A retractable barrier system for inhibiting access to designated private and public areas both indoors and outdoors, including by way of example but not limitation, retail and warehouse aisles and the like, includes a flexible screen retractable and extensible from a rotatable rod coupled to a mounting member, the mounting member having an attachment mechanism for coupling with a receiving member, wherein a winding mechanism is coupled to the rotatable rod for retractably receiving and extending the flexible screen, the flexible screen is comprised of material having a sufficient modulus of elasticity to promote substantially smooth retractably receiving thereof and may further include tapering between ends thereof, and the winding mechanism may include a guide member having a surface of sufficient diameter oriented substantially perpendicular to the flexible screen to guide the flexible screen upon retractably receiving the screen.

A retractable barrier system for inhibiting access to designated private and public areas both indoors and outdoors, including by way of example but not limitation, retail and warehouse aisles and the like, includes a flexible screen retractable and extensible from a rotatable rod coupled to a mounting member, the mounting member having an attachment mechanism for coupling with a receiving member, wherein a winding mechanism is coupled to the rotatable rod for retractably receiving and extending the flexible screen, the flexible screen is comprised of material having a sufficient modulus of elasticity to promote substantially smooth retractably receiving thereof and may further include tapering between ends thereof, and the winding mechanism may include a guide member having a surface of sufficient diameter oriented substantially perpendicular to the flexible screen to guide the flexible screen upon retractably receiving the screen.

A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller, a shade, and an assembly associated with the roller. The assembly may include a biasing element and a retention element. The biasing element may be operably associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller. The biasing element may be preloaded. The retention element may be associated with the biasing element. The retention element may be operable to release the preload in the biasing element at an extended shade position.

A covering for an architectural opening is provided. The covering may include a roller, a shade, and an assembly associated with the roller. The assembly may include a biasing element and a retention element. The biasing element may be operably associated with the roller to selectively rotate the roller. The biasing element may be preloaded. The retention element may be associated with the biasing element. The retention element may be operable to release the preload in the biasing element at an extended shade position.

A braking device for an automatic winding type screen device that stably brakes the automatic winding of a screen regardless of the temperature. The braking device comprises: a housing that is provided inside a winding shaft so as to be able to turn with the winding shaft to wind up a screen; a sleeve that is inserted into the housing and is mounted to a bracket so as not to be able to turn; and a mobile element that can rotate with the housing. A first spring and a second spring are provided on the outer side of the sleeve so as to have the mobile element therebetween. The mobile element twists forward on the sleeve along with rotation of the housing, and biasing forces of the first spring and the second spring that expand and contact with the forward twist of the mobile element brakes the rotation of the winding shaft.

The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.

The present invention advantageously provides a motorized roller shade that includes a shade tube, a motor/controller unit and a power supply unit. The motor/controller unit is disposed within the shade tube, and includes a bearing, rotatably coupled to a support shaft, and a DC gear motor. The output shaft of the DC gear motor is coupled to the support shaft such that the output shaft and the support shaft do not rotate when the support shaft is attached to the mounting bracket.

The invention refers to a pull cord arrangement for a roller blind or a venetian blind, comprising a winding element (4) arranged to be connected to a blind (6) such that the blind (6) is released or wound in response to a rotational movement of the winding element (4) about a rotational axis; a connecting element (28) coupled to the winding element (4) to rotate together with the winding element (4); and a pull cord (50) engaging the connecting element (28) so as to control the rotation of the connecting element (28) and thus the winding element (4) as the pull cord (50) is operated.

The invention refers to a pull cord arrangement for a roller blind or a venetian blind, comprising a winding element (4) arranged to be connected to a blind (6) such that the blind (6) is released or wound in response to a rotational movement of the winding element (4) about a rotational axis; a connecting element (28) coupled to the winding element (4) to rotate together with the winding element (4); and a pull cord (50) engaging the connecting element (28) so as to control the rotation of the connecting element (28) and thus the winding element (4) as the pull cord (50) is operated.

A window covering can be configured to facilitate height adjustment of window covering material. In some embodiments, a handle or clips may be utilized to help maintain the position of the window covering material so that the use of an operator cord and/or exposed lift cords can be avoided or minimized.