Abstract:
A shade operating assembly includes a mounting subassembly, and a lift cord subassembly and a lift cord retraction subassembly connected thereto. The lift cord subassembly includes at least one lift cord for effecting movement of a shade by movement of a first end of the at least one lift cord, and a lift cord locking device activatable to selectively engage the at least one lift cord and inhibit further movement thereof. The lift cord retraction subassembly includes a retractor cord engaging the at least one lift cord, and a cord retracting device retracting the retractor cord to retract the first end of the lift cord toward the mounting subassembly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 13/454,078, filed on Apr. 23, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/478,484, filed on Apr. 23, 2011, the contents of which applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to shades that are moved via cords, and more particularly, to devices and methods for reducing the amount of such cords that hang free when not in use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Cord-operated shades, such a roman shades or venetian blinds, are extremely common. For example, many homes will include multiple shades as window treatments, for both functional and aesthetic purposes. The cord operation of such shades, usually to raise or lower them, is a very convenient feature, and the cord mechanism usually incorporate a locking device that is activatable to inhibit further movement of the cord, maintaining the shade in a desired position. 
     One well known difficulty associated with such shades concerns the free length of cord hanging from the shade. For example, when a roman shade or mini-blind is raised, a considerable length of cord will ordinarily be hanging from the locking device. In addition to being unsightly, this free length of cord can present a safety hazard for children and pets. Various mechanisms have been put forward to address this problem with varying degrees of success. However, further improvements are possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved shade operating assembly. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a shade operating assembly includes a mounting subassembly, and a lift cord subassembly and a lift cord retraction subassembly connected thereto. The lift cord subassembly includes at least one lift cord for effecting movement of a shade by movement of a first end of the at least one lift cord, and a lift cord locking device activatable to selectively engage the at least one lift cord and inhibit further movement thereof. The lift cord retraction subassembly includes a retractor cord engaging the at least one lift cord, and a cord retracting device retracting the retractor cord to retract the first end of the lift cord toward the mounting subassembly. 
     According to a method aspect, a method of reducing free lift cord length for a shade assembly includes engaging a lift cord with a retractor cord, and biasing the retractor cord in a retracted direction with a cord retracting device, such that, when the lift cord is not in use, the retractor cord retracts a free end of the lift cord upwardly. 
     The term “shade” is used herein to generically indicate a covering that is moveable by means of one or more cords. Non-limiting examples of shades include venetian blinds, pleated blinds, rolling blinds and roman shades. While shades are frequently employed as window treatments, the present invention is not necessarily limited with respect to the particular use of the shade. 
     These and other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the drawings and following detailed description of preferred embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic rear view of a shade operating assembly, including a mounting subassembly, a lift cord subassembly, a cord retraction subassembly and a cord stop bracket, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in a retracted state; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic rear view of the assembly of  FIG. 1 , in an extended state; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cord stop bracket of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic rear view of the shade operating assembly of  FIG. 1 , in use with a lowered shade; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic rear view of the shade operating assembly of  FIG. 1 , in use with a raised shade; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic rear view of a shade operating assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic rear view of a cord retraction assembly, according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is another schematic rear view of the cord retraction assembly of  FIG. 7 , in an alternate position; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of the cord retraction assembly of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic rear view of a cord retraction assembly, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic rear view of a shade operating assembly, according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are schematic perspective views of a cord stop bracket and a cord stop, according to a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic perspective view of a cord stop bracket, according to an additional embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic perspective view of a cord stop bracket, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIGS. 16 and 17  are schematic perspective views of a cord stop bracket and a cord collector, according to a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a shade operating assembly  10  includes a mounting subassembly  12 , a lift cord subassembly  14 , a cord retraction subassembly  16  and cord stop bracket  20 . The mounting subassembly  12  holds the lift cord and cord retraction subassemblies  14 ,  16  and the cord stop bracket  20 . The lift cord subassembly  14  is operable to move a shade and selectively lock the shade in a plurality of desired positions. The cord retraction subassembly  16  retracts the lift cord subassembly  14 , as will be described in greater detail below, with the cord stop bracket  20  limiting retraction. 
