Apparatuses for separating, controlling, and directing lift cords or lift chains of architectural opening coverings

An apparatus for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord or lift chain of an architectural opening includes a body structure having first and second upper openings that are separated by an upper medial guide member that protrudes beyond the upper openings A rotatable wheel within a cavity of the body structure is configured to engage a lift cord or lift chain provided as a loop, wherein such engagement allows free passage of first and second segments of the loop through the cavity in opposing directions, while preventing free passage of the first and second segments through the cavity in the same direction. The apparatus may be coupled to a top end of a cord channel enclosure having a slider moveably engaged thereto to actuate the lift cord or lift chain, with a fixed length loop portion of lift cord or lift chain extending upward from the apparatus.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to apparatuses for operating cords and chains used to lift and lower for coverings for architectural openings. In particular, an apparatus is disclosed for use at the top of a cord channel enclosure, with the apparatus permitting a lift cord or lift chain to be smoothly guided into the cord channel enclosure over a variety of cord channel positions and operating conditions (including twisting of the lift cord or lift chain above the enclosure), while preventing slack in the lift cord or lift chain within the cord channel enclosure and thereby eliminating any possibility that a hazardous loop of lift cord or lift chain could protrude from the cord channel enclosure.

BACKGROUND

In the use of window and architectural passage coverings, the art has long relied on cords, string, bead chains, or the like to extend and retract the coverings. Such coverings take many forms, including shades such as curtains, roll-up shades, Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, cellular shades, and the like. One problem with such coverings that rely on cords is that small children can become entangled in the cords and experience serious harm, including strangulation and death. On Nov. 2, 2022, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a new federal safety standard for custom architectural (e.g., window and door) coverings to prevent deaths and serious injuries from strangulation. As noted in a CPSC press release, young children can quickly and silently become strangled on accessible cords forming a loop having an opening of 16 or more inches on window coverings, and an average of about nine children under five years of age die every year from strangling in window blinds, shades, draperies, and other window coverings with cords.

The CPSC final rule requires that operating cords on custom window coverings meet the same requirements as those for operating cords on stock window coverings, as provided in section 4.3.1 of ANSI/WCMA-2018. If a window covering has an operating cord that can form a loop having an opening of 16 or more inches, ANSI/WCMA-2018 requires that the cord must be inaccessible to children. One known method to render operating cords inaccessible is to contain them in a rigid cord shroud, which allows a user to use operating cords while limiting access to such cords. Such rigid cord shrouds need to be operable behind obstructions (e.g., when furniture is disposed between a user and an architectural covering), and also be accessible to, and operable by, people with disabilities. One type of known rigid cord shroud is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,950,463 to Vestal et al. (wherein the disclosure of such patent is hereby incorporated by reference herein), which provides a shroud that is hingedly attached to a clutch assembly that drives a roller to operate a cover for an architectural opening. The hinged attachment enhances user access to the rigid cord shroud, but is tiltable in only one plane, and is not readily adapted to being retrofitted to generic clutches of various manufacturers.

Other conventional rigid cord shrouds lacking integral hinges may be operably connected to generic clutches via a looped lift cord or lift chain. While this arrangement may provide further enhanced user accessibility, since the rigid cord shroud may swivel along multiple planes relative to the clutch, the increased degrees of freedom gives rise to new problems such as twisting and binding of lift cords or lift chains if the rigid cord shroud should be rotated about its longitudinal axis by a user. Such twisting and binding of lift cords or lift chains may inhibit smooth operation of a rigid cord shroud, or even render a rigid cord shroud inoperative. Moreover, it may be challenging to maintain slack in a looped lift cord or lift chain between a rigid cord shroud and a clutch assembly sufficient to enable swiveling therebetween, while simultaneously maintaining sufficient tension within the rigid cord shroud in order to prevent any portion of the lift cord or lift chain from being removed from an open channel of the rigid cord shroud, which would present a safety hazard.

