Guide Mounted In A Channel Patents (Class 160/272)
  • Patent number: 10920489
    Abstract: An upright including two flanks between which a profiled element for a shading system can be inserted is described. At least one of the flanks is associated with a removable flange, and a damping device is arranged between the removable flange and a base of the upright so as to retain the flange between the base and the flank. Furthermore, the removable flange of the upright and the damping device for fixing the flange to the upright are described. The damping device includes a channel with a substantially C-shaped cross-section which is mounted on an edge of the removable flange, and a flexible plastic tongue having one end on the channel and an opposite end at a distance therefrom and making contact with the base of the upright.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: PLASTEX SA
    Inventor: Marco Lombardini
  • Patent number: 10036198
    Abstract: A magnetic track assembly including an elongate channel having an open side, an end wall, and two parallel side walls; a first magnet disposed within the elongate channel near an interior side of the end wall; a compartment defined within the elongate channel spaced from the first magnet; and a screen receiver disposed within the compartment and including a second magnet arranged facing the first magnet. In the magnetic track assembly, the first and second magnets are of opposite polarity and the screen receiver is loosely disposed within the compartment such that a magnetic bond is intact between the first and second magnets when the first and second magnets are close together and the magnetic bond is broken when the first and second magnets are pulled apart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: DEFENDER SCREENS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventors: Arthur James, Jan Gross
  • Patent number: 9944216
    Abstract: A retractable cover system includes a frame that provides an opening and includes laterally spaced apart guide rails and includes a drive system. A flexible cover has laterally opposing edge portions with intermittent retainers received in the guide rails. The retainers are configured to slide relative to the guide rails between first and second positions within the opening in response to actuation of the drive system. Multiple spaced apart bows extend laterally between guide rails. The bows provide a laterally and outwardly extending arc that maintains tension on the flexible cover laterally between the retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BOS AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Mickey Alan Hannan, Andrew Charles Stewart, Juergen Josef Salewski, Michael David Uhazie, Huan Tran, Markus Hintennach
  • Patent number: 9850704
    Abstract: The present invention provides an under-structure of a blind apparatus. An under-structure of a blind apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first bar that holds the lower end of a screen; a plug that is coupled to an end of the first bar and has a first through-hole at the center; a second bar that receives the first bar and has a slit through which the screen comes out; a cover that is fixed to an end of the second bar and has a second through-hole communicating with the first through-hole; and a wrench plug that is coupled to the outside of the cover and is fitted in the first through-hole through the second through-hole to transmit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Wintec Korea Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Ryong Jang
  • Patent number: 9649918
    Abstract: A sunshade assembly comprises a flexible sunscreen having opposed longitudinal edges and opposed transversal edges, a rotatable winding shaft and an operating beam and two opposed longitudinal guides each defining a guide channel for receiving therein and guiding inwardly through an entrance opening folded parts of corresponding ones of said longitudinal edges of the sunscreen. The operating beam at opposite ends includes positioning members around which inwardly folded wings of the longitudinal edges of the sunscreen are positioned. The positioning members extend into corresponding ones of said longitudinal guides longitudinally in a direction towards the winding shaft such that the positioning members only at a leading end thereof facing away from the winding shaft are connected to the operating beam and are movable with the operating beam. Each positioning member is positioned entirely within the respective guide channel without extending through the entrance opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: INALFA ROOF SYSTEMS GROUP B.V.
