Abstract: A cord spool for winding a lift cord for lifting or lowering a window covering wherein the cord spool includes an elongated general cylindrical body with a large diameter end and a small diameter end and a circumferential outer surface of a given length extending therebetween. The circumferential outer surface having a plurality of generally parallely extending longitudinal ribs. The cord spool can be provided as part of a lifting and lowering mechanism for a blind further including a rotatable drive shaft and at least one lift cord. A support is provided for rotatably supporting the cord spool and the support may be attached to a head rail by means of a separate cord guiding grommet in the head rail. It may also include means for supporting a drive mechanism. The cord spool can be constructed from two halves and may also include an end plug, which can be snap-indexed between relative angular positions to adjust the cord length.

Abstract: A cord spool for winding a lift cord for lifting or lowering a window covering wherein the cord spool includes an elongated general cylindrical body with a large diameter end and a small diameter end and a circumferential outer surface of a given length extending therebetween. The circumferential outer surface having a plurality of generally parallely extending longitudinal ribs. The cord spool can be provided as part of a lifting and lowering mechanism for a blind further including a rotatable drive shaft and at least one lift cord. A support is provided for rotatably supporting the cord spool and the support may be attached to a head rail by means of a separate cord guiding grommet in the head rail. It may also include means for supporting a drive mechanism. The cord spool can be constructed from two halves and may also include an end plug, which can be snap-indexed between relative angular positions to adjust the cord length.

Abstract: A cradle for supporting a rotating member in a rail of an architectural covering includes a pair of bearing blocks positioned in side-by-side relationship, and a web portion that connects a base portion of each of the pair of bearing blocks on opposite sides of the cradle, and at least one break-line for separating the bearing blocks. Each of the bearing blocks has a flange extending perpendicularly from its base portion and is adapted to rotatably support the rotating member. At least one of the base portions has an aperture to receive a driving cord therethrough.

Abstract: A window covering assembly has first and second rails adapted to be secured to first and second sides of a window frame, at least one resiliently tensionable cable member (16) extending between the first and second rails, and a flexible covering material (14) being supported and guided by the tensionable cable members between extended and contracted conditions of the material. Sliders (18) and locking mechanisms or clamps (44) are provided to tension the cable members (16). Each slider (18), to which at least one cable member (16) is attached, is manually longitudinally slidable along one of the rails and has a clamp associated with it, preferably a self-locking clamp formed on the slider, to clamp the slider at a desired location on the second rail (12).

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the length of the lift cord in an architectural covering such as a window blind or shade is preferably positioned on the bottom rail of the shade and includes two component parts. One component part is secured to an end of the lift cord, and the second component part is operatively engaged with the bottom rail and a connector is provided for adjusting the relative position of the parts so as to conveniently regulate the relative positions of the end of the lift cord and the bottom rail. The apparatus, therefore, provides a convenient way for adjusting the bottom rail of the covering so that it is properly positioned relative to the window sill or the like.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a blind or shielding device having angularly adjustable and retractable slats 12, said mechanism comprising a first driven element 27 for pivotally adjusting the angular orientation of the slats and a second driven element 30 for transversely moving the slats towards and away from the retracted position, a common actuating member 22 for driving said first and second driven elements, a coupling device 24 directly coupling said first driven element to said common actuating member, a final engagement and lost motion mechanism 28, 30 for releasibly engaging said common actuating member to said second driven element and allowing entraining of said second driven element after a predetermined number of revolutions of said actuating member neither of two different rotational senses, the final engagement associated with said lost motion mechanism in each rotational sense inducing a reactive force in an axial direction, said reactive force assisting in declutching of said coupling device.

Abstract: A tape spacer for securing the ladder tape of a venetian blind slat of a given width. It includes a body (10) having a length slightly greater than the width of the slat. A single hook (16) is provided on one end and two laterally spaced hooks (20 and 24) on the other end. The body is angled to position these loosely adjacent the edges and the handle (28) is then operated to spring the third hook (24) over the other edge of the slat.

Abstract: A clutch for a vertical louvre blind including an inner sleeve 20 mountable on a tilt rod 21 which is provided with longitudinally extending grooves 22. Keys 23 engage in the grooves 22 and the inner sleeve 20 is provided with three tongues 26 at the same circumferential location as the keys so that they can flex into the grooves 22. An outer sleeve 30 is provided with internal splines 32 engageable with a tooth 27 on each tongue.

Abstract: A frame for a retractable blind which can be gathered together, said frame comprises an upper head-rail consisting of a hollow profile, a bottom rail which can be raised and lowered and which forms the bottom of the blind, lateral profiles, corner members connecting the head-rail to the lateral profiles, longitudinal channels in said lateral profiles, draw cords passing through the lateral channels, a plurality of cord passages in said corner parts, all of which are connected to one another via a common space and a sliding surface associated with each cord passage to deflect the draw cords, as they pass from the head-rail to the associated lateral profile.

Abstract: A retractable screen comprising a head rail, lateral profiles extending generally perpendicular from each end of the headrail, a bottom rail having end portions movable in said lateral profiles, draw-cords connected to said bottom rail, a slide mounted on one of said lateral profiles, passages formed in said slide, said passages opening into the front face of said slide, the draw-cords passing through said passages, operation of said draw-cords causing raising or lowering of said bottom rail, said draw-cords extending to the front of said slide, so that they may be manually gripped and pulled.

