Abstract: A mounting system for an architectural covering including a pair of mounting brackets, a roller operably connected to each of the mounting brackets, and an end plug at least partially received within the roller and operably connected to one of the mounting brackets. The end plug selectively transitions between an extended position and a retracted position and includes a sleeve, a plunger received within the sleeve, and a spring at least partially received within the plunger for biasing the plunger away from the sleeve. The plunger includes a center or body section and at least two radially spaced tongues extending from a first end of the center section. In the extended position a first portion of the plunger projects from the sleeve and in the retracted position at least a portion of the first portion of the plunger is received within the sleeve.

Abstract: A roller blind including a roller of having a roller length and a roller outer diameter, a fabric attached to said roller for winding and unwinding from said roller. The fabric has a fabric length, a fabric weight, a fabric height, and fabric thickness. The blind includes a bottom bar having a bottom bar weight, and at least one spring operatively connected to the roller to drivingly rotate the roller in at least one direction of rotation. The spring is selected according to a Protocol such that it's length ensures that it drives the roller with a constant operating force.

Abstract: A system for attaching a shade material to a roller having recesses in its surface includes inserting portions of the shade material into an associated elongated recess and retaining the material in the recess with an attachment member having peaks and valleys along its length for intermittent engagement with the material within the recess.

Abstract: A winding shaft drive (1, 1A, 101, 101A, 102, 102A) is arranged for operating a retractable covering for an architectural opening. The winding shaft drive includes an at least partially hollow winding shaft (7); a driving member (3, 103) for inducing rotation to the winding shaft; and a shaft brake adapted to be operated by the driving member. The shaft brake includes a preassembled module (5) for accommodation in the at least partially hollow winding shaft (7) and has first coupling means (67) on one axial end thereof for transmitting rotative forces and second coupling means (69) on the same one axial end for transmitting non-rotative stationary forces. The driving member has a driving hub (11, 111) for removably coupling to the first coupling means (67) and a stationary connector (17, 17A, 117, 117A) for removably coupling to the second coupling means (69). A shaft brake module (5) and a driving member (3, 103) are specifically adapted for use in the winding shaft drive.

Abstract: A motorized blind having a pull cord. The pull cord is mechanically connected to an electrical switch in a headrail of the blind, the switch being electrically connected to an electric motor within the headrail. The pull cord also extends outwardly of an end of the headrail and then outwardly and downwardly of the blind through a hole in the front of an end cap on the head rail.

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 force transmitting coupling for drivingly coupling winding devices of adjacent architectural coverings. The coupling includes first coupling member, a second coupling member, and mating engagement means on the first and second coupling members adapted to establish mating engagement between the first and second coupling member to transmit a drive force from one of the first and second coupling members to another of the first and second coupling members. The second coupling member includes a hub and the engaging means on the second coupling member are resiliently connected to the hub.

Abstract: A mounting system for an architectural covering including a pair of mounting brackets, a roller operably connected to each of the mounting brackets, and an end plug at least partially received within the roller and operably connected to one of the mounting brackets. The end plug selectively transitions between an extended position and a retracted position and includes a sleeve, a plunger received within the sleeve, and a spring at least partially received within the plunger for biasing the plunger away from the sleeve. The plunger includes a center or body section and at least two radially spaced tongues extending from a first end of the center section. In the extended position a first portion of the plunger projects from the sleeve and in the retracted position at least a portion of the first portion of the plunger is received within the sleeve.

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 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 roller blind including a roller of having a roller length and a roller outer diameter, a fabric attached to said roller for winding and unwinding from said roller. The fabric has a fabric length, a fabric weight, a fabric height, and fabric thickness. The blind includes a bottom bar having a bottom bar weight, and at least one spring operatively connected to the roller to drivingly rotate the roller in at least one direction of rotation. The spring is selected according to a Protocol such that it's length ensures that it drives the roller with a constant operating force.

Abstract: A head rail or head rail assembly for an architectural closure, the head rail including an elongate front wall having left hand and right hand longitudinal ends and an elongate bottom wall having left hand and right hand longitudinal ends. A left hand end structure is positioned adjacent to the left hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall and a right hand end structure is positioned adjacent to the right hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall. A first slot is defined between the left hand end structure and the left hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall and a second slot is defined between the right hand end structure and the right hand longitudinal end of the bottom wall. At least one of the first and second slots is closed by a removable closure.

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: 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: 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.