Patents by Inventor Michael S. Kokolus

Michael S. Kokolus 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: 7063124
    Abstract: An insert having a peripheral contact surface is received by a roller tube channel to engage a shade fabric. The insert is adjustable to compress the shade fabric within the channel. The insert may include a body having opposite side edges and at least one elongated slot. The insert member may include pivotable prongs or deflectable slot walls adjacent the slots. Pivoting of the prongs or deflection of the slot walls urges the body toward a channel side wall to compress the shade fabric. The insert may, alternatively, include a body having diametrically opposite portions respectively defining a curved outer periphery and a planar outer periphery, the body being wider between the curved portions. The insert is pivotable about an axis to grip the shade fabric between a channel side wall and one of the curved portions of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Walker, Michael S. Kokolus
  • Patent number: 6497267
    Abstract: A motorized shade control system is described in which electrostatic charges, generated by a shade fabric being reeled on to and off of a roller are conducted to and grounded by the shaft of a remote drive motor. The drive motor is ultraquiet, and includes a worm gear drive and single-stage reduction gear assembly which delivers about 0.010 to 0.005 horsepower, with motor output shaft rotational velocity limited to no more than about 30RPM. The motor is mounted within a two-part housing and is clamped between elastomeric acoustic dampers connected between pedestals extending from opposite interior wall surfaces to opposite sides of the motor. An H-bridge drive circuit powers the motor under the control of a microprocessor which can be addressed by an infrared remote transmitter or by a wall mount control. Soft start and soft stop circuits are employed to further reduce noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tony W. Azar, Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr., Joel Hibshman, Jason Killo, Michael S. Kokolus, John Snider, Gary Will