Spring Or Screw Patents (Class 160/343)
  • Patent number: 11457763
    Abstract: A drapery system having a drive element extending the length that is connected to a structure by a pair of brackets. The drive element has a cylindrical shape with an exterior surface. The exterior surface of the drive element has a guide structure, which in one arrangement is a plurality of helical grooves. A plurality of rings are positioned around the drive element that are used to connect shade material to the drive element. The rings include a partial driver ring, a full driver ring and idler rings. In a center closing arrangement, partial driver rings are positioned as the inward most rings followed by full driver ring which is followed by a plurality of idler rings. The partial driver ring and the idler rings have a stabilizer that fits around the exterior surface of the drive element thereby providing smoother and quieter travel along the drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Current Products Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Scott Hand, Phillip Dugger
  • Patent number: 11033138
    Abstract: An architectural covering is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure and a plurality of idler attachment elements and a drive element positioned over the rotatable drive element. The rotatable drive element is connected to a wall, ceiling or other structure by brackets. In one arrangement a drive shaft having at least one bearing is then attached to the brackets such that the rotatable drive elements rotate upon the bearings. This arrangement provides an efficient, simple and convenient manner of attaching a rotatable drive element to brackets for mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CURRENT PRODUCTS CORP.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Michael D. Fox, Daniel T. Matthews, Dale McCarthy, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 10874242
    Abstract: A curtain assembly comprises a rotatable drive element wherein at least one helical guide structure is formed on, or into, the outer surface of the drive element. A drive attachment element having a structure that communicates with the helical guide structure to move the drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated. Specific embodiments incorporate either a manual or motor-driven rotation assembly for rotating the drive element. Further specific embodiments involve a helical guide structure that comprises a helical groove and a structure that comprises a tooth that engages with the helical groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CURRENT PRODUCTS CORP.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Daniel T. Matthews, Michael D. Fox
  • Patent number: 10829991
    Abstract: A roller shade may be retracted and extended. In various implementations, when a roller shade is extended it may be laterally repositioned. The roller shade may include a track and a travelling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: MCD Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Townsley
  • Patent number: 10405684
    Abstract: An architectural covering is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure and a plurality of idler attachment elements and a drive element positioned over the rotatable drive element. The rotatable drive element is connected to a wall, ceiling or other structure by brackets. In one arrangement a drive shaft having at least one bearing is then attached to the brackets such that the rotatable drive elements rotate upon the bearings. This arrangement provides an efficient, simple and convenient manner of attaching a rotatable drive element to brackets for mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Current Products Corp.
    Inventors: Willis J. Mullet, Michael D. Fox, Daniel T. Matthews, Dale McCarthy, Darrin W. Brunk
  • Patent number: 10285527
    Abstract: A wirelessly controllable, motorized and battery powered drapery apparatus is presented having a rotatable drive element having a guide structure in its surface. The drapery apparatus includes brackets that house conventional batteries which power the apparatus. The brackets connect to a motor assembly which houses a motor and a motor controller. The rotatable drive element includes at least one key feature in its hollow interior. The guide structure is indexed to the key feature such that two rotatable drive elements can be connected together in such a manner that the guide structure is aligned on the two rotatable drive elements ensuring that the shade material opens and closes evenly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CURRENT PRODUCTS CORP.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Darrin W. Brunk, Derek Scott Paquette
  • Patent number: 9801486
    Abstract: A drapery system that operates by rotating a rod having one, or a pair of left hand twist helical grooves, and one or a pair of right hand twist helical grooves, where the left hand twist and right hand twist helical grooves cross one another in equal spaced alignment across the length of the rotating rod. A plurality of idler rings and at least one driver ring are positioned around the drapery rod. The idler rings have a smooth interior surface whereas the driver rings include at least one tooth that engages a helical groove of the rotating rod. As the rotating rod is rotated, the driver ring is driven across the length of the rotating rod, thereby opening and closing the system. The system also includes a mounting bracket allows for extending the drapery past the inward edge of the inward most ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Current Products Corp.
