Patents by Inventor Kenneth M. Faller

Kenneth M. Faller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230235624
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a rotatable outer roller, a rotatable inner roller, a first shade secured to the outer roller, and a second shade secured to the inner roller. The outer roller may define an elongated slot extending along a length of the outer roller and opening to an interior of the outer roller. The inner roller may be received within the outer roller and may define a central longitudinal axis. The first shade may be retractable onto and extendable from the outer roller. The second shade may extend through the elongated slot and may be retractable onto and extendable from the inner roller. The elongated slot may be substantially horizontally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner roller when the first shade is in a fully extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, JR., Terrence M. Drew, Kenneth M. Faller, Kent A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20230167681
    Abstract: An architectural covering including a motor assembly is provided. The covering may include a head rail, an end cap enclosing an end of the head rail, a roller tube rotatably supported within the head rail at least partially by the end cap, and a motor assembly including a housing in splined engagement with the end cap to non-rotatably secure the motor assembly to the end cap. The motor assembly may be received at least partially within the roller tube and may be in driving engagement with the roller tube. A covering material may be attached to the roller tube such that rotation of the roller tube extends or retracts the covering material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, JR., Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 11643870
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a rotatable outer roller, a rotatable inner roller, a first shade secured to the outer roller, and a second shade secured to the inner roller. The outer roller may define an elongated slot extending along a length of the outer roller and opening to an interior of the outer roller. The inner roller may be received within the outer roller and may define a central longitudinal axis. The first shade may be retractable onto and extendable from the outer roller. The second shade may extend through the elongated slot and may be retractable onto and extendable from the inner roller. The elongated slot may be substantially horizontally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner roller when the first shade is in a fully extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Terrence M. Drew, Kenneth M. Faller, Kent A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20230138944
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 11585152
    Abstract: An architectural covering including a motor assembly is provided. The covering may include a head rail, an end cap enclosing an end of the head rail, a roller tube rotatably supported within the head rail at least partially by the end cap, and a motor assembly including a housing in splined engagement with the end cap to non-rotatably secure the motor assembly to the end cap. The motor assembly may be received at least partially within the roller tube and may be in driving engagement with the roller tube. A covering material may be attached to the roller tube such that rotation of the roller tube extends or retracts the covering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 11566469
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 11459820
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a multiple stage spring assembly. The spring assembly may include a non-rotatable first member, a first spring including a first end portion and a second end portion, and a second spring including a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the first spring may be coupled to the first member. The first end portion of the second spring may be coupled to the second end portion of the first spring to rotate with the second end portion of the first spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 11459821
    Abstract: A headrail for use with an architectural-structure covering including one or more features to facilitate easier assembly and/or manufacturing. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the headrail may include one or more features to provide improved operation and/or aesthetics. For example, the headrail may include a slat slidably received within an interior cavity of the headrail. The components can be coupled to the slat prior to insertion of the slat into the headrail thus facilitating easier assembly. In addition, and/or alternatively, the slat may include a light-blocking element. In addition, and/or alternatively, a covering portion of the architectural-structure covering may include face and back fabrics that are separately and independently associated with the headrail to facilitate improved aesthetics in a top portion of the covering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy William Fries, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Publication number: 20220136324
    Abstract: A covering system for an architectural feature having a roller, the roller including a main body portion and a flapper portion pivotable relative to the main body portion. The covering system also includes a first support member operatively associated at one end to the main body portion and at a second end to a bottom rail, as well as a second support member operatively associated with and laterally moveable relative to the first support member, wherein a first end of the second support member is operatively associated with the flapper portion and a second end of the second support member is operatively associated with the bottom rail. The covering system also includes a limiting mechanism configured to interact with the flapper portion of the roller to maintain the bottom rail in a horizontally level position as the second support member is moved laterally with respect to the first support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Max W. Schroeder, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 11274492
    Abstract: A covering system for an architectural feature having a roller, the roller including a main body portion and a flapper portion pivotable relative to the main body portion. The covering system also includes a first support member operatively associated at one end to the main body portion and at a second end to a bottom rail, as well as a second support member operatively associated with and laterally moveable relative to the first support member, wherein a first end of the second support member is operatively associated with the flapper portion and a second end of the second support member is operatively associated with the bottom rail. The covering system also includes a limiting mechanism configured to interact with the flapper portion of the roller to maintain the bottom rail in a horizontally level position as the second support member is moved laterally with respect to the first support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Max W. Schroeder, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Publication number: 20210140231
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 10975620
