Power Operating Means Patents (Class 160/168.1P)
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Publication number: 20140014279Abstract: A window covering includes a head rail that supports a panel by lift cords such that one end of the panel may be raised and lowered relative to the head rail. An operating system controls movement of the panel and includes spools coupled to the lift cords such that rotation of the spools retracts and extends the lift cords. A shaft is connected to a spool of the lift spool assembly and to a brake and a spring motor. The spring motor applies a motor force to the shaft and the brake applies a brake force to the shaft such that the forces generated by the spring motor and brake hold the panel in the desired position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2013Publication date: January 16, 2014Inventors: Michael Defenbaugh, Tim Hyde, Brian Bellamy Johnson, Joshua Maust, Miguel Morales
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Publication number: 20130340951Abstract: A window shade comprises a head rail, a plurality of slats, a bottom part, suspension cords connected with cord winding units, and a control module. The control module includes first and second drive axles, a sleeve affixed with the first drive axle, a transmission part connected with the second drive axle, an arrester assembled around the first drive axle, and a release unit including an actuator. The first drive axle is operable to control vertical movement of a bottom part, and the second drive axle is operable to adjust an inclination of the slats. The arrester has a locking state in which it blocks a rotational displacement of the first drive axle to keep the bottom part at a desired position, and an unlocking state allowing rotation of the first drive axle so that the bottom part lowers by gravity action.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2013Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: Teh Yor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fu-Lai YU, Chin-Tien HUANG
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Patent number: 8584730Abstract: A vertical window blind assembly remotely controls vertical window blinds. The assembly includes an elongated housing having an elongated opening. An elongated track having spaced channels is coupled to and positioned in the housing above the opening in the housing. Each of a plurality of rollers has a pair of spaced wheels positioned in a pair of channels of the track. Each of a plurality of blinds is coupled to the rollers. A telescopic arm is positioned in the housing extending in laterally parallel spaced relationship to the track. The telescopic arm is coupled to each of the rollers to distribute the rollers in spaced relationship along the track. An extension motor retracts and extends the telescopic arm. A remote control is operationally coupled to the extension motor for selectively actuating the extension motor.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Inventor: Grace F. Aderinto
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Publication number: 20130255890Abstract: A motorizable tilt shade system includes a header system where the header system includes an integral header attachment connection. At least one cord spool is provided within the header system and is connected with at least one suspension cord. A shade is suspended from the at least one suspension cord and a tilt cord pulley is connected with the at least one cord spool. A tilt cord is connected with the tilt cord pulley and with the shade such that the tilt cord and tilt cord pulley cooperate to tilt the shade. A drive shaft receiver is connected with the tilt cord pulley such that movement of the drive shaft receiver moves the tilt cord pulley. A counterbalance assembly including a negative gradient spring is connected to the drive shaft thereby providing an approximately constant tension on the tilt cord pulley.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Yan Rodriguez, Darrin W. Brunk, Richard Scott Hand, Lucas Hunter Oakley
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Publication number: 20130240157Abstract: An electric window blind includes a window frame and multiple slats are located between two side rails of the window frame. Each of the slats has two end faces and each end face has a mediate portion and two end portions. The medial portion of each of two end faces of each of the slats is pivotably connected to the window frame. An adjustment device has a power unit which has an output end and an arm with an elongate slot is connected to the output end. A link is fixed to the plates and has a protrusion which is movably engaged with the elongate slot. One of the two end portions of each slat is pivotably connected to the plate. By activating the power unit, the slats are pivoted to adjust the angular positions of the slats.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: OMA AUTOMATION ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.Inventors: HAO-TING CHEOU, YAO-CHING HUANG
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Patent number: 8365800Abstract: A solar battery is partially attached to each blade of a blind. The position of each blade is adjusted based on position information such that each blade tracks sunlight. Electric energy obtained by the generation of electricity using an indoor illumination source is used to charge a battery. In addition to the generation of electricity, some of the blades are folded to let in light.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2009Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jae Hyuk Oh, See Young Choi, Seong Je Wu, Seong Joo Han
