IP Library Granted Patent US 9,540,873
Granted Patent B1
US 9,540,873 · App. 14/097,109 · Granted Jan 10, 2017

Laterally repositionable roller shade

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,540,873
App. No.
14/097,109
Granted
Jan 10, 2017
Kind
B1
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.

Claims (39)

1. A roller shade assembly comprising:

a first end;

a second opposing end;

a first member comprising a track, wherein the track comprises a groove;

a traveling member adapted to follow the track; and

a second member, wherein the first member is disposed partially in the second member, and wherein the second member comprises:

a recess extending at least partially along a length of the second member, wherein at least a portion of the travelling member is disposed in the recess;

and wherein the second member rotates and the traveling member moves along the recess as the travelling member follows the track in the first member; and

a shade coupled to the second member, wherein the shade is disposed proximate the first end of a roller shade and indirectly coupled to the traveling member such that extending the shade allows lateral repositioning of the shade.

2. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a tube.

3. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the first member comprises a tube, and wherein the groove of the track is in the tube.

4. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the traveling member comprises:

a collar; and

a pin at least partially disposed in the collar;

wherein the pin moves along the groove of the track to allow lateral repositioning of the shade.

5. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the second member comprises a tube.

6. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the second member comprises a tube; and further comprising:

a third member comprising a tube, wherein the tube of the third member comprises a cutout, and wherein laterally repositioning the shade comprises allowing the second member to rotate and move laterally by following the cutout in the third tube.

7. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein lateral repositioning of the shade comprises moving the shade towards the second end of the roller shade.

8. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the traveling member comprises a pin, and wherein the pin is adapted to follow the groove of the track such that a shade of a roller shade coupled to the traveling member moves in the direction of the traveling member.

9. The roller shade of claim 1 further comprising a third member comprising a tube, wherein the tube of the third member comprises a cutout, and wherein laterally repositioning the shade comprises allowing the second member coupled to the shade to rotate and move laterally by following the cutout in the third tube.

10. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the traveling member comprises a collar, and wherein the collar follows the groove in the first member; and wherein the collar is coupled to the second member.

11. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein rotating the second member causes rotation of the first member, wherein rotation of the first member laterally repositions the shade.

12. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the groove is a helical groove.

13. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the track at least partially circumscribes the first member.

14. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein a shade is coupled to the traveling member such that retracting the shade allows lateral repositioning of the shade.

15. The roller shade of claim 1 wherein the traveling member comprises a pin.

16. The roller shade of claim 15 wherein allowing the pin to move along the track allows lateral repositioning of the shade.

17. A roller shade assembly comprising:

a first end;

a second opposing end;

a first member comprising a track, wherein the track comprises a groove;

a traveling member adapted to follow the track; and

a second member discrete from the traveling member, wherein the first member is disposed partially in the second member;

a third member at least partially disposed in the second member;

a shade coupled to the second member, wherein the shade is disposed proximate the first end of a roller shade and indirectly coupled to the traveling member such that extending the shade allows lateral repositioning of the shade.

18. The roller shade assembly of claim 17 further comprising a positioner disposed at least partially in the third member, wherein the positioner maintains a position of the shade.

19. The roller shade assembly of claim 17 wherein the roller shade wraps around at least a portion of the third member when the shade is retracted.

20. The roller shade assembly of claim 17 further comprising a first bracket and a second bracket; wherein the first member comprises a first end and a second opposing end; and wherein the third member comprises a first end and a second opposing end; wherein the first end of the first member couples to the first bracket, and wherein the first end of the third member is proximate the second opposing end of the first member, and wherein the second end of the third member couples to the second bracket.

Assignments (16)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT-ABL Recorded Sep 13, 2021
From: AIRXCEL, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; TIFFIN MOTOR HOMES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057494/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT-TL Recorded Sep 13, 2021
From: AIRXCEL, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; TIFFIN MOTOR HOMES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 057494/0035 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - ABL Recorded Sep 2, 2021
From: CITIZENS BANK, N.A. (AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA), AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC; AQUA-HOT HEATING SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057396/0775 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - SECOND LIEN Recorded Sep 2, 2021
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC; AQUA-HOT HEATING SYSTEMS, LLC; MARVAIR, INC.
Reel/Frame 057396/0767 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS - FIRST LIEN Recorded Sep 2, 2021
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC; AQUA-HOT HEATING SYSTEMS, LLC; MARVAIR, INC.
Reel/Frame 057396/0759 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 26, 2021
From: TOWNSLEY INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 055431/0911 →
TERMINATION OF FEB. 2017 GRANT Recorded Jun 19, 2018
From: CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA
To: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC
Reel/Frame 046390/0476 →
TERMINATION OF FEB. 2017 GRANT Recorded Jun 19, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC
Reel/Frame 046390/0465 →
ABL PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 30, 2018
From: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC
To: CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA
Reel/Frame 046036/0488 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 30, 2018
From: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 046036/0474 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 30, 2018
From: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
Reel/Frame 046036/0481 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2017
From: AIRXCEL, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC
To: CITIZENS BANK OF PENNSYLVANIA
Reel/Frame 041196/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2017
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
To: MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.(FORMERLY KNOWN AS TOWNSLEY INDUSTRIES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 041181/0123 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: AIRXCEL, INC.; MCD INNOVATIONS, INC.; DICOR CORPORATION, INC.; VIXEN COMPOSITES, LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 041165/0425 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: TOWNSLEY INDUSTRIES, INC. D/B/A MCD INNOVATIONS
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP
Reel/Frame 039909/0069 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2016
From: TOWNSLEY, DAVID M.
To: TOWNSLEY INDUSTRIES, INC. D/B/A MCD INNOVATIONS
Reel/Frame 039615/0228 →