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Michael D. Fox
  • Patent number: 9725949
    Abstract: A roller shade may be retracted and extended. In various implementations, when a roller shade is extended it may be laterally repositioned. The roller shade may include a track and a travelling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: MCD INNOVATIONS
    Inventor: David M. Townsley
  • Patent number: 9540873
    Abstract: A roller shade may be retracted and extended. In various implementations, when a roller shade is extended it may be laterally repositioned. The roller shade may include a track and a travelling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: MCD Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Townsley
  • Patent number: 9095908
    Abstract: A curtain assembly comprises a rotatable drive element wherein at least one helical guide structure is formed on, or into, the outer surface of the drive element. A drive attachment element having a structure that communicates with the helical guide structure to move the drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated. Specific embodiments incorporate either a manual or motor-driven rotation assembly for rotating the drive element. Further specific embodiments involve a helical guide structure that comprises a helical groove and a structure that comprises a tooth that engages with the helical groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: QMOTION INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Daniel T. Matthews, Michael D. Fox
  • Publication number: 20100024994
    Abstract: A window covering is disclosed that includes a first rail, window covering material adjacent the first rail, at least one lift cord extending through the window covering material to the headrail, a plurality of pulleys positioned adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor cord extending from the one or more spring motors and a deformable connector attached to one or more spring motor cords and one or more lift cords. The connector is deformable to a size and shape sufficient for the connector and one or more spring motor cords to pass along at least one of the pulleys during movement along a cord path defined by one or more of the pulleys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Tzong Fu Lin
  • Publication number: 20100012281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fixing structure of the cord winding mount for window curtain, comprising a stationary block, an arbor gear, a winding drum, a positioning cover plate and a movable cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventor: Ming-Lu Wong
  • Patent number: 7322395
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tambour door comprising a door leaf that can be rolled up. The door comprises a vertical roller frame for receiving the door leaf, a sliding bar, to which the rollable door leaf is fixed, and an upper horizontal guide rail, in which the sliding bar is displaceably mounted. The invention facilitates a particularly simple, space-saving, modular construction. The rear face or external face of the roller frame is fixed to a wall and the guide rail is configured as a floating guide rail, which is fixed on one side at least indirectly to the roller frame and on the other side in a fixing element that is fastened at least indirectly to a wall. The door can be used as a lavatory door, or in situations requiring privacy protection for a door opening that economizes on space as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kaba Gilgen AG
    Inventors: Jürg Nyffenegger, Erich Kaufmann, Pascal Bürki
  • Patent number: 6409133
    Abstract: A device for supporting a curtain including a hollow rail which includes a length, a narrowed opening, and an upper attachment surface for attaching the rail to a horizontal support surface. A helically wound spring is disposed inside the hollow rail and includes a plurality of turns, a fixed end, and a moveable end. A plurality of curtain holding members are disposed on the plurality of turns wherein the plurality of holding members can move within the narrowed opening. The hollow rail is attachable via the upper attachment surface to the horizontal support surface so as to support a curtain along the length of the hollow rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: Jean-Francois Billan
  • Patent number: 6024156
    Abstract: A fully automatic motor driven curtain drawing apparatus which is of a simple, but highly reliable design and one which can be easily adjusted to accommodate windows of widely differing sizes. They can be opened either manually or by an electric motor which can be remotely energized. A timer and a sensor are operably connected to the electric motor and function to energize the motor either at a predetermined time or in response to the sensor sensing daylight and dark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Marikon Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Winston Chu
  • Patent number: 5899255
    Abstract: A hanger and driving assembly for hanging clothes or curtains that has a simple and reliable driving mechanism involving an easy operation to close and open the curtain without the need of cords, the assembly having a rail fixed to a wall or a roof of a building, a rod extending inside and along the entire length of the rail, the rod having at least one helical thread length, at least one driven runner being slidably mounted on the rod, the runner comprising a threaded bore through which the rod passes whereby the threaded bore is engaged with the helical thread length of the rod so as to be moved along the rod when the rod is rotated, the runner having at least one pair of wheels rotatably mounted to rotate about an axis and along inner surfaces of the rail the runner having a horizontally projecting hanging arm passing through an elongated opening extending along the bottom or the front wall of the rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Inventors: Orlando Arquimedes Petracini, Carlos Salvador Curcio
  • Patent number: 5467808
    Abstract: An automatic blind or curtain suspension system is described comprising a blind headrail 10 or curtain pole carrying at least one suspension device 28 arranged for movement relative to the headrail 10 or pole towards and away from a stop 48 to open and close the blind or curtain. An electric motor 44a is coupled to the suspension device 28 and operable to cause it to move relative to the headrail 10 or pole. The system includes compression springs 50 adapted to take up additional drive from the motor once motion of the suspension device 28 is retarded by the stop 48. An automatic controller 12 is provided which detects a monotonic increase in current to the motor 44a associated with drive from the motor 44a being taken up by the springs 50 and interrupts current to the electric motor 44a when the increase in motor current is detected. The controller may also keep track of the position of the suspension device 28 and store its position when the increase in current is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Eclipse Blinds Limited
    Inventor: David Bell
  • Patent number: 4926922
    Abstract: TYhe curtain drawing device providing either manual or automatic drawing of a curtain comprises an electric motor, a curtain rod which is driven rotatably by the motor, an exteriorly-protruding longitudinally-extending spiral element attached to the outer circumference of the curtain rod and a plurality of rings through which the curtain rod passes, each of which have a diameter larger than the diameter of the curtain rod, so that the curtain which is suspended from the rings can be drawn manually or by rotation of the curtain rod. An automatically-releasing tassel holder which can be operated by remote control may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Topia Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumio Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 4832104
    Abstract: A device for covering or uncovering a surface by a cover comprising at least one fixed rigid supporting rod placed close to the surface to be covered, a driving member, a helical screw co-axial to the supporting rod and of which one end is connected to the driving member, a rigid pin connected to the cover to be folded or unfolded and held between the supporting rod and the co-axial helical screw, the rigid pin being designed to slide along the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Inventors: Benoit De Labarthe, Roland Verret, Pierre Prudhomme
  • Patent number: 4023609
    Abstract: A drapery track having a rod contained within a channel member, the rod being provided with a spiral thread or threads. A resilient flexible sleeve is positioned about the rod. Rotation of the rod by an operating means drives a carriage, which in turn drives a plurality of truck means along the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: Louver Drape, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt E. Rosenquist