Abstract: A bracket for releasably securing a channel section blind headrail to a wall or ceiling, said channel section blind headrail including a web and front and rear upwardly extending flanges, each having an inturned rim at its upper free edge, said bracket including a main body securable to a wall or ceiling, spaced, forwardly extending portions on said body, recesses on the forward end of each said portion engageable by the inturned rim of the forward flange of the headrail, a separate member capable of limited horizontal movement relative to said main body, at least one lug on said separate member engageable under said rim on the rear flange of the headrail and a tongue on the forward end of said member, positioned to overlie the rim of the front flange and extend forwardly thereof sufficiently to enable the tongue to be forced forward to disengage the lugs from the rear rim said separate member provided with resilient means to urge it towards a rearward position to engage said lugs under the rim of the rear fl

Abstract: A vertical louvre blind has several identical travellers (16), an end one of which is moved by a pull cord (100), inserted between two fingers (90). This traveller pulls the other travellers by means of a ball chain (98) inserted between the fingers and into a slot (96). A tilt rod (14) rotates a worm (18) in each traveller, the worm engaging a wormwheel which can readily be pushed into the housing of the traveller. The wormwheel carries a hook (80) on which is mounted a louvre hanger. The louvre hangers each consist of two bars (30) and (34), the louvre material (22) being folded over to form a hem which can be clamped between the two bars by moving them transverse to their length. It is possible with the blind to have an easy modification of a stock blind to fit windows of several sizes.

Abstract: A vane pocket cover for taking up the bottom end of a vane of a vertical blind, preferably including an additional weight, whereby the cover has protruding parts near the front and rear wall centers offset with respect to each other, for simple connection of vane interconnecting means. The cover is easily engageable by being pushed over a folded vane bottom end that could enclose a weight whereby the vane material stretches through the cover and out through a slit. The cover versions are especially designed for do-it-yourself purposes and concentrate on ease of assembling and vane length adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus for regulating the radiation of light and/or heat by the use of slats which are suitable for placing under a roof constructions, such as a greenhouse roof, in which the slats 140 are supported at or adjacent each end by a pair of laterally spaced apart connecting cords 136,137. These cords form the sole suspension for the slats and are mounted, at their upper ends, on a combined tilting and carrier means 102,107,108,115. Drive 128 is provided for the combined carrier and tilting means so that the latter impart a movement from which the tilting movement of the suspended slats is directly derived. It is also possible for the slats to be drawn back by movement of runners 134,135 on the combined carrier and tilting means.

Abstract: A support carrier for the drive shaft of a vertical venetian blind is disclosed for supporting the drive shaft intermediate its ends, particularly when the blind is open. The support carrier moves along the drive shaft to a predetermined stop point so that a number of support carriers may be used if necessary positioned at various points along the drive shaft. The drive shaft moves the support carrier through a slip clutch engaged with the drive shaft, which clutch is a disk in slideable engagement with the facing inner surfaces of the casing walls of the support carrier.

Abstract: The rotatable louver holder disclosed comprises a toothed gear having a hub and arranged for axial rotation about a vertical axis and a plastic hanger member having a hook at the bottom for engaging in an opening of a louver. The hanger extends upwardly through the opening in the hub of the gear and has lateral projections engaged in diametrically opposite low points on the upper edge (guiding surface) of the hub. External force applied to the louver causes rotation of the hanger relative to the hub as the projections ride up the guiding surface toward diametrically opposite high points thereon. Stops on the hub and on the hanger limit the rotational movement; however, if a predetermined excessive amount of force is applied to the louver, the stops on the hanger are resilient enough to permit them to ride past the stops on the hole. After removal of external force applied to the louver, the projections return to the low point of the guiding surface under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: A pull carrier for vertically louvered venetian blinds is disclosed, preferably for use in such blinds having a single drive shaft for transporting the louver carriers along the shaft and also for rotating the louvers about their vertical axes. During rotation of the louvers about their vertical axes by the drive shaft, the pull carrier which effects transport of the louver carriers does not move along the headrail due to a free wheel mechanism comprising a worm and a gear wheel engaged with the worm. The gear ratio of the worm and gear is so selected as to insure that rotation of the louvers about their vertical axes is completed in either of the two opposite directions of rotation before transport of the pull carrier, and subsequently of the louver carriers, can be effected by the drive shaft. Conversely, rotation of the louvers about their vertical axes is avoided during transport of the pull carrier and louver carriers.

Abstract: A carrier for a louver of a vertical venetian blind is disclosed for supporting a louver for rotation about its vertical axis and for transport along the headrail, which carrier includes a drive mechanism for rotating the louver about its vertical axis. The drive mechanism is disclosed as including a worm and a gear arrangement with a slip clutch disposed between the worm and the drive shaft. In one embodiment, the slip clutch comprises a slotted sleeve mounted on the drive shaft inside the hub of the worm, which sleeve has lugs positioned to engage a stop on the gear to effect the opening of its slot and reduction of its frictional contact with the drive shaft. In second embodiment, the worm itself frictionally engages about the guide shaft and has a slot along its length with the ends of the slot receiving wedge-like cams integral with rings loosely mounted on the drive shaft.