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: Barrier systems and associated methods, including vapor and/or fire barrier systems, are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a barrier system that includes a barrier coupled to a spool. The barrier is positioned to be wound onto and off of the spool as the barrier moves between a deployed position and a retracted position by a drive assembly. The system further includes a control system coupled to the drive assembly and configured to command operation of the drive assembly. The system still further includes a sensor operably coupled to the control system and positioned to sense barrier position as the barrier moves between the deployed and the retracted positions.

Abstract: A window shade for use with a window shade system comprising an operable roller for rolling and unrolling the shade. The window shade comprises a flexible sheet that comprises a decorative fabric layer and a sound attenuating layer, such as a polymer film with filler material or mass loaded vinyl. The window shade system comprises an operable roller mounted at the top portion of the window opening; first and second side casings attached to respective sides of the window opening, each side casing forming a channel for receiving respective first and second opposing side edges of a window shade. Typically, the shade system also comprises a motor operatively connected to the roller such that the roller rotates about its longitudinal axis in response to the operation of the motor. The shade system may also comprise a second roller and second window shade comprising a decorative fabric layer, and optionally a sound attenuating layer.

Abstract: A window shade system comprising a roller tube, a top casing, and a shade having a first end engaged with the roller tube and a second end engaged with the top casing such that the shade forms a bight between its ends that separates the shade into a front portion and a back portion. A rod is disposed in the bight. A lift mechanism, typically a motor, rotates the roller tube and moves the shade between a raised position where the bight is adjacent the top casing and a lowered position where the bight is distanced from the top casing. When the shade is in the lowered position, the front portion of the shade comprises a decorative fabric layer and the back portion comprises a sound attenuating layer, such as a polymer film with filler material or mass loaded vinyl. The window shade system typically comprises side casings that have channels for receiving the side edges of the shade.

Abstract: A motorized shade assembly includes a housing having a compartment defined by an inner periphery. A driving device is mounted in the compartment and includes a shaft. An operating rod is coupled with the shaft to turn therewith. A shade is coupled to the operative rod to move therewith. A vibration absorbing member is made of a buffering, flexible material and includes a central hole having an inner periphery clamping the driving device. The vibration absorbing member further includes an outer periphery pressing against the inner periphery of the housing. The driving device is operable to move the operating rod and the shade. The vibration absorbing member reduces vibration and noise generated during operation of the driving device.

Abstract: A wheel turns about a fixed shaft to reel in or pay out an aperture closure member. A motor provides drive to the wheel through a belt. The motor is mounted on a slider plate which can slide relative to a fixed plate, which is secured to the shaft. As the slider plate slides away from the shaft, the belt comes into tension allowing the motor to drive the wheel.

Abstract: A device is provided for use in covering a danger area on a roll changer that can carry at least one roll of material to be directed to a rotary, web-fed printing press. A cover is provided with a drive that can move the cover. A control unit is provided to control the drive for the cover. The cover is closed in a first operational state and is open in a second operational state. The roll of material, that is supported by the roll changer, has a first rotational speed or web speed when the cover is in the first, closed operational state. In the second, cover opened, operational state, the roll of material also has a second rotational or web speed which is greater than zero. A method for controlling a device on a roll changer is also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosed system includes a flexible door covering dimensioned to cover all of a door opening, including at least a part of trim of the doorframe and at least part of a door threshold. The flexible door covering includes a sound reduction layer. The system further includes a flexible door covering retraction mechanism that can selectively let-out and retract the flexible door covering to selectively cover and uncover the door opening of the doorframe. The system includes a hold-down mechanism for holding the flexible door covering against the doorframe. The method includes mounting the sound reduction door covering and the flexible door covering retraction mechanism to a doorframe, such that the flexible door covering is let-out from the flexible door covering retraction mechanism until the flexible door completely covers the doorframe.

Abstract: In a rear-window roller blind for motor vehicles in which a rear half of a back-seat shelf, which is located between the rear window and the pull-out slot for the rear-window roller blind, is used as a support element for the roller blind. The back-seat shelf half is made either from a wood material or is a plastic molded part. Through alternative arrangements, it is ensured that the temperature expansion and contraction of the components of the roller blind and its support are accommodated.

Abstract: A door controller (10) including an integrated electric motor, said door controller including an integrated stator (14) provided with at least one coil (16) placed about the circumference of said stator, said stator fixed to allow only a substantially small degree of rotation of said stator, in use said stator and a rotatable ring gear (18) adapted to be in electromagnetic interaction with each other so as to rotatably drive said ring gear, rotation of said ring gear effecting movement of said door.

