Drum Or Roller Wound Strand Patents (Class 160/170)
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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: 20130248125Abstract: A window covering has an upper rail and lift cords that extend from the upper rail to window covering material. The lift cords are wound onto respective conical spools when the window covering material is retracted and is unwound from the spools when the window covering material is extended. The conical spools move along a portion of the length of a shaft that couples the conical spools to a spring motor when the window covering material is moved from a retracted position to an extended position. The lift cords are unwound from the spools so that a segment of the lift cord that extends from the spool through a hole in the headrail is positioned adjacent a portion of the spool that has a smaller diameter when the window covering material is in the extended position as compared to when the window covering material is in the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: WHOLE SPACE INDUSTRIES LTDInventor: Tzong-Fu Lin
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Patent number: 8522852Abstract: A suspension system for a window covering that eliminates the use of pull cords is provided. The suspension system includes a control module having a winding drum and a spring disposed about an axle. A friction member or reaction member is also provided to offset difference in the force exerted by the spring on a suspension cord versus the weight of the window covering member.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Teh Yor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fu-Lai Yu, Chin-Tien Huang
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Publication number: 20130180672Abstract: A lifting Venetian blind having a rope lock device is equipped at an end of a head rail, a side cover is equipped at another end of the head rail, a piece of transverse shaft is equipped in a head rail assembly system, an end of the piece of transverse shaft is loaded in the rope lock device, and another end of the piece of transverse shaft is equipped with elevator components, which include an elevator connection seat, a ladder belt cover wheel brake shaft, a cloth wheel stop bit elastic device, a ladder belt cover wheel, a bearing block, a bearing, and an elevator belt rotating wheel. It solves a problem of light leaking through a hole on a blind slat to the greatest extent possible. When the blind is raised or lowered, an elevator belt is easily on and off and not mutually winding knot without noise.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2010Publication date: July 18, 2013Applicant: LANDER INDUSTRIAL (ZHEJIANG) CO., LTD.Inventor: Jianming Yu
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Publication number: 20130133842Abstract: A ladder tape includes two pairs of warp strings, and two weft strings repeatedly passing through the warp strings in a predetermined way to form two cords and a plurality of bridge sections between the cords. The weft strings respectively are wound around one section of each pair of the warp strings only to form an opening between the warp strings that the ladder tape may engage with the rotary drum of the window blind in a fast and easy way. The weft strings are wound around the warp strings in a way that the ladder tape will not get entangled with other objects unexpectedly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2012Publication date: May 30, 2013Applicant: NIEN MADE ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.Inventor: Chen-Hsing LI
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Publication number: 20130068402Abstract: To reduce an opening and closing operation load in a venetian blind in which a lifting/lowering cord is disposed at a position offset from a central portion in a back and forth direction of a slat. At least one lifting/lowering cord is disposed along one vertical cord of front and back vertical cords and introduced into a head box from one side in a back and forth direction of the head box, and the other lifting/lowering cord is disposed along the other vertical cord and introduced into the head box from the other side in the back and forth direction of the head box. All the lifting/lowering cords introduced into the head box from the different sides in the back and forth direction of the head box are wound in the same direction by the lifting/lowering drums to which the respective ends of the lifting/lowering cords are connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: NICHIBEI CO., LTD.Inventors: Katsumata Shun, Daizen Masaaki, Takagi Koji
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Publication number: 20130056159Abstract: The present invention relates to a louvre vane system with a frame, which houses a plurality of vanes within the frame. The vanes can be rotated between an open position, in which the edges of adjacent vanes are spaced apart and a closed position, in which the edges of adjacent vanes abut each other to for:: a substantially continuous surface. When the vanes are in the closed position, a thermal membrane, is formed by the, vanes 14 that prevents drafts and limits heat exchange from one side of the membrane to the other.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2011Publication date: March 7, 2013Inventor: Andrew Gray
