Abstract: A skew adjustment method and apparatus for adjusting the skewed condition of a movable rail of a window covering in which the movable rail is supported by lift cords wrapped around spools. A drive train disconnecting mechanism is used to disconnect a first spool from a second spool, the first spool is rotated relative to the second spool, thereby changing the length of the first lift cord relative to the second lift cord until the movable rail is in the desired position; and then the first and second spools are reconnected so the first and second spools rotate together. An end cap may be used to enable multiple disassemblies and reassemblies of the end cap to access the skew adjustment mechanism. In one embodiment, there are two movable rails, and the lift cords for both movable rails extend through the same rout holes in the covering. Disconnecting the first spool from the second spool may activate a mechanism that prevents the second spool from rotating.

Abstract: Venetian blind with horizontal slats suspended via carriers. The carriers extend through openings in the slats and include supports each supporting a slat adjacent one of the openings. The openings and the supports are arranged for providing stable support for each of the slats in at least two, mutually distinct positions. The orientations of individual slats or of subgroups of the slats can be adjusted very quickly by directly engaging the slats to be adjusted with a hand or an operating member between a limited number of predefined orientations. An orderly visual appearance can be achieved easily, even though the orientations of the slats are adjusted individually, since slats intended to be in the same orientation automatically assume mutually identical orientations.

Abstract: A winding device for a windable screen of a closure or sun-protection home-automation installation, includes: a winding tube movable around a rotation axis; a hollow sleeve positioned at one of the two ends and inside the winding tube; a tubular electromechanical actuator inserted inside the hollow sleeve; and two supports, each support being positioned across from one of two ends of the winding tube. The tubular electromechanical actuator includes: a case, and a closing off element positioned at one end of the case. The closing off element has a front face positioned in a plane parallel to a wall of one of the two supports, and includes first fastening elements cooperating with second fastening elements of the support. The hollow sleeve includes a first stop cooperating with a stop of the closing off element, and a second stop cooperating with the end of the winding where the sleeve is inserted.

Abstract: A rollo assembly comprises a flexible rollo screen, a rotatable winding shaft to which a first end of the rollo screen is attached for being wound on or off said winding shaft and two opposite longitudinal guides extending in a longitudinal direction perpendicularly to the winding shaft for guiding opposite sides of the rollo screen. The rollo screen further is provided with longitudinally spaced elongate stiffeners extending substantially in a transverse direction in parallel to the winding shaft between the opposite sides of the rollo screen and attached to the flexible rollo screen, which stiffeners are biased for assuming a curved shape in said transverse direction. Each stiffener comprises two stiffener parts which comprise facing edges and wherein each stiffener further comprises a hinge member extending in said transverse direction and joining said facing edges.

Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening including a support tube and a panel operably connected to the support tube and configured to be wound around the support tube. The panel includes a support sheet and at least one vane or slat connected to the support sheet. The at least one vane includes a vane material operably connected to a first side of the support sheet and a support member operably connected to the vane material and configured to support the vane material at a distance away from the support sheet when the panel is in an extended position with respect to the support tube.

Abstract: A screen apparatus X1 includes: a screen member 22; an inner guider 60 extending in a vertical direction of the screen member 22 and holding a side end 22a of the screen member 22 movably in the vertical direction of the screen member 22 while regulating a displacement of the screen member 22 in a lateral direction of the screen member 22; and an outer guider 50 extending in the vertical direction of the screen member 22 and having a recess 54 for accommodating the inner guider 60, wherein the outer guider 50 holds the inner guider 60 dismountably from the recess 54 in the lateral direction of the screen member 22.

Abstract: A screen panel for a roll-up door is configured to be slidably coupled to the door adjacent a bottom portion of the door. The panel is generally parallel to the bottom portion when installed and movable between a retracted position, wherein a bottom edge of the panel is generally aligned with a bottom edge of the door, and an extended position, wherein the bottom edge of the panel is located below the bottom portion. A biasing device biases the panel toward the retracted position with a biasing force that is sufficient to move the panel to the retracted position only when the panel is positioned in an orientation other than a vertical orientation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting system for an architectural covering comprising a roller and a bearing for rotatably mounting the roller to a holding member. The bearing comprises a length variation member which is biased to be in a first state yielding a bearing length which allows the roller to be held by the holding member, and which can be manipulated into a second state, in which the bearing length is reduced such that the roller is removable from the holding member. The length variation member comprises at least one sloped portion that extends along at least part of its outer circumference and in the first state extends largely or completely outside the roller. The sloped portion is dimensioned such that the length variation member can be urged to the second state by applying a force on the sloped portion in a single direction.

Abstract: A system for preventing fluid from entering a walled structure includes a support structure configured for fixing to at least one surface of the walled structure; and a barrier apparatus attachable and anchorable to the support structure, the barrier apparatus including a fluid retention member configured for intercepting a fluid entering the walled structure, and a collar for holding the fluid retention member against an interior surface of the walled structure, proximate the opening. As fluid enters the barrier apparatus, the pressure increases against the interior surface of the fluid retention member, pressing it against the walled structure. The collar in combination with the fluid retention member to which it is attached acts like a gasket to tighten a seal between the barrier apparatus and the walled structure.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a retractable awning comprises a slotted track; a webbing disposed in the slotted track; a cover attached to the webbing and disposed on the slotted track; a first roller disposed at a first end of the slotted track and connected to a first end of the webbing; a second roller disposed at a second opposite end of the slotted track and connected to a second end of the webbing; and a bracket, the bracket disposed over the first roller and comprising a guide roller which contacts the cover when the retractable awing is in a deployed position between the first roller and the first end of the slotted track.

