Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a septum apparatus (10), for concealing a site from passersby, the apparatus comprising: a first pole (40), comprising a plurality of segments (50), each storing a folded sheet (52); a second pole (20), comprising means for connecting thereto the end of each sheet (28), the second pole being foldable or telescopic, thereby providing a compact structure; each of the poles comprises a stand (42, 22), for retaining the pole thereof (40, 20 correspondingly) upright; and each pole (40, 20) comprises fixing means (12 or 46, 26), for fixing the pole thereof to the ground; thereby providing a septum compact in storage, simple in mounting and dismounting. The apparatus may further comprise a case (80), for storing therein the parts thereof.

Abstract: A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating bar mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines, for example, a serpentine path. The shade fabric is received through the fabric-receiving opening and is folded by the pleating bar, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. The shade fabric is neatly wrapped around the roller tube (i.e., bunching of the shade fabric is avoided) and is stored out-of-sight when rolled up.

Abstract: A loading space cover having a dimensionally stable housing and a flexible sheet like screen is rolled up in the housing. Fastening devices are disposed at the longitudinal end sides of the loading space cover. Each fastening device can be held releasably in associated loading-space fasteners of a motor vehicle. The fastening devices are of structurally simple and cost-effective design. Additionally, in the event of a crash, the fastening devices are held reliably in the loading-space fasteners and permit an energy-absorbing twisting of the loading space cover about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A retractable tarping system including an end support surface, a shaft, a tarp, a spool, an end plate assembly, and a cable. The tarp and the spool are operably attached to the shaft. The end plate assembly is attached to the shaft for movement with respect to the first end support surface. The cable is attached to the end support surface and extends at least one time around the first spool.

Abstract: A method of controlling a motorized window treatment provides for continued operation of the motorized window treatment during an overload condition, a low-line condition, or an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. The motorized window treatment is driven by an electronic drive unit having a motor, a motor drive circuit, a rotational position sensor, a controller, and a memory for storing the command. The controller stores the present position of the motorized window treatment in the memory each time the rotational position of the motor changes by a predetermined angle, such that a plurality of positions are stored in the memory. When the controller is reset due to an overload condition or ESD event, the controller recalls the desired position from the memory, determines the present position, and continues to drive the motor drive circuit in response to the command and the present position.

Abstract: An air barrier structure located in an airflow passageway for datacenter usage, which is automatically retractable upon activation of fire sprinklers in the event of a conflagration. The barrier structure is a shade-type roll up member, which in the absence of any complex mechanical structure, will automatically retract about a spring-loaded roller upon the activation of a fire sprinkler, and whereby the barrier incorporates water-soluble structural aspects which will facilitate such automatic retraction upon being impinged upon and dissolved by a flow of water emanating from the fire sprinkler.

Abstract: A garage door assembly including a door for enclosing an opening, and a mechanism for selectively deploying the door in a closed position to cover the opening, and an open position with the door stored leaving the opening open. A position reading assembly monitors a position of the door with respect to the opening. The position reading assembly includes a controller and three switches in communication with the controller. The switches are positioned such that movement of the door actuates the three switches and, in turn, the controller divides the door into eight virtual zones between the closed and open positions.

Abstract: An example portable, retractable surface protection device. The example device includes a rotatable support bar, a first support base positioned to a first end of the support bar, a second support base positioned to a second end of the support bar, and a surface cover. A plurality of wheels are positioned to the second support base such that the device is wheelable. The device additionally includes a handle connected to the support bar for wrapping and unwrapping the surface cover onto the support bar. A plurality of removable weights positioned in the surface cover at least partially restrict movement of the surface cover when in a fully or a partially deployed position.

Abstract: A control apparatus for positioning and counterbalancing an amount of flexible blind material wound onto or unwound from a rotatable shaft of a windable covering such as a blind. The apparatus includes a main body and a variable torque device, at least partially fitted within the main body, having means of achieving a variable torque to prevent rotation of the shaft due to a variable weight of blind material hanging from the shaft in any position between a wound position and an unwound position of the blind material defining full travel of the windable covering.