    Inventors: Eduardus Christianus Henricus Van Boxtel, Ruud Geurts, Robert Rikkert, Paulus Johannes Wilhelmus Munsters, Joonggl Shin, Dave Keller
  • Patent number: 8678070
    Abstract: A track for a roll-up industrial door. The track may include realigners adapted to divert the path of the industrial door as it is opened or shut. For example, a realigner may include a tapered portion to maintain a portion of the door within the track as the door is shut. Another realigner may have a tapered portion arranged to direct a portion of the door onto the track after it has been removed from the track. The tracks may be utilized in conjunction with a break-away industrial door having a flexible frame that is adapted to come out of the guide track upon application of a predetermined force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rytec Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Terrance Kimener
  • Publication number: 20140076507
    Abstract: Apparatus 50 for mounting a rail 52 for guiding one lateral side of a zip-like screen, comprises an elongate body 60, comprising a first elongate part 62 and a second elongate part 64, having a channel 66 for receiving the rail 52. The channel 66 has an open top 68 extending in a first direction 70 along the elongate body (i.e. perpendicular to the page as shown in FIG. 2), and a depth extending in a second direction 72 perpendicular to the first direction 70, from the open top 68 towards the opposing base 74 of the channel 66. The rail 52 is supported in the channel 66 by a support mechanism 80 comprising .at least one support member 82 having a plurality of profiles 84A, 84B, 84C, 84D spaced in the second direction 72 when positioned in the channel 66. Each profile 84A, 84B, 84C, 84D is configured to support the rail 52 at a different depth in the channel 66.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Ideas By Design Ltd
    Inventors: Martin Ross Moulson Dibben, John Hammick, Paul Neal, Marc Jeeves
  • Patent number: 8662138
    Abstract: The present invention is to facilitate the attachment and maintenance work of left and right sheet guides of a shutter and to facilitate the return of the disengaged sheet. A sheet guide of a sheet shutter according to the present invention is a mechanism configured such that a sheet 2 is lifted and lowered by being wound and unwound around a sheet drum 5 supported between left and right support posts 3 and 3 according to the rotation of the sheet drum 5, and such that both the left and right ends of the sheet 2 are lifted and lowered by being guided by sheet guide sections 11 and 11 respectively installed in the support posts 3 and 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Komatsu Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Komatsu, Hitoyuki Adachi, Yoshiaki Horie, Takeshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 8596703
    Abstract: A cargo shade or cover for a vehicle includes a thin flexible member that winds onto an elongated roller. The elongated roller may be mounted on a movable vehicle component such as a liftgate of an SUV. An elongated rod assembly is attached to the thin flexible member, and includes extending and retracting end portions that can be received in cavities or other connectors of the vehicle interior to retain the cover in an extended position. The rod assembly may include center housing and a pulley that can be rotated to generate tension on cables that pull the opposite ends of the rod inwardly whereby the rod assembly can be positioned between vehicle interior components when the cover assembly is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Marc David Nedelman
  • Publication number: 20130220559
    Abstract: According to some embodiments curtain assemblies are provided having fabric curtains with brush edges that are mated to the fabric curtain. The brush edges are configured to extend laterally from the curtain to contact, for example, the side edges of the opening in which the curtain assembly is installed and remain in contact with the side edges during movement of the curtain. The brush edges can be configured to deflect along the plane of the motion of the curtain to maintain the contact between the curtain and the side edges. In some embodiments, the curtain assemblies can include optional side tracks configured to receive the brush edges, for example, to improve the connection between the brush edges and the side edges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: Rajiva A. Dwarka
  • Patent number: 8439101
    Abstract: A track for a roll-up industrial door. The track may include realigners adapted to divert the path of the industrial door as it is opened or shut. For example, a realigner may include a tapered portion to maintain a portion of the door within the track as the door is shut. Another realigner may have a tapered portion arranged to direct a portion of the door onto the track after it has been removed from the track. The tracks may be utilized in conjunction with a break-away industrial door having a flexible frame that is adapted to come out of the guide track upon application of a predetermined force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Rytec Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Terrance Kimener
  • Publication number: 20120325416
    Abstract: The invention provides a roll screen device in which a fastener element of an extremely thin fastener tape can be employed as a guide protrusion in both side edge portions of a screen which is taken up by a take-up shaft. An inner rail (23) is embedded into an inner side of fixed guide rails (20) which guide a guide protrusion (13) in both side edge portions of a screen (11) which is taken out of a take-up shaft (10). A guide groove (24) to which the guide protrusion (13) can be inserted is formed in the inner rail (23), and a pair of inward flanges (25) are provided in an opening end portion of the guide groove (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventor: Norio Hayashiguchi
  • Patent number: 8272425
