Claims
- 1. A control system for a retractable covering, wherein the retractable covering is adapted to extend across an architectural opening and wherein said control system is adapted to manipulate the covering through rotation of an element in the control system, said control system comprisinga head rail; a roll bar rotatably mounted within said head rail; and limiting means inside of said roll bar for mechanically limiting a fully retracted configuration of the covering, wherein said limiting means includes a fixed member a moveable member, and wherein said moveable member moves linearly and contacts said fixed member when the covering is in the fully retracted configuration.
- 2. The control system of claim 1, wherein said head rail comprises a first end and wherein a first end cap is attached to said first end, and wherein said limiting means further comprisesa threaded shaft having a mounting end adjustably fixed to said first end cap; an internal, roll-bar-support wheel slidably mounted in said roll bar for rotation therewith, said internal roll-bar-support wheel having an internally threaded barrel rotatably mounted on said threaded shaft; an intercepting ledge comprising part of said internal, roll-bar-support wheel, and a stopping ledge comprising part of said threaded shaft.
- 3. The control system of claim 2, said adjusting means further comprising means for adjusting a position of said internal, roll-bar-support wheel relative to said threaded shaft for a given configuration of the covering, whereby said fully retracted configuration of the covering is adjustable.
- 4. The control system of claim 3, wherein said adjustment means further comprisesa cylindrical housing mounted to said first end cap, said cylindrical housing having a spring retention ring at a first end thereof; a setting retention spring, wherein said setting retention spring is accommodated within said cylindrical housing and against said spring retention ring; and a plunger having a plunger head, wherein said plunger is inserted into said cylindrical housing and through said setting retention spring, thereby trapping said setting retention spring between said plunger head and said spring retention ring.
- 5. The control system of claim 4, wherein said plunger further comprises an attachment end remote from said plunger head, said attachment end passing through said spring retention ring and releasably engaging said threaded shaft.
- 6. The control system of claim 5, wherein said plunger further comprises at least one interlocking channel, and wherein said threaded shaft further comprises a corresponding interlocking tab that is captured by said at least one interlocking channel.
- 7. The control system of claim 5, wherein said attachment end of said plunger comprises two flexible arms, wherein a distal end of said two flexible arms lockingly engage said mounting end of said threaded shaft.
- 8. The control system of claim 7, wherein said cylindrical housing further comprises locking fingers, and wherein said mounting end of threaded shaft includes a plurality of locking lugs, wherein said setting retention spring biases said locking lugs into engagement with said locking fingers.
- 9. The control system of claim 7, wherein said two flexible arms have locking tabs integrally formed thereon, and wherein said locking tabs removably attach said plunger to said threaded shaft.
- 10. The control system of claim 9 wherein said plunger head has a screwdriver slot formed therein, and wherein said first end cap has an access port therethrough positioned so that said screwdriver slot is accessible through said access port.
- 11. A control system for a retractable covering, wherein the retractable covering is adapted to extend across an architectural opening and wherein said control system is adapted to manipulate the covering through rotation of an element in the control system, said control system comprisinga head rail; a roll bar rotatably mounted within said head rail, said roll bar comprising an elongated channel; and limiting means within said head rail for mechanically limiting a fully extended configuration of the covering, said limiting means comprising a roll-bar-end support wheel having a down limit stop pivotally mounted thereto.
- 12. The control system of claim 11, wherein said roll bar comprises a first end, and wherein said roll-bar-end support wheel is partially inserted into said first end of said roll bar, and further wherein said down limit stop is mounted to said roll-bar-end support wheel such that a first portion of said down limit stop is inside said first end of said roll bar, and a second portion of said down limit stop is outside said roll bar.
- 13. A control system for a retractable covering, wherein the retractable covering is adapted to extend across an architectural opening and wherein said control system is adapted to manipulate the covering through rotation of an element in the control system, said control system comprisinga head rail; a roll bar rotatably mounted within said head rail; limiting means within said head rail for mechanically limiting a fully retracted configuration of the covering, wherein said moveable meuser comprises an internal, roll-bar-support wheel having an outer ring that includes an alignment groove, wherein said internal, roll-bar-support wheel is slidably mounted in said roll bar with said alignment tongue riding in said alignment groove whereby said the internal, roll-bar-support wheel and said roll bar rotate substantially in unison.
- 14. A control system for a retractable covering, wherein the retractable covering is adapted to extend across an architectural opening and wherein said control system is adapted to manipulate the covering through rotation of an element in the control system, said control system comprisinga head rail; a roll bar rotatably mounted within said head rail; and limiting means within said head rail for mechanically limiting a fully extended configuration of the covering, said limiting means comprising a roll-bar-end support wheel having a down limit stop mounted thereto; and wherein said head rail comprises a first end and wherein a first end cap is attached to said first ends and further wherein a substantially annular channel defined by a substantially annular channel wall is associated with said first end cap, and a portion of said down limit stop rides in said annular channel.
