Patent Publication Number: US-8967226-B2

Title: Architectural cover operating assembly

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/289,479, entitled “Cordless Covering For Architectural Opening”, filed Dec. 23, 2009, and provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/297,659, “Cordless Covering For Architectural Opening”, filed Jan. 22, 2010, and provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/300,432, entitled “Cordless Covering For Architectural Opening”, filed Jan. 22, 2010, and provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/411,342, entitled “Cordless Covering For Architectural Opening”, filed Nov. 8, 2010, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     This application is also related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/976,732, filed Dec. 22, 2010, entitled “Cordless Covering for Architectural Opening”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments disclosed herein include cordless window and architectural passage coverings. In particular, in one embodiment, a covering incorporates a separate sheet of material attached at one end to a roller, and at the other end to the covering, whereby the sheet of material extends and retracts the covering from an architectural passage. Moreover, in one embodiment, guide members may be attached to a covering by which the separate sheet of material passes through such guide members, wherein as the sheet is drawn upwards through the guide members, the guide members stack in an accordion fashion and raise the covering upwardly into folded layers of a roman shade. Additionally, in one embodiment, a pull cord guide that can be retro fitted to existing shades to avoid having a hazardous loop is disclosed. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the use of window and architectural passage coverings, the art has long relied on cords, string 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. The 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 Aug. 26, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of all ¼ inch Oval Roll-up Blinds and Woolrich Roman Shades, including some 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades, (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09324.html). The Commission referenced the hazard that “[s]trangulations can occur if the lifting loops slide off the side of the blind and a child&#39;s neck becomes entangled on the free-standing loop or if a child places his/her neck between the lifting loop and the roll-up blind material.” Recent cited injuries include a report that “[i]n November 2007, a 1-year-old boy from Norridgewock, Me. became entangled and strangled in the lift cord loop of a roll-up blind that had fallen into his portable crib. In October 2008, a 13-month-old boy from Conway, Ark. was found with his head between the exposed inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a Roman shade. The cord was not looped around the boy&#39;s neck but rather ran from ear to ear and strangled the child.” Numerous manufacturers and retailers have followed their call. Additional information may be found at: (http://www.windowcoverings.org). 
     In addition to the internal cords attached to the shade or blinds that can be pulled out and pose a problem, the pull cords, string and beaded cords in mechanical based blinds and shades that are pulled on to draw up the blinds or shades also pose a risk since they also create a hazardous loop of sufficient diameter (12 inches per the Consumer Product Safety Commission) for a small child to get their head tangled inside. Even the retrofit devices currently available (http://www.windowcoverings.org/how_to_retrofit.html) do not eliminate the hazardous loops created by the beaded cords even if they are tied to the wall with a tie-down device such as a Rollease™ product or with separated draw strings and/or cord stops that could still become tangled together to create a hazardous loop. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,624,784 to Anthony, et al. (hereinafter “Anthony”) discloses a segmented roll-up covering with a plurality of roller assemblies utilized to form panels wherein each roller assembly includes a strip of flexible lift sheet material and an associated roller about which the material can be wrapped. One edge of the lift sheet material is fixed to a relatively rigid bar or is otherwise supported while the opposite edge is secured to its associated roller. The roller with the lift sheet material secured thereto is cradled in one of a plurality of cradles provided in a first lift system which includes a cord ladder or similar structure so that upon movement of one vertical run of the cord ladder between an elevated and a lowered position while the other vertical run remains stationary, the cradle is raised or lowered thereby lifting or lowering the roller causing it to roll and either roll the fabric thereabout or unroll the fabric there from depending upon the direction of rotational movement of the roller. One problem with this system is that the lift system is enabled by a cord ladder, which as mentioned above, can pose a danger to small children. 
     There have been attempts to create cordless coverings in the art. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,547 to Cheng, et al. (hereinafter “Cheng”) discloses an assembly that includes a shade capable of height adjustment, comprising a shade with multiple pleats, a roller, a strap that extends through multiple pleats of the assembly, and at least one strap operatively connected with the roller to be raised and lowered as the height of the shade is increased or decreased. While Cheng discloses a cordless lift mechanism, the lift mechanism disclosed involves straps or narrow ribbons of fabric that would not reduce the strangulation risk to a child. In addition, the straps are threaded through the shade, exposing holes by which light can pass through the shade. Moreover, the straps are not sufficient to hold heavy shades, curtains and the like. 
     U.S. Published Patent Application No. 20050109468 to Hsu (hereinafter “Hsu”) discloses a cordless blind structure that includes a blind body attached to the underside of an upper beam, and a plurality of magnet components of elongated bars or blocks equidistantly distributed from the bottom-most slat upward to the top of the blind body. Hsu&#39;s system includes magnet components fixed to the outer surface of the blind body that acts as a cordless lift mechanism wherein the magnet components are consecutively lifted upwards and sequentially piled up in order to fold up the slats of the blind body. To unfold the blind body, the blind body is pulled slightly downwards by the bottom-most slat to detach the engaged magnet components from one another, releasing the collected blind body to suspend downwards. One drawback to the system of Hsu is the requirement of having expensive and likely heavy magnets capable of holding the weight of the blind or sacrificing weight for security that precludes the use of such system with heavier coverings such as shades, curtains and the like. Moreover, the system of Hsu fails to include guiding members to assure that the blind is folded properly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,706,876 to Lysyj (hereinafter “Lysyj”) discloses a cordless, cellular window shade that uses a conventional roller shade bar to raise and lower transversely spaced tapes that extend through slits in the cellular fabric and are secured to the bottom rail of the shade. The deficiencies of the Cheng shade assembly are also present in the shade disclosed in Lysyj. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,096 to Thomsen et al. (hereinafter “Thomsen”) discloses an apparatus for gripping lengths of sheet material in a foldable blind or shade, in a blind that is composed of one continuous piece of fabric. Tubular members having longitudinal openings therein which accept the sheet material through grooves are described. Rod members also fit within the tubular members, to hold the sheet material between the tubular members and the rod members. Guide means are arranged to guide pull cords, and engage a longitudinal groove in each tubular member. Thomsen discloses a powered lift mechanism, but only exemplifies shades that include corded lift mechanisms that do not eliminate the risk of strangulation. 
