Abstract: A covering for architectural openings including a roller, a shade wrapped around the roller, the shade extendable from the roller when the roller rotates in a first direction, and retractable onto the roller when the roller rotates in a second direction. The covering also includes a retraction mechanism operably associated with the roller for biasing the roller in a direction to retract the shade and a positioning device operably engaging the roller for selectively holding the shade at a selected extension location and selectively releasing the shade for additional extension or retraction. The positioning device is actuated to hold the shade at the selected extension position by movement of the shade in either the extension or retraction direction.

Abstract: A stationary base plate, a chain drum locking mechanism and a reducer mechanism are provided for a manual rolling door operator, in which the reducer mechanism has an output shaft and the chain drum locking mechanism has a chain drum, a wedge wheel, a drive shaft, a plurality of moving rollers, and fixed rods. If the chain drum is rotated in any direction by a force pulling a chain run around the chain drum, the fixed rods push against the moving rollers to release a wedging action from the wedge wheel which simultaneously renders the drive shaft to be rotated. However, if the force stop to pull the chain, the wedge wheel locks the moving roller by the wedging action due to the weight of a curtain of slats so as to stop the rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A system for operating and positioning a roller shade may include a roller shade clutch and an idler which are mounted to a bracket for attachment to a structure. The bracket may include a mounting plate and a wall or ceiling engaging member mounted to the mounting plate. The roller shade clutch or idler may be releasably coupled to attachment member of the bracket by a locking device. The locking device may comprise an insert having a body portion, a first end that is configured to be secured within a recess formed in a rear facing surface of the clutch, and a second end that is configured to remain extending at least partially beyond the rear surface of the clutch and to be secured by engagement with a slot formed in the bracket.

Abstract: An unlocking assembly for a feedback window curtain set, which is applicable for use in a window curtain set provided with a self-rewinding curtain having an automatic and feedback mechanism. When the curtain has been released to its lowermost position, the unlocking assembly for the entire unit unlocks a locking device. Free ends of lower sections of the pull cords pass through the underside of the counterweight pendulum rod to enable the pull cords to add to an unlock travel distance. The displacement length of the unlock travel distance is used to actuate a locking device of a winding unit, which enables unlocking the locked state of the curtain. Accordingly, when the curtain is released to any height, an unlocking operation can be effected at any time that rewinds the entire system, thus avoiding danger from the pull cords being exposed.

Abstract: A shade for architectural openings incorporating a single cord drive featuring automatic braking of the shade when the user releases the drive cord. In a preferred embodiment, an automatic tilt-open mechanism is provided to tilt the shade open when the shade is in the fully extended down position.

Abstract: A curtain includes a curtain bracket (1) having an end to which a rotation driving device (3) is mounted. The rotation driving device (3) can actuate a curtain reeling drum (4A) to rotate a curtain cloth (7) or actuate a reeling rope device (4) to rotate a curtain cloth or shade (7). A reverse rotation releasing device (5) and a resilience reverse rotation mechanism (14) are connected to the rotation driving device (3). The rotation driving device (3) is comprised of a pull rope rotary disc (3c), a unidirectional clutch device (6) connected to the pull rope rotary disc (3c), and a rewinding spring (3e) mounted between the pull rope rotary disc (3c) and a pull rope rotary disc box (3a). Thus, only one cord is sufficient to control opening of the curtain cloth or shade (7), and reverse rotation of the curtain reel drum (4A) is not adversely affected by the rotation driving device (3). It is convenient to use while avoiding injury to children.

Abstract: A system for operating and positioning a roller shade may include a roller shade clutch and an idler which are mounted to brackets for attachment to a structure. Each bracket may include a mounting plate, an attachment member slidably mounted to the mounting plate, and a wall or ceiling engaging member mounted to the mounting plate. The roller shade clutch may include a housing having a guard defining a cavity, a chain outlet, and a chain guard spanning the chain outlet, a post extending axially from the housing, at least one torsion spring mounted on and frictionally engaging said post, a sprocket wheel being mounted for rotation over the post and seated within the cavity, a chain guard cover disposed over at least a portion of the chain guard, and a follower cap mounted over the post that is rotatable in conjunction with the sprocket wheel. The idler may include an inner drum, an outer drum rotatably and slidably disposed over the inner drum, and an end cap fixed over the forward end of the outer drum.

Abstract: The present teachings relate to window covering systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for providing a window covering with a plurality of safety lift cord assemblies structured and operable to be severable upon application of a longitudinal force greater than predetermined threshold force.

