CORDLESS HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR WINDOW COVERINGS
A window covering can be configured to facilitate height adjustment of window covering material. In some embodiments, a wand may be utilized to help control adjustment of the position of the window covering material. For instance, in some embodiments a roller may be rotated via use of a wand to effect adjustment of the window covering material.
1 . A window covering comprising:
a first roller having a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
window covering material connected to the first roller such that the window covering material is moveable between a first position and a second position, a first portion of the window covering material and a second portion of the window covering material being rolled up when the window covering material is in the second position, a third portion of the window covering material being located above the first and second portions of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the second position;
a first mounting device coupled to the first roller adjacent to the first end of the first roller;
a second mounting device coupled to the first roller adjacent to the second end of the second roller;
a rotatable disc coupled to one of the first end and the second end such that rotation of the disc in a first direction drives rotation of the first roller in the first direction to wind the window covering material about the first roller and rotation of the disc in a second direction that is opposite the first direction drives rotation of the first roller in the second direction to unwind the window covering material from the first roller;
an elongated wand coupled to the disc such that the elongated wand extends from the disc.
2 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the window covering material is rolled up when the window covering material is in the first position and the second portion of the window covering material and the third portion of the window covering material are located above the first portion of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the first position; and
wherein the second portion of the window covering material is located between the first portion of the window covering material and the third portion of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the first position of the window covering material.
3 . The window covering of claim 2 , comprising:
a bottom rail attached to the first portion of the window covering material such that the window covering material encircles the bottom rail.
4 . The window covering of claim 2 , comprising:
a bar or rod attached to the first portion of the window covering material such that the window covering material encircles the bar or rod.
5 . The window covering of claim 1 , comprising:
a spring connected between the disc and the first roller to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction.
6 . The window covering of claim 1 , comprising:
a spring connected within the first roller between the disc and the first roller, the spring configured to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction.
7 . The window covering of claim 5 , wherein the spring is configured such that a biasing force provided by the spring to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction is insufficient at driving rotation of the disc without an external rotational force being applied to the disc via the wand.
8 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein the first roller is a shaft, a tube, an elongated member, or a bar.
9 . The window covering of claim 1 , wherein:
the first mounting device is comprised of an annular body having a central opening, the first roller passing through the central opening of the body of the first mounting device; and
the second mounting device is comprised of an annular body having a central opening, the first roller passing through the central opening of the body of the second mounting device.
10 . The window covering of claim 9 , wherein:
the wand has a first end and a second end, the first end being rotatably coupled to the disc so that the first end is rotatable relative to the disc when the disc rotates.
11 . The window covering of claim 10 , comprising:
a spring connected between the disc and the first roller to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction.
12 . The window covering of claim 11 , wherein the spring is configured so that an amount of biasing force provided by the spring decreases as the disc is rotated in the first direction and the window covering material is wound upon the first roller and the amount of biasing force provided by the spring increases as the window covering material is unrolled from the first roller.
13 . The window covering of claim 11 , wherein the spring is a constant force spring.
14 . The window covering of claim 10 , comprising:
a spring connected between the disc and the first roller to bias the disc to rotate in the first direction; the spring being configured so that an amount of biasing force provided by the spring decreases as the first roller is rotated in the first direction and the window covering material is wound upon the first roller and the amount of biasing force provided by the spring increases as the window covering material is unrolled from the first roller.
15 . A method of adjusting a position of window covering material of a window covering from a first position to a second position, the method comprising:
grasping a wand extending from a disc connected to an end of a first roller of the window covering;
moving the wand to rotate the disc in a first direction to drive rotation of the first roller in a first direction to wind window covering material onto the first roller;
stopping the moving of the wand to maintain the window covering material at the second position.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the moving of the wand is performed such that the disc rotates relative to an upper end of the wand that is rotatably connected to the disc.
17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising:
varying a biasing force of a spring connected between the first roller and the disc as the window covering material is wound upon the first roller.
18 . The method of claim 17 , comprising:
lowering the window covering material such that window covering material unwinds from the first roller.
19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising:
varying a biasing force of the spring as the window covering material is lowered.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein:
a first portion of the window covering material and a second portion of the window covering material are rolled up when the window covering material is in the second position and an unrolled third portion of the window covering material is located above the first and second portions of the window covering material when the window covering material is in the second position.