Patents by Inventor Matthew R. Hontz

Matthew R. Hontz 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).

  • Patent number: 10281075
    Abstract: A coupling includes a housing having a wall defining an interior space and extending along a central longitudinal axis. A ring is movably mounted with respect to the wall. At least one moveable member has an engagement surface for engaging with an adapter that is positionable within the interior space of the housing. One or more ramps are defined on the ring for (i) moving the engagement surface of the moveable member toward the central longitudinal axis upon moving the ring in one direction in order to engage the coupling to the adapter, and (ii) moving the engagement surface of the moveable member away from the central longitudinal axis upon moving the ring in an opposite direction in order to disengage the coupling from the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Campbell Fittings, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Hontz, Thomas J. Paff
  • Publication number: 20180135788
    Abstract: A coupling includes a housing having a wall defining an interior space and extending along a central longitudinal axis. A ring is movably mounted with respect to the wall. At least one moveable member has an engagement surface for engaging with an adapter that is positionable within the interior space of the housing. One or more ramps are defined on the ring for (i) moving the engagement surface of the moveable member toward the central longitudinal axis upon moving the ring in one direction in order to engage the coupling to the adapter, and (ii) moving the engagement surface of the moveable member away from the central longitudinal axis upon moving the ring in an opposite direction in order to disengage the coupling from the adapter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Campbell Fittings, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Hontz, Thomas J. Paff
  • Patent number: 8931541
    Abstract: A motor drive unit assembly for a motorized drapery system having a drapery fabric can include a motor having a drive shaft, an output member rotatable about a drive axis, such that rotation of the output member about the drive axis causes the drapery fabric to move, and a clutch member operatively coupled between the drive shaft of the motor and the output member. The clutch member is configured to automatically couple the output member to the drive shaft such that rotation of the motor drive shaft causes the output member to rotate about the drive axis when the motor drives the drive shaft. The clutch member is further configured to automatically decouple the output member from the motor drive shaft so that the output member rotates about the drive axis relative to the motor drive shaft when the output member is manually driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel F. Chambers, Matthew R. Hontz, David A. Kirby, Daniel W. Mistarz, Peter W. Ogden, Jr., James J. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8723466
    Abstract: A motorized venetian blind system for covering a window of a space comprising a blind drive unit having two motors to provide for independent control of a position of a bottom rail and a tilt angle of a plurality of slats of the blind system. The blind drive unit is operable to adjust the position of the bottom rail to a preset position, and to adjust the tilt angle of the slats to a preset angle in response to receiving a single digital message (e.g., a preset command). The blind drive unit is operable to automatically adjust the position of the bottom rail and the tilt angle of the slats to limit a direct sunlight penetration distance in the space to a maximum direct sunlight penetration distance, and to maximum a reflected sunlight penetration distance on a ceiling of the space, while minimizing occupant distractions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel F. Chambers, William Bryce Fricke, Matthew R. Hontz, David A. Kirby, Justin J. Mierta, Jonathan Carl Sevy
  • Publication number: 20130240165
    Abstract: A motor drive unit assembly for a motorized drapery system having a drapery fabric can include a motor having a drive shaft, an output member rotatable about a drive axis, such that rotation of the output member about the drive axis causes the drapery fabric to move, and a clutch member operatively coupled between the drive shaft of the motor and the output member. The clutch member is configured to automatically couple the output member to the drive shaft such that rotation of the motor drive shaft causes the output member to rotate about the drive axis when the motor drives the drive shaft. The clutch member is further configured to automatically decouple the output member from the motor drive shaft so that the output member rotates about the drive axis relative to the motor drive shaft when the output member is manually driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: SAMUEL F. CHAMBERS, MATTHEW R. HONTZ, DAVID A. KIRBY, DANIEL W. MISTARZ, PETER W. OGDEN, JR., JAMES J. WILSON
  • Patent number: 8210228
    Abstract: A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The pleated roller shade system comprises a drive system, such as a motor or manual drive system, for controlling of the rotation of the roller tube. The roller shade system may comprise a pleating hem bar that is contained within a hem bar pocket of the shade fabric and has a non-linear shape for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The roller shade system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Kirby, Matthew R. Hontz
  • Publication number: 20120125543
    Abstract: A motorized venetian blind system for covering a window of a space comprising a blind drive unit having two motors to provide for independent control of a position of a bottom rail and a tilt angle of a plurality of slats of the blind system. The blind drive unit is operable to adjust the position of the bottom rail to a preset position, and to adjust the tilt angle of the slats to a preset angle in response to receiving a single digital message (e.g., a preset command). The blind drive unit is operable to automatically adjust the position of the bottom rail and the tilt angle of the slats to limit a direct sunlight penetration distance in the space to a maximum direct sunlight penetration distance, and to maximum a reflected sunlight penetration distance on a ceiling of the space, while minimizing occupant distractions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Samuel F. Chambers, William Bryce Fricke, Matthew R. Hontz, David A. Kirby, Justin J. Mierta, Jonathan Carl Sevy
  • Publication number: 20120073765
    Abstract: A motorized venetian blind system for covering a window of a space comprising a blind drive unit having two motors to provide for independent control of a position of a bottom rail via a lift cord and a tilt angle of a plurality of slats of the blind system. The blind drive unit has a headrail with a side panel and at least one of the motors is between between the side panel and the lift cord. The blind drive unit also has a spring-wrap brake. The blind drive unit is operable to adjust the position of the bottom rail to a preset position, and to adjust the tilt angle of the slats to a preset angle in response to receiving a single digital message (e.g., a preset command).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Hontz, David A. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20100043985
    Abstract: A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The pleated roller shade system comprises a drive system, such as a motor or manual drive system, for controlling of the rotation of the roller tube. The roller shade system may comprise a pleating hembar that is contained within a hembar pocket of the shade fabric and has a non-linear shape for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The roller shade system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.
    Inventors: David A. Kirby, Matthew R. Hontz
  • Patent number: D647490
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Matthew R. Hontz, MacKenzie Mor, Gregory Altonen, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: D649125
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Matthew R. Hontz, MacKenzie Mor, Gregory Altonen, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: D664933
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Matthew R. Hontz, MacKenzie Mor, Gregory Altonen, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: D674355
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Matthew R. Hontz, MacKenzie Mor, Gregory Altonen, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo
  • Patent number: D688216
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Erica L. Clymer, Matthew R. Hontz, MacKenzie Mor, Gregory Altonen, Elliot G. Jacoby, Jason C. Killo