Newell Window Furnishings, Inc.

Rubbermaid, Inc.

Levolor, Inc.

Hunter Douglas Industries Switzerland Gmbh

Michael Defenbaugh

Joshua Allen Maust

Teresa Williamson

Peter Bates

Brian Bellamy Johnson

Miguel Morales

Victor Anti

Alexandra Unger

Henry Sick

Tim Hyde

Steven J Muske

Scott Loren Miller

Edward Naguit Abante

Jonathan David Klinger

Joshua M Hansen

A universal connector bracket including a bracket body, a first mounting feature defined by the bracket body, and a second mounting feature defined by the bracket body and distinct from the first mounting feature. The first mounting feature is structured and arranged to engage a horizontal support of a storage system. The second mounting feature is structured and arranged to engage a vertical support of a storage system. As such, the universal connector bracket can be coupled to one of the vertical or horizontal support, or can be coupled to both the vertical and horizontal support at the same time.

Universal connector bracket for a storage system

An operating system for a window covering includes at least one spring motor, at least one variable force brake, and at least one lift spool assembly operatively coupled to a panel for raising and lowering a panel. An effective shaft is operatively coupled to and synchronizes the spring motor, the variable force brake, and the lift spool. The variable force brake comprises a one-way clutch operatively coupled to the shaft. A brake member is operatively engaged with the one-way clutch to apply a brake force to the one-way clutch when the shaft is rotated. The magnitude of the brake force applied to the one-way clutch is determined by the rotational position of the shaft.

Variable force brake for a window covering operating system

A window covering comprises slats suspended from a tilt cord such that the tilt cord may rotate the slats between an open position and a closed position. An elastic seal is provided on the slats to contact adjacent slats when the slats are in the closed position. A mechanism such as a spring or a magnet applies a closing force to the slats in the closed position separate from the tilt cord where the closing force moves the slats toward one another. An elastic seal is provided on the slats to contact adjacent slats when the slats are in the closed position.

Sealed slatted blind

A slatted blind is configured such that the slats close create a light blocking blind. The slats may be supported by a tilt cord that comprises a low stretch strand or a low stretch cord may be attached to the tilt cord. The slats may be connected to the supporting tilt cord such that when the slat is rotated to a closed position the slat is suspended from the rung. The rung may have an effective diameter of less than approximately 14 mil. Recesses may be formed in the slat for receiving the rung when the slat is in a closed position. A bottom rail may have a thickness approximately equal to the thickness of the slats. A protrusion may be formed on the back of the slats such that the rung pushes on the protrusion to force the slat against an adjacent slat when the blind is closed.

Light blocking slatted blind

A window covering includes a head rail that supports a panel by lift cords such that one end of the panel may be raised and lowered relative to the head rail. An operating system controls movement of the panel and includes spools coupled to the lift cords such that rotation of the spools retracts and extends the lift cords. A shaft is connected to a spool of the lift spool assembly and to a brake and a spring motor. The spring motor applies a motor force to the shaft and the brake applies a brake force to the shaft such that the forces generated by the spring motor and brake hold the panel in the desired position.

Window covering and operating system

In one embodiment, a window covering comprises a panel having a lateral edge where the panel is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. A side track is secured to the panel such that as the panel is moved between the raised position and the lowered position the side track is extended along the lateral edge. The side track changes from a first geometry to a second geometry as the side track is extended.

Window covering with integrated side track

Growing community of inventors

Dunwoody, GA, United States of America

Michael Defenbaugh