Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090127369 | System for leveling a protective window covering - A system is provided to adjust the orientation of the axis of a roll which carries a fabric storm curtain used to protect an opening in a structure. The system includes a bracket positioned at each end of the roll and a plate which is received in a recess in each bracket. The plate includes a hub which carries the roll and which has an axis aligned with the axis of rotation of the roll. The hub is positioned off center of the plate so that dependent on the orientation of plate relative to the recess, different orientations of the axis of the roll are provided. | 05-21-2009 |
20090229767 | Storm curtain side retention system - A curtain assembly ( | 09-17-2009 |
20110203748 | High Efficiency Roller Shade - The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket. | 08-25-2011 |
20110203754 | Method for Operating a Motorized Roller Shade - The present invention advantageously provides methods for manually and/or remotely controlling a motorized roller shade that includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube and a microcontroller. One method includes detecting a manual movement of the shade using a sensor, determining a displacement associated with the manual movement, and, if the displacement is less than a maximum displacement, moving the shade to a different position by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. Another method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube. | 08-25-2011 |
20110272106 | Anti-reversible power spring apparatus and method - In a shade system with a bracket supporting a shade storage roll, an anti-reversible power spring apparatus includes at least one biasing system connected with the storage roll wherein the biasing system includes a biasing member with a first end and a second end wherein the first end moves with the storage roll as the storage roll rotates and wherein the second end is held stationary with reference to the storage roll when the storage roll rotates in one direction but not when the storage roll rotates in a second direction. A support for the at least one biasing system is provided wherein the support includes a protrusion that holds the second end against movement when the storage roll is rotated in the one direction but which allows passage of the second end past the protrusion when the storage roll is rotated in the second direction. | 11-10-2011 |
20120024485 | Modular anti-reversible power spring apparatus and method - In a shade system with a bracket supporting a shade storage roll, an anti-reversible power spring apparatus includes a biasing member and a housing with a receiver end and a connector end where the housing encloses the biasing member and the receiver end and the connector end contain the biasing member within the housing. A connector device is connected with the housing and a receiver device is connected with the housing where the connector is connectable with a receiver and where the receiver is connectable with a connector. | 02-02-2012 |
20120031571 | High Efficiency Roller Shade - A motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade tube in which a motor unit, a controller unit and a power supply unit are disposed. The controller unit includes a controller to control the motor. The power supply unit includes at least one bearing rotatably coupled to a support shaft. The motor unit includes at least one bearing, rotatably coupled to another support shaft, a DC gear motor and a counterbalancing device. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to a mounting bracket. | 02-09-2012 |
20120090797 | Motorizable shade system and method - A motorizable shade system and method consists of a header system where the header system includes an integral header attachment connection. At least one cord spool is provided within the header system and is connected with at least one suspension cord and a shade is suspended from the at least one suspension cord. A motor assembly attachment connection is provided in a motor assembly that is conformed to connect with the integral header attachment connection and the motor assembly also includes a motor assembly electrical connector. A power system with a power attachment connection is provided that is conformed to connect with the integral header attachment connection. The power system also includes a power system electrical connector that is conformed to connect with the motor assembly electrical connector. The motorizable shade system operates manually unless and until a motor assembly and power system are connected with the integral header attachment connection and the cord spool. | 04-19-2012 |
20120111509 | Motorizable tilt shade system and method - A motorizable tilt shade system includes a header system where the header system includes an integral header attachment connection. At least one cord spool is provided within the header system and is connected with at least one suspension cord. A shade is suspended from the at least one suspension cord and a tilt cord pulley is connected with the at least one cord spool. A tilt cord is connected with the tilt cord pulley and with the shade such that the tilt cord and tilt cord pulley cooperate to tilt the shade. A drive shaft receiver is connected with the tilt cord pulley such that movement of the drive shaft receiver moves the tilt cord pulley. | 05-10-2012 |
20130180666 | ROLLER SHADE COUNTER BALANCING AND BLIND ATTACHING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A roller shade is provided. In some embodiments, the roller shade may include: a roller assembly; an inner portion of the roller assembly having an attaching structure for attaching to a mount; an outer portion of the roller assembly located on the roller assembly radially outward from the inner portion; a slot in the outer portion; and an insert dimensioned to be slidably received into the slot along with a portion of a shade to thereby attach the shade to the roller assembly. A method of attaching a shade to a roller assembly may also be provided. | 07-18-2013 |
20130213591 | High Efficiency Roller Shade - A method for controlling a motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade attached to a shade tube, a microcontroller and a DC gear motor disposed within the shade tube. The DC gear motor includes a housing fixed to the shade tube and an output shaft coupled to a support shaft fixed to a mounting bracket. The method includes receiving a command from a remote control, and moving the shade to a position associated with the command by energizing the DC gear motor to rotate the shade tube and the DC gear motor housing while the DC gear motor output shaft and support shaft remain fixed. | 08-22-2013 |
