Abstract:
A headrail including a detachable battery holder for powered coverings for architectural openings is disclosed. The headrail comprises a housing defining an interior into which a battery magazine is removably mounted. In this manner, the batteries are hidden within the headrail for a more aesthetically pleasing look than can be achieved when the batteries are mounted outside of the headrail. The housing may include one or more small slots into which corresponding tabs on end caps mounted on the ends of the battery magazine may be inserted. The housing may also include a larger opening through which batteries may be inserted into or extracted from the battery magazine while it is mounted in the housing. Further, the housing may include one or more elongated openings for cooling, or through which installed batteries may be inspected, or into which tools may be inserted to move the batteries that are installed in the battery magazine.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related and claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/138,743, filed Jun. 11, 1999, and entitled “Headrail Including a Detachable Battery Holder for Powered Coverings for Architectural Openings.” It is also related and claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/115,393, filed Jan. 11, 1999, and entitled “Window Blind with Motorized Tilt Control”; and U.S. provisional Ser. No. 60/126,104, filed Mar. 25, 1999, and entitled “Motorized Blind.” The present application is also related to U.S. utility application Ser. No. 09/480,913, filed Jan. 11, 2000, entitled “Headrail Including a Trap Door for Accessing Batteries for Powered Coverings for Architectural Openings”; U.S. utility application Ser. No. 09/480,913, filed Jan. 11, 2000, entitled “System for Holding Batteries in a Headrail for Powered Coverings for Architectural Openings”; 09/481,746, filed Jan. 11, 2000, entitled “Fiber Optic Cable, Signal-Receiving System”; and 09/481,307, filed Jan. 11, 2000, entitled “Headrail and Control System for Powered Coverings for Architectural Openings,” all of which are being filed concurrently herewith. Each of these related applications (namely, the &#39;743, &#39;393, &#39;104, &#39;913, &#39;912, &#39;746, and &#39;307 applications) is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention is directed toward a headrail for a powered covering for an architectural opening. More specifically, it relates to a headrail for a battery-powered adjustable covering for an architectural opening. 
     b. Background Art 
     It is well known to use adjustable coverings over architectural openings. Such adjustable coverings include cellular panels, Venetian blinds, and many other mechanisms for controlling the passage of light, vision, or air through the architectural openings. For example, cellular panels and Venetian blinds may be adjusted by retracting or extending them, and Venetian blinds may be adjusted by tilting the slats. Depending upon the specific type of mechanism, other adjustments are possible. 
     It is also known in the art to power these adjustable coverings. For example, electric motors may be used in connection with the adjustable coverings to facilitate retracting the covering or otherwise adjusting the covering to control the amount of light or air that may pass through the covering. It is also known in the art to use battery-powered electric motors, particularly in applications where access to an electrical outlet or other electrical wiring may not exist. In applications where access to the covering may be limited, it is also know to use remote controls to operate the electric motors that configure the covering. For example, when adjustable coverings are used in connection with elevated architectural openings, it may be quite inconvenient to manually change the configuration of the covering. 
     When an adjustable covering is battery-powered, it is challenging to design an aesthetically pleasing system wherein the battery or batteries are convenient to the electric actuators they power. To design an attractive battery-powered adjustable covering, it is preferable that the battery or batteries are located within the headrail and thereby hidden from view. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The headrail of the present invention has been designed such that a battery or batteries are conveniently hidden within the headrail. The headrail comprises a housing having an interior and a battery magazine removably attached within the interior of the housing. In one form of the invention, a pair of magazine end caps are attached to the ends of the battery magazine. These end caps may have tabs extending from their bottom edges. The tabs are inserted into corresponding tab slots formed in the housing. Further, each magazine end cap may comprise a first attachment ear and a second attachment ear. Attachment screws pass through though these attachment ears and screw into battery magazine screw channels to attach the end caps to the battery magazine. 
     In another form of the invention, the battery magazine comprises a front leg and a rear leg. These front and rear legs of the battery magazine are supported on a bottom wall of the housing. In yet another form of the invention, the housing comprises a front wall, a rear wall, and a portion extending into the interior of the housing from either the front wall or the rear wall. This extending portion interacts with a placement tang that comprises part of the battery magazine thereby helping to hold the battery magazine in position within the housing. 
