CORDLESS HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR WINDOW COVERINGS

Abstract

A window covering can be configured to facilitate height adjustment of window covering material. In some embodiments, a wand may be utilized to help control adjustment of the position of the window covering material. For instance, in some embodiments a roller may be rotated via use of a wand to effect adjustment of the window covering material.

Claims

1. A window covering comprising: a first roller having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; window covering material connected to the first roller such that the window covering material is moveable between a first position and a second position, a first portion of the window covering material and a second portion of the window covering material being rolled up when the window covering material is in the second position, a third portion of the window covering material being located above the first and second portions of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the second position; a first mounting device coupled to the first roller adjacent to the first end of the first roller; a second mounting device coupled to the first roller adjacent to the second end of the second roller; a rotatable disc coupled to one of the first end and the second end such that rotation of the disc in a first direction drives rotation of the first roller in the first direction to wind the window covering material about the first roller and rotation of the disc in a second direction that is opposite the first direction drives rotation of the first roller in the second direction to unwind the window covering material from the first roller; an elongated wand coupled to the disc such that the elongated wand extends from the disc.

2. The window covering of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the window covering material is rolled up when the window covering material is in the first position and the second portion of the window covering material and the third portion of the window covering material are located above the first portion of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the first position; and wherein the second portion of the window covering material is located between the first portion of the window covering material and the third portion of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the first position of the window covering material.

3. The window covering of claim 2, comprising: a bottom rail attached to the first portion of the window covering material such that the window covering material encircles the bottom rail.

4. The window covering of claim 2, comprising: a bar or rod attached to the first portion of the window covering material such that the window covering material encircles the bar or rod.

5. The window covering of claim 1, comprising: a spring connected between the disc and the first roller to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction.

6. The window covering of claim 1, comprising: a spring connected within the first roller between the disc and the first roller, the spring configured to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction.

7. The window covering of claim 5, wherein the spring is configured such that a biasing force provided by the spring to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction is insufficient at driving rotation of the disc without an external rotational force being applied to the disc via the wand.

8. The window covering of claim 1, wherein the first roller is a shaft, a tube, an elongated member, or a bar.

9. The window covering of claim 1, wherein: the first mounting device is comprised of an annular body having a central opening, the first roller passing through the central opening of the body of the first mounting device; and the second mounting device is comprised of an annular body having a central opening, the first roller passing through the central opening of the body of the second mounting device.

10. The window covering of claim 9, wherein: the wand has a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably coupled to the disc so that the first end is rotatable relative to the disc when the disc rotates.

11. The window covering of claim 10, comprising: a spring connected between the disc and the first roller to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction.

12. The window covering of claim 11, wherein the spring is configured so that an amount of biasing force provided by the spring decreases as the disc is rotated in the first direction and the window covering material is wound upon the first roller and the amount of biasing force provided by the spring increases as the window covering material is unrolled from the first roller.

13. The window covering of claim 11, wherein the spring is a constant force spring.

14. The window covering of claim 10, comprising: a spring connected between the disc and the first roller to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction; the spring being configured so that an amount of biasing force provided by the spring decreases as the first roller is rotated in the first direction and the window covering material is wound upon the first roller and the amount of biasing force provided by the spring increases as the window covering material is unrolled from the first roller.

15. A method of adjusting a position of window covering material of a window covering from a first position to a second position, the method comprising: grasping a wand extending from a disc connected to an end of a first roller of the window covering; moving the wand to rotate the disc in a first direction to drive rotation of the first roller in a first direction to wind window covering material onto the first roller; stopping the moving of the wand to maintain the window covering material at the second position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the moving of the wand is performed such that the disc rotates relative to an upper end of the wand that is rotatably connected to the disc.

17. The method of claim 16, comprising: varying a biasing force of a spring connected between the first roller and the disc as the window covering material is wound upon the first roller.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising: lowering the window covering material such that window covering material unwinds from the first roller.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising: varying a biasing force of the spring as the window covering material is lowered.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: a first portion of the window covering material and a second portion of the window covering material are rolled up when the window covering material is in the second position and an unrolled third portion of the window covering material is located above the first and second portions of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the second position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Exemplary embodiments of the window covering and methods of making the same are shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that like reference numbers used in the drawings may identify like components.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of my window covering in an extended, or lowered, position.

[0027] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment of my window covering in a partially raised, or partially retracted, position.

[0028] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the first exemplary embodiment of my window covering illustrating an exemplary disc coupled to an exemplary first shaft adjacent a first end of the first shaft and a first mounting device while the window covering is in the extended, or lowered, position.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the first exemplary embodiment of my window covering illustrating an exemplary disc coupled to an exemplary first shaft adjacent a first end of the first shaft and a first mounting device while the window covering is in the partially raised, or retracted, position.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the first exemplary embodiment of my window covering illustrating an exemplary second end of the first and a second mounting device while the window covering is in the extended, or lowered, position.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the first exemplary embodiment of my window covering illustrating an exemplary disc coupled to an exemplary first shaft adjacent a first end of the first shaft and a first mounting device while the window covering is in the extended, or lowered, position.

