Abstract: A cord driving mechanism for a blind is described, which comprises a cord driving pulley having a circumferential, radially outward-facing groove comprising a plurality of nips, the nips defined by formations which are disposed opposite one another on respective sides of the groove and are positioned so that the path of a cord around the pulley is relatively straight and so that the cord is substantially unconstricted in the regions between the nips; and a shoe, relative to which the pulley rotates, which surrounds at least part of the circumferential groove in the pulley. A cord passes around the pulley, in the space defined by the circumferential groove and the shoe. The cord is retained in the groove by contact with the shoe. The dimensions of the groove, the spacing between the groove and the shoe, and the size of the cord provide a desired resistance to rotation of the pulley and a desired maximum load which can be exerted on the cord.

Abstract: A pleated blind 20 is disclosed including a head rail 22, a bottom rail 24 and an expandable and collapsible shade 28 extending between them and divided up into a plurality of pleats 30 by fold lines 32. A row of apertures 42 passes through each pleat 30 to permit passage of a supporting cord 10. The supporting cord 10 consists of a central yarn 12 and a series of equally spaced polymeric rungs 14. The rungs 14 are spaced at equal intervals along the cord 10, the spacing between the rungs 14 being substantially equal to the maximum distance between the head rail 22 and the bottom rail 24 divided by the number of pleats 30 in the shade 28. In this way, the rungs 14, which are of sufficient length to span the sides of the apertures 42, will support their respective pleats 30 and prevent the pleats from opening up too widely, thus ensuring that the pleat spacing remains substantially even.