     In yet another form of the invention, the housing further comprises a bottom wall having an opening in it through which one or more batteries may be loaded into or extracted from the battery magazine. 
     To conduct electricity from the batteries held by the battery magazine to a battery-powered actuator, the headrail further comprises conductive terminals attached to the magazine end caps by fasteners. A spring may be attached within the battery magazine to enhance electrical contact between the batteries and the conductive terminals. Finally, an electrical connector is connected between the conductive terminals and the actuator. 
     A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary isometric view showing the front, top, and left end of a headrail, adjustable covering, and bottom rail for an architectural opening; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1, depicting the headrail including a battery holder according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2, depicting various features of the battery holder in phantom; 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view along line  4 A— 4 A of FIG. 3, depicting a first preferred embodiment of the headrail according to the present invention, adjacent a first battery magazine end cap; 
     FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4A, but depicting a second preferred embodiment of the headrail according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4A, but depicting a third preferred embodiment of the headrail according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view along line  5 A— 5 A of FIG. 3, depicting the first preferred embodiment of the headrail according to the present invention, adjacent a second battery magazine end cap; 
     FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5A, but depicting the second preferred embodiment of the headrail according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5A, but depicting the third preferred embodiment of the headrail according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the housing, which is also depicted in FIGS. 4A,  5 A, and  8 A; 
     FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of the housing, which is also depicted in FIGS. 4B,  5 B, and  8 B; 
     FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of the housing, which is also depicted in FIGS. 4C,  5 C, and  8 C; 
     FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment of the battery magazine, which is also depicted in FIGS. 4A,  5 A, and  11 ; 
     FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of the battery magazine, which is also depicted in FIGS. 4B,  5 B,  13 , and  14 ; 
     FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the third preferred embodiment of the battery magazine, which is also depicted in FIGS. 4C,  5 C,  10 ,  15 , and  16 ; 
     FIG. 8A is a fragmentary cross-sectional top view along line  8 A— 8 A of FIG. 6A, depicting the inside of the housing according to the first preferred embodiment in the region below the batteries; 
     FIG. 8B is a fragmentary cross-sectional top view along line  8 B— 8 B of FIG. 6B, depicting the inside of the housing according to the second preferred embodiment in the region below the batteries; 
     FIG. 8C is a fragmentary cross-sectional top view along line  8 C— 8 C of FIG. 6C, depicting the inside of the housing according to the third preferred embodiment in the region below the batteries; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 4C, depicting the batteries in place in a fully installed battery magazine according to the third preferred embodiment of FIGS. 7C and 10; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the headrail along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9, depicting the battery magazine and housing of the third preferred embodiment securing batteries in position within the headrail; 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded isometric view of the first preferred embodiment of the battery magazine and various components used by all of the embodiments to facilitate transfer of electrical energy from the batteries to a connector; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the spring depicted in FIG. 11 that helps to ensure positive electrical contact; 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded fragmentary isometric view similar to the right-hand end of FIG. 11, but depicting the battery magazine of the second preferred embodiment; 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to FIG. 13, but the parts shown as exploded in FIG. 13 are fully assembled in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded fragmentary isometric view similar to FIG. 13, but depicting the battery magazine of the third preferred embodiment; and 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary isometric view similar to FIG. 14, but depicting the battery magazine of the third preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Several embodiments of a headrail for a battery-powered adjustable covering for an architectural opening are disclosed. An advantage of the instant invention over the prior art is that a battery magazine removably snaps into a housing for the headrail to hold one or more batteries in position within the headrail. Depending upon the configuration of the housing desired for a particular application, an appropriate magazine is used. Once the appropriate magazine is removably snapped into the corresponding housing in position, additional, interchangeable components described below are added to facilitate transfer of electrical energy from the batteries to one or more electrical devices for adjusting the configuration of the covering. Clearly, the batteries and other components could be combined with the magazine before it is snapped into the housing. