Abstract: A tubular rail formed with a longitudinally extending and downwardly open slot of predetermined width is provided with a plurality of curtain slides spaced along the rail and each having a body and a core. The body is formed with a pair of horizontally oppositely projecting wings extending perpendicular to the rail and with a V-shaped loop underneath the rail engaged through the curtain upper edge. The core is formed with a T-shaped head normally engaged in the rail and of a width greater than the slot width and a thickness less than the slot width. The head is pivotal between a holding position in the rail perpendicular thereto and a freeing position parallel to the slot. A spring is braced between the body and the core and urges the head into the holding position. An arm projects transversely from and is fixed rotationally to the head so that the head can be rotated into the freeing position by means of the arm.

Abstract: A system for improving the horizontal fracture resistance of older chimneys and fireplaces comprised of units of brick, stone, and the like, in response to seismic, wind, and other external lateral forces, by placing the units under a vertical internal compression stress, increasing the shear capacity between the units, by means of a clamping action. Said clamping action is the results of providing one or more elongated members attached to an element affixed at the top of the chimney and an element affixed at a lower level, said elongated members being placed under predetermined tension creating a vertical internal compression stress.

Abstract: A door operating system is disclosed which includes a remotely or manually controlled fluid supply system (10) which pressurizes a reciprocable striker release assembly (50), and activates an opening cylinder assembly (30) functionally mounted to a door (17) and door frame (18) for opening the door.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a double hung window assembly which includes a frame and a pair of vertically moveable pane carrying sash members. The frame is a multi-chambered structural plastic extrusion with provision for carrying interior decorative members. The frame includes elongated jamb liners of different colors. The sash includes wooden members carried by the plastic extrusion and constructed to define a stop whereby a pane is secured along its edges to the frame and between the stop and the plastic extrusion. The sash plastic members are essentially identical and the wooden stop members are identical for both sashes. The sash includes grooves to engage the jamb liners. Both the frame and sash carry interior wooden members constructed to be received and held in position relative to the plastic members and conceal the plastic members from interior view.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fastening a window of a motor vehicle in the guide device of a window lifter, consisting of retaining legs disposed on opposite sides of the lower area of the window, at least one of said retaining legs having an opening which can be engaged by a connecting element for retaining the window, wherein at least one upper part of at least one retaining leg is embodied to be resilient and supports an insertion section oriented in the direction of the lower edge of the window and essentially extending parallel with it. One feature of the invention is that the opening can comprise two cutouts, instead of one, in order to reduce the number of variations of catches required for use with window lifters. Another feature of the invention is that a connecting element for retaining the window in the guide device of a window lifter is already connected with the window prior to the window's insertion into the gap between the retaining legs.

Abstract: A retractable sliding door apparatus includes a door housing, a sliding door slidably mounted in the door housing, and a retractable spring mechanism mounted to the door housing and to the sliding door for retracting an open door to a closed position. The retractable spring mechanism includes a spring drum having a constant force retractable spring attached to it and in which the constant force retractable spring has one end attached to a bracket mounted on the door. The constant force retractable spring is made of a spiral strip of steel which has been heat treated while coiled to a predetermined curvature so that when the steel is extended, the stress in the steel resists the loading force at an approximate constant rate so that the sliding door is opened against a generally constant force and returns from an open to a closed position at a generally constant rate of movement under the force of a constant force spring to thereby avoid the door slamming shut.

Abstract: A linear drive power door operator selectively and automatically opens and closes a door swingably mounted on a door jamb. The door operator includes a power screw disposed within a housing and a drive which powers the rotation of the power screw for moving a piston having a threaded bore threadably engaging the power screw linearly upon activation of the drive. A rack having teeth is engaged by the piston for moving the rack linearly from end-to-end. The power door operator further includes a pinion having teeth threadably engaging the teeth of the rack. The pinion is rotatable about a vertical axis upon the side-to-side linear movement of the rack. At least one link arm is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the pinion and pivotally connected at its other end to the door. A control device controls the operation of the drive for moving the door between a closed position and an open position.

