Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a pleated expandable and collapsible multi-cell product for window coverings and the like. A web of material is accordion folded widthwise to form a series of web panels united in alternate succession along first and second creased folds disposed at respective first and second sides of the web. Successive panels are advanced in an unfolded condition lengthwise of the web through an adhesive applying zone to an inlet end of a refold stack and adhesive is applied to each web panel, in a band parallel to and spaced from the associated creased fold with a preceding panel. The web panels having adhesive applied thereto are refolded in succession along the associated creased fold with a preceding panel onto the inlet end of the refold stack.

Abstract: A drapery fixture for use as a drapery swag holder or a drapery tie-back holder. The fixture includes a mounting bracket and rosette components for use with a piece of fabric for forming a fabric rosette. The rosette components include a shape retaining rosette body member having a front face and a central opening through the front face, and a plug member dimensioned for insertion into the central opening for retaining a fabric piece adjacent the center of the front face of the body member. A fabric receiving recess is provided at the rear side of the body member and a flexible strip can be pressed into the fabric receiving groove to retain the fabric at the rear side of the body member.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for adjustably supporting a headrail of a window covering. The bracket assembly includes a wall bracket having a generally horizontal bracket arm and a unitary slide body slidably mounted on the arm and having an upper portion that overlies the bracket arm and at least one lower cross portion that underlies the arm. A headrail support clip device has an intermediate portion that overlies the lower cross portion of the slide body for support thereon and front and rear leg portions that extend downwardly from the intermediate portion for supportably engaging a headrail below the lower cross portion of the slide body. The slide body is adjustable along the arm to positions in which the arm closely overlies and retains the clip device on the lower cross portion of the slide body. Mechanism is provided on the slide body engageable with the arm for releasably retaining the slide body in different adjusted positions along the arm.

Abstract: A vertical blind apparatus of the type having a plurality of panel support carriages mounted for movement along a track and a lazy-tong linkage extending lengthwise of the track and connected to the carriages to control spacing between adjacent carriages when the blind is extended along the track to a closed position. The maximum spacing between adjacent carriages is further controlled by rail engaging fingers on the outer pivots of the lazy-tong linkage, and a rail having lateral guide faces arranged to engage the fingers to limit movement of the outer pivots to a preselected minimum distance.

Abstract: A hold-down bracket for the bottom rail of a door or window covering. The hold-down bracket comprised a generally L-shaped bracket member having a mounting flange adapted to be attached either upright or horizontal support surface and a leg extending transverse of the mounting flange. A bracket extension is mounted on the leg for angular adjustment about an axis perpendicular to the leg and spaced from the mounting flange and a bottom rail connector pin is provided on the bracket extension at a location spaced from the axis. Detents are provided to releasably retain the bracket extension at least two different angularly adjusted positions relative to the leg, to change the spacing between the bottom rail connector pin and the mounting flange.

Abstract: A cord equalizer for gripping a plurality of lift cords in a window covering. The cord equalizer includes a molded first body member having an elongated channel extending from a lower to an upper end, and a second body member overlying the channel and having a rib intermediate its ends extending crosswise of the channel. The first and second body members are slidably interconnected for relative movement in a direction lengthwise of the channel and a notch extends inwardly from the upper end of the second body member in registry with the channel to provide a passage for lift cords that opens laterally of the channel.

Abstract: A vertical blind of the type having louver carriages mounted for movement along a guide channel with a louver carrier mounted on each carriage for rotation about an upright axis and carriage gear mechanism for rotating the louvers in response to turning of an operating shaft that extends lengthwise of the channel. A wand operated mechanism is provided for rotating the louvers in response to raising and lowering a wand and includes a drive lever mounted for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the axis of the operating shaft and a crank lever rotatable with the shaft and operated by the drive lever to rotate the shaft. A bidirectional detent mechanism on the housing and crank lever releasably retains the shaft in different angularly adjusted positions. The wand includes a tubular member connected to the drive lever through an L-shaped connector so that tubular member extends downwardly from the underside of the channel in all operating positions fo the drive lever.