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, a fragmentary isometric view of the front, top, and left end of a headrail  10  and an adjustable covering  12  for an architectural opening is shown. Although the adjustable covering  12  depicted in FIG. 1 is a Venetian blind comprising a plurality of slats  20 , for purposes of the instant invention, the particular type of covering  12  used is unimportant. FIG. 1, therefore, provides a context for describing the present invention. In the Venetian blind covering  12 , a battery-powered motor within the headrail  10  may be used, for example, to regulate the passage of air or light through the substantially horizontal slats  20  of the covering  12  by tilting or rotating the slats  20  about their longitudinal axes a desired amount. As depicted in FIG. 1, the headrail  10  has a left end cap  22  attached thereto. Also shown in FIG. 1 are cords  24  for manually operating the adjustable covering  12 , and a bottom rail  26  attached at the bottom of the covering  12 . 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1. A tilt rod  28 , which would be used to adjust the configuration of the covering  12 , is shown schematically in FIG.  2 . FIG. 2 is the view looking inside of the headrail  10  with the left headrail end cap  22  removed. With the left end cap  22  thus removed, it is possible to see a first magazine end cap  30 , which, as described more fully below, has a tab  32 . This tab  32  snaps into a first tab slot  34  (see, e.g., FIGS. 8A,  8 B, and  8 C, which clearly show the first tab slot  34 ) to position and hold the battery magazine  14  (depicted to good advantage in, for example, FIG. 11) within the headrail  10 . Also depicted in FIG. 2 are two screws  36 ,  36 ′, which attach the first magazine end cap  30  to the magazine  14  via a first attachment ear  38  and a second attachment ear  40 . In the preferred embodiment, both of these attachment ears  38 ,  40  are integrally formed as part of the first magazine end cap  30 . Also depicted in FIG. 2 is an electrical terminal  42 , which is connected to the first magazine end cap  30  by a fastener  44 . Further details concerning these features are described further below. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front view of the adjustable covering  12 , showing the left headrail end cap  22 , a single slat  20 , and the portion of the headrail  10  behind which is the magazine  14 . The magazine  14 , the first magazine end cap  30 , and a second magazine end cap  46  are shown in FIG. 3 in phantom. The first and second magazine end caps  30 ,  46  are interchangeable. Since the length of the headrail  10  depends upon the size of the architectural opening to be covered, the portion of the headrail  10  to the right of the battery magazine  14  is broken away in FIG.  3 . Similar to FIG. 1, FIG. 3 thus provides context for understanding how the snap-in battery holder of the present invention is used in conjunction with the adjustable window covering  12 . 
     FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view along line  4 A— 4 A of FIG.  3  and depicts a magazine  14  and housing  16  according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. This view is taken just outside of the first magazine end cap  30  as clearly shown in FIG.  3 . The tilt rod  28 , having a portion of the covering  12  rolled thereon, is depicted in FIG. 4A for context. FIG. 4A shows the first magazine end cap  30  secured by a pair of screws  36 ,  36 ′ to the left end of the magazine  14 . Also visible in FIG. 4A is the terminal  42  affixed to the first magazine end cap  30  by the fastener  44 . Details of the housing  16  and the magazine  14  of the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention are described next with reference to FIGS. 5A,  6 A, and  7 A. 
     FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the housing  16  and magazine  14  along line  5 A— 5 A of FIG.  3 . This view is taken just inside of the second magazine end cap  46  as clearly shown in FIG.  3 . Thus, the inner surface of the second magazine end cap  46  may be clearly seen in FIG.  5 A. Also, the ends of the attachment screws  48 ,  48 ′ (these are interchangeable with the screws  36 ,  36 ′ securing the first magazine end cap  30  to the magazine  14 ), opposite from the slotted ends that are used to secure the screws, are visible in FIG.  5 A. 
     FIGS. 6A and 7A depict cross-sectional views of the housing  16  and magazine  14 , respectively. Referring first to FIG. 6A, the housing  16  of the first preferred embodiment according to the present invention is described next. The housing  16  comprises a front wall  50 , a rear wall  52 , and a bottom wall  54 . The top edge  56  of the rear wall  52  is curved. The front wall  50  of the housing  16  and possibly the bottom wall  54  of the housing  16  are visible when the adjustable covering  12  is installed and operational. Thus, the front wall  50  of the housing  16  may have a decorative shape. Similarly, since the bottom wall  54  may be visible, it too may have a decorative shape. In this first preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottom wall  54  also comprises a first channel  58  and a second channel  60 . The first channel  58  receives a front leg  62  (FIG. 7A) of the magazine  14 , and the second channel  60  receives a rear leg  64  (FIG. 7A) of the magazine  14 , once the magazine  14  is snapped into position in the housing  16 . The housing  16  also comprises a portion  66  that extends rearwardly from the front wall  50  of the housing  16 . A free end  67  of this portion  66  of the housing  16  interacts with a placement tang  68  (seen to good advantage in, for example, FIGS. 4A,  5 A, and  7 A) comprising part of the magazine  14 . 