Need therefore exists in the art for improved apparatuses for separating, controlling, and directing lift cords or lift chains of architectural opening coverings to address the above-described limitations.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord or lift chain of an architectural opening includes a body structure having first and second upper openings that are separated by an upper medial guide member that protrudes beyond the first and second upper openings, wherein the upper medial guide member maintains a degree of separation between the upper openings that limits binding of a lift cord or lift chain being fed into or out of the body structure. The body structure has an internal cavity and a spindle on which a wheel is configured to rotate within the cavity, with the wheel being configured to engage the lift cord or lift chain. The lift cord or lift chain is provided as a loop including a first segment configured to travel through the first upper opening and a second segment configured to travel through the second upper opening. Engagement between the wheel and the loop of the lift cord is configured to allow free passage of the first and second segments through the cavity in opposing directions, and configured to prevent free passage of the first and second segments through the cavity in the same direction. The internal cavity may include tapered first and second upper passages leading to the first and second upper openings, with the passages each having a greater width proximate to the corresponding upper openings than at a central portion of the cavity containing the wheel, wherein the increased width upper openings and tapered upper passages may reduce binding of a lift cord or lift chain being fed into the upper passages in a direction departing from a central axis of each passage.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to an apparatus for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord or lift chain of an architectural opening covering, the apparatus comprising a primary body structure including first and second complementary body portions and containing a rotatable wheel configured to engage the lift cord or lift chain, the lift cord or lift chain being configured as a loop. The primary body structure defines first and second upper openings separated by an upper medial guide member that protrudes upwardly beyond the first and second upper openings, the primary body structure comprises an internal cavity, and the primary body structure comprises a lower opening, wherein the lower opening as well as the first and second upper openings are configured to permit passage of the lift cord or lift chain into and through the cavity. The loop of lift cord or lift chain comprises a first segment configured to travel through the first upper opening, and comprises a second segment configured to travel through the second upper opening. Engagement between the wheel and loop of the lift cord or lift chain is configured to allow free passage of the first and second segments through the cavity in opposing directions, and is configured to prevent free passage of the first and second segments through the cavity in the same direction.

In certain embodiments, the internal cavity comprises a first upper passage arranged between the central portion and the first upper opening, the first upper passage having a first upper end coinciding with the first upper opening and having a first lower end proximate to the central portion, the first passage having a greater width at the first upper end than at the first lower end; and the internal cavity comprises a second upper passage arranged between the central portion and the second upper opening, the second upper passage having a second upper end coinciding with the second upper opening and having a second lower end proximate to the central portion, the second passage having a greater width at the second upper end than at the second lower end.

In certain embodiments, each of the first upper passage and the second upper passage comprises a frustoconical shape.

In certain embodiments, the width of the first upper passage is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater at the first upper end than at the first lower end; and the width of the second upper passage is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater at the second upper end than at the second lower end.

In certain embodiments, the width of the first upper passage at the first upper end is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater than a maximum width of loop of lift cord or lift chain; and the width of the second upper passage at the first upper end is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater than a maximum width of loop of lift cord or lift chain.

In certain embodiments, the lift cord or lift chain comprises a bead chain; and the wheel comprises a plurality of recesses, wherein each recess of the plurality of recesses is configured to receive a corresponding individual bead of the bead chain.

In certain embodiments, the lift cord or lift chain comprises a straight cord; and the wheel comprises at least one recess configured to grasp the straight cord.

In certain embodiments, the upper medial guide member comprises a width that decreases with distance away from the first and second upper openings.

In certain embodiments, the upper medial guide member protrudes upwardly beyond the first and second upper openings by a distance at least as large as a width of either one of the first upper opening or the second upper opening.

In certain embodiments, the upper medial guide member protrudes upwardly beyond the first and second upper openings by a distance of at least 2 mm.

In certain embodiments, the primary body structure comprises a spindle on which the wheel is configured to rotate, the spindle being arranged in a central portion of the internal cavity, and the spindle being oriented non-parallel to a direction of travel of lift cord or lift chain within the primary body structure.

In certain embodiments, the spindle comprises a bore configured to receive a connector arranged to join the first and second complementary body portions to one another.

In certain embodiments, the first complementary body portion defines a first portion of the upper medial guide member, and the second complementary body portion defines a second portion of the upper medial guide member.

In certain embodiments, the primary body structure further comprises a lower medial guide member arranged between the central portion of the internal cavity and the lower opening, wherein the lower medial guide member locally separates the internal cavity into two laterally separated lower passages.

In certain embodiments, the two laterally separated lower passages each have a width that increases with distance away from central portion of the internal cavity.

In certain embodiments, the first complementary body portion defines a first portion of the lower medial guide member, and the second complementary body portion defines a second portion of the lower medial guide member.

