Patent ID: 7571756
Filing Date: 2009-08-11
Classification: E06B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A top down/bottom up covering for an architectural opening comprising in combination: a generally cylindrical roller, a pair of end caps for supporting said roller for reversible rotation about a longitudinal axis, a reversibly rotatable drive member associated with said roller and a drive element for reversibly rotating said drive member to effect relative reversible rotation of said roller about said longitudinal axis, a flexible shade material having a top edge and a bottom edge, a top rail secured to said top edge of said shade material, a bottom rail secured to a bottom edge of said shade material, a first plurality of lift cords anchored at a top end to said roller and at a bottom end to said bottom rail, at least two reversibly rotatable spools mounted within said roller and operably connected to said drive member for selected rotation by said drive member, a second plurality of lift cords individually anchored at a top end to an associated one of said spools and at a bottom end to said top rail, said drive member including a non-circular shaft on which said spools are mounted for unitary rotation with said shaft, a threaded shaft mounted on said non-circular shaft for unitary rotation therewith, a first follower threadedly mounted on said threaded shaft and keyed to said roller for unitary rotation with said roller, and at least one abutment stop releasably positionable on said threaded shaft on at least one side of said first follower to limit threaded movement of said first follower along said threaded shaft in at least one direction and to prevent rotation of said non-circular shaft when in engagement with said at least one abutment stop, whereby rotation of said roller in a first direction will cause said top rail to engage said roller and cause said flexible material to be wrapped around said roller and rotation of said roller in an opposite direction will unroll said flexible material from said roller allowing said bottom rail to drop and will thereafter allow said top rail to drop.