EP3409873B1

EP3409873B1 - Tension cord mounting for an architectural covering

Info

Publication number: EP3409873B1
Application number: EP17174055.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicolaas Dekker; Christianus Wilfred Michael Slobbe; Jan Pieter Wetsema; David Peter MARTIN
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas Industries BV
Priority date: 2017-06-01
Filing date: 2017-06-01
Publication date: 2021-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-01
Also published as: EP3409873A1

Description

The following relates to a tension cord mounting, in particular a mounting for tension cords of an architectural covering to be held in place with respect to at and an outside edge of an architectural structure, such as a window opening or a door opening.
A variety of different architectural coverings are known having shades which may be extended across an architectural structure. Many of these arrangements require cords to be extended across the architectural structure and secured at a periphery of the architectural structure.
EP 1 526 246 A describes a mounting device for a guide cord. Two such mounting devices are used on opposite respective sides of a lower periphery of an architectural structure to secure the cords used for the downwardly extending blind. EP 1 783 315 A2 discloses a cord retainer for a tensioning cord, a guide rail with a complementary coupling element, an end cap and a shading device, wherein the cord retainer has a retaining element (e.g. set screw), the retaining element clamps the cord positively, the cord is clamped in a bore, and each cord has an individual retaining element. US 2016/290039 A1 discloses a cable guided shade system that can include a head rail, at least one guide cable anchor spaced from the head rail, and at least on guide cable that is fixed to the head rail and extends to the guide cable anchor, wherein the guide cable anchor is configured such that the guide cable can be tensioned at the guide cabled anchor, and further including a covering material that is fixed to the head rail and is configured to move along the guide cable between an open position and a closed position. DE 10 2005 029066 A1 discloses a mounting element having two support edges as contact surfaces for support on mounting surface, and a free area provided between the support edges, wherein the attachment of the mounting element on the mounting surface is done with the help of a suitable medium.
The invention is defined by the claims. As described herein, there is provided a tension cord mounting for an architectural covering as defined by the claims.
As described herein, there is also provided a method of mounting a tension cord of an architectural covering to the periphery of an architectural structure as defined by the claims.
Embodiments will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates an architectural covering which may be installed to an architectural structure;
Fig. 2 illustrates a cord holder securing a cord;
Fig. 3 illustrates the cord holder of Fig. 2 in plan view;
Fig. 4 illustrates a cord engaged in a pathway corresponding to the arrangement depicted in Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 illustrates a cord during adjustment;
Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative cord holder;
Fig. 7 illustrates an alternative cord holder;
Fig. 8 illustrates an alternative cord holder;
Fig. 9 illustrates an exploded view of a tension cord mounting; and
Fig. 10 illustrates a tension cord mounting in use.

The tension cord mounting may be embodied in an architectural covering for example as illustrated schematically in Fig. 1.
The architectural covering may be fitted to an architectural structure 101 and includes an upper movable rail 102 and a lower movable rail 104. A shade 106 of any appropriate form extends between the upper movable rail 102 and the lower movable rail 104. In other arrangements applicable to the tension cord mounting described herein, one or both of the rails may be fixed. Alternatively or additionally, in some arrangements, the architectural covering may include at least a third rail. It general, it should be appreciated that the tension cord mounting may be applicable to any architectural covering in which a cord is engaged under tension.
The shade 106 may take the form of a roman shade, a venetian blind, a cellular structure etc. Each of the upper movable rail 102 and lower movable rail 104 is movable across the architectural structure 101 towards and away from a respective edge. As the upper movable rail 102 and lower movable rail 104 move towards each other, the shade 106 is retracted, for example by concertina, stacking or rolling action. When the upper movable rail 102 and lower movable rail 104 are moved apart, the shade 106 is extended across the architectural structure 101.
So that the movable rails 102 and 104 are retained at the position where they are placed (by a user), a known cord tensioning system may be provided. For example, as illustrated, cords 108 extend parallel to the side edges of the architectural structure 101 and along the respective movable rails 102, 104.
The cords 108 are mounted to the upper and lower sides of the architectural opening by means of tension cord mountings 110 that are secured to those edges of the architectural structure 101.
The tension cord mounting disclosed herein includes a cord holder for engaging one or more cords. The cord holder includes a plurality of walls arranged in fixed positions relative to one another that together define a pathway for the one or more cords along and/or through the cord holder. The pathway is configured such that, when a cord is placed within the pathway, the cord includes at least two changes of direction and is arranged such that, when the cord is under tension, friction between the cord and the walls of the cord holder engages the cord with the cord holder. When the cord is engaged with the cord holder, the section of cord under tension does not move in its axial direction relative to the cord holder.
