Patent ID: 7025107

Claim:
A cordless blind comprising: a headrail; a bottom rail suspended from the headrail by a first cord and a second cord; a window covering disposed between the headrail and the bottom rail; a drive actuator including: a spring motor, and a spool for accumulating the cords coupled to the spring motor; and a one-way tensioning mechanism, wherein the tensioning mechanism engages one of the first and second cords to provide a resistant force preventing movement of the one of the first and second cords in one of the direction of the force applied to the one of the cords by the spring motor and the direction of the force of the weight of the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the window covering supported by the one of the cords, wherein the tensioning mechanism is configured to not provide a resistant force preventing movement of the one of the first and second cords in the opposite direction, and wherein movement of the one of the cords in the one of the directions moves the one-way tensioning mechanism to an engaged position preventing movement of the one of the cords and movement of the one of the cords in the opposite direction moves the one-way tensioning mechanism to a disengaged position permitting movement of the one of the cords.