     The mounting subassembly  12  can also support the shade being operated by the operating assembly  10 , or the shade and the operating assembly  10  could use separate mounting components. Preferably, the mounting subassembly  12  includes a unitary head rail, although separate components could be used. In fact, in some embodiments, a window frame or other structural element could serve directly as a mounting subassembly. 
     The lift cord subassembly  14  includes one or more lift cords  22 , a cord locking device  24 , eyelets  26 , a cord stop  30  and a cord pull  32 . Movement of the lift cords  22  will effect movement of the shade, with free ends of the lift cords  22  being retracted toward the mounting subassembly  12  by the cord retraction subassembly  16 . The “free end” of a lift cord, as used herein, is the end which is extendable below the locking device  24 . 
     The cord locking device  24  selectively restricts movement of the lift cords  22 , allowing the shade to be secured in a desired position. Routing of the lift cord from the locking device  24  is performed by the eyelets  26  and/or pulleys or other cord guide structure. Interference between the cord stop  30  and the cord stop bracket  20  limits the retraction of the lift cords  22  by the cord retraction subassembly  16 . Where multiple lift cords  22  extend from the cord locking device  24 , the cord stop  30  is advantageously also a cord condenser, with only a single cord extending therefrom. The cord pull  32  facilitates grasping of the lift cord subassembly. 
     The cord retraction subassembly  16  includes a retractor cord  34 , a cord retracting device  36 , a cord collector  40  and retracting device mounting bracket  42 . The retractor cord  34  engages the lift cords  22  with the cord collector  40 . Advantageously, the cord collector  40  is a ring surrounding the lift cords  22 . Alternately, an end of the retractor cord  34  could be looped around the lift cords  22 . The cord retracting device  36 , supported by the mounting bracket  42 , retracts the retractor cord  34 , which in turn retracts the lift cords  22 . Preferably, the cord retracting device  36  is automatic winding cord reel. 
     The cord stop bracket  20  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ) is a C-shaped element with an upper limb  44  and a lower limb  46 . Advantageously, the cord locking device  24  is attached to the upper limb  44  and a lift cord opening  50  defined in the lower limb  46 . Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , free ends of the lift cords  22  are routed through the lift cord opening  50 . The cord stop  32  has a larger diameter than the lift cord opening  50 , such that the cord stop  32  will not pass therethrough. 
     In operation, when the lift cords  22  are not being pulled, free ends of the lift cords  22  are retracted (as in  FIG. 1 ) by engagement with the retractor cord  34 , which is pulled into the cord retracting device  36 . Preferably, the retracted lift cord lengths are drawn into an area behind an upper portion of the shade or within a header, where they are hidden from view together with most of the operating system  10 . In a typical mounting orientation, the retracted portion of the lift cords are drawn to the side resulting in an overall upward movement of the free ends. Movements of the free ends of the lift cords  22 , the retractor cord  34  and the cord retracting device  36  are indicated by arrows  52 ,  54 ,  56 , respectively. 
     When the lift cords  22  are pulled (as in  FIG. 2 ), the force of the pulling overcomes the force exerted by the cord retracting device  36 , the free ends lower and the lift cords  22  straighten. The cord locking device  24  can be disengaged with the straightened lift cords  22  and the shade re-positioned. Movements of the free ends of the lift cords  22 , the retractor cord  34  and the cord retracting device  36  are indicated by arrows  60 ,  62 ,  64 , respectively. Once the lift cords  22  are released, retraction will automatically as generally indicated in  FIG. 1 . 
