Window shade

摘要

A window shade that reduces the risk of an individual becoming entangled in cords used to operate the shade includes a headrail adapted for horizontal mounting above a window, a shading material attached to the headrail, and at least one cord for raising and lowering the shading material. The cord is attached to a location adjacent a lower end of the material, and extends upward through cord guides toward the headrail. The cord is encased within a collapsible shroud attached to each cord guide. The shroud is adapted to longitudinally extend as the shading material is lowered toward a deployed position, and then longitudinally collapse as the shading material is raised toward a stowed position. The cord is secured to and is wound about a spring-loaded roller. The roller provides tension on the cord that counterbalances the weight of the shade so that the shading material may be positioned at any desired level.

主权项

1. A Roman window shade, comprising:
a headrail adapted for mounting adjacent a window; a roller mounted for rotation about an axis extending between one side edge of the window shade to a second side edge of the window shade opposite the first side; a shading material having an upper end attached to the headrail, a lower end opposite the first end, and a face between the upper and lower ends; a shroud disposed adjacent the face and secured to the shading material at least at one location; a cord disposed in the shroud and substantially narrower than the shading material and secured to the roller wherein rotation of the roller causes the cord to be wound about the roller or unwound from the roller for moving the shading material between a stowed position in which the shading material is collected in folds adjacent the headrail and a fully deployed position in which the shading material extends fully downwardly away from the headrail; a cord guide secured to the shading material, wherein the cord guide surrounds both the shroud and the cord; and wherein the spring loaded roller includes a mechanism that locks the roller against rotation and prevents the cord from being wound or unwound from the roller to maintain the shading material in a stationary position, and wherein when the shade is in the fully deployed position a downward force exerted on the cord causes the cord to move downwardly relative to the shading material and unlock the roller, and wherein the cord is secured to the face such that no portion of the cord is extendible outwardly away from the face to a point at which a strangulation hazard can be created.