     In the first preferred embodiment, the portion  66  of the housing  16  extending rearwardly from the front wall  50  engages a channel  70  in the distal end of the placement tang  68  on the magazine  14 . For example, to snap the magazine  14  into the housing  16 , one could place the front leg  62  of the magazine  14  into the first channel  58  of the housing  16  and then push the rear leg  64  of the magazine  14  into the second channel  60  of the housing  16 . As the magazine  14  thus snaps into position in the housing  16 , the extended portion  66  of the housing  16  would be guided up a sloped surface  72  at the extreme distal end of the placement tang  68  and into the channel  70 . FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view along line  8 A— 8 A of FIG. 6A, and depicts the tab slots  34 ,  34 ′, which accommodate the tabs  32  comprising part of the magazine end caps  30 ,  46 , a battery-shaped opening  55  in a ledge  74  between the first channel  58  and the second channel  60 , and three elongated openings  86 . The battery-shaped opening  55  and the three elongated openings  86  are discussed further below. 
     Referring now to FIG. 7A, further details of the magazine  14  are next described. FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of the magazine  14  according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As mentioned above, the magazine  14  comprises a front leg  62  and a rear leg  64 . A screw channel  76  is integrally formed as part of the rear leg  64  of the magazine  14 . The screw channel  76  may be clearly seen in FIG. 11. A similar screw channel  78  is integrally formed in the magazine  14  at an upper portion of the front leg  62 . Again, this screw channel  78  is visible in, for example, FIG.  11 . These screw channels  76 ,  78  are molded so that their inside diameter is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the screws  36 ,  36 ′,  48 ,  48 ′ which hold the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  in position. Thus, when the screws  36 ,  36 ′,  48 ,  48 ′ are inserted through the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  and threaded into the screw channels  76 ,  78 , the threads on the screws are able to bind in the interior surface of the screw channels and thus hold the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  in position. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 4B,  5 B,  6 B,  7 B, and  8 B, the housing  16 ′and magazine  14 ′of a second preferred embodiment according to the present invention, are described next. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4A, which was taken along line  4 A— 4 A of FIG. 3, but taken of the housing  16 ′and magazine  14 ′according to the second preferred embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4B, it again shows a tilt rod  28  with a portion of the covering  12  wound thereon. The tilt rod  28  and covering  12  are shown in FIG. 4B schematically for context purposes. Clearly visible in FIG. 4B is the first magazine end cap  30  in position on the left end of the magazine  14 ′. The first magazine end cap  30  is held in position by a pair of screws  36 ,  36 ′. Also visible in FIG. 4B is a terminal  42 , which has been fixed to the first magazine end cap  30  by a fastener  44 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5B, which is similar to FIG. 5A, the interconnections of the magazine  14 ′ to the housing  16 ′ for the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown. FIG. 5B is taken from the same perspective that FIG. 5A was taken from (i.e., along line  5 A— 5 A of FIG.  3 ). Visible in FIG. 5B is the second magazine end cap  46 , which is secured to the right end of the magazine  14 ′. This second magazine end cap  46  is secured to the magazine according to the second preferred embodiment in the same manner that the second magazine end cap  46  was secured to the right hand end of the magazine  14  in FIG.  5 A. Namely, a pair of screws  48 ,  48 ′ pass through attachment ears  38 ,  40  (see, e.g., FIG. 11) of the magazine end cap  30  and are screwed into the screw channels  76 ,  78  integrally formed as part of the magazine  14 ′. 
