Abstract: The present invention is a tensioner for securing a loop of roller blind chain to a window frame and to a wall adjacent the window frame. The tensioner includes a member having a top portion with a peripheral edge, a bottom portion, opposite end portions, opposite side portions, and a central aperture passing through the opposite side portions and positioned between the opposite end portions and between the top and bottom portions. The central aperture is dimensioned to permit the roller blind chain to pass there through. The member has a first thickness separating the opposite first and second sides of the member and a second thickness between the central aperture and the peripheral edge, the first thickness and the second thickness each being greater than the distance separating the beads of the chain.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bottom bar for attachment to a lower edge of a window blind. The bottom bar includes an elongated tube having a bottom and a pair of opposing side walls separated by a space and an elongated slit extending along the tube, the slit communicating with the space. The slit is dimensioned to permit the lower edge of the window blind to pass through. The bottom bar further includes an elongated lock member dimensioned to fit within the space, the elongated lock member dimensioned to be too small to pass through the slit. The lock member has a flat side wall for attachment to the lower edge of the window blind by an adhesive. The opposing side walls of the elongated tube are tapered toward each other from the bottom towards the slit such that the opposing side walls abut the flat side wall of the lock member when the lock member moves towards the slit.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved roller shade control unit having a reduced profile for use with a roller tube and roller chain. The improved roller shade control unit including a tube housing for coupling to the roller tube and a sprocket for coupling the tube housing to the chain. The sprocket has a peripheral edge configured to couple to the chain. A chain guide for keeping the chain coupled to the sprocket is provided, said chain guide comprising a flat member having a bottom and a side, an aperture dimensioned to contain the sprocket being formed on the side. The tube housing has a barrel portion and an extended edge portion projecting radially from an end of the barrel portion, said extended edge portion configured to cover the sprocket, said extended edge portion having at least one cut out dimensioned to permit a portion of the chain to pass there through.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved cord runner for use with a track of a panel track window covering. The track which is used with the cord runner has a first and a second channel separated by a wall having an elongated groove separating the first and second channels. The cord runner includes a body having opposite first and second ends, opposite first and second sides, a top and a bottom, the body being dimensioned to fit within the first channel. The cord runner further includes a pair of side guides formed on the first side of the body, said pair of side guides having a T shaped profile, said pair of side guides being dimensioned to extend through the groove and into the second channel.

Abstract: The present invention is a roller tube for rolling up a fabric blind. The roller tube consists of an elongated tube having a length, an inner surface and an outer surface. An elongated lip is formed on the outer surface of the elongated tube and extends along the entire length of the elongated tube. The lip has a height substantially equal to the thickness of the fabric blind which is to be wound onto the roller tube. The outer surface of the elongated tube has a first cross sectional diameter at the lip and a second cross sectional diameter at an angle from the first cross sectional diameter, the first cross sectional diameter being larger than the second cross sectional diameter by the height. The inner surface of the elongated tube has a circular profile. A notch is formed on the inner surface of the elongated tube adjacent the lip, said notch extending along the length of the elongated tube. The notch and lip are parallel to the axis of the roller tube.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved support bracket for mounting a clutch of a roller blind. The clutch of roller blind used with this improved bracket is the type having at least one projecting pin. The support bracket includes a bracket housing having a flat wall with at least one aperture configured to receive the projecting pin such that the pin passes through the aperture and extends past the flat wall. The aperture is configured to permit the pin to slide up and down inside the aperture between a first and second position when the pin is positioned in the aperture. The bracket also includes a spring lock member mounted to the flat wall adjacent the aperture, the spring lock positioned to partially obstruct the aperture. The spring lock member is configured such that when the pin is inserted into the aperture the spring lock is deflected out of the way to permit the pin to be inserted into the aperture.

Abstract: There is disclosed a support bracket for mounting an end of a roller blind. The support bracket includes an angular bracket having a flat wall with a blind mounting element for receiving and supporting the end of the blind. A detachable support member is mounted to the flat wall, the detachable support member being configured to temporarily support the end of the blind at a position adjacent the roller blind mounting element. The detachable support member includes an elongated member having opposite first and second hooked ends, each of which is configured to hook to an aperture formed on the flat wall. A saddle portion is formed on the support member between the hooked ends. The saddle portion is movable between a locked position wherein the ends cannot be removed from the apertures and an unlocked position wherein the ends are easily removed from the apertures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for repopulating a cache are disclosed. At least a portion of the contents of the cache are stored in a location separate from the cache. Power is removed from the cache and is restored some time later. After power has been restored to the cache, it is repopulated with the portion of the contents of the cache that were stored separately from the cache.

Abstract: The invention is a fascia and mounting bracket combination for a blind having a head portion. The mounting bracket and fascia combination includes a mounting bracket having a first locking element and a fascia having a face portion and an extended leg. The extended leg has a proximal end adjacent the face portion and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The fascia and bracket combination further includes a second locking element formed on the fascia adjacent the distal end of the extended leg, the second locking element configured to mate with the first locking element. A release member is mounted to the mounting bracket adjacent the first locking element, the release member movable between a locked position wherein the release member is clear of the second locking element, and a release position wherein the release member bears against the second locking element sufficiently to disengage the second locking element from the first locking element.

Abstract: A spring assist for use with multi banded roller blinds includes a plurality of torsion springs coupled between a roller tube and a shaft. Each of the torsion springs is capable of applying an individual torsion force to the roller tube relative to the shaft. Each of the torsion springs have a first and second end, the first end of each torsion spring being coupled to the shaft and the second end of each torsion spring being coupled to the roller tube. The torsion springs are coaxially aligned and each torsion spring is coupled to the shaft and to the roller tube such that the individual torsion forces of the torsion springs are applied to the roller tube in parallel and the sum total of the torsion applied to the roller tube is equal to the sum of the individual torsion forces.