Abstract: A high-speed door assembly has a shaft or drum having a longitudinal axis which is configured so that the longitudinal axis is parallel with a wall to which the door assembly is mounted. A flexible door panel is attached to the shaft or drum so as to be capable of being wound and unwound about the drum for selectively permitting and prohibiting access through an opening in the wall to which the door assembly is mounted, the door panel being wound on the shaft or drum in an orientation such that the door panel defines at least one vertical plane when unwound from the shaft or drum, the vertical plane being spaced further from the wall to which the door assembly is mounted than the longitudinal axis of the shaft or drum.

Abstract: An air curtain doorway defining an opening between at least two zones, including an air curtain having an air supply duct and an air return duct joined by a connecting duct. A frame having spaced apart jambs connected at the top by a header is configured to fit substantially within the opening of the air curtain. At least two roll-up doors in communication with the frame are configured to selectively insulate the at least first and second zones. A method of controlling a plurality of roll-up doors of an air curtain doorway comprises the steps of monitoring the output of at least a first sensor and a second sensor to sense approach of the doorway, applying logic to the output of the sensors, and controlling at least one of the doors based upon the result of the applied logic. The method can also include closing the roll-up doors while the air curtain is blowing, or turning off the air curtain and closing the roll-up doors.

Abstract: A supply device in a passenger cabin, such as an aircraft passenger cabin, includes a first panel or “function panel” having one or more comfort elements, operating elements, visual display elements, and communication elements; and a second panel or an “infill panel”, which includes flexible supply channels. The panels are guided and lined up in a rail system of a PSC channel that is arranged in the direction of flight above a passenger seat row. The function panels are individually positionable in the PSC channel relative to the passenger seat row, wherein the infill panel synchronously follows a linear actuating movement of the function panel, and in this process automatically compensates for the distance dimension S1 between function panels that are positioned so as to be spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A sideways rollup door with a horizontal side-rolling curtain includes a vertical roller that is shielded by a pliable shroud. The shroud is supported by a frame that includes a breakaway feature and/or readily replaceable frame elements. To access the roller for servicing, the frame elements allow the shroud to be selectively moved (without the use of tools) between an installed position and a retracted position. In some cases, the breakaway feature enables the shroud to break away in certain directions easier than others. In some embodiments, the shroud includes a seal that engages the curtain when the shroud is in the installed position.

Abstract: In general, the detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described herein can be combined to provide further embodiments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a checkout system which comprises an item accumulation (bagging) area which is partitioned into two or more sections using a flexible divider. The flexible divider extends from the entry zone of the accumulation area to a point on the boundary of the accumulation zone, but is longer than required to achieve this. When items are introduced into one section of the bagging area, if the items push against the flexible divider, for example due to weight of numbers, the divider flexes into the other section thereby making more space available in the current section for the items. Optionally the flexible divider is movable between two positions in the entry zone such that it further acts as a diverter for diverting items into one or other of the two sections and preferably a motor is used to automatically perform the movement.

Abstract: A window curtain pulling device comprises a guide module, a pulling string wheel module, a rotary member module, a fixed casing, and a connecting component. A guide rod having a positioning ring passes through the rotary member module and latches the rotary member by a positioning ring. A pushing member coupled to the guide rod is latched with a fixed casing by a passing rod, such that an end of a pulling string at another side of a pulling string wheel module of the guide module is pulled to open a curtain, and another end of the pulling string is pulled once again. The rotary member includes a corresponding guide groove on one side and matches with a conical body of the pushing member, and the conical body is pushed by a slant of guide grooves of the coupling member pivotally coupled to the rotary member to rotate outward.

Abstract: A window blind that includes at least one blind element having a front surface and a back surface. Either the front surface or the back surface of each element can include a reflective material having a reflectivity of at least about 50%. Also disclosed is a method of controlling heat exchange through a transparent or translucent material, that includes attaching a reflective window blind to an interior wall of a shelter. The window blind being oriented such that the one or more blind elements can be manipulated to obscure a window in the interior wall. The window blind elements can then be adjusted such that the reflective material faces an interior of the shelter or an exterior of the shelter. The blind elements can be opaque, transparent or translucent.