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Publication number: 20130048234Abstract: The present invention relates to a very flexible Venetian blind that easily can be adapted to various sizes of for instance window openings, by a person having limited skill in mounting and adapting Venetian blinds. Also the Venetian blind according to the invention is designed such that individual slats can easily be removed for instance to change the overall size of the Venetian blind or for repair or replacement of individual slats. It is hence also easy according to the invention to change the overall appearance, for instance colour, of the Venetian blinds to meet changing requirements. These and other objects and advantages are attained by the Venetian blind according to the invention. It is understood that although the various elements of the Venetian blind according to the invention here are described and shown as used to form one specific Venetian blind it is also possible to use one or more of the elements (for instance the bottom portions, the lift mechanism etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2011Publication date: February 28, 2013Applicant: JORN KRAB HOLDING APSInventors: Svend-Erik Paulsen Dahl, Jakob Dydensborg
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Patent number: 8360130Abstract: A tension device that prevents a window covering from operating properly until the tension device is installed. The tension device incorporates a drive wheel, casing, anchoring arm and drive stud. The drive stud has two sections, one keyed and one cylindrical. Before the tension device is installed, the keyed section of the drive stud engages the drive wheel and the casing, thereby preventing them from rotating relative to each other. When the tension device is installed, the drive stud must be inserted into the anchoring arm causing the keyed section of the drive stud to disengage the drive wheel and thereby allow the drive wheel to rotate relative to the casing.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Rollease Inc.Inventors: Joseph Cannaverde, Roger Redin
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Patent number: 8356653Abstract: A control module may be used for raising and lowering a window shade. This configuration allows a user to pull the operating cord a predetermined distance to raise the window shade, then release the operating cord until it has retracted, and then pull the operating cord another predetermined distance to raise the window shade again. A brake mechanism is operably connected to a brake release and configured to lock or unlock the drive axle. A clutch is adapted to be mounted on the axle for selectively engaging the cord drum to the axle. The cord drum may rotate independent of the drive axle when a clutch is disengaged from the drive axle. As a result, movement of the operating cord will not cause the window shade to raise while the clutch is disengaged. When the clutch is engaged with the drive axle, the cord drum and adapter sleeve may rotate together to drive the rotation of the drive axle for raising the window shade.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2010Date of Patent: January 22, 2013Assignee: Teh Yor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu Fu-Lai, Huang Chin-Tien
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Publication number: 20120305200Abstract: A blind device includes a head box, a blind and an operation unit. The head box includes an axle located therein, a roller supported on the axle, and a lift lock located therein. The blind includes a bottom rail and a rope inserted through the lift lock. A first section of the rope is wound on the roller and connected to the bottom rail on a side of the lift lock. A second section of the rope is connected to the head box on another side of the lift lock. The operation unit includes a sleeve connected to the head box, a rod including a first end located in the sleeve and a second end located outside the sleeve, and a pulley connected to the first end of the rod. The second section of the rope is wound on the pulley.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventor: Tai-Ping LIU
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Publication number: 20120298317Abstract: An automatic roll-up device is applied to a Venetian blind which rolls up laths by itself through a feedback action. The roll-up device uses specifically a single shaft tube, an interior of which provides axially for installation of a volute spring and which is driven directly by the volute spring. An outer circumference of the shaft tube links and rolls up lift cords directly to achieve a dual-functional roll-up effect in a limited and simple structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventor: Hsien-Te HUANG
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Patent number: 8297332Abstract: An auto winding mechanism for a window blind includes two guide rollers pivotally mounted between an upper seat and a lower seat and connected by an elastic winding tape, and two pull cords wound around the pull cords. Each of the guide rollers has a gear and a bottom disk. The upper seat has a covering edge surrounding the gear of each of the guide rollers. The lower seat has a surface provided with two annular grooves to receive the bottom disk of each of the two guide rollers. Thus, each of the pull cords is protected by the bottom disk of each of the guide rollers so that when the pull cords swing or bump during movement, each of the pull cords will not be jammed between the lower seat and each of the guide rollers.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2011Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Inventor: Shih-Ming Lin
