Abstract: A roller blind mounting system including at least one roller, at least one telescopic end plug and at least two brackets. The telescopic end plug is engageable within an end-opening of one of said rollers. The end plug includes a hollow body and a telescopically movable member or plunger co-axially positionable with respect to the hollow body such that a first axial extending length portion of the plunger projects from the hollow body and a second axial extending length portion is held within the hollow body. The plunger is telescopically movable between a first end position in which the first portion of the plunger projects from the cylindrical body and a second end position in which at least part of the first portion is inserted into the cylindrical body.

Abstract: An operating unit (5) for operating a window covering. The operating unit (5) includes a housing (11), a rotatable drive pulley (13) having an axis of rotation and first and second mounting positions in the housing, with respect to the axis of rotation, an engagement device (15), rotatable about the axis of rotation, and a brake mechanism (45, 47, 49) for, in use, arresting the engagement device when the drive pulley (13) is not rotated and preventing the engagement device and drive pulley from being back driven by the window covering. The engagement device (15) has a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins (19) parallel to the axis of rotation. The drive pulley (13) has a corresponding plurality of openings (17) facing the pins (19). In the first mounting position, the pins on the engagement device (15) engage with the corresponding openings (17) in the drive pulley and the engagement device rotates with the drive pulley.

Abstract: A folding panel assembly includes at least first and second, substantially rectangular panels, the first panel having first and second vertical ends, and the second panel having third and fourth vertical ends, the second and third vertical ends being hinged to one another about a hinge axis parallel thereto. An actuating system includes a substantially horizontal track, with a first pivot support for connection to the first panel, a carriage traversable along the track, with a second pivot support for connection to the second panel. The actuating system further includes a flexible drive element arranged parallel to the track and engaging the carriage for traversing it along the track. The actuating system employs an elongated connecting rod with a first longitudinal end pivotally connected to the carriage and a second, opposite longitudinal end pivotally connected to the first panel at a location adjacent to the second vertical end thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides an anchoring device for anchoring an elongate guide element of an architectural covering. The anchoring device includes a body having a rear surface. The body is suitable for attachment to a support structure with the rear surface in close contact with the support structure. The body includes a receiving cavity for receiving the elongate guide element, a first entrance to the receiving cavity and a second entrance to the receiving cavity. The receiving cavity can receive the elongate guide element selectively either through the first entrance, with the rear surface having a first orientation with respect to the elongate guide element, or through the second entrance, with the rear surface having a second orientation with respect to the elongate guide element, and wherein the second orientation is substantially different from the first orientation.

Abstract: A louver rotating mechanism for louvers of a sectional covering for architectural openings is adapted to rotate the louvers between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the louvers are in generally parallel planes, and in the closed position, the louvers are generally in a common plane. The rotating mechanism includes a slot and gate system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an operating unit (1) for architectural coverings, in particular roller blinds or shades. The unit (1) includes a stationary base member (37), a rotatable driving member (39), a rotatable driven member (29) and a brake mechanism (71, 73, and 75). The brake mechanism (71, 73, and 75) automatically arrests rotation of the driven member (29) in respect of the stationary base member (37), when not rotated by the driving member (39). The brake mechanism includes a first wrap spring (73), adapted to yield a predetermined minimum brake force, and at least one second wrap spring (75), different in size from the first wrap spring (73) and adapted to yield a supplementary brake force, which together with the predetermined minimum brake force amounts to a predetermined maximum brake force.

Abstract: A roller blind mounting system including at least one roller, at least one telescopic end plug and at least two brackets. The telescopic end plug is engageable within an end-opening of one of said rollers. The end plug includes a hollow body and a telescopically movable member or plunger co-axially positionable with respect to the hollow body such that a first axial extending length portion of the plunger projects from the hollow body and a second axial extending length portion is held within the hollow body. The plunger is telescopically movable between a first end position in which the first portion of the plunger projects from the cylindrical body and a second end position in which at least part of the first portion is inserted into the cylindrical body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to end stops for use in retractable coverings for architectural openings where the end stops have impact-absorbing means which are bi-directionally cushioning. The end stop will remain at a dedicated position even after being impacted.

Abstract: A roller blind mounting system including at least one roller, at least one telescopic end plug and at least two brackets. The telescopic end plug is engageable within an end-opening of one of said rollers. The end plug includes a hollow body and a telescopically movable member or plunger co-axially positionable with respect to the hollow body such that a first axial extending length portion of the plunger projects from the hollow body and a second axial extending length portion is held within the hollow body. The plunger is telescopically movable between a first end position in which the first portion of the plunger projects from the cylindrical body and a second end position in which at least part of the first portion is inserted into the cylindrical body.

Abstract: Operating system (1) for rotatably controlling retraction and deployment of an architectural ' covering. The operating system includes a drive pulley wheel (3) having a circumferential rim (5), a length of looped drive cord (9) operatively engaged with the pulley wheel (3) about its circumferential rim (5) and having depending portions on opposite sides of the pulley wheel (3), a cover (7) co-extensive with a portion of the circumference of the pulley wheel (3) and at least one stopper (19) attached to a portion of the length of the drive cord (9) and adapted to engage the cover (7) to stop rotation upon a predetermined amount of rotation of the pulley wheel (3). The pulley wheel is provided with a cavity (17) on its toothed circumference for receiving the at least one stopper (19) to prevent it from engaging the cover (7).

