Semi-rigid chain assembly
A manually-operated window treatment system may include a roller tube, a covering material, and a semi-rigid chain assembly. The covering material may be attached to the roller tube and may be operable between a raised position and a lowered position via rotation of the roller tube. The semi-rigid chain assembly may be configured to be operated by a user to rotate the roller tube. The semi-rigid chain assembly may be configured to limit the size of a loop that can be formed by the semi-rigid chain assembly. The semi-rigid chain assembly may be operatively coupled to a drive pulley of the window treatment system. The semi-rigid chain assembly may include flexible outer housing and a stiffening rod. The flexible housing may surround and operate along the stiffening rod. The hollow chain may include multiple links that are connected together to form a continuous loop.
1. A window treatment system comprising:
a roller tube that is supported at opposed ends thereof;
a covering material that is attached to the roller tube, the covering material operable between a raised position and a lowered position via rotation of the roller tube; and
a chain assembly configured to be operated by a user to rotate the roller tube, wherein the chain assembly includes:
a chain comprising a plurality of links, each of the plurality of links having a bore extending therethrough, and
a rod extending through the bore of each of the plurality of links of the chain, such that the chain is operable to move relative to the rod along a length of the rod.
2. The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a first end having a spherical shape and a second end having a cylindrical shape.
3. The window treatment system of claim 2 , wherein the first end of each of the plurality of links has a set of holes and the second end of each of the plurality of links has a set of studs.
4. The window treatment system of claim 3 , wherein the set of holes of each of the plurality of links is connected to the set of studs of an adjacent one of the plurality of links of the chain.
5. The window treatment system of claim 4 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of links is received within the bore in the first end of the adjacent one of the plurality of links of the chain.
6. The window treatment system of claim 5 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of links is configured to pivot within the bore in the first end of the adjacent one of the plurality of links of the chain.
7. The window treatment system of claim 6 , wherein the bore is spherical in shape in the first end of each of the plurality of links and the bore is cylindrical in shape in the second end of each of the plurality of links.
8. The window treatment system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a drive element coupled to the roller tube, wherein rotation of the drive element causes the roller tube to rotate for raising and lowering the covering material;
wherein the first ends of the plurality of links of the chain engage the drive element, such that operation of the chain assembly rotates the roller tube.
9. The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of links of the chain are connected together to form a continuous loop.
10. The window treatment system of claim 9 , wherein the rod defines a shape of the continuous loop.
11. The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the chain assembly is configured to limit a size of a loop that can be formed by the chain assembly.
12. The window treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the rod is a spring steel stiffening rod and the chain is a hollow plastic beaded chain.
13. A chain assembly for a window treatment system having a covering material, the chain assembly comprising:
a chain configured to be operated by a user to raise and lower the covering material of the window treatment system, the chain comprising a plurality of links, each of the plurality of links having a bore extending therethrough; and
a rod extending through the bore of each of the plurality of links of the chain, such that the chain is operable to move relative to the rod along a length of the rod.
14. The chain assembly of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of links comprises a first end having a spherical shape and a second end having a cylindrical shape.
15. The chain assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first end of each of the plurality of links has a set of holes and the second end of each of the plurality of links has a set of studs.
16. The chain assembly of claim 15 , wherein the set of holes of each of the plurality of links is connected to the set of studs of an adjacent one of the plurality of links of the chain.
17. The chain assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of links is received within the bore in the first end of the adjacent one of the plurality of links of the chain.
18. The chain assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second end of each of the plurality of links is configured to pivot within the bore in the first end of the adjacent one of the plurality of links of the chain.
19. The chain assembly of claim 18 , wherein the bore is spherical in shape in the first end of each of the plurality of links and the bore is cylindrical in shape in the second end of each of the plurality of links.
20. The chain assembly of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of links of the chain are connected together to form a continuous loop.
21. The chain assembly of claim 20 , wherein the rod defines a shape of the continuous loop.
22. The chain assembly of claim 13 , wherein the chain assembly is configured to limit a size of a loop that can be formed by the chain assembly.