Rechargeable powered covering for a architectural opening

• US 10,547,190 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Issued: 01/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hall Labs, LLC
• Inventors: Hall, David R., Priddis, Andrew, Fox, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilkens, Janet M
• Application Number:
  US15/587,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20180323628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 160127, 160 5, 160310, 318266, 318264, 318286, 318626, 318466
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2625 Pleated screens, e.g. concertina- or accordion-like
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/262 with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds , i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/32 Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor operation of tilting bars E06B9/307
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/388 Details of bottom or upper slats or their attachment
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/42 Parts or details of roller blinds, e.g. suspension devices, blind boxes brackets or adjustable mountings for roller blinds and drawable curtains A47H1/13
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/72 comprising an electric motor positioned inside the roller
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries

Abstract

An automated covering for an architectural opening—such as a window blind, a roller shade, a cellular shade, or roller wall—that can be easily recharged through a charging device that is integrated into the lower edge is disclosed. The automated covering includes a housing that holds a motor and a battery. An electrical conductor extends from the battery, down the automated covering, to the charging device at the bottom of the covering. The charging device may be a charging port, an electrical plug, or a magnetic charging device that engages with a magnetic charging dock.

Claims

1. A powered covering for an architectural opening comprising:

a flexible sheet that covers an architectural opening, the sheet comprising at least one bendable insulated electrical conductor woven into the sheet'"'"'s material and extending vertically and concealably along the sheet;

at least one charging device at a lower periphery of the sheet; and

a drum atop the sheet, the drum housing a motor and a battery that powers the motor, wherein the at least one bendable insulated electrical conductor connects the battery to the at least one charging device.

2. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the powered covering is an automated roller shade or retractable wall.

3. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the sheet winds around the drum.

4. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises mass-loaded vinyl.

5. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the at least one charging device is a charging port.

6. The powered covering of claim 5, wherein the charging port is a USB port.

7. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the at least one charging device is connected to a power supply by means of an extension cord.

8. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the at least one charging device is an electrical plug.

9. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the at least one charging device is magnetic.

10. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the at least one charging device engages with a charging dock.

11. The powered covering of claim 10, wherein the charging dock is magnetic.

12. The powered covering of claim 11, wherein the powered covering is automatically aligned and supplied with power when the at least one charging device engages magnetically with the charging dock.

13. The powered covering of claim 1, wherein the electrical conductor is concealed by its camouflaged color.