A spring drive system for a window shade includes a housing, a first and a second gear engaged with each other and respectively assembled about a first and a second pivot axis, two springs respectively assembled at two opposite sides of the second gear and respectively connected with two take-up reels provided on the first gear, a first cord drum and a third gear fixedly connected with each other and assembled about a third pivot axis, the first and third gears being respectively located at different levels along the first and third pivot axes and respectively engaged with a first gear train, a second cord drum and a fourth gear fixedly connected with each other and assembled about a fourth pivot axis, the second and fourth gears being respectively located at different levels along the second and fourth pivot axes and respectively engaged with a second gear train.

A controller assembly includes a housing, first and second tube units, and first and second runners. Each of the first and second runners slides on a respective one of the first and second tube units when the respective one of the first and second tube units is driven to rotate. In response to sliding of the first runner to bring the first runner into abutment with the second runner, the first runner is prevented from sliding over the second runner, whilst impeding rotation of the first tube unit. In response to sliding of the second runner to bring the second runner into abutment with the first runner, the second runner is prevented from sliding over the first runner, whilst impeding rotation of the second tube unit.

A controller assembly includes a housing, first and second tube units, and first and second runners. Each of the first and second runners slides on a respective one of the first and second tube units when the respective one of the first and second tube units is driven to rotate. In response to sliding of the first runner to bring the first runner into abutment with the second runner, the first runner is prevented from sliding over the second runner, whilst impeding rotation of the first tube unit. In response to sliding of the second runner to bring the second runner into abutment with the first runner, the second runner is prevented from sliding over the first runner, whilst impeding rotation of the second tube unit.

An actuation assembly for a continuous looped operator includes a slide assembly configured to laterally slide in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, a first cord engagement member carried by the slide assembly, a second cord engagement member carried by the slide assembly, and a selector switch connected to the slide assembly, the selector switch receives a portion of the first cord engagement member and a portion of the second cord engagement member, the selector switch configured to move relative to the slide assembly between a first position and a second position.

Provided is a braking device configured to release a cord in a non-bent state so that the operation force required to pull cords is reduced and the behavior of slats is stabilized during an automatic fall, and a sunlight shielding device using the braking device. A braking device for braking movement of a cord includes a movement converter configured to convert movement of a cord into movement of another member. The movement converter includes sandwiching object configured to allow the cord to be sandwiched. The sandwiching object is configured to change a sandwiched state so that the cord is sandwiched by the sandwiching object when the cord and the sandwiching object move relatively in one direction and the cord is released in a non-bent state when the cord and the sandwiching object move relatively in another direction.

Provided is a braking device configured to release a cord in a non-bent state so that the operation force required to pull cords is reduced and the behavior of slats is stabilized during an automatic fall, and a sunlight shielding device using the braking device. A braking device for braking movement of a cord includes a movement converter configured to convert movement of a cord into movement of another member. The movement converter includes sandwiching object configured to allow the cord to be sandwiched. The sandwiching object is configured to change a sandwiched state so that the cord is sandwiched by the sandwiching object when the cord and the sandwiching object move relatively in one direction and the cord is released in a non-bent state when the cord and the sandwiching object move relatively in another direction.

A cord retractor for a window covering comprises a housing and a driving wheel, a reeling wheel, a spring, a friction member and a unidirectional transmission mechanism. The driving wheel and the reeling wheel can rotate with each other. The spring is coupled with the driving wheel and is wound on or unwound from the driving wheel according to a rotating direction of the driving wheel. The friction member is in a closed loop shape and surrounding a shaft of the housing. The unidirectional transmission mechanism is coupled with the friction member and the reeling wheel, and operated in different operation modes according to a rotating direction of the reeling wheel, by which the friction member provides constant resistance to the rotation of the reeling wheel when the reeling wheel rotates in a first direction, and stops providing resistance when the reeling wheel rotates in a second direction.

A cord retractor for a window covering comprises a housing and a driving wheel, a reeling wheel, a spring, a friction member and a unidirectional transmission mechanism. The driving wheel and the reeling wheel can rotate with each other. The spring is coupled with the driving wheel and is wound on or unwound from the driving wheel according to a rotating direction of the driving wheel. The friction member is in a closed loop shape and surrounding a shaft of the housing. The unidirectional transmission mechanism is coupled with the friction member and the reeling wheel, and operated in different operation modes according to a rotating direction of the reeling wheel, by which the friction member provides constant resistance to the rotation of the reeling wheel when the reeling wheel rotates in a first direction, and stops providing resistance when the reeling wheel rotates in a second direction.

A connector for coupling to a bead chain is disclosed. In use, the connector is arranged and configured so that the connector can pass over a bearing. In one example of an embodiment, the bearing is positioned in a tensioner so that the connector moves through the tensioner, which is operatively coupled to the bead chain. In one example embodiment, application of a force on the bead chain to move the covering between an extended position and a retracted position, self-orients the connector so that a top portion of the connector faces and/or contacts the bearing so that the connector smoothly passes across an exterior arcuate surface of the bearing. In one example embodiment, the top portion includes a curved surface to contact the curved surface of the bearing.

The invention to which this application relates is apparatus and a method for use with blinds and louvres, hereinafter referred to, in a non-limiting manner, as blinds and which includes roller blinds, roman blinds and Venetian blinds. The apparatus and method allows the free end of the blind to be selectively positioned and retained at a predetermined position intermediate the fully retracted and fully extended positions and to be retained at that position.