Abstract: An elongate venetian blind slat having a longitudinally extending transversely convex upper surface and an opposed longitudinally extending transversely concave lower surface and opposed longitudinally extending edge surfaces. The slat comprises a rigid thermoplastic resin having a cellular core and an integral solid skin along the longitudinally surfaces of the slats and a density of 0.4 to 0.6 g/cc. The upper and lower surfaces of the slat have a radius of curvature less than the width of the slat and, preferably, the upper and lower surfaces have substantially the same radius of curvature.

Abstract: A cord connector device for releasably connecting a plurality of operating cords in a window covering. The cord connector device comprises two elongate side members interconnected for relative movement about a pivot axis adjacent their lower ends such that the upper ends of the side members are movable relative to each other in a path of movement from a closed condition to an open condition. Cord retaining jaws extend inwardly of the side members at a location spaced below the upper ends of the side members and the jaws having jaw edges disposed in opposed relation when the side members are in the closed condition to retain the lower ends of the lift cords. A top wall on the upper end of one of the side members configured to form spaced sides and one end of an elongate cord abutment loop and an upper projection on the other side member is arranged to form the other end of the elongate loop when the side members are in the closed condition.

Abstract: A cord connector for releasably connecting multiple operating cords for a window covering. The cord connector has at least two side members supported for pivotal movement relative to each other between a closed condition in which the side members are in sidewise adjacent relation and an open condition in which at least upper portions of the side members are laterally spaced apart. Jaws on side members provide downwardly facing shoulders for engaging cord stops on the operating cords and the jaws have jaw edges operative when the side members are in the closed condition for laterally confining portions of the operating cords superjacent the stops to positions in which the cord stops engage the downwardly facing shoulders. The side members have lateral cord abutment portions spaced above the cord retaining means and arranged to form segments of a closed cord abutment loop dimensioned to loosely surround the operating cords at the upper end of the cord connector when the side members are in the closed condition.

Abstract: A two-piece drapery traverse rod master carrier comprising a carrier body having rod guides for supporting the carrier body for movement along a traverse rod, and a drapery support arm having lead and trail ends and a mounting stem extending laterally from one side of the support arm at a location intermediate the lead and trail ends of the arm. The carrier body has an arm guide supporting the mounting stem for horizontal movement in a direction perpendicular to the path of movement of the carrier body when the lead end of the drapery support arm extends from the arm guide to adjust the lateral position of the support arm relative to the slide body. The drapery support arm can be positioned on the carrier body with the lead end extending in either of two opposed directions generally parallel to the path of movement of the carrier body.

Abstract: A venetian blind headrail and bracket system in which the headrail has a downwardly extending light block panel along a rear edge of the bottom wall, a front upper rim on the front wall and a rear upper rim on the rear wall. The mounting bracket includes an upwardly opening front notch for receiving a lower edge of the front upper rim and a downwardly opening rear notch spaced rearwardly from the front notch for receiving the rear upper rim, and a support ledge spaced below the rear notch for engaging a lower edge of the light block panel to support the headrail in a mounted position on the bracket with a clearance between the rear upper rim and the base of the rear notch. The rear notch has a width sufficiently less than the outer width of the rear upper rim to have an interference fit therewith when the headrail is in the mounted position on the bracket.

Abstract: A venetian blind assembly has a tilt drum support with a base which has a three-segment zig-zag type slot through which two ladder legs extend and are offset sidewardly from one another, with the tilt drum interposed from front to back between the two legs. The slot holds the ladder legs apart to insure non-overlapping winding of the joined ladder legs on the tilt drum. The tilt drum is connected to a flexible cable that turns and extends vertically downwardly on the window stile. The flexible cable is positioned by a plastic guide which is fastened to the stile. The flexible cable has an extruded fitting crimped to it which has a D-shaped opening in it. The fitting receives a vertical control rod which has a D-shape. The fitting opening is substantially deeper than is required to insure a proper connection with the vertical control rod. Hence the same vertical control rod may be installed on windows that vary in height by several inches, with the excess length absorbed within the fitting opening.

Abstract: A window shade assembly comprising a header, a bottom rail and expansible and contractable shade means attached to the header and bottom rail, and lift cords attached to the bottom rail and extending upwardly to the header and through a cord lock on the header and having lift cord operating portions extending downwardly from the cord lock means for raising and lowering the bottom rail, the lower ends of the operating portions of the lift cords are detachably mounted on the bottom rail to be raised and lowered with the bottom rail to reduce cord dangle and the detachable mounting is arranged to allow the lower end of the operating portion of each lift cord to detach from the bottom rail and separate from the operating portions of the other lift cords when the lower end of the lift cord is subjected to a tensile force in a direction away from the bottom rail, for child safety reasons.

