Abstract: A retractable covering such as a door or window blind or shade has a top rail, a bottom rail, a covering material extending between the top rail and the bottom rail, at least two lift cords extending downwardly from the head rail to the bottom rail for supporting the bottom rail, a covering operating system for enabling retraction and deployment of the covering, and an adjuster connected to at least two of the lift cords. The adjuster is preferably mounted in the bottom rail. The retractable covering also comprises an individual cord tensioner for allowing at least one of the lift cords to be individually tensioned. The individual cord tensioner operates independently of the adjuster. A method of adjusting the orientation and drop height of the bottom rail of the retractable covering is also provided.

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 mechanism for extending or retracting for a covering for an architectural opening with respect to architectural opening, including a rotatable drive shaft (5); at least one lift cord (11,13), at least one cord spool (7,9) for winding and unwinding the at least one lift cord, the cord spool being mounted for rotation with the drive shaft and being axially stationary. The cord spool has a first diameter end (21, 27) and a second diameter end (23, 29), the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, and the spool has a first generally conical circumferential spool portion (33) therebetween, wherein the first spool portion (33) comprises a plurality of steps (35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45) each step having a tread (35A, 37A, 39A, 41A, 43A, 45A).

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: Operating system (1) for rotatably controlling retraction and deployment of an architectural covering. The operating system includes a drive pulley wheel (3) having a circumferential rim (5), a length of looped drive cord (9) operatively engaged with the pulley wheel (3) about its circumferential rim (5) and having depending portions on opposite sides of the pulley wheel (3), a cover (7) co-extensive with a portion of the circumference of the pulley wheel (3) and at least one stopper (19) attached to a portion of the length of the drive cord (9) and adapted to engage the cover (7) to stop rotation upon a predetermined amount of rotation of the pulley wheel (3). The pulley wheel is provided with a cavity (17) on its toothed circumference for receiving the at least one stopper (19) to prevent it from engaging the cover (7).

Abstract: A universal connector (5) is provided for connecting an architectural covering to an architectural surface. The connector has an adaptor plate (6) that is substantially circular and has one or more radially outwardly projecting flanges (16) and is arranged to be inserted into a ring-shaped engagement member (7) having one or more openings (18) in a front cover (17). The adaptor plate and the engagement member are configured such that the adaptor plate may be inserted into the engagement member by aligning the one or more flanges of the adaptor plate with a respective opening in the front cover of the engagement member and removal of the adaptor plate from the engagement member may subsequently be prevented by a partial rotation of the adaptor plate relative to the engagement member.

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: A covering for an architectural opening and a method of arranging at least one movement cord includes a cover extending between an uppermost member and a lowermost member, an active end of the at least one movement cord being attached to the lowermost member and extending from the lowermost member to the uppermost member and the at least one movement cord extending, as the loose length, from the uppermost member to a distal end.

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.