Abstract: A roll up flexible door assembly includes a flexible door with guides mounted along the opposed sides. Opposed tracks are mounted at a spaced distance from one another with each of the tracks having inner edges positioned opposite one another. An angled guide liner is mounted to each track and extends longitudinally along at least a portion of the track. The angled guide liner is angled with respect to the inner edge with the angle increasing from the top to the bottom. The guides are received within the tracks and adapted to engage the angled guide liner as the flexible door is raised and lowered in the tracks. The guides and the angled guide liner tighten the flexible door as the flexible door is lowered.

Abstract: The structures described herein use an actuating system that can selectively switch between a lower and a raise mode of operation by rotating a rod assembly in two different directions, and use a downward displacement of a pull member to lower and raise the window shade depending on its switching state. The actuating systems are simple to operate, allow convenient adjustment of the window shade, and are safe as the pull member has a limited length of extension.

Abstract: A privacy screen apparatus can include a body having a plurality of elongated recesses and between elongated pillow regions. The pillow regions can have a larger width than the recesses. In some embodiments, the body can be configured to bend about the elongated recesses to different configurations. A plurality of stand elements can be connected to the bottom of the body to permit the body to be free standing. In other embodiments, a plurality of connectors can be connected to the body for connecting the body to an article of furniture, such as a tabletop or a desktop.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shade assembly which comprises a shade fabric and a plurality of battens arranged vertically with respect to one another, each batten aligned horizontally along the fabric and forming a pleat therewith. A plurality of spacers are also provided which are coupled to and positioned adjacently to one of the plurality of battens in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the shade fabric. The plurality of spacers maintains the plurality of battens in a substantially vertical arrangement when the shade fabric is drawn into an open position.

Abstract: A window blind device includes a headrail, a bottomrail, a window shade, first and second control wheels, first and second cord spools, first and second cords, and a coil spring. The coil spring has a looped end portion sleeved on a first wheel hub of the first control wheel, and a spring body wound on the first wheel hub and extending from the looped end portion to terminate at a leading spring end which is connected to a second wheel hub of the second control wheel.

Abstract: An anchor for securing the lower end of lift cords to the bottom rail of a vertically retractable covering for architectural openings includes features enabling the anchor to be wedged into a blind hole formed in the top surface of the bottom rail. The anchor can be one piece or two pieces and in the event of a two-piece anchor, a main body has spreadable legs and is engaged by a cam member to spread the legs after the anchor has been inserted into the blind hole. In the case of the single-piece anchors, there are legs or fingers engageable with the side wall of the blind hole upon insertion of the anchor into the blind hole to wedgingly secure the anchor in position.

Abstract: The invention relates to blinds, components of blinds and assembly of blinds, and particularly to the tilt mechanism of a Venetian blind. The tilt mechanism includes a slider element to which the cords of the cord ladder are attached. The slider element has a base portion fixedly mounted in an aperture of the head rail, and a sliding portion. The ladder cords are routed through holes in the base portion, through a void between the sliding portion and the base portion and out of the ends of the slider element. The ends of the ladder cords are secured proximate respective ends of the sliding portion. The void is divided into separate chambers and the holes of the base portion communicate each with a respective chamber. A further hole and chamber may be provided to accommodate a lift cord. Tangling of the cords is eliminated, and the compact arrangement allows a slim and attractive head rail to be used.

Abstract: A shade comprises a head rail that supports the lift cords for a shade panel. The shade panel includes a plurality of cells secured to one another. A bottom rail is secured to the lower edge of the panel and to which the lift cords are connected for raising and lowering the bottom of the shade panel. The upper edge of the panel is defined by a horizontally extending top cell that is substantially the same as the other cells that create the panel. A rigid bar insert is located within the top cell that extends for substantially the entire length of the top cell. The lift cords for raising and lowering the upper edge of the panel extend through the top cell and are connected to the bar.

Abstract: A system for deploying and stowing a cover, including a mechanical assembly coupled to the cover, preferably comprising a plurality of deploy arms and synchronization means, and reconfigurable between deployed and stowed conditions, and further including an actuator presenting an active material element operable to undergo a change, when activated, and operable to cause the assembly to reconfigure as a result of the change.

Abstract: A window covering is disclosed that includes a first rail, window covering material adjacent the first rail, at least one lift cord extending through the window covering material to the headrail, a plurality of pulleys positioned adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor cord extending from the one or more spring motors and a rigid connector attached to one or more spring motor cords and one or more lift cords. The connector and one or more spring motor cords are configured to pass along at least one of the pulleys during movement along a cord path defined by one or more of the pulleys. The connector should have a length that is not greater than ? of the circumference of at least one of the pulleys the connector passes over during extension of the window covering material.