Abstract: The window blinds with solar panels comprises a set of window blinds with a cover positioned along a top portion of the window blinds. Moreover, the cover is positioned on an inner side of the set of window blinds. A motion sensor and camera are mounted on the cover of the window blinds. The camera relays a video stream to a Bluetooth activated device upon detection of motion via the motion sensor. The set of window blinds further includes at least one solar panel located on an outer surface, and which is adapted to receive sunlight through a window. The set of window blinds is further defined with a housing, which is adapted to be secured to a top surface of a window frame. The housing enables the cover to be attached thereto.

Abstract: A system for operating a gate arm of a railroad crossing gate is provided. The system includes a lever, a spring attached to an extendable gate arm, a cable mechanism including a cable and a crossing mechanism. The lever is movably coupled to the cable and the spring is coupled to the cable. The lever is coupled to the crossing mechanism and the cable is coupled to the crossing mechanism. The cable mechanism is configured to extend and retract the extendable gate arm and the lever is configured to enable the spring to pull the extendable arm out from a retracted position.

Abstract: A control element for actuating an operating mechanism for a retractable shade. The retractable shade having a flexible operating cord retractable and extendable from the operating mechanism, the flexible operating cord having a free end. The control element is attached to the flexible operating cord and includes a core having a length, the core being stiffened along the length so as to resist becoming entangled and an upper end of the length that is attached to the free end of the flexible operating cord.

Abstract: A ladder stabilizing tool for use with an extension ladder may include a U-shaped brace coupled to a ladder grasping member. A pair pivotable of feet may be attached to the ends of U-shaped brace permitting the stabilizing tool to secure an extension ladder to a roof at any slope between zero and ninety degrees. The grasping member has a pair of tapered supports configured to fit within the apertures formed in the rails of an extension ladder. The stabilizing tool ensures stability of the ladder for the safety of an operator, while further providing clearance from any gutter attached to housing fascia.

Abstract: A door module for a vehicle lavatory that includes a bi-fold door having a first panel and a second panel each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The first and second panels are pivotably connected together by a living hinge. The living hinge includes a hinge member that extends between first and second securing members, wherein the first securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the first panel and the second securing member extends along and is attached to an inner edge of the second panel.

Abstract: A line connector for a personal fall protection system includes a carabiner having a loop portion that at least partially defines an opening. The opening is configured to receive a mating component of the personal fall protection system. The line connector also includes at least one sensor. Each at least one sensor includes a coil disposed around the loop portion of the carabiner. The line connector further includes a control unit coupled to the at least one sensor. The control unit is operable to send an excitation signal to the at least one sensor and determine whether the line connector is coupled to the mating component based on a response signal received from the at least one sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective covering comprising a plurality of substantially L-shaped protective covering segments (2, 16) comprising a cover leg (3, 17) and a support leg (4, 18) which are arranged relative to one another in such a way that they are telescopically slidable with respect to one another, wherein the cover legs (3, 17) of adjacent protective covering segments (2, 16) each come to bear on one another thus forming an overall substantially closed surface, and comprising at least one band-shaped or web-shaped flexible connecting element (5, 31) which connects the support legs (4, 18) of the protective covering segments (2, 16) with each other so as to at least transfer a tensile force.

Abstract: A protection device for a vehicle interior having a flexible planar formation movable between stored rest and tensioned protection positions. The formation is provided at a front end region in a tensioning direction with a dimensionally stable draw-out profile member guided between the rest and protection positions by at least one guide arrangement. The draw-out profile member includes a longitudinal compensator to compensate for deviations between movement directions of the guide arrangement and the draw-out profile member. The guide arrangement has at least one linearly guided carrier element, and the draw-out profile member includes an undercut compensation groove which extends in the longitudinal direction of the draw-out profile member and which is open towards the carrier. The carrier comprises a longitudinally displaceable sliding or rolling element which is retained in a positive-locking manner in the receiving groove in the opening direction of the compensation groove.

Abstract: A window covering comprises slats suspended from a tilt cord such that the tilt cord may rotate the slats between an open position and a closed position. An elastic seal is provided on the slats to contact adjacent slats when the slats are in the closed position. A mechanism such as a spring or a magnet applies a closing force to the slats in the closed position separate from the tilt cord where the closing force moves the slats toward one another. An elastic seal is provided on the slats to contact adjacent slats when the slats are in the closed position.

Abstract: A screen door made of foamed polymer with heat welded joins between rails and stiles and a flat spline groove. The rails and stiles are extruded with the flat spline groove. Prior to joining the rails and stiles, a thin notch is made to remove the smooth skin of the extruded stiles before being joined to the cut ends of the rails. The heat welded joint between the notched stile and cut end of the rail is ten times stronger than conventional polymer door joints. A flat spline is used to insert the marginal portion of the screen into the flat spline groove, which is wider in the interior than at its entrance and resists the pull from normal forces on the screen much more effectively than a round spline in a rectangular groove.

Abstract: A window covering for a fenestration product having a viewing area includes a plurality of slats extending substantially horizontally, a ladder extending substantially vertically and supporting the slats, and a blind mechanism. The blind mechanism includes a lift mechanism and a tilt ring. The lift mechanism is operably connected to the slats to raise and lower the slats. The tilt ring is operably connected to the ladder and to the lift mechanism such that the tilt ring rotates with the lift mechanism through at least a portion of a revolution of the lift mechanism to tilt the slats when the lift mechanism rotates.

