METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WINDOW COVERING WITH A CORD SAFETY DEVICE

1 . A window covering having a movable panel comprising:

a cord; and

a connective member secured to the window covering and having a gripping portion adapted to directly grip said cord and to release said cord upon a predetermined condition.

2 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises applying at least a predetermined load to the cord.

3 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the connective member is adapted and configured to grip the cord if less than a predetermined load is applied to the cord.

4 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the connective member comprises a first member and second member, where the cord is trapped between the first member and second member;

wherein the first member and the second member apply a force directly to the cord; and

wherein the first and second members release the cord upon fulfillment of the predetermined condition.

5 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the window covering includes a head rail, said connective member attached to the headrail.

6 . The window covering of claim 5 , further comprising a panel connected to the headrail.

7 . The window covering of claim 4 , wherein the second member comprises a portion of the headrail.

8 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the cord is gripped by the connective member.

9 . The window covering of claim 5 , wherein the first member is biased by a spring.

10 . The window covering of claim 4 , wherein the first member comprises a gripping portion that contacts the cord when the cord is gripped and the second member comprises a gripping portion that contacts the cord when the cord is gripped; and

wherein at least one of the first member gripping portion or the second member gripping portion include a rough surface.

11 . The window covering of claim 4 , wherein the first member comprises a gripping portion that contacts the cord when the cord is gripped and the second member comprises a gripping portion that contacts the cord when the cord is gripped; and

wherein at least one of the first member gripping portion or the second member gripping portion include teeth.

12 . The window covering of claim 5 , wherein the cord is connected to the headrail by the connective member so that the panel may be raised when a force is applied to the cord.

13 . The window covering of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of connective members and a plurality of cords.

14 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the window covering includes a bottom rail, said connective member attached to the bottom rail.

15 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the window covering includes a middle rail, said connective member attached to the middle rail.

16 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the window covering includes a rail, said connective member attached to the rail.

17 . The window covering of claim 16 wherein the connective member is located internally of said rail.

18 . The window covering of claim 17 further including a mechanism accessible from outside of the rail for opening the connective member.

19 . The window covering of claim 16 wherein the connective member is located externally of said rail.

20 . The window covering of claim 19 wherein the connective member is mounted directly to said rail.

21 . The window covering of claim 19 wherein the connective member is mounted to said rail by a support member such that it is located at least partially below the rail.

22 . The window covering of claim 21 wherein the support member allows the connective member to pivot relative to said rail.

23 . A method of providing a cord safety system for a window covering, the method comprising:

providing a cord and a connective member secured to the window covering, wherein the at least one connective member is coupled to the cord by applying pressure directly to the cord; and

releasing the cord being the connective member when at least a predetermined load is applied to the cord.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the predetermined load applied to the cord is greater than the counteractive force to the cord that is created by the gripping pressure applied to the cord by the connective member.

25 . A method of operating a cord safety system for a window covering, the method comprising:

supporting a cord of the window covering directly by a connective member;

applying a load to the cord enough to exceed a predetermined amount;

releasing the cord from the connective member; and

reattaching the cord to the connective member.

26 . A window covering comprising:

a headrail;

a panel connected to the headrail;

a cord for moving the panel, said cord having a distal end and a proximate end; and

a clamp having a gripping portion attached to the headrail of the window covering, wherein the gripping portion of the clamp directly grips the distal end of the cord such that the clamp releases said distal end of the cord when a load greater than a predetermined load is applied to the cord.

27 . The window covering of claim 26 wherein the clamp directly grips the distal end of the cord to create a counteractive force that determines the predetermined load.

28 . A cord safety system for a window covering having a panel, a cord and a headrail, wherein the cord is adapted for controlling movement of the panel of the window covering, the cord safety system comprising:

a connective member having a gripping portion for gripping the cord, said connective member connected to a portion of the window covering; and

wherein the gripping portion of the connective member is adapted and configured to release said cord upon the fulfillment of a predetermined condition.