     Referring to FIG. 6B, the housing  16 ′ according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention is described next. This embodiment of the housing  16 ′ is more symmetrical than the embodiment depicted in FIG.  6 A. In the housing  16 ′ as depicted in FIG. 6B, the front wall  50 ′is substantially a mere image of the rear wall  52 ′. Further, the bottom wall  54 ′ in this preferred embodiment is substantially flat and does not contain channels similar to those comprising a portion of the housing  16  depicted in FIG.  6 A. This substantially flat bottom wall  54 ′ may be clearly visible in FIG. 8B, which is a cross-sectional view along line  8 B— 8 B of FIG.  6 B. In particular, FIG. 8B shows a view from the inside of the housing  16 ′ of the bottom wall  54 ′ of the housing  16 ′, and depicts the tab slots  34 ,  34 ′, which accommodate the tabs  32  comprising part of the magazine end caps  30 ,  46 , a battery-shaped opening  55 ′, and three elongated openings  86 . The battery-shaped opening  55 ′ and the elongated openings  86  are discussed further below. 
     Referring next to FIG. 7B, the magazine  14 ′ according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in cross-section. In this embodiment, the placement tang  68 ′ extends substantially vertically upward from the outer surface of the screw channel  78 ′ positioned near the top of the front leg  62 ′. As shown in FIG. 5B, when the magazine  14 ′ is in position within the housing  16 ′, a free end  67 ′ of an extended portion  66 ′ of the front wall  50 ′ of the housing  16 ′ engages the placement tang  68 ′, forming part of the magazine  14 ′. When the magazine  14 ′ is in position, with the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  in position and the tabs  32  extending from the bottom edges of the end caps  30 ,  46  locked in the tab slots  34 ,  34 ′ in the housing (the tab slots  34 ,  34 ′ may be clearly seen in FIGS. 8A,  8 B, and  8 C), the portion  66 ′ extending from the front wall  50 ′ of the housing  16 ′ helps hold the magazine  14 ′ in position by exerting pressure on the placement tang  68 ′ similar to what was done in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 4C,  5 C,  6 C,  7 C, and  8 C, the housing  16 ″ and magazine  14 ″, according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention are described next. FIG. 4C is similar to FIG. 4A, but depicts the housing  16 ″ and magazine  14 ″ according to the third preferred embodiment, whereas FIG. 4A depicts the housing  16  and magazine  14  according to the first preferred embodiment. Again, the tilt rod  28  and the covering  12  are shown schematically in FIG. 4C for context. Also clearly visible in FIG. 4C, is the first magazine end cap  30  with its tab  32  in position in the tab slot  34  (see FIG. 8C to view this tab slot  34 ) of the housing  16 ″. The first magazine end cap  30  is held in position by a pair of screws  36 ,  36 ′ which are clearly visible in FIG.  4 C. The terminal  42  attached to the first magazine end cap  30  by the fastener  44  is also shown in FIG.  4 C. 
     FIG. 5C is similar to FIG. 5A, but depicts a cross-sectional view along line  5 A— 5 A of the magazine  14 ″ and housing  16 ″ according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. As was the case in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second magazine end cap  46  with its tab  32  in position in the appropriate tab slot  34 ′ (FIG.  8 C), is clearly visible in FIG.  5 C. Also clearly visible in FIG. 5C are the ends of the screws  48 ,  48 ′ which hold the second magazine end cap  46  in position on the magazine  14 ″. 
     FIGS. 6C and 7C are cross-sectional views of the housing  16 ″ and magazine  14 ″, respectively, of the third and preferred embodiment of the instant invention. As shown to the best advantage in FIG. 6C, the front wall  50 ″ of the housing  16 ″ in the third preferred embodiment is arcuate. The rear wall  52 ″ of the housing  16 ″ according to the third preferred embodiment has a projection  80  extending therefrom. The bottom wall  54 ″ of the housing  16 ″ according to the third preferred embodiment has a longitudinally extending rib  82  integrally formed as part thereof. This rib  82  may be clearly seen, for example, in FIG. 8C, which is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  8 C— 8 C of FIG.  6 C. In FIG. 8C, the rib  82  is shown as extending from left to right across the figure. Also clearly visible in FIG. 8C are the tab slots  34 ,  34 ′, a battery-shaped opening  55 ″, and three elongated openings  86 . The battery-shaped opening  55 ″ and the elongated openings  86  are discussed further below. 