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Publication number: 20120216966Abstract: The invention relates to an improved lift mechanism for a Venetian blind comprising a plurality of parallel elongated slats and pairs of Sift cords (19), where the lift mechanisms comprise a spool shaft (3) mounted for rotation with and axial displacement over a drive shaft (1) and guide means (5, 7) for maintaining the lift cords (19) in their proper axial position and for directing the lift cords (19) to the outer circumferential surface of said spool shaft (3), whereby the lift cords (19) upon rotation of said spool shaft (3) will become helically wound on or off the circumferential surface of the spool shaft (3) resulting in said slats being raised or lowered as the spool shaft (3) rotates The invention furthermore relates to systematic cascading of lift mechanisms for obtaining pairs of lift cords according to the number required for the job and for connection of drive motors.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2010Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: Jorn Krab Holding APSInventors: Jorn Krab, Svend-Erik Dahl
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Patent number: 8141614Abstract: An actuator to be inserted in a headrail of a window covering, the actuator comprises a damping body configured to reduce vibrations when the actuator is operating, and an expanding mechanism configured to expand the damping body against the headrail.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Harmonic DesignInventors: Joel Friedrick, Sarah Reymond, Adrien Brondex, Jean Pierre Lefebvre, Miguel Leleu, Eric Lagarde
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Publication number: 20110259531Abstract: A panel curtain system including a number of panels guided by a rail, a control cord endlessly secured to the panels and at least one operating runner secured to at least one panel and securing the control cord. The panel curtain system includes a motorized drive for the at least one control cord and a means for tensioning the control cord.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2009Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: Couilsse B.V.Inventor: Wouter Hendriks
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Publication number: 20110067823Abstract: A blind is provided which uses a toothed band bodies such as slender toothed belts as rod holding bodies including operating band bodies, instead of conventional cords and tape, having a straightforward structure providing accurate and stable parallel holding of moving rods, and quit and smooth movement, due to accurate operations without slippage due to meshing of bands and wheels having teeth, without problems such as tangling and bending and the like. Particularly, a rod movement holding device suitable for having multiple moving rods and having multiple shielding adjustment faces, and a blind having a rod operating device, can be provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2011Inventor: Tatusabu Tsukamoto
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Publication number: 20110061818Abstract: According to the method of the invention, the movement of movable screen ends for a group of motor-driven screens to a common position is controlled in a grouped manner. The method includes a step (E150) consisting of moving the end of a screen when said end becomes the farthest from the common position after moving the end of at least one other screen to said common position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2009Publication date: March 17, 2011Applicant: SOMFY SASInventors: Pierre Geriniere, Stephane Lapierre
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Patent number: 7857030Abstract: A window covering switchable to manual operation and electrical operation includes at least an upper elongated member, a lower elongated member, a shade lift cord assembly, an electric transmission assembly, a clutch and an automatic retraction means. The electric transmission assembly is coupled with the clutch through an axle of a gear box to drive a driving gear thereon to rotate. The driving gear is engaged with a driven gear pivotally coupled with the automatic retraction means to form a synchronous transmission thereby to control retraction and extension of the electric window covering. When electric power is not available manual operation may be switched through the clutch to extend or retract the window covering.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Publication number: 20100258253Abstract: A Venetian blind includes an upper rail, a lower rail, a slat assembly, an automatic retraction means and a slat opened/closed control means equipped with an adjustment member. The automatic retraction means is installed on one side of the upper rail which has a first cord wheel set and a second cord wheel set near two sides to direct a first lift cord and a second lift cord. The automatic retraction means has a retaining set to pivotally couple a transmission set inside that has a first transmission wheel and a second transmission wheel. The first transmission wheel and second transmission wheel are linked by an elastic element which provides an elastic force to drive the transmission set. The second transmission wheel controls the slat opened/closed control means. When the lower rail is pulled downwards or pushed upwards, the slat assembly can be opened or closed at different angles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2009Publication date: October 14, 2010Inventor: Li-Ming CHENG
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Publication number: 20100186906Abstract: A device for driving and turning the slats of a Venetian blind, with a bearing housing which is embodied for rotatably receiving a drivable drive shaft penetrating the bearing housing, a winding spool for a carrier band, a turning mechanism for tilting the slats and an abutment flange for fixing angular end positions for the slats, the turning mechanism for moving the slats between defined angular end positions and also for arresting the slats in an angular intermediate position comprising at least one turning element and an abutment element which can be brought releasably into engagement with the turning element by means of an actuating mechanism, the drive and turning device for arresting the slats being arranged and embodied in an angular intermediate position during raising of the Venetian blind, the actuating mechanism acting on the abutment element being embodied so as to run freely in a direction of rotation of the drive shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Inventors: Franz Kraler, Eugen Karg
