Abstract: A roller shade for adjustably covering a structural opening comprising a roller tube assembly having a roller tube, a shade material attached to the roller tube, and a pair of cables adapted to be wound about opposite ends of the roller tube. The roller shade further comprises a pair of longitudinal side panel assemblies adapted to be attached at opposite sides of the structural opening and retain the roller tube assembly therebetween, wherein each side panel assembly comprises a tensioning assembly adapted to tension the shade material. Each tensioning assembly comprises a fixed pulley bracket comprising a first and second pulleys, floating pulley bracket comprising a third pulley, a tension assist bracket removably attached to and between the fixed pulley bracket and the floating pulley bracket, and a spring attached at one end to the floating pulley bracket.

Abstract: A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to dampen the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal.

Abstract: A mechanism for storing a length of cord that includes a first and second pair of pulleys mounted at opposite ends of a frame. An intermediate section of a cord is stored in the frame and has one end of the stored section fixed to the frame, with the other end extending from the frame. The stored cord section is at least partially wound over the pair of pulleys, and one pair of pulleys is slidably mounted for motion toward the other pair of pulleys. A damper is coupled to one of the second pair of pulleys, which engages the pulley to rotate about an axis to dampen the rotary motion of one of the second pair of pulleys in such a manner that the intermediate storage section is in tension during retraction and withdrawal.