Abstract: Method—and device for the implementation thereof intended to provide a protection system for barriers which are movable along an operating path and actuated by a motor, such as roller blinds, gates or the like, comprising the steps of connecting the barrier, with play, to a fixed part (30) so that the barrier is able to move independently of the action of the motor over a travel section (98); defining within the section (98) a set of safety positions corresponding to a safety position for the barrier; detecting along the travel section (98) the actual position of the barrier with respect to the fixed part (30); preventing or reversing the action of the motor and/or the movement of the barrier when the barrier, inside the travel section (98), does not have a position included within the set of safety positions.

Abstract: An apparatus for covering a flat screen television mounted on a wall includes brackets configured to mount to the wall laterally of the television. A reel extends from one side of the television to the other side in front of the television and engages and is supported by the brackets. A tapestry suspends from the reel, and a motor rotates the reel with respect to the brackets. Rotation of the reel in one direction winds the tapestry on the reel to uncover the television, and rotation in the reverse direction unwinds the tapestry to cover the television with the tapestry.

Abstract: A manual roller shade includes a clutch mechanism having a gear train transferring rotation of an input sprocket to rotation of an output member engaging a roller tube. The gear train includes a sun gear, planet gears supported by a carrier and engaging the sun gear, and a ring gear engaging the planet gears. According to one embodiment, the carrier does not rotate. The ratio between the diameters of the input sprocket and the roller tube is selected to offset mechanical advantage of the gear train to provide an effective gear train ratio of approximately 2:1. A drive chain guide system includes spaced guide wheels controlling where a drive chain is suspended from the manual shade. A roller shade mounting system includes a bracket receiving either an input assembly of the manual roller shade or a motor of a motorized roller shade to facilitate conversion.

Abstract: A device for automatic tightening of blinds is disclosed, where the manipulation of the blinds is controlled through the aid of belts running between the outer lists of a window.

Abstract: An assembly for covering a building opening that provides a shaft positioned at one end of the building opening, a curtain carried by the shaft, and a locking mechanism at the opposed end of the building opening from the shaft that selectively holds the curtain in a locked position to cover the building opening. The assembly also includes an input for selectively rotating the shaft, and a linking assembly adapted to transfer the input to the shaft to selectively rotate the shaft, wherein the linking assembly includes a failsafe portion designed to fail upon a predetermined impact force on the curtain. An operator is also provided to allow controllable movement of the curtain between the various positions.

Abstract: A drive and control system for controlling the movement of a pool cover comprised of interconnected rigid buoyant slats. The system relies upon a hydraulic drive section including a hydraulic motor drive which may be initially provided with fluid under pressure by a remote electric drive section. The hydraulic drive section is also provided with an effective means of controlling movement of the pool cover, both in a winding direction on a cover drum, which may be submerged, and/or in an unwinding direction where the pool cover is being unwound from the drum. Various mechanisms to control the movement of the cover are described herein.

Abstract: A photoelectric power supply system for motorized window coverings includes a light detector electrically connected to a relatively high dielectric capacitor. In turn, the capacitor is connected to an electric motor, and the capacitor is the primary source of power for the motor. The light detector converts solar energy to electric energy that is used to charge the capacitor. The electric motor utilizes electricity from the capacitor as needed.

Abstract: Roller curtain with back rolling force, including: two end members; a locating mechanism connected with a first end member; a hollow reel positioned between the two end members with one end fitted on the locating mechanism, whereby the reel is drivingly rotatable by the locating mechanism for winding or unwinding the curtain; a fluid pressure cylinder in which the piston stem keeps outward extending in normal state, the pressure cylinder being fitted in the reel with the rear end connected with the second end member, the other end of the reel being rotatably fitted with the cylinder body; and a linking device disposed between the reel and the pressure cylinder for converting the rotational movement of the reel into linear movement of the piston stem. When the reel rotates to unwind the curtain, the linking device retracts the piston stem into the cylinder body to reserve a pressure source in the pressure cylinder.

Abstract: A rolled screen drawer includes a take-up roll (1) rotatably mounted on a support member (2), a first screen (3) wound on the outermost periphery of the take-up roll, at least one additional screen (4) wound on an inside of the first screen, an engagement (Sa, Sb, Sc) capable of engaging the inside of the leading end of at least one additional screen with the outside of the first screen, and a leading member (6b, 6c) provided at the leading end of at least one additional screen. It is thus possible to selectively expose any desired screen to view.

Abstract: A barrier extendable and retractable beneficially in response to a changing environment of use, is disclosed. In use, the barrier is attached at its ends to support surfaces. An extension and retraction mechanism for the barrier beneficially exerts substantially constant force regardless of the barrier extent. In a preferred embodiment, a ball screw, an axially movable ball screw nut, and gas springs are used.

Abstract: A gate operator for moving a gate between two fixed end positions such as a gate opened position and a gate closed position and minimizing the possibility of impact with a fixed structure at either of these end positions. The operator relies upon measuring the number of electrical pulses or so-called counts representative of a distance between the two fixed end positions. The gate operator includes a controller in which the number of counts are measured between movement from an open position to a closed position, or a closed position to an open position, and the count is automatically readjusted to eliminate any hard contact of the gate at a fixed closed or open position. In one of the important embodiments of the invention, the gate operator utilizes a controlled coasting system.

