METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LINKED HORIZONTAL DRAPERY PANELS HAVING VARYING CHARACTERISTICS TO BE MOVED INDEPENDENTLY BY A COMMON DRIVE SYSTEM

1 . A window covering assembly, comprising:

a drive element having at least one guide structure formed on or into an outer surface of the drive element;

a drive attachment element having a corresponding drive structure that communicates with one or more of the at least one guide structure to move the drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the drive element;

a first curtain having a first end of the first curtain and a second end of the first curtain, wherein the first curtain is connected to a first driver, wherein the first driver is coupled to the drive attachment such that when the drive attachment element is moved axially along the drive element by rotating the drive element, the first driver hanger clip is moved by the drive attachment;

a second curtain having a first end of the second curtain and a second end of the second curtain, wherein the second end of the second curtain is attached to a second driver, wherein the second driver is removably coupled to the drive attachment element such that, when the second driver is coupled to the drive attachment element, the second driver is moved by the drive attachment element when the drive attachment element is moved axially along the drive element by rotating the drive element, and when the second driver is decoupled from the drive attachment element, the second driver is not moved by the drive attachment element when the drive attachment element is moved axially along the drive element by rotating the drive element;

wherein movement of the drive attachment element from a first position on the drive element to a second position on the drive element moves the first driver from the first position on the drive element to the second position on the drive element,

wherein movement of the drive attachment element from the first position on the drive element to the second position on the drive element, when the second driver is coupled to the drive attachment element, moves the second driver from the first position on the drive element to the second position on the drive element,

wherein movement of the drive attachment element from the second position on the drive element to the first position on the drive element moves the first driver from the second position on the drive element to the first position on the drive element,

wherein movement of the drive attachment element from the second position on the drive element to the first position on the drive element, when the second driver is decoupled from the drive attachment element, does not move the second driver,

wherein moving the drive attachment element from the first position on the drive element to the second position on the drive element and/or moving the drive attachment element from the second position on the drive element to the first position on the drive element, and coupling, or decoupling, the second driver to, or from, the drive attachment element, allows the second end of the first curtain and/or the second end of the second curtain to be moved from the first position on the drive element to the second position on the drive element and/or the second end of the first curtain and/or the second end of the second curtain to be moved from the second position on the drive element to the first position on the drive element, such that each of three states can be achieved, wherein the first state is the second end of the first curtain and the second end of the second curtain are positioned at the second position on the drive element, a second state is the second end of the first curtain is positioned at the first position on the drive element and the second end of the second curtain is positioned at the second position on the drive element, and the third state is the second end of the first curtain and the second end of the second curtain are positioned at the first position on the drive element.

2 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotation assembly for rotating the drive element.

3 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive element is a tube.

4 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the drive element is hollow, wherein the outer surface of the drive element has a circular cross-sectional shape.

5 . The window covering assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one guide structure comprises a helical guide structure.

6 . The window covering assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the helical guide structure comprises a helical groove formed into the outer surface of the drive element.

7 . The window covering assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one corresponding drive structure comprises a tooth.

8 . The window covering assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the helical groove is axially spaced between 2 inches and 6 inches from itself along the drive element.

9 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein when the drive attachment element is at the first position on the drive element and the second driver is decoupled from the drive attachment element, and the second end of the second curtain is positioned at the second position on the drive element, a user can move the second end of the second curtain without rotating the drive element.

10 . The window covering assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the rotation assembly comprises a motor.

11 . The window covering assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the motor is mounted inside the drive element.

12 . The window covering assembly according to claim 10 , further comprising a power supply for the motor, wherein the power supply is mounted inside the drive element.

13 . The window covering assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the motor is battery powered.

14 . The window covering assembly of claim 10 , wherein the rotation assembly further comprises a control board and a wireless receiver that can receive a signal from a transmitter to operate the motor.

15 . The window covering assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the rotation assembly comprises a pull cord connected to the drive element to manually rotate the drive element.

16 . The window covering assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the motor is operated by a voice command into a transmitter or by key strokes using a device selected from the group consisting of: a remote control, a cell phone, a personal data assistant, or a personal computer.

17 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first curtain is fixed and the first end of the second curtain is fixed.

18 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a first cover track;

a plurality of first hanger clips, wherein the plurality of first hanger clips are attached to the first curtain between the first end of the first curtain and the second end of the first curtain, wherein the plurality of first hanger clips are slidably interconnected with the first cover track such that the first cover track supports a portion of the first curtain, wherein when the drive element moves the drive attachment element so as to move the second end of the first curtain each of the first hanger clips of the plurality of first hanger clips slide with respect to the first cover track to allow the first curtain to be moved.