Abstract: A venetian type window blind having a wand which is rotatable to control tilting of slats and lift cord operating mechanism on the wand for raising and lowering the blind and locking the blind in adjusted positions. The venetian blind lift cords extend into a lengthwise cord passage inside the wand and the lift cord operating mechanism includes a lift member mounted for movement along an outer side of the wand and lift cord, an engaging member in the cord passage for moving the lift cords to raise and lower the blind in response to movement of the lift member along the wand. The operating means includes lock means for locking the lift cord engaging member at selected positions along the wand.

Abstract: A window blind of the type having a headrail, bottom rail and an expandable and contractable shade between the headrail and bottom rail. An elongated wand has an upper end mounted on the headrail and a flexible operating cord is formed into an endless cord operating loop and guided by loop guides in a closed loop path extending through the headrail and the wand passage. Lift cords are attached to the bottom rail and extend from the bottom rail into the headrail and the lift cords are connected to the endless operating loop. A cord lift handle member is mounted for movement along an outer side of the wand and has cord grip mechanism for gripping a portion of the endless cord operating loop to move the operating loop in a direction to raise the bottom rail when the handle member is moved in one direction along the wand. A cord lock is provided for releasably retaining the bottom rail in selected raised positions.

Abstract: An adjustable curtain rod mounting bracket comprising: a wall bracket member and a rod bracket member which are frangibly interconnected to facilitate packaging and assembly. The wall bracket member has wall attachment flange at the rear end on a panel portion and the rod bracket member has a rod support flange at the forward end of a panel portion, and the panel portions of the bracket members are disposed in end-to-end relation with the forward end of the panel portion of the wall bracket member integrally joined along a break-away line of weakness to the rear end of the panel portion of the rod bracket member.

Abstract: A support rod assembly for drapery panels in which an elongated horizontal rod is mounted by upper wall brackets on a wall for horizontally supporting an upper portion of a drapery panel and at least one vertical rod is mounted at its upper end on an upper bracket and mounted at its lower end on lower wall bracket for vertically supporting a portion of the drapery panel. The support rod assembly preferably includes front and rear vertical rods that are supported on the upper and lower bracket with the front vertical rod disposed forwardly of the rear vertical rod so that a drapery panel horizontally supported on the horizontal rod can be drawn around the front vertical rod and connected to the rear vertical rod. The wall brackets are preferably adjustable to vary the spacing of the horizontal and vertical rods relative to the wall or other supporting surface. Vertical rods can be provided on only one end of the horizontal rod in some installations and on both ends of the horizontal rod in other installations.

Abstract: A vertical blind apparatus of the type having a head-rail channel and a plurality of panel support carriages guidably mounted on carriage support flanges on the side walls of the channel, and a mechanism for releasably retaining the trail carriage at a selected location along the head-rail. The trail carriage retaining mechanism is formed of resilient synthetic resin material and includes an elongated base mounted on one side wall of the channel and an elongated latch member having forward and rear resilient end portions formed integrally with the base. The latch member has a forward ramp portion that diverges rearwardly from the forward end portion relative to one side wall of the channel; a rearwardly facing stop shoulder intermediate the ends of the latch member; and a finger pad portion rearwardly of the stop shoulder.

Abstract: An adjustable shade comprising a pleated expandable and collapsible main shade and a pleated expandable and collapsible auxiliary shade on a lower end of the main shade, with the auxiliary shade arranged so that the pleats can fan outwardly from one side edge of the auxiliary shade. Expansion of the one side edge of the auxiliary shade is controlled so that it can form an inverted fan configuration with the one side edge of the shade adjacent the center of the fan configuration. The auxiliary shade is preferably formed in two auxiliary shade sections with each arranged so that it can be moved from a collapsed condition paralleling the pleats in the main shade to an expanded condition with the pleats radiating outwardly from one side edge through the arc of about 90 degrees. The auxiliary shade sections are preferably mounted on a lower rail attached to the lower end of the main shade.

Abstract: A swag holder including a unitary body having a generally C-shaped front portion and an upper rear portion extending downwardly at a rear side of the front portion and a lower rear portion extending upwardly at a rear side of the front portion and a head on the upper rear portion for mounting the body on a curtain rod. The holder is supported on a wall mounting bracket including a generally horizontal bracket member and an upwardly opening U-shaped saddle on a forward end of the bracket member for receiving the head on the upper rear portion of the body. The saddle supports the swag holder body with the bracket member at a level above the lower end of the upper rear portion and with the upper end of the lower rear portion spaced below the saddle.