- 15. The control system of claim 14, wherein said portion of said down limit stop comprises an arcuate arm.
- 16. The control system of claim 15, wherein said roll-bar-end support wheel includes a mounting hole, and wherein said down limit stop further comprises a mounting tang for pivotally mounting said down limit stop to said mounting hole of said roll-bar-end support wheel and a wedge, wherein said arcuate arm connects said mounting tang with said wedge.
- 17. The control system of claim 16, wherein said mounting tang comprises a distal end, wherein said distal end is split, and a locking tab extending from each of said split ends, wherein said locking tabs on said distal end of said mounting tang rotatably lock said down limit stop to said roll-bar-end support wheel.
- 18. The control system of claim 17, wherein said arcuate arm includes an arcuate outer edge and a substantially flat leading edge.
- 19. The control system of claim 18, wherein said wedge includes an outer surface, a leading edge, and a trailing edge.
- 20. The control system of claim 19, wherein said roll bar comprises an elongated channel, and wherein, when said roll-bar-end support wheel is installed in said roll bar, said wedge rides in said elongated channel of said roll bar.
- 21. The control system of claim 20, wherein said roll bar comprises an alignment tongue, and wherein said roll-bar-end support wheel comprises an alignment groove in which said alignment tongue rides, thereby forcing said roll-bar-end support wheel to rotate with said roll bar.
- 22. The control system of claim 21, wherein said roll-bar-end support wheel is mounted to said first end cap for rotation relative thereto.
- 23. A retractable covering in combination with a control system therefor, wherein said covering comprises at least a first flexible sheet, wherein said retractable covering is adapted to extend across an architectural opening, and wherein said control system manipulates said covering through rotation of an element in said control system, said combination comprisinga head rail; a roll bar rotatably mounted within said head rail, wherein said retractable covering is adapted to roll on and unroll from said roll bar; and limiting means within said head rail for mechanically limiting a fully extended configuration of said covering, said limiting means comprising a roll-bar-end support wheel having a down limit stop mounted thereto; wherein said head rail comprises a first end and wherein a first end cap is attached to said first end, and further wherein a substantially annular channel defined by a substantially annular channel wall is associated with said first end cap, and an arcuate arm comprising a portion of said down limit stop rides in said annular channel; wherein said roll-bar-end support wheel includes a mounting hole, and wherein said down limit stop further comprises a mounting tang for pivotally mounting said down limit stop to said mounting hole of said roll-bar-end support wheel and a wedge, wherein said arcuate arm connects said mounting tang with said wedge; and wherein a portion of said first flexible sheet presses against said wedge and thereby keeps said arcuate arm in said annular channel while said covering is rolled on said roll bar.
- 24. The combination of claim 23, wherein, when said covering is unrolled from said roll bar, said down limit stop rotates about said mounting tang and impacts at least one of said channel wall and said roll bar.
- 25. A retractable covering in combination with a control system therefor, wherein said covering comprises at least a first flexible sheet, wherein said retractable covering is adapted to extend across an architectural opening, and wherein said control system manipulates said covering through rotation of an element in said control system, said combination comprisinga head rail; a roll bar rotatably mounted within said head rail, wherein said retractable covering is adapted to roll on and unroll from said roll bar, and limiting means within said head rail for mechanically limiting a fully extended configuration of said covering, said limiting means comprising a roll-bar-end support wheel having a down limit stop mounted thereto; wherein said roll bar comprises a first end, and wherein said roll-bar-end support wheel is partially inserted into said first end of said roll bar, and further wherein said down limit stop is mounted to said roll-bar-end support wheel such that a first portion of said down limit stop is inside said first end of said roll bar, and a second portion of said down limit stop is outside said roll bar; and wherein said roll bar further comprises an elongated channel, and wherein said second portion of said down limit stop is adapted to be pressed by said first flexible sheet into said elongated channel as long as said covering is rolled on said roll bar.
- 26. The combination of claim 25, wherein said roll-bar-end support wheel includes a mounting hole, wherein said down limit stop further comprises a wedge and a mounting tang for pivotally mounting said down limit stop to said mounting hole of said roll-bar-end support wheel, and wherein said second portion of said down limit stop comprises said wedge, whereby, when said covering is unrolled from said roll bar, said down limit stop rotates about said mounting tang, freeing said wedge from said elongated channel.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related to co-pending nonprovisional application Ser. No. 09/050,507, filed Mar. 30, 1998 (the '507 application), and claiming priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/041,791, filed Apr. 2, 1997. The '507 application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. This application also claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 60/090,278, filed Jun. 22, 1998 (the '278 application). The '278 application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
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Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/090278 |
Jun 1998 |
US |
|
60/041791 |
Apr 1997 |
US |