     As most clearly shown in FIGS. 4C,  13 , and  14 , the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  include a notch  84 . When the housing  16 ″ is formed according to the third preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the notch  84  in the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  rides on the rib  82  comprising part of the housing  16 ″. Thus, when the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  are in position, and the magazine  14 ″ is in position within the housing  16 ″, the tabs  32  on the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  lock into the tab slots  34 ,  34 ′ in the bottom wall  54 ″ of the housing  16 ″, and the rib  82  comprising part of the bottom wall  54 ″ of the housing  16 ″ is retained by the notch  84  in the magazine end caps  30 ,  46 . The tabs  32  interacting with the tab slots  34 ,  34 ′ and the rib  82  interacting with the notches  84  on the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  both help to hold the magazine  14 ″ in position within the housing  16 ″. 
     As shown in FIG. 7C, a placement tang  68 ″ comprises a portion of the magazine. This placement tang  68 ″ is an integrally formed portion of the magazine  14 ″ and extends from the material forming the upper screw channel  78 ″. As was the case in the first and second preferred embodiments, when the magazine  14 ″ is in position within the housing  16 ″, a free end  67 ″ of a portion  66 ″ of the housing  16 ″ (FIG. 6C) engages the placement tang  68 ″ as shown to the best advantage in FIG.  5 C. This interaction between the placement tang  68 ″ and the portion  66 ″ of the housing  16 ″ extending from the front wall  50 ″ also helps to hold the magazine  14 ″ in position within the housing  16 ″. 
     The specific cross-sectional shape of the magazine may vary somewhat from the three preferred embodiments of the magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ shown and described above. An important feature in this invention is the interaction between the housing  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″ and the magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ whereby the magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ is removably held in position within the housing  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″. In the preferred embodiments, tabs  32  projecting from the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  snap into tab slots  34 ,  34 ′ in the housing  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″. Also, a portion  66 ,  66 ′,  66 ″ of the housing interacts with a placement tang  68 ,  68 ′,  68 ″ on the magazine to help hold the magazine in position within the housing. Although the referenced portion  66 ,  66 ′,  66 ″ of the housing projects from the front wall  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ of the housing in each of the preferred embodiments, it could also project from any other wall of the housing without departing from the present invention. 
     Since the screw channels  76 ,  78  (FIG.  7 A),  76 ′,  76 ″ (FIG.  7 B),  76 ″,  78 ″ (FIG. 7C) integrally formed in the magazines  14  (FIG.  7 A),  14 ′ (FIG.  7 B),  14 ″ (FIG. 7C) of each of the preferred embodiments are similarly placed, a single type of magazine end cap ( 30  and  46  are interchangeable) may be used with each of the disclosed magazines  14 ,  14 ′, and  14 ″. 
     Comparing FIGS. 4A,  5 A,  6 A,  7 A, and  8 A to FIGS. 4B,  5 B,  6 B,  7 B, and  8 B, and to FIGS. 4C,  5 C,  6 C,  7 C, and  8 C, respectively, several common features of the three preferred embodiments of the present invention are apparent. Each of the housings  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″ comprises a front wall  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″, a bottom wall  54 ,  54 ′,  54 ″, and a rear wall  52 ,  52 ′,  52 ″. Further, a portion  66 ,  66 ′,  66 ″ of the front wall in each embodiment of the housing extends into the interior of the headrail  10  so that it may interact with a placement tang  68 ,  68 ′,  68 ″ comprising part of the magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ in each embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 8A,  8 B, and  8 C, the housing includes a pair of tab slots  34 ,  34 ′ and a battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″. The tab slots  34 ,  34 ′ receive the tabs  32  integrally formed along the lower edge of the magazine end caps  32 ,  46  (see, e.g., FIG.  11 ), and battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″ is used for battery insertion into and extraction from the magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″. 
     The elongated openings  86 , which are formed in the bottom wall  54 ,  54 ′,  54 ″ of the housing  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″ in each of the three preferred embodiments, are positioned approximately below all but one of the batteries  18  and are useful for several purposes. For example, heat may be dissipated through these elongated openings  86  if the temperature within the headrail  10  increases during operation. Further, since it is possible to view the outside surface of the bottom wall  54 ,  54 ′,  54 ″ of the housing  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″ when the adjustable window covering  12  is mounted for operation, these elongated openings  86  permit a quick check that the required batteries  18  are in position within the headrail  10  since a portion of each battery  18  will be visible through an elongated opening  86 . Finally, the elongated openings  86  facilitate battery extraction as described next. 