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible shutter device, designed for closing a bay or other opening which cooperates with drive means which permit a displacement of the flexible shutter between an open position and a closed position. The device comprises a drum which may turn about the axis thereof and about which the flexible shutter is wound in the open position thereof, forming a roll comprising turns made up of successive layers attaching one to the other and from which the flexible shutter can be unwound and pushed into the closed position thereof. Slides mounted on a fixed support provide guidance along the bay for the unwound part of the flexible shutter. Pressure or restriction elements (33, 50, 66) avoid buckling of the lateral edges (2,3) in the supported part thereof, extending between a first end (30) of the slides (4,5), nearest the roll and the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Dynaco Europe
    Inventor: Benoit Coenraets
  • Publication number: 20120205057
    Abstract: A door including two lateral posts each having a slideway bounded by two wings, a transverse element connecting upper ends of the lateral posts, a flexible curtain having lateral edges engaging in each of the slideways, and means for winding the curtain into a door-opening position, where each of the slideways is equipped with a sealing profile having a back wall and two lateral walls substantially forming a U-shape, each of the lateral walls bearing against the wing which is adjacent to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: NERGECO
    Inventor: Bernard KRAEUTLER
  • Publication number: 20120012261
    Abstract: A window shade assembly includes a flexible shade material having a pair of non-beaded vertical edges positioned in a pair of opposed vertical side channels. A re-channeling system includes a lip to at least partially define a plane of the flexible shade material within the side channels, and a bottom rail irremovably and slidingly received in each side channel. The side channels can be two parts. A single resilient seal strip is used with the side channels to seal the flexible shade material. The seal strip can be an edge of the flexible wrapping material for the side channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: COMFORTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Corina Santoro, Richard D. Watkins, John A. Corey
  • Publication number: 20120012262
    Abstract: A window shade assembly includes a flexible shade material having a pair of non-beaded vertical edges positioned in a pair of opposed vertical side channels. A re-channeling system includes a lip to at least partially define a plane of the flexible shade material within the side channels, and a bottom rail irremovably and slidingly received in each side channel. The side channels can be two parts. A single resilient seal strip is used with the side channels to seal the flexible shade material. The seal strip can be an edge of the flexible wrapping material for the side channels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: COMFORTEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Corina Santoro, Richard D. Watkins, John A. Corey
  • Publication number: 20110108214
    Abstract: The present invention is to facilitate the attachment and maintenance work of left and right sheet guides of a shutter and to facilitate the return of the disengaged sheet. A sheet guide of a sheet shutter according to the present invention is a mechanism configured such that a sheet 2 is lifted and lowered by being wound and unwound around a sheet drum 5 supported between left and right support posts 3 and 3 according to the rotation of the sheet drum 5, and such that both the left and right ends of the sheet 2 are lifted and lowered by being guided by sheet guide sections 11 and 11 respectively installed in the support posts 3 and 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Akio Komatsu, Hitoyuki Adachi, Yoshiaki Horie, Takeshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 7793702
    Abstract: A guide system for a roller blind of a sliding roof system has a guide rail and a slider that is fixed on the roller blind. The slider is accommodated in the guide rail such that the slider is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle and carries the roller blind. A pretensioning device is arranged between the guide rail and the slider. The pretensioning device presses the slider outwards transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to tension the roller blind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Biewer, Dirk Eis, Horst Böhm
  • Patent number: 7744151
    Abstract: A sunshade assembly includes a flexible sunscreen, a rotatable winding shaft for winding and unwinding the sunscreen and two opposed guides for cooperation with two opposed longitudinal edges of the sunscreen. Each guide extends longitudinally in a curved manner in a plane which substantially is perpendicular to the sunscreen and in parallel to the respective longitudinal edge of the sunscreen. Longitudinal edge sections of the sunscreen are less stretchable than the remainder of the sunscreen and are tensioned in the longitudinal direction of the sunscreen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Inalfa Roof Systems Group B.V.
    Inventors: Carlo Jansen, Pieter Antoon Peeters
  • Publication number: 20100101739
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible shutter device, designed for closing a bay or other opening which cooperates with drive means which permit a displacementfo the flexible shutter between an open position and a closed position. The device comprises a drum which may turn about the axis thereof and about which the flexible shutter is wound in the open position thereof, forming a roll comprising turns made up of successive layers attaching one to the other and from which the flexible shutter can be unwound and pushed into the closed position thereof. Slides mounted on a fixed support provide guidance along the bay for the unwound part of the flexible shutter. Pressure or restriction elements (33, 50, 66) avoid buckling of the lateral edges (2,3) in the supported part thereof, extending between a first end (30) of the slides (4,5), nearest the roll and the roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Dynaco International S.A.