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Patent number: 8291959Abstract: A Roman shade includes an upper rail, a Roman shade assembly attached to a lower side of the upper rail that is pendent and foldable, and a rolling shade retractable in the upper rail and retained at the backside of the Roman shade assembly. The Roman shade assembly includes a fabric shade, and the fabric shade has at least one pressing rod on the backside and a positioning means at a distal end. The rolling shade includes a main shaft in the upper rail with a winding means and a shade surface. The shade surface has one end fastened to the main shaft and another end running through the pressing rods and anchored on the positioning means. The winding means can be used to reduce a holding space and retraction and extension of the Roman shade can be controlled by the rolling shade. Operation is simpler with less effort.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2010Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Patent number: 8281843Abstract: An actuator mechanism for window coverings, such as, Venetian blinds that eliminates the use of pull cords and tilting wands is provided. The actuator mechanism includes a stop member engageable with at least one of the slats to stop tilting movement thereof and a clutch arrangement between a drive axle and a tilt control mechanism, responsive to the stop member engaging at least one of the slats, to disengage the tilting force applied to a ladder cord supporting the slats.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Teh Yor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fu-Lai Yu, Chin-Tien Huang
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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: 8245756Abstract: A pleated shade or Venetian blind apparatus capable of height adjustment comprising an upper elongated support; a lower elongated member that is manually adjustable up and down; primary lines extending through shade pleats or blind slats to suspend the bottom elongated member; primary rotors at the top elongated support to wind or engage the primary lines; at least one secondary line having operative connection to the primary lines; and rotary members acting on the secondary line or lines for counterbalancing suspension force exerted on the primary lines at different shade or blind height adjusted levels, including a spring coupled to the rotary members exerting force tending to entrain the secondary line or lines about the rotary members, for storage on at least one of the members.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Inventors: Li-Ming Cheng, Lawrence S. Wu
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Patent number: 8230896Abstract: A modular blind transport system for a window blind application. The complete system may be assembled from a relatively small number of individual modules to obtain working systems for a very wide range of applications, including especially a category of counterbalanced blinds wherein a relatively small external input force may be used to raise or lower the blind, and/or to open or close the blind.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Hunter Douglas IncInventors: Richard Anderson, Wendell B. Colson, Steven R. Haarer
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Publication number: 20120118515Abstract: A lift cord assembly for a Venetian blind includes a first rotating member for connection of two ladder strings, and a second rotating member rotated synchronously with the first rotating member for connection of a single lift cord. By this design, the first rotating member and the second rotating member can be forced to rotate synchronously by the actuation of the lift cord, enabling the ladder strings to be wound around the first rotating member to fold slats of the Venetian blind. As a result, the ladder strings can be integrated by the lift cord assembly of the present invention into the lift cord so as to attain the purposing of enhancing safety of children in the household.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventor: Chin-Fu CHEN
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Patent number: 8087445Abstract: The lift motor comprises at least one motor unit releasably connected to at least one spool unit. The spool unit comprises a spool for winding a cord and a gear operatively connected to the spool. The motor unit comprises a spring motor having a gear for engaging the gear of the spool. A window covering comprises a head rail supporting a motor as set forth above that supports a shade panel by the cord. A method of assembling a window covering comprises constructing a head rail having an internal space for receiving a motor. A motor is assembled based on the shade panel to be supported. The motor is inserted into the head rail and the cord is attached to or near the bottom or top of the shade panel.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2009Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Newell Window Furnishings, Inc.Inventors: Joshua L. DeWard, Patrick Eugene Foley, James McCauley, Daniel R. Pierson, Alejandro Martin Rossato
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Patent number: 8079398Abstract: 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 engaging 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: GrantFiled: September 6, 2004Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Inventor: Tatusabu Tsukamoto
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Patent number: 8066050Abstract: A roman curtain includes a curtain unit and a winding unit. The curtain unit has a covering portion, a top edge portion of which is adapted to be mounted to or in the vicinity of an upper edge of the window and which extends downwardly, an upper tube that is disposed on a rear side of the covering portion, a lower tube that is disposed on the rear side of the covering portion below and spaced apart vertically from the upper tube, and two rods that extend into the upper and lower tubes respectively. The winding unit has a winding rod that is adapted to be mounted rotatably to or in the vicinity of the upper edge of the window, and a winding piece, a top end portion of which is connected to the winding rod.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2010Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Inventor: Shih-Ming Lin