     In consequence, the art is in need of improvement in coverings for architectural openings that maintains the functionality and aesthetics of previously developed coverings, but avoids their deficiencies, particularly their hazardous character as regards the risk of injury or death associated with the use of cord arrangements. The art also is in need of a new mechanism to drive the lifting mechanism of shades and blinds that avoids creating a hazardous loop. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed in the present description relate to cordless coverings for an architectural opening, such as a window, door, portal, or the like. In one embodiment, a cord loop enclosure for shades and blinds is disclosed and is configured to replace the looped beaded cords pull cords, and strings that drive a rolling mechanism to draw up the blinds or shade. 
     In one embodiment, a shade with a cordless lift mechanism is disclosed that comprises a roller, guide members or looped bars, and an inner and outer material, e.g., fabric material. In another aspect, the material can comprise any woven or non woven sheet or web of lift sheet material, or film or sheet material, with the first inner lift sheet material connected at one end to the roller and at the other end engaged in some manner to the outer material. 
     In one embodiment, the second outer material or decorative shade itself is secured at an upper end portion to a support member. The support member can be any well known construction of material that houses a rolling mechanism to draw up the shade, e.g., wherein the support member is attached to a wall above an architectural opening. The support member can for example comprise a box or rectangular-shaped panel that is covered with decorative fabric matching that of the shade or second material. 
     In various further implementations, the first or inner material behind the shade is generally hidden from view and is engaged with the bottom of the shade material, such that the first guide or lift sheet material is drawn up by the roller, thereby pulling from the bottom the bottom of the shade material. Alignment may be maintained during the raising and lowering of the shade by the use of guide members that can be attached to the shade, which maintain alignment and also allow for pleated stacking of the shade as the inner lift sheet material pulls on the bottom of the shade material, but which itself has its movement restricted to being close to the shade material by the guide members. As the lift sheet material is drawn up, the guide members that enclose the lift sheet material may be sequentially spaced along the shade material and begin stacking together to force the shade material to fold like an accordion as the shade is drawn up. 
     A further aspect to a cordless lift system comprising a monitoring assembly adapted to stop the first material from being wound about the roller, when stress, load or strain exceeding a predetermined value is sensed by the monitoring assembly as being exerted on a location or component of the covering. 
     In another aspect, looped guide bars may be arranged horizontally and attached to an outer shade material at regular vertical intervals, with the inner lift sheet material threaded through the loop formed by the guide bars. The inner material or “roller shade” slides freely through the guide bars as the shade is rolled up without the use of a cord to “pull” up the shade. In this manner, the covering system provides a cordless lift mechanism that does not present the risk of child strangulation prevalent in shades that use corded lift mechanisms. The inner lift sheet material can be attached at or near the bottom of the lift sheet material at or near the bottom of the shade material, or can have some engaging elements such as magnetic strips, Velcro® fastener tapes, or an elongated bar sewn into the bottom of the inner lift sheet material that is of a greater length than the inner lift sheet material and of a greater length than the space between the two loops of the guide members that are positioned at spaced intervals along the vertical extent of the shade, such that the bar collects each guide member from the bottom up as the inner guide shade is raised to raise the outer shade material in the same stacked accordion fashion. 
     In implementations in which magnetic strips are employed as engaging elements, the magnetic strips are preferably weight sensitive to weight levels of around 8 pounds, or more or less, such that if a child were able to separate the inner lift sheet material from the guides, leaving the inner lift sheet material nonetheless attached to the shade material and crawling between them, the weight of the child would break the magnetic bond, opening the inner and outer materials to release the child from any otherwise hazardous confinement. Likewise, Velcro® fastener tapes can be used that are weight sensitive in character, so that respective tape members disengage from one another when the engaged strips are subjected to a separational weight thereon, e.g., of 8 pounds or less, or alternatively of 8 pounds or more. 
     In one embodiment, the invention relates to a cordless shade lift system is disclosed that can include a roller in one of a number of functional styles, including a conventional clutch mechanism with a loop pull cord that could be tied out of reach of small children or that can be encased within a loop cord enclosure, a spring loaded roller that enables manual raising or lowering, a gravity free rolling mechanism for easy specific positioning at any desired level, or a motorized mechanism for automatic raising or lowering. 