In certain embodiments, a lower portion of the primary body structure comprises a tubular body portion.

In certain embodiments, each of the first and second complementary body portions is integrally formed from a polymeric material.

In certain embodiments, the apparatus further comprises: a cord channel enclosure coupled to a lower end of the primary body structure and comprising an open slot, wherein the loop of lift cord or lift chain is further configured to travel through an interior of the cord channel enclosure; a slider moveably engaged to the cord channel enclosure via the open slot and coupled to the loop of lift cord or lift chain, wherein movement of the slider facilitates movement of the first and second segments through the cord channel enclosure and through the cavity of the primary body structure; and an end guide structure coupled to a lower end of the cord channel enclosure, the end guide structure comprising a U-shaped channel through which the loop of lift cord or lift chain is configured to travel for passage to and from the cord channel enclosure.

In certain embodiments, the loop of lift cord or lift chain is continuous.

In certain embodiments, an upper portion of the continuous loop of lift cord or lift chain forms a fixed length subloop extending above the first and second upper openings; a lower portion of the continuous loop of lift cord or lift chain extends through the primary body structure, the cord channel enclosure, and the end guide structure; and the lower portion of the continuous loop or of lift cord or lift chain is tensioned by the wheel to prevent removal of the lift cord or lift chain through the open slot of the cord channel enclosure.

In certain embodiments, the fixed length subloop is configured to engage a clutch assembly couplable to a roller of the architectural opening covering.

In certain embodiments, the loop of lift cord or lift chain is discontinuous and comprises two ends joined to a clutch assembly, a roller, or other moveable member of configured to move the architectural opening covering.

In another aspect, any two or more features of aspects and/or embodiments disclosed herein may be combined for additional advantage.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description. It is to be understood that the foregoing summary, the following detailed description, and the accompanying drawings are merely exemplary and intended to provide an overview or framework to understand the nature and character of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord or lift chain of an architectural opening includes a body structure having first and second upper openings that are separated by an upper medial guide member that protrudes beyond the upper openings. A rotatable wheel is provided (e.g., on a spindle) within a cavity of the body structure and is configured to engage a lift cord or lift chain provided as a loop, wherein such engagement allows free passage of first and second segments of the loop through the cavity in opposing directions, while preventing free passage of the first and second segments through the cavity in the same direction. The apparatus may be coupled to a top end of a cord channel enclosure having a slider moveably engaged thereto to actuate the lift cord or lift chain, with a fixed length loop portion of lift cord or lift chain extending upward from the apparatus.

FIGS.1-3provide exploded perspective views of an apparatus5for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord of an architectural opening covering according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The apparatus5includes a first complementary body portion10and a second complementary body portion30(that in combination form a primary body structure), as well as a wheel40configured to rotate about a spindle24arranged in a cavity14bounded in part by central body portion13of the first complementary body portion10. The first complementary body portion10has an upper end11A, a tubular lower portion21, and a lower end12, while the second complementary body portion30has an upper end11B and a lower medial end31. The lower end12of the first complementary body portion10defines a lower opening20arranged at a lower end of a tubular lower passage23, wherein both the lower opening20and the tubular lower passage23optionally may have an oval, round, regular polygonal, rounded polygonal, or other curved or angular cross-sectional shape.

The upper end11A of the first complementary body portion10has first and second upper opening portions15-1A,15-2A that are separated by an upper medial guide member portion18A having a central recess19A. The first complementary body portion also defines first and second upper passage portions16-1A,16-2A that extend from first and second upper ends (coinciding with the first and second upper opening portions15-1A,15-1B) to first and second lower ends17-1A,17-2A, with the passage portions16-1A,16-2A being wider at the upper ends (i.e.,15-1A,15-2A) than at the lower ends17-1A,17-2A. The first complementary body portion10further defines a lower medial guide member portion28A (with a central recess29A) that locally separates the internal cavity14into first and second lower cavity portions26A-1,26A-2, and that is arranged between the spindle24and the tubular lower portion21.

