Abstract: A position controlled drive mechanism and a control method for positioning a drive mechanism are introduced. A sensor generates a displacement signal indicative of a displacement of a movable stop driven by an electric motor. A controller controls rotation of the electric motor. The controller also calculates a position of the movable stop based on the displacement signal. The controller includes at least two modes of operation in which the controller controls the electric motor to rotate its shaft to reach a selected position of the movable stop; controls a voltage or current supplied to the electric motor to maintain a current position of the movable stop; controls the electric motor to rotate the rotatable shaft in a selected direction until an external object hinders the rotation of the rotatable shaft; and controls the electric motor to assist an externally initiated rotation movement detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A position controlled drive mechanism including an electric motor, an encoder associated with the rotatable shaft of the electric motor and a controller connected to both the electric motor and the encoder is described herein. The controller includes at least two of the following modes of operation in which the controller is configured as to: a) control the electric motor to rotate the rotatable shaft to a selected position; b) control the electric motor to maintain a current position; c) control the electric motor to rotate the rotatable shaft in a selected direction until an external object hinders the rotation of the rotatable shaft; and d) control the electric motor so as to assist an externally initiated rotation movement of the rotatable shaft detected by the encoder.

Abstract: An extruded thermoplastic member includes a first material, having a first color, and an accent strip, having a second color, coextruded with the first material in the form of a ridge extending outward between corners in the surface of the thermoplastic member. A valance is constructed using such a thermoplastic member, with two such ridges extending along curved portions extending along the top and bottom of the thermoplastic member. The curved portions are formed as parts of closed structures, facilitating a miter sawing process used to cut the thermoplastic member into a central portion and a pair of end portions for the valance.

Abstract: A floor assembly includes a number of spaced apart horizontal support members to which a number of elongated flooring members are attached. The flooring members have features allowing their use in two versions of the floor assembly. In a first version, the flooring members are attached to the support members by clamping blocks having tabs extending over strips extending along opposite sides of the flooring members, which have outer walls extending downward and inward to provide space for the blocks. In a second version, the flooring members are attached by downward extending latching arms that engage upward extending latching arms of clips fastened to the support members.

Abstract: The central elongated portion of a valance is mounted to an external surface, such as a headrail of a vertical blind assembly or a vertical wall, by a number of brackets, with the valance being attached to each bracket at a pivot point formed by a bracket tab extending into a first slot of the valance and at a latching point formed by one of a number of teeth of the bracket extending into a second slot of the valance. At each bracket, the valance can be straightened by adjusting a distance to the external surface and by adjusting a rotational angle of the bracket about the longitudinal axis of the central elongated portion of the valance.

Abstract: An extruded thermoplastic member includes a first material, having a first color, and an accent strip, having a second color, coextruded with the first material in the form of a ridge extending outward between corners in the surface of the thermoplastic member. A valance is constructed using such a thermoplastic member, with two such ridges extending along curved portions extending along the top and bottom of the thermoplastic member. The curved portions are formed as parts of closed structures, facilitating a miter sawing process used to cut the thermoplastic member into a central portion and a pair of end portions for the valance.

Abstract: The central elongated portion of a valance is mounted to an external surface, such as a headrail of a vertical blind assembly or a vertical wall, by means of a number of brackets, with the valance being attached to each bracket at a pivot point formed by a bracket tab extending into a first slot of the valance and at a latching point formed by one of a number of teeth of the bracket extending into a second slot of the valance. At each bracket, the valance can be straightened by adjusting a distance to the external surface and by adjusting a rotational angle of the bracket about the longitudinal axis of the central elongated portion of the valance.