Skew adjustment mechanism for a window covering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11078723-B2
Application number	US-201816165814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2018
Priority date	Aug 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

A skew adjustment mechanism is used for adjusting the length of a lift cord on a window covering. The lift cord extends from a lift spool at a first end to an anchor drum at a second end. A cord wrap post is provided between the lift spool and the anchor drum so that the lift cord can be wrapped around the cord wrap post to provide friction between the lift cord and the cord wrap post when the lift cord is taut in order to reduce the amount of holding force that is needed to prevent the anchor drum from rotating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for adjusting the skew of a covering including a rail, a cord wrap post, a lift cord extending from the rail and being wrapped around the cord wrap post, and a skew adjustment mechanism coupled to the lift cord, said method comprising:
relieving a cord tension on the lift cord to reduce an amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post by moving the rail to a position closer to the cord wrap post;
manipulating the skew adjustment mechanism while the cord tension on the lift cord is relieved to adjust an orientation of the rail; and
reestablishing the cord tension on the lift cord to increase the amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein reestablishing the cord tension on the lift cord comprises moving the rail away from the cord wrap post.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising wrapping the lift cord around the cord wrap post at least once to create at least one cord loop relative to the cord wrap post;
wherein the cord tension on the lift cord impacts the amount of friction provided between the at least one cord loop and the cord wrap post.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the covering further comprises a second cord wrap post, a second lift cord extending from the rail and being wrapped around the second cord wrap post, and a second skew adjustment mechanism coupled to the second lift cord; and
the method further comprises:
relieving a cord tension on the second lift cord to reduce an amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the second cord wrap post;

manipulating the second skew adjustment mechanism while the cord tension on the second lift cord is relieved to adjust an orientation of the rail; and
reestablishing the cord tension on the second lift cord to increase the amount of friction provided between the second lift cord and the second cord wrap post.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the lift cord includes a first portion coupled to an anchor drum of the skew adjustment mechanism and a second portion coupled to a lift spool provided in operative association with the rail; and
the cord wrap post is positioned at a location between the anchor drum and the lift spool along a cord path of the lift cord extending between the first and second portions of the lift cord.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein manipulating the skew adjustment mechanism while the cord tension on the lift cord is relieved to adjust the orientation of the rail comprises manipulating the skew adjustment mechanism while the cord tension on the lift cord is relieved to adjust a length of the lift cord.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the rail comprises a movable rail of the covering;
the cord wrap post is provided in operative association with a fixed rail of the covering; and
moving the rail to the position closer to the cord wrap post comprises moving the movable rail towards the fixed rail to reduce a distance defined between the movable and fixed rails.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the skew adjustment mechanism is provided in operative association with the fixed rail;
a lift spool of the covering is provided in operative association with the movable rail; and
a portion of the lift cord is wrapped around the lift spool.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein manipulating the skew adjustment mechanism comprises adjusting a movable component of the skew adjustment mechanism relative to the cord wrap post to adjust the orientation of the rail.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cord wrap post is spaced apart from the movable component.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the movable component is supported for rotation by a housing of the skew adjustment mechanism; and
the cord wrap post is fixed relative to housing.

12. A method for assembling a covering including a fixed rail, a movable rail that is movable relative to the fixed rail, a lift spool provided in operative association with the movable rail, a lift cord, a cord wrap post, and a skew adjustment mechanism provided in operative association with the fixed rail, said method comprising:
coupling a first portion of the lift cord to the lift spool;
wrapping the lift cord at least once around the cord wrap post;
coupling a second portion of the lift cord to the skew adjustment mechanism, the lift cord being wrapped around the cord wrap post at a location along a cord path of the lift cord defined between the lift spool and the skew adjustment mechanism; and
selectively adjusting the skew adjustment mechanism to adjust a length of the lift cord defined between the movable rail and the fixed rail.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
extending the lift cord from the movable rail to the fixed rail; and
feeding the lift cord through an opening defined in the fixed rail prior to wrapping the lift cord around the cord wrap post.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising relieving a cord tension on the lift cord to reduce an amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post as the skew adjustment mechanism is being selectively adjusted.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising reestablishing the cord tension on the lift cord to skew adjustment mechanism has been selectively adjusted.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein relieving the cord tension on the lift cord comprises lifting the movable rail to reduce the amount of friction provided between the lift, cord and the cord wrap post.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein lifting the movable rail comprises moving the movable rail to a position closer to the cord wrap post.

18. A method for adjusting the skew of a covering including a rail, a cord wrap post, a lift cord extending from the rail and being wrapped around the cord wrap post, and a skew adjustment mechanism coupled to the lift cord, said method comprising:
relieving a cord tension on the lift cord to reduce an amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post;
rotating a movable component of the skew adjustment mechanism while the cord tension on the lift cord is relieved such that a portion of the cord is unwound from or wound around the movable component with rotation of the skew adjustment mechanism in a manner that adjusts a length of the cord from an initial length to an adjusted length, the adjusted length of the lift cord being associated with a desired orientation of the rail; and
reestablishing the cord tension on the lift cord to increase the amount of friction provided between the lift cord and the cord wrap post.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the rail is maintained at the desired orientation after the cord tension on the lift cord is reestablished.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein relieving the cord tension on the lift cord comprises moving the rail to a position closer to the cord wrap post.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein:
the rail comprises a movable rail of the covering;
the lift spool is provided in operative association with the movable rail;
the skew adjustment mechanism is provided in operative association with a fixed rail of the covering; and
the adjusted length is defined between the movable rail and the fixed rail.

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Anderson Richard N

Classifications

• E06B9/322 Primary

  Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives ({operating devices E06B9/68} ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34) · CPC title

• E06B9/382 Primary

  Details of ladder-tapes or ladder chains, e.g. buckles for local shortening of tapes · CPC title

• E06B9/304

  with tilting bar and separate raising shaft · CPC title

• E06B2009/2447

  Parallel screens · CPC title

• A47H3/02

  Fastening, clamping, or guiding devices for bands or cords · CPC title