Abstract: An apparatus configured for maintaining a barrier in a position against a trans-barrier force less than a predetermined magnitude. The barrier has associated structures for cooperating with the apparatus to define the position in which the barrier is maintained.The apparatus comprises a guide follower attached to the barrier and operatively interactive with the associated structures for defining the barrier position. The guide follower of the apparatus comprises a first portion attached to the barrier and a second portion operatively interactive with the associated structures. The first portion and the second portion are in an interfitting relation and define at least one pair of mating surfaces, each of which mating surfaces is transverse to the barrier and oriented to allow sliding disengagement of the first portion and the second portion in response to application of a trans-barrier force to the barrier in excess of a predetermined magnitude.

Abstract: A multiple-feed clothesline drying apparatus constructed as a plurality of clotheslines arranged for coordinated movement within the drying space enclosed by a frame, so as to simultaneously make additional drying space available. The apparatus is constructed as a stationary frame provided as a rectangular shape having a shaft mounted at one end. One end of each of a plurality of clotheslines is wound about the shaft on portions of its length, and are thereby retained in a storage position. The other end of each of the plurality of clotheslines terminates on a movable bar which is disposed within the frame area. At either end of the movable bar, a pair of cords are connected, each looped around a pulley supported at the other end of the frame and wound about the shaft in a direction opposite that of the clotheslines.

Abstract: A roller door is provided with a flexible door leaf, wound on a winding roller which is mounted rotatably above the door opening. Fast with the winding roller is at least one drum on which there is wound, in contrary direction to the door leaf, a flexible traction member (belt, rope, chain) which is loaded with a counterweight for balancing the weight of the door leaf. In order also to tauten the door leaf, with a separation of the functions of weight compensation and tautening of the door leaf, there is integrally rotatably connected with the winding roller at least one second drum on which is wound, in contrary direction to the door leaf, a further flexible traction member (belt, rope, chain) guided around a guide roller, which is mounted stationarily at the base of the door opening, and connected with the door leaf, and a tensioning roller presses with a transverse force against the portion of the further traction member which runs between its drum and the guide roller.

Abstract: A rear window shade assembly (10) comprises a base (18) which can be set on a back-seat shelf (12) of an automobile with a roll shade mechanism (38), a winch (44), and an angularly adjustable crane arm (70) mounted thereon. A cord (60) extending from the winch along the crane arm is attached to an outer end of a shade (42) on the roll-shade mechanism for deploying and retracting the shade. The crane arm is constructed of a flexible tube so that its position is automatically angularly adjustable relative to the base.

Abstract: A lightweight, high speed roll-up door, or curtain, is unrolled from and rolled upon a cylindrical tube disposed above or within an opening in a wall by a drive motor/drive shaft combination coupled to one end of the tube. A non-rotating support shaft is attached to the other end of the tube which has disposed within respective ends thereof first and second coiled springs. A pair of belts are coupled to lower opposed ends of the door and are wrapped around respective pulleys positioned at each end of the tube and mounted to the drive and support shafts, respectively. With one end of each of the coiled springs coupled to the tube and each of the other ends respectively coupled to one of the pulleys, the coiled springs urge the two pulleys and the tube in opposite directions of rotation to maintain the door in a tightly stretched condition.

Abstract: A roller blind assembly in which the blind roller (10, 12, 14) is turnable, preferably by a motor, to raise and lower the blind along a track (28). To reduce friction and prevent jamming due to dirt or debris on the track, the lower end of the blind is linked (32) to an inertia device (30) preferably in the form of a tubular roller having a relatively high amount of inertia and mounted for rotation with guide wheels (34) at each end of the roller running in parallel tracks 28). The angular momentum developed by the roller (30) assists in drawing the blind over obstructions in the track (28) and is additional to any gravitational effects.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an awning deployment apparatus for deploying an awning over a curved surface between two substantially rectilinear surfaces while maintaining the cover taut. The cover is stowed on a motor operated roller and translated along guide tracks by the motor while maintaining tautness at all times by the stored energy of at least two wound clock like springs. The awning can be extended to any position along the guide traces.