     In the motorized shade systems, an additional torsion based safety mechanism or safety clutch commonly known in the art can be arranged such that when the motorized system recognizes strain exceeding a predetermined value on the system, the motorized system will shut down and not raise the shade. Thus, the shade is not drawn up if for example a child manages to crawl into any potential pocket created at or near the bottom of the first lift sheet material as attached to the second shade material. Such a system can be combined with the bar, magnetic connector, or Velcro® hook and loop fastener system described above to further insure that a child would not get drawn up into the shade should they be able to insert themselves into a pocket created between the first lift sheet material and the second shade material. 
     In one embodiment, a cordless shade lift system inner material or “roller shade,” is disclosed which may include a mesh or similar extension attached to the bottom end that incorporates a weighted dowel to “square” the shade. The material would ideally not be so thin and of such short width to allow the material to be bunched up creating a dangerous loop. 
     In one embodiment, guide members or continuous loops may be attached to a shade material to make a continuous loop around the inner lift sheet material of the lift system, such that the inner material is pulled up through the guide members thereby successively stacking (upwardly in a bottom up progression) the guide members as the inner lift sheet material is pulled upwardly through the guide members. 
     In another embodiment, guide members or hooks are disclosed that only extend around the inner lift sheet material to a relatively short extent, e.g., by about a couple inches, but which are continuous across the shade material behind the inner lift sheet material, effectuating a same stacking of the shade as the inner lift sheet material is drawn up by the roller. These guide members would not create a complete loop as described above, but would instead allow for the lift sheet material to be pulled through the hooks on each of the (left and right) sides of the shade assembly, rather than being pulled all the way through the continuous loop guides. This system combined with an elongated guide bar attached to the lift sheet at or need the bottom would allow for an additional safety element such that the inner lift sheet could be pulled away from the decorative material to keep small children from getting stuck in any pockets created therein should they crawl between the lift sheet and decorative material. 
     In another embodiment, a covering for an architectural opening is disclosed which comprises: a support member; a roller secured to the support member; a first material having a proximal portion secured to the roller, whereby the first material can be wound about the roller or unwound there from; a second material having a proximal portion secured to the support member and a distal portion secured to a distal portion of the first material; and at least one guide member attached to the second material, whereby the at least one guide member guides the second material about the first material as the first material is wound about the roller or unwound there from. 
     In one embodiment, a shade kit is disclosed that can be readily assembled with ease, that comprises: a support member; a roller secured to the support member; a first (inner guide) material having a proximal portion secured to the roller, whereby the first material can be wound about the roller or unwound there from; a second (shade) material having a proximal portion secured to the support member and a distal portion secured to a distal portion of the first material; and at least one guide member attached to the second material, whereby the at least one guide member guides the second material about the first material as the first material is wound about the roller or unwound there from. The at least one guide member can in specific implementations comprise at least one straight rod adapted to be fitted on each end to U-shaped guide members spaced apart to sufficiently couple each end of the first material for alignment of the first material as it is drawn up by the roller. Alternatively, the at least one guide member could comprise two straight rods adapted to be fitted on each end with U-shaped guide members so as to form a complete loop around the first material. 
     In another embodiment, a system with a do-it-yourself kit is disclosed that comprises a support member; a roller secured to the support member; a first lift sheet (inner guide) material having a proximal portion secured to the roller, whereby the first material can be wound about the roller or unwound there from; a second (decorative shade) material having a proximal portion engaged with the support member and a distal portion secured to a distal portion of the first material, wherein the decorative shade is devoid of a liner, the need for which is obviated by the first lift sheet material; and at least one guide member attached to the second material, whereby the at least one guide member guides the second material about the first material as the first material is wound about the roller or unwound there from. The system may include U-shaped rings that easily fit on guide bars to create the guide members. The guide bars may have loops or holes in one or more places for sewing to the decorative shade, or may be attached within a pocket created by or on the back of the decorative shade and/or with a Ronco® button fastener or rivets allowing for easy attachment. The decorative shade itself can be readily clamped, fastened or attached at one end to the support member and engaged at a different section to the lift sheet material. 
     In one embodiment, a covering as described above is disclosed, wherein the at least one guide member comprises a plurality of guide members attached at intervals along the second material, that fold the second material into an accordion folded compacted form when the first material is wound about the roller. 
     In another embodiment, a cordless cover system for an architectural opening is disclosed, comprising: a support member; a rolling mechanism secured to the support member; a first material having a proximal portion secured to the rolling mechanism, whereby the first material can be wound about the roller or unwound there from; a second material having a proximal portion secured to the support member and a distal portion secured to a distal portion of the first material; and at least one guide member attached to the second material, whereby the at least one guide member guides the second material about the first material as the first material is wound about the rolling mechanism or unwound there from. 
     In a further embodiment, a method of making a cordless cover for an architectural opening is disclosed, comprising: providing a support member; attaching a rolling mechanism to the support member; attaching a first material at a proximal location of said first material to the rolling mechanism, whereby the first material can be wound about the roller or unwound there from; attaching a second material at a proximal location of said second material to the support member; attaching a distal location of said second material to a distal location of said first material; and attaching at least one guide member to the second material, whereby the at least one guide member guides the second material about the first material as the first material is wound about the rolling mechanism or unwound there from. 
     Also disclosed is a cordless covering system, comprising a covering sheet suspended or suspendable from a support and secured at its lower end portion to a lower end portion of a lifting sheet that is joined at its upper end to a lifting and lowering apparatus, with guide structure that couples the covering sheet with the lifting sheet so as to enable the lifting sheet during lifting thereof to compact the covering sheet into an upwardly compacted form, and during lowering thereof to release the covering sheet from its upwardly compacted form to a downwardly extending sheet conformation. 