    Inventor: Benoit Coenraets
  • Publication number: 20100006239
    Abstract: A door including two lateral posts each having a slideway bounded by two wings, a transverse element connecting upper ends of the lateral posts, a flexible curtain having lateral edges engaging in each of the slideways, and means for winding the curtain into a door-opening position, where each of the slideways is equipped with a sealing profile having a back wall and two lateral walls substantially forming a U-shape, each of the lateral walls bearing against the wing which is adjacent to it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: NERGECO
    Inventor: Bernard KRAEUTLER
  • Publication number: 20090133843
    Abstract: A track system for use with a cover positionable over a space, which includes a first and second track positioned proximate the space. The first and second tracks each include a slot extending the length of the track, and is configured for slidably receiving an outside edge of the cover. The track system includes first and second trolleys each having a slide for positioning in and configured for movement in their corresponding slot. Each trolley having support means for contact with a support surface to support the corresponding trolley. The support means is configured to facilitate movement of the trolley relative to a corresponding track. The track system also includes a leading edge support for connection to and between both trolleys, and is configured to have a leading edge of the cover attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Kelly J. Ragsdale, LaMont Drechsel, Nathan Dewyea, W. Leroy Eash
  • Patent number: 7530630
    Abstract: A roller blind system for a sliding roof includes a guide rail and a spring steel band that is guided in the guide rail in sections. The spring steel band has an end that is situated outside the guide rail, and which contracts to a coil. A roller blind is attached to the spring steel band, and a compensation spring is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Jugl, Christian Biewer, Horst Boehm
  • Patent number: 7516770
    Abstract: A roll-up door assembly including a flexible curtain made of synthetic rubber or fabric, a curtain winding mechanism and two guide members which extend vertically on opposite sides of the doorway. Side edge sections of the curtain are movable in respective guide members. Each guide has inner and outer wall sections with each wall section having an inwardly projecting, longitudinal rib. The two ribs of each guide form an elongate slot that receives a side edge section of the curtain. Spaced-apart pairs of curtain lock members are mounted on and distributed along each side edge section of the curtain. The lock members of each pair are positioned opposite one another on front and rear surfaces of the curtain respectively. The combined thickness of each pair of lock members and the curtain exceeds the width of the elongate slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: TNR Industrial Doors Inc.
    Inventor: Craig John Jerry
  • Patent number: 6874199
    Abstract: The protective cover according to the present invention comprises an internal space (30) designed to take the corresponding strap (8, 9) of a guidance device (6) and at least one continuous external face (26) forming the sliding face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Maviflex SA
    Inventors: Bernard Simon, Antonello Lamarca
  • Patent number: 6637160
    Abstract: The present invention 10 discloses a plurality of movable transparent arcuate sections 12 that can roll on their own designated tracks 14 to enclose or expose a sun room or pool area 18. Thus, the present invention 10 is comprised of a plurality of overlapping transparent arcuate arches or sections 12 positioned on parallel tracks 14. The arches 12 can be selectively moved to any position on the parallel tracks 14. The two distal end arches have removable end closure panels 20. Each of the transparent panel members 22 or arch 12 are positioned within a frame member 16 having a plurality of wheels 36 engaging the spaced apart track members 14. Track members 14 are fixedly positioned to the ground or foundation structures 58 in a spaced-apart parallel configuration. Each side of an arch 12 consists of a plurality of wheels 36 fixedly positioned between spaced apart track elements 14 having hook-like terminations 53 to prevent dislocation of the frame member 16 from the track member 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Inventor: Bob Brooks
  • Patent number: 6508292
    Abstract: Improved retractable mosquito net, of the type designed to be fitted to the structure of a window opening or door, there being a fly mesh or cloth (11) which slides sideways upon two profiles (15) and (15′) optionally provided with hidden locks (10) and (10′) the fly cloth has in its lower part a profile (12) provided with a central channel (13) in which a handle (14) is attached and slides provided with, side plugs (16) and (16′), the lower part of the profile a dust excluder (13′).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Fivent, S.A.
