Abstract: A mounting system for securing a non-retractable covering material in an architectural opening includes an anchor strip securable to the covering material having a plurality of openings therethrough and a three piece clip securable to the surrounding frame of the architectural opening including a taper head pin for insertion into an opening in the anchor strip with the pin being universally movable through a unique design of the clip which includes a base, a pivot arm and a slide clamp on the pivot arm.

Abstract: An operating system for a vertically movable collapsible covering includes lift cords anchored at an upper end to the top rail for the covering and at the bottom end on wrap spools which are either driven by coil springs or a reversible motor. The coil springs and motor via its transmission help counterbalance the shade so that it can be supported at intermediate positions between fully retracted and fully extended positions of the covering and lift cord guide pins are provided around which the lift cords can be wrapped to obtain a desired amount of friction to assist in rendering the covering counterbalanced regardless of the size and weight of the covering. The control system is confined within a dummy vane at the bottom of the fabric for the covering so as to be hidden from view.

Abstract: A retractable cellular shade is illustrated in various embodiments to consist of a support structure that could assume numerous forms including cellular material, flexible sheets of material, tapes or ribbons, or flexible monofilaments or similar cords of natural or synthetic fibers with the support structure supporting a plurality of vanes or slats in various configurations and orientations. The movement of the vanes or slats is totally dependent upon movement of the support structure. The fabric so formed can be incorporated into a covering for architectural openings with the covering including a headrail with means for gathering the fabric material within the headrail.

Abstract: A retractable cover for architectural openings having collapsible vanes includes a support structure in the form of a sheet of material, monofilaments, tapes, ribbons, cords, or the like, supporting an upper edge of a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending vanes with the lower edges of the vanes in most embodiments of the invention being connected to operating elements adapted to raise the lower edges of each vane toward the upper edges to define openings or gaps between the vanes through which vision and light can pass in an open condition of the covering. Variations of the covering do not require movement of a lower edge of a vane relative to an upper edge but simply movement of some vanes relative to other vanes. The vanes can be made of materials having different flexibilities and where more rigid materials are used, creased fold lines can be established for desired operability.

Abstract: A slat for use in a covering for an architectural opening is made from a base material of binder and matrix fibers which are formed into a nonwoven material by melting at least a portion of the binder fibers to thermally bond the binder and matrix fibers. A coating of resin is then applied to the thermally bonded base before the composite material is passed through a forming apparatus where the material is heated over a convex support having the desired curvature for the slat and subsequently cooled.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a transversely curved or formed strip of material which can be cut to length for use in a fabric for coverings for architectural opening includes a supply role of a flexible fabric strip material that is sequentially passed through a heating chamber with an elongated upwardly convex extrusion across which the strip material is drawn and a cooling station before being wrapped on a take-up drum. The apparatus includes driven rollers about which the strip material passes and the strip material is exposed to tension detectors and controlled temperatures such that the strip material formed in the apparatus is uniform along its length.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for forming a fabric for an architectural opening covering. The apparatus comprises a joining section, an accumulator, a cutting station, and a stacker. The joining section is configured to join together first, second, third and fourth material strips into a fabric strip. The accumulator is configured to accumulate the fabric strip upon leaving the joining section. The cutting station is configured to sever the fabric strip into an upstream fabric strip and a first downstream fabric strip. The stacker is configured to join the first downstream fabric strip with a second downstream fabric strip to form the fabric.

Abstract: A retractable cover for architectural openings having collapsible vanes includes a support structure in the form of a sheet of material, monofilaments, tapes, ribbons, cords, or the like, supporting an upper edge of a plurality of vertically spaced, horizontally extending vanes with the lower edges of the vanes in most embodiments of the invention being connected to operating elements adapted to raise the lower edges of each vane toward the upper edges to define openings or gaps between the vanes through which vision and light can pass in an open condition of the covering. Variations of the covering do not require movement of a lower edge of a vane relative to an upper edge but simply movement of some vanes relative to other vanes. The vanes can be made of materials having different flexibilities and where more rigid materials are used, creased fold lines can be established for desired operability.

Abstract: A double pane window has a blind between the window panes. The interior window pane is in a housing that can be removed from the window frame. A cord guide is provided in the top edge of the housing. The cord guide has a lift cord slot and a tilt cord slot. The blind has at least one lift cord which passes through the lift cord slot and at least one tilt cord which passes through the tilt cord slot. The blind can be raised, lowered and tilted while maintaining a seal between the window frame and the window panes.