     In one aspect of such cordless covering system, the guide structure comprises laterally extending guide members coupled to the covering sheet and engaging the lifting sheet at edge portions thereof. 
     In another aspect, the lifting sheet has secured to a distal end thereof a laterally extending bar that engages the guide structure to effect folding of the covering sheet into an accordion-folded compacted form when said lifting sheet is lifted. 
     In another embodiment, a cordless covering system is disclosed, wherein the covering sheet and lifting sheet are secured to one another at their distal portions by matably engageable securement elements on each of said distal portions. 
     The cordless covering system in a further aspect comprises a monitoring assembly adapted to stop the lifting sheet from being lifted when stress, load or strain exceeding a predetermined value is sensed by the monitoring assembly as being exerted on a location or component of the cordless shade system. 
     In another aspect, the cordless covering system comprises a motor arranged to reversibly raise or lower the lifting sheet. 
     In another aspect, a loop cord control enclosure is disclosed to encase a looped cord attached to the shade or blind system at the top to drive the rolling mechanism that raises and lowers a shade or blinds. The cord is encassed to protect any hazardous loops from being exposed, and exposes the cord on each side of a shaft to allow an operator to draw the cord and shade/blind up and down. The mechanism is adapted to be retrofitted onto an existing shade or originally fit on any of the systems described above. In one embodiment, the loop cord enclosure is attached at the roller at the top, has the cord encased in an enclosure with two channels (also called “cord tracks”) to keep each loop separate, has the cord exposed in the middle on each side of a shaft, and is again enclosed at the bottom all the way to a pully wheel. In another embodiment, that pully wheel at the bottom may alternatively be a spring tension mechanism or a weight to keep the cord taut. 
     In another aspect, a cord channel enclosure may completely enclose the cord and utilize a slider to actuate the cord within the cord channel enclosure. 
     Other aspects, features and embodiments will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the present disclosure and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a representative back view of one embodiment of the cordless covering system. 
         FIG. 2  is a representative side view of one embodiment of the cordless covering system. 
         FIG. 3  is a representative view of the guide member with a blow-up view of the components in one embodiment of the cordless covering system. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of one embodiment comprising the materials utilized in the method of making a cordless cover for an architectural opening, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a representative view of the back of one embodiment of the cordless shade system. 
         FIG. 6  is a representative view of the side of one embodiment of the cordless shade system. 
         FIG. 7  is a representative view of the shade engaged with the lift sheet material in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a representative view of the shade disengaged with the lift sheet material in one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a representative side view of another embodiment of the cordless covering system. 
         FIG. 10  is a representative view of one embodiment of a sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure. 
         FIG. 11  a schematic representation of one embodiment comprising a cross-sectional front inside and back inside view of the sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure, a front-view assembled view, and a detailed cross sectional view. 
         FIG. 12  is a close-up representative view of one embodiment of the top of a sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure with a cross-sectional view of each side on the left and an assembled view on the right. 
         FIG. 13  is a close-up representative view of one embodiment of the bottom of a sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure with a cross-sectional view of each side on the left and an assembled view on the right. 
         FIG. 14  is a representative view of one embodiment of the sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a cord channel enclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded view of a roller mechanism in the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the roller mechanism having a cord placed within an engagement chamber. 
         FIG. 18  is a separated view of a slider and the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the slider engaged with the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure. 
         FIG. 20  is an exploded view of the slider and a cord engagement mechanism. 
         FIG. 21  is a separated view showing a cord engagement member and a cord disengagement member within the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure, an actuation component, and the slider. 
         FIG. 22  is another separated view showing the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure, the actuation component, and the slider. 
         FIG. 23  is a separated view showing the cord engagement member and the cord disengagement member within the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure, another embodiment of the actuation component, and another embodiment of the slider. 
         FIG. 24  is a separated view showing the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure, the other embodiment of the actuation component, and the other embodiment of the slider. 
         FIG. 25  is a side view of the cord engagement member, the cord disengagement member, and the cord. 
         FIG. 26  is a top view of the cord engagement member. 
         FIG. 27  is an exploded view of end structures for second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross sectional view of the bottom of the second embodiment of the cord channel enclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims. 
     Embodiments disclosed in the present Specification relate to a cordless covering for an architectural opening, such as a window, door or the like. 
     The advantages and features of the embodiments disclosed herein are further illustrated with reference to the following disclosure, which is not to be construed as in any way limiting the scope of the invention but rather as illustrative of the invention in a specific application thereof. 
     In one embodiment, the cordless covering system is schematically depicted in  FIG. 1  from the back side, showing the first lift sheet material with the decorative shade material behind it. The cordless shade system includes a support member  100  for attaching to or above a window, door, portal or other architectural opening. The support member  100  is preferably attached at the top of the architectural opening so that gravity can aid in lowering the covering or shade  102  over the opening. The decorative shade (second) material  102  is preferably attached to the support member  100  at one end, and is affixed or engaged in some way to a flexible inner guide (first) lift sheet material  105  at another end. The inner lift sheet material  105  replaces cords in a corded system, whereby the potential danger of strangulation for small children is avoided. The inner lift sheet material  105  is typically affixed or engaged near or at its bottom with the decorative shade material  102 , at or near the bottom of the shade material  102 . This arrangement allows the shade material  102  to be fully extended when the inner lift sheet material  105  is fully extended. The decorative shade material  102  may be affixed or engaged to the decorative shade material  102  in any suitable manner, such as with magnetic strips, Velcro® hook and loop fastener members, adhesive, stitching, a pocket for collecting the bottom-most guide member  104 , or by having a lift sheet material engagement bar  113  attached to the inner lift sheet material  105  via a stitching or lift sheet material engagement bar pocket  114  that is of greater length than the width defined by the guide members  104  secured to the decorative shade material  102 . 