Abstract: A composite rod and bracket assembly for window curtains and valances including an elongated telescopically adjustable metal inner rod. Rod end members detachably supporting the ends of the inner rod and are adjustably mounted on wall brackets to adjust the projection of the inner rod. An outer rod member having a height and cross-section substantially larger than that of the inner rod is formed of thin walled plastic and includes a face wall defining the top, front and bottom of the outer rod member, and upper and lower rear wall portions that extend downwardly and upwardly from the face wall and have grooves in adjacent edges for detachably receiving the upper and lower edges of the inner rod member to support the outer rod member thereon. Bracket covers formed of a low density foamed plastic and having a cross-sectional configuration similar to that of the outer rod member, are detachably mounted on the rod and brackets.

Abstract: A curtain rod and bracket assembly in which the rod sections have a front wall and upper and lower U-shaped flanges extending lengthwise along the rear side of the front wall. Rod end brackets are provided for supporting the ends of a rod section and the rod end brackets are adjustable to vary the angle of projection of the rod end brackets relative to the surface on which the bracket is mounted, and to also adjust the angle at which the rod extends relative to the end bracket, for use in bay and bow windows. A curtain rod connector is formed with end panels adapted for insertion into endwise adjacent rod sections and resilient tabs at one edge of the end panels for engagement with a flange on the curtain rod to hold the curtain rod and connector in assembled relation.

Abstract: A foldable valance having plastic hinges attaching the return panels to the front panel of the valance, to allow folding of the return panels alongside the front panel for compact packaging. A tab is formed integrally with one of the plate portions of the plastic hinge and is movable to a position extending at an angle to the associated plate portion of the hinge, for retaining the return panel in erected condition when the valance is installed.

Abstract: A vertical blind of the type having a plurality of louver carriages mounted for movement along a guide channel, with a louver carrier mounted on each carriage for rotation about an upright axis and carriage gear mechanism for rotating the louvers in response to turning of an operating shaft that extends lengthwise of the channel. A wand is attached to a drive lever at one end of the channel and the wand is arranged to angularly oscillate the drive lever in response to raising and lowering of the wand and to rotate the operating shaft through an angular motion amplifying mechanism, to rotate the louvers through 180.degree. in response to raising and lowering of the wand. The wand is preferably tubular and one of the cords in the operating loop is arranged to extend through the tubular wand to separate the cords.

Abstract: A valance for concealing window blind headers or drapery fixtures. The valance includes a front panel and end panels, and each of the panels have an upper rail adjacent the upper edge defining a downwardly projecting lip, a lower rail adjacent the lower edge defining an upwardly projecting lower lip, and an intermediate rail defining an upwardly projecting intermediate lip and a downwardly projecting intermediate lip. Upper and lower valance face members are provided for each panel and each face member has a front wall, a reentrant channel extending lengthwise along one rear edge and an internal hook portion spaced inwardly from a second rear edge. The reentrant channels on the upper and lower valance face members are arranged to receive the respective upper and lower intermediate lips and the internal hook portions on the upper and lower face members are respectively arranged to receive the upper and lower lips on the associated panel.

Abstract: An arrangement for mounting a device on a wall in which the device includes a wall mounting pad having at least two fastener receiving openings. A plastic base plate is provided with at least two integral screw anchors that extend transverse to the rear side of the base plate at locations corresponding to the spaced locations of the fastener receiving openings in the mounting pad. Screw fasteners are adapted to be screwed into the wall anchor to expand the wall anchors into firm engagement with the opening in the wall and to provide mounting fasteners for attaching the mounting pad to the base plate.

Abstract: A vertical blind of the type having a horizontal carriage guide channel and a blind operating rod extending lengthwise of the channel and slat carriages guidably mounted in a first trackway extending lengthwise of the side walls of the channel. One or more movable auxiliary carriages are provided in the guide channel and have guide shoes extending laterally from opposite ends at locations to guidably support the auxiliary carriages in a second trackway on channel vertically offset from the trackway that supports the slat carriages.