    Abstract: A covering for architectural openings including a roller; a shade wrapped around the roller, the shade configured to extend from or retract onto the roller when the roller rotates; a retraction motor operably coupled to the roller for biasing the roller in a direction to retract the shade, wherein the retraction motor includes a spring having a first end rotatable with the roller and a second end fixed against rotation of the roller, wherein rotation of the roller unwraps or further wraps the spring to store energy therein; and a positioning device including: a circumferential track including at least one seat; and a pin engaging the circumferential track, wherein the pin selectively enters the at least one seat of the circumferential track to hold the shade, and is selectively releasable therefrom for additional extension or retraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 10941615
    Abstract: A motor-drive system for retractable covering having a headrail with a horizontally disposed roller supporting a top edge of a flexible fabric material includes an electric motor mounted within a housing and interconnected to the roller to selectively rotate the roller in opposite directions while minimizing noise created from vibrations within the system. This system includes motor mounts within the housing which separate and absorb vibrations of the motor within the housing and a drive disk of a moderately soft material, which is firm enough to transfer torque from the motor to the roller while being soft enough to absorb vibrations which would otherwise be transmitted from the motor to the roller. An interconnect mounting the drive disk to the drive shaft of the motor is also made of a third relatively soft material, which is harder than the drive disk to more ably transmit torque but soft enough so as not to unduly transmit noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Faller, Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup
  • Patent number: 10907406
    Abstract: A cordless retractable shade including an operating system for the shade that varies a biasing force of a spring to counterbalance the shade. The bottom rail of a retractable shade can be raised or lowered, and due to the operating system remains in any selected position of the covering between fully extended and fully retracted, without the use of operating cords. The system includes a method of negating and reversing the spring bias effect at a strategic position whereby the flexible vanes of the shade can be adjusted between open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kent A. Smith, Galen B. Rhodes, Stephen M. Winters, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 10900280
    Abstract: A speed regulating assembly for coupling to a roller tube for regulating a deployment speed of a covering of an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The speed regulating assembly may include a detachable adapter for enabling a singular sized speed regulating device to be used regardless of the size of the roller tube. That is, by utilizing a detachable adapter for coupling to the roller tube, any change in the size of the roller tube only requires a different sized adapter. In addition, the speed regulating assembly may be configured so that during covering retraction, the speed regulating assembly is disengaged so that any input rotation from the roller tube is not transmitted to the speed regulating device. However, during covering deployment, the speed regulating assembly is engaged so that any input rotation from the roller tube is transmitted to the speed regulating device thereby regulating the speed of covering deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Publication number: 20200399959
    Abstract: An architectural covering including a motor assembly is provided. The covering may include a head rail, an end cap enclosing an end of the head rail, a roller tube rotatably supported within the head rail at least partially by the end cap, and a motor assembly including a housing in splined engagement with the end cap to non-rotatably secure the motor assembly to the end cap. The motor assembly may be received at least partially within the roller tube and may be in driving engagement with the roller tube. A covering material may be attached to the roller tube such that rotation of the roller tube extends or retracts the covering material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, JR., Kenneth M. Faller
  • Publication number: 20200378179
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a rotatable outer roller, a rotatable inner roller, a first shade secured to the outer roller, and a second shade secured to the inner roller. The outer roller may define an elongated slot extending along a length of the outer roller and opening to an interior of the outer roller. The inner roller may be received within the outer roller and may define a central longitudinal axis. The first shade may be retractable onto and extendable from the outer roller. The second shade may extend through the elongated slot and may be retractable onto and extendable from the inner roller. The elongated slot may be substantially horizontally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner roller when the first shade is in a fully extended position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, JR., Terrence M. Drew, Kenneth M. Faller, Kent A. Smith
  • Patent number: 10781630
    Abstract: A covering for an architectural covering is provided. The covering may include a rotatable outer roller, a rotatable inner roller, a first shade secured to the outer roller, and a second shade secured to the inner roller. The outer roller may define an elongated slot extending along a length of the outer roller and opening to an interior of the outer roller. The inner roller may be received within the outer roller and may define a central longitudinal axis. The first shade may be retractable onto and extendable from the outer roller. The second shade may extend through the elongated slot and may be retractable onto and extendable from the inner roller. The elongated slot may be substantially horizontally aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the inner roller when the first shade is in a fully extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Terrence M. Drew, Kenneth M. Faller, Kent A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20200248501
    Abstract: A headrail for use with an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The headrail including one or more features to facilitate assembly and/or manufacturing. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the headrail may include one or more features to provide improved operation and/or aesthetics. For example, the headrail may include a slat slidably received within an interior cavity of the headrail. The components can be coupled to the slat prior to insertion of the slat into the headrail thus facilitating easier assembly. In addition, and/or alternatively, the slat may include a light-blocking element. In addition, and/or alternatively, a covering portion of the architectural-structure covering may include face and back fabrics that are separately and independently associated with the headrail to facilitate improved aesthetics in a top portion of the covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy William Fries, Kenneth M. Faller
  • Patent number: 10676989
    Abstract: An architectural covering including a motor assembly is provided. The covering may include a head rail, an end cap enclosing an end of the head rail, a roller tube rotatably supported within the head rail at least partially by the end cap, and a motor assembly including a housing in splined engagement with the end cap to non-rotatably secure the motor assembly to the end cap. The motor assembly may be received at least partially within the roller tube and may be in driving engagement with the roller tube. A covering material may be attached to the roller tube such that rotation of the roller tube extends or retracts the covering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: Nickolas C. Buccola, Jr., Kenneth M. Faller