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Patent number: 7673667Abstract: A motorized window covering has a motor and a housing that holds the motor and a dc battery. When the motor is energized to move a window covering, a pulse detector counts the motor current pulses to determine the position of the window covering. A user can save a motor current pulse count corresponding to a desired position and then return the desired position from a different position by simply pressing a button on a remote control unit. Further, inaccuracies caused by motor current pulses that were not counted by the pulse detector, e.g., at start up, at shut down, or during coast down, are minimized by error correction logic.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2010Assignee: Harmonic Design, Inc.Inventors: Douglas R. Domel, Winston G. Walker
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Publication number: 20090173456Abstract: A method for adjusting the residual light gap between slats of a motorized blind when oriented in a set closed position of the blind, where at least one closed position of the slats is set by automatic detection using detecting means, comprising the following steps: adjusting a detection criterion of the detecting means, performing anew automatic detection of the closed position with adjusted detection criterion, recording the new value of the detection criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Herbert Rodas, Vyacheslav Baran
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Publication number: 20090014132Abstract: A window covering switchable to manual operation and electrical operation includes at least an upper elongated member, a lower elongated member, a shade lift cord assembly, an electric transmission assembly, a clutch and an automatic retraction means. The electric transmission assembly is coupled with the clutch through an axle of a gear box to drive a driving gear thereon to rotate. The driving gear is engaged with a driven gear pivotally coupled with the automatic retraction means to form a synchronous transmission thereby to control retraction and extension of the electric window covering. When electric power is not available manual operation may be switched through the clutch to extend or retract the window covering.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2007Publication date: January 15, 2009Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Publication number: 20090000749Abstract: The invention relates to a drive unit for a Venetian blind or the like for inserting into a head rail, including an electric motor and output shafts at both ends driven via gear, where the electric motor is combined with components serving for acoustically damping and uncoupling, that are shaped such that they are insertable into the head rail together with the electric motor as well as to a Venetian blind or the like as such.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2008Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Alcatel LucentInventors: Thomas Amann, Frank Thiele, Klaus Pfendler
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Publication number: 20080078509Abstract: A motor-driven vertical blind is provided with a restricting device disposed on the transmission shaft and a control device disposed on the transmission device. When curtain pieces held by the slide base move, the transmission device is in control of the swing angles: the transmission shaft will be blocked by the restricting device, whenever the output current of the motor increases above a normal range. Meanwhile, when the control device detects an overloading current, an “off” signal to stop the operation is transmitted to the motor.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2006Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventor: Wei-Cheng YEH
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Publication number: 20080053626Abstract: A control system for a top down/bottom up covering for an architectural opening includes a head rail and an independently moveable bottom rail and middle rail. A shade material extends between the middle rail and the bottom rail and control systems are provided at opposite ends of the head rail for operating the middle rail independently of the bottom rail. Each control system includes lift spools associated with lift cords that are secured to the bottom rail or middle rail with the lift spools being seated in cradles and rotated by a drive shaft connected to manually operated control elements. Each drive shaft is operatively connected to a braking system in the form of a two-way clutch so the drive shafts can be rotated in either direction to raise or lower a bottom or middle rail, but locked in any selected position.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Marek Jarosinski, Ralph G. Jelic, Paul F. Josephson, Daniel Fluckey, Ronald Holt
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Patent number: 7174941Abstract: An actuation system for use with an adjustable covering for a fenestration product. The actuation system coupled to an operator for controlling adjustment of extension and contraction of the covering. The actuation system including at least one lift mechanism configured to decouple the actuation system from the operator during a potentially damaging event, such as slack in a lift cord during extension of the covering. The lift mechanism later recoupling the actuation system and operator while maintaining rotational registration between multiple lift mechanisms of the actuation system.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: Pella CorporationInventors: Paul D. Schroder, Gabriel P. Gromotka
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Patent number: 7128122Abstract: A Venetian blind includes a main body, a transmission mechanism, and a motorized drive mechanism. The motorized drive mechanism is operated to lift and lower the slats automatically. Thus, the Venetian blind does not need a lift cord, thereby preventing a child from being tangled by the lift cord so as to ensure the environmental safety of the house.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2004Date of Patent: October 31, 2006Inventor: Ker-Min Lin