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Publication number: 20110277943Abstract: A window covering includes at least one spring motor attached to a rotatable shaft. The spring motor includes at least one spring member that has an elongated body having a windable length, a uniform thickness throughout the windable length, a uniform width throughout the windable length, and a uniform rectangular cross section throughout the windable length. The spring member is configured so that it has a different microstructure at different portions of the first spring member located along the windable length of such that the spring member exerts an amount of force as the portions of the first spring member may wind about a roller of the spring motor that progressively increases such that the roller may prevent movement of the shaft to maintain a position of the window covering material after the window covering material is moved to a particular raised position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: Whole Space Industries LTDInventor: Tzong-Fu Lin
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Publication number: 20110253321Abstract: An actuator mechanism for window coverings, such as, Venetian blinds that eliminates the use of pull cords and tilting wands is provided. The actuator mechanism includes a stop member engageable with at least one of the slats to stop tilting movement thereof and a clutch arrangement between a drive axle and a tilt control mechanism, responsive to the stop member engaging at least one of the slats, to disengage the tilting force applied to a ladder cord supporting the slats.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: October 20, 2011Inventors: Fu-Lai Yu, Chin-Tien Huang
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Patent number: 8025089Abstract: A lifting system for a window covering has a movable shaft disposed within a cradle that is held within a head rail. The movable shaft has an end portion and a lift cord wrapping portion. A lift cord is connected to the movable shaft. A transition member is disposed between the end portion and the lift cord wrapping portion. The transition member acts as a ramp to facilitate migration of the lift cord to the lift cord wrapping portion once bird nesting has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Assignee: Rollease, Inc.Inventors: George Chelednik, Joe Zakowski, Amnouy Athitang
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Patent number: 8002012Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Patent number: 7984745Abstract: A cordless window blind structure is provided. A movable seat having a pulley block and a cord-winding assembly is disposed within a head rail of the cordless blind. The pulley block is connected to a lift cord wound through a first positioning element, so as to control the opening and closing of a blind body. And the cord-winding assembly has a cord winder attached to one end of a retrieving cord and a torsion spring. The other end of the retrieving cord is fastened either on the head rail, the movable seat, a second positioning element, or an end cap. The structure of the second positioning element is resembled to the first positioning element. By taking one end of the retrieving cord as a pivot, the movable seat moves laterally therealong the head rail by a restoring force generated through the torsion spring.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: July 26, 2011Assignee: Nien Made Enterprise Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yu-Che Wen, Chih-Yao Chang
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Patent number: 7975748Abstract: A suspension system for a window covering that eliminates the use of pull cords is provided. The suspension system includes a control module having a winding drum and a spring disposed about an axle. A friction member or reaction member is also provided to offset difference in the force exerted by the spring on a suspension cord versus the weight of the window covering member.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Teh Yor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Fu-Lai Yu, Chin-Tien Huang
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Patent number: 7931066Abstract: Upper ends of the first fabric and the second fabric are attached to the head rail, respectively, and the first lift cord and the second lift cord suspended from the head rail in a liftable manner are coupled to the first fabric and the second fabric, respectively. The first lift cord is routed into a rear side of the first fabric and the second lift cord is routed into a rear side of the second fabric so as to come over an upper end of the second fabric. An extension member is provided so as to extend downwardly along with a lower edge of a rear portion of the head rail, and the upper end of the second fabric is attached to a front surface of the extension member.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2007Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: Toso Company, LimitedInventors: Toshimitsu Honda, Tomonori Muto, Hiroyuki Someya, Toshiyuki Mori
