Abstract: A window covering includes rings attached to window covering material at predetermined positions and loops attached to a liner at predetermined positions such that each loop is positioned between two of the rings. Each of the loops is formed by a filament that passes through a liner at two spaced apart points, the filament having an anchor such that the loops are positioned between an inner side of the liner and a rear side of the window covering material and the anchor is positioned on an outer side of the liner. Lift cords extend from a first rail and pass through the rings and the loops. The liner and the window covering material are attached together to enclose the lift cords between the liner and the window covering material. The window covering material and liner are moveable relative to the first rail to retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A window covering includes a liner positioned adjacent to the rear side of window covering material. The liner is attached to at least one of the window covering material and a first rail to define at least one cavity between the window covering material and the liner. At least one ladder is attached to the liner and positioned in the at least one cavity. The at least one ladder has vertically spaced rungs. At least one lift cord extends from the first rail to a position adjacent to the bottom edge of the window covering material. The at least one cord passes adjacent to the at least one ladder such that the at least one lift cord passes over the rungs of the at least one ladder such that the at least one lift cord alternates from passing behind and in front of successive rungs.

Abstract: A loop cord tension device assembly includes a housing, a spring member connected to the housing, a loop cord retention member connected to the housing, and a locking body connected to the spring member. The loop cord retention member has a channel sized and configured to receive a portion of a looped cord. The locking body is moveable from a locked position to an unlocked position. The portion of the loop cord received within the channel of the loop cord retention member is not rotatable when the locking body is in the locked position and the portion of the loop cord received within the channel of the loop cord retention member is rotatable when the locking body is in the unlocked position. The loop cord tension device assembly may be connected to the looped cord of a window covering and mounted to a structure to improve child safety.

Abstract: A window covering includes a roller attached to a mounting device and an actuation device attached to the roller to rotate the roller in at least one of a first direction and a second direction. A front member is attached to the mounting device. A second member is attached to the roller. A plurality of ballast members are attached to the front member. Each ballast member has a portion that extends to the second member to engage the second member to cause the front member to form substantially parallel folds when the second member is wound about the roller to retract the front member to a retracted position. Preferably, the folds are similar to or exactly like the transverse folds in shade material that are formed when a conventional Roman shade is raised.

Abstract: A window covering includes a first set of vertically spaced apart connectors and a second set of vertically spaced apart connectors. A first lift cord has a first portion extending from a first rail and passing through or adjacent the connectors of the first set of connectors and the second lift cord has a second portion extending from the first rail and passing through or adjacent the connectors of the second set of connectors. A first cord shroud and a second cord shroud extend from the first rail to a position adjacent to a bottom portion of window covering material. The first cord shroud is attached to the first set of connectors and the second cord shroud is attached to the second set of connectors. The first portion passes through the first cord shroud and the second portion passes through the second cord shroud.

Abstract: A window covering includes window covering material that extends from a first rail. A first lift cord extends from the first rail to a position adjacent the bottom of the window covering material. A first spacer cord extends from the first rail to a position adjacent to a bottom of the window covering material. First hitches extend from the first spacer cord to encircle the first lift cord. The window covering may have additional lift cords and may utilize other similar spacer cords having hitches that extend to those lift cords as well.

Abstract: A window covering includes a first sheet of material connected to a mounting device adjacent to the front side of the window covering. A second sheet of material may be connected to a roller attached to the mounting device so that the second sheet is windable and unwindable from the roller. A third sheet of material is connected to the mounting device or the first sheet such that the second sheet is positioned between the first and third sheets. The first side of the first sheet is connected to a first side of the third sheet at first positions and the opposite sides of the first and third sheets are connected together at second positions. The second positions may be parallel to the first positions. The second sheet extends from the roller between the first and second positions and between the first sheet and the third sheet.

Abstract: A window covering includes a first rail, window covering material, lift cords that extend from adjacent the first rail to the window covering material, and at least one pulley and at least one pulley release device. At least one pulley is positioned so that at least one lift cord passes along that pulley. Each pulley release device is attached to at least one respective pulley to releasably connect the one or more pulleys to the first rail. Each pulley release device is configured to permit the one or more pulleys to which it is attached to release from the first rail when a release force acts on a component of the pulley release device. Preferably, the one or more pulleys are positioned on the outside of the first rail adjacent to the window covering material. The one or more pulleys may also be positioned adjacent to a valance.

Abstract: A window covering includes a plurality of lift cords extending from an upper rail and window covering material connected to the upper rail or the lift cords. A plurality of safety devices are attached to the window covering. Each safety device includes a male member and a female member. One of the members is attached to a respective lift cord and the other of the members is attached to an upper rail, a portion of the window covering material or a lower rail. The male and female members are configured to be attached together such that the male and female members separate from each other when a release force acts on at least one of the male member and female member.