     The flexible lift sheet material  105  can be any woven or non-woven material, fabric or the like that is strong enough to raise the decorative shade material  102  from the end thereof opposite the end that is attached to the support member  100 . Ideally, the decorative shade material  102  will have one or more guide members  104  that allow the flexible inner lift sheet material  105  to pass through as it is raised or lowered by a roller  101 . The decorative shade material  102  is attached, e.g., sewn, bonded or otherwise removably or non-removably secured to the guide members at one or more attachment points  103 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment point  103  is a simple circular eyelet at each end of the guide member  104 . As the roller  101  begins rotating in a direction that draws in the lift sheet material  105 , the lift sheet material  105  attached at the bottom to the shade  102  begins pulling on the shade until the very bottom guide member  104  starts being raised. The lift sheet material  105  passes through the guide member  104 , drawing up the bottom guide member  104  and shade  102  that are attached to one another at attachment point  103  until the bottom guide member  104  reaches the next highest guide member  104  from the bottom. This process continues as the guide members  104  are drawn together like an accordion to form a compacted folded conformation  106  as shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the shade  102  is folded up. At a final point, the all guide members  104  will be collected together. At this point the flexible member  105  is fully raised by the roller  101 . Variable length guide members, support members, shade material, and lift sheet material may be provided as components of a do-it-yourself kit for the cordless shade system. 
     The guide members  104  are advantageously selected to be strong enough to handle the weight of the entire shade  102  along with any other guide members  104  drawn up by the lift sheet material  105 , but light enough not to cause excessive strain on the roller  101 . The guide members  104 , including guide rods  108  and end clips or U-shaped brackets  107 , can be made of any suitable metal, plastic, polymer, acrylic, or other material, and may be formed by extrusion, injection molding, machining, casting, forging, etc. One advantageous embodiment includes metal guide rods  108  and injection molded end clips or brackets  107 . The guide members  104  can form an entire loop shape with two equal length bars  108  capped on each end with U-shaped ends  107  to constitute a complete loop around the lift sheet material  105 . Such U-shaped end caps  107  might ideally have female connectors to allow coupling to male ends on the guide rods  108  for ease of installation. The guide members could also merely comprise one guide shaft  108  attached to the shade  102  with hook or U-shaped brackets  107  on each end of each guide shaft  108  to sufficiently couple the lift sheet material  105  as for example is shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  7  and  8 . 
     Likewise, the attachment points  103  are advantageously strong enough to attach the guide members  104  to the shade  102  in any number of ways, including attachment with sew holes, rivets, button fasteners or the like. Additionally, the guide shafts or rods  108  of the guide members may be rectangular in profile or cylindrical with a flat surface or 2 flat surfaces, e.g., with a profile of ⅜″× 3/16″ and having any suitable length. Alternatively, or in addition, the guide rods  108  can include small sew holes spaced along the length of the rod, to allow the decorative shade  102  to be sewn to or otherwise attached in a secure manner to the guide members  104 . 
       FIG. 2  is a representative side view of one embodiment of the cordless covering system, again disclosing the support member  100 , roller  101 , shade  102 , guide members  104 , and lift sheet material  105 . Note that this view depicts the shade  102  partially drawn up with a number of guide members  104 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts the guide member  104  with U-shaped brackets  107  that can be adapted to any length of guide shaft  108 , to accommodate any size of architectural opening. In addition, an exploded view of the guide bar  104  reveals an attachment point  103  as comprising an eyelet in one embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic representation of one embodiment comprising the materials utilized in the method of making a cordless covering for an architectural opening, in accordance with one embodiment. In particular,  FIG. 4  reveals the shade  102  with perforated cut lines  111  for sizing the shade  102  and attachment to the support member  100 , a molded dowel rod  109  attached at the bottom of the shade  102 , a lift sheet material  105  that has a slotted channel as one embodiment of a guide material engagement member  110 , wherein the slotted channel  110  and molded dowel rod  109  are designed to fit together at an attachment point  112 , to attach the shade  102  to the lift sheet material  105  as is shown in the exploded view in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of the back of one embodiment of the cordless shade system, comprising the support member  100 , shade  102 , guide members  104 , and lift sheet material  105 . 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic representation from the side of one embodiment of the cordless shade system, comprising the support member  100 , shade  102 , and lift sheet material  105 . 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic representation from the exploded back side of the shade member  102  as engaged with the lift sheet  105  by way of a guide member  104  that has a portion of the U-shaped end clip  107  secured by a pocket  115  created above the enclosure  114  near the bottom of guide material  105  at an engagement point  112 , and further secured by a guide material engagement bar  113  attached to the lift sheet material  105  by way of an enclosure  114  created near the bottom of guide material  105  specifically for and to secure the engagement bar  113 . 
     Although the shade  102  is described in reference to a window shade or covering, it is to be understood that such a structure can be used in conjunction with any type of opening, including architectural openings such as doors, hatches, portals, entry ways and the like. 