Abstract: A foldable window covering formed of a single web of flexible material. The web is formed with a plurality of independent loops extending from one side with opposed faces of the loops connected together along a horizontal seam parallel to and spaced from the end of the loop to form a pocket in each loop. The seams of adjacent loops are spaced apart such that the web forms a curtain wall section between adjacent loops which limits the spacing between adjacent loops when the window covering is in the expanded condition, and the loops are adapted to hang down and have a length such that each loop overlaps a subjacant loop when the window covering is in the expanded condition.

Abstract: A bendable drapery rod assembly comprising an elongated plastic rod member formed of flexible plastic and defining a trackway for drapery carriers, an elongated metal rod member, and provision for laterally retaining the plastic rod member and metal rod member together along their length to provide a combination plastic and metal rod unit. The metal rod member has a cross section with a major crosswise dimension and a relatively smaller minor crosswise dimension disposed transverse to the major crosswise dimension, and the rod unit is bendable in a direction laterally of the minor crosswise dimension of the metal rod member into a curved condition. The metal rod member is ductile and adapted to take a permanent set to hold the rod unit in a curved condition, and the major crosswise dimension of the metal rod member is substantially greater than the minor crosswise dimension to stiffen the rod unit against bending in a direction laterally of the major crosswise dimension.

Abstract: A curved vertical blind comprising a generally horizontal longitudinally curved guide track and a normally straight resiliently bendable operating rod rotatably supported on the track. Slat support carriages are provided and which have a first carriage part guidably mounted on the curved guide track for movement therealong and a second carriage part guidably mounted on the first part for movement relative thereto in a direction crosswise of the guide track. The second carriage part guideably engages the blind operating rod for shifting thereby relative to the first carriage part crosswise of the guide track to accommodate changes in the spacing between the operating rod and the guide track. Slat carriers are rotatably supported on the second carriage part for turning about generally upright axis, and a drive means is provided on the second carriage part for drivingly connecting the blind operating rod to the slat carriers for rotating the latter in response to turning of the operating rod.

Abstract: A traverse rod having a reversible torque responsive motor-drive assembly for operating the traverse rod. The motor-drive assembly includes a stationary casing fixed to the rod and a movable casing mounted in the stationary casing for angular movement relative thereto about a turn axis. A reversible DC motor in the movable casing is connected through a planetary gear speed reducer to a traverse cord drive wheel for applying driving torque thereto. The movable casing is arranged to turn about the turn axis in opposition to the torque applied to the drive wheel and is yieldable urged angularly about the turn axis toward a preselected neutral position relative to the stationary casing. The motor-drive assembly has a torque responsive motor control including stationary brush contacts fixed on the stationary casing and adapted for connection to a power supply and movable electrically conductive segments fixed on the movable casing and electrically connected to the motor.

Abstract: A curtain rod of the type having a wide flat front wall and upper and lower U-shaped flanges extending lengthwise along the rear side of the front wall. The rod is supported at its end by L-shaped corner brackets having an upright rod support panel and a mounting panel that extends rearwardly from the rod support panel and integral therewith. The rod support panel is constructed and arranged to extend into the upper flange on the rod member and support the rod member for limited pivotal movement about the upper edge of the support panel, and a latch is provided on the rod support panel at a location to engage the rod member and releasably retain the rod alongside the rod support panel.

Abstract: A tilt drum for securing the upper ends of the side cords of a cord-type ladder to a venetian blind tilt rod for operation thereby. The tilt drum is formed with a one-piece body of synthetic resin material and includes a drum section adapted for mounting on the tilt rod and a cover section integrally connected by a flexible hinge portion to the drum section. The drum section has a top wall overlying the tilt rod and interfitting ribs are provided on the cover section and the top wall of the drum section for clamping end portions of the side cords of the ladder tape to the drum section, when the cover section is closed. A latch is formed integrally with the cover section and arranged to engage a keeper on the drum section to latch the cover section in a closed position.