Operating system for a covering for an architectural opening

1. An operating system for use with a covering, the covering including a roller and a shade, the shade being movable between an extension direction and a retraction direction, the operating system being operably associated with the roller, the operating system comprising:

an operating element arranged and configured to provide an input torque for selectively rotating the roller to move the shade in the retraction direction;

a transmission arranged and configured to selectively transmit the input torque to the roller; and

an actuator mechanism operatively associated with the operating element and the transmission, the actuator mechanism being pivotably moveable between a first position and a second position;

wherein:

the operating system includes a retraction mode and an extension mode, in the retraction mode, the operating system is operable to raise the shade in the retraction direction, and in the extension mode, the operating system is operable to lower the shade in the extension direction;

movement of the actuator mechanism between the first and second positions switches the operating system between the retraction and extension modes, respectively; and

in the extension mode, the operating system is arranged and configured to enable the shade to move in the extension direction automatically under an influence of gravity without further action by an operator;

wherein the actuator mechanism includes a first arm and a second arm, the second arm being configured to slidably contact the first arm to move the first arm, the first arm selectively engages with the transmission to set a rotation direction of the roller, the second arm operably associated with the first arm to move the first arm into and out of engagement with the transmission; and

wherein the second arm is movable about a first axis that is generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the roller, and the first arm is movable about a second axis that is generally transverse to the first axis.

2. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein movement of the operating element in a predetermined direction moves the actuator mechanism between the first and second positions.

3. The operating system of claim 2 , wherein a downward motion of the operating element shifts the actuator mechanism to the first position.

4. The operating system of claim 3 , wherein a lateral motion of the operating element shifts the actuator mechanism to the second position.

5. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein in the retraction mode, the operating element is moveable by an operator in a series of reciprocating strokes to raise the shade in the retraction direction.

6. The operating system of claim 5 , further comprising a brake mechanism, wherein, in the retraction mode, the brake mechanism is arranged and configured to prevent the shade from lowering in the extension direction.

7. The operating system of claim 1 , wherein moving the second arm causes the first arm to disengage from the transmission.

8. A covering for an architectural opening, comprising:

a rotatable roller rotatable about a longitudinal axis in an extension direction and a retraction direction;

a shade associated with the roller; and

an operating system operably associated with the roller, the operating system comprising;

a base;

a drive mechanism associated with the base to provide an input torque;

a transmission associated with the drive mechanism to selectively transmit the input torque to the roller;

an engagement arm operably associated with the base; and

an actuator arm operably associated with the base, the actuator arm arranged and configured to set a rotation direction of the roller, the actuator arm movable about a first axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the roller;

wherein the engagement arm is movable about a second axis and selectively engages the transmission to set the rotation direction of the roller.

9. The covering of claim 8 , wherein the second axis is one or both of generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the roller, and generally transverse to the first axis.

10. The covering of claim 8 , wherein the transmission includes a ring gear, and wherein the engagement arm selectively engages the ring gear to set the rotation direction of the roller.

11. The covering of claim 8 , wherein the operating system further comprises a biasing element configured to bias the engagement arm into engagement with the transmission.

12. The covering of claim 8 , wherein to set the rotation direction of the roller to the extension direction, the actuator arm contacts the engagement arm to disengage the engagement arm from the transmission, wherein the engagement arm includes a detent configured to retain the actuator arm in a position associated with the extension direction.

13. The covering of claim 8 , wherein when the engagement arm sets the rotation direction of the roller to an extension direction, the shade extends without further action by an operator.

14. The covering of claim 8 , wherein the drive mechanism includes a single operating element, the single operating element operably associated with the actuator arm so that select movement of the single operating element moves the actuator arm.

15. The covering of claim 8 , wherein when the actuator arm sets the rotation direction of the roller to the extension direction, the shade extends automatically under the influence of gravity without further action by an operator.

16. The covering of claim 8 , wherein the actuator arm is positioned relative to the transmission so that the actuator arm does not engage the transmission.