Framed covering for architectural opening

• US 6,328,090 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hunter Douglas Incorporated (Hunter Douglas N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Hunter Douglas Incorporated (Hunter Douglas N.V.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Richard N., Drew, Terrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Purol, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/687,334
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 160/107, 160/84.05, 160/84.06, 160/172.R, 160/344, 160/345, 160/167.R, 160/84.02, 160/9.D
• US Class Current: 160/84.05
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 7/30 Peep-holes; Devices for speaking through; Doors having windows
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/264 Combinations of lamellar blinds with roller shutters, screen windows, windows, or double panes; Lamellar blinds with special devices

Abstract

A framed covering for an architectural opening includes a collapsible shade that is moveable between open and closed positions relative to the architectural opening with the collapsible shade being mounted within an enclosed framework that is adapted to be secured to a structural member having the architectural opening therein. In one embodiment of a flexible control cord system moves the shade between open and closed positions, with the control cord system being conveniently positioned adjacent the frame for easy manipulation. In a second embodiment a finger slide on the frame drives a cord lift system for moving the covering between open and closed positions.

Claims

1. The combination of a frame, shade for architectural opening, and a control system for manipulating said shade within said frame,

said frame comprising a substantially rigid body having at least one passage therethrough and extending peripherally around said shade,

said shade being collapsible and moveable between a closed position wherein the shade substantially fills an area defined by said frame and an open position wherein said shade is collapsed adjacent to said frame, said shade further including a substantially rigid and vertically moveable top rail and said flexible control element is connected to said top rail at two spaced locations such that manipulation of said flexible control element causes the element to selectively lift said top rail to move said shade from its open to its closed position, said shade further including a substantially rigid bottom rail and further including anchor means for securing said bottom rail to said frame, and

wherein said control system includes at least one flexible control element secured to said shade and extending through said passage in said frame such that the control element can be manipulated from a location exteriorally of said area defined by said frame to move said shade between said open and closed positions.

2. The combination of a frame, a shade for an architectural opening, and a control system for manipulating said shade within said frame,

said frame comprising a substantially rigid body having at least one passage extending therethrough and extending peripherally around said shade,

said shade being collapsible and moveable between a closed position wherein the shade substantially fills an area defined by said shade and an open position wherein said shade is collapsed adjacent to said frame,

wherein said control system includes at least one flexible control element secured to said shade and extending through said passage in said frame such that the control element can be manipulated from a location exteriorally of said area defined by said frame to move said shade between said open and closed positions, and wherein said shade includes a substantially rigid bottom rail and anchor means for securing said bottom rail to said frame and a substantially rigid and vertically moveable top rail, and wherein said flexible control element is secured to said top rail and to said frame such that manipulation of said control element causes said top rail to be lifted vertically.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein gravity causes said top rail to be lowered vertically.

4. The combination of claim 3 further including stop means operatively connected to said flexible control element to prevent gravity from lowering said top rail.

5. A covering for an architectural opening comprising in combination:

a frame adapted to be positioned in said architectural opening,

a curtain mounted in said frame and adapted to be moved between a retracted position adjacent a side of the frame and an extended position across the architectural opening, and

an operating system for moving said curtain between the extended and retracted positions, said operating system including a linearly moveable manually operable operating element and a system for converting the linear movement to a rotational movement for moving said curtain between the extended and retracted positions,

said curtain being a collapsible curtain and said system including a rotationally moveable lift cord to lift the curtain in movement between the extended and retracted positions,

said operating system including a transfer system for converting linear movement of the operating element into rotational motion, and a cord operating system operatively connected to said transfer system for rotation thereby, said cord operating system including a spool around which said lift cord can be selectively wrapped when lifting said curtain, and

wherein said transfer system includes an endless belt that is operatively connected to a roller at the top of said frame for rotating said roller in response to movement of said belt and wherein said operating element is operatively connected to said endless belt to move said belt in response to said linear movement of the operating element, and wherein said cord operating system is operatively connected to said roller to selectively rotate said spool.

6. The covering of claim 5 wherein said spool has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of said roller.