Abstract: An end cap for enclosing or covering the end of a cassette of a roller blind or a roller shade. The cassette includes a roller having wound thereon a fabric having a bottom bar attached or otherwise secured thereto or thereover. The end cap comprises a wall portion and a bottom bar stop. The wall portion is releasably securable to an end of the cassette. The bottom bar stop is fixed to and extends outwardly from the wall portion and inhibits upward movement of the bottom bar beyond the elevation of the bottom bar stop when the end cap is secured to an end of the cassette.

Abstract: An end bracket plate for a roller blind. The end bracket plate is releasably securable to the end bracket of the roller blind and releasably securable to the end panel of a head box enclosure. The plate includes one or more outwardly extending flanges which are receivable within one or more openings in the end panel of the head box such that when received within the openings in the end panel the one or more flanges hang the plate and the roller blind secured thereto within the head box.

Abstract: An adjustable roller shade bracket comprising a first plate, a second plate and a bracket member. The bracket member is adapted for mounting to a surface. The second plate is rotationally secured to the bracket member. The first plate is releasably securable to an end of a roller tube of a roller shade and slidably secured to the second plate such that the first plate may be slid along the second plate in a first plane. Rotation of the second plate about the bracket member through 90 degrees permits the first plate to be slid along the second plate in a plane perpendicular to the first plane.

Abstract: A head box for receiving one or more roller blinds or the like. The head box comprises a pair of end plates, a front closure panel and a bottom closure panel to at least partially enclose the bottom of said head box. The end plates support one or more roller blinds when the roller blinds are received within the head box. The front closure panel extends between the end plates and is releasably securable thereto. The bottom closure panel is releasably securable to the front closure panel.

Abstract: There is provided a system for correcting errors in cutting the length of a roller tube by effectively expanding the length of the roller tube which is to be mounted to an idle end to form a roller blind. The system includes at least one flat disk coaxially mounted between the idle end and one end of the roller tube. The flat disk has a thickness equal to a desired length of expansion of the roller tube. The flat disk has a central opening dimensioned to receive the idle end.

Abstract: There is disclosed a support for mounting an end of a roller blind to a structure such as a wall, ceiling and window frame. The support includes a first plate for mounting to the end of the roller blind and a second plate adjacent the first plate. The second plate has a central aperture dimensioned to receive the end of the roller blind. The support further includes a bracket for mounting the second plate to the structure. A plurality of vibration absorbing fasteners are provided for mounting the first plate to the second plate and dampening vibrations travelling from the first plate to the second plate.

Abstract: There is provided a coupler for coupling two adjacent roller shade bands, each band having a roller tube. The coupler includes an outer sleeve configured to couple to the roller tube of one of the roller shade bands and an inner sleeve contained within the outer sleeve, the inner sleeve having a coupler element projecting from an axis of the inner sleeve. The coupler can be partially disassembled such that the inner sleeve is movable between a retracted position wherein the inner sleeve is contained within the outer sleeve and a projected position wherein a portion of the inner sleeve projects out of the outer sleeve and away from the roller tube. The inner and outer sleeves are configured such that the inner sleeve can coaxially rotate relative to the outer sleeve when the coupler is disassembled and the inner sleeve is in its projected position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved roller shade control unit having a reduced profile for use with a roller tube and roller chain. The improved roller shade control unit including a tube housing for coupling to the roller tube and a sprocket for coupling the tube housing to the chain. The sprocket has a peripheral edge configured to couple to the chain. A chain guide for keeping the chain coupled to the sprocket is provided, said chain guide comprising a flat member having a bottom and a side, an aperture dimensioned to contain the sprocket being formed on the side. The tube housing has a barrel portion and an extended edge portion projecting radially from an end of the barrel portion, said extended edge portion configured to cover the sprocket, said extended edge portion having at least one cut out dimensioned to permit a portion of the chain to pass there through.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved support bracket for mounting a clutch of a roller blind. The clutch of roller blind used with this improved bracket is the type having at least one projecting pin. The support bracket includes a bracket housing having a flat wall with at least one aperture configured to receive the projecting pin such that the pin passes through the aperture and extends past the flat wall. The aperture is configured to permit the pin to slide up and down inside the aperture between a first and second position when the pin is positioned in the aperture. The bracket also includes a spring lock member mounted to the flat wall adjacent the aperture, the spring lock positioned to partially obstruct the aperture. The spring lock member is configured such that when the pin is inserted into the aperture the spring lock is deflected out of the way to permit the pin to be inserted into the aperture.

Abstract: There is disclosed a support bracket for mounting an end of a roller blind. The support bracket includes an angular bracket having a flat wall with a blind mounting element for receiving and supporting the end of the blind. A detachable support member is mounted to the flat wall, the detachable support member being configured to temporarily support the end of the blind at a position adjacent the roller blind mounting element. The detachable support member includes an elongated member having opposite first and second hooked ends, each of which is configured to hook to an aperture formed on the flat wall. A saddle portion is formed on the support member between the hooked ends. The saddle portion is movable between a locked position wherein the ends cannot be removed from the apertures and an unlocked position wherein the ends are easily removed from the apertures.