    Inventor: Jordi Saperas
  • Patent number: 6496990
    Abstract: An invented track construct component system with a threaded radial bearing end pulley is described for pool cover systems that includes an extruded longitudinal cover track having a top longitudinal anchoring slot, a C-channel longitudinal slot along one side edge for capturing and holding a side edge of a pool cover and associated sliders carrying a leading (front) edge structures, a cable return channel with a longitudinal slot opening along the other side edge for receiving and protecting cabling connecting between sliders/front cover corners and associated cable reels. Each cover track is secured within separate extruded side wall channel structures having a top channel side wall with a depending longitudinal shaped for snuggly fitting into the longitudinal anchoring slot of the cover track. The extruded side wall channel structures are incorporated into the side wall of the pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Harry J. Last
  • Patent number: 5601134
    Abstract: A vertical retainer assembly for a roll-up door that selectively blocks and unblocks a doorway, the door including a curtain attached to a roller, and vertical members disposed on either side of the doorway, which include vertically-disposed guide tracks for receiving and guiding the curtain in a vertical plane, the vertical retainer assembly compromising: a horizontally disposed member attached to the curtain, the member being movable out of the vertical plane of the door; and a retaining surface in one of the vertical members at a location external to the guide track, the horizontally disposed member being selectively engageable with this retaining surface which vertically retains the member against upward movement, and prevents the roller from being actuated to roll up the curtain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Garrett L. Goins
  • Patent number: 5526865
    Abstract: Closing, separating or covering device comprising a blind (1) capable of being wound about a winding axis with flexible lateral edges (2) held in position in guide tracks (3) during winding and unwinding, wherein the latter (3) are elastically mounted on a support or rotatably mounted about an axis substantially parallel to their longitudinal axis such that the said lateral edges (2) can be held in position in the guide tracks during the displacement by rotation and/or translation of the latter in relation to the support (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Dynaco International
    Inventor: Benoit J. Coenraets
  • Patent number: 5176194
    Abstract: Bead strings comprising beads connected by means of threadlike cords are provided on both edges of a screen member attached to a roller sleeve of the roller screen unit, and are engaged slidably with guide grooves of a pair of guide groove members arranged on both sides of the screen member. The beads have an aperture through the center thereof, with a string disposed in the apertures. A space portion of the string between each of the beads is attached to the screen member by sewing. This permits very smooth operation of drawing/expanding and winding/housing of the screen member, and facilitates more efficient design and manufacture of the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Metaco Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomomichi Chigusa
  • Patent number: 5117892
    Abstract: Channels having inward-opening grooves are mounted on the upright facing sides of a window frame below the roller of a conventional roll shade. Elongated sealing strips of resilient sheet material have their opposite edge portions rolled or folded inward into abutting relationship and are inserted into the channels. The opposite edge portions of each strip are biased together due to the inherent resiliency of the strip sheet material. The channels and strips capture the side margins of the body of the roll shade to seal the shade to the window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Inventor: Alan C. Murray
  • Patent number: 4874026
    Abstract: A vehicle window screen assembly selectively and alternately operable to cover or uncover a vehicle window. The assembly includes a first flexible screen for blocking at least a portion of light impinging thereon, and a spring-loaded, generally cylindrical roller about which the screen is wrapped with a free end exposed, the roller being mountable at its ends on a side of the window to be covered so that when the free end of the screen is pulled toward the opposite side of the window, the roller rotates to unwind the screen and when the free end is released, the roller retracts and rolls up the screen. A screen positioning device is attached to the free end of the screen and is controllable to selectively pull the screen toward the opposite side of the window to substantially cover it, or to release the screen to allow it to be retracted and rolled up on the roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: Dayer Worrall
  • Patent number: 4864783
    Abstract: A structural arrangement is provided which is particularly useful in connection with solar greenhouses. The structural member is suitable for use in a parallel arrangement of the same particularly for the purpose of providing controlled shading. The structural member is provided as a hollow bar of elongated form provided with at least one longitudinally extending track channel having a relatively narrow longitudinally extended slot-mouth. The bar may be provided with two such channels and these channels are substantially circular in cross-section with the mouths defining reentrant angles therewith. In a solar greenhouse, members of the above type support a glazing with a curved-eave section, the bars being curved to shape and the channels therein accommodating the bulbous lateral edges of shades which are retained therein. The shades are transferred from one roller in the direction of a second roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Four Seasons Solar Products Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Esposito
  • Patent number: 4744403