Abstract: A blind comprises a turnably supported pulley, a control member of which one end is connected to the pulley so as to permit the control member to be wound around and unwound from the pulley, an urging member which urges the pulley in the direction of winding the control member, a first clutch mechanism which is disposed between the rotation shaft and the pulley, and can selectively link the pulley and the rotation shaft with each other to transmit the rotation of the pulley to the rotation shaft or unlink the pulley and the rotation shaft from each other to interrupt the transmission of the rotation of the pulley to the rotation shaft, and a second clutch mechanism which can selectively link the rotation shaft and a fixed member with each other or unlink them from each other.

Abstract: A window covering, a lifting system for a window covering and a release mechanism for a lifting mechanism are disclosed. The window covering includes a head rail, a bottom rail, a window covering, a drive shaft and a lift cord attached to the bottom rail. The release mechanism includes a spring coupled to the drive shaft for preventing or allowing rotation. Methods of assembling and raising and lowering window coverings are also disclosed.

Abstract: A control system for a vertically moveable covering for an architectural opening includes a uni-directional drive assembly that is operated with a single pull element such that upon pulling of the pull element, the covering can be raised in increments. A clutch/brake assembly selectively prevents the covering from dropping by gravity between pulling strokes on the pulling element, but a release of the brake allows the shade to drop by gravity from its retracted position to any degree of extension. A governor is further provided to regulate the rate at which the covering drops by gravity. A cord lift system which is operated by the main drive assembly and the clutch/brake assembly includes a rotatable and axially slidable spool about which a lift cord can be wound.

Abstract: An operator for a window covering held on a roller or axle has a stationary member having a central cavity and a first bore sized and positioned so that the roller can pass through the bore into the central cavity. A release brake is positioned so that the axle or roller can pass through and be held by the release brake. An inertial ring within the central cavity of the stationary member, surrounds a coil spring which encircles the axle. A release member is provided adjacent the release brake and the inertial ring. The release member is sized and positioned so that when the release ring is in a first position the release member will not engage the inertial ring or the release brake and when the release member is moved in a selected direction the release member will engage and turn the release brake and the inertial ring. A spool is positioned within the central cavity of the stationary member adjacent the inertial ring.

Abstract: A control system for a vertically moveable covering for an architectural opening includes a uni-directional drive assembly that is operated with a single pull element such that upon pulling of the pull element, the covering can be raised in increments. A clutch/brake assembly selectively prevents the covering from dropping by gravity between pulling strokes on the pulling element, but a release of the brake allows the shade to drop by gravity from its retracted position to any degree of extension. A governor is further provided to regulate the rate at which the covering drops by gravity. A cord lift system which is operated by the main drive assembly and the clutch/brake assembly includes a rotatable and axially slidable spool about which a lift cord can be wound.

Abstract: An operator for a window covering has a stationary member and a hub which is moveable relative to the stationary member when not restrained. Preferably these members are a tube or solid cylinder within a tube. A spring having a selected diameter is fitted between these two generally cylindrical members. A first tang at one end of the spring is attached to the stationary member and a second tang at an opposite end of the spring is attached to a movable member so that one tang can be moved relative to the other tang to increase or decrease the diameter of the spring. The spring is sized and positioned so that the spring will press against the inside surface of the hub when in a relaxed condition. When the tangs of the spring are moved relative to one another to reduce the diameter of the spring, the spring does not restrain movement of the moveable member. In a present preferred embodiment there is a roller attached to the hub at one end.

Abstract: A roll screen apparatus improved in operation and manufacturing, wherein the winding up and down of the roll screen are effected in such a manner so that the rotation of the pulley, by the pulling down of the operation cord, is transmitted to the screen winding pipe, and wherein the stop of the screen is effected by disengaging the transmission from the screen winding pipe to the pulley. The improved apparatus is characterized by providing a clutch device and a disengagement device. The clutch device is only transmissive of the rotation of the pulley to the screen winding pipe, and the disengagement device disconnects the engagement between the pulley and the screen winding pipe and maintains such disconnected condition.

Abstract: The disclosed drive uses a ball chain and sprocket for adjusting a wind-up blind and a locking device activated by the ball chain into cooperation with the sprocket for blocking the sprocket and locking the drive, avoiding any large stress in the chain.

Abstract: The disclosed ball-chain drive for a wind-up blind has a chain-activated locking device that acts directly on the sprocket and remains effective even if the ball chain breaks or is jostled. The locking device in one form has such symmetry that the ball-chain drive is usable at either end of the wind-up blind.

Abstract: A mechanism for the roller of a roller blind, in which a housing has rotatably mounted therein a pulley over which a ball cord, passes, with two pieces of cord hanging down, one from each side of the pulley. The balls of the ball cord can be engaged in one of two U-shaped slots, to lock the cord. The U-shaped slots are each formed in a locking element which is designed as a component which can be fastened to the housing in either of two different positions, the locking part being arranged on the locking element in such a way that, in one or other of the two different positions, it always interacts with one or the other of the pieces of cord hanging down.