Abstract: A system for attaching a shade material to a roller having recesses in its surface includes inserting portions of the shade material into an associated elongated recess and retaining the material in the recess with an attachment member having peaks and valleys along its length for intermittent engagement with the material within the recess.

Abstract: An adjustable mounting system for use with a variety of window treatments comprises a head rail, an adjustable support rod, and one or more clips for coupling the support rod to the head rail. The mounting system is preferably non-invasive and does not damage window casings. The mounting system may be installed very quickly and easily, without the need for any tools. The head rail is adapted for use with a wide variety of window treatment assemblies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of fastening a flexible sheet-like structure (3, 103, 203, 303, 503) on a tubular winding shaft (2, 102, 202, 302, 402, 502) comprising the following steps: 1) introducing, in a circumference of the tubular winding shaft (2, 102, 202., 302, 402, 502), at least one aperture (20, 24, 220, 520, 524) which passes through a wall of the winding shaft, a width B_S of the aperture (20, 24, 220) being greater than the thickness of the flexible sheet-like structure (3, 103, 203, 303, 503); 2) cutting into the flexible sheet-like structure (3, 103, 203, 303) to produce at least one angleable tab (30, 130, 330); and 3) inserting the tab into the aperture (20, 24, 220) of the winding shaft (2, 102, 202, 302, 402). The invention also relates to a roller blind (1, 202, 301, 401) comprising a winding shaft (2, 102, 202, 303, 402, 502) and a flexible sheet-like structure (3, 103, 203, 303, 503) fastened thereon.

Abstract: A baggage space cover system is provided. The baggage space cover is used for covering items stored in the baggage space compartment of a vehicle. The baggage space cover system comprises a pair of end pieces, mounted to each end of a cassette containing a baggage space cover, and corresponding recesses arranged at opposing side surfaces of the baggage space compartment of a vehicle. Each end piece is configured for mounting in a corresponding recess. The baggage space cover system further comprises guiding means for positioning the end pieces and thus also positioning the complete baggage cover device.

Abstract: A roll-up barrier has a base, an end cap, a drive shaft, a rolling assembly, a resilient element and a flexible barrier. The drive shaft is connected between the base and the end cap. The rolling assembly has a rolling tube and a rolling bushing. The rolling tube is mounted rotatably around the drive shaft and has a top end. The rolling bushing is connected securely to the top end of the rolling tube. The resilient element is connected to the drive shaft and the rolling bushing and pushes the rolling bushing up. The flexible barrier is attached to and mounted retractably around the rolling tube. The roll-up barrier has a structure that is simple and makes fabrication and assembly of the roll-up barrier easy and convenient.

Abstract: A window shade assembly for motor vehicles is provided. The window shade assembly includes a window shade element that is cut into a trapezoidal shape in order to be optimally adapted to the shape of the corresponding window. The winding shaft for this window shade web resembles a truncated cone that is approximated by means of a cylindrical core with wrappings applied thereon.

Abstract: A cover for the opening of a process tube of a furnace used in semiconductor manufacturing is comprised of a substantially continuous sheet of metal so that it may be rolled opened and closed while being against the opening of the process tube by a guide frame. The roller on which the cover is rolled is driven by a bidirectional DC motor. The process tube cover can be operated by a computer or controller that operates the furnace.

Abstract: An elongate hollow rail for a fabric covering for an architectural opening, such as a bottom rail for a fabric roller blind or a top or bottom rail for a roman shade, having an upper portion with a lengthwise upper opening in the top of the rail and being characterized by a pair of lengthwise upper locking shoulders in the interior of the upper portion on walls on opposite widthwise sides of the upper opening, the upper locking shoulders being wedge-shaped and pointing inwardly of the upper portion and away from the upper opening, and the wall on a first widthwise side of the bottom rail extending above the wall on the opposite second widthwise side of the bottom rail about the openings and a method for attaching a fabric to a locking shoulder within an elongate hollow rail as described.

