Abstract: Headrail hardware to lift and tilt a Venetian blind is provided. A single control operates both the lift and the tilt function. A multiturn band brake tilter is used with each ladder cord in a way that reduces the frictional forces encountered in lifting or lowering the blind. One end of each of the ladder cords is attached to an arm of its tilter. The tilters are disposed directly about the rotating drive rod with no intermediate parts, and are supported by cradles that mount in the headrail rather than by the drive rod as in prior art blinds. The drive rod rotates the tilters and the lifting mechanism until the tilters contact stops built into each of the cradles. Further rotation keeps the blind fully tilted while lifting or lowering of the blind continues. In the preferred embodiment, the lift cords are attached to the drive rod, which traverses to accumulate the cords in a single layer as the rod is rotated to lift the blind.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hinge assembly that has a pintle and two plates that can rotate about the axis of the pintle. The first plate is irrotatably affixed to the pintle. The second plate is part of a friction element which also includes a band having a plurality of turns helically disposed about the pintle. Between the other end of the band and the second plate there is a spring that tightens the band about the pintle. The band is flexible enough so that it does not grip the pintle without the force of the spring. Frictional force is developed between the band and the pintle that opposes movement of the second plate in a direction that tends to tighten the band about the pintle. Movement of the second plate in the opposite direction tends to loosen the band's grip on the pintle so that very little frictional force is developed.

Abstract: A spring clutch for limiting lost motion during release is provided. The spring clutch includes a shaft, a helically wound coaxially mounted spring for making frictional contact with the shaft, and means, such as a tang element, for selectively applying a loosing force to at least one end of the spring for rotation thereof with respect to the shaft. The inventive spring clutch further includes means for urging the spring toward the shaft when the spring is rotatably loosened. As a result, radial movement of the spring away from the shaft is substantially prevented. The urging means may be retained by a housing coaxially mounted about the shaft and may be chosen from a boss or an auxiliary spring. Preferably, the urging means is located at about 90 degrees along the outer radial surface of the shaft from the end of the spring at which the tang element is located.

Abstract: A capstan based system for pulling and accumulating the pull-cords used to lift hanging window coverings from their bottoms. A cylindrical capstan is supported in bearings so that it is free to rotate and move axially. A splined connection to a holding device permits controlled rotation and locking of the capstan. Each of one or more cords is attached to the capstan by means of a clip which can be easily positioned to adjust the position and length of its cord. As the capstan is turned, the cords wind onto the capstan in a single layer due to the camming action of a specially configured camming surface. The capstan begins to move laterally when sufficient friction has developed between the capstan and the cord which has been wound onto it. This provides space for the cord to wind onto the capstan in a single layer. During unwinding of the cord, a guiding surface, over which the cord moves, pulls the capstan back toward its original position.

Abstract: There is disclosed a window shade system which reduces heat transport through windows by providing an insulating seal between a shade and window sill. The insulating seal is effected by a resilient material attached to the bottom longitudinal edge section of the shade. When the bottom longitudinal edge section of the shade is positioned in engagement with the sill, the resilient material conforms to the contour of the sill, frictionally sealing the shade against the sill, thereby insulating and reducing heat transport through the window. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom longitudinal edge section includes a first depending longitudinal slat pocket for receiving a window shade slat, and a second depending longitudinal pocket configured to substantially enclose the slat pocket. A longitudinal void is provided between the pockets to permit the enclosing pocket to resiliently conform to the contour of the sill.

Abstract: A spring clutch which has multiple springs disposed between two coaxially mounted cylindrical elements. The springs are designed to slip so that all of the springs are required to support the maximum load. During the onset of rotation, tabs at the ends of the springs contact the load surfaces on one of the cylindrical elements sequentially, with some slippage occurring, so that impulse is reduced. In different embodiments, either releasing or reversing the clutch re-establishes offsets between spring tabs so that the sequential contact can again occur.

Abstract: A bi-directional spring clutch having a cylindrical input element mounted on a cylindrical output element, with a wrap spring disposed between them. A control element, in the form of a cylinder, is rotatably mounted on the input element for assuming one of three discrete positions relative to the input element. A key on the control element extends through a window of the input element and is disposed between the ends of the wrap spring. When the control element is in either of its extreme positions, turning of the input element controls tightening of the spring and the transmission of torque, the direction of torque transmission depending upon the position of the control element. Rotation of the input element in the opposite direction results in the key unwrapping the spring so that there is not torque transmission. When the control element is in its middle position, the key bears against neither end of the spring, and torque is transmitted in both directions of rotation of the input element.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bi-directional clutch, particularly useful in window shade applications. The bi-directional clutch includes a first or core member and an unwrap spring, that is, a spring having an inside diameter somewhat smaller than the diameter of the core, the spring being wound around the core. The unwrap spring has a number of helical turns and spring tangs which extend outwardly past the circumference of the spring and generally perpendicular to the axis of the spring. The spring is controlled by a second, control or driving member which, when rotated, applies force to one or the other of the spring tangs to unwrap or loosen the spring, thereby allowing the spring to rotate relative to the core. As the spring rotates, one of the spring tangs abuts a third or driven member. The third or driven member is rotated by the spring, allowing the third member to rotate relative to the first or core member.