       FIG. 8  is a representative view of the shade disengaged from the lift sheet material in one embodiment, wherein the same reference numbers identify the same component parts as are shown in  FIG. 7 . Such disengagement is made easily when the lift sheet  105  with pocket  115  and guide bar  113  are pulled away from the shade  102  and guide member  104  in a direction other than directly upwards. This safety design allows for disengagement should the system be tampered with, and will also disengage when sufficient weight is applied to the lift sheet  105 . Otherwise, the lift sheet  105  remains engaged to the shade  102  when being drawn vertically upward by the roller  101 . 
       FIG. 9  is a representative side view of another embodiment of the cordless covering system, including a support member  100 , roller  101 , shade  102 , guide members  104 , and lift sheet material  105 . Note that this view depicts the shade  102  partially drawn up with a number of guide members  104 , to form a compacted folded conformation  106  as shown. 
     The cordless covering system of  FIG. 9  includes a beaded chain or pull cord  116  for driving a mechanical-based shade retraction/extension assembly. The pull cord or beaded chain  116  in this arrangement is sheathed in a dual or single channel cord enclosure  117 , with a crank device  118  is coupled to the cord or chain at the end of the sheathing channel enclosure  117  to enable retraction or extension of the shade  102  by manual cranking manipulation of the crank device  118  to rotate the roller  101 . 
     Thus, in one embodiment, a cover is disclosed that comprises a crank mechanism that is manually actuatable to wind the lift sheet about the roller or to unwind the lift sheet from the roller. Such crank mechanism may be mechanically coupled to the roller for rotation thereof in either of a first rotation direction or a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. The crank mechanism may be mechanically coupled to the roller by any suitable coupling structure, such as for example a beaded chain that is mounted inside a channel member. The dual or single channel enclosure  117  may take on many forms, including having an exposed cord that ideally won&#39;t create a hazardous loop of 12 inches or more in diameter. 
     Such a system is disclosed in  FIG. 10  which is a schematic representation from the side of one embodiment disclosing a sheathed dual channel cord enclosure  117  attached to the roller  101  via a roller mechanism  119 . Such a universal or custom fit roller mechanism  119  would allow for retro-fitting of old corded and like systems in addition to adapting to the shade systems of the various embodiments disclosed herein. The roller mechanism  119  is ideally attached to the sheathed dual channel cord enclosure  117  and feeds a draw cord mechanism (or beaded loop chain, string, twine, rope or the like) into the each of the two loop cords tracks  123  ( FIGS. 11-13 ). As used herein, the term “cord” or “cord mechanism” may include chains, such as beaded loop chains, string, twine, rope, or the like. The cords  124  are then exposed  120  in the middle of the sheathed enclosure  117  running generally parallel to the support neck  122  of the sheathed enclosure  117  and back into the loop cord tracks  123  and around a pulley or spring tension mechanism  121  at the bottom of the sheathed enclosure  117 . In one embodiment, a weight may be used in place of the spring tension mechanism  121  at the bottom of the sheathed enclosure  117  to retain the cord mechanism at a distal point from the roller mechanism  119 . The exposed portions of the cords  120  are pulled tight enough between the upper roller mechanism  119  and lower pulley  121  to keep the cords  120  from being pulled away from the sheathed enclosure to form any hazardous loop. While  FIG. 10  discloses a dual channel sheath enclosure  117 , a single corded system could also be implemented with the pulley  121  instead being a spring tension mechanism, weight, or roller that rolls up one cord. 
       FIG. 11  a schematic representation of one embodiment comprising a cross-sectional front inside and back inside view of the sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure  117  on the left in a detailed cross sectional view and up close in detail below that shows the bottom of the enclosure  117  where the pulley  121  engages the cord  124  as it loops down the loop cord track  123  and around the pulley wheel  121 . In addition,  FIG. 11  reveals a front-view assembled view on the top right. 
       FIG. 12  is a representative view of one embodiment of the sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure  117  at the top in a detailed cross sectional view of each front and back side of the arm with the cord  124  and cord tracks  123 . On the right, the enclosure  117  reveals the roller mechanism  119  attached at the top to be engaged with a shade roller  101  to drive the system. 
       FIG. 13  is a representative view of one embodiment of the sheathed dual channel pull cord enclosure  117  at the bottom in a detailed cross sectional view of each front and back side of the arm with the cord  124  and cord tracks  123  as the cord  124  loops around the pulley  121 . 
       FIG. 14  is a representative view of the assembled dual channel pull cord enclosure  117  with exposed cord  120 , support neck  122  that also acts to keep the cord from exposing any hazardous loops, the axle of the pulley  121  at the bottom of the enclosure  117 , and the roller mechanism  119  at the top that could ideally be retro-fitted to any prior shade or blind system. In addition, either or both the roller mechanism  119  and the pulley  121  can be spring loaded or spring tensioned mechanisms commonly known in the art, but which are ideally shielded from view by the sheathed enclosure  117 . Alternately, a weight may be used in place of the spring tension mechanism. 
