Skew adjustment mechanism for a window covering
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorRichard N. Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A skew adjustment mechanism is used for adjusting the length of a lift cord on a window covering. The lift cord extends from a lift spool at a first end to an anchor drum at a second end. A cord wrap post is provided between the lift spool and the anchor drum so that the lift cord can be wrapped around the cord wrap post to provide friction between the lift cord and the cord wrap post when the lift cord is taut in order to reduce the amount of holding force that is needed to prevent the anchor drum from rotating.
Claims21
A method for adjusting the skew of a covering including a rail, a cord wrap post, a lift cord extending from the rail and being wrapped around the cord wrap post, and a skew adjustment mechanism coupled to the lift cord, said method comprising:
- relieving a cord tension on the lift cord to reduce an amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post by moving the rail to a position closer to the cord wrap post;
- manipulating the skew adjustment mechanism while the cord tension on the lift cord is relieved to adjust an orientation of the rail;
- and
- reestablishing the cord tension on the lift cord to increase the amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post.
A method for assembling a covering including a fixed rail, a movable rail that is movable relative to the fixed rail, a lift spool provided in operative association with the movable rail, a lift cord, a cord wrap post, and a skew adjustment mechanism provided in operative association with the fixed rail, said method comprising:
- coupling a first portion of the lift cord to the lift spool;
- wrapping the lift cord at least once around the cord wrap post;
- coupling a second portion of the lift cord to the skew adjustment mechanism, the lift cord being wrapped around the cord wrap post at a location along a cord path of the lift cord defined between the lift spool and the skew adjustment mechanism;
- and
- selectively adjusting the skew adjustment mechanism to adjust a length of the lift cord defined between the movable rail and the fixed rail.
A method for adjusting the skew of a covering including a rail, a cord wrap post, a lift cord extending from the rail and being wrapped around the cord wrap post, and a skew adjustment mechanism coupled to the lift cord, said method comprising:
- relieving a cord tension on the lift cord to reduce an amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post;
- rotating a movable component of the skew adjustment mechanism while the cord tension on the lift cord is relieved such that a portion of the cord is unwound from or wound around the movable component with rotation of the skew adjustment mechanism in a manner that adjusts a length of the cord from an initial length to an adjusted length, the adjusted length of the lift cord being associated with a desired orientation of the rail;
- and
- reestablishing the cord tension on the lift cord to increase the amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.