Abstract: A shade lock assembly for a shade assembly is provided. The shade lock assembly may include a spool rotatably attached to a housing, with the housing defining a pull cord channel. A pull cord may be provided that extends through the pull cord channel and wraps at least partially around the spool. The pull cord channel may include a roller wheel configured to interact with the pull cord and a second wall of the pull cord channel such that it may move between a locked and an unlocked position based at least in part by the angle at which the pull cord is held relative to a plane defined the shade assembly.

Abstract: A sliding blackout curtain apparatus is provided to prevent light leaking from the top and sides of a blackout curtain thereby blocking light from doors, windows, or other light sources. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise: a traverse rod preferably installed inside the window casing which includes a track that extends along a portion of the traverse rod, and wherein the track is configured to slidably engage a plurality of curtain flap carriers; a curtain comprising a head with a length; curtain fasteners configured to secure the curtain to a wall or other structure, a curtain flap which is joined to the curtain proximate to the head of the curtain and along the length of the head; and a plurality of curtain flap carriers slidably engaged to the track of the traverse rod.

Abstract: A slatted horizontal blinds system has separate positional controls for distinct subsets of slats. Odd and even slats can be moved relative to each other both horizontally and vertically. With a scalloped upper and lower edge, overlapping slats can produce a variety of light allowing and esthetic modes. Some versions only support up and down movement and some slats are rectangular. This is caused by hiding and exposing of slat portions and voids between slats by the relative movement of odd and even slats. Slats may have translucent colored portions, apertures or printed designs. The absolute movement may only be of one subset of slats while other slats stay in position. In other cases all slats can move simultaneously in relation to each other. Mechanisms include screw drive with “lost motion” operation and movement latches. Also slidable carriages, end-cams, and linear motors can be used. In some cases the bottom rail has mechanisms as well as the head rail.

Abstract: A door apparatus includes a door, actuating mechanism, and tie rod mechanism, the actuating mechanism actuating the tie rod mechanism to impart a substantially translating motion to the door. The actuating mechanism can include a drive yoke coupled to the tie rod mechanism with a one-way coupling. The tie rod mechanism can include a primary tie rod coupled to a secondary tie rod coupled to a latch. In another aspect a door apparatus includes an actuator, a first door, a second door, a first linkage assembly coupling the actuator to the first door, and a second linkage assembly coupling the first door to the second door, the actuator configured to activate the first linkage assembly to move the first door, the first door imparting motion to the second linkage assembly to move the second door in a synchronous and opposite motion with respect to the motion of the first door.

Abstract: A window shade system and housing-guide assembly for shading a window systemically includes a shade assembly, a bracket element and a guide-cover element. The shade element is furlable and unfurlable about an axis for rotation for selectively shading an outfitted window site. The bracket element includes a bracket-to-support interface portion and a guide-cover attachment portion. The guide-cover element includes a bracket-attachment portion, a shade-cover portion, and a shade-guide portion. The guide-cover element is attachable to the bracket element via mated engagement of the guide-cover attachment portion and the bracket-attachment portion. The shade-cover portion is formed so as to subtend an arc length radially anterior relative to the interface portion. The furled shade element is receivable in a space defined by the shade-cover portion and unfurlable via a shade-letting gap defined intermediate the shade-guide portion and the interface portion.

Abstract: A weatherstrip assembly for a vehicle. The assembly includes a body having a base and first and second legs which define a channel. The body includes an interior base surface, a first interior leg surface, and a second interior leg surface disposed within the channel. The assembly includes at least one sealing lip having an abutment surface and a wearstrip disposed along at least one of the interior base surface, the first and second interior leg surfaces, and the abutment surface and formed of a thermoplastic polyethylene material. The wearstrip has a plurality of alternating wear sections and gaps that define a series of alternating semi-rigid and flexible sections, respectively, with each wear section having first and second surfaces. The first surface of one of the wear sections and the second surface of an adjacent wear section face each other to define the gap.

Abstract: The invention relates to a windbreak system formed by: a set of independent panels that can be controlled individually, by moving the same longitudinally along an upper rail and a lower rail: and a folding door at one of the ends. Each panel and door comprises a rotation shaft and a folding shaft. The panels are moved manually, without bearing on rollers, and the entire weight of the panels rest on two strips of self-lubricating polymers that are inserted into two slots in the lower rail. The upper and lower rails are identical and have a rectangular cross-section and the panels are made from glass.

Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a window covering actuation mechanism and a gearbox assembly configured to electromechanically operate the window covering actuation mechanism. A pull cord is configured to receive “cord gestures” from a user. These “cord gestures” may include one or more of pull sequences, pull durations, numbers of pulls, durations between pulls, and strength of pulls. In certain embodiments, “cord gestures” may also be defined by pull direction. A controller receives the cord gestures and translates the cord gestures into commands for controlling the gearbox assembly. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A roller blind curtain device for a car may include a roller blind provided between a door-side door trim and an inner panel of the car, and having a wrapping roll winding and wrapping a curtain fabric that may be drawn out to a top in a longitudinal direction of a window to block sunlight that comes in through the window, a curtain holding device positioned adjacent to the wrapping roll of the roller blind and holding the curtain fabric drawn out from the wrapping roll along the window to stop at a predetermined position, and a support frame positioned at an outlet side of the roller blind, having a first end connected to a draw-out bar formed at an end of the curtain fabric, and extended as long as a length of the curtain fabric drawn out from the roller blind to support the curtain fabric.