       FIG. 15  is directed towards another embodiment of a cord channel enclosure  126  capable of actuating the lift sheet  105  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) and turn the roller  101  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In this embodiment, the cord (shown in  FIG. 14 ) is not exposed and is contained entirely within the cord channel enclosure  126 . A roller mechanism  128  may be provided on a top portion of the cord channel enclosure  126  for insertion or formed as part of the roller  101 . As shall be explained in further detail below, a slider  130  may be movably engaged to the cord channel enclosure  126  so that sliding the slider  130  actuates the roller  101  to lift and lower the lift sheet  105 . 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the roller mechanism  128 . The roller mechanism  128  may include first and second body portions  132 ,  134  and first, second, and third hollowed shafts  136 ,  138 ,  140 . The first hollowed shaft  136  may be narrower than the second and third hollowed shafts  138 ,  140  but also longer so that it can be inserted into the second and third hallowed shafts  138 ,  140 . Similarly, the second hollowed shaft  138  may be narrower than the third hollowed shaft but also longer to fit within the third hollowed shaft  140 . The third hollowed shaft  140  is inserted into, engages, or is integrated with the roller  101  (shown in  FIG. 1 ) so that turning the third hollowed shaft  140  actuates the lift sheet  105  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). A cord  142 , which in this example is a beaded chain, may be inserted within a ring channel  143  in the second hollowed shaft  138 . The second hollowed shaft  138  thus acts as a pulley for the cord  142  so that actuating the cord  142  turns the second hollowed shaft. As discussed above, the second hollowed shaft  138  may be inserted within the third hollowed shaft  140  and thus turning the second hollowed shaft  138  also turns the third hollowed shaft  140  to actuate the roller  101 . To connect the first, second, and third hollowed shafts  136 ,  138 ,  140  to the first body portion  132 , the first hollowed shaft  136  defines an engagement end  145  having a lip  147 . A ringed enclosure  148  having an opening  150  is provided within an engagement chamber  149  of the first body portion  132 . The lip  147  may be inserted through the opening and into the ringed enclosure  148  to thereby connect the first, second, and third hollowed shafts  136 ,  138 ,  140 . The first, second, and third hollowed shafts  136 ,  138 ,  140  may provide sufficient friction to prevent the roller  101  from being turned when the cord  142  is intended to be actuated. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the engagement chamber  148  also houses the cord  142  to prevent the cord  142  in the ringed channel  143  from being exposed. The first and second body portion  132 ,  134 , may also each include a pair of guide channels  152  that guide the cord  142  and prevent the cord  142  from becoming tangled. Each of the first and second body portions  132 ,  134  may also have insertable ends  154 ,  156 . The first and second body portions  132 ,  134  engage one another and their insertable ends  154 ,  156 , are placed within a first end  158  of the cord channel enclosure  126 . In this manner, the cord  142  is not exposed by the roller mechanism  128 . 
       FIG. 18  illustrate a top view of the cord channel enclosure  126  and the slider  130 . The slider  130  may have an outside enclosure  160 , a housing enclosure  162  contained within the outside enclosure  160  and a sliding member  164  that connects the outside enclosure  160  and housing enclosure  162 . The housing enclosure  162  may be divided into a pair of guiding channels  165 ,  166  that receive the cord  142  (shown in  FIG. 17 ). Furthermore, the cord channel enclosure  126  may define a slit  168  that extends throughout the length of the cord channel enclosure  126 . As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , a portion of the cord channel enclosure  126  may be enclosed by the outside enclosure  160  and the sliding member  164  may be received in the slit  168  to allow for the slider  130  to slide along the cord channel enclosure  126 . The housing enclosure  162  may be received in and enclosed by the cord channel enclosure  126 . 
       FIG. 20  illustrates the slider  130  and an exploded view of a cord engagement mechanism  170  that is operably associated with the slider  130  so that sliding the slider  130  along the cord channel enclosure  126  (illustrated in  FIG. 18 ) actuates the cord  142  (illustrated in  FIG. 17 ). The cord engagement mechanism  170  includes a cord engagement member  172  and a cord disengagement component  174  (“the engagement members”). The cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174  are contained within the housing enclosure  162  (shown in  FIG. 18 ) after assembly. A connection pin  175  may be inserted through the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174  to couple the components. In other embodiments, the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174  may simply be part of one integrated device. 
     In this embodiment, an actuating component  176  is received within a depression  178  defined by the slider  130 . A shaft  180  connects the actuating component  176  to the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174 . In this manner, turning the actuating component  176  clockwise and counterclockwise within the depression  178  also turns the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174 . 
       FIG. 21  illustrates the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174  within the cord channel enclosure  126  along with a separated view of the slider  130  and the actuation component  176  from the cord channel enclosure. As the actuation component  176  is turned, the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174  are also turned within housing enclosure  162  (shown in  FIG. 18 ) of the slider  130  which is inside the cord channel enclosure  126  when the cord channel enclosure  126  has been assembled. In this embodiment, the depression  178  includes engagement members  181 A,  181 B. 
       FIG. 22  illustrates the other side of the actuation component  176  which includes oppositely disposed openings  182 . The engagement members may be received in the openings  182  so that the engagement members slide in the openings  182  as the actuation component  176  is turned. In this manner, the openings  182  are shaped to define the angular range for turning the actuation component  176  and, as a result, also define the angular range for turning the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174 . 