It should be appreciated that in an arrangement as discussed above, depending on the material used to form the cord holder, when the cord is under tension, flexure of the cord holder may result in some movement of the walls of the cord holder relative to each other. However, provision of a cord holder that in a single element can secure the one or more cords rather than, for example, provision of two elements that must be moved relative to each other and/or attached to each other in order to secure the cord, may be beneficial. For example, it may be easier for a user to attach a cord to such a cord holder formed from a single element and/or adjust the position of the cord once it is secured to such a cord holder. In an arrangement, the cord holder may be integrally formed as a single component.
In an arrangement, the cord holder walls are configured such that the pathway defines changes of direction of the one or more cords when located within the pathway in the cord holder that include at least two inflection points. In other words, when the cord is within the pathway defined by the walls, the cord is arranged in a curve that includes at least two points at which the curve changes from being concave to convex or vice-versa. By arranging the cord to pass through such a pathway, when one end of the cord is put under tension, the cord grips the walls of the cord holder. In particular, the greater the tension of the cord, the greater the friction between the cord and the cord holder.
Fig. 2 depicts an example of such a cord holder 201, in this case engaging one cord 202. It should be appreciated, however, that cord holders as here described may be configured to engage a different number of cords, such as for example, two, three or four cords. Fig. 3 depicts in plan view such a cord holder 201 without any cords and Fig. 4 depicts in cross-section the shape of a cord 202 when within the pathway defined by a cord holder 201 and engaged with the cord holder 201.
As shown, the cord holder 201 includes a plurality of walls 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216 that define a pathway with multiple changes of direction of a cord 202 when the cord is within the pathway. Some of the walls of the cord holder 201 define spaces between the walls through which a cord 202 within the pathway must pass, namely define a section of the pathway. Other sections of the pathway of the cord 202 are defined by the one or more walls providing fixed separation between such spaces.
For example, in an arrangement as depicted in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a first pair of walls 211, 212 define a first space 221 through which a cord 202 within the pathway must pass. A second pair of walls 213, 214 define a second space 222 through which a cord 202 within the pathway must pass. A wall 216 separates the first and second spaces 221, 222. In such an arrangement, a cord 202 placed within the pathway is arranged by the configuration of the walls to include multiple sections.
In a first section 223, the cord 202 is bent from an initial direction to pass through the first space 221. In the second section 224, the cord 202 is constrained to be oriented in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the first pair of walls 211, 212. In the third section, the cord 202 is bent towards the second space 222 defined by second pair of walls. In the fourth section 226, the cord 202 passes along the wall 216 in a direction parallel to the surface of the wall 216. In the fifth section 227, the cord 202 is bent to pass through the second space 222. In the sixth section 228, the cord 202 is constrained to be oriented in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the second pair of walls 213, 214. In the seventh section 229, the cord 202 is bent away from the second space towards the remainder of the pathway. In such an arrangement, the sections 224, 228 of a cord 202 within the pathway defined by the walls of the cord holder 201, which are located between sections of the cord at which it is bent, namely changes direction, may be inflection points.
It should be appreciated that the arrangement of the walls to define a pathway for a cord 202 engaged with a cord holder 201 shown in Figs. 2 to 4 are only examples and that variations and other arrangements of walls and/or arrangements of pathways for cords can be used that, when the cord is under tension, engage the cord with the cord holder.
For example, in a variation of the cord holder 201 shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the cord holder 201 may be thinner than the arrangement shown such that at least walls 211,212, 213, 214 are shorter than in the arrangement shown. In such an arrangement, the sections 224, 228 of the cord 202 adjacent the walls 211, 212, 213, 214 may become so short that, in effect, no length of the cord is parallel to the walls 221, 212, 213, 214 and there is just a point at which the cord changes direction. Similarly, in a variation of a cord holder 201, the length of the wall 216 may be reduced such that the section 226 of the cord 202 adjacent the wall 216 becomes so short that, in effect, it becomes just a point at which the cord changes direction.
When the cord 202 is under tension, the changes of direction of the cord are such that the tension of the cord 202 itself creates a contact pressure between the cord 202 and the cord holder 201. For example, the tension in the cord 202 at the first and second points of inflection 221, 222 draws the section 226 of cord between the inflection points 221, 222 onto the wall 216 that is between the first pair of walls 211, 212 and the second pair of walls 213, 214. The contact pressure establishes friction between the cord holder 201 and the cord 202.
The greater the tension of the cord 202, the greater the friction force, the greater the resistance to the cord 202 being released from the cord holder 201. With such an arrangement, it can be established that the friction force engaging the cord 202 with the cord holder 201 is always greater than the cord tension 202, effectively engaging the cord 202 with the cord holder 201.
