US 7,401,634 B2Granted

Remote control operating system and support structure for a retractable covering for an architectural opening

AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.

InventorsJoseph E. Kovach, Michael S. Holford

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An improved retractable covering for an architectural opening includes an improved mounting bracket, an improved limit stop to prevent over-retraction and over-extension of the retractable covering, an improved battery pack mounting bracket for attaching a power supply to a head rail of the retractable covering, an improved battery pack mounting apparatus for attaching a battery pack to a head rail, an improved control system for the retractable covering, and an improved method of using a wireless remote control or a manually operated switch to activate a motor to control the configuration of the covering, including the extension or retraction of the covering, and the transmissivity of the covering. The disclosed improvements are field retrofittable.

Claims5

Dependent claims

An adjustable covering for an architectural opening in combination with a control system, a motor, and a remote control having an up button and a down button, said control system being configured to execute at least one computer readable instruction for controlling the operation of the adjustable covering, wherein the covering includes a pair of flexible elements and a plurality of parallel vanes interconnecting the flexible elements, said covering being movable between retracted and extended positions and said vanes being pivotable between open and closed positions, said vanes remaining in said closed position when said covering is moving between said extended and retracted positions and being movable between said open and closed positions only when said covering is fully extended, said control system executing said instruction by:

receiving a first signal from said remote control wherein the first signal is generated upon a single press and release of the down button;
outputting a second signal upon receiving said first signal, which activates said motor to begin extending the adjustable covering;
outputting a third signal which deactivates the motor after the adjustable covering reaches full extension and while the adjustable vanes are in a closed position;
receiving the first signal from the remote control for a second time after outputting the third signal, wherein the first signal is again generated upon a single press and release of the down button;
and
outputting the second signal activating the motor to begin rotating the roll bar to move the vanes from the closed toward an open position while the covering is fully extended.

3 more elements

An adjustable covering for an architectural opening in combination with a control system, a motor, and a remote control having an up button and a down button, said control system being configured to execute at least one computer readable instruction for controlling the operation of the adjustable covering, wherein the covering includes a bottom rail, a pair of flexible elements and a plurality of parallel vanes interconnecting the flexible elements, said covering being movable between retracted and extended positions and said vanes being pivotable between open and closed positions, said vanes remaining in said closed position when said covering is moving between said extended and retracted positions and being movable between said open and closed positions only when said covering is fully extended, said control system including a processor adapted to execute at least one computer readable instruction to adjust the position of the covering by:

detecting a signal indicative of a desired adjustment of the covering;
activating said motor when the vanes are in a closed position and the window covering is at least partially retracted to move the covering toward the extended position;
while the motor is activated, detecting a signal indicative of a second desired adjustment of the covering when the covering is fully extended but the vanes remain closed;
deactivating the motor upon detection of the signal indicative of the second desired adjustment;
detecting a signal from the remote control generated upon a single press and release of the down button indicative of a third desired adjustment of the covering;
upon detection of the signal indicative of the third desired adjustment of the covering, activating the motor until the vanes move from a closed to an open position;
sensing when the vanes in the covering have been moved to the fully open position;
and
deactivating the motor when the vanes reach the fully open position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/465,066Filed 16 Aug 2006 · division
Priority: 22 Jun 1998
Published: US 2006/0284585 A121 Dec 2006
Granted: 22 Jul 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E06B 9/32
Liftable: operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor
E06B 9/34
With horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable: roller-type; Roller shutters with adjustable lamellae
Y10S 160/902
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel: venetian blind type bracket means
E06B
Fixed or movable closures for openings in buildings, vehicles, fences or like

Family

Application60/090,269Us provisional application · filed 22 Jun 1998
Application09/339,089Parent of this division · filed 22 Jun 1999
Application09/940,768Parent of this division · filed 27 Aug 2001
Application10/732,747Parent of this division · filed 10 Dec 2003
US 2006/0284585 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Dec 2006
US 7,147,029 B2Parent of this division
US 6,688,368 B2Parent of this division
US 6,299,115 B1Parent of this division
US 2002/0027184 A1Published application
US 2004/0118528 A1Published application
US 7,401,634 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.