A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a shade associated with the roller, and an operating system operably associated with the roller. The operating system may include a base, a drive mechanism, a transmission, an actuator arm, and an engagement arm. The drive mechanism may be associated with the base to provide an input torque. The transmission may be associated with the drive mechanism to selectively transmit the input torque to the roller. The actuator arm may be associated with the base to indirectly set a rotation direction of the roller. The engagement arm may be associated with the base and engageable with the transmission.

A method of using an anti-ballistic protection system for protecting an interior space in a building. The ballistic barrier includes a laminated material having a plurality of layers of lightweight, flexible, ballistic resistant material such as woven sheets which are secured together into the laminate using a adhesive, heat weld, or stitching. The ballistic barrier in the deployed state is configured to be resistant to penetration by high-speed ballistic projectiles such as a bullet fired from a gun or a shrapnel from a bomb to protect the interior space, and can be used to protect windows, doors, hallways, and walls from penetration by the ballistic projectiles.

A fabric venetian window shade assembly including: an actuation system for a double panel window shading including opposing first and second facings coupled by a plurality of vanes, the actuation system comprising: a roller configured to receive the opposing first and second facings; a ratcheting mechanism mechanically coupled to at least the second facing through the roller; and a grip coupled exclusively to a lower end of the second facing, wherein, in response to a downward force being applied to the grip, the downward force is applied directly to the second facing without being applied directly to the first facing, and wherein the ratcheting mechanism is further configured to adjust a position of the opposing first and second facings and an orientation of the plurality of vanes relative to the opposing first and second facings.

A fabric venetian window shade assembly including: an actuation system for a double panel window shading including opposing first and second facings coupled by a plurality of vanes, the actuation system comprising: a roller configured to receive the opposing first and second facings; a ratcheting mechanism mechanically coupled to at least the second facing through the roller; and a grip coupled exclusively to a lower end of the second facing, wherein, in response to a downward force being applied to the grip, the downward force is applied directly to the second facing without being applied directly to the first facing, and wherein the ratcheting mechanism is further configured to adjust a position of the opposing first and second facings and an orientation of the plurality of vanes relative to the opposing first and second facings.

The present invention relates to a large-sized external awning system which includes a winch provided at an upper story, a rooftop or the ground of a high-rise building, two guide wires spaced apart at a predetermined distance to be provided in parallel, a plurality of raising and lowering rods provided with wire-passing holes through which the guide wires pass such that the raising and lowering rods are raised and lowered along the guide wires, and an awning coupled to the raising and lowering rods and unfolded so as to block the sunlight when the raising and lowering rods are spaced apart from each other.

A shielding device for opening and closing a shielding member by rotation of a winding shaft, the shielding device including a speed controller configured to control an automatic movement speed of the shielding member, wherein the speed controller includes: a housing containing a viscous fluid; and a moving member contained in the housing and configured to move by rotation of the winding shaft, and the speed controller is configured so that resistance the moving member receives from the viscous fluid varies with movement of the moving member, is provided.

An insulating glazing system may include: at least two glass panes and a spacer element, wherein the at least two glass panes and the spacer element define a closed volume; a light ray shielding device within the closed volume, defining: transparent areas allowing passage of incident light rays with a given angle of incidence, whereas light rays having other angles of incidence are unable to pass through the transparent areas; and non-transparent areas configured to block the passage of the incident light rays, the non-transparent areas defining first and second surfaces; and a support means connected to the spacer element and operably associated with the shielding device. The shielding device may include a layer having retroreflective properties. The layer may at least partially cover one or both of the first and second surfaces of at least one of the areas of the non-transparent areas of the shielding device.

Methods and apparatus to control architectural opening covering assemblies are disclosed herein. An example architectural opening covering assembly includes a manual controller operatively coupled to a tube to rotate the tube. The tube includes an architectural opening covering. The example architectural opening covering assembly also includes a motor operatively coupled to the tube to rotate the tube. A local controller is communicatively coupled to the motor to control the motor. The example architectural opening covering assembly further includes a gravitational sensor to determine an angular position of the tube.

A system that screens for particularly identified odors, such as those associated with explosive and other bomb-making materials, weapons and illegal drugs, includes an odor delivery unit with one or more fans that force air across the object being screened, such as a person. The airflow from the odor delivery unit passes over and across the object being screened creating an odor stream that passes through a partition that allows the odor stream to flow freely through it and simultaneously obscures a canine positioned on the other side of the partition from view by the person or object being screened.

An actuator device and method of manufacturing the same that includes at least two or more panels disposed in a frame is disclosed. Each of the two or more panels include a first rotationally-actuating artificial muscle fiber section between a first contact point of the frame and a tether point located on the panel and a second rotationally-actuating artificial muscle fiber section between the tether point and a second contact point on the frame. The tether point is approximately halfway across the length of the panel. A first and second muscle support is disposed on the panel between the tether point and the first contact point. The actuator device also includes a synchronization rod attached to the at least two or more panels.