Window treatment system with a single cord

Abstract

A window treatment system for covering an architectural opening includes a window treatment with a sheet wound in a first direction; a housing having a longitudinal axis and receiving said window treatment; a shaft disposed coaxially within said housing for supporting said housing and a clutch coupling said housing and said shaft and having a first position in which said housing is rotatable with respect to said shaft only in one direction, and a second position in which said housing is rotatable in both directions. A spool is mounted coaxially with the longitudinal axis and is coupled to said clutch. The spool includes an elongated member such as a ribbon wound in a second direction and arranged to raise said window treatment when said elongated member is pulled from said spool.

1 . A window treatment system for covering an architectural opening comprising:
 a window treatment including a sheet wound in a first direction;   a housing having a longitudinal axis and receiving said window treatment;   a shaft disposed coaxially within said housing for supporting said housing;   a clutch coupling said housing and said shaft and having a first position in which said housing is rotatable with respect to said shaft only in a first direction, and a second position in which said housing is rotatable in said first direction and a second opposite direction; and   a spool including an elongated member disposed in the spool and coupled to the clutch to raise said window treatment when said elongated member is pulled from said spool.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said clutch includes a coil spring disposed around said shaft and an actuator which is said first position of said clutch said actuator winds said spring into a first configuration, and in said second position of said clutch said actuator winds said spring into a second configuration. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said spool is coupled to said actuator. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein said actuator and spool cooperate to pivot said actuator between said first and second positions as said elongated member is activated by a user. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said spring has two tangs, one tang being engaged by said shaft and the second tang being engaged by said actuator. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said housing includes a cylindrical surface and said spring selectively engages said cylindrical surface in said first position and disengages from said cylindrical surface in said second position. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said spool includes a toroidal chamber and a ribbon wound within said chamber and forming said elongated member. 
   
   
       8 . A mechanism for operating a window treatment including a mandrel and a sheet wound in a first direction on said mandrel, said mechanism comprising:
 a support shaft for fixedly mounting said mandrel;   a housing rotatably mounted on said support shaft;   a clutch interconnecting said support shaft and said housing selectively in one of a first configuration in which said housing is rotatable in both directions with respect to said shaft and a second configuration in which said housing rotates about said shaft in a single direction; and   an elongated member wound coaxially with said shaft and arranged to raise said the sheet when pulled.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said clutch includes a coil spring having at least a rectangular surface to define a contact surface with at least one of said shaft and said housing, a first tang engaged by said shaft and a second tang; and
 a circular actuator engaging said second tang and pivotable between two positions, a first position in which said coil spring has its contact surface engaging one of said shaft and said housing and a second position in which said coil spring is disengaged.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said elongated member in disposed in a spool, said spool being engaged to said actuator. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said spool cooperates with said actuator to selectively pivot said actuator to one of said first and second positions. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said actuator is coupled to said shaft and is pivotable between a first and a second angular orientation. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a detent securing said actuator in one of said first and second positions. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein said detent includes a tooth formed on one of said shaft and said actuator and a finger selectively engaging said tooth. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein said detent is formed of a tooth disposed on said shaft and a flexible finger disposed on said actuator. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein said angular orientations are defined by respective first and second detents. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein each detent includes a first member attached to said shaft and a second member attached to said actuator. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said second member includes two fingers tangentially arranged on said actuator. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said first member includes teeth engaged by said fingers. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said elongated member is a ribbon wound in a direction opposite said sheet.