Abstract: There is provided a spring assisted electric motor driven lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering a blind which permits the quick and easy matching of the spring assist pre-rotation to the torque output of the electric motor. The device includes an elongated cylinder coupled to the blind such that rotating the cylinder about its axis lifts and lowers the blind. Coupled to the elongated cylinder is an electric motor which is configured to rotate the elongated cylinder about its axis. A torsion spring is coupled to the cylinder for biasing the elongated cylinder to at least partially neutralize the weight of the blind. The torsion spring is in turn coupled to a spring preload adjuster which is configured to adjust the tension on the torsion spring by moving an adjustment member. The spring preload adjuster is further configured such that the adjustment member extends perpendicularly away from the axis of the elongated cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention is an adjustable mounting bracket for mounting a roller blind to a surface such that the roller blind can be quickly leveled. The bracket includes first and second plates, the first plate having apertures to permit the first plate to be mounted to the surface. The second plate has a mounting fixture formed thereon for mounting to the roller blind. To permit the second plate to move relative to the first plate, the second plate is provided with an elongated groove formed thereon, the second plate being movably mounted to the first member by a mounting element fixed to the first plate and passing through the groove. The mounting element and groove are dimensioned and configured to permit the second plate to slide between a first and a second position. The position of the second plate relative to the first plate is adjusted by an adjustable moving mechanism which is configured to precisely position the second plate between its first and second positions.

Abstract: An improved roller blind clutch assembly is disclosed for controlling the raising and lowering of a roller blind which permits the smooth raising and lowering of roller blinds even if the blinds are heavy. The improved roller blind clutch assembly includes a roller tube mount coaxially and rotatably mounted to a barrel. A clutch member is in turn coaxially and rotatably mounted to the barrel between the roller tube mount and the barrel. The clutch member has a window formed between a first and a second edge of the clutch member. A torsion locking spring is coaxially mounted to the barrel between the barrel and the clutch member. The torsion locking spring has opposite first and second ends which project into the window. The roller tube mount has an extension portion configured to extend into the window and dimensioned to fit between the first and second ends of the torsion locking spring.

Abstract: The invention is a chain locking mount for mounting the roller chain portion of a roller blind to a support surface such as a wall or window frame. The mount is configured to prevent the chain from being operated when the mount loosens from the support surface. The mount includes a housing with an aperture formed therein which is dimensioned to permit the roller chain to pass through the aperture. The mount further includes a lock member mounted adjacent the aperture, the lock member being movable between a locked position wherein the chain is prevented from moving through the aperture and an open position wherein the chain is free to move through the aperture. The mount is secured to the surface by a screw, the screw being coupled to the lock mechanism to retain the lock member in its open position when the screw is tightened to the surface. The lock member is biased towards its locked position so that the lock member moves towards its locked position when the screw is loosened from the surface.

Abstract: A method for preventing snap-back in a circuit including at least one MOS transistor having a parasitic bipolar transistor associated with it includes coupling a circuit node including at least one source/drain node of the at least one MOS transistor to a bias-voltage circuit and enabling the bias-voltage circuit to supply a potential to the at least one source/drain node of the at least on MOS transistor, the potential having a magnitude selected to prevent the parasitic bipolar transistor from turning on.

Abstract: The present invention is an adjustable mounting bracket for mounting a roller blind to a surface such that the roller blind can be quickly leveled. The bracket includes first and second plates, the first plate having apertures to permit the first plate to be mounted to the surface. The second plate has a mounting fixture formed thereon for mounting to the roller blind. To permit the second plate to move relative to the first plate, the second plate is provided with an elongated groove formed thereon, the second plate being movably mounted to the first member by a mounting element fixed to the first plate and passing through the groove. The mounting element and groove are dimensioned and configured to permit the second plate to slide between a first and a second position. The position of the second plate relative to the first plate is adjusted by an adjustable moving mechanism which is configured to precisely position the second plate between its first and second positions.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of attaching a ring member to a cord using a minimum of steps. The method includes the steps of providing a hobble cord having opposite first and second ends and a plurality of loops. The loops of the cord are preferably preformed onto the cord and are integral thereto. Each loop formed on the cord has a loop opening dimensioned to receive one end of the cord. The first end of the cord is first threaded through the ring and the ring is then positioned to sit adjacent one of the loops between the loop and the first end of the hobble cord. The first end of the hobble cord is then threaded through the opening of the loop. The ring is then firmly secured to the cord by pulling the cord all the way through the loop. The steps may be repeated to attach more rings to the cord in succession.

Abstract: A method for preventing snap-back in a circuit including at least one MOS transistor having a parasitic bipolar transistor associated with it includes coupling a circuit node including at least one source/drain node of the at least one MOS transistor to a bias-voltage circuit and enabling the bias-voltage circuit to supply a potential to the at least one source/drain node of the at least on MOS transistor, the potential having a magnitude selected to prevent the parasitic bipolar transistor from turning on.

Abstract: Circuitry for testing a power-on-reset circuit in an integrated circuit includes a high-voltage detector coupled to a first I/O pad of the integrated circuit. A power-on-reset circuit in the integrated circuit has an output coupled to a driver circuit that is powered by the high-voltage. A second I/O pad of the integrated circuit is coupled to the output of the driver circuit. The driver circuit may be enabled by a signal provided on a third I/O pad of the integrated circuit.