A manually-operated window treatment system includes a roller tube, a covering material, and a chain (e.g., a semi-rigid chain). The roller tube is supported at opposed ends thereof. The covering material is attached to the roller tube. The covering material is operable between a raised position and a lowered position via rotation of the roller tube. The chain is configured to be operated by a user to rotate the roller tube. The chain has a first minimum bend radius when bent in a first direction and a second minimum bend radius when bent in a second direction. The first minimum bend radius is less than the second minimum bend radius.

A window shade system may comprise a drive hub having a dampener comprised of dampening material, wherein the drive hub engages with at least one of a shade tube or a brake hub. The dampener may include one or more tabs that engage the brake hub. The dampener may be configured to dampen the torque from a spinning of the shade tube. The dampener may be comprised of urethane. The dampener may be incorporated onto an outside surface of the drive hub. The dampener may be located within the drive hub. The drive hub may be in the form of a cap that fits over the dampener. The drive hub may include rounded corners. The dampener may be configured in the form of one or more cylindrical rods.

A blind having a blind operating mechanism and a blind control element and having an enclosure for the blind control element, with the element completely enclosed, a connector supporting the enclosure on the blind, and depending downwardly, and an opening disposed by the enclosure to permit access to the blind control element, and a closure to permit access to the opening in one position and bar access to the opening in a second position.

Methods and apparatus to control architectural opening covering assemblies are disclosed herein. An architectural covering assembly including an architectural covering; a tube to which the architectural covering is coupled; a manual controller operatively coupled to the tube to rotate the tube; a motor including a motor housing and a motor shaft; and a clutch assembly including a clutch and a clutch housing in which the clutch is disposed, the motor shaft coupled to the clutch and the clutch coupled to the manual controller to hold the motor shaft substantially stationary when the architectural covering is moved under an influence of the motor to cause the motor housing to rotate with the clutch housing and the tube.

A curtain controller structure includes a fixing seat, an assembling seat having an accommodation space formed between the fixing seat and the assembling seat. The assembling seat includes a first chamber. A bead chain disc is disposed in the accommodation space. A first driving assembly is disposed in the first chamber of the assembling seat and has a first driving unit and a second driving unit. A traction string is connected to the first driving unit or the second driving unit of the first driving assembly and the bead chain disc.

A blind having a blind operating mechanism and a blind control element and having an enclosure for the blind control element, with the element completely enclosed, a connector supporting the enclosure on the blind, and depending downwardly, and a drive device at the lower end of the enclosure for operating the element.

A door braking system includes: a shaft; a brake pad configured to be mounted to the shaft; a plate for mounting on the shaft adjacent to the brake pad; a spring for urging the plate to the brake pad, the spring configured to be mounted on the shaft; a nut dimensioned and sized to be mounted on the shaft for adjusting an amount of force the spring urges the plate against the brake pad. A method of applying variable amount of braking force to a door includes: attaching a brake pad and brake plate to a shaft; configuring a spring to urge the brake plate against the brake pad; mounting an adjustment piece to the shaft; and configuring the adjustment piece to move axially on the shaft as the shaft rotates to thereby vary a force the spring urges against the brake plate.

A manual drive assembly for a manually-operated window treatment based on a drive chain formed as a loop, may incorporate one or more intermediate tensioners disposed between two ends of the loop. The loop may be formed between a manual clutch mechanism coupled to the window treatment and an end tensioner. The one or more intermediate tensioners may serve to limit slack in the loop such that sides of the loop cannot be pulled to create a large loop, for example, having a gap of four inches or greater, between the hanging sides of the cord.

A control device for coupling with a shaft of a window blind and controlling rotation of the shaft includes first and second ratchet seats, a spool assembly operable to rotate in unwinding and winding directions, a tubular case, an output unit coupled with the shaft, and a transmission unit operable to be shifted between a transmitting state to have a torque transmitted to the output unit, and a non-transmitting state to interrupt the torque transmission. Each ratchet seat has a surrounding groove and teeth. Balls are rollably engaged in the surrounding groove and the spool assembly for permitting rotation of the first ratchet seat with the spool assembly in the unwinding direction, and not to rotate the first ratchet seat in the winding direction.

An adjustable door braking system includes a shaft, a brake pad configured to be mounted to the shaft, a plate for mounting on the shaft adjacent to the brake pad, a spring for urging the plate to the brake pad, an adjustment piece, and a seat. The spring is configured to be mounted on the shaft. The adjustment piece is dimensioned and sized to be mounted on the shaft for adjusting an amount of force the spring urges the plate against the brake pad. The seat allows the adjustment piece to move axially along the shaft and limit the adjustment piece from rotating with the shaft. The seat is movable between an engaged position where it contacts the adjustment piece to prevent rotation of the adjustment piece and a disengaged position where it does not contact the adjustment piece.