Patent ID: 6116322
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
A control system for a covering for an architectural opening wherein the covering includes a plurality of vertically oriented covering segments adapted to be moved horizontally between an extended position wherein the segments are distributed across the architectural opening and a retracted position wherein the segments are horizontally stacked adjacent to at least one side of the architectural opening, said control system comprising in combination:an elongated headrail adapted to extend across the architectural opening, said headrail having a length;a pantograph system mounted in said headrail, said pantograph system including two sets of releasably connected links, said two sets including a set of female links and a set of male links, wherein there is an equal number of female and male links, with said female links being parallel with each other and having uniformly arranged first ends and second ends, and, said male links being parallel with each other but not with said female links, said male links having uniformly arranged first ends and second ends, each said male link having three laterally compressible pins, including two end pins and one center pin, protruding from and substantially evenly spaced along one of its sides, and each of said female links having three evenly-spaced corresponding holes therethrough including two end holes and a center hole, each of said holes having a frustoconical surface, and wherein each of said female links is paired with one of said male links forming a plurality of link pairs including a first link pair and an adjacent link pair, wherein said first link pair comprises a first male link and a first female link and said adjacent link pair comprises a second male link and a second female link, wherein said center pin of said first male link is releasably connected to said center hole of said first female link, and said center pin of said second male link is releasably connected to said center hole of said second female link, and where said first link pair is releasably connected to said adjacent link pair by connecting said end pin on said first end of said first male link to said end hole on said second end of said second female link, and by connecting said end pin on said second end of said second male link to said end hole on said first end of said first female link;a plurality of carriers adapted to support the covering segments, said carriers operatively supported and interconnected by said female links of said pantograph system, wherein said female links further include at least one opening between said center hole and one of said two end holes, and wherein each of said carriers includes a protrusion that is pivotally connected to one of said at least one openings in said female links; andan operating mechanism connected to said carriers for moving said carriers along said length of said headrail.