Decorative rotatable drive element for moving a window covering

A motorized drapery system, comprising:

• a rotating drive element having a twisted non-circular cross-sectional shape;
• a shade material;
• and
• a driver ring engaging the rotating drive element, the driver ring having an opening comprising a first open area receiving the rotating drive element and a second open area below the rotating drive element, the second open area being configured to receive the rotating drive element and allow the driver ring to move along the rotating drive element without rotating about the rotating drive element, the driver ring further including a connection member supporting the shade material.

A method of operating a motorized drapery system, the step method comprising:

• providing a drive element having a twisted non-circular cross-sectional shape;
• operatively connecting a curtain to the drive element using a plurality of rings;
• closing the curtain by rotating the drive element in a first rotational direction;
• opening the curtain by rotating the drive element in a second rotational direction, wherein the plurality of rings includes at least one driver ring having a first open area having a shape that corresponds to at least a portion of the twisted non-circular cross-sectional shape of the drive element and a second open area configured to receive the drive element to allow the driver ring to disengage from the drive element and move along the drive element without rotating.

A method of manufacturing a motorized drapery system, the method comprising:

• providing a drive element extending a length between opposing ends, the drive element having a non-circular cross-sectional shape that is generally constant along the length of the drive element;
• twisting a first section of the drive element in a first rotational direction thereby forming a drive element having a twisted non-circular cross-sectional shape;
• and
• providing a driver ring having an opening with a first open area having a shape that corresponds to at least a portion of the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the drive element and a second open area configured to receive the drive element to allow the driver ring to disengage from the drive element and move along the drive element without rotating with respect to the drive element;
• and
• providing a shade and attaching the shade to the driver ring.

A motorized drapery system, comprising:

• a rotating drive element having a substantially non-circular cross-sectional shape;
• a shade material;
• and
• a driver ring engaging the rotating drive element;
• the driver ring having a connection member supporting the shade material;
• the driver ring having a holder;
• the holder having a shape that corresponds to the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the drive element;
• the holder having an opening comprising a first open area receiving the rotating drive element and a second open area below the rotating drive element, the second open area being configured to receive the rotating drive element and allow the driver ring to move along the rotating drive element without rotating about the rotating drive element, the driver ring further including a connection member configured to facilitate a connection to the shade material;
• wherein when the drive element rotates, the engagement between the non-circular cross-sectional shape of the drive element drives the ring along a length of the drive element thereby moving the shade material along the rotating drive element.

A motorized drapery system, comprising:

• a rotating drive element having a non-circular cross-sectional shape having a plurality of flat sides;
• and
• a driver ring having a holder with flat sides engaging at least some of the flat sides of the plurality of flat sides of the rotating drive element;
• the driver ring having a connection member connected to a curtain so that as the rotating drive element rotates the connection member translates in a direction parallel to the rotating drive element, the driver ring having an open area configured to receive the rotating drive element and allow the driver ring to move along the rotating drive element without having to rotate relative to the rotating drive element.