     The battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″ in the bottom wall  54 ,  54 ′,  54 ″ of the housing  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″ for each of the preferred embodiments permits one or more batteries  18  to be inserted into or extracted from the chamber formed between the battery magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ and the bottom wall  54 ,  54 ′,  54 ″. In the preferred embodiments, the battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″ is slightly wider than the diameter of a AA battery  18  and slightly shorter than a AA battery  18  so that the batteries can be inserted into the battery magazine through the battery-shaped opening at an angle and can then be pushed lengthwise into the magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″. Since the battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″ is shorter than a battery  18 , and since the spring  94  (FIGS. 9,  11 , and  12 ) exerts a longitudinal force on the batteries  18 , the endmost battery  18  will not fall out of the battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″ accidentally. When it is time to extract the batteries from the battery magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″, a person may use a thin screwdriver to extract the first battery  18  from the battery magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ through the battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″. Then, the person can insert the screwdriver into the respective elongated openings  86  to push the batteries toward the battery-shaped opening  55 ,  55 ′,  55 ″, where they may be readily removed. 
     FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view along line  9 — 9  of FIG. 4C, and depicts four batteries  18  in position in the magazine  14 ″. Both magazine end caps  30 ,  46  are in place and the magazine  14 ″ is not only fully assembled, but also clipped into position in the housing  16 ″ of the headrail  10 . Also clearly visible in FIG. 9 is a flexible contact strip  45 , which is connected to the interior surface of the first magazine end cap  30  by the fastener  44 . Thus, the fastener  44  secures both the terminal  42  to the exterior surface of the first magazine end cap  30 , and the contact strip  45  to the interior surface of the first magazine end cap  30  to form a conductive path from the batteries  18  to the terminal  42 . FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along line  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . Clearly visible in FIG. 10 is a battery  18  being held in position by the magazine  14 ″. Visible in both FIGS. 9 and 10 are the elongated openings  86  positioned approximately below each battery  18  in the magazine  14 ″. Visible in FIG. 9 is the battery-shaped opening  55 ″. 
     Referring now to FIG. 11, assembly of the battery magazine  14  with the various components that facilitate transfer of electrical energy from the batteries  18  to a connector  88  are next described. In FIG. 1, the magazine  14  according to the first embodiment is shown for demonstrative purposes. This embodiment of the magazine  14  is also shown in, for example, FIGS. 4A,  5 A, and  7 A. In the preferred embodiment, the magazine  14  is formed from a single piece of material. The length of the magazine  14  is easily adjusted by cutting an appropriate section of magazine material to accommodate a desired number of batteries  18 . To assemble the magazine  14 , the selected length of magazine material is first cut—in the example shown in FIG. 11, the magazine length selected accommodates four batteries  18 . Once the desired length of magazine  14  material has been obtained, the remaining components that facilitate transfer of electrical energy from the batteries  18  to the connector  88  are assembled. 
     FIG. 11 is the back side (once installed in the headrail depicted in, for example, FIG. 1) of the magazine  14  according to the first preferred embodiment. Referring first to the right-hand portion of FIG. 11, assembly of the various components attached to the magazine  14  are described. The fastener  44  (e.g., a rivet) is used to attach both the conductive terminal  42  and the flexible contact strip  45  to the first magazine end cap  30 , which has a hole  90  therethrough for that purpose. Once the terminal  42  and the flexible contact strip  45  have been fastened to the first magazine end cap  30 , the first magazine end cap  30  may be attached to the magazine  14 . As clearly shown in FIG. 11, in this preferred embodiment, the first magazine end cap  30  includes an alignment ridge  92  on each of its interior and exterior surfaces. There is an alignment ridge  92  on each side of the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  so that one design for the magazine end caps  30 ,  46  will work at either end of the magazine  14 . Thus, in the preferred embodiments, the first and second magazine end caps  30 ,  46  are interchangeable, and the same magazine end cap may be used in each of the preferred embodiments. The alignment ridge  92  fits along the inner surface of the magazine  14 . Once the alignment ridge  92  is thus placed along the inner surface of the magazine  14 , the first and second attachment ears  38 ,  40 , respectively, comprising part of the first magazine end cap  30  are properly positioned over the two screw channels  76 ,  78  integrally formed into the magazine  14 . The attachment screws  36 ,  36 ′ pass through the attachment ears  38 ,  40  of the magazine end cap  30  and are threaded into the screw channels  76 ,  78  of the magazine  14 . The flexible contact strip  45  and the fastener  44  conduct electricity to the terminal  42 , where it may be further conducted via the connector  88  to a device requiring electrical power. 