Abstract: A window lift bracket for attachment to a mounting edge of a movable window and which is connectable to a window lifting mechanism. The window lift bracket includes a base which is attachable to the window lifting mechanism and spaced apart portions extending from the base being positionable on either side of the movable window. The spaced apart portions define a channel therebetween. Opposing surfaces of the spaced apart portions include protrusions which abut corresponding surfaces of a window placed in the channel. Depressions are defined by the protrusions and are adapted for receiving an adhesive placed in the channel and effectively increasing the surface area contact of the adhesive on the window bracket thereby improving the adhesion of the adhesive to the window bracket and window. Further, the bracket is integrally formed of a suitable plastics material compatible with the adhesive used to attach the bracket to the window.

Abstract: A cable window lifter with a driving unit includes a drive housing having an internal cavity therein. A cable drum is disposed within the internal cavity and has an internal gear provided along an internal portion of the drum. A pinion gear is disposed within the internal portion of the cable drum and includes teeth that engage the internal gear of the cable drum. The pinion gear is driven manually or by a motor. A support core is disposed between a portion of the internal gear of the cable drum and a portion of the pinion gear teeth. The support core prevents the lateral deflection of the pinion gear teeth out of the internal gear of the cable drum during imposition of an overload force onto the pinion gear, thereby assuring improved running quality of the driving unit and reducing the forces occurring in the driving unit.

Abstract: A raceway cable retention and accommodation apparatus which has a support surface and a bracket. The bracket comprises a mounting portion, a first leg connected to the mounting portion, a second leg connected to the first leg, and a third leg connected to the second leg. The mounting portion and the first, second, and third legs are configured so as to define a J-shaped structure. The bracket is attached to the support surface by a mounting device. A panel for a panel system which has five surfaces. The panel has a first surface, a second surface connected to the first surface, and a third surface connected to the second surface. Furthermore, the panel has a fourth surface connected to the third surface and a fifth surface connected to the fourth surface. The panel is configured such that the first and second surfaces are mirror images of the fourth and fifth surfaces with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the third surface.

Abstract: An operator assembly for a casement window that includes a frame and a pane carrying sash. The operator assembly is mounted to the frame and an elongated arm connects the operator assembly and the sash. Movement of the arm moves the sash relative to the frame for opening and closing the window. The operator arm includes a pivotally mounted and linerally moveable handle which is moveable between a first and second position. A ratchet-type gearing system is provided to connect the handle and operator arm and to effect movement of the operator arm in response to movement of the handle. A selector associated with the handle and gearing system is provided to effect and control the direction of sash movement in response to the movements by the handle. A locking system is provided to engage the gearing system to prevent movement of the gearing system due to loads on the sash that are transmitted to the gearing system through the sash and operator arm.

Abstract: This invention provides an existing garage door locking system with a motorized unlocking system that will unlock the garage door prior to motorized opening, but maintain garage accessability and security with the existing garage door locking system if a power or motorized garage door system failure occurs.

Abstract: A safety device for hinged doors comprising a spring loaded wedge shaped stopper means. A bracket including a flat rectangular plate is attached to the front face along the edge near the hinge side of a hinged door at a sufficient height and out of reach from small children, by adhesive or other fastening means. A pair of opposing hinge walls are mounted orthogonally at the extremities on the front face of the rectangular plate. Said stopper means is hingedly attached to the rectangular plate by means of a hinge pin and a restoring spring. When the spring is not loaded, said stopper means is positioned naturally in an obtrusive manner in the front face gap near the hinge side created by the opening and closing of the hinged door, thereby preventing a partially opened door from being shut by small children who can accidently insert their fingers or other body parts into said gap.

