Patent ID: 8230896

Claim:
A transport mechanism for a covering for an architectural opening, comprising: a first rail; a second rail, which is movable relative to said first rail; a window covering extending between, and functionally secured to, said first and second rails, wherein movement of said second rail relative to said first rail extends and retracts said window covering; and a lifting mechanism mounted on said second rail, said lifting mechanism including a lift spool; a spring motor functionally connected to the lift spool; and a lift cord which wraps onto and off of said lift spool as said second rail moves; and wherein the lifting mechanism provides sufficient lifting force and sufficient friction that the second rail may be raised and lowered just by the user urging it up and down and wherein, when the user releases the second rail at any elevation, the second rail remains stationary, neither rising nor falling, without the user activating or deactivating any additional mechanism wherein the sufficient friction includes braking friction provided by a one-way brake mechanism mounted on said second rail, wherein said one-way brake mechanism does not require activation or deactivation by the user.