The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 22, 2013
Filed:
Jun. 21, 2011
Michael Hanley, Smithfield, RI (US);
Leo E. Labarre, Woonsocket, RI (US);
Michael Hanley, Smithfield, RI (US);
Leo E. LaBarre, Woonsocket, RI (US);
Kenney Manufacturing Co., Warwick, RI (US);
Abstract
A window treatment, in which a shade is raised and lowered, is comprised of a roller upon which shade material is reeled and unreeled. A wand drives a universal joint, preferably a uniquely configured knuckle joint, and the universal joint drives a flexible shaft which is connected to the roller. Special shaping of the parts and slots of the U shape links of mating knuckles enables smooth and positive universal joint operation. A user may pull down on the wand, to bend the flexible shaft and bring the knuckles into alignment, whereupon turning of the wand rotates the roller. When the wand is released the resilience of the flexible shaft helps lift the driven knuckle so it is parallel to the horizontal roller, and the drive roller moves to a home position which inhibits counter-rotation of the roller due to the weight of the shade.