It should be appreciated that the number and extent of changes of direction of the cord pathway may vary. In particular, the number and extent of the changes of direction that are required to engage a particular cord 202 reliably with a particular cord holder 201 may depend on the coefficient of friction between the cord holder 201 and the cord 202.
Fig. 5 depicts the arrangement of a cord 202 during adjustment of the position of the cord 202 on a cord holder 201. In particular, when the tension on the cord 202 is reduced, a section of the cord may be pulled away from the cord holder 201. For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the section 226 of cord between the two sections 224, 228 that pass through first and second spaces 221, 222 may be drawn up to form an extended loop. This cord may be drawn from either a first end 235 or a second end 236 of the cord 202. Subsequently, the other end 235, 236 of the cord 202 may be gently pulled to draw the section 226 of cord 202 back to its tensioned position against the wall 216 of the cord holder 201. Thereafter, if either end of the cord 202 is placed under tension, the cord holder 201 may be engaged with the cord 202 in the new position relative to the cord 202. Accordingly, with such an arrangement, the position of the cord holder 201 and cord 202 may be adjusted relative to each other by a simple method without requiring any tools, for example. In arrangements in which more than one cord 202 are engaged with the cord holder 201, multiple cords may be adjusted simultaneously and/or each cord may be adjusted separately.
Similarly, it should be appreciated that the cord 202 may be engaged with the cord holder 201 without tools. For example, the cord 202 may be drawn in sections along the pathway of the cord 202 through the cord holder 201, taking care as each section is drawn along to pull though spare cord in loops in order to avoid the cord becoming fully tensioned and therefore becoming engaged with the cord holder.
In an arrangement, the cord holder walls may be arranged such that at each point along the pathway for the cords, the cords can be placed into the pathway by a movement of the cords in a direction that is at an angle to the direction of the cord at that location, transverse to the length of the cord. For example, this may include being able to insert the cord into the pathway in a direction that is locally perpendicular to the direction in which the cords extend.
For example, for the cord holder 201 depicted in Figs. 2 and 3, the cord 202 can be placed in the section of the pathway between the pair of walls 211, 212 by passing a section of the cord 202 through a gap 231 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the section of the cord extends, from outside the cord holder 201 to the space between the pair of walls 211, 212 that defines that section of the pathway. Similarly, a gap 232 is provided that enables a section of cord 202 to be moved into the space between the pair of walls 213, 214 in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction in which the cord 202 extends when it is located in that section of the pathway. It should be appreciated that, although the gaps 231, 232 permit insertion of the cord 202 into the spaces 221, 222 at least in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the cord extends, the gaps 231, 232 also permit the cord 202 to be inserted into the spaces 221, 222 at a variety of other angles relative to the local direction in which the cord 202 extends.
Such an arrangement, namely one in which the cord 202 can be introduced to sections of the pathway through the cord holder 201 in a direction at an angle to the direction in which the cord extends within that section of the pathway, namely not along the direction of the cord, may facilitate engaging the cord 202 with the cord holder 201. In particular, such a motion may be easier for users than threading the cord 202 lengthways through the pathway, which may be required in the absence of such an arrangement.
In the arrangement depicted in Fig. 3, the cord holder 201 is configured such that the direction in which a cord 202 must be moved in order insert it between a first pair of walls 211, 212 is opposite to the direction in which the cord 202 must be moved in order to insert a separate section of cord between the second pair of walls 213, 214. Other arrangements may be provided.
For example, Fig. 6 depicts a cord holder 240 that is similar to the cord holder 201 depicted in Fig. 3, having a first pair of walls 241, 242 and a second pair of walls 243, 244 that each define a part of a pathway for the cord 202 having an inflection point. However, in this arrangement the corresponding gaps 245, 246 to enable the placement of the cord 202 within the pathway are provided on the same side of the cord holder 240, such that the cord can be inserted into both the space between the first pair of walls 241, 242 and the second pair of walls 243, 244 in the same direction.
In other arrangements, a cord holder may be used that does not have gaps permitting the cord to be placed in the pathway defined in the cord holder in a direction transverse to the cord. For example, Figs 7 and 8 depict arrangements of cord holders 250, 251 in which the openings into the spaces 221, 222 are provided in the direction of the cord. In such arrangements, an end of the cord may be inserted into the spaces 221, 222 in order to place the cord within the pathway defined by the cord holder 250, 251. As shown in Fig. 7, in an arrangement, the openings into such spaces may be sufficiently large that a plurality of cords can be passed into each such space. Alternatively, as in an arrangement as shown in Fig. 8, for a cord holder configured to secure a plurality of cords 202, separate spaces may be provided for each cord. A mixed arrangement may also be provided, in which at one point in the pathway defined by the cord holder, plural cords pass through a single space but, at another point in the pathway defined by the cord holder, respective spaces are provided for each cord.
