Abstract: A roll blind includes: a safety cord connected to and wound around a chain pulley adapted to rotate the winding rod, the safety cord having a separated lower end so that one side defines a lowering cord for pulling down the blind material and the other side defines a raising cord for rolling up the blind material; a bidirectional clutch unit adapted to raise/lower the blind material, the bidirectional clutch unit being positioned between the chain pulley and a driving shaft of the winding rod, the bidirectional clutch unit having bidirectional protrusions formed on an inner peripheral surface of the chain pulley at an identical interval in a circumferential direction so that, when the lowering or raising cord is pulled, the winding rod rotates together with the chain pulley, the bidirectional clutch unit having a number of rollers positioned between respective bidirectional protrusions.

Abstract: In a window treatment with a cover for covering a window or other architectural opening, a cord assembly includes an elongated housing arranged to be installed next to the cover. The housing includes a channel around most of its periphery receiving the cord. Operating elements are provided on the housing to move the cord with respect to the housing to operate the window treatment and its cover.

Abstract: An operating device for rotating a winding roller of a window blind, includes an upright rotating shaft rotatable to cause rotation of the winding roller and having thread segments, a sleeve shell surrounding the rotating shaft, upper and lower coupling members anchored on the sleeve shell and each having grip ends and cammed surfaces confronting the thread segments and the sleeve shell, and an actuating member having a camming surfaces disposed to be moved upward or downward to make an upper or lower friction engagements between the upper coupling member and rotating shaft, and between the lower coupling member and the rotating shaft for rotating the rotating shaft.

Abstract: A self-contained system for protecting building penetrations is disclosed. The system can include a housing containing a take-up roll and a screen made from a flexible, strong fabric-like material suitable for resisting high winds, driving rain, and wind-driven missiles. The system can further comprise a deflector or roller to maintain the angle of deployment of the screen. The system can further include a weight bar attached to the end of the screen to assist in deploying the screen. The system can further comprise a dual pulley system to assist in deploying the screen and to hold the screen in the deployed position. The system can include wipers to clean the screen as it is retracted into the enclosure. The system can further comprise an integrated or separate light control, or “black-out” screen. The system enclosures can comprise various hinged covers to facilitate service, repair, and storage.

Abstract: The operation of a roller blind occurs via a ball cord and a pulley. The ball cord may be wound several turns around the pulley, in that oblong axial tracks have been provided in the pulley. Thereby the winding may be preserved without jamming between the windings. Greater forces may be transmitted to the pulley than in case of known constructions.

Abstract: A motor-driven unit that can be remotely controlled for moving a curtain fitted on a rail and having an operation cord, includes an electrical power supply, a reversible motor, pulleys suspended on the operation cord with the operation cord being partially housed in a channel over at least part of a perimeter of the pulleys and in such a way that the weight of the unit maintains cohesion between the operation cord and the pulleys, and being enough to compensate for friction exerted by the curtain or the rail itself, the channel having a convergent cross-section, a mass which keeps the operating cord taught, a signal receiver, a remote control for generating a signal for determining movement of the motor in either direction and supplied to the signal receiver, and the mass and electrical supply together formed by an electrical accumulator.

Abstract: A tensioning device is to be used with a control cord of a blind assembly and includes a hollow casing which confines a vertically extending receiving space and which has an open top end portion and a bottom end provided with a pivot portion. A pivot unit mounts rotatably the pivot portion of the casing on a wall body. A cord engaging unit has a pulley formed with a cord engaging groove for passing over of the control cord, and a base slidably provided in the receiving space and having a front side formed with a pulley receiving recess. The pulley is mounted rotatably to the base in the pulley receiving recess. The base further has a top wall formed with a pair of notches which permit extension of parallel sections of the control cord that passes over the pulley. A cover member is mounted on the open top end portion of the casing, and is formed with a pair of slits that are aligned with the notches in the top wall of the base and that permit extension of the parallel sections of the control cord therethrough.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a plurality of pull cords to a knob or tassel. A wedge cleat releasably engages the pull cords and releasably connects the same to a tassel. A surplus cord core integral with and depending from the cleat receives and retains surplus cord wound thereon. A tassel plate integral with the core mounts a tasseled manipulating cord. A decorative and protective cover encloses the wedge cleat, surplus cord core and cord, and tassel plate.

Abstract: An arrangement for raising and lowering window blinds includes a holder and a handle. A holder is constructed and arranged for holding the second region of the liftcords at a height substantially equal to a height of the headrail and forming a closed loop in the liftcords. A handle is adapted for engaging the closed loop of the liftcords. The blinds are raised or lowered responsive to a pulling force exerted on the handle. A headrail includes a locking ball and a holder adjacent to the locking ball. The holder is constructed and arranged to releasably hold the free region of the liftcords. A kit for retrofitting window blinds includes a handle and a clip.

Abstract: The looped free ends of venetian or vertical blinds are typically housed in somewhat complicated control or security structures. A simple security device for limiting access to the looped ends of blind cords includes an elongated, rectangular housing for mounting at one end of a blind assembly, at least one counterweight slidably mounted in the housing for vertical movement therein, and a recess in the counterweight for receiving the looped bottom end of a blind cord, so that the end of the cord remains in the housing.

