Window Covering

Abstract

A window covering includes a plurality of lift cords extending from an upper rail and window covering material connected to the upper rail or the lift cords. A plurality of safety devices are attached to the window covering. Each safety device includes a male member and a female member. One of the members is attached to a respective lift cord and the other of the members is attached to a portion of the window covering material or a lower rail. The male and female members are configured to be attached together such that the male and female members separate from each other when a release force acts on at least one of the male member and female member.

1 . A window covering comprising:
 an upper rail;   window covering material adjacent to the upper rail, the window covering material moveable from a retracted position to an extended position, the window covering material having an upper portion and a lower portion;   a plurality of lift cords extending from the upper rail to the window covering material; and   a plurality of safety devices, each safety device comprised of a male member and a female member, one of the male member and the female member attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material and the other member being attached to a respective lift cord such that that member is attachable to the member attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material, the male member and the female member sized and configured such that a release force acting on the lift cord in a direction parallel to the window covering material and perpendicular to the lift cord causes the male member and female member to separate.   
     
     
         2 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the female member of each safety device is attached to the lower portion of the window covering material and the male member of each safety device is attached to a respective lift cord. 
     
     
         3 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the female member is attached to the lower portion of the window covering material, the female member being comprised of a body that defines an opening configured to permit a release of the male member via a generally horizontal movement of the male member. 
     
     
         4 . The window covering of  claim 3  wherein the body also defines a gap positioned above the opening, the gap sized and configured to receive a portion of a lift cord. 
     
     
         5 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of lift cords is comprised of a first lift cord and a second lift cord. 
     
     
         6 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first lift cord is a first end portion of a first cord and the second lift cord is a second end portion of the first cord. 
     
     
         7 . The window covering of  claim 1  further comprising a lower rail attached to the lift cords adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material. 
     
     
         8 . The window covering of  claim 7  wherein the member attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material is attached to the lower rail. 
     
     
         9 . The window covering of  claim 1  further comprising at least one cord release device attached to the window covering material, each cord release device comprised of a clip portion, a first member and a second member, the clip portion attached to the first member and the second member, the first member and second member sized and configured to releasably interconnect such that the first and second members at least partially define an opening sized to receive and releasably retain at least one lift cord when the first and second members are interconnected and the first and second members being configured to separate and release the at least one lift cord when a second release force exerted by at least one lift cord that is within the opening acts on at least one of the first and second members. 
     
     
         10 . The window covering of  claim 9  wherein the first and second members are configured to move away from each other in a direction that is transverse or perpendicular to the window covering material when the second release force acts on at least one of the first and second members. 
     
     
         11 . The window covering of  claim 9  wherein the first and second members and the clip portion are comprised of a polymeric material and are integrally molded together. 
     
     
         12 . The window covering of  claim 9  wherein the window covering material is comprised of woven wood or woven grass that is collected into segments, each segment having a plurality of flexible elongated members that hold the woven wood or woven grass in that segment, and wherein the clip portion of the at least one cord release device is attached to one of the flexible elongated members. 
     
     
         13 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the release force is between 4.4 pounds and 6.6 pounds. 
     
     
         14 . A window covering comprising:
 an upper rail;   window covering material adjacent to the upper rail, the window covering material moveable from a retracted position to an extended position, the window covering material having an upper portion and a lower portion;   a plurality of lift cords extending from the upper rail to the window covering material; and   a plurality of safety devices, each safety device comprised of a male member and a female member, one of the male member and the female member attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material and the other member being attached to a respective lift cord such that that member is attachable to the member attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material, the male member and the female member sized and configured such that a downward release force acting on the lift cord while the window covering is in a fully extended position causes the male member and female member to separate.   
     
     
         15 . The window covering of  claim 14  wherein the female member of each safety device is attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material and the male member of each safety device is attached to a respective lift cord. 
     
     
         16 . The window covering of  claim 14  wherein the female member is attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material, the female member being comprised of a body having at least one protrusion configured to define a gap sized and configured to receive a portion of a male member and the male member is comprised of a first portion and at least one projection, each of the at least one projection configured to be received within a respective gap defined by a respective protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The window covering of  claim 14  wherein the female member is attached adjacent to the lower portion of the window covering material, the female member being comprised of a body having a first protrusion and a second protrusion, each protrusion configured to at least partially define a gap sized and configured to receive a portion of a male member and the male member is comprised of a body having a first side and a second side, a first projection extending from the first side of the body and a second projection extending from the second side of the body, the first projection configured to be releasably received within the gap at least partially defined by the first protrusion and the second projection configured to be releasably received within the gap at least partially defined by the second protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The window covering of  claim 14  further comprising at least one cord release device attached to the window covering material, each cord release device comprised of a clip portion, a first member and a second member, the clip portion attached to the first member and the second member, the first member and second member sized and configured to releasably interconnect such that the first and second members at least partially define an opening sized to receive and releasably retain at least one lift cord when the first and second members are interconnected and the first and second members being configured to separate and release the at least one lift cord when a release force exerted by at least one lift cord that is within the opening acts on at least one of the first and second members. 
     
     
         19 . The window covering of  claim 18  wherein the first and second members are configured to move away from each other in a direction that is transverse or perpendicular to the window covering material when the release force acts on at least one of the first and second members. 
     
     
         20 . The window covering of  claim 14  wherein the female member and male member of each safety device are composed of a polymeric material.