       FIG. 23  illustrates another embodiment of an actuation component  184  and a slider  186 . In this embodiment, a depression  188  in the slider  186  defines oppositely disposed fan shaped openings  190 .  FIG. 24  illustrates the other side of the actuation component  184  that defines oppositely disposed turning members  192 . The turning members  192  may be placed within and slide within the fan shaped openings  190  as the actuation member  184  is turned. In this manner, the fan shaped openings  190  may be shaped to define the angular range for turning the actuation component  184  and, as a result, also define the angular range for turning the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 25 , the cord engagement member  172  may be turned to engage the cord  142  so that sliding the slider  130  (shown in  FIG. 19 ) along the cord channel enclosure  126  (shown in  FIG. 19 ) actuates the cord  142 . As mentioned above, the cord engagement member  172 , the cord disengagement component  174 , and the cord  142 , may be provided within the housing enclosure  162  (shown in  FIG. 19 ) when the cord channel enclosure  126  is assembled. In this embodiment, the angular range of the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174  is about 5° in either direction. The angular range however may vary in other embodiments depending on factors such as the particular dimensions of the cord channel enclosure  126  and slider  130  or regulatory and standardization requirements. To engage the cord  142 , the cord engagement member  172  includes an engagement end  193  which shall be described in further detail below. In this embodiment, the cord  142  is turned clockwise by turning the cord engagement member  172  to the right and sliding the cord engagement member  172  and the cord disengagement component  174  in a downward direction. On the other hand, the cord  142  is turned counterclockwise by turning the cord engagement member  172  to the left and sliding the cord engagement member  172  downward. Also, the engagement end  193  in this embodiment of the cord engagement member  172  has an anvil shape. This may be advantageous when the cord  142  is beaded since this allows that the engagement end to be disengaged by sliding the cord engagement member  172  in an upwardly direction. 
     The cord disengagement component  174  may also disengage the engagement end  193  from the cord  142  and also serve to snap the cord engagement member  172  and the actuation component  176  (shown in  FIG. 18 ) to a release position after turning the cord  142 . The cord disengagement component  174  may include oppositely disposed elastic members  194 ,  196 . When the cord engagement member  172  is turned in one direction, the cord disengagement component  174  may be turned in the opposite direction, thus creating tension in one of the elastic members  194 ,  196 . When the actuation component  176  is released, the tension in the elastic member  194 ,  196  disengages the engagement end  193  from the cord  142  and may also be utilized to place the cord engagement member  172  and the actuation component  176  in the release position. 
       FIG. 26  is a top view of the cord engagement member  172 . As illustrated, the engagement end  193  of the cord engagement member  172  may include a pair of oppositely disposed slots  198 ,  200  to engage the cord  142  (shown in  FIG. 25 ). 
       FIG. 27  illustrates an embodiment of end structures  202 ,  204  that may be inserted into a second end  206  of the cord channel enclosure  126 . When the end structures  202 ,  204  engage one another, oppositely disposed guiding channels  208 ,  210  are formed.  FIG. 28  illustrates a cross sectional view of the cord channel enclosure  126  with the cord  142  being guided within the guiding channels  208 ,  210 . 
     In general, it may be desirable to have the lift sheet be a single panel article as opposed to vertically extending multiple strips laterally spaced apart from one another, since in the latter instance, the strips may bunch or otherwise become intertwined with one another, and may pose a safety hazard if a small child&#39;s arm or neck becomes entangled by such strips, if they are not arranged in a “breakaway” or disengageable relationship to the cover of the shade assembly. It typically is preferred to have the lift sheet extend laterally across a substantial portion of the back of the cover, and to have the lift sheet arranged for such breakaway disengagement of the lower end portion of the lift sheet from the cover. 
     Such laterally extended character of the lift sheet serves another purpose, of protecting the back of the decorative shade material, when the cover is formed of such material. This in turn can permit the cover to be “liner-less” since a lining layer of sheet material is not required, if the lift sheet extends substantially across the full extent of the cover. 
     In various embodiments, it is preferred to utilize guide members that extend only partly inwardly in a lateral direction, so that the guide members are arranged to “wrap around” the edge portions of the lift sheet, as shown in  FIG. 5  hereof. 
     It will therefore be recognized that embodiments of the cordless shade system disclosed herein can be constructed and arranged in any suitable manner, e.g., with a decorative sheet suspended or suspendable from a support and secured at its lower end portion to a lower end portion of a lifting sheet that is joined at its upper end to a lifting and lowering apparatus, with guide structure that couples the decorative sheet with the lifting sheet so as to enable the lifting sheet during lifting thereof to compact the decorative sheet into an upwardly compacted form, and during lowering thereof to release the decorative sheet from its upwardly compacted form to a downwardly extending sheet conformation. 
     Further, when the cordless shade system is deployed in a window, door or other opening, the lifting sheet itself may be decoratively appointed with a design, pattern, appliqué, silk-screened image, logo or other visual indicia, so that both faces of the shade system have an aesthetic or otherwise suitable visual appearance. 
     Although the embodiments disclosed herein have been illustratively described with respect to various embodiments for window openings or other architectural openings, it will be recognized that the cover assembly can be advantageously utilized as a covering for any indoor or outdoor passage, portal, gate opening or the like. For example, the cover assembly in other embodiments can be used as a closure for a tent or cabana or a decorative screen or partition that may be deployed with an associated frame, to provide a freestanding room divider, privacy screen, sun-blocking structure or the like. 
     While the embodiments disclosed herein have been described herein in reference to specific aspects, features and illustrative embodiments, it will be appreciated that the utility of the invention is not thus limited, but rather extends to and encompasses numerous other variations, modifications and alternative embodiments, as will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the field of the present invention, based on the disclosure 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 spirit and scope. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.