Abstract: A device for the manual operation of a blind, preferably a vertical blind, by way of a pull cord, which is pulled as a loop with a leading end and a return end by a slat carriage movable in a guide with a slat each arranged on them around their longitudinal axis. The device has a grip body that can be grasped, with a passage for the leading end and a passage for the return end of the pull cord. A clamping device is provided that can be switched from the outside for the leading end. A clamping device is also provided that can be switched from the outside for the return end (6b) of the pull cord (6).

Abstract: A door counterweight assembly for positioning on a door shaft is disclosed. A pair of spaced disks are mounted on the door shaft and a tape drive member extends between the disks parallel to the door shaft. A continuous flexible tape has a portion surrounding the shaft. The flexible tape is positioned between the shaft and the drive member. The tape includes another portion which supports a counterweight. Rotation of the shaft folds the tape in a generally circular configuration to increase the counterweight torque applied to the shaft.

Abstract: Safety cord reel for securing a window-shade cord or the like to prevent its entanglement with a small child. The safety cord reel has a storage reel that is secured to the window-shade cord and is used for receiving a varying amount of the window-shade cord by winding the amount of window-shade cord around the storage reel. The safety cord reel also has a retainer that prevents the window-shade cord from unwinding from the storage reel.

Abstract: An improved safety tassel for pull cords that includes a body provided with four cord-engaging slots. At least three of the cord-engaging slots are formed with radial slots having enlarged openings at divergent and convergent ends.

Abstract: A drapery weight in which a body portion and cover are snap fittingly engaged each to the other is disclosed. An open space is provided interiorly to receive whatever weights the factory or installer preselects for the given installation. Thereafter, provision is made for a wheel or circular member at the upper inner portion of the body around which the installer can readily engage the closed loop of the draw cord because the body is not totally closed. Finally, a snap-fittingly engaged cover is placed over the wheel or round portion and mates with one of the body sections to close the drapery weight as a unitary member. Snap fitting engagement is provided between the two body shells, and the cover for the rounded member, in the form of a plurality of interacting prongs between the two body shells, and a displaceable engagement for the wheel cover. Optionally a wheel is mounted on the central hub. Otherwise the hub itself is sufficient to hang the weight on the closed loop of the drapery draw cord.

Abstract: A safety device to house a window decoration cords which includes a tunnel defining structure to be affixed adjacent a building opening and in which the cords for manipulating window decorations are housed and which tunnel defining structure includes a slot through which an operator extends to grip a portion of a cord so that a portion extending exteriorly through the slot may be slidably moved to manipulate the cords to move the window decorations accordingly.

Abstract: A safety device including first and second members is attached to the pull cords for window coverings to prevent children from strangling when the children play with the pull cords. Detents on first surfaces of the first and second members couple the first and second members in detachable relationship at the first surfaces upon the exertion of forces against the members in directions transverse to such first surfaces. The first member is retained by one of the cords at a position laterally displaced in a first direction from the first surfaces and the second member is retained by the other cord at a position laterally displaced from the first surfaces in a second direction opposite to the first direction. Such retentions are provided at second surfaces transverse to, and displaced from, the first surfaces. The second surfaces are shaped relative to each other to provide for the detachment of the first and second members at the first surfaces upon the exertion of forces in the direction of the first surfaces.

Abstract: In a window shade which automatically winds up by a releasable spring mechanism, mounted in a rotatable shaft, a roll for a cord is secured to the end of the shaft. A free end of the cord is secured to the roll. The amount of the cord to be wound up on the roll corresponds to the entire winding length of the shade material. The cord forms a loop at which a hand grip is suspended.

Abstract: A screen-operating device for use in a roller blind having a braking mechanism consisting a brake-drum secured to a bracket, a coil spring fitted on the brake-drum, a disk loosely mounted on the coil spring and integrally coupled with a screen-roll on which a screen is wound, and a cord-pulley mounted on the disk. The coil spring has their both ends inserted in an opening in the disk and the cord-pulley has its inner tung inserted between the both ends in the opening. Torque from the cord-pulley side acts on either of the both ends to loosen the coil spring and then rotates the screen-roll to raise and lower the screen. But, any torque from the screen side acts on the end to fasten the coil spring on the brake-drum and is immediately braked.

Abstract: A cord weight assembly for drapes, blinds or the like having a generally cylindrical housing formed of two halves cooperating to define reversibly located end cavities in which a cord may be selectively, releasably attached and a central weight receiving cavity wherein the end cavities contain interfitting bosses and tubular members for securing the housing halves together and selectively engaging with the cord; and a resilient, deformable skirt fitted about the lower end of the housing and including a flexible flared base extending beyond the periphery of the housing for making non-damaging contact with adjacent structure in the event the cord weight assembly is swung out of its normally plumb position.

Abstract: A roller blind structure has an elongated tubular member which is mounted for rotation and displacement in elongated openings in two spaced-apart brackets. Coaxially secured to the tubular member is a pulley. The roller blind screen is secured to the tubular member, and a cord for rotating the tubular member is secured to the hub of the pulley. A tubular sleeve having a downwardly directed opening for the cord has an axial projection sliding against an upper horizontal surface of the bracket to prevent the sleeve from rotating but to allow it to be displaced with the pulley A guiding and locking means is provided at a vertical spacing below the sleeve and serves to guide the cord relative to the sleeve and to lock the cord in any desired position. For the latter purpose, it has a spring-influenced locking arm.

Abstract: A tassel weight for a control cord of a vertical blind, having a body with a hollow interior to be filled by the required number of weights, and a metal strip extending around the body and holding the weights in the interior and the pulley of the control cord in place.