Abstract: A control system for a vertical vane covering for an architectural opening includes a new and improved symmetric headrail having uniquely designed carriers for suspending individual vanes wherein the carriers are designed to minimize skewing relative to a tilt rod as they are moved along the headrail. A pantograph system is utilized to interconnect the carriers, and is connected to the carriers in alignment with the tilt rod so as to minimize skewing. The carriers have pockets formed therein through which the traverse cord extends so that the traverse cord, which moves the carriers along the tilt rod, is secured to a lead carrier closely adjacent to the tilt rod to, again, minimize skewing. Light blocking rails are also attachable to the headrail to substantially bridge the gap between the headrail and the top of the suspended vanes to prevent light from passing therebetween. The tilt rod is keyed to gears in the carriers to facilitate assembly of the control system with all vanes properly aligned.

Abstract: Trucks carried on a window track and mounting grippers operative to grip a retraction chord operative to when the trucks are deployed in a spaced relation, grip a retraction chord to be carried rearwardly toward the parked position when the chord is retracted. The grippers are operative upon the trucks reaching a parked position to release the chord for continued retraction of the chord relative to the parked truck so that continued retraction will draw the remaining trucks to parked position.

Abstract: A connection system between a carrier and a link of a pantograph in a control system of a covering for an architectural opening. The control system is adapted to move a plurality of carriers across at least a portion of the architectural opening. The connection system comprises an upstanding pin on the carrier, the pin having a laterally projecting key, and an aperture in the link. The aperture has a main portion extending upwardly from a bottom surface of the link and an enlarged recess extending downwardly from a top surface of the link, thereby defining an annular shoulder around the top of the main portion. An intermediate keyway communicates between the main portion of the aperture and the enlarged recess. The keyway is adapted to receive the key on the carrier to facilitate interconnection of the carrier with the link and pivotal movement of the carrier relative to the link after interconnection.

Abstract: A first track assembly is adapted to be mounted to a top of a window opening. A plurality of first cord support assemblies are slidably mounted within the first track assembly. A plurality of second cord support assemblies are slidably mounted within a second track assembly. A plurality of columns of panels is provided, each column being strung between a pair of the first and the second cord support assemblies. A vertical opening and closing mechanism is provided for pulling the second track assembly toward the first track assembly and for lowering the second track assembly away from the first track assembly, thus collapsing and extending each column of panels.

Abstract: A track and carrier system for window blinds is disclosed, which incorporates two dimensional spacing between the carrier support wheels, and, preferably three dimensional, x, y and z spacing between the carrier support wheels. Window covering systems are disclosed which use various types of blinds.

Abstract: The improved system utilizes a track (51) which has a bowed internal surface to prevent the wheel of the carrier (17) from frictional engagement with the side of the track (51). The curved surface (55) which faces the wheels (27) will not be engaged by the wheels (27) even where the carrier (17) turns to one side or the other. This is accomplished while leaving the innermost portions of the raceway (53) in the same width position with regard to the wheels (27) as is usual to prevent the carrier (17) from coming off-track. The tolerances for the inner corners of the raceway (53) opposing the wheels (27) may be reduced to further prevent the possibility of jamming in the track (51).

Abstract: A vertical blind control includes a single control mechanism for traversing the vanes (8), i.e., opening or closing the blind, and for rotating the vanes to change the amount of light admitted by the closed blind. The control mechanism includes a wand (29), which is used to slide and rotate a shaft (35) carrying opposed bevel gears. One bevel gear (72) is engageable with a mating gear system (76) connected to a tilt rod (10) for rotating the vanes. The other bevel gear (63) is engageable with a drum (48) carrying a cord (13) for traversing the vanes to open or close the blind. The shaft is slidable within the mechanism so that only one of the bevel gears is engaged at any one time to effect the desired operation.

Abstract: A vertical blind has individual vertically extending vanes that include vertically extending interior compartments. The compartments are created by bonding a corrugated or pleated first member to a generally planar second member. In the first several embodiments, the members of each vane are formed of a relatively flexible, translucent sheet of material. A method of diffusing light through the translucent members of the vane and interior compartment is disclosed. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the vertical vane is comprised of a relatively thick and rigid backing member wherein the thinner front member is bonded to the backing member to form the vertically extending interior compartments. In this embodiment, one vertical edge of the room-facing side of the vane is flattened, such that adjacent vanes are able to overlap.

Abstract: A device for the manual operation of a blind, preferably a vertical blind, by way of a pull cord, which is pulled as a loop with a leading end and a return end by a slat carriage movable in a guide with a slat each arranged on them around their longitudinal axis. The cord is led in a rail which blocks access to a majority of the cord. The rail has channels extending in a longitudinal direction defining passages for the leading end portion and the return end portion of the pull cord. The section rail also defines access openings for providing access by an operator to grip and move the pull cord through the rail. The rest of the rail blocks access to the pull cord.

Abstract: A light controllable drapery system has a first track from which a drapery is hung and a parallel, second track from which vertical vanes are hung. Both the drapery and the vertical vanes are suspended from carriers which are sliceable along their respective tracks. At least one connector connects a carrier on the first track to a carrier on the second track to enable carriers on the first track to move concurrently with carriers on the second track. A pusher is provided on each vane which pushes the drapery along the drapery track when the vanes are moved from an open position to a closed position so that the drapery does not become entangled between the vanes during that movement.

Abstract: A split-draw vertical blind system uses a plurality of slat carriers, the slat orientation of which is controlled by a spline rod which passes through the carriers. Each carrier bears wheels to enable the carrier to glide smoothly along tracks provided by an enclosing headrail. In addition, a master carrier which a user may move by means of an attached wand is connected by hollow rivets to a stabilizer assembly which bears extra sets of wheels to contact the tracks and the inner surfaces of the headrail top to prevent binding of the master carrier. A horizontally-oriented closed loop of cord passes through bores on either side of the carriers and around pulleys or U-shaped components at the ends of the headrail. The cord loop is attached on opposite sides to the two center carriers, one of which is the master carrier. When the master carrier is moved by means of the wand, the other center carrier is moved in the opposite direction by the cord loop.

Abstract: An operating structure for a vertical blind, which is used to adjust the angle of the slats and collect the slats, including an operative pulley seat, a guide cord, a shaft wheel, a hollow pull rod, a latch hook, an upper cock body, a lower cock body, an adjustment block, two conic sleeves, a screw, a hollow rotary bar and a distance-adjusting strip.