Window Covering with Cord Shrouds

Abstract

A window covering includes a first set of vertically spaced apart connectors and a second set of vertically spaced apart connectors. A first lift cord has a first portion extending from a first rail and passing through or adjacent the connectors of the first set of connectors and the second lift cord has a second portion extending from the first rail and passing through or adjacent the connectors of the second set of connectors. A first cord shroud and a second cord shroud extend from the first rail to a position adjacent to a bottom portion of window covering material. The first cord shroud is attached to the first set of connectors and the second cord shroud is attached to the second set of connectors. The first portion passes through the first cord shroud and the second portion passes through the second cord shroud.

1 . A window covering comprising:
 a first rail;   window covering material adjacent the first rail, the window covering material moveable from a retracted position to an extended position, the window covering material having a top portion adjacent to the first rail and a bottom portion opposite the top portion;   a plurality of connectors attached to the window covering material, the connectors comprising a first set of vertically spaced apart connectors and a second set of vertically spaced apart connectors, the second set of connectors being parallel or substantially parallel to the first set of connectors;   a plurality of lift cords extending from the first rail, the lift cords comprising a first lift cord and a second lift cord, the first lift cord having a first portion extending from the first rail and passing through or adjacent the connectors of the first set of connectors and the second lift cord having a second portion extending from the first rail and passing through or adjacent the connectors of the second set of connectors;   a first cord shroud extending from the first rail to a position adjacent to the bottom portion of the window covering material, the first cord shroud attached to the first set of connectors;   a second cord shroud extending from the first rail to a position adjacent to the bottom portion of the window covering material, the second cord shroud attached to the second set of connectors;   the first portion of the first lift cord passing through and covered by the first cord shroud; and   the second portion of the second lift cord passing through and covered by the second cord shroud.   
     
     
         2 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud is comprised of a series of webs extending between spaced apart rungs to define a generally tubular structure and the second cord shroud is comprised of a series of webs extending between spaced apart rungs to define a generally tubular structure. 
     
     
         3 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud is attached to each of the connectors of the first set of connectors and the second cord shroud is attached to each of the connectors of the second set of connectors. 
     
     
         4 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud has a first end and a second end opposite the first end and the second cord shroud has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end of the first cord shroud attached to the first rail and the first end of the second cord shroud attached to the first rail. 
     
     
         5 . The window covering of  claim 4  wherein the second end of the first cord shroud is attached to the bottom portion of the window covering material and the second end of the second cord shroud is attached to the bottom portion of the window covering material. 
     
     
         6 . The window covering of  claim 4  further comprising a bottom rail, the second end of the first cord shroud being attached to the bottom rail and the second end of the second cord shroud being attached to the bottom rail. 
     
     
         7 . The window covering of  claim 6  wherein the first cord shroud is attached to each of the connectors of the first set of connectors and the second cord shroud is attached to each of the connectors of the second set of connectors. 
     
     
         8 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud is comprised of a spiral structure defining an aperture through which the first portion of the first lift cord passes, the spiral structure being attached to the connectors by clips or being attached to the window covering material, the spiral structure being tight when the window covering material is retracted and moving to define larger spaces between adjacent segments of the spiral structure when the window covering material is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud is directly attached to the window covering material and the second cord shroud is directly attached to the window covering material. 
     
     
         10 . The window covering material of  claim 9  wherein a plurality of spaced apart loops directly attach the first cord shroud to the window covering material and a plurality of spaced apart loops directly attach the second cord shroud to the window covering material. 
     
     
         12 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud covers the connectors of the first set of connectors and the second cord shroud covers the connectors of the second set of connectors. 
     
     
         13 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud encloses the connectors of the first set of connectors and the second cord shroud encloses the connectors of the second set of connectors. 
     
     
         14 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud encloses the first portion of the first lift cord and the second cord shroud encloses the second portion of the second lift cord. 
     
     
         15 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the first cord shroud is comprised of mesh material and the second cord shroud is comprised of mesh material. 
     
     
         16 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the window covering material is one of: woven fabric, non-woven fabric, interconnected fabric segments, woven wood, woven grass, woven bamboo, and a film. 
     
     
         17 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the window covering is a Roman shade. 
     
     
         18 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the window covering material has a front side and a rear side opposite the front side, the first cord shroud and the second cord shroud being positioned on or adjacent the rear side of the window covering material. 
     
     
         19 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein loops attach the first cord shroud to the connectors of the first set of connectors and loops attach the second cord shroud to the connectors of the second set of connectors. 
     
     
         20 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the connectors of the first set of connectors are rings and the connectors of the second set of connectors are rings.