Abstract: A double pane window has a blind between the window panes. The interior window pane is in a housing that can be removed from the window frame. A cord guide is provided in the top edge of the housing. The cord guide has a lift cord slot and a tilt cord slot. The blind has at least one lift cord which passes through the lift cord slot and at least one tilt cord which passes through the tilt cord slot. The blind can be raised, lowered and tilted while maintaining a seal between the window frame and the window panes.

Abstract: A window blind for use between double panes of glass has a bottom rail having an outwardly curving top attached along a front edge and along a back edge to an outwardly curving bottom. The top has at least one opening through which the tilt cords pass and the bottom has a hole for each ladder. The rails of a ladder and all tilt cords coplanar with that ladder pass through the hole for that ladder; and are held in place by a rivet passing through the hole in a manner to retain the rails and lift cords passing through that hole. This blind may also have a two piece headrail wherein one piece is plastic and the other pieces is metal to provide a thermal break. A magnetic tilt mechanism is provided in the headrail.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure particularly useful for window coverings is made by simultaneously knitting or weaving a front sheet, a rear sheet and a plurality of webs therebetween. A warp knitting process is used to make the front sheet and rear sheet. At least one warp thread from one sheet is threaded through the opposite sheet to form the webs. Preferably, a wood, metal, textile or plastic slat is placed on each web.

Abstract: A tilt mechanism for use on a window blind positioned between double panes of glass has a shaft to which the tilt cords are attached. A nut with attached magnet rides on a threaded portion of the shaft and is adjacent the inside surface of one glass pane. A position slide with attached magnet is placed on the outer surface of the pane of glass opposite the nut. Movement of the position slide and magnet in one direction moves the nut in the same direction causing the shaft to rotate in a clockwise direction. Movement of the position slide and magnet in an opposite direction moves the nut in that opposite direction causing the shaft to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Rotation of the shaft winds and unwinds the tilt cords to open and close the blind.

Abstract: A window covering has a sheet of light admitting material which forms a back sheet and a series of spaced apart, generally parallel strips attached at one edge to the back sheet and attached at an opposite edge to an adjacent strip. Each strip contains a light impeding portion and a light admitting portion.

Abstract: A cord shroud used in cooperation with a window shade assembly and the like of the type having a bottomrail and a headrail, with a cord lock attached either internal or external to the headrail. The window blind assembly further having at least two lift cords, each of which are connected at one end to the bottomrail, pass through the headrail and cord lock, and have an opposite end that is accessible to an operator. The cord shroud is fashioned of an elongated, flexible, flexible type ribbon or a ladder type having a first end connected to the headrail and a second end that is accessible to the operator. The cord shroud further has a plurality of apertures disposed along the length of the ribbon, through which the lift cords pass. The ribbon has a length sufficient to fit over substantially all of that portion of the lift cords, which is exposed when the window is open. The apertures may be holes provided through the ribbon or loops or rings attached to the ribbon.

Abstract: A double pane window has a blind between the window panes. The interior window pane is in a housing that can be removed from the window frame. A cord guide is provided in the top edge of the housing. The cord guide has a lift cord slot and a tilt cord slot. The blind has at least one lift cord which passes through the lift cord slot and at least one tilt cord which passes through the tilt cord slot. The blind can be raised, lowered and tilted while maintaining a seal between the window frame and the window panes.

Abstract: A safety device for use on looped cords of the type frequently used in pleated shades, roman shades and venetian blinds has a body containing an anvil and adjacent cord channel. The cord channel is sized to permit at least one cord to pass therethrough. A plunger having a blade attached thereto is positioned so that the blade is above the anvil. A spring attached to the plunger and the body pushes the blade away from the anvil, such that a force acting on the plunger in a direction toward the anvil will cause the blade to move toward the anvil cutting any cords within the cord channel.

Abstract: An improved Roman shade has a series of parallel, generally U-shaped ribs which grip the shade fabric at selected intervals to provide a series of cascading transverse pleats. Each rib is formed by a pair of legs connected together at a proximate end to form a top and abutting one another at their distal end to define a fabric receiving cavity therebetween. At least one cord carrier is attached to the top or one leg of each U-shaped rib and connected to a spacer cord.

Abstract: A safety device for use on looped cords of the type frequently used in pleated shades, roman shades and venetian blinds has a body containing an anvil and adjacent cord channel. The cord channel is sized to permit at least one cord to pass therethrough. A plunger having a blade attached thereto is positioned so that the blade is above the anvil. A spring attached to the plunger and the body pushes the blade away from the anvil, such that a force acting on the plunger in a direction toward the anvil will cause the blade to move toward the anvil cutting any cords within the cord channel.