Window covering leveling mechanism

Abstract

A window covering leveling mechanism for a moveable rail actuated by at least one lift cord. The leveling mechanism including a lift cord adjuster configured for attachment to one end of the lift cord; and a locking mechanism mountable within the moveable rail and configured to receive the lift cord adjuster. Insertion of the cord adjuster attached to the lift cord into the locking mechanism facilitates leveling of the moveable rail by adjustment of the lift cord and locking of the lift cord at a desired length. The cord adjuster may be a zip tie or similar item.

1 . A leveling mechanism for a window covering with a moveable rail actuated by at least one lift cord, the leveling mechanism comprising: 
 an elongated lift cord adjuster having an engagement portion and a lift cord attachment member at one end thereof attachable to the at least one lift cord; and    a locking mechanism mountable within the moveable rail and configured to releasably engage with the engagement portion on the lift cord adjuster, such that the location of the lift cord adjuster can be adjusted relative to the moveable rail to modify an effective length of the lift cord attached to the lift cord adjuster.    
   
   
       2 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster can be adjusted relative to the moveable rail to increase or decrease the effective length of the lift cord.  
   
   
       3 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster slidingly engages with the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the engagement portion comprises an engagement feature.  
   
   
       5 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the engagement feature comprises a plurality of directional teeth and the locking mechanism permits sliding engagement in only one direction.  
   
   
       6 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 3 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a strip retention member configured to engage with the engagement portion of the lift cord adjuster.  
   
   
       7 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the moveable rail is actuated by at least two lift cords and wherein the leveling mechanism comprises at least two elongated lift cord adjusters and at least two locking mechanisms mountable within the moveable rail, such that one of the lift cord adjusters is attachable to one of the lift cords and is engageable by one of the locking mechanisms at a first end of the moveable rail and another of the lift cord adjusters is attachable to another one of the lift cords and is engageable by another one of the locking mechanisms at a second end of the moveable rail, with leveling of the moveable rail achieved by adjustment of either or both of the lift cord adjusters relative to the moveable rail to modify an effective length of either or both lift cords.  
   
   
       8 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 7 , further comprising at least two end caps configured for attachment on the first and second ends of the moveable rail for covering the locking mechanisms and elongated lift cord adjusters from external view.  
   
   
       9 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the moveable rail is actuated by more than two lift cords and wherein the leveling mechanism comprises one lift cord adjuster for each lift cord, and at least two locking mechanisms mountable within the moveable rail, such that each of the lift cord adjusters is attachable to a corresponding lift cord and is engageable within one of the locking mechanisms at the first or second ends of the moveable rail, with leveling of the moveable rail achieved by adjustment of one or more of the lift cord adjusters relative to the moveable rail to modify an effective length of one or more lift cords.  
   
   
       10 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster comprises a zip strip, a cable tie or a tie wrap.  
   
   
       11 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising an end cap configured for attachment on an end of the moveable rail for covering the locking mechanism and elongated lift cord adjuster from external view.  
   
   
       12 . The leveling mechanism of  claim 1 , further comprising a lift cord plug for receiving the lift cord and routing it toward the elongated lift cord adjuster.  
   
   
       13 . A window covering for a fenestration product having a viewing area, the window covering comprising: 
 at least one lift cord;    a moveable rail actuated by the at least one lift cord so as to extend or contract across the fenestration product causing the window covering to cover or uncover the viewing area of the fenestration product; and    a leveling mechanism coupled to the at least one lift cord and the moveable rail for leveling the moveable rail, the leveling mechanism including: 
 an elongated lift cord adjuster having an engagement portion and a lift cord attachment member at one end thereof, with the lift cord attachment member attached to the at least one lift cord, and  
 a locking mechanism mounted within the moveable rail and configured to releasably engage with the engagement portion on the lift cord adjuster,  
 such that the location of the elongated lift cord adjuster can be adjusted relative to the moveable rail to modify an effective length of the lift cord and provide leveling of the moveable rail.  
   
   
   
       14 . The window covering of  claim 13 , wherein the moveable rail moves from the bottom upward so as to cover the viewing area of the fenestration product.  
   
   
       15 . The window covering of  claim 13 , wherein the moveable rail moves from the top downward so as to cover the viewing area of the fenestration product.  
   
   
       16 . The window covering of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster can be adjusted relative to the moveable rail to increase or decrease the effective length of the lift cord.  
   
   
       17 . The window covering of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster slidingly engages with the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       18 . The window covering of  claim 17 , wherein the engagement portion comprises an engagement feature and the locking mechanism engages the engagement feature.  
   
   
       19 . The window covering of  claim 18 , wherein the engagement feature comprise a plurality of directional teeth and the locking mechanism permits sliding engagement in only one direction.  
   
   
       20 . The window covering of  claim 13 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster comprises a zip strip, a cable tie or a tie wrap.  
   
   
       21 . A fenestration product comprising: 
 a frame;    a viewing area within the frame; and    a window covering coupled to the frame or the viewing area and configured to cover and uncover the viewing area, the window covering including: 
 at least one lift cord;  
 a moveable rail actuated by the at least one lift cord so as to extend or contract across at least a portion of the fenestration product causing the window covering to cover or uncover at least a portion of the viewing area; and  
 a leveling mechanism coupled to the at least one lift cord and the moveable rail for leveling the moveable rail, the leveling mechanism including: 
 an elongated lift cord adjuster having an engagement portion and a lift cord attachment member at one end thereof with the lift cord attachment member attached to the at least one lift cord, and  
 a locking mechanism mounted within the moveable rail and configured to releasably engage with the engagement portion on the lift cord adjuster,  
 such that the location of the elongated lift cord adjuster can be adjusted relative to the moveable rail to modify an effective length of the lift cord and provide leveling of the moveable rail.  
 
   
   
   
       22 . The fenestration product of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster can be adjusted relative to the moveable rail to increase or decrease the effective length of the lift cord.  
   
   
       23 . The fenestration product of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster slidingly engages with the locking mechanism.  
   
   
       24 . The fenestration product of  claim 23 , wherein the engagement portion comprises at least one engagement feature.  
   
   
       25 . The fenestration product of  claim 24 , wherein the engagement feature comprise a plurality of directional teeth and the locking mechanism permits sliding engagement in only one direction.  
   
   
       26 . The fenestration product of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated lift cord adjuster comprises a zip strip, a cable tie or a tie wrap.