler attachment elements and a drive element positioned over the rotatable drive element. The rotatable drive element is connected to a wall, ceiling or other structure by brackets. In one arrangement a drive shaft having at least one bearing is then attached to the brackets such that the rotatable drive elements rotate upon the bearings. This arrangement provides an efficient, simple and convenient manner of attaching a rotatable drive element to brackets for mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CURRENT PRODUCTS CORP.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Michael D. Fox, Daniel T. Matthews, Dale McCarthy, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 11028640
    Abstract: A handle is releasably secured to a rail wall by means of fasteners extending from inside the rail. An actuator shaft pushes against a contact plate to move a movable braking member to stop the rotation of a rod inside the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Eugene W. Thompson, Robert E. Fisher
  • Patent number: 11021908
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening has a dual cord operating system. The covering may include a head rail, blind panels depending from the head rail, and an operating system. The operating system may include a housing connected to the head rail, a first drive assembly rotatably mounted within the housing and operable to move the blind panels between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration, and a second drive assembly rotatably mounted within the housing and operable to move the blind panels between a closed configuration and an open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: David B. McNeill, Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup, David Lynch, Christopher R. Mueller
  • Patent number: 11015389
    Abstract: A battery-powered, motorized window treatment may include a fascia that pivots between a conceal position wherein the fascia covers a window treatment assembly and a battery compartment, and an expose position wherein the fascia does not cover the battery compartment. The fascia may be a two part fascia that includes an arm and a cover that pivots relative to the arm when the battery compartment is operated between respective opened and closed positions. The arm may be attached to the battery compartment such that the arm remains in a fixed orientation relative to the battery compartment. The arm and the cover may define complementary pivotally interlocking connectors that define a pivot axis about which the cover may pivot relative to the arm. The fascia may be configured to generate a perceptible indication when the fascia pivots into the conceal position, and/or when the fascia pivots into the expose position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC
    Inventor: David A. Kirby
  • Patent number: 11015387
    Abstract: A battery-powered motorized window treatment for covering at least a portion of a window may be adjusted into a service position to allow for access to at least one battery that is powering the motorized window treatment. A headrail of the motorized window treatment may be adjusted to the service position to allow for easy replacement of the batteries without unmounting the headrail and without requiring tools. The motorized window treatment may comprise brackets having buttons that may be actuated to release the headrail from a locked position, such that the head rail may be rotated into the service position. The headrail easily rotates through a controlled movement into the service position, such that a user only needs one free hand available to move the motorized window treatment into the service position and change the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC
    Inventors: Edward J. Blair, Samuel F. Chambers, David A. Kirby, Peter W. Ogden, Jr., James J. Wilson, Justin M. Zernhelt
  • Patent number: 11015381
    Abstract: A bi-fold door assembly has an upper door section and a lower door section connected by a hinge such that the upper and lower door sections are movable between a closed position spanning the door opening and an open position in which the upper door section is oriented transversely to the door opening and the lower door section is folded upwardly towards an inner side of the upper door section. A truss supported along the inner side of one of the upper and lower door sections is movable relative to the door sections between a first position in which the truss stiffens the door assembly against bending corresponding to the closed position of the door sections and a second position in which the truss member is reduced in overall width relative to said one of the upper and lower door sections in a normal direction to the door sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Inventor: John L. Enns
  • Patent number: 11015349
    Abstract: An installation for covering and uncovering a surface includes a series of slats of adjustable inclination supported by pivot pins via a set having a first carriage and a second carriage. A movement system has, for each head slat, movement motors on board the first and second carriages. For the even-numbered slats, firstly a retractable coupling (A) is fastened between the first carriage of said slat and the first carriage belonging to the head slat or to the neighboring slat of lower number, and secondly a drive system (S) is provided for driving the second carriage of said slat in translation. For each odd-numbered slat that is present, a retractable coupling (A) is fastened between the second carriage of said slat and the second carriage belonging to the neighboring slat of lower number, and a drive system (S) is provided for driving the first carriage of said slat in translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: BIOSSUN
    Inventors: Alexandre Byszenski, Frédéric Foretti
  • Patent number: 11008807
    Abstract: A position-fixing system for a window covering, which has a roller tube, includes a variable diameter screw, a guiding portion, and an elastic member. The variable diameter screw has a working section gradually broadening in a radial direction thereof. The guiding portion extends along an inner wall of the roller tube in an axial direction thereof. The elastic member fits around the variable diameter screw, and is movable along the guiding portion. The elastic member has a meshing portion provided on an inner side thereof to mesh with the working section, and a guided portion provided on an outer side thereof to slide along the guiding portion. When the roller tube rotates in a direction, the elastic member moves along the working section and deforms, whereby to exert a gradually increasing unit tightening force to the variable diameter screw in the radial direction, dampening its rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lin Chen, Keng-Hao Nien
  • Patent number: 11008805
    Abstract: A screen panel is provided. The screen panel can have a screen frame and a screen mesh positioned over the frame. The screen mesh can be attached to the frame with hooks that can be selectively insertable and removable from the frame. The screen mesh can be attached to a portion of the frame and rolled around itself for shipping, and unrolled and attached to the remainder of the frame for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PGT Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth John Vander Bent, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11008804
    Abstract: A curtain controller structure includes a fixing seat, an assembling seat having an accommodation space formed between the fixing seat and the assembling seat. The assembling seat includes a first chamber. A bead chain disc is disposed in the accommodation space. A first driving assembly is disposed in the first chamber of the assembling seat and has a first driving unit and a second driving unit. A traction string is connected to the first driving unit or the second driving unit of the first driving assembly and the bead chain disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Uni-Soleil Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Ting Kao
  • Patent number: 11002070
    Abstract: A blind is arranged such that minimal force is required to rotate the tilt drum to tilt the slats from the fully open to the fully closed position and back, with each of the front and rear tilt cables sharing the load nearly equally throughout the entire path from the fully open to the fully closed position and back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Donald E. Fraser, Richard N. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11002017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a variably operable timber screen for three-dimensional decoration of a building exterior wall and shading control of a building, the screen comprising: a pair of rails (10a and 10b); a motor (20); a timing belt (30); several pairs of rollers (40); a plurality of columns (50); a plurality of bearings (60); a rotational force transmitter bar (70); a plurality of decorative timber blade units (80); an manipulation unit (90); and a control unit (100). Therefore, the present invention can not only make the exterior of a building itself more attractive, but can also control the amount of incident sunlight through windows and doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Inventor: Eunju Han
  • Patent number: 11002072
    Abstract: In one aspect, a spring assist module for a covering includes a torsion spring that is selected according to a protocol such that the torsion spring drives a driven part of the covering with a constant operating force. In another aspect, a roller blind includes a roller and a torsion spring operatively coupled to the roller, with the torsion spring having a spring characteristic(s) selected according to a protocol that matches the spring characteristic(s) to a torque curve associated with the roller blind to drive the roller with a constant operating force. In a further aspect, a method for selecting a spring for use within a roller blind includes determining a parameter(s) of the roller blind, determining a torque curve for the roller blind based at least partially on the parameter(s), and selecting a spring characteristic for a torsion spring of the roller blind that matches the torque curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INDUSTRIES B.V.
    Inventors: Jörg Bohlen, Lars Koop