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Patent number: 7040374Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch-controlled electric blind is constructed to include a blind body formed of a headrail defining a receiving chamber, a set of slats, and a bottom rail, a power drive, the power drive including a reversible motor and electromagnetic clutch apparatus connectable to the motor, an amplitude modulation set coupled to the motor for rotation with the motor to lift/lower the slats to the desired elevation, a frequency modulation set coupled to the motor through the electromagnetic clutch apparatus and adapted for controlling tilting angle of the slats.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2004Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Che Wen, Song-He Lui, Ya-Wei Hsu
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Patent number: 7021360Abstract: An actuation system for use with an adjustable covering for a fenestration product. The actuation system coupled to an operator for controlling adjustment of extension and contraction of the covering. The actuation system including a drive system configured to decouple the actuation system from the operator during a potentially damaging event, such as slack in a lift cord during extension of the covering. The drive system later recoupling the actuation system and operator while maintaining rotational registration between multiple components of the actuation system.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2003Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Pella CorporationInventors: Paul D. Schroder, Gabriel P. Gromotka
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Patent number: 6957681Abstract: An embedded type motorized blind device. A power supply section has a motor. A power transmitting section has a worm gear coupled to the shaft of the power supply section, a worm wheel positioned on and meshed with the worm gear, a planetary gear formed on a side surface of the worm wheel, and a quadrangular shaft formed integrally with a front end of the worm gear. A control section has an internal sun gear meshed with the planetary gear, a pair of swing arms securely locked to a center shaft fastened to a bottom wall of the internal sun gear, and a pair of limit switches operated by lower ends of the swing arms to control raising and lowering of a blind. An operating section has raising and lowering drums connected one with another, and tilt adjustment parts respectively placed on the raising and lowering drums.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: Winspia Co., Ltd.Inventor: Dong Ik Kim
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Patent number: 6910515Abstract: An electricity-operated window blind is constructed to include a headrail, a driving mechanism mounted inside the headrail and having a power input device for rotation upon receipt of power supply, and a power output device for synchronously rotating with the power input device, a bind body suspended below the headrail and coupled to the power output device and controlled by the power output device to change window shading status, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism includes a suspension rod downwardly suspended from the headrail by a first end thereof, and a controller installed in a second end of the suspension rod. The controller has a battery set electrically coupled to the power input device for providing the necessary working power to the power input device.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ming Nien
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Patent number: 6789597Abstract: An electromagnetic clutch-controlled electric blind is constructed to include a blind body formed of a headrail defining a receiving chamber, a set of slats, and a bottom rail, a power drive, the power drive including a reversible motor and electromagnetic clutch apparatus connectable to the motor, an amplitude modulation set coupled to the motor for rotation with the motor to lift/lower the slats to the desired elevation, a frequency modulation set coupled to the motor through the electromagnetic clutch apparatus and adapted for controlling tilting angle of the slats.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Che Wen, Song-He Lui, Ya-Wei Hsu
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Patent number: 6766846Abstract: An electric blind, which is efficiently raised and lowered and controlled in a tilt angle of its vanes by a single drive motor, is disclosed. The electric blind includes a mount frame, fixedly mounted on a wall over a window and having a certain length, a pair of housings attached to both ends of the mount frame, a pair of take-up cylinders rotably coupled to the housings, lifting cords wound around the pair of take-up cylinders and unwound therefrom to be suspended by a certain length, a rotating pipe, disposed between and joined to the pair of take-up cylinders and rotated in forward and reverse directions, a drive motor connected to the rotating pipe, a plurality of vanes disposed below the pair of housings to be raised and lowered by the lifting cords, and means for controlling tilt angle of the vanes by a turning force of the rotating pipe.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2003Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Inventors: Myoung-Ho Song, Young-Hwan Song
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Patent number: 6659156Abstract: A screw transmission mechanism for a motor-driven blind is constructed to include a driving unit, and at least one cord roll-up unit controlled by the driving unit to lift/lower or tilt the slats of the motor-driven Venetian blind. Each cord roll-up unit includes an amplitude modulation set controlled by the driving unit to lift/lower the slats and bottom rail of the Venetian blind, a frequency modulation set for rotation with the amplitude modulation set to tilt the slats of the Venetian blind, and a linkage adapted to control connection between the frequency modulation set and the amplitude modulation set.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Che Wen, Song-He Lui
