Cover for architectural openings

{
  "publication_number": "US9752380B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Cover for architectural openings",
  "abstract": "A cord wrapping mechanism converts linear motion to circular motion for use in coverings for architectural openings. The cord is guided onto a spool.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A covering for an architectural opening, comprising: an extendable material movable from an extended position for covering the opening to a retracted position for uncovering the opening; a drive spool mounted for rotation and operatively connected to a lift spool, with said lift spool being operatively connected to said extendable material, said drive spool configured to rotate in a first direction about a fixed axis of rotation to rotate said lift spool and extend said extendable material, said drive spool configured to rotate in a second direction about said fixed axis of rotation to rotate said lift spool and retract said extendable material, said drive spool and said lift spool being housed in a fixed rail; a drive cord having first and second ends, said first end of said drive cord being coupled to said drive spool, said drive cord extending from said drive spool, through a fixed cord emanation point, and then to said second end at a location outside of said fixed rail; and a compound arcuate guide surface which guides said drive cord between said drive spool and said cord emanation point; wherein: said guide surface projects radially outwardly away a greater distance from said drive spool where said guide surface is axially aligned with said cord emanation point and tapers to be a smaller radial distance away from said drive spool as an axial distance from said cord emanation point increases; pulling on said second end of said drive cord operates said drive spool; and said drive spool has a tapered cord-receiving surface having a larger diameter at a first axial position than at a second axial position.",
    "2. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 1, wherein said cord-receiving surface of said drive spool has different angles of taper at different axial positions.",
    "3. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 1, wherein: said second end of said drive cord is free; and a tassel weight is coupled to said second end.",
    "4. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 1, and further comprising means for providing tension on said drive cord.",
    "5. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for providing tension includes a tassel weight coupled to said second end of said drive cord.",
    "6. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 1, wherein said guide surface is shaped such that said drive cord is oriented at an angle between 80 and 100 degrees relative to said fixed axis of rotation of said drive spool as said drive cord winds around and unwinds from said cord-receiving surface.",
    "7. A covering for an architectural opening, comprising: an extendable material movable from an extended position for covering the opening to a retracted position for uncovering the opening; a drive spool mounted for rotation and operatively connected to a lift spool, with said lift spool being operatively connected to said extendable material, said drive spool configured to rotate in a first direction about a fixed axis of rotation to rotate said lift spool and extend said extendable material, said drive spool configured to rotate in a second direction about said fixed axis of rotation to rotate said lift spool and retract said extendable material; a drive cord having first and second ends, said first end of said drive cord being coupled to said drive spool, said drive cord extending from said drive spool and through a cord emanation point, and then to said second end at a location outside of said fixed rail; and a compound arcuate guide surface which guides said drive cord between said drive spool and said cord emanation point; wherein said guide surface is shaped such that said drive cord is oriented at an angle between 80 and 100 degrees relative to said fixed axis of rotation of said drive spool as said drive cord winds around and unwinds from said drive spool.",
    "8. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 7, wherein said drive spool has a tapered cord-receiving surface having a larger diameter at a first axial position than at a second axial position.",
    "9. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 8, wherein said cord-receiving surface of said drive spool has different angles of taper at different axial positions.",
    "10. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 7, wherein said guide surface projects radially outwardly away a greater distance from said drive spool where said guide surface is axially aligned with said cord emanation point and tapers to be a smaller radial distance away from said drive spool as an axial distance from said cord emanation point increases.",
    "11. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 7, and further comprising means for providing tension on said drive cord.",
    "12. A covering for an architectural opening as recited in claim 11, wherein said means for providing tension includes a tassel weight coupled to said second end of said drive cord."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/889,409, filed May 8, 2013, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/983,912, filed Jan. 4, 2011, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/332,692, filed Jan. 13, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of PCT application PCT/US 04/22694 filed Jul. 15, 2004, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/448,208, filed Jul. 16, 2003, all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.\n\nThe present invention relates to a cord drive which can be used for opening and closing or tilting coverings for architectural openings such as Venetian blinds, pleated shades, vertical blinds, other expandable materials, and other mechanical devices. Typically, a blind transport system will have a head rail which both supports the blind and hides the mechanisms used to raise and lower or open and close the blind. Such a blind system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,503, Modular Transport System for Coverings for Architectural Openings, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In the typical top/down product, the raising and lowering of the blind is done by a lift cord or lift cords suspended from the head rail and attached to the bottom rail (also referred to as the moving rail or bottom slat). The opening and closing of the blind is typically accomplished with ladder tapes (and/or tilt cables) which run along the front and back of the stack of slats. The lift cords usually run along the front and back of the stack of slats or through holes in the middle of the slats.",
  "cpc": [
    "E06B 9/322",
    "B65G 1/00",
    "E06B 2009/3225",
    "E06B 2009/3227",
    "E06B 2009/807",
    "E06B 9/262",
    "E06B 9/324",
    "E06B 9/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G /",
    "E06B 9/262",
    "E06B 9/322",
    "E06B 9/324",
    "E06B 9/80"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "HUNTER DOUGLAS"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "ANDERSON RICHARD",
    "FISHER ROBERT E",
    "FRASER DONALD E",
    "HAARER STEVEN R"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-04-03",
  "publication_date": "2017-09-05",
  "grant_date": "2017-09-05",
  "priority_date": "2003-07-16",
  "application_number": "US-201514677987-A",
  "family_id": "34102756",
  "citations": [
    "US13251A",
    "US2001035269A1",
    "US2002050539A1",
    "US337043A",
    "US3460601A",
    "US5133399A",
    "US5699847A",
    "US6129131A",
    "US6325131B1",
    "US7886803B2",
    "US8459328B2",
    "US8997827B2",
    "US926911A"
  ]
}