Did You Know...
...that to encourage use of his new invention, the shopping cart, market owner Sylvan Goldman hired fake shoppers to push the carts around his store in Oklahoma City? Seems his customers were reluctant to give up their hand-carried baskets.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7828036 | Wind sensing awning control having arm-mounted sensor A powered awning assembly has an awning frame with a first side arm member having a first distal end and a first proximate end for attachment to a wall and a second side arm member having a second distal end and a second proximate end for attachment to a wall. A con... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7588067 | Electrically controllable window treatment system to control sun glare in a space A system for reducing sun glare through an opening into a space, the system comprising an electrically controllable window treatment operable to alter the amount of daylight entering the space through the opening; a first sensor mounted within the space and characte... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7389806 | Motorized window shade system An electronically-controlled roll-up window shade that can easily be installed by a homeowner or general handyman is disclosed. The motorized shade includes an internal power source, a motor, and a communication system to allow for remote control of the motorized sh... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7320353 | Retractable screen for structural openings A retractable screen is provided for covering a structural opening by mounting it within the opening. The screen comprises a screen panel, first mounting means for mounting the side edges of the screen panel, and second mounting means for mounting the top edge of th... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7243698 | Pleated shade with sewn in pleats A pleated shade with sewn in pleats is provided, in which each pleat is formed by a seam. Preferably, the seams that form pleats in the front side of the material separate only a few threads of the fabric from the main portions of the pleat. The seams that form plea... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7193201 | Method for measuring external light to control protection means against sunlight or illumination The invention concerns a method which consists in detecting and discriminating at least three states, respectively blue sky, white sky and direct sunlight. The discrimination between the three states is based, for example, on an intermediate detection distinguishing... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7152652 | Load detection system for motorized lateral and vertical arm awnings A load detection system for lateral and vertical arm awnings generally includes a motorized roller with a fabric wound thereabout in a retracted position and extendable therefrom. Arms are provided for supporting the fabric in an extended position and at least one s... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7111952 | System to control daylight and artificial illumination and sun glare in a space An illumination maintenance system for maintaining a desired illumination profile in a space throughout at least a portion of a day where the illumination sources include daylight and artificial light, the system comprising a first sensor for sensing an illumination... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7061393 | System and method for managing services and facilities in a multi-unit building The application discloses various methods and systems that utilize infrared communication to enhance and manage the security and convenience of occupants and the operation and efficiency of the staff of a multi-unit building. ... | 06/13/2006 |
| 6296036 | Auto-shutter system for eye protection against in-band frequency agile lasers An automatic-shutter system functions as a counter-measure to the in-band frequency agile laser threat posed to the eyes of pilot(s)/operator(s). Ideally it is desirable to protect the operator from every laser pulse including the first. However, the lack... | 10/02/2001 |
| 6111376 | Motorizing awning with automatic safety control An awning, in particular an awning with a supporting arm, the cloth (1) of which can be unwound from a tube or winding shaft (2) driven by an electric motor (9) and in which are provided means for measuring the drive torque which supply a variable represe... | 08/29/2000 |
| 6084231 | Closed-loop, daylight-sensing, automatic window-covering system insensitive to radiant spectrum produced by gaseous-discharge lamps A system for automatic regulation of daylight admitted by a window in the presence of artificial illumination produced by a high-efficiency (e.g., fluorescent-type) electric lamp. A preferred embodiment, adaptive window covering system 10, consists of an ... | 07/04/2000 |
| 5808430 | Electrically controlled curtains An electrical control arrangement for a curtain assembly has a reversible electric, preferably DC, drive motor, drive devices for connecting the motor to one or more curtains for movement of the curtains in opening and closing directions in response to ro... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5648656 | System to optimize artificial lighting levels with increasing daylight level An artificial lighting system comprises a daylight sensor for sensing a level of daylight, artificial light source means for providing a level of artificial light, daylight control means for control of the level of daylight and a controller for control of... | 07/15/1997 |