Abstract: A locking device for a safety gate which includes a gate surface made from material which may be wound up with a mechanism for prevention of unintentional unwinding of gate material, the mechanism including a catch wheel which co-rotates with the unwinding, a rotatable catch for cooperation with the cogs of the catch wheel and a release mechanism releasing the gate for unwinding. The mechanism also includes a driver which is arranged adjacent the catch wheel and may be rotated concentrically therewith, at which rotation a pin which is arranged at the catch is displaced in a slot in the driver so that the pin, when the catch is in a released position, contacts a surface inside or adjacent the slot. The driver includes a fork with two shanks between which the slot is arranged. The slot is L-shaped. In order to release the gate, a manually performed movement in three different directions of an actuator which affects the releasing mechanism is required.

Abstract: An articulated collapsible planar structure (10), including a number of parallel rigid beams (12) of substantially trapezoid cross-section rigidly attached in close formation. The structure (10) is rollable into a compact cylindrical package when the thin sheet faces the center of curvature and forms a curved structure when the beams face toward the center of the curvature.

Abstract: A weighting assembly for a roller shade fabric includes an elongated hem bar having opposite open ends and defining an internal cavity communicating with the open ends. A spline secured to an end of the fabric is slidingly received in a pocket defined within the cavity through one of the ends. The pocket includes an opening communicating with the rest of the cavity for passage of the fabric to an exterior through an elongated slot in the hem bar. After the fabric is wrapped on an exterior surface of the hem bar, a portion of the fabric is fed into the cavity through the slot to form a loop for slidingly receiving an elongated rod through one of the ends. The rod has a diameter that is greater than a width of the slot to prevent removal of the rod through the slot.

Abstract: A weighting assembly for a roller shade fabric includes an elongated hem bar having opposite open ends and defining an internal cavity communicating with the open ends. A spline secured to an end of the fabric is slidingly received in a pocket defined within the cavity through one of the ends. The pocket includes an opening communicating with the rest of the cavity for passage of the fabric to an exterior through an elongated slot in the hem bar. After the fabric is wrapped on an exterior surface of the hem bar, a portion of the fabric is fed into the cavity through the slot to form a loop for slidingly receiving an elongated rod through one of the ends. The rod has a diameter that is greater than a width of the slot to prevent removal of the rod through the slot.

Abstract: A view shield device includes a plurality of shields each being removably extendable into one of a plurality of wells in a block such that the shields extend upwardly from the block. Each of the shields includes a housing that has a top wall, a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending between the top and bottom walls. The peripheral wall has an elongated slot that extends therethrough. Attaching hooks attach the screen between a pair of spaced housings. The screen of a first of the shields may be extended between and attached to a second of the shields such that a passing motorist may not see between the housings of the first and second shields.

Abstract: A window screen includes a screen sheet with two opposite outer side surfaces. The screen sheet includes a pair of screen laminates, and an intermediate bonding layer. Each screen laminate has a first surface facing the other screen laminate, and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The bonding layer is attached to the first surfaces of the screen laminates for bonding together the screen laminates. The bonding layer is formed from a resin composition that contains a dark-colored oil-based ink. The second surfaces of the screen laminates constitute the opposite outer side surfaces of the screen sheet.

Abstract: A guide device for winding shaft (4) of a material handling door (1) includes vertical members (2, 3) including in their upper part a bore (11) traversed by the actuator (13) of the shaft (4) such that each bearing (14, 15) cop-operates with a plate (16) fixed on the profile of the vertical members to guide the shaft (4) in rotation, while the bore (11) includes a device for braking the actuator (13) when a bearing (14, 15) and/or the corresponding plate (16) is broken thereby preventing the shaft (4) from falling vertically and for lowering the flexible curtain.

Abstract: the expandable screen door comprises of a minimum of two and up to an unlimited amount of screen sections (18, 19,20 & 15,16,17). Each with either a hook or loop, or magnet, or other fastener attached to one side of the top of the screen (12) (8), and the opposite or attracting hook, loop or other fastener, attached on the opposite top side of the screen (14) (9). The middle part of each screen section (7) consists of a flexible ventilating screen or netting material. A flexible and heavier piece of material that can be folded, rolled up or cut, is attached to the bottom part of the screen (10).