Abstract: The present invention is an adjustable mounting bracket for mounting a roller blind to a surface such that the roller blind can be quickly leveled. The bracket includes first and second plates, the first plate having apertures to permit the first plate to be mounted to the surface. The second plate has a mounting fixture formed thereon for mounting to the roller blind. To permit the second plate to move relative to the first plate, the second plate is provided with an elongated groove formed thereon, the second plate being movably mounted to the first member by a mounting element fixed to the first plate and passing through the groove. The mounting element and groove are dimensioned and configured to permit the second plate to slide between a first and a second position. The position of the second plate relative to the first plate is adjusted by an adjustable moving mechanism which is configured to precisely position the second plate between its first and second positions.

Abstract: An improved roller blind clutch assembly is disclosed for controlling the raising and lowering of a roller blind which permits the smooth raising and lowering of roller blinds even if the blinds are heavy. The improved roller blind clutch assembly includes a roller tube mount coaxially and rotatably mounted to a barrel. A clutch member is in turn coaxially and rotatably mounted to the barrel between the roller tube mount and the barrel. The clutch member has a window formed between a first and a second edge of the clutch member. A torsion locking spring is coaxially mounted to the barrel between the barrel and the clutch member. The torsion locking spring has opposite first and second ends which project into the window. The roller tube mount has an extension portion configured to extend into the window and dimensioned to fit between the first and second ends of the torsion locking spring.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved ball-chain drive which is quiet and less prone to jamming. The ball-chain drive includes a sprocket having a plurality of regularly spaced peripheral pockets, the pockets being configured to mesh with the balls of the ball chain. The pockets of the sprocket are each dimensioned to snugly receive each of the balls of the ball-chain. In particular, the pockets each have an internal circumference greater than 180° of the external circumference of each of the balls. The balls in the ball-chain are separate from each other by a segment of cord. The pockets of the sprocket are separated from each other by a plurality of walls, each wall having a V shaped notch formed thereon having sides and a meniscus. The pockets and the V shaped notch both being dimensioned such that the segments of cord do not touch the sides of the V shaped notch when the ball-chain is wound onto the sprocket.

Abstract: The present invention is an adjustable mounting bracket for mounting a roller blind to a surface such that the roller blind can be quickly leveled. The bracket includes first and second plates, the first plate having apertures to permit the first plate to be mounted to the surface. The second plate has a mounting fixture formed thereon for mounting to the roller blind. To permit the second plate to move relative to the first plate, the second plate is provided with an elongated groove formed thereon, the second plate being movably mounted to the first member by a mounting element fixed to the first plate and passing through the groove. The mounting element and groove are dimensioned and configured to permit the second plate to slide between a first and a second position. The position of the second plate relative to the first plate is adjusted by an adjustable moving mechanism which is configured to precisely position the second plate between its first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of attaching a ring member to a cord using a minimum of steps. The method includes the steps of providing a hobble cord having opposite first and second ends and a plurality of loops. The loops of the cord are preferably preformed onto the cord and are integral thereto. Each loop formed on the cord has a loop opening dimensioned to receive one end of the cord. The first end of the cord is first threaded through the ring and the ring is then positioned to sit adjacent one of the loops between the loop and the first end of the hobble cord. The first end of the hobble cord is then threaded through the opening of the loop. The ring is then firmly secured to the cord by pulling the cord all the way through the loop. The steps may be repeated to attach more rings to the cord in succession.

Abstract: The present invention is a roller clutch assembly for a roller blind which operates smoothly and quietly. The roller clutch assembly includes an elongated roller tube having first and second opposite ends and a clutch coaxially mounted to the first end of the tube. The clutch has a peripheral section rotatably mounted to a fixed hub, the peripheral section being mounted to the tube such that the tube is free to rotate. The assembly also includes an elongated rod mounted within the roller tube, the rod having opposite first and second ends, the first end of the rod being mounted to the hub of the clutch. A mount is rotatably attached to the second end of the rod for mounting the rod within the tube such that the tube and rod are substantially coaxially aligned.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of attaching a ring member to a cord using a minimum of steps. The method includes the steps of providing a hobble cord having opposite first and second ends and a plurality of loops. The loops of the cord are preferably preformed onto the cord and are integral thereto. Each loop formed on the cord has a loop opening dimensioned to receive one end of the cord. The first end of the cord is first threaded through the ring and the ring is then positioned to sit adjacent one of the loops between the loop and the first end of the hobble cord. The first end of the hobble cord is then threaded through the opening of the loop. The ring is then firmly secured to the cord by pulling the cord all the way through the loop. The steps may be repeated to attach more rings to the cord in succession.

Abstract: An improved Roman blind assembly is disclosed. The Roman blind assembly consists of a fabric screen having opposite first and second sides and opposite first and second ends. A plurality of parallel roman bars are mounted horizontally to the first side of the fabric screen between the first and second ends of the screen. A lowermost roman bar is mounted to the screen near the first end of the screen and a pair of parallel support cords are mounted to the lowermost roman bar. A roller clutch assembly is mounted to the first side of the fabric screen adjacent the second end of the screen. The support cords are coupled to the clutch assembly and the clutch assembly is adapted to raise and lower the cords. Each of the support cords pass through an elongated opening in the screen, said openings positioned adjacent the second end of the screen. After exiting the openings, the cords pass along the second side of the screen. Each cord is slidingly attached to each roman bar.