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Patent number: 7931069Abstract: A tension device that prevents a window covering from operating properly until the tension device is installed. The tension device incorporates a drive wheel, casing, anchoring arm and drive stud. The drive stud has two sections, one keyed and one cylindrical. Before the tension device is installed, the keyed section of the drive stud engages the drive wheel and the casing, thereby preventing them from rotating relative to each other. When the tension device is installed, the drive stud must be inserted into the anchoring arm causing the keyed section of the drive stud to disengage the drive wheel and thereby allow the drive wheel to rotate relative to the casing.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2008Date of Patent: April 26, 2011Assignee: RollEase Inc.Inventors: Joe Cannaverde, Roger Redin
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Patent number: 7886803Abstract: A cord drive mechanism to convert linear motion to circular motion for use in coverings for architectural openings. Various controls are used to provide a braking force on the cord. Some of the embodiments incorporate a capstan.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2006Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Richard Anderson, Steven R. Haarer, Donald E. Fraser, Robert E. Fisher, II
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Patent number: 7866367Abstract: A control device for blinds includes a transmission unit, a scrolling unit and a tilting unit, the transmission unit includes a case in which a coil spring and a gear unit are received. The coil spring is connected between the gear unit and the case. The scrolling unit includes two scrolling rods which are rotated with a transmission rod. Each scrolling rod has a lift cord wrapped thereon and extending through slats of the blinds. The tilting unit includes two tilt members connected to two respective end sections of the two scrolling rods. Two tilt cords have two respective positioning members which are clamped in two clamp grooves of the two tilt members and the tilt cords extend through the slats. The gears in the gear unit can be adjusted so as to cooperate with slats of different weights.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Ching Feng Home Fashions Co., LtdInventors: Wen Ying Liang, Sheng Ying Hsu, Wu Chung Nien, Chien Chih Huang
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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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Patent number: 7836937Abstract: A shade for architectural opening incorporating a single cord drive featuring automatic braking of the shade when the user releases the drive cord. In a preferred embodiment, an automatic tilt-open mechanism is provided to tilt the shade open when the shade is in the fully extended down position.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2008Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Hunter Douglas, Inc.Inventors: Richard N. Anderson, Steven R. Haarer, Donald E. Fraser, Robert E. Fisher, II
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Patent number: 7832453Abstract: An adjustable structure of a curtain for adjusting the angle of curtain blades includes a winding tube disposed in an upper rail. A pulling string is wound around the winding tube for controlling the rise and fall of the curtain and then passes through the curtain blades. One end of the winding tube is disposed with a rubbing wheel for hanging the top end of a suspending string provided for insertion of the curtain blades. Thereby, during the rise and fall of the curtain blades, the suspending string is pulled towards the rotating direction of the winding tube, so that the angle of the curtain blades is adjusted.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2006Date of Patent: November 16, 2010Inventor: Ke-Min Lin
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Patent number: 7802608Abstract: A modular blind transport system for a window blind application. The complete system may be assembled from a relatively small number of individual modules to obtain working systems for a very wide range of applications, including especially a category of counterbalanced blinds wherein a relatively small external input force may be used to raise or lower the blind, and/or to open or close the blind.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: September 28, 2010Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Richard Anderson, Wendell B. Colson, Steven R. Haarer
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Publication number: 20100206492Abstract: A lifting mechanism is provided for a window covering which allows a bottom rail of the window covering to maintain a static position unless raised or lowered by a user. The lifting mechanism is included within either a top or bottom rail of the window covering. The lifting mechanism includes cords which pass from a rail including the lifting mechanism to the opposite rail, about cord redirecting tension sensors along the cord. The lifting mechanism includes spools and associated springs for gathering excess portions of the cord. A progressive resister is coupled to the spools to provide different amounts of resistance to spool rotation depending on the amount of cord upon each spool. The tension sensors sense cord tension and lock the cord when only tension associated with gravity is sensed and release the cord when elevated or reduced tension associated with lifting or lowering the bottom rail is sensed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2009Publication date: August 19, 2010Inventor: Barry L. Shevick
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Patent number: 7740045Abstract: A spring motor and drag brake for use in coverings for architectural openings.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Richard Anderson, Donald E. Fraser, Robert E. Fisher, II