Abstract: Bracket for mounting a guiding rail to a support surface. The mounting bracket includes a body part having a main body defining a mounting hole and opposite parallel first and second snap flanges. The bracket further has a clip part for engaging its body part and has at least one resilient tongue and at least one resilient arm extending from the clip part in alignment with the first and second snap flanges. The invention also relates to the combination of the mounting bracket and a guiding rail, as well as to a method for mounting a plurality of the brackets and the guiding rail to a mounting surface.

Abstract: An end mounting for supporting the roller of a cover for an architectural opening, the end mounting including a main body of substantially constant cross-section extending axially from a proximal end for mounting adjacent an architectural opening to a distal end for insertion into an end opening of a roller. A slider is mounted in the main body at an axial location towards the proximal end of the main body and is movable between a retracted position wholly within the cross-section of the main body and an extended position in which at least part of the slider protrudes outside the cross-section of the main body. With the slider in the retracted position, substantially all of the main body can be inserted into the end opening of the roller and, with the slider in the extended position, the main body is prevented by the slider from being inserted into the end opening of the roller beyond the slider.

Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening includes a fixed stationary rail at one end of a plurality of slats and a movable rail at the opposite end of the slats with the slats being movable to and from the fixed rail to create extended and retracted positions of the architectural covering. At least one continuous drive cord is arranged in a loop with both its ends attached to the movable rail and at least one fixed cord return guide is provided. A drive spool adapted to be selectively rotatable in opposite directions of rotation and is operatively engaged with the drive cord so that the drive cord can be wrapped around the drive spool to establish driving engagement.

Abstract: A control apparatus for positioning and counterbalancing an amount of flexible blind material wound onto or unwound from a rotatable shaft of a windable covering such as a blind. The apparatus includes a main body and a variable torque device, at least partially fitted within the main body, having means of achieving a variable torque to prevent rotation of the shaft due to a variable weight of blind material hanging from the shaft in any position between a wound position and an unwound position of the blind material defining full travel of the windable covering.

Abstract: A retractable window covering that has a flexible fabric panel having a bottom edge with a weight bar attached to it. The fabric panel has one or more elongate pockets across its width, accommodating a length-expanding stiffening rod with: an elongate guiding element of non-magnetic material; a first magnet guided for movement along the elongate guiding element; and a second magnet guided for movement along the elongate guiding element and positioned in respect of the first magnet, so that the first and second magnets repulse one another and the guiding element limits and guides the movement of the first and second magnets in respect to one another.

Abstract: An operating unit (5) for operating a window covering. The operating unit (5) includes a housing (11), a rotatable drive pulley (13) having an axis of rotation and first and second mounting positions in the housing, with respect to the axis of rotation, an engagement device (15), rotatable about the axis of rotation, and a brake mechanism (45, 47, 49) for, in use, arresting the engagement device when the drive pulley (13) is not rotated and preventing the engagement device and drive pulley from being back driven by the window covering. The engagement device (15) has a plurality of circumferentially spaced pins (19) parallel to the axis of rotation. The drive pulley (13) has a corresponding plurality of openings (17) facing the pins (19). In the first mounting position, the pins on the engagement device (15) engage with the corresponding openings (17) in the drive pulley and the engagement device rotates with the drive pulley.

Abstract: An architectural covering arrangement having two side rails for mounting in parallel either side of a window pane and at least one movable end rail for mounting perpendicular to the side rails and extending from one side rail to the other side rail, the side rails having on respective faces to be mounted on a window pane, a two-layer fastening structure with one of the layers adhered to the respective side rail and the other of the two layers to be adhered to the window pane, the two layers being freely attachable and detachable from one another.

Abstract: A cradle for rotatably supporting at least one drive spool for a window covering about which a drive cord is windable includes a pair of left and right bearing blocks in side-by-side relationship, a bottom web connecting the left and right bearing blocks and a first opening in the bottom of the cradle for at least one cord portion of the drive cord to extend through and wherein the cradle further includes at least one cord guide on the bottom web or on one of the bearing blocks.

Abstract: A venetian blind including vertically-extending slat-supporting ladders is described. Each ladder comprises (i) first and second vertical members connected by cross-rungs, (ii) slats, each slat being supported on a cross rung of each ladder, (iii) an adjusting mechanism for pivoting the slats about their longitudinal axes by moving the vertical members in opposite directions, (iv) a vertically-extending auxiliary tilt cord that is adjacent to the first vertical member, and (v) an engagement mechanism on the auxiliary tilt cord and the first vertical member for moving the first vertical member at an intermediate location along its length upwardly with upward movement of the auxiliary tilt cord to adjust the angular pivot of a section of the cross-rungs connected to the first vertical member above or below the intermediate location.