Covering with lift strap-based leveling shims and related methods
AssigneeLevolor Corporation
InventorMichael Jay Schulman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one aspect, a covering for an architectural structure includes a headrail, a bottom rail, and first and second lift straps extending between the headrail and the bottom rail. The covering also includes first and second lift spools rotatable to spool up the first and second lift straps, respectively, as the bottom rail is being moved relative to the headrail. The first lift strap winds on top of itself as the first lift strap is spooled onto the first lift spool, and the second lift strap winds on top of itself as the second lift strap is spooled onto the second lift spool. In addition, the covering includes a leveling shim provided in association with the first lift strap to provide a localized increase in an effective thickness of the first lift strap.
Claims23
A covering for an architectural structure, the covering comprising:
- a headrail;
- a bottom rail;
- first and second lift straps extending between the headrail and the bottom rail;
- first and second lift spools rotatable to spool up the first and second lift straps, respectively, as the bottom rail is being moved relative to the headrail, the first lift strap winding on top of itself as the first lift strap is spooled onto the first lift spool, the second lift strap winding on top of itself as the second lift strap is spooled onto the second lift spool;
- a leveling shim installed or applied onto an outer surface of the first lift strap, the leveling shim being configured to provide a localized increase in an effective thickness of the first lift strap so as to effect an increase in a spooled diameter of the first lift strap as the bottom rail is being moved relative to the headrail,
- wherein the leveling shim differs in material from a material forming the outer surface of the first lift strap.
A covering for an architectural structure, the covering comprising:
- a headrail;
- a bottom rail;
- first and second lift straps extending between the headrail and the bottom rail;
- first and second lift spools rotatable to spool up the first and second lift straps, respectively, as the bottom rail is being moved relative to the headrail, the first lift strap winding on top of itself as the first lift strap is spooled onto the first lift spool, the second lift strap winding on top of itself as the second lift strap is spooled onto the second lift spool;
- a leveling shim provided in association with the first lift strap, the leveling shim being configured to provide a localized increase in an effective thickness of the first lift strap so as to effect an increase in a spooled diameter of the first lift strap as the bottom rail is being moved relative to the headrail.
A rail leveling method for use with a covering for an architectural structure, the covering comprising a headrail, a bottom rail, first and second lift straps extending between the headrail and the bottom rail, and first and second lift spools coupled to the first and second lift straps, respectively, the first lift strap configured to wind on top of itself as the first lift strap is spooled onto the first lift spool, the second lift strap configured to wind on top of itself as the second lift strap is spooled onto the second lift spool, the method comprising:
- moving the bottom rail to a raised position relative to the headrail;
- identifying that the bottom rail has a skewed orientation when at the raised position, the skewed orientation being characterized by the first lift strap defining an effective length that is greater than an effective length of the second lift strap;
- moving the bottom rail to a lowered position relative to the headrail;
- and
- operatively associating at least one leveling shim with the first lift strap to provide a localized increase in an effective thickness of the first lift strap such that the effective length of the first lift strap will be increased when the bottom rail is subsequently moved back to the raised position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.