Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming a linear panel from a thermoformable fibrous material by a continuous process includes continuously drawing an elongate strip of thermoformable fibrous material through a heating station to heat the material, forming the heated material into a desired panel shape, and continuously drawing the material through a cooling unit in order to cool the material after the material has been formed into the desired panel shape.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming a linear panel from a thermoformable fibrous material by a continuous process includes continuously drawing an elongate strip of thermoformable fibrous material through a heating station to heat the material, forming the heated material into a desired panel shape, and continuously drawing the material through a cooling unit in order to cool the material after the material has been formed into the desired panel shape.

Abstract: A rail, such as a head rail, for an architectural covering. The rail includes a housing having elongate walls extending along a length of the housing and defining therebetween a width of the housing. A drive shaft is rotatable about a drive axis extending along the length of the housing and is configured to wind and unwind lift cords of the architectural covering. A spring assist module, e.g. a spring motor has an output shaft rotatable about an output axis with rotation of the drive shaft. The spring motor is mounted in the housing with the output axis parallel to the drive axis, but offset from the drive axis with respect to the width of the housing and the output shaft is connected directly to the drive shaft for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A tilt assembly for a blind including a first tilt ring and a second tilt ring, both rotatable about a drive axis for supporting a pair of tilt ladders, an input connector rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive a drive shaft for rotating a lift spool and the input connector, a secondary input mechanism rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive the drive shaft for rotating the secondary input mechanism with the input connector, a main clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the first tilt ring to the input connector and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the first tilt ring, and a secondary clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the second tilt ring to the secondary input mechanism and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the second tilt ring.

Abstract: A rail, such as a head rail, for an architectural covering. The rail includes a housing having elongate walls extending along a length of the housing and defining therebetween a width of the housing. A drive shaft is rotatable about a drive axis extending along the length of the housing and is configured to wind and unwind lift cords or blind material of the architectural covering. A spring assist module, e.g. a spring motor has an output shaft rotatable about an output axis with rotation of the drive shaft. The spring assist module is mounted in the housing with the output axis parallel to the drive axis. The spring assist module extends outwardly in a width direction beyond the width of the housing.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of forming a linear panel from a thermoformable fibrous material by a continuous process includes continuously drawing an elongate strip of thermoformable fibrous material through a heating station to heat the material, forming the heated material into a desired panel shape, and continuously drawing the material through a cooling unit in order to cool the material after the material has been formed into the desired panel shape.

Abstract: A tilt assembly for a blind including a first tilt ring and a second tilt ring, both rotatable about a drive axis for supporting a pair of tilt ladders, an input connector rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive a drive shaft for rotating a lift spool and the input connector, a secondary input mechanism rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive the drive shaft for rotating the secondary input mechanism with the input connector, a main clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the first tilt ring to the input connector and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the first tilt ring, and a secondary clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the second tilt ring to the secondary input mechanism and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the second tilt ring.

Abstract: A tilt assembly for a blind including a first tilt ring and a second tilt ring, both rotatable about a drive axis for supporting a pair of tilt ladders, an input connector rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive a drive shaft for rotating a lift spool and the input connector, a secondary input mechanism rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive the drive shaft for rotating the secondary input mechanism with the input connector, a main clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the first tilt ring to the input connector and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the first tilt ring, and a secondary clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the second tilt ring to the secondary input mechanism and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the second tilt ring.

Abstract: A rail, such as a head rail, for an architectural covering. The rail includes a housing having elongate walls extending along a length of the housing and defining therebetween a width of the housing. A drive shaft is rotatable about a drive axis extending along the length of the housing and is configured to wind and unwind lift cords or blind material of the architectural covering. A spring assist module, e.g. a spring motor has an output shaft rotatable about an output axis with rotation of the drive shaft. The spring assist module is mounted in the housing with the output axis parallel to the drive axis. The spring assist module extends outwardly in a width direction beyond the width of the housing.

Abstract: A rail, such as a head rail, for an architectural covering. The rail includes a housing having elongate walls extending along a length of the housing and defining therebetween a width of the housing. A drive shaft is rotatable about a drive axis extending along the length of the housing and is configured to wind and unwind lift cords of the architectural covering. A spring assist module, e.g. a spring motor has an output shaft rotatable about an output axis with rotation of the drive shaft. The spring motor is mounted in the housing with the output axis parallel to the drive axis, but offset from the drive axis with respect to the width of the housing and the output shaft is connected directly to the drive shaft for rotation therewith.

Abstract: A tilt assembly for a blind including a first tilt ring and a second tilt ring, both rotatable about a drive axis for supporting a pair of tilt ladders, an input connector rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive a drive shaft for rotating a lift spool and the input connector, a secondary input mechanism rotatable about the drive axis and configured to receive the drive shaft for rotating the secondary input mechanism with the input connector, a main clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the first tilt ring to the input connector and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the first tilt ring, and a secondary clutch mechanism for releasably connecting the second tilt ring to the secondary input mechanism and configured to release connection at each of two opposite rotational orientations of the second tilt ring.