Retractable window covering having a length expanding stiffening rod

Retractable window covering, including:

• a support member adapted to be secured to a building surface;
• a flexible fabric panel having a first edge secured to the support member and a second edge depending downwardly;
• a weight bar attached to the second edge;
• a retraction mechanism associated with the support member for raising and lowering the weight bar and thereby retracting the fabric panel;
• the fabric panel being provided with at least one elongate pocket across its width, accommodating a length expanding stiffening rod;
• the stiffening rod comprising:
• an elongated member with an open end and a hollow interior, an elongated guiding element having a large outer diameter at one end slidably fitted within said hollow interior and a relatively smaller outer diameter at an opposite end protruding from said open end of said elongated member, a pair of magnets fitted on said relatively smaller outer diameter portion of said guiding element, at least one of said magnets being slidably fitted on said relatively smaller outer diameter portion, said guiding element having a resilient enlarged end at said relatively smaller outer diameter portion permitting said magnets to be fitted onto said guiding element and retained thereon by said enlarged end whereby said magnets bias said guiding element axially outwardly of said open end of said elongated member while allowing said guiding element to be yieldingly slid into said elongated member.