19 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a second cover track;

a plurality of second hanger clips, wherein the plurality of second hanger clips are attached to the second curtain between the first end of the second curtain and the second end of the second curtain, wherein the plurality of second hanger clips are slidably interconnected with the second cover track such that the second cover track supports a portion of the second curtain, wherein when the drive element moves the drive attachment element so as to move the second end of the second curtain each of the second hanger clips of the plurality of second hanger clips slide with respect to the second cover track to allow the second curtain to be moved.

20 . The window covering assembly according to claim 18 , further comprising:

a second cover track;

a plurality of second hanger clips, wherein the plurality of second hanger clips are attached to the second curtain between the first end of the second curtain and the second end of the second curtain, wherein the plurality of second hanger clips are slidably interconnected with the second cover track such that the second cover track supports a portion of the second curtain, wherein when the drive element moves the drive attachment element so as to move the second end of the second curtain each of the second hanger clips of the plurality of second hanger clips slide with respect to the second cover track to allow the second curtain to be moved.

21 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein rotating the drive element clockwise move the drive attachment element in a first axial direction along the drive element, wherein rotating the drive element counter-clockwise moves the drive attachment element in a second axial direction along the drive element, wherein the second axial direction is opposite to the first axial direction.

22 . The window covering assembly according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a second drive attachment element having a corresponding second drive structure that communicates one or more of the at least one guide structure to move the second drive attachment element axially along the drive element when the drive element is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the drive element, wherein when the second drive element is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the drive element the second drive attachment element moves in a second axial direction that is opposite to the axial direction the drive attachment element moves,

a first additional curtain having a first additional end of the first additional curtain and a second additional end of the first additional curtain, wherein the first additional curtain is connected to a first additional driver, wherein the first additional driver is coupled to the second drive attachment such that when the second drive attachment element is moved axially along the drive element by rotating the drive element, the first additional driver is moved by the second drive attachment;

a second additional curtain having a first additional end of the second additional curtain and a second additional end of the second additional curtain, wherein the second additional end of the second additional curtain is attached to a second additional driver, wherein the second additional driver is removably coupled to the second drive attachment element such that, when the second additional driver is coupled to the second drive attachment element, the second additional driver is moved by the second drive attachment element when the second drive attachment element is moved axially along the drive element by rotating the drive element, and when the second additional driver is decoupled from the second drive attachment element, the second additional driver is not moved by the second drive attachment element when the second drive attachment element is moved axially along the drive element by rotating the drive element;

wherein movement of the second drive attachment element from a first additional position on the drive element to a second additional position on the drive element moves the first additional driver from the first additional position on the drive element to the second additional position on the drive element,

wherein movement of the second drive attachment element from the first additional position on the drive element to the second additional position on the drive element, when the second additional driver is coupled to the second drive attachment element, moves the second additional driver from the first additional position on the drive element to the second additional position on the drive element,

wherein movement of the second drive attachment element from the second additional position on the drive element to the first additional position on the drive element moves the first additional driver from the second additional position on the drive element to the first additional position on the drive element,

wherein movement of the second drive attachment element from the second additional position on the drive element to the first additional position on the drive element, when the second additional driver is decoupled from the second drive attachment element, does not move the second additional driver,

wherein moving the second drive attachment element from the first additional position on the drive element to the second additional position on the drive element and/or moving the second drive attachment element from the second additional position on the drive element to the first additional position on the drive element, and coupling, or decoupling, the second additional driver to, or from, the second drive attachment element, allows the second additional end of the first additional curtain and/or the second additional end of the second additional curtain to be moved from the first additional position on the drive element to the second additional position on the drive element and/or the second additional end of the first additional curtain and/or the second additional end of the second additional curtain to be moved from the second additional position on the drive element to the first additional position on the drive element, such that each of three additional states can be achieved, wherein the first additional state is the second additional end of the first additional curtain and the second additional end of the second additional curtain are positioned at the second additional position on the drive element, a second additional state is the second additional end of the first additional curtain is positioned at the first additional position on the drive element and the second additional end of the second additional curtain is positioned at the second additional position on the drive element, and the third additional state is the second additional end of the first additional curtain and the second additional end of the second additional curtain are positioned at the first additional position on the drive element.

23 . The window covering assembly according to claim 21 , wherein the assembly is a center closing assembly, wherein the first curtain and second curtain are on a left side, wherein the first additional curtain and second additional curtain are on a right side.

24 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the first curtain is connected to the first driver via a first driver hanger clip.

25 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the second curtain is connected to the second driver via a second driver hanger clip.

26 . The window covering assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive attachment element has a first magnet, where the second driver has a second magnet, wherein coupling the second driver to the drive attachment element is accomplished by bringing the second driver into proximity to the drive attachment element while a speed of the second driver relative to the drive attachment element is below a critical speed such that an attraction of the first magnet to the second magnet can effect such coupling.

27 . The window covering assembly according to claim 24 , wherein decoupling the second driver from the drive attachment element is accomplished by the drive attachment element pushing the second driver into an object such that a force is created on the second driver to move away from the drive attachment element such that the second driver is decoupled from the drive attachment element.