Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a dining chair is provided having a frame, a seat operably connected to the frame, a backrest operably connected to the frame, a reclining mechanism, and a counterbalance assembly positioned within the backrest, among other components. The backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position. In one or more arrangements, the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to move the backrest to the upright position in absence of an opposing force.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a drapery system is presented including a drapery support rod having a plurality of segments joined by one or more splice connectors. The splice connector includes a first section, a stop at an intermediate point, and a second section. The first and second sections include features configured and arranged to engage and connect with interior surfaces of the first and second segments, thereby operably connecting the first and second segments of the drapery support rod. The drapery support rod includes a helical guide structure on the exterior surface to move one or more of a plurality of ring members between an open and closed position, wherein the rings are configured and arranged to attach to an upper edge of a shade material and suspend the shade material from the drapery support rod.

Abstract: A system is presented that can be used to install pinch pleat drapery as well as ripplefold drapery onto a drapery rod as well as a drapery track. The system includes the use of a plurality of attachment members that have a center channel, a left channel and a right channel that are configured to receive a drapery pin therein. When a pinch pleat drapery is installed, drapery pins are placed in the center channels of the attachment members. When a ripplefold drapery is installed, drapery pins are installed in the attachment members in a pattern wherein adjacent drapery pins point in opposite directions thereby forming a pattern of drapery pins that point left, right, left, right and so on. In this way, a single system may be used that installs both pinch pleat drapery as well as ripplefold drapery onto a drapery rod as well as a drapery track.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a dining chair is provided having a frame, a seat operably connected to the frame, a backrest operably connected to the frame, a reclining mechanism, and a counterbalance assembly positioned within the backrest, among other components. The backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position. In one or more arrangements, the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to move the backrest to the upright position in absence of an opposing force.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a dining chair is provided having a frame, a seat operably connected to the frame, a backrest operably connected to the frame, a reclining mechanism, and a counterbalance assembly positioned within the backrest, among other components. The backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position. In one or more arrangements, the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to move the backrest to the upright position in absence of an opposing force.

Abstract: A wirelessly controllable, motorized and battery powered drapery apparatus is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure in its surface. The rotatable drive is inserted through the open interior of a plurality of tabs in the shade material. A grommet driver is positioned over the rotatable drive element and connected to one of the plurality of tabs. The grommet driver has at least one tooth that is in communication with the guide structure in the rotatable drive element. As the rotatable drive element is rotated, the grommet drive is driven along the length of the rotatable drive element thereby moving the shade material between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a dining chair is provided having a frame, a seat operably connected to the frame, a backrest operably connected to the frame, a reclining mechanism, and a counterbalance assembly positioned within the backrest, among other components. The backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position. In one or more arrangements, the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to move the backrest to the upright position in absence of an opposing force.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a folding chair is provided having a frame, a seat operably connected to the frame, a backrest operably connected to the frame, and a counterbalance assembly, among other components. The backrest is configured to move between an upright position and a reclined position. The counterbalance assembly is configured to apply a counterbalance force to the backrest. In one or more arrangements, the counterbalance assembly is configured to provide a counterbalance force to move the backrest to the upright position in absence of an opposing force. In one or more arrangements the counterbalance assembly is configured to hold the backrest at one or more intermediate positions between the upright position and the reclined position. In one or more arrangements the counterbalance assembly is configured to increase the counterbalance force applied to the backrest at one or more intermediate positions between the upright and reclined positions.

Abstract: A drapery system having a drive element extending the length that is connected to a structure by a pair of brackets. The drive element has a cylindrical shape with an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the drive element has a guide structure, which in one arrangement is a plurality of helical grooves. A plurality of rings are positioned around the drive element that are used to connect shade material to the drive element. The rings include a partial driver ring, a full driver ring and idler rings. In a center closing arrangement, partial driver rings are positioned as the inward most rings followed by full driver ring which is followed by a plurality of idler rings. The partial driver ring and the idler rings have a stabilizer that fits around the exterior surface of the drive element thereby providing smoother and quieter travel along the drive element.

Abstract: A system is presented that can be used to install pinch pleat drapery as well as ripplefold drapery onto a drapery rod as well as a drapery track. The system includes the use of a plurality of attachment members that have a center channel, a left channel and a right channel that are configured to receive a drapery pin therein. When a pinch pleat drapery is installed, drapery pins are placed in the center channels of the attachment members. When a ripplefold drapery is installed, drapery pins are installed in the attachment members in a pattern wherein adjacent drapery pins point in opposite directions thereby forming a pattern of drapery pins that point left, right, left, right and so on. In this way, a single system may be used that installs both pinch pleat drapery as well as ripplefold drapery onto a drapery rod as well as a drapery track.

