Patents by Inventor Rick A. Shopp

Rick A. Shopp 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: 11314159
    Abstract: A support system for moving a rollable material between a stored configuration and an unrolled configuration. The rollable material may be a projection screen, and the unrolled configuration may be a viewing configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Publication number: 20210382384
    Abstract: A support system for moving a rollable material between a stored configuration and an unrolled configuration. The rollable material may be a projection screen, and the unrolled configuration may be a viewing configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Publication number: 20210363819
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an angled coupler for coupling a first shaft of a first roller assembly to a second shaft of a second roller assembly. The angled coupler may comprise a surface coupling assembly. The surface coupling assembly may include a top bracket and at least one vertical bracket. The at least one vertical bracket may be pivotably coupled to the top bracket and pivotable about a first axis. The angled coupler may further include a roller coupling assembly coupled to the surface coupling assembly. The roller coupling assembly may include a drive assembly configured to be coupled to at least one of the first shaft of the first roller assembly and the second shaft of the first roller assembly. The at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft may be configured to be pivotable about a second axis relative to the drive assembly, the first axis and the second axis being co-axial.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Rick A. Shopp, Jerry L. McPherson, JR.
  • Patent number: 7559707
    Abstract: A screen assembly is disclosed including a case, a screen assembly, and a bracket assembly that supports the screen assembly within an interior region of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A Shopp
  • Publication number: 20060256434
    Abstract: A screen assembly is disclosed including a case, a screen assembly, and a bracket assembly that supports the screen assembly within an interior region of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Inventor: Rick Shopp
  • Patent number: 6816308
    Abstract: A screen system is disclosed. The screen system includes a screen housing, a screen positionable in the screen housing, and a screen mount. The screen mount is configured to support the screen in the screen housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 6532109
    Abstract: A mounting assembly including a housing for a roller operated system, such as a projection screen system, which facilitates installation in a building in stages to reduce the risk of damage to system components. The housing includes longitudinally extending lipped projections along its top wall. Attachment lugs of brackets that support the roller on which a sheet, such as a projection screen, is windable are adapted to engage the lipped projections and enable the brackets to be mounted to the housing at selected longitudinal locations to allow for positioning adjustments of the roller. The vertical side walls of the housing also are each constructed with a projecting lip adapted to engage an upstanding hook of the bottom closure panel to thereby enable the closure panel to be mounted to either of the side walls of the housing. A method of installing a roller operated system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 6421175
    Abstract: A projection screen system is provided that is configured to mount to a structure. The projection screen system includes a housing, a roller, a screen, and a motor positioned to rotate the roller to raise and lower the screen. The projection screen system further includes a coupling configured to couple the motor to the electrical supply of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 6137629
    Abstract: A projection screen system that may be installed in a building in stages to reduce the risk of damage to the projection screen. The system includes a housing in which is mounted a socket circuitable with a power supply of the building. An assembly of the system that may be attached to the housing at a later stage of building construction includes a motor with a power cord, a roller and a projection screen. The motor rotates the roller to unwind the projection screen from around the roller and thereby lower the projection screen. A first end of the power cord is circuited to the motor, and a second end of the power conduit includes a plug that mates with the socket to operatively circuit the motor to the building's power supply. The housing also includes longitudinally extending lipped projections along its top wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 6111694
    Abstract: A casing for a projection screen system that includes a fascia removable from the spine of the casing without the use of tools. The casing is provided with a roll locking hinge formed by a cooperating lip and socket furnished on the fascia and the spine. The roll locking hinge is configured to permit the fascia to be preliminarily mated with the spine when the fascia is disposed in an upwardly rotated arrangement. After the preliminary mating of the fascia with the spine, when subsequently rotated downward relative to the spine, the fascia is locked to the spine by the roll locking hinge, thereby preventing inadvertent fascia removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Draper, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 5341241
    Abstract: An electrically actuated trap door system for a projection screen case. The system includes a trap door having first and second opposing edges. The first edge of the trap door is pivotally connected to the case such that the trap door is movable between a closed position in which the trap door is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the case and an open position in which the second edge of the trap door is disposed within the interior of the housing to form an opening in the bottom surface of the case. A motorized roller rotatable in first and second directions about its longitudinal axis is disposed within the case, and a ribbon connects the trap door and the roller to translate the rotation of the roller into movement of the trap door between its closed position and its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Draper Shade & Screen Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 5296964
    Abstract: A casing for a projection screen and a motorized projection screen system and method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. The casing includes a fascia and endcaps which are affixed to the casing spine without the use of tools thereby providing easy access to the working components housed within the casing and providing flexibility to the consumer in the appearance of the casing. The motorized projection screen system includes a roller having a projection screen attached thereto and a reversible motor operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the motor causes the roller to rotate and the projection screen to be raised or lowered. The system also includes a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the roller to lower the projection screen biases the roller toward rotation in the opposite direction. The biasing mechanism reduces the power requirements of the reversible motor of the system as it assists in lifting the weight of the projection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Draper Shade & Screen Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Rick A. Shopp
  • Patent number: 5274499
    Abstract: A casing for a projection screen and a motorized projection screen system and method for controlling the same are disclosed herein. The casing includes a fascia and endcaps which are affixed to the casing spine without the use of tools thereby providing easy access to the working components housed within the casing and providing flexibility to the consumer in the appearance of the casing. The motorized projection screen system includes a roller having a projection screen attached thereto and a reversible motor operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the motor causes the roller to rotate and the projection screen to be raised or lowered. The system also includes a biasing mechanism operatively connected to the roller such that rotation of the roller to lower the projection screen biases the roller toward rotation in the opposite direction. The biasing mechanism reduces the power requirements of the reversible motor of the system as it assists in lifting the weight of the projection screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Draper Shade & Screen Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Rick Shopp