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Patent number: 6655441Abstract: A friction transmission mechanism for a motor-driven blind is constructed to include a driving unit, and at least one cord roll-up unit controlled to the driving unit to lift/lower or tilt the slats of the motor-driven Venetian blind. Each cord roll-up unit includes an amplitude modulation wheel controlled by the driving unit to lift/lower the slats and bottom rail of the Venetian blind, a frequency modulation wheel for rotation with the amplitude modulation set to tilt the slats of the Venetian blind, spring elements, which forces the frequency modulation wheel into friction-engagement with the amplitude modulation wheel, and a support supporting the amplitude modulation wheel, the support having a shoulder adapted to act with a protruding block of the frequency modulation wheel and to further limit angle of rotation of the frequency modulation wheel.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2002Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Che Wen, Song-He Lui
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Patent number: 6516858Abstract: A headrail including a detachable battery holder for powered coverings for architectural openings is disclosed. The headrail comprises a housing defining an interior into which a battery magazine is removably mounted. In this manner, the batteries are hidden within the headrail for a more aesthetically pleasing look than can be achieved when the batteries are mounted outside of the headrail. The housing may include one or more small slots into which corresponding tabs on end caps mounted on the ends of the battery magazine may be inserted. The housing may also include a larger opening through which batteries may be inserted into or extracted from the battery magazine while it is mounted in the housing. Further, the housing may include one or more elongated openings for cooling, or through which installed batteries may be inspected, or into which tools may be inserted to move the batteries that are installed in the battery magazine.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Donald E. Fraser, Everett S. Coleman
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Patent number: 6446693Abstract: A headrail designed for powered coverings for architectural openings comprises a housing defining an interior that conveniently hides a battery holder, a signal-receiving system, and an electric motor used to adjust the configuration of the covering. The headrail also hides improved hardware for mounting the motor and, in the case of coverings comprising tiltable elements, improved hardware for mounting a tilt rod. Additionally, in the case of coverings comprising tiltable elements, the headrail hides improved hardware for adjustably attaching the tiltable elements to the tilt rod in a manner that prevents over-rotation of the tiltable elements. The battery holder may comprise a battery magazine or a battery carrier removably mounted in the headrail housing. The batteries may be inserted into or extracted from the battery holder through an opening in a bottom wall of the headrail housing. A swingably mounted trap door may selectively cover or uncover the opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: September 10, 2002Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Donald E. Fraser, Everett S. Coleman
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Patent number: 6405782Abstract: A transmission system installed in the track of a motor-driven blind and controlled to move vertical slats of the motor-driven blind between a received position and an extended position and to rotate the vertical slats in regulating the light after the vertical slats have been moved to the extended position. The transmission system includes a first power drive controlled to rotate the vertical slats to the desired angle through a transmission shaft and worm and worm gear sets, and a second power drive controlled to move the vertical slats from the ends of the track toward the middle or from the middle of the track toward the ends between the extended position and the received position through two reversed screws.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Inventor: Keng Mu Cheng
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Patent number: 6382294Abstract: A system for holding batteries in a headrail comprises a battery carrier that cooperates with a battery carrier housing through an opening in the bottom of a headrail housing. The battery carrier accommodates a plurality of batteries and slidingly engages the battery carrier housing, which is mounted within the interior of the headrail housing. Since the battery carrier is slidably and removably engaged with the battery carrier housing, it is possible to remove and replace batteries without disassembling the headrail.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: May 7, 2002Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Donald E. Fraser
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Patent number: 6253822Abstract: A cord driving mechanism for a blind is described, which comprises a cord driving pulley having a circumferential, radially outward-facing groove comprising a plurality of nips, the nips defined by formations which are disposed opposite one another on respective sides of the groove and are positioned so that the path of a cord around the pulley is relatively straight and so that the cord is substantially unconstricted in the regions between the nips; and a shoe, relative to which the pulley rotates, which surrounds at least part of the circumferential groove in the pulley. A cord passes around the pulley, in the space defined by the circumferential groove and the shoe. The cord is retained in the groove by contact with the shoe. The dimensions of the groove, the spacing between the groove and the shoe, and the size of the cord provide a desired resistance to rotation of the pulley and a desired maximum load which can be exerted on the cord.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1998Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Eclipse Blind Systems LimitedInventor: Malcolm James Wootton