In a manner similar to the first complementary body portion10, the upper end11B of the second complementary body portion30has first and second upper opening portions15-1B,15-2B that are separated by an upper medial guide member portion18B having a central protrusion19B, with the second complementary body portion30also defining first and second upper passage portions16-1B,16-2B that extend from first and second upper ends (coinciding with the first and second upper opening portions15-1B,15-2B) to first and second lower ends17-1B,17-2B, with the upper passage portions16-1B,16-2B being wider at the upper ends (i.e.,15-1B,15-2B) than at the lower ends17-1B,17-2B thereof. The second complementary body portion30also defines a lower medial guide member portion28B (with a central protrusion29B) that locally separates the internal cavity14into first and second lower cavity portions26A-1,26A-2, and that is arranged between a central portion13of the cavity14and the lower medial end31.

The first and second upper opening portions15-1A,15-2A of the first complementary body portion10cooperate with the first and second upper opening portions15-1B,15-2B of the second complementary body portion30to form first and second upper openings of the body structure. Similarly, the first and second upper passage portions16-1A,16-1B and16-2A,16-2B of the respective first and second complementary body portions10,30cooperate to form first and second upper passages of the body structure. In certain embodiments, the first and second upper passages may be frustoconical in shape. In certain embodiments, the width of the first upper passage is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater at the first upper end (e.g.,15-1A,15-1B) than at the first lower end (e.g.,17-1A,17-1B); and the width of the second upper passage is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater at the second upper end (e.g.,15-1B,15-2B) than at the second lower end (e.g.,17-2A,17-2B). In certain embodiments, the width of the first upper passage at the first upper end is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater than a maximum width of a loop of a lift cord or lift chain received by the body structure, and the width of the second upper passage at the first upper end is at least 10% (or at least 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 80%, or 100%) greater than a maximum width of loop of lift cord or lift chain.

The upper medial guide member portions18A,18B, which are configured to be joined together by engagement between the central protrusion19B and the central recess19A, cooperate to form an upper medial guide member of the body structure. As shown, the upper medial guide member (composed of upper medial guide member portions18A,18B) extends upward beyond the first and second upper openings (composed of opening portions15-1A,15-1B and15-2A,15-2B) and may comprise a tapered width that is reduced with increasing distance away from the first and second upper openings. In certain embodiments, the upper medial guide member protrudes upwardly beyond the first and second upper openings by a distance at least as large as a width of either one of the first upper opening or the second upper opening. In certain embodiments, the upper medial guide member protrudes upwardly beyond the first and second upper openings by a distance of at least 2 mm, at least 4 mm, at least 6 mm, at least 8 mm, at least 1 cm, at least 1.2 cm, or at least 1.5 cm, wherein any of the foregoing lower thresholds may optionally be bounded by any of the other values as an upper threshold. The lower medial guide member portions28A,28B, which are configured to be joined together by engagement between the central protrusion29B and the central recess29A, cooperate to form a lower medial guide member of the body structure. The first and second lower passage portions26-1A,26-1B and26-2A,26-2B of the respective first and second complementary body portions10,30cooperate to form first and second lower passages (or lower cavity portions) that lead to the tubular lower passage23and lower opening20of the body structure. In certain embodiments, the first and second lower passages each have a width that increases with distance away from the central portion13of the internal cavity14. The lower opening20as well as the first and second upper openings (composed of upper opening portions15-1A,15-1B and15-2A,15-2B) and the lower opening20, together with the first and second upper passages (composed of upper passage portions16-1A,16-1B and16-2A,16-2B) and the first and second lower passages (composed of lower passage portions26-1A,26-1B and26-2A,26-2B), are configured to permit passage of a lift cord or lift chain (e.g., shown inFIGS.5and6A-6D) into and through the cavity14to engage the wheel40.

The second complementary body portion30comprises a lower tab32configured to engage a slot22along an inner surface of the tubular lower portion21. The spindle24comprises a bore25that is configured to cooperate with a bore34defined in the second complementary body portion30to receive a connector (e.g., a screw, a rivet, or the like) to promote coupling engagement between the first and second complementary body portions10,30.

The spindle24is oriented non-parallel (e.g., perpendicular) to a direction of travel of a lift cord or lift chain through the first and second lower passages (composed of the first and second lower passage portions26-1A,26-1B and26-2A,26-2B) and through the first and second upper passages (composed of the first and second upper passage portions16-1A,16-1B and16-2A,16-2B).