Abstract: A retractable closure includes a flexible sheet that is comprised, at least in part, of torsion spring material that causes the flexible sheet to form a roll when retracted. The flexible sheet preferably is of sufficient length and width, when extended, typically to close, cover, curtain or partition a selected area. In preferred practice, the torsion spring material comprises a plurality of torsion spring members carried in separate pockets of the flexible sheet at intervals spaced across the width of the flexible sheet. The flexible sheet is unrolled and extended lengthwise by pressurizing and expanding a plurality of elongate fluid-pressure-expansible members that are connected to the flexible sheet, with the expansible members extending along a selected portion of the length of the sheet at intervals spaced across the width of the sheet--preferably with each expansible member carried in a separate pocket of the flexible sheet.

Abstract: A sun shade made of a deformable sheet with a deformable air-tight bladder attached along the periphery of the sheet. The sheet has a generally trapezoidal periphery matching the size of vehicle windows. The sheet has a slit along its centerline through which the vehicle rear view mirror is disposed whereupon the slit is closed by slit fasteners to just accommodate the mirror support. When the bladder is inflated by an air pump attached by an air hose to a nozzle sealed into the bladder and a valve on the nozzle is closed, then the sun shade is extended to cover the vehicle window and protect the inside of the vehicle from unwanted light and heat. When the valve on the nozzle is opened and the air pressure is released, then the sun shade is collapsed into a small stow. The extended sun shade is bendable and thus is adaptable to many size windows. The sun shade also has eyelets arrayed along the periphery so that it can be mounted in many ways with common mounting devices.

Abstract: A rolling gate of the invention has two gate parts movable toward or away from each other from opposite sides of a gate opening; carriage tracks mounted above the gate opening; a running carriage connected to each gate part and movably mounted on carriage tracks above the gate opening to carry each gate part as the gate parts are moved toward or away from each other; a guide member provided on each gate part extending along a front edge of each gate part; an L-shaped force transmitting element for each gate part, a first end of which is pivotally connected to and slidable along the guide member of that gate part and a second end of which is pivotally connected to a stationary member, advantageously the frame of the gate, and a linear drive for each gate part, which can be a hydraulic or pneumatic drive, including an extendible driven member connected to one of the force transmitting elements to pivot the force transmitting element and thus move the movable gate parts to or from each other to open and close th

Abstract: A drive mechanism for an industrial door. A rotatable drive member is operably connected to the door and rotation of the drive member in one direction through operation of a motor will move the door to the closed position while rotation of the member in the opposite direction will move the door to the open position. A clutch mechanism interconnects the motor and the drive member and is movable between an engaged and disengaged position. The clutch mechanism is biased to the engaged position, and by manually pivoting an actuating member that is connected to the clutch mechanism, the clutch mechanism can be moved to the disengaged position, and is retained in the disengaged position until manually released. A switch is operably connected to the motor, and when the actuating member is pivoted to a position to disengage the clutch, the switch will be actuated to shut off power to the motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive for closures of apertures, more particularly sectional gates. The sectional gate is made up of slats 1a-1c directly hinged to one another and guided in vertical and horizontal rails 3, 5 on both longitudinal edges. In the deflecting zone between the vertical portion and the horizontal portion of the aperture closure, associated with each edge of the aperture closure is a sprocket wheel 6 engaging with a roller chain. The rollers 21-24 of the roller chain are disposed on pivot pins 17-20 borne by locking members 10-12. The locking members 10-12 are inserted in the ends of every second hollow slat 1a, 1b, 1c. The pivot pins 17-20 are so arranged as to be in alignment with the hinge points 13-15 of the slats 1a-1e hinged to one another.

Abstract: A door operator having a fluid drive motor and a manual override. The bidirectional hydraulic motor connects to a drive shaft through a power train including a shiftable --quill--type manual clutch mechanism which allows an alternate connection of the drive shaft to a manually-operated wheel. When the cable which shifts the clutch for manual drive is pulled, a switch disables the control for the hydraulic motor. When the motor is not provided with pressured fluid from the pump a hydraulic brake engages the motor.

Abstract: A roll door assembly has a flexible roll door rollingly supported in a frame; a counterweight assembly employing fixed and movable pulleys and a counterweight retains the roll door taut.

Abstract: A roller shutter door limit sensing means comprising a screw member for rotation in response to rotation of the drum onto which the curtain of the roller shutter door is wound, a limit switch actuator means threadably carried by the screw member to advance or retreat therealong in response to its rotation operates a corresponding opposite limit switch means, whereby the switch means can be activated for the curtain fully closed or the curtain fully opened positions whereby to switch off an electric drive means which opens or closes said roller shutter door.