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Patent number: 7717154Abstract: A window coverings includes an upper and a lower elongated members, a slat assembly, a first lift cord, a second lift cord and a lift cord retracting and releasing control means. The lift cord retracting and releasing control means is located at the upper elongated member and cooperative with the first and second lift cords to control movement of the slat assembly. The first lift cord has one end fastened to the lift cord retracting and releasing control means and other end threading through the upper elongated member. The second lift cord has one end fastened and wound around the lift cord retracting and releasing control means and threading through the upper elongated member. Through coupling relationship between the first and second lift cords and the lift cord retracting and releasing control means the slat assembly already rolled up or extended at a selected elevation can be altered to another elevation.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Publication number: 20100084099Abstract: A ladder drum for adjusting and regulating the angular orientation and closure of horizontal slats of a venetian blind, of the type incorporating ladder cords or tape ladders, having a polygonal profiled structure comprising a series of planar sidewalls defining a substantially hollow interior. The number of sidewalls defining the polygonal structure is greater than four sidewalls, and less than or equal to twelve sidewalls, with each adjacent plane sidewall having an internal angular orientation in the range of 90° to 150°. To enhance the uniform closure of the slats of a horizontal blind, the polygonal ladder drum is more preferably in the form of an uneven hexagon that is either formed from injection molded plastics or a metal die stamping. The opposing top and bottom sidewalls are greater in measurement than the remaining mediate sidewalls, with at least two opposing mediate sidewalls having attachment means to insert and retain ladder cords in a counter balanced relation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2009Publication date: April 8, 2010Inventor: Tser Wen CHOU
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Patent number: 7690415Abstract: A window covering lifting control apparatus includes a holding unit, a locating set and a pushbutton. The holding unit has a first spacer and a second spacer formed thereon that are spaced from each other. The spacers have two slots inclining downwards. The first spacer has a strut on one side to be coupled with a spring on an outer side. The locating set includes two gears, two locating rods, two locating heads and a spring assembly to hold the two gears between the spacers. The pushbutton is movably coupled on the strut of the holding unit to control movement of the two gears in the slots. The window lifting control apparatus can be installed in a lower elongated member to control retraction upward or extension downward of the window covering. The two gears of the locating set can engage with and latch a lift cord assembly to provide improved locating effect.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2007Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Patent number: 7686059Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc.Inventors: Marek Jarosinski, Ralph G. Jelic, Paul F. Josephson, Daniel Fluckey, Ronald Holt
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Publication number: 20100071858Abstract: A window blind includes an operation system, a slat system, and a controlling axle. The operation system includes a plurality of slat cords downwardly supported by a top support. The slat system includes a plurality of slat sets suspendedly supported by the slat cords respectively, wherein each of the slat sets includes a plurality of blind slats horizontally, spacedly and suspendedly supported through the slat cords. The controlling axle is rotatably supported along the top support, wherein the controlling axle includes a controlling shaft and a plurality of controlling units which are coaxially coupled at the controlling shaft and are coupled with the slat cords respectively. When the controlling shaft is driven to rotate, the blind slats are asynchronously and horizontally shifted in responsive to the controlling units so as to selectively adjust a light gap between every two the neighboring blind slats.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2008Publication date: March 25, 2010Inventor: Tony Lai
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Patent number: 7665507Abstract: A blind comprises a turnably supported pulley, a control member of which one end is connected to the pulley so as to permit the control member to be wound around and unwound from the pulley, an urging member which urges the pulley in the direction of winding the control member, a first clutch mechanism which is disposed between the rotation shaft and the pulley, and can selectively link the pulley and the rotation shaft with each other to transmit the rotation of the pulley to the rotation shaft or unlink the pulley and the rotation shaft from each other to interrupt the transmission of the rotation of the pulley to the rotation shaft, and a second clutch mechanism which can selectively link the rotation shaft and a fixed member with each other or unlink them from each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2006Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Nichibei Co., LtdInventor: Takebayashi Naoki
