Adjustable lift cord anchor for movable rails in coverings for architectural openings
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorJeffrey L. Spray
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable anchor for anchoring a lift cord in a movable rail of a covering for an architectural opening includes a housing which is releasably positionable interiorly of the movable rail in alignment with a lift cord for the covering with the anchor including a rotatable drum within the housing and around which the lift cord can be wrapped or unwrapped by rotating movement of the drum with a tool. Two distinct systems are provided for releasably securing the drum in any selected position to retain the amount of lift cord wrapped therearound with the two system acting in mutually perpendicular planes for reliable anchoring of the lift cord.
Claims20
A covering for an architectural opening comprising:
- a headrail;
- a shade material suspended from the headrail;
- a rail operably connected to an edge of the shade material;
- a control system operatively associated with the headrail, the control system including a plurality of flexible lift elements operably connected to and supporting the rail, the lift elements being manipulated by the control system to adjust the effective length of the lift elements whereby the spacing of the rail from the headrail can be adjusted;
- and
- a connector operably connected to the rail and adjustably connected to one of the lift elements, the connector including
- a housing selectively positionable and operably connected to the rail;
- a rotatable drum rotatably seated within a portion of the housing;
- and
- a first catch system and a second catch system, wherein the two catch systems hold the drum in a position relative to the housing;
- wherein
- a position of the connector along a length of the connected lift element is variable and the spacial orientation and position of the rail is determined by location of the connector to the connected lift element.
An anchor for selectively securing a lift cord for a covering for an architectural opening, comprising:
- a housing configured to be operably connected to a rail operably connected to the covering, the housing including a receiving recess defined in a main body;
- and
- a drum rotatably received within the receiving recess and configured to be operably connected to the lift cord, the drum including
- a first set of engagement members extending in first plane;
- and
- a second set of engagement members extending in a second plane;
- wherein
- rotation of the drum selectively rotates the lift cord around a portion of the drum;
- and
- the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the second plane.
The anchor of claim 9, wherein the drum further includes a sidewall extending from a bottom surface, wherein the lift cord is configured to wrap around at least a portion of the sidewall and the first set of engagement members are defined on an upper edge of the sidewall.
A covering for an architectural opening comprising:
- a head rail;
- a shade operably connected to the head rail;
- a rail operably connected to the shade;
- an operating element operably connected to the shade and configured to transition the shade between an extended position and a retracted position;
- and
- an anchor operably connected the rail and the operating element, the anchor including
- a housing operably connected to the rail operably, the housing including a receiving recess defined in a main body;
- and
- a drum rotatably received within the receiving recess and operably connected to the operating element, the drum including
- a first set of engagement members extending in first plane;
- and
- a second set of engagement members extending in a second plane;
- wherein
- rotation of the drum selectively rotates the operating cord around a portion of the drum;
- and
- the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the second plane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.