Self-raising window covering

A self-raising window covering, comprising:

• a head rail defining an elongated channel;
• a bottom member;
• a shade element suspended between the head rail and the bottom member;
• and
• a control mechanism mounted within the channel of the head rail,
• the control mechanism including:
• a drive axle operable to rotate under a substantially constant rotational force applied by a drive unit, wherein the operation of the drive axle is driven by the drive unit and substantially free of a lifting force by a user;
• at least one cord winding assembly mounted on the drive axle and including a winding portion having a first end with a first diameter and decreasing in diameter to a second end with a second diameter less than the first diameter;
• at least one raising cord having a first end and a second end, the first end being secured towards the first end of the winding portion and the second end connected with the bottom member;
• and
• a clutch member operatively connected with the drive axle and adapted to releasably block a rotation of the drive axle.

A self-raising window covering comprising:

• a head rail;
• a plurality of raising cords suspended from the head rail;
• a bottom member suspended from the head rail by the raising cords;
• a shade element suspended between the head rail and the bottom member;
• a clutch member operatively connected with a drive axle and adapted to releasably lock the drive axle;
• the head rail further comprising a control mechanism, the control mechanism including a drive unit adapted to supply a substantially constant rotational force on the drive axle and a cord winding assembly co-axially mounted on the drive axle, the cord winding assembly configured to translate the rotational force of the drive unit to a linear raising force on the raising cords;
• and
• wherein the linear raising force supplied by the drive unit is sufficient to fully raise the bottom rail and shade element substantially free of a lifting force from a user as the window covering is moved from a closed position to an open position.

A self-raising window covering comprising:

• a head rail;
• a plurality of raising cords suspended from the head rail;
• a bottom member suspended from the head rail by the raising cords;
• a shade element suspended between the head rail and the bottom member;
• a clutch member operatively connected with a drive axle and adapted to releasably lock the drive axle, the clutch member comprising a spring member adapted to releasably secure the position of the drive axle when in a tightened condition and to permit rotation of the drive axle when in a relaxed condition;
• the head rail further comprising a control mechanism, the control mechanism including a drive unit adapted to supply a substantially constant rotational force on the drive axle and a cord winding assembly co-axially mounted on the drive axle, the cord winding assembly configured to translate the rotational force of the drive unit to a linear raising force on the raising cords, wherein the linear raising force supplied by the drive unit is sufficient to fully raise the bottom rail and shade element substantially free of a lifting force from a user as the window covering is moved from a closed position to an open position;
• and
• a deceleration member engageable and in a co-axial relation with the cord winding assembly, the deceleration member providing a resistive force to the rotational force of the drive unit when the deceleration member is engaged with the cord winding assembly, and the rotational force of the drive unit greater than the resistive force of the deceleration member.