     An alternative type of magazine end cap is disclosed in the above-noted related U.S. utility application Ser. No. 09/480,913, filed Jan. 11, 2000. In that application, the magazine end caps do not include attachment ears  38 ,  40 , and they do not have alignment ridges  92 . Rather, the magazine end caps described in this related application just have holes through them to accommodate the attachment screws, and, rather than alignment ridges, the magazine end caps have a plurality of alignment pins on each side. These alternative magazine end caps would work for purposes of the present invention. 
     Referring now to the left-hand end of FIG. 11, which is the right-hand end of the magazine  14  as installed in the headrail  10  depicted in FIG. 1, assembly of the components attached to this end of the magazine are described next. A fastener  44  (e.g., a rivet) is used to attach a spring  94  to an interior surface of the second magazine end cap  46  while simultaneously connecting a second terminal  42  to the exterior surface of the second magazine end cap  46 . This spring  94 , which is enlarged in FIG. 12, will make electrical contact with the batteries  18  positioned by the magazine  14  and will thereby conduct electricity through the fastener  44  to the terminal  42  on the exterior surface of the second magazine end cap  46 . 
     Once the spring  94  and terminal  42  have been thus attached to the second magazine end cap  46  with an appropriate fastener  44 , the second magazine end cap  46  is ready for attachment to the magazine  14 . As was the case with the opposite end of the magazine  14 , one of the alignment ridges  92  (there is one on each side of the second magazine end cap  46  as there were on each side of the first magazine end cap  30 ) is aligned with the inner surface of the magazine  14  to appropriately position the magazine end cap  46  relative to the magazine  14 . Once the second magazine end cap  46  is appropriately positioned, the first attachment ear  38  and the second attachment ear  40  are aligned with appropriate screw channels  76 ,  78 , respectively, comprising part of the magazine  14 . Once thus positioned, screws  48 ,  48 ′ are inserted through the attachment ears  38 ,  40  and threaded into the screw channels  76 ,  78  to secure the second magazine end cap  46  to the magazine  14 . Next, the batteries  18  are optionally placed into the magazine  14 , and the fully-assembled magazine  14  is then inserted into the housing  16  as shown, for example, in FIG.  4 A. Although it would make it less convenient to replace expired batteries, it is possible to form the housing  16  without the battery-shaped opening  55  if desired. Without the battery-shaped opening  55 , it would be necessary to place the batteries  18  in the magazine  14  before inserting it into the housing  16 , since the batteries  16  could not otherwise be inserted into the magazine  14 . The magazine  14  is held in position within the housing  16  as described above. Then, the electrical connector  88  depicted in FIG. 11 would be connected to the terminals  42  (one on each end of the magazine  14 ) in a known manner. Additionally, any type of connector that is appropriate for the device that needs electricity could be attached to the negative lead  96  and positive lead  98  of the connector  88 . 
     FIG. 13 depicts an exploded view similar to the right-hand portion of FIG. 11, but the magazine  14 ′ shown in FIG. 13 is the magazine according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The components depicted in FIG. 13 are assembled similar to the assembly steps described above, resulting in the fully assembled device depicted in FIG.  14 . 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 are similar to FIGS. 13 and 14, respectively, but depict the magazine  14 ″ according to the third preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Although three preferred embodiments of this invention have been described above, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, the design of the front wall  50 ,  50 ′,  50 ″ of the housing  16 ,  16 ′,  16 ″, respectively, may take on one of many different shapes depending in part upon the taste of the purchaser. A different front wall is shown in each of FIGS. 2,  4 A,  4 B, and  4 C, for example. Also, the battery magazine  14 ,  14 ′,  14 ″ may be cut any length to accommodate the required number of batteries  18  for energizing the motor that selectively configures the adjustable covering  12 . When two or more batteries are mounted in the battery magazine of the present invention, they are connected in series. Thus, myriad housing shapes and battery magazine shapes and lengths are within the scope of the present invention. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) above are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.