The wheel40shown inFIGS.1-3includes a central bore41(configured to fit around spindle24) and multiple (e.g.,8) radially extending spokes42each having a semicircular indentation at a radial end thereof, with the spokes42being separated by recesses44. In certain embodiments, the wheel40may be fabricated from multiple parts (such as discussed hereinafter in connection withFIG.4).

In certain embodiments, the first and second complementary body portions10, as well as the wheel40may be integrally formed from a polymeric and/or composite material (optionally incorporating reinforcing fibers) by techniques such as molding, machining, and/or three-dimensional printing. In certain embodiments, the foregoing elements may be fabricated of metal by casting, machining, or other additive or subtractive material processes.

FIG.4is an exploded perspective view of the wheel ofFIGS.1-3, showing the wheel as comprising first and second wheel portions40A,40B. Each wheel portion40A,40B comprises a bore41A,41B and has multiple (e.g., eight) radially projecting spokes42A,42B, with each spoke42A,42B defining a curved indentation43A,43B. Each wheel portion40A,40B has a medial hub surface48A,48B that includes projections45A,45B and defines recesses46A,46B that are arranged to cooperate with one another to couple the wheel portions40A,40B to one another.

FIG.5is a perspective view of the first complementary body portion10and wheel40ofFIG.1, with the wheel40received by the spindle24of the first complementary body portion10, and with a first segment50-1and a second segment50-2of a bead-type lift chain received by the first complementary body portion10and the wheel40. Although discrete segments50-1,50-2of the bead-type lift chain are illustrated, it is to be appreciated that such segments50-1,50-2would be part of a lift chain, and would extend beyond both ends11A,12of the first complementary body portion according to embodiments disclosed herein. As shown, the first segment50-1extends through the first upper opening portion15-1A, and the second segment50-2extends through the second upper opening portion15-2A, with both segments50-1,50-2extending through the internal r cavity14and being engaged with spokes of the wheel50.FIG.6Ashows the items ofFIG.5, with the second complementary body portion30superimposed from above.FIG.6Afurther includes directional arrows D1(representing an upward direction in use) and D2(representing a downward direction in use), with both direction arrows D1, D2representing a longitudinal direction the assembly (and a potential directions of travel of the lift chain through the assembly) and both being orthogonal to the spindle24.

Engagement between the wheel40and the lift chain is configured to allow free passage of the first and second segments50-1,50-2through the internal cavity in opposing directions (e.g., simultaneous movement of the first segment50-1in the first direction D1, and movement of the second segment50-2in the second direction D2, or vice-versa). Such engagement is also configured to prevent free passage of the first and second segments50-1,50-2through the internal cavity in the same direction (e.g., movement of both segments50-1,50-2in the first direction D1, or movement of both segments50-1,50-2in the second direction D2).FIGS.6B-6Cprovide additional partially exploded perspective views of items ofFIG.6A.FIG.6Dis a perspective view of the items ofFIGS.6A-6Cin assembled form (i.e., with the first and second complementary body portions coupled together, and with the wheel arranged therebetween) to form an apparatus5, with top portions of the apparatus5shown in the foreground. All of the various elements ofFIGS.6A-6Dhave been described previously herein.

The apparatus5is configured to be placed at the top of a cord channel enclosure in order to guide passage of a lift cord or lift chain into and out of the cord channel enclosure, as part of a cod actuating assembly. Such a cord channel enclosure may include a slider moveably engaged thereto, with the slider being configured to selectively engage the lift cord or lift chain through a slot defined in the cord channel enclosure, so that a user can effectuate movement of the lift cord or lift chain without contacting the lift cord or lift chain. In certain embodiments, a loop of lift cord or lift chain is continuous. In certain embodiments, a loop of lift cord or lift chain is discontinuous, wherein ends of the lift cord or lift chain outside of a cord channel enclosure may be coupled to an intermediate member (e.g., a clutch assembly, a roller, or other moveable member of configured to move the architectural opening covering) to close the loop.