20130220560 | ROLL TYPE BLIND OR SHADE SYSTEM CONFIGURED TO BE EASILY CONVERTED BETWEEN MOTORIZED AND MANUAL OPERATION - There is provided a motorized roller shade that includes a roller shade tube including an outer surface, an inner surface defining an inner cavity, and two end portions. The motorized shade further includes a shade attached to the outer surface of the roller shade tube, a counterbalancing unit configured to provide a counterbalancing force to the shade, and the roller shade tube further comprising substitution configurations to allow the roller shade tube to receive and operate with either a motor assembly or a manual operation assembly. | 08-29-2013 |
20130255890 | MOTORIZABLE TILT SHADE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A motorizable tilt shade system includes a header system where the header system includes an integral header attachment connection. At least one cord spool is provided within the header system and is connected with at least one suspension cord. A shade is suspended from the at least one suspension cord and a tilt cord pulley is connected with the at least one cord spool. A tilt cord is connected with the tilt cord pulley and with the shade such that the tilt cord and tilt cord pulley cooperate to tilt the shade. A drive shaft receiver is connected with the tilt cord pulley such that movement of the drive shaft receiver moves the tilt cord pulley. A counterbalance assembly including a negative gradient spring is connected to the drive shaft thereby providing an approximately constant tension on the tilt cord pulley. | 10-03-2013 |
20130276995 | COUNTERBALANCED ROLL TYPE BLIND OR SHADE SYSTEM HAVING A CONFIGURATION TO UTILIZE AN EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY OR AN EXTERNAL MOTOR CONTROLLER - A motorized roller shade includes a roller shade tube including an outer surface, an inner surface defining an inner cavity, and at least one end portion, a shade attached to the outer surface of the roller shade tube, and a counterbalancing unit configured to provide a counterbalancing force to the roller shade. The motorized shade further includes a motor configured to provide rotational exertion to the roller shade, a controller configured to provide control signals to the motor, a power supply configured to provide power at least to one of the motor and the controller, and a transfer device configured to transfer one of the control signals to the motor that is configured to rotate and power to the controller that is configured to rotate from a stationary external source. | 10-24-2013 |
20130285580 | QUICK CHANGE BATTERY ARRANGEMENT FOR MOTORIZED SHADE - The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade conduit having an outer surface upon which a shade is attached and an inner surface defining an inner cavity. The motorized shade also comprises a motor disposed within the inner cavity along with a controller coupled to the motor that controls the motor. The motorized roller further comprises a power supply sleeve having an interior space, wherein the power supply sleeve is disposed within the inner cavity, wherein the power supply sleeve is coupled to the motor. The sleeve may be accessed by an access port that extends between the outer surface and the inner surface. | 10-31-2013 |
20130312920 | MOTORIZED SHADE WITH THE TRANSMISSION WIRE PASSING THROUGH THE SUPPORT SHAFT - A roll shade system is disclosed. The roll shade system includes a motor configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, a support shaft supporting the motor wherein the support shaft is configured to remain stationary during operation of the motor, and a roll shade tube configured to be rotatable about the motor and the support shaft during operation of the motor. The roll shade system further includes stationary components including a wiring connector, an input wiring system, a bearing, an antenna, a coaxial cable, a motor controller, a counterbalance spring. The roll shade system also includes rotatable components including a bearing housing and one or more O-rings. | 11-28-2013 |
20140014281 | Shade with a Shear Pin and Method for Pretensioning a Shade - A roller shade is provided. The roller shade may include: a roller; an axle located in the roller; an adjustable counterbalancing mechanism configured to counter balance a rotation of the roller wherein the counterbalancing mechanism is configured to impart a rotational force on the roller and the rotational force is adjusted by rotating the axle; and a locking mechanism attached to the roller and configured to lock the axle at a given angular orientation, wherein the locking mechanism includes a shear pin. A method of tensioning a counterbalancing mechanism may also be provided. The method may include: mounting the counterbalancing mechanism to a shaft; mounting the lock wheel to the shaft; turning the shaft to tension the counterbalancing mechanism; and inserting a shear pin into a hole in the lock wheel to lock the shaft in place. | 01-16-2014 |
20140090789 | HIGH EFFICIENCY ROLLER SHADE - A motorized roller shade is provided. The motorized roller shade includes a shade tube in which a motor unit, a controller unit and a power supply unit are disposed. The controller unit includes a controller to control the motor. The power supply unit includes at least one bearing rotatably coupled to a support shaft. The motor unit includes at least one bearing, rotatably coupled to another support shaft, a DC gear motor and a counterbalancing device. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to a mounting bracket. | 04-03-2014 |
20150041080 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A MOTORIZED ROLLER SHADE - An architectural covering is provided. The architectural covering includes: shade material; the shade material operatively connected to a motor unit such that movement of the motor unit causes movement of the shade material; the motor unit comprising a DC motor and a shaft connected to the DC motor; a power supply unit electrically connected to the motor unit; a controller unit electrically connected to the motor unit, the controller unit having a microprocessor; and a rotation detector configured to detect rotation of the motor unit and upon detection of rotation of the motor unit transmit a signal to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor of the controller unit is configured to power an encoder unit in response to determination of manual movement of the shade material. A motor and control unit for an architectural covering may be provided. | 02-12-2015 |