IP Library Granted Patent US 9,719,292
Granted Patent B1
US 9,719,292 · App. 15/227,345 · Granted Aug 1, 2017

Self-tensioning magnetic tracks and track assemblies

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,719,292
App. No.
15/227,345
Granted
Aug 1, 2017
Kind
B1
Abstract

A magnetic track assembly including an elongate channel having an open side, an end wall, and two parallel side walls; a first magnet disposed within the elongate channel near an interior side of the end wall; a compartment defined within the elongate channel spaced from the first magnet; and a screen receiver disposed within the compartment and including a second magnet arranged facing the first magnet. In the magnetic track assembly, the first and second magnets are of opposite polarity and the screen receiver is loosely disposed within the compartment such that a magnetic bond is intact between the first and second magnets when the first and second magnets are close together and the magnetic bond is broken when the first and second magnets are pulled apart.

Claims (35)

1. A magnetic track assembly, comprising:

an elongate channel having an open side, an end wall, and two parallel side walls;

a first magnet disposed within the elongate channel near an interior side of the end wall;

a compartment defined within the elongate channel spaced from the first magnet; and

a screen receiver disposed within the compartment and including a second magnet arranged facing the first magnet;

wherein the first and second magnets are of opposite polarity and the screen receiver is loosely disposed within the compartment such that a magnetic bond is intact between the first and second magnets when the first and second magnets are close together and the magnetic bond is broken when the first and second magnets are pulled apart, and

wherein the compartment is defined by interior partition walls that extend inward from their respective one of the two parallel sidewalls, and wherein each of the partition walls extend inward a distance less than half a distance between the two parallel side walls.

2. The magnetic track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the screen receiver comprises an elongate C-shaped channel opening in a direction opposite the first magnet such that the C-shaped channel is accessible through the open side of the elongate channel.

3. The magnetic track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second magnet is outside of the compartment when the magnetic bond between the first and second magnets is intact, and within the compartment when the bond between the first and second magnets is broken.

4. The magnetic track assembly of claim 1 , wherein a width of the screen receiver is less than a width of the compartment such that the screen receiver can be installed at an angle through the open side of the elongate channel.

5. The magnetic track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongate channel further comprises a secondary channel disposed along one of the two parallel side walls opening in a direction perpendicular to the open side of the elongate channel.

6. The magnetic track assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a removable elongate cover covering a length of the secondary channel.

7. The magnetic track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the elongate channel is open at a top and a bottom thereof, and wherein the top and the bottom are covered with removable top and bottom covers, respectively.

8. The magnetic track assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior compartment has a depth greater than one inch.

9. A magnetic track assembly, comprising:

an elongate channel having an open side, an end wall, and two parallel side walls;

a first magnet disposed within the elongate channel near an interior side of the end wall;

a compartment defined within the elongate channel spaced from the first magnet;

a screen receiver disposed within the compartment, the screen receiver comprising a C-shaped channel opening in a direction of the open side of the elongate channel, and a second magnet arranged facing the first magnet; and

a screen tensioner slidably received within the C-shaped channel;

wherein the first and second magnets are of opposite polarity and the screen receiver is loosely disposed within the compartment such that a magnetic bond is intact between the first and second magnets when the first and second magnets are close together and the magnetic bond is broken when the first and second magnets are pulled apart, and

wherein the compartment is defined by interior partition walls that extend inward from their respective one of the two parallel sidewalls, and wherein each of the partition walls extend inward a distance less than half a distance between the two parallel side walls.

10. The magnetic track assembly of claim 9 , wherein the screen receiver is adapted to move horizontally within the compartment toward and away from the first magnet.

11. The magnetic track assembly of claim 10 , wherein a width of the screen receiver is less than a width of the compartment such that the screen receiver can be installed at an angle through the open side of the elongate channel.

12. The magnetic track assembly of claim 10 , wherein the elongate channel further comprises a secondary channel disposed along one of the two parallel side walls opening in a direction perpendicular to the open side of the elongate channel.

13. The magnetic track assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a removable elongate cover covering a length of the secondary channel.

14. The magnetic track assembly of claim 10 , wherein the elongate channel is open at a top and a bottom thereof, and wherein the top and the bottom are covered with removable top and bottom covers, respectively.

15. The magnetic track assembly of claim 10 , wherein the interior compartment has a depth greater than one inch.

16. A magnetic track assembly, comprising:

an elongate channel having an open side, an end wall, and two parallel side walls;

a first magnet disposed within the elongate channel near an interior side of the end wall;

a compartment defined within the elongate channel spaced from the first magnet; and

a screen receiver disposed within the compartment and including a second magnet arranged facing the first magnet;

wherein the first and second magnets are of opposite polarity and the screen receiver is loosely disposed within the compartment such that a magnetic bond is intact between the first and second magnets when the first and second magnets are close together and the magnetic bond is broken when the first and second magnets are pulled apart, and

wherein the second magnet is outside of the compartment when the magnetic bond between the first and second magnets is intact, and within the compartment when the bond between the first and second magnets is broken.

Assignments (3)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 17, 2022
From: 3FORM, LLC; 3 DAY BLINDS LLC; COMFORTEX CORPORATION; DEFENDER SCREENS INTERNATIONAL LLC; HUNTER DOUGLAS WINDOW DESIGNS, LLC; LEVOLOR, INC.; VISTA PRODUCTS, INC.; HUNTER DOUGLAS INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061958/0711 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2016
From: GROSS, JAN
To: DEFENDER SCREENS INTERNATIONAL LLC
Reel/Frame 039332/0595 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2016
From: JAMES, ARTHUR
To: DEFENDER SCREENS INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 039332/0864 →