Abstract: A wirelessly controllable, motorized and battery powered drapery apparatus is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure in its surface. The rotatable drive is inserted through the open interior of a plurality of grommets in the shade material. A grommet driver is positioned over the rotatable drive element and connected to one of the plurality of grommets. The grommet driver has at least one tooth that is in communication with the guide structure in the rotatable drive element. As the rotatable drive element is rotated, the grommet drive is driven along the length of the rotatable drive element thereby moving the shade material between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A wirelessly controllable, motorized and battery powered drapery apparatus is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure in its surface. The rotatable drive is inserted through the open interior of a plurality of grommets in the shade material. A grommet driver is positioned over the rotatable drive element and connected to one of the plurality of grommets. The grommet driver has at least one tooth that is in communication with the guide structure in the rotatable drive element. As the rotatable drive element is rotated, the grommet drive is driven along the length of the rotatable drive element thereby moving the shade material between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a drapery system is presented including a drapery support rod having a plurality of segments joined by one or more splice connectors. The splice connector includes a first section, a stop at an intermediate point, and a second section. The first and second sections include features configured and arranged to engage and connect with interior surfaces of the first and second segments, thereby operably connecting the first and second segments of the drapery support rod. The drapery support rod includes a helical guide structure on the exterior surface to move one or more of a plurality of ring members between an open and closed position, wherein the rings are configured and arranged to attach to an upper edge of a shade material and suspend the shade material from the drapery support rod.

Abstract: In one or more arrangements, a power efficient remote control system is presented. The remote control system has a touch based interface having a plurality of touch sensitive sensors. The remote control system is configured to operate in an active mode in response to user input and operate in a background mode in response to inactivity. In the active mode, a control circuit of the remote control system is configured to monitor touch activity by sampling signals from outputs from a plurality of touch sensitive sensors individually. In the background mode, power is saved by electrically connecting outputs of the plurality of touch sensitive sensors together and monitoring touch activity by sampling a signal from the connected outputs of the plurality of touch sensitive sensors together.

Abstract: A drapery support rod system is presented having a drapery support rod connected to a structure by a pair of brackets. Rings positioned around the drapery support rod are used to connect shade material to the drapery support rod. The rings have an upper end with an interior surface that is configured to fit closely around the exterior surface of the drapery support rod in a manner configured to facilitate smoother and quieter travel of the rings across the surface of the drapery support rod. When viewed from the sides, the rings have an oval shape that is elongated between an upper end and a lower end. The oval shape has a first diameter at the upper end and having a second diameter at the lower end that is larger than the first diameter.

Abstract: A drapery system having a drive element extending the length that is connected to a structure by a pair of brackets. The drive element has a cylindrical shape with an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the drive element has a guide structure, which in one arrangement is a plurality of helical grooves. A plurality of rings are positioned around the drive element that are used to connect shade material to the drive element. The rings include a partial driver ring, a full driver ring and idler rings. In a center closing arrangement, partial driver rings are positioned as the inward most rings followed by full driver ring which is followed by a plurality of idler rings. The partial driver ring and the idler rings have a stabilizer that fits around the exterior surface of the drive element thereby providing smoother and quitter travel along the drive element.

Abstract: A wirelessly controllable, motorized and battery powered drapery apparatus is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure in its surface. The rotatable drive is inserted through the open interior of a plurality of tabs in the shade material. A grommet driver is positioned over the rotatable drive element and connected to one of the plurality of tabs. The grommet driver has at least one tooth that is in communication with the guide structure in the rotatable drive element. As the rotatable drive element is rotated, the grommet drive is driven along the length of the rotatable drive element thereby moving the shade material between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A wirelessly controllable, motorized and battery powered drapery apparatus is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure in its surface. The rotatable drive is inserted through the open interior of a plurality of grommets in the shade material. A grommet driver is positioned over the rotatable drive element and connected to one of the plurality of grommets. The grommet driver has at least one tooth that is in communication with the guide structure in the rotatable drive element. As the rotatable drive element is rotated, the grommet drive is driven along the length of the rotatable drive element thereby moving the shade material between an open position and a closed position.