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Patent number: 7654300Abstract: An obstacle detection stopping device of a solar radiation shielding apparatus capable of suppressing the wear of a lifting cord due to the contact of a slat with the lifting cord. The obstacle detection stopping device (10) comprises a support member (11), a rotary drum (13), a cam clutch (12), and a winding pulley (9). A drive shaft (8) is passed through the inside of the device. A rotating force in the unwinding direction is transmitted to the drive shaft (8) by a tension applied to the winding pulley (9). The rotary drum (13) is integrally fitted to the drive shaft (8), and the cam clutch (12) is fitted to the outer edge thereof so as to be rotated relative to each other. Based on the relative rotation of the cam clutch (12) to the rotary drum (13), the cam clutch (12) is moved along its axial direction to change the state of its engagement with a braking projected part (11g). The cam clutch (12) is installed so as to be non-rotated relative to the winding pulley (9).Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Tachikawa CorporationInventor: Tomomichi Chigusa
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Publication number: 20100006236Abstract: A control device for blinds includes a transmission unit, a scrolling unit and a tilting unit, the transmission unit includes a case in which a coil spring and a gear unit are received. The coil spring is connected between the gear unit and the case. The scrolling unit includes two scrolling rods which are rotated with a transmission rod. Each scrolling rod has a lift cord wrapped thereon and extending through slats of the blinds. The tilting unit includes two tilt members connected to two respective end sections of the two scrolling rods. Two tilt cords have two respective positioning members which are clamped in two clamp grooves of the two tilt members and the tilt cords extend through the slats. The gears in the gear unit can be adjusted so as to cooperate with slats of different weights.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2008Publication date: January 14, 2010Inventors: Wen Ying Liang, Sheng Ying Hsu, Wu Chung Nien, Chien Chih Huang
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Publication number: 20090314440Abstract: The present invention relates to a controlling shaft, and more particularly to a controlling shaft for controlling blind, comprising a transverse shaft and a plurality of shaft controlling unit provided on the transverse shaft in turn. Due to the connecting relationship between the plurality of shaft controlling units and the transverse shaft, when the transverse shaft rotates, the plurality of shaft controlling units can synchronously rotate with the transverse shaft. Each shaft controlling unit of the plurality of shaft controlling units comprises a plurality of rotating members. When the shaft controlling unit rotates with the transverse shaft, the rotating members of each shaft controlling unit move in different pace. With the synchronous movement of the shaft controlling units with the transverse shaft, the particular points on the outer side of respective plurality of rotating members of any shaft controlling unit at the same level move to different extents.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Inventor: Tony Lai
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Patent number: 7591298Abstract: To provide an on-failure blind stopper system that allows reduction of depth of a head box and can be surely activated. A slider capable of moving vertically is disposed in a head box. The slider is pressed by a lifting/lowering cord and prevented from moving upward to permit a rotation shaft to rotate when the lifting/lowering cord is under tension. On the other hand, the slider moves upward to engage with the rotation shaft to prevent the rotation of the rotation shaft when the lifting/lowering cord sags.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2006Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Nichibei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ken-ichiro Egami, Koji Takagi
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Patent number: 7575036Abstract: A pulling cord winder for a Venetian blind is installed at the bottom of a lower rail of the Venetian blind, and the pulling cord winder that winds or retrieves each pulling cord disposed separately on both sides of the Venetian blind has two corresponding engaged upper and lower bases, two spring coil wheels, a spring, a brake member, and a push rod, such that when the push rod retreats and presses the brake member, a resilience of a drawspring pushes the rough surfaces of an arc-shaped pressing board on both sides of the brake member and the two spring coil wheels into a compressed form or an open form as to brake and rotate the two spring coil wheels and control the two springs to lift or lower the Venetian blind to a fixed position.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2005Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
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Publication number: 20090159219Abstract: A cordless window blind structure is provided. A movable seat having a pulley block and a cord-winding assembly is disposed within a head rail of the cordless blind. The pulley block is connected to a lift cord wound through a first positioning element, so as to control the opening and closing of a blind body. And the cord-winding assembly has a cord winder attached to one end of a retrieving cord and a torsion spring. The other end of the retrieving cord is fastened either on the head rail, the movable seat, a second positioning element, or an end cap. The structure of the second positioning element is resembled to the first positioning element. By taking one end of the retrieving cord as a pivot, the movable seat moves laterally therealong the head rail by a restoring force generated through the torsion spring.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2007Publication date: June 25, 2009Inventors: Yu-Che Wen, Chih-Yao Chang