Abstract: An impact detection system for an industrial door, the system including two members that are releasably coupled to each other to move together with the door as it travels, disposed beyond the doorway opening is a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, preferably packaged together in a photoeye device, and emitting a beam of radiation; the first member carries a reflector that, when the two members are coupled, reflects the radiation back to the photoeye, and that is movable to a position wherein it does not reflect the radiation back to the photoeye in response to separation of the two members caused by the door being impacted, the change in state from 1) the radiation being reflected to the photoeye to 2) the radiation not being reflected to the photoeye thus serves as an indication that an impact on the door has occurred.

Abstract: A window cover apparatus that includes a window cover substrate and a mechanism for adjusting the configuration of the substrate relative to a window. Illuminating material such as phosphorescent or luminescent material is provided on or in the substrate to provide illumination in darkness. The illuminating material may contain color pigment and be configured to provide a colorful design in both daylight and darkness.

Abstract: A cargo area divider, has a flexible planar structure that can be pulled out and is held at a rear end on a roller-shade shaft and at a front end is equipped with a pull-out bar that extends over the entire width of the planar structure. The pull-out bar is conformingly into a hollow chamber region of a cover profile extending at least over the width of the planar structure.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a window shade with a shade panel, with a rotatable winding shaft 1 for winding up the panel onto the winding shaft 1 to form a roll 2 and for unwinding the panel from this winding shaft 1 to form a panel surface 3, and with a drive M. The invention is characterized in that control means R are provided upline of the winding shaft 1 to vary the rotational speed of the winding shaft in such a way that the winding shaft 1 has several periods in each revolution, where the angular velocity changes in a predetermined manner within each period.

Abstract: A rollable visual display is used in a room containing an article of furniture adapted to support a person, such as a bed or chair, wherein the room has a visual display support structure facing the article of furniture within the room. The visual display member, which is mounted on the support structure, is located so that when the visual display member is unfurled from the cylindrical housing, the pictorial image thereon is visible to a viewing person lying or seated in the article of furniture, wherein the pictorial image is located within the line of vision of the viewing person. Optionally, the visual display member displays a pictorial display on a surface facing the person, which is a biophilic savanna-type landscape containing imagery designed to create relaxation and reduce stress of the person.

Abstract: A cargo area divider, has a flexible planar structure that can be pulled out and is held at a rear end on a roller-shade shaft and at a front end is equipped with a pull-out bar that extends over the entire width of the planar structure. The pull-out bar is conformingly into a hollow chamber region of a cover profile extending at least over the width of the planar structure.

Abstract: A method of forming a strip-like mounting element (14a) in situ on a side of a flexible, preferably fabric, sheet (16) comprising the steps of proving a thermoplastic, preferably a hot-melt adhesive (14), in a heated state in a longitudinally-extending undercut groove (12) of a longitudinally-elongate receiving member (10), and pressing the side of the sheet (16) against the thermoplastic in a longitudinally-extending opening (13) in the groove (12). Whereby one side of the thermoplastic adheres to the sheet and an opposite side of the thermoplastic is removably positioned in the groove of the receiving member.

Abstract: A mesh web is characterized in that it has interlaced threads providing meshes that define locally a zone (5a or 5b) having a mesh void factor that is different from that of the remainder of the web. It is applicable to make light-attenuating binds.

Abstract: A garage door screen apparatus for forming a screen barrier about a garage entryway that provides ventilation therein and facilitates ingress and egress therethrough. According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises one or more screen panels transitional between a closed configuration wherein the screen or screens substantially covers the garage entryway, and a second open configuration wherein the screen or screens are maintained in a retracted state. According to preferred embodiments, the screen panels maybe arranged in a curtain-like manner, suspended from rolls on either the side or top portions of the garage entryway, or formed as part of the garage door such that the garage door screen apparatus may be deployed about the garage entryway when the garage door assumes an open configuration.

Abstract: A roll screen comprises side plates, a winding pipe rotatably supported on the side plates, a spring mounted in the winding pipe, a screen to be wound on the winding pipe by the accumulated force of the spring, and a brake mounted in the winding pipe for decreasing a winding speed of the screen from a final stage of the winding of the screen. The clutch case is engaged with the brake from a final stage of the winding of the screen, and the brake is operated so that the winding speed of the screen can be decreased.

