Abstract: A screen tensioning mechanism for use in a retractable blind, said screen tensioning mechanism comprising: (a) a projecting member having a head portion and a resiliently deformable tail portion; and (b) a housing member comprising: (i) a first opening adapted to receive an end of a support rod; and (ii) a second opening having a tapered internal profile adapted to forcibly receive said tail portion by inwardly displacing said tail portion, wherein in use, said resiliently deformable tail portion biases said projecting member axially outward from said support rod.

Abstract: A blind system, including a screen with one end secured to a bar; and a guide track on opposite edges of said screen, each said guide track having a single rigid longitudinal body defining a guide channel with discrete parallel first and second channel portions; wherein, said screen has a edge portion extending through the second channel portion, a slit formed along said body, and into said first channel portion, for guiding the movement of said screen along said slit and for resisting separation of said edge portion from said first channel portion, and wherein said bar has an end portion adapted for movement only within said second channel portion for guiding said bar to move along said body.

Abstract: A winder, including a support member having a wall portion and a spindle; and a housing rotatably mounted onto said spindle, said housing having a drive portion for receiving a cord that controls the rotation of said housing for extending and retracting a blind; wherein said housing is selectively moveable along the spindle between an open position and a closed position, such that when the housing is placed in the open position, the drive portion is exposed for receiving said cord, and when the housing is placed in the closed position, the wall portion covers at least a part of the drive portion to resist disengagement of the entire cord from the drive portion.

Abstract: A length adjustable fitting for blind systems, including a housing and a drive member fitted to said housing; a core component including a core member shaped for engaging a drive portion of said drive member, the core component including a support portion shaped for engaging a support member for supporting said fitting; wherein, the selective adjustment of the drive member relative to the housing moves the core member along an axis to a different position relative to the housing, wherein at each said position, the drive member engages the core member to resist movement of the core member along the axis from said position relative to said housing.

Abstract: A connector for a blind control mechanism including a cylinder rotatable relative to two or more different shafts, drive means connected to the cylinder and being operable to rotate the cylinder in either a blind extending direction or a blind retracting direction; at least two biasing means connected to the cylinder, each biasing means being responsive to rotation of the cylinder in a blind extending direction to store energy and being responsive to rotation of the cylinder in a blind retracting direction to release the stored energy and thereby apply a turning force to the cylinder, the turning force acting in the blind retraction direction. The connector having a body for coupling an end portion of one of the biasing means to one of the shaft portions and for coupling respective end portions of two adjacent the shafts together.