Abstract: A shade assembly for a skylight of the type adapted to be mounted in an opening in a roof structure and including a supporting base mounted in the opening in the roof structure and a dome assembly positioned in the supporting base to overlie the opening. The shade assembly includes a support bracket adapted to be affixed to the skylight and a shade support having a shade rolled thereabout. The shade support is rotatably mounted on the support bracket in a manner that permits the shade support to rotate so that the shade can be rolled and unrolled. A shade actuator is attached to the shade and is adapted to be grasped and activated to actuate rolling and unrolling of the shade. Guide surfaces are mountable on the skylight in position to engage and guide the actuator out of alignment with the visual passageway through the opening in the roof and the skylight while facilitating the uniform rolling and unrolling of the shade.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a roll shutter for hinged casement type roof windows, which includes two guide rails (14) for the roll shutter bars (12), which guide rails (14) run parallel to each other and are connected to the shutter and is provided with a roll shutter activation device which includes a first and a second control cable (40 and 42) as well as a third control cable (50). The first and the second control cables (40 and 42) are led to a connection point (47) and are attached to each other. The connection point (47) is also connected with the third control cable (50) which is guided from a spool (26) on the winding shaft (24) of the roll shutter, through an activation loop (59) accessible to the user and an adjoining buffer loop (43) to the connection point (43). The length of the buffer loop (43) is at least as large as the displacement path of the roll shutter (10) between its completely open and completely closed positions.

Abstract: A sliding door, which includes a winding tube, which is mounted on a winding shaft for winding up and unwinding a hanging door for opening and closing-off an opening, and a take-up and tensioning mechanism which is disposed between the free end of the hanging door and the winding shaft and which has traction members which are guided about guide pulleys. The take-up and tensioning mechanism for the hanging door includes take-up or tensioning pulleys, which are freely rotatably mounted on the winding shaft on both sides of the winding tube, and pretensioned leg springs which are disposed between the pulleys and the winding shaft.

Abstract: An operator for a rolling door having a curtain barrel shaft rotatable for actuating the door and including a drive gear adapted for connection to one end of the curtain barrel shaft and a second gear adapted for connection to one end of an idler roller. The idler roller in use engages one surface of the door and extends horizontally across the top of the door opening. A third gear is rotatably mounted in the region of the drive gear and the second gear and an electric motor is provided to rotate this third gear. In one version of the invention there is a moveable fourth gear in meshing engagement with the third gear and driven thereby. The fourth gear can be swung from a first position where it is in meshing engagement with the second gear to a second position where it is in meshing engagement with the drive gear. A chain loop connectable to the door is driven when the second gear and the idler roller rotate and it is provided to close the door even under pressure.

Abstract: A shading device capable of compactly storing a flexible shade on a biased, window-shade type spring roller and controlled to deliver the shade selectively to either its operative shading or compact storage orientation.

Abstract: A winding rod is mounted for rotation in winding and unwinding directions about a fixed axis of rotation. An elongated flexible member has one end affixed to the winding rod. A traction device is operatively connected to the flexible member for selectively pulling the flexible member at a predetermined speed in the winding and unwinding directions. A first driving device is rotatable in normal and reverse directions and includes a torque motor for driving the winding rod. A clutch operatively couples the driving device to the winding rod and is maintained in a disengaged state during the unwinding operation of the winding rod by making the speed of rotation of the driving device in the reverse direction higher than the speed of rotation of the winding rod in the unwinding direction.

Abstract: An automatically operated flexible barrier cover for the access openings of refrigerated display cabinets. The barrier cover limits the contact between the refrigerated air within the cabinet and the ambient air. The barrier cover can be moved over the access opening during non-customer use time periods when the retail food outlet is closed. The barrier cover can be arranged as a unitary assembly which can be manufactured and sold separately from the display cabinet as a retrofit device to effect energy savings.The flexible barrier cover can be stored in a reeled-up position or can be arranged as a folded flexible barrier which can be fanned out across the access opening. Various traction means are provided for moving the flexible barrier across the access opening.

Abstract: Improvement in shielding windows having at least two panes, which form an enclosed space by means of a frame, in which space a shield is arranged to adjustably shield the window opening completely or partly. The shield is extendable and retractable out of and in to a storing position in the space, one end of said shield being fixed to a storing device and either the other end or said storing device being fixed to a piston disposed between the panes. The piston is displacable along the panes and corresponds to the cross-section of the space. Either the storing device or the other end is fixed to the frame so that displacement of the piston will cause a relative displacement of the two ends of the shield (extension or retraction). A pressurized air conduit opens into the space on one side of the piston and a second conduit opens into the space on the other side of the piston.

Abstract: Apparatus for opening and closing a flexible screen in a greenhouse or the like includes a winding rod mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and to which an end edge of an elongated flexible screen is fixed, first driving apparatus for constantly applying a torque to the winding rod tending to rotate the same such that the flexible screen would be wound thereon, and traction apparatus including elongated flexible members, each of which has its two ends secured to a rotatably mounted driving shaft with respective end portions thereof oppositely coiled on the driving shaft and having two portions guided along a predetermined path of travel with one of the portions being operatively connected to the other end edge of the flexible screen, and second driving apparatus for selectively rotating the driving shaft in a normal or reverse direction.