Abstract: A window covering includes a roller attached to a mounting device and an actuation device attached to the roller to rotate the roller in at least one of a first direction and a second direction. A front member is attached to the mounting device. A second member is attached to the roller. A plurality of ballast members are attached to the front member. Each ballast member has a portion that extends to the second member to engage the second member to cause the front member to form substantially parallel folds when the second member is wound about the roller to retract the front member to a retracted position. Preferably, the folds are similar to or exactly like the transverse folds in shade material that are formed when a conventional Roman shade is raised.

Abstract: A window covering includes at least one spring motor attached to a rotatable shaft. The spring motor includes at least one spring member that has an elongated body having a windable length, a uniform thickness throughout the windable length, a uniform width throughout the windable length, and a uniform rectangular cross section throughout the windable length. The spring member is configured so that it has a different microstructure at different portions of the first spring member located along the windable length of such that the spring member exerts an amount of force as the portions of the first spring member may wind about a roller of the spring motor that progressively increases such that the roller may prevent movement of the shaft to maintain a position of the window covering material after the window covering material is moved to a particular raised position.

Abstract: A window covering may include a roller attached to a mounting device, and a front member attached to the mounting device. Strips may extend from a roller attached to the mounting device. An upper portion of each strip may be attached to the roller and a lower portion of each strip may be connected to a bottom portion of the front member. Each strip passes through a respective column of ballast members. The ballast members are connected to the front member. The columns may each be comprised of ballast members that are not more than six inches below an immediately adjacent upper ballast member when the front member is in the extended position. The spacing of the ballast members and widths of the strips cooperate to prevent any of the strips from being pulled away from the ballast members to form a loop having a diameter greater than twelve inches.

Abstract: A window covering includes a roller attached to a mounting device and an actuation device attached to the roller to rotate the roller in at least one of a first direction and a second direction. A front member is attached to the mounting device. A second member is attached to the roller. A plurality of ballast members are attached to the front member. Each ballast member has a portion that extends to the second member to engage the second member to cause the front member to form substantially parallel folds when the second member is wound about the roller to retract the front member to a retracted position. Preferably, the folds are similar to or exactly like the transverse folds in shade material that are formed when a conventional Roman shade is raised.

Abstract: A window covering includes a roller attached to a mounting device and an actuation device attached to the roller to rotate the roller in at least one of a first direction and a second direction. A front member is attached to the mounting device. A second member is attached to the roller. A plurality of ballast members are attached to at least one of the front member and the second member. Each ballast member is configured to cause or enable the front member to form substantially parallel folds when the second member is wound about the roller to retract the front member to a retracted position. Preferably, the folds are similar to or exactly like the transverse folds in shade material that are formed when a conventional Roman shade is raised.

Abstract: A window covering includes a first rail; window covering material, a liner, a first lift cord, and a second lift cord. The liner is positioned adjacent to the rear side of the window covering material and is moveable from a retracted position to an extended position. The liner has at least one pocket. Each pocket defines a channel within the liner. The first and second lift cords extend from the first rail to a position adjacent to a bottom edge of the window covering material. Each lift cord extends through a channel defined by a pocket of the one or more pockets. The window covering may be a Roman shade or other window covering, such as a top down bottom up shade. Preferably, the liner covers the lift cords such that no portion of a lift cord is exposed sufficiently for a child to become entangled within any of the lift cords.

Abstract: A window covering includes a first rail, window covering material, lift cords that extend from adjacent the first rail to the window covering material, and at least one pulley and at least one pulley release device. At least one pulley is positioned so that at least one lift cord passes along that pulley. Each pulley release device is attached to at least one respective pulley to releasably connect the one or more pulleys to the first rail. Each pulley release device is configured to permit the one or more pulleys to which it is attached to release from the first rail when a release force acts on a component of the pulley release device. Preferably, the one or more pulleys are positioned on the outside of the first rail adjacent to the window covering material. The one or more pulleys may also be positioned adjacent to a valance.

Abstract: A window covering is disclosed that includes a first rail, window covering material adjacent the first rail, at least one lift cord extending through the window covering material to the headrail, a plurality of pulleys positioned adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor cord extending from the one or more spring motors and a rigid connector attached to one or more spring motor cords and one or more lift cords. The connector and one or more spring motor cords are configured to pass along at least one of the pulleys during movement along a cord path defined by one or more of the pulleys. The connector should have a length that is not greater than ? of the circumference of at least one of the pulleys the connector passes over during extension of the window covering material.