Disclosed is a spring motor and control for use especially with window blinds. The motor comprises a storage drum having a first axis, an output drum mounted for rotation about a second axis parallel to and spaced from the first axis. A spring member is connected to and between the storage drum and the output drum to form a spring motor. The spring motor has laterally extending, spaced apart drum supports on opposite sides of the drums to support them for rotation. A coupled drive is connected to the storage and output drum whereby rotation of one of the drums in a first direction about its axis effects rotation of the other of the drums about its axis and in an opposite direction to cause winding and unwinding of the spring member between the drums. A drive actuator is connected to the coupled drive to effect rotation of the drums, and an adjustable friction member is engageable with one of the coupled drive and the drive actuator to adjustably alter the force necessary to effect movement of the coupled drive.

Cordless balanced window covering

The present invention relates to an improved thermal window shade construction characterized in that the same is sufficiently flexible to be installed in windows of a wide variety of sizes with a minimum number of stock parts. The invention is further characterized in that the shade is highly resistant to dislodgement in a lateral inward direction of the shade margins from the side seal components. A further characterizing feature of the invention resides in the novel mechanism which locks the shade in its downward or operative position and at the same time functions to form an effective top seal. Still a further characterizing feature of the invention resides in the ability of the stock parts supplied to form an effective sealing relationship with shades of a wide variety of thicknesses, whereby laminated shade constructions with desired decorative effects may be readily employed.

Thermally efficient window shade construction

A window blind comprising a head rail, a bottom rail and a window covering extending between and operatively connected to the head rail and bottom rail At least one lift cord extends between the bottom rail and the head rail A spring motor operatively coupled to the lift cord applies an upward force on the bottom rail toward the head rail A one way brake prohibits the bottom rail from moving toward the head rail but permits the bottom rail to be moved away from the head rail by an operator

Cordless blind brake

A cordless, cellular window shade uses a conventional roller shade bar with a spring pawl arrangement to raise and lower the cellular, window covering fabric by at least two wide, transversely spaced tapes extending from the head rail of the shade through slits in the cellular fabric and secured to the bottom rail of the shade. Each tape has periodically spaced, alignment openings along its length which engage circumferentially spaced, spokes protruding from the roller shade bar to precisely wind the tape about the roller shade bar as the shade is raised or lowered and thus maintain the bottom rail in parallel relationship with the low profile, head rail.

Cordless, roller bar cellular shade

A cordless blind having a mechanism for introducing a variable amount of friction into the operation of the cordless blind is disclosed. The cordless blind includes a spring motor operatively connected to a cord connected to the window covering of the blind. Pulling and releasing the cord expands and retracts the blind. In order to introduce additional resistance to movement into the system when retracting the blind and not when expanding the blind, variable friction mechanisms or retarders, including one-way bearings, and one-way braking arms, are used for introducing friction into the system only when desired.

Cordless blind having variable resistance to movement

My invention relates to a blackout device. It has to do, more particularly, with a blackout blind which is mounted in a novel manner and in such a way that no light can escape from the interior of a room around the edges of the blind to the outside. At present it is customary to paint windows...

John C Wirthman

Papers

Black-out device