Patents by Inventor Nicholas E. VanderKolk

Nicholas E. VanderKolk 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: 20220316273
    Abstract: A limit stop assembly for setting a travel limit position of a covering of an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The limit stop assembly including a first state of operation and a second state of operation. The limit stop assembly being transitioned from the first state of operation to the second state of operation by moving the covering from a first position towards a second position. Transitioning the limit stop assembly from the first state of operation to the second state of operation automatically sets the travel limit of the covering for the second position. In one example of an embodiment, the limit stop assembly includes a screw shaft, a limit nut threadably received on the screw shaft, a hub, and a collar selectively movable between first and second collar positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Nicholas E. Vanderkolk
  • Patent number: 11396773
    Abstract: A limit stop assembly for setting a travel limit position of a covering of an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The limit stop assembly including a first state of operation and a second state of operation. The limit stop assembly being transitioned from the first state of operation to the second state of operation by moving the covering from a first position towards a second position. Transitioning the limit stop assembly from the first state of operation to the second state of operation automatically sets the travel limit of the covering for the second position. In one example of an embodiment, the limit stop assembly includes a screw shaft, a limit nut threadably received on the screw shaft, a hub, and a collar selectively movable between first and second collar positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Smith, Nicholas E. Vanderkolk
  • Patent number: 11180951
    Abstract: An improved bottom rail for an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The bottom rail includes one or more channels. In use, a first channel may receive a bottom edge of the covering while a weight channel receives a weighted, longitudinal rod therein. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the bottom rail may include pucks for retaining the weighted, longitudinal rod within the weight channel. In use, the pucks are rotatable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position. In the first position, the pucks are slidably positionable along an outer surface of the longitudinal rod. In the second position, the pucks contact the longitudinal rod to thereby exert an additional downward force onto the longitudinal rod so that the longitudinal rod is retained within the weight channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
    Inventors: David B. McNeill, Nicholas E. Vanderkolk
  • Patent number: 10731411
    Abstract: Example end caps for architectural coverings are disclosed herein. An example end cap for an architectural covering includes a first cable-routing element provided in a first region of the end cap and a second cable-routing element provided in a second region of the end cap spaced apart from the first region of the end cap. The example end cap includes a cable-directing element and a motor mount configured to couple with a portion of a motor having a cable extending therefrom. In the example end cap, the cable-directing element is configured to engage a transition portion of the cable and to selectively route a second portion of the cable from the cable-directing element to either the first cable-routing element or the second cable-routing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup, Nicholas E. VanderKolk, Peter Zagone
  • Publication number: 20190376340
    Abstract: A limit stop assembly for setting a travel limit position of a covering of an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The limit stop assembly including a first state of operation and a second state of operation. The limit stop assembly being transitioned from the first state of operation to the second state of operation by moving the covering from a first position towards a second position. Transitioning the limit stop assembly from the first state of operation to the second state of operation automatically sets the travel limit of the covering for the second position. In one example of an embodiment, the limit stop assembly includes a screw shaft, a limit nut threadably received on the screw shaft, a hub, and a collar selectively movable between first and second collar positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. SMITH, Nicholas E. VANDERKOLK
  • Publication number: 20190264499
    Abstract: An improved bottom rail for an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The bottom rail includes one or more channels. In use, a first channel may receive a bottom edge of the covering while a weight channel receives a weighted, longitudinal rod therein. Additionally, and/or alternatively, the bottom rail may include pucks for retaining the weighted, longitudinal rod within the weight channel. In use, the pucks are rotatable from a first unlocked position to a second locked position. In the first position, the pucks are slidably positionable along an outer surface of the longitudinal rod. In the second position, the pucks contact the longitudinal rod to thereby exert an additional downward force onto the longitudinal rod so that the longitudinal rod is retained within the weight channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.
    Inventors: David B. MCNEILL, Nicholas E. VANDERKOLK
  • Publication number: 20180106102
    Abstract: Example end caps for architectural coverings are disclosed herein. An example end cap for an architectural covering includes a first cable-routing element provided in a first region of the end cap and a second cable-routing element provided in a second region of the end cap spaced apart from the first region of the end cap. The example end cap includes a cable-directing element and a motor mount configured to couple with a portion of a motor having a cable extending therefrom. In the example end cap, the cable-directing element is configured to engage a transition portion of the cable and to selectively route a second portion of the cable from the cable-directing element to either the first cable-routing element or the second cable-routing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Ronald Holt, Stephen T. Wisecup, Nicholas E. VanderKolk, Peter Zagone