FIG.7is a side elevational view of a cord actuating assembly88including the apparatus5ofFIG.6Dcoupled to a top end61of a cord channel enclosure60having a slider70moveably engaged thereto, with an end guide structure65coupled to a lower end62of the cord channel enclosure60. As shown, a continuous lift chain50(or lift cord in certain embodiments) is received by the cord actuating assembly88and extends through the apparatus5, the cord channel enclosure60, and the end guide structure65, with a fixed length subloop50′ of the lift chain50extending upward beyond the apparatus past an upper medial guide member18thereof. The fixed length subloop50′ is suitable for mating with generic clutch assemblies (e.g., the clutch assembly90as shown inFIG.11), wherein coupling between the loop50and the wheel (as illustrated and described previously herein) within the assembly5beneficially permits the subloop50′ to maintain its fixed length while simultaneously preventing slack from developing in the loop50within the cord channel enclosure60(and thereby preventing the loop50from being removed from an open slot64defined in the cord channel enclosure60The open slot64includes an open slot64that may extend the entire (or substantially the entire) height of the cord channel enclosure60, wherein the open slot64permits coupling between the slider70and a cord engagement member80within an interior of the cord channel enclosure60, while permitting the cord engagement member64and the slider70coupled thereto to translate relative to the cord channel enclosure60. The slider70has an actuating member72coupled thereto, with an optional handle74coupled to the actuating member72.

FIG.8is a front elevational assembly view of a portion of a cord channel enclosure60, slider70, and actuating member72, with a cord engagement member80arranged within an interior of the cord channel enclosure60. The slider70has a generally tubular shape and is configured to fit around an exterior of the cord channel enclosure60. A depression75defined in the slider70defines opposing fan-shaped openings76,77. Turning members86project outward from the actuating member72through the open slot64and the fan-shaped openings76,77to engage with the actuating member72arranged along an exterior of the cord channel enclosure60along the depression75. The cord engagement member80includes an upper engagement end81having an anvil shape, and includes a disengagement component84having opposing elastic members82,83(shown inFIG.9), with the turning members86being arranged between the upper engagement end193and the turning members86. If the actuating member72rotated or pivoted relative to the slider70, then the turning members86affixed thereto will likewise pivot within the cord channel enclosure60(with angular range of travel limited to a few degrees by the fan-shaped openings76,77) to cause the upper engagement end81to engage with a lift cord or lift chain within one side of the cord channel enclosure60. While this rotationally-initiated engagement is maintained by a user, the user may also move the slider70in an upward or downward direction to cause movement of the lift cord or lift chain within the cord channel enclosure60. The disengagement component84including the opposing elastic members82,83is configured to exert a restoring force that returns the upper engagement end81to a neutral (centered) position (i.e., so as not to engage a lift cord or lift chain within the cord channel enclosure60). Although a simple actuating member72is shown, it is to be appreciated that such member72may be supplemented or replaced with a rocker-type member (not shown) configured to be grasped by a user along an upper portion or lower portion thereof to alter a direction of rotation of the cord engagement member80. In use, a user may grasp the slider70and pivot the actuating element72to engage a lift cord or lift chain within the cord channel enclosure60, and then move the slider70upward or downward as desired to cause the lift cord or lift chain to move in a desired direction. Upon release of the actuating element72, the slider70may then be moved in an opposing direction and the above-described operation may be repeated any number of times as desired by a user in order to open or close a covering for an architectural opening by a desired amount.

FIG.9is a front elevational view showing the cord engagement member80ofFIG.8arranged between first and second segments50-1,50-2of a bead-type lift chain. When an actuation member (e.g.,71inFIG.8) coupled to the cord engagement member80is actuated by a user, the cord engagement member80is configured to rotate or pivot by a limited angular range Θ (e.g., of up to about 5 degrees in either direction from vertical, for a total pivotal range of about 10 degrees) to cause the upper engagement end81to engage one of the first or the second segment50-1,50-2so that the engaged segment50-1,50-2may be moved in a desired direction (thereby causing the non-engagement segment to move in an opposing direction, since it is understood that the segments50-1,50-2are part of a loop. When an actuation member is released by a user, a restoring force is exerted by one of the opposing elastic members82,83of the disengagement component84(which may be part of, or coupled to, the cord engagement member80) to disengage the upper engagement end81from either segment50-1,50-2.