Abstract: The roller blind is for use in connection with roof windows mounted in pitched roofs and comprises a preferably spring-loaded roller tube (1) which is mountable at the top of the frame or sash structure of the window and a flexible roller blind cloth (2) rolled up thereon as well as an arrangement for retaining the roller blind cloth (2) when rolled out against the spring-load on the roller tube (1) at least in a fully rolled-out condition of the roller blind cloth (2), in which the roller blind cloth (2) in at least a comparatively narrow, ribbon-shaped zone (4) in parallel with the rollertuber (1) is designed for fastening an edge portion of an additional cloth (3) when the roller blind cloth (2) is rolled out, will hang freely down therefrom and when the roller blind is rolled up follow the roller blind cloth (2) during its rolling up on the roller tube (1).

Abstract: A stowable partition assembly for a truck cab provides privacy for an interior sleeping area mounted aft of the operator space. The assembly has an overhead track depending from the cab ceiling, oriented to define a border between the forward operator area and the aft interior sleeping area. A pair of curtains are hung from their upper edges from the overhead track and are positionable on the track to divide the aft living space from the forward operator space when extended. A pair of stowage compartments are located at each end of the track along the interior sides of the truck cab to receive the curtain when retracted. Retraction of the curtains is provided by roll up retractors disposed in each stowage compartment. The curtains are each attached along one of two vertical edges to the roll up retractor to be wound thereon. An interlocking latch provides closure of the curtains when pulled from the stowage compartments.

Abstract: A sun barrier, sign, screen or reflector or combination thereof. The barrier may be used, for instance, for reducing the sun exposure to the interior of an automobile. The barrier includes a flexible, cloth-like panel and a barrier control element with the control element selectively positioning the panel to a generally planar condition or a coiled storage condition. The control element may be a coiled strip spring or constant force spring attached to one edge of the barrier panel.

Abstract: A light control covering device for an architectural opening comprises control hardware and a flexible sheet, the control hardware enabling different translucency positions of the flexible sheet, wherein the flexible sheet is of a stretchable nature. The control hardware is adapted to arrange for at least a first position of the flexible sheet, in which position the flexible sheet is mainly unstretched, and a second position of the flexible sheet, in which position the flexible sheet is substantially stretched.

Abstract: A device for fixing a flexible element to the tubular body of a roller for rolling shutters, guards or blinds, wherein the tubular body has a slot made in its lateral surface and accessible from the outside through a first and a second opening the first oriented at right angles to the axial direction, the second at right angles to the tangential direction, of the tubular body; the radial measurement of the first opening relative to the tubular body is larger than the corresponding measurement of the second opening; the flexible element has at one end of it an enlarged fixing head especially shaped to allow it to be inserted into the slot through the first opening and through the second opening, remaining trapped inside the slot when the flexible element moves through the second opening.

Abstract: A cargo space covering is provided which has axially movable lateral housing parts for the fastening in vehicle-fixed holding devices. A locking device is assigned to at least one lateral housing part, which locking device, when the locking position of the lateral housing part is reached, can be changed from an inoperative position into an operative position in which the locking device exercises an additional retaining force onto the lateral housing part relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing which supplements the spring force.

Abstract: A woven fabric for use as a shade in a roller blind which is rolled and unrolled, the woven fabric including a continuous flexible woven sheet. The sheet includes a plurality of bands extending across the sheet in a transverse direction and integrally woven therewith. Each band includes a front ply having an inner surface and an outer surface which forms part of the front surface of the sheet, and a rear ply having an inner surface and an outer surface which forms part of the rear surface of the sheet, the outer surface of the rear ply being provided with at least one opening disposed proximate at least one of the side edges and adapted to allow the insertion of a rod therethrough. The front and rear plies are spaced apart from each other to form a pocket between their respective inner surfaces, the pocket being adapted to accommodate the rod. A pair of transverse cords, integrally woven with the rear ply, are disposed in the center of the outer surface of the rear ply.