Abstract: A window guard is provided for a window which may be removably mounted in a window frame to protect the window from storms. The window includes a window frame having frame members, two of which have holes formed on inwardly facing surfaces. The window guard includes a board sized to fit within the window frame and a brace or mounting mechanism pivotally mounted on the board which cooperates with the window frame holes to mount the window guard in the frame. The mounting mechanism includes a cross-member pivotally secured to the board and rods telescopingly received in the cross-member. The cross-member is made of two elongate pieces which are pivotally connected and which have blind bores formed in their ends which telescopingly receive the rods. The rods can thus telescope to a position in which they extend from the cross-member into the holes formed in the window frame and be retracted to a position in which they do not extend beyond the edges of the board.

Abstract: Automatic slide door mechanism includes a slide rail secured to a slide door of a vehicle and which is extended in the fore-aft-direction of the vehicle, a slide rail guide holding the slide rail and held by an arm rotatably coupled to a main vehicle body, swing driving actuator for rotating the arm towards inside or outside of the vehicle, and slide driving actuator separate from the swing driving actuator, the slide driving actuator being held by the slide rail guide and adapted for actuating the slide door and the slide rail in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. This assures smooth and prompt operation during movement of the slide door in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and a sufficiently large torque during movement of the slide door towards inside or outside.

Abstract: A track driven power door operator selectively and automatically opens a door swingably mounted on a door frame. The power door operator includes an elongate track housing mounted on the door frame and a power screw disposed within the track housing. A drive is provided for powering the rotation of the power screw about the horizontal axis for moving a slider block linearly along the horizontal axis upon its activation. An arm link is pivotally connected at one of its ends to the slider block and pivotally connected at its other end to the door. A control is provided for controlling the operation of the motor for moving the slider block which rotates the door between its closed and open positions.

Abstract: A window frame assembly is provided with a sliding glass mechanism and seal system for vehicular backlites. The assembly includes a pair of fixed side windows secured in a frame in spaced-apart relationship, and one or more sliding windows positioned in channel brackets to close and open the aperture between the fixed window panes. A single gasket formed by a reaction injection molding process is formed around the periphery of the window assembly for mounting the window assembly in the opening of a body panel of a pickup truck. The gasket is integrally formed about the aperture during the reaction injection molding process and includes a flexible lip to engage the sliding window. The sliding window slides in the channels of the channel brackets and is positioned to engage the lip of the gasket to seal the aperture. The required sliding force to open and close the sliding window may be reduced by spring loading the sliding window in the channel.

Abstract: A thin window regulator which can be assembled easily and which requires less installation space inside a door panel is disclosed. Both longitudinal ends of a belt are connected to a pair of sliders and the belt is made into a ring shape. Sliders are movable along a guide rail and are biased closer to each other by springs. Thus, since the ring-shaped belt is wound around a sprocket and the sliding portion, tension is not reduced by a creep phenomenon and the belt does not loosen. One end of the ring shaped belt is formed to be wound around the sliding portion. Thus, the window regulator can be made thinner compared with prior art systems in which both ends of a belt are wound around pulleys and a required installation space inside the door at the upper portion of the guide rail can be made thinner.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a window treatment where the window treatment utilizes a plurality of sheet material louvers. The operating mechanism can be used when the louvers are mounted in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction. The operating mechanism in each case includes a support device for each louver which is mounted in conjunction with an elongated guide track. The support device includes a sleeve with a connecting stud of its respective louver to be secured to this sleeve. Integrally mounted on and extending transversely of the sleeve is a transverse arm. A connecting cord assembly is to be mounted in connection with the transverse arms of each of the support devices of the guide track.

Abstract: A cord locking assembly mounted in the blind head box or the blind hand grip axially movably fitted on the hollow pole suspended from the blind head box.The assembly comprises a movable plug, a fixed plug hole sleeve for fitting engagement with the plug, a lock compression spring to bias the plug to the plug hole sleeve, lift cords passing through the plug hole sleeve, and means for loosening the lock compression spring. The means is the hand grip in the case of the assembly mounted the hand grip. The means is a knob or pull cord fixed to a holder in which the lock compression spring is mounted in the case the assembly mounted in the blind head box.