FIG.10Ais a simplified front cross-sectional view of a portion of a cord channel enclosure60having an end guide structure65′ affixed to a lower end62of the cord channel enclosure60, with a bead-type lift chain (including lift chain segments50-1,50-2) extending through the cord channel enclosure60and the end guide structure65′. In this simplified view, a slot-defining front wall of the cord channel enclosure60is not visible. The end guide structure65′ includes a curved channel66, which may have a U-shape or other recurved shape, and that is configured to cooperate with a wheel (e.g.,40inFIGS.1-3) of an apparatus5for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord or lift chain as described previously herein to retain the lift cord or lift chain in a cord channel enclosure.FIG.10Bis a simplified front cross-sectional view of a portion of the same cord channel enclosure60and end guide structure65′ ofFIG.10B, but containing segments52-1,52-2of a continuous lift cord instead of a lift chain as illustrated inFIG.10A.

FIG.11is a perspective view of a conventional clutch assembly90configured to drive a roller to operate a cover for an architectural opening. The clutch assembly90includes a curved casing92including a cord or chain path94configured to receive a loop of lift cord or lift chain. The clutch assembly90further includes a coupling96configured to engage a roller of a cover for an architectural opening.

FIG.12is a perspective view of the cord actuating assembly88ofFIG.7(incorporating the apparatus5ofFIG.6Dcoupled to a top end of a cord channel enclosure60having a slider70and actuating member72moveably engaged thereto, with an end guide structure65coupled to a lower end of the cord channel enclosure60), with the cord actuating assembly88being operatively coupled (via fixed length subloop50′ of a lift chain or lift cord) to a clutch assembly90. The clutch assembly90has an associated mounting element90affixed to a frame100of an architectural opening, and the clutch assembly90is configured to drive a roller98to operate a cover (not shown) for the architectural opening. The portion of the fixed length subloop50′ between the clutch assembly90and the apparatus5provides considerable operating freedom to a user seeking to raise or lower an architectural cover (not shown) borne by the roller98, as the fixed length subloop50′ permits the cord channel enclosure60to be tilted along arcs in a multitude of different directions or planes. This same portion of the fixed length subloop50′ between the clutch assembly90and the apparatus5is subject to being twisted (e.g., by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 360 degrees, 540 degrees, 720 degrees, or an angular range spanning any two of the foregoing endpoints) if a user should rotate the cord channel enclosure60; however, the apparatus5is configured to maintain smooth operation of the cord actuating assembly88regardless of angular direction of the cord channel enclosure60and regardless of whether the fixed length subloop50′ may be twisted by 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 360 degrees, 540 degrees, 720 degrees, or an angular range spanning any two of the foregoing endpoints. As noted previously herein, the apparatus5includes a body structure having first and second upper openings that are separated by an upper medial guide member that protrudes beyond the upper openings, and the upper openings are sized and shaped to prevent binding of lift cords and lift chains, wherein the foregoing features ensure smooth passage of the cord actuating assembly88despite potential presence of twists in of the fixed length subloop50′ and regardless of position of the actuating assembly88relative to the clutch assembly90.

FIGS.13A-13Dillustrate a wheel140(which embodies an alternative to the wheel40illustrated and described previously) suitable for use as part of an apparatus for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord of an architectural opening covering according to one embodiment.FIG.13Ais a front elevational view,FIG.13Bis a cross-sectional view,FIG.13Cis a side elevational view, andFIG.13Dis a perspective view of the wheel140. The wheel140includes a central bore141and multiple (e.g., five) front radially projecting spokes142A that are positionally offset relative to multiple (e.g., five) rear radially projecting spokes1428. An inner face of each spoke142A,1428bounds a recess144that spans between adjacent spokes of an opposing face of the wheel140, wherein a total of ten such recesses144are provided. As shown inFIGS.13B and13C, a reduced depth region145is provided between each pair of adjacent recesses144, wherein the reduced depth region145may beneficially engage a lift cord, or accommodate a reduced diameter portion of a lift chain (e.g., a bead-type lift chain). In this manner, the wheel140may be used with either a lift cord or a lift chain in an apparatus5for separating, controlling, and directing a lift cord or lift chain as described previously herein.

While specific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments have been disclosed herein, it will be appreciated that the disclosure extends to and encompasses numerous other variations, modifications, and alternative embodiments, as will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, based on the disclosure herein. Various combinations and sub-combinations of the structures described herein are contemplated and will be apparent to a skilled person having knowledge of this disclosure. Any of the various features and elements as disclosed herein may be combined with one or more other disclosed features and elements unless indicated to the contrary herein. Correspondingly, the invention as hereinafter claimed is intended to be broadly construed and interpreted, as including all such variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, within its scope and including equivalents of the claims.