     As will be appreciated from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , in which the shade operating assembly  10  is shown in connection with a shade  70 , retraction of the lift cords  22  occurs independently of the position of the shade  70 . In  FIG. 4 , the shade  70  is fully lowered, so only a relatively short length of the lift cords  22  is free for retracting. In  FIG. 5 , the shade  70  is fully raised, and a greater length of the lift cords  22  is retracted. The position of the cord retracting device  36  and the extended length of the retractor cord  34  are preferably selected to accommodate the different degrees of retraction required over the full range of shade  70  positions. 
     The foregoing embodiment is provided for exemplary and illustrative purposes; the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, in the foregoing embodiment, the lift cords  22  being retracted attach directly to the shade  70 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , the present invention is equally applicable to a shade operating assembly  10 A having a lift cord subassembly  14 A where a lift cord  22 A attaches to a roller  72 A or like intermediate structure. Operation of the lift cord  22 A will wind or unwind supplemental lift cords  74 A from the roller  72 A to move a shade. The lift cord described above in connection with the shade operating assembly  10 . Also lift cord subassemblies employing wands could be used. 
     In another example, a cord retracting device  36 B can be pivotably mounted to a retaining device mounting bracket  42 B so as to be pivotable about an axes parallel with ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ) and perpendicular to ( FIG. 9 ) a retractor cord winding axis. This pivotability can allow greater flexibility of use of a single design of a cord retraction subassembly  16 B within different shade operating assemblies. Additionally, the cord retracting device  36 B can be equipped with a tension adjustment  76 B, to adjust the speed and force of retraction. 
     Also, referring to  FIG. 10 , rather than the ring-shaped cord collector  16 , a cord retraction assembly  16 C could include a cord collector  40 C incorporating a pulley. Referring to  FIG. 11 , a cord retraction assembly  16 D incorporates a retractor cord enclosure  78 D through which the retractor cord  34 D passes between the cord retracting device  36 D and the lift cords  22 D. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , in an alternate cord stop bracket  20 E, another lift cord opening  80 E is defined in a middle limb  82 E, aligned with the lift cord opening  50 E. The cord collector engages the lift cord between these openings to prevent interference between the cord collector and the cord locking device  24 E. To enhance operability of the cord locking device  24 E, it can be pivotably mounted to the cord stop bracket  20 E. To increase the initial pull required to straighten the lift cord, a magnet  84 E can be arranged on the stop bracket  20 E that is attracted to another magnet  86 E in the cord stop  30 E ( FIG. 13 ). To improve lift cord routing, a cord guide  90 E can extend downwardly from around the lift cord opening  50 E. 
     In another cord stop bracket  20 F ( FIG. 14 ), the lower limb  46 F can be pivotable for greater flexibility where the lift cord needs to tend downward at a sharper angle from the cord locking device  24 F. In the stop bracket  20 G ( FIG. 15 ), cord routing is improved by defining an edge of the lift cord opening  50 G with a roller  92 G. 
     Additionally, functional of advantages of the present invention can be readily achieved in existing shades by retrofitting components into shade operating systems thereof. For example, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , if a shade already has a shade operating system with a lift cord subassembly like the lift cord subassembly  14 , the shade operating system can be made to retract by retrofitting in the cord retraction subassembly  10  and the stop bracket  20 , and if necessary, a cord stop  30 . To ensure proper alignment the cord locking device  24  can be secured to the stop bracket  20  above the lift cord opening (see also  FIG. 15 ). 
     System components can be modified to facilitate this retrofitting. For instance, referring to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , lift cord access slots  94 H are defined in the cord stop bracket  20 H and the cord collector  94 H. The lift cord access slots  94 H allow the lift cord or cords to readily inserted into the lift cord opening  50 H of the bracket  20 H and into the cord collector  94 H from sides thereof without the need to de-cord the existing shade being retrofitted. 
     The foregoing are not intended to be an exhaustive list of modifications to the present invention. Rather, those skilled in the art will appreciate that these and other modification, as well as adaptations to particular circumstances, will fall within the scope of the invention as shown and described, and of the claims appended hereto.