| 5566471 | Electromotive curtain for drying clothes An electromotive curtain machine for drying clothes using a rain sensor, a sunshine sensor, and a wind sensor which will send existing rain, sun, or wind conditions to a central processing unit so as to control a curtain driving unit. The curtain driving ... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5532560 | Photosensitive automatic blind controller There is disclosed a photosensitive automatic controller for use with window coverings in particular for use with venetian blinds. The controller includes a reversible motor, a drive circuit, a photosensitive sensor, a user input, a control signal process... | 07/02/1996 |
| 5158334 | Adjustable vehicular glare shielding device The present invention relates to a glare shielding device which affords significantly improved efficacy in shielding a vehicular occupant'eyes against sun rays. The device includes a glare shield which is preferably pivotally mounted onto a track followin... | 10/27/1992 |
| 5142133 | Apparatus for the control of venetian blinds including photodetector means for detecting the angle of incidence of sun light The lowering and raising of slats of a venetian blind are controlled by control signals from a photodetector circuit which is mounted adjacent to the venetian blind and which acts responsive to predetermined limit values of the background brightness being... | 08/25/1992 |
| 5088543 | Skylight shade A shade unit having a frame defining a skylight opening, to which is attached a motor assembly and a shade assembly. A control unit consisting of an open stop switch, a close stop switch controls the motor assembly with a relay switch charging the motors ... | 02/18/1992 |
| 4995442 | Curtain opening device A device for opening and closing a closure member, typically a curtain in which a cord is associated with the closure member and has a bight portion located in the first plane and a pair of substantially parallel, spaced first and second reaches located i... | 02/26/1991 |
| 4979550 | Window blind control apparatus A window blind control apparatus is set forth wherein the apparatus enables selective control in the opening and closing of an associated window blind arrangement utilizing selectively a photo-electric cell, a radio frequency controller, or a manually dis... | 12/25/1990 |
| 4951730 | Window blind system A window blind system for a window comprising a longitudinal casing which is arranged to be transversely fixed to a window frame above a window to be shaded, a roller blind mechanism carrying an opaque blind and mounted to the casing in a position under t... | 08/28/1990 |
| 4864201 | Light actuated curtain puller An automatic electro-mechanical device for opening and closing a curtain or drapery in response to changed light striking a photoelectric cell on the device. The device comprises a miniature high torque reversible electric motor and control packaged in a ... | 09/05/1989 |
| 4773733 | Venetian blind having prismatic reflective slats A venetian blind having prismatic reflective slatted panels permits the passage of indirect rays of sunlight into a space to be illuminated while reflecting direct rays of sunlight away from the space to be illuminated. The prismatic reflective slats are ... | 09/27/1988 |
| 4727918 | Blind adjuster Automatic control device for the slats of a venetian blind which responds to ambient radiation and which includes at least one reversible electric motor connected to rotate the slats between open and closed conditions, a sensing device indicating the leve... | 03/01/1988 |
| 4644990 | Automatic closing system for window blinds Improved method and apparatus for automatically moving a set of venetian type window blinds or similar louvered window coverings or partitions between open or closed positions in response to sensing a predetermined level of solar energy imposed on the win... | 02/24/1987 |
| 4474167 | Latch for a butterfly damper An air/smoke/fire damper including a frame and a pair of damper blades pivoted for rotation within the frame between an open and a closed position, and comprising a heat responsive latch including mounting straps associated with each of the damper blades;... | 10/02/1984 |
| 4424850 | Security proof shutter Security proof shutter structure applicable to windows, doors, store or garage fronts, utilizing slats constructed of steel or the like. A special S-shaped spring linkage means is secured to respective ends of the slats. The lower hook of each linkage mea... | 01/10/1984 |
| 4307768 | Energy conserving insulative window shade Window shade structure for reducing heat loss or heat gain through a window or other "thermal opening" wherein the shade body is drawable over the window and is collapsible into a reduced storage volume. The shade body comprises opposed walls of thin, she... | 12/29/1981 |
| 4144802 | Hurricane/tornado building protection system A system for the protection of a building, house, or like structure, is provided which affords protection against the forces of wind, pressure differentials, water and sound. The device features a ventilation system which allows normal ventilation of the ... | 03/20/1979 |
| 3965348 | Method of and apparatus for detecting light and controlling jalousies and the like A photosensitive surface is enclosed behind a wall formed with a vertically open slit which forms with the surface a vertical angle of 80°. This slit is open about 3° and is displaced horizontally past the surface through at least 150° so as to let par... | 06/22/1976 |