[0032] FIG. 7 is another fragmentary view of the first exemplary embodiment of my window covering illustrating an exemplary disc coupled to an exemplary first shaft adjacent a first end of the first shaft and a first mounting device while the window covering is in the extended, or lowered, position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0033] As can be appreciated from FIGS. 1-7, embodiments of the window covering can include a height adjustment mechanism for controlling the raising and lowering of window covering material that permits the window covering material to be raised and lowered without use of lift cords passing through a cord lock and/or without use of any lift cords. In some embodiments, the window covering can be configured as a roll-up shade.

[0034] Embodiments of the window covering can be configured so that a window covering functions as a roll-up shade without the use of exposed looped lift cords as needed in a conventional roll-up shade. Such embodiments may also be configured to not utilize a cord lock, operator cord, electric motor, and/or spring motor for controlling the adjustment of the position of the window covering material.

[0035] For example, embodiments of my window covering 1 can have window covering material 2 that extends from a first rail 3. A top portion of the window covering material may be connected to the first rail. A bottom portion of the window covering material 2 may be connected to a second rail 4. The first rail 3 may be a headrail or the intermediate rail of a top down bottom up shade. The second rail 4 may be a bottom rail. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the second rail 4 may not be present.

[0036] The window covering material 2 can be moveable from a first position to a second position and may also be moveable to a number of other positions that may be located between the first and second positions. For instance, the window covering material 2 can be configured to be moveable between a fully extended position or a fully lowered position to a fully retracted position or a fully raised position and may also be moved to other positioned between the fully lowered and fully raised positions.

[0037] The window covering material 2 can be composed of any number of suitable materials, such as fabric, woven wood, woven bamboo, woven together polymeric slats (e.g. polyvinyl chloride (PVC) slats, etc.), or other type of window covering material. The width W of the window covering material may extend from a first side of the window covering material to a second opposite side of the window covering material. The first and second sides may extend along the length L of the window covering material from a top of the window covering material located adjacent the first rail 3 to a bottom of the window covering material located adjacent the bottom rail 4. The first rail 3 can be structured as a shaft, tube, bar, or other elongated member composed of metal, polymeric material, wood, or other type of material. The second rail 4 can also be structured as a shaft, tube, bar, or other type of elongated member composed of metal, polymeric material, wood, or other type of material.

[0038] The window covering material 2 can include a first portion 2a, a second portion 2b, and a third portion 2c. The third portion 2c may be located adjacent the first rail, the second portion 2b can be positioned between the first and third portions 2a and 2c. The first portion 2a can be the bottom portion of the window covering material. The window covering material 2 can be coupled to the first rail 3 such that when the window covering material 2 is raised, the first portion 2a of the window covering material rolls up about the bottom rail 4 or about the bottom of the window covering material. The second portion 2b can also be rolled up as the window covering material is moved from its fully extended position to a retracted position. The third portion 2c may be located above the rolled up portion as the window covering material is rolled up during raising of the window covering material. When the window covering material 2 is lowered, the second portion 2b and/or first portion 2a may be unrolled. In some partially extended or partially retracted positions of the window covering material 2, the first portion 2a may be rolled up while the second portion 2b and the third portion 2c is unrolled and located above the rolled up portion of the window covering material. Some embodiments may be configured so that when the window covering material is in a fully extended position, the first portion 2a may be unrolled. Other embodiments can be configured so that when the window covering material is at a fully extended position the first portion 2a may still be in a rolled up position.

[0039] The window covering can include a mechanism that is configured to permit manual rotation of a first rail 3. The first rail 3 may be configured as a roller 23 (e.g. a tube, a rod, a cylindrical elongated member, a rotatable elongated member, a rotatable shaft, etc.), that is connected to a first mounting device 24 adjacent a first end 23a of the roller and a second mounting device 25 adjacent a second end 23b of the roller that is opposite its first end 23a. The first and second mounting devices 24 and 25 can be configured as annular shaped mounting brackets that have a body defining an inner hole or opening through which the roller 23 passes through. In other embodiments, the first and second mounting devices 24 and 25 can be another type of mounting bracket. The mounting devices 24 and 25 can be configured to facilitating mounting of the first rail 23 adjacent a window via fastening the mounting devices to a window frame or other structure adjacent a window. One or more fasteners 26 (e.g. screws, nails, bolts, etc.) can be utilized to mount the first rail to that structure via the mounting devices. In some embodiments, each mounting device may have a body that has a moveable portion 24a or 25a that is pivotable about another portion of the body of the mounting device from an open position and a closed position. The moveable portion can be rotated to an open position to receive the roller within the inner opening defined by that body and can be moved to the closed position to fully encircle or substantially encircle the roller within the opening of the body. A fastener (e.g. a pin, bolt, screw, etc.) can be used to help lock the moveable body in its closed position by fastening the moveable portion to the other portion for defining the inner opening.