    Abstract: A retrofittable insulation system for solar rooms having glass bays supported by sills along the bottom and separated by vertically extending glazing bars. The system includes extruded, plastic double channel tracks secured to the inside of the glazing bars and extending substantially the full length thereof. An insulating shade sheet is carried by a roller supported on brackets mounted at the tops of adjacent glazing bars. The shade sheet has corded edges captured within the channels of the tracks and a batten is secured to its lower edge. Spring motors are mounted on the sill adjacent the bottom of each track, and cables connect the spring motors to the ends of the batten. The shade is operated by an actuator connected to the shade roller, which acts against the spring motors. In a preferred embodiment, the spring motors exert a pull force on the shade that varies in accordance with the force required to retract the shade which is a function of the relative position of the shade in the tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1988
    Assignee: Appropriate Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Hausmann, Allan McLane, Jr., Daniel B. Bump, Andrew E. Smith
  • Patent number: 4678019
    Abstract: A structural arrangement which is particularly useful in connection with solar greenhouses is provided. Therein is provided a structural member in the form of a hollow bar of elongated form provided with longitudinally extending and parallel track channels having relatively narrow longitudinally extended slot mouths. A shade with a bulbous periphery is engaged in each of the track channels and a guide member is provided which changes the direction of movement of the shade as it exits from the ends of the corresponding track channels. The guide includes tubular extensions which extend into the track channels. The guide furthermore includes arcuate guide channels which are funnel shaped and operate in extension of the tubular extensions. A member operates in conjunction with the tubular extensions to a wall of the afore-mentioned bars for the mounting of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Four Season Solar Products Corporation
    Inventor: Chris Esposito
  • Patent number: 4598752
    Abstract: A structural arrangement which is particularly useful in connection with solar greenhouses is provided. Therein is provided a structural member in the form of a hollow bar of elongated form provided with longitudinally extending and parallel track channels having relatively narrow longitudinally extended slot mouths. A shade with a bulbous periphery is engaged in each of the track channels and a guide member is provided which changes the direction of movement of the shade as it exits from the ends of the corresponding track channels. The guide includes tubular extensions which extend into the track channels. The guide furthermore includes arcuate guide channels which are funnel shaped and operate in extension of the tubular extensions. A member operates in conjunction with the tubular extensions to a wall of the afore-mentioned bars for the mounting of the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1986
    Assignee: Four Seasons Solar Products Corporation
    Inventor: Chris Esposito
  • Patent number: 4596093
    Abstract: A structural arrangement is provided which is particularly useful in connection with solar greenhouses. The structural member is suitable for use in a parallel arrangement of the same particularly for the purpose of providing controlled shading. The structural member is provided as a hollow bar of elongated form provided with at least one longitudinally extending track channel having a relatively narrow longitudinally extended slot-mouth. The bar may be provided with two such channels and these channels are substantially circular in cross-section with the mouths defining reentrant angles therewith. In a solar greenhouse, members of the above type support a glazing with a curved-eave section, the bars being curved to shape and the channels therein accommodating the bulbous lateral edges of shades which are retained therein. The shades are transferred from one roller in the direction of a second roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1986
    Assignee: Four Seasons Solar Products Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Esposito
  • Patent number: 4586552
    Abstract: Rolling closure guide means. The guide means comprise two vertical guide members for use in guiding the edges of a rolling closure during opening or closing operations. Two guide strips are mounted on each guide member for guiding the edge of the closure between them. In one embodiment, the guide strips are manufactured in different thicknesses so that strips of the appropriate thickness, depending on the thickness of the closure, can be mounted on the guide members to guide the closure. In another embodiment, guide strips of only one thickness are used, along with one or more spacers if needed, to guide closures of different thickness in the guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1986
    Assignee: Martinray Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: H. M. Robert Labelle
  • Patent number: 4480676
    Abstract: An insulation assembly comprising a retractable flexible panel member mounted on a roller element affixed within a conventional portal frame structure including a closure such as a window or door, a pair of side track elements and a lower track element disposed to selectively engage the peripheral edges of the flexible panel member when in the extended position so as to substantially seal the space between the flexible panel member and the closure from the interior of the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Inventor: Victor J. Solomon
  • Patent number: 4478268
    Abstract: A door for closing vehicular traffic passages is provided in which the door is a curtain fabricated from a hard flexible material. The curtain runs in opposing channels, is mounted on a counterbalanced wind-up drum and under impact changes weight, moves out of the channels and is wound up to open the vehicular passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Copper Cliff Door Manufacturing (1980) Limited
    Inventor: Glenn R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4408650
    Abstract: This invention relates to an insulating device to be mounted at the inner side of an existing window and includes a plurality of spaced apart film curtains mounted on a roller at the top and having a rigid bar at the bottom adapted to run in channel shaped side tracks, with compressible sealing members in the track that are displaced by passage of the rigid bar and which then spring back to engage the marginal portions of the respective film curtains to press them against the side walls of the tracks to provide a sealed unit effectively sealing the side edges of the curtains against the circulation of air at these points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1983
    Assignee: Nichols-Homeshield, Inc.
    Inventor: John T. Verch