[0040] The first end 23a of the roller 23 can extend from the first mounting device 24 outwardly from that mounting device and have its terminal end coupled to a disc 27. The disc 27 can be coupled to the terminal end of the first end 23a to facilitate rotation of the roller 23 via rotation of the disc 27. For instance, the disc 27 can be coupled to the first end 23a so that rotation of the disc in a first rotational direction (e.g. clockwise or counter clockwise) can cause the roller 23 to rotate in that first rotational direction and rotation of the disc 27 in a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction (e.g. counter clockwise if the first rotational direction is clockwise or clockwise if the first rotational direction is counter clockwise) causes the roller 23 to rotate in that second rotational direction. Rotation of the roller 23 in the first rotational direction may cause the window covering material 2 to wind about the roller 23 to raise, or retract, the window covering material. Rotation of the roller 23 in the second rotational direction can cause the window covering material to unroll, or unwind, from the roller 23 to extend, or lower the window covering material. A wand 29 can be coupled to the disc 27 so that a user may grasp the want 29 to provide a force for driving rotation of the disc 27. For instance, a first end 29a of the wand 29 can be rotatably connected to the disc 27. The wand may extend downwardly from the disc 27 to its second end 29b. A user may grasp the wand 29 to provide a force for rotating the disc to raise or lower the window covering material 2.

[0041] The wand 29 can be rotatably connected to the disc at its first end 29a via a universal joint attachment, pivot pin attachment, or other type of rotatable attachment so that the wand may pivot relative to the disc 27 as the disc 27 is rotated and the first end of the wand 29 travels in a circular path via the rotation of the disc 27. This can permit the wand 29 to be easily grasped by a user as the wand's height changes as the disc 27 rotates due to the wand's connection to the disc.

[0042] For window covering material 2 that is of a significantly large size or otherwise of a substantial weight, the rotation of the roller 23 via wand 29 and disc 27 may require a substantial amount of force for a user to raise the window covering material. To help aid a user in providing the rotational force, at least one spring 28 (shown in broken line in FIG. 4) may be connected between the disc 27 and the roller 23 to provide a biasing force to bias the roller 23 and disc 27 to rotate in the first rotational direction. That biasing force may not be sufficient to cause the roller 27 to rotate without a force provided by a user on the wand 29 to drive rotation of the disc 27. But, the biasing fore can be enough to help facilitate rotation of the disc 27 in the first rotational direction so that a user only has to provide a force for a part of the weight of the window covering material instead of the entirety of the weight of the window covering material when raising the window covering material 2. Each spring can be located entirely within the roller 23 or may be at least partially within the roller 23. In some embodiments, a first end or side of the spring may be coupled to the roller 23 within the roller (e.g. within a channel or cavity of the roller) and the second end or side of the spring can be coupled to the disc 27 (e.g. a face of the disc 27 that faces toward to first end 23a of the roller 23).

[0043] In some embodiments, the spring and/or the connection of the spring between the roller 23 and the disc 27 can be configured as a variable force spring so that as the window covering material 2 is raised, the amount of biasing force provided by the spring decreases and so that as the window covering material is lowered, the amount of biasing force provided by the spring increases. In other embodiments, the spring and/or connection of the spring between the roller and the disc can be configured as a constant biasing force arrangement.

[0044] The window covering material 2 can be connected to a second rail 4 (e.g. a tube or a shaft or a bar, etc.) adjacent a bottom of that material to form a rolled up portion of the window covering material at the bottom of the window covering material. In other embodiments, the bottom portion of the window covering material may just be rolled up upon itself and attached together to form the rolled up portion. The bottom rolled up portion may be configured to facilitate an aesthetic appearance so that the window covering appears similar to a roll-up shade. In some embodiments, this rolled up bottom portion may not further roll-up upon itself as the shade material is raised or lowered.

[0045] It should be appreciated that embodiments of the window covering and method of making and using the window covering can vary to account for different design objectives. For example, the type of window covering material that is utilized may be any of a desired number of different types of material to provide a desired aesthetic effect and/or a desired insulative property. The material may be sheer, may be light filtering, may be light blocking, or may have other properties as well. As another example, the first rail 3 can be composed of a wood, be an extruded metal rail, or be a polymeric rail and also have any number of different structural shapes and configurations (e.g. an elongated beam, a bar, a rod, etc.). The first rail 3 may have an internal conduit defined therein, may have a channel, or may be a solid structure and have a cross section that is rounded, circular, oval, polygonal, or have another type of shape. In some embodiments, it is contemplated that the first rail 3 may have profiles or connector elements that are configured to receive portions of the clips or a portion of handle 5 so that the handle 5 or clips 7 can be attached to the first rail and extend from the first rail to the rolled up portion of window covering material and/or the second rail 4 when the window covering material is in a fully retracted position, fully raised position, or fully open position. As another example, the second rail 4 can be composed of a wood, be an extruded metal rail, or be a polymeric rail and also have any number of different structural shapes and configurations (e.g. an elongated beam, a bar, a rod, etc.). The second rail 4 may have an internal conduit defined therein, may have a channel, or may be a solid structure and have a cross section that is rounded, circular, oval, polygonal, or have another type of shape. Thus, while certain exemplary embodiments of window covering and methods of making and using the same have been shown and described above, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.