As shown in Fig. 3, in an arrangement, which may be combined with any of the variants discussed above, the cord holder 201 may include one or more restrictions 251, 252, 253 that are configured to loosely constrain the cord 202 to the pathway. For example, the restrictions 251, 252, 253 may not significantly contribute to the tension of the cord 202 that can be held by the cord holder 201. However, they may be sufficiently strong to temporarily bear the weight of the cord. Accordingly, as a user is attempting to engage the cord 202 with the cord holder 201, the restrictions 251, 252, 253 may hold part of the cord 202 in place while the user is positioning another section of the cord 202 within the pathway.
The tension cord mounting as described here may also include a base. In particular, the base may be configured to be mounted to an outside edge of the architectural structure and the cord holder may be configured to be detachably coupled to the base. This construction may facilitate mounting the cord to the architectural structure. Alternatively or additionally, the cord holder may be configured such that it can be mounted directly to the architectural structure. For example it may include an aperture arranged such a fixing such as a screw or bolt can mount the cord holder to the architectural structure.
Fig. 9 depicts an exploded view of an example of a combination of a cord holder 201 and a base 260. The base 260 may be mounted to an edge of an architectural structure, such as a window opening or door opening such as by way of a fastener such as a screw 261. Although a fastener such as a screw 261 may engage directly with the base 260, in the arrangement depicted in Fig. 9, a clamp 262 is provided which engages with the screw 261 and holds the base 260 in place against the architectural structure. Such an arrangement may be provided, for example if the base is made of plastic, in which case the provision of a metal clamp for the screw to act against may reduce the risk of damage to the base. Alternatively or additionally, the clamp may include one or more teeth 263 that, in use, extend through the lower surface of the base 260 to engage with the surface of the architectural structure, ensuring that the base 260 does not slide on the surface of the architectural structure.
In use of a tension cord mounting as here described, the user may mount the base 260 to the architectural structure. Separately, the user may provide a cord to a pathway defined by the walls of a tension cord holder and place the cord under tension in order to engage the cord with the cord holder. Thereafter, the user may couple the cord holder to the base in order to mount the tension cord to the architectural structure. Separating the actions of mounting a component to the architectural structure on the one hand and engaging the cord with a component on the other hand may make these actions easier for the user.
In order to adjust the tension of the cord, the user may disengage the cord holder from the base, adjust the position of the cord holder relative to the tension cord and then recouple the cord holder to the base. As will be apparent, to do so the user does not require any tools. Alternatively or additionally, the user may be able to adjust the position of the cord relative to the cord holder while the cord holder remains coupled to the base.
The cord holder and the base may be coupled to each other by at least one of a fastener and a snap-fit connection. If a fastener is being used, any suitable conventionally known fastener may be used including, for example, a screw and/or a bolt fastening. Other arrangements may be used.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9, the cord holder 201 and base 260 are configured such that the first end 271 of the cord holder 201 couples to the first end 272 of the base 260 and the second end 273 of the cord holder 201 couples to the second end 274 of the base 260. In the arrangement shown, the structure to couple the first ends 271, 272 of the cord holder 201 and base 260 are different from the structure to couple the second ends 273, 274 of the cord holder 201 and base 260. However, it should be appreciated that other arrangements are possible.
In the arrangement depicted in Fig. 9, the first end 271 of the cord holder 201 includes protrusions 275 that are configured to engage with recesses 276 at the first end 272 of the base 260. It should be appreciated that this arrangement may be reversed, namely the first end 272 of the base may have protrusions that fit into corresponding recesses at the first end 271 of the cord holder 201.
At the second end 273 of the cord holder 201 and the second end 274 of the base 260, respective snap- fit elements 277, 278 may be provided.
Fig. 10 shows a tension cord mounting of this arrangement after the cord holder 201 has been coupled to the base 260. As shown in Fig. 10, the cord holder 201 may be arranged such that the cords 202 that extend from the tension cord mounting under tension extend from the first end 271 of the cord holder 202, namely adjacent the coupling formed from the protrusions 275 engaging with the corresponding recesses 276. Such an arrangement may be beneficial because such a coupling may be better able to withstand the tension within the cord 202 than, for example, snap-fit connections.
For example, as depicted in Figs. 9 and 10 the at least one protrusion 275 may extend from the first end 271 of the cord holder 201 (or in an arrangement not shown in the figures from the base) in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the one or more tension cords 202 extend under tension. Accordingly, when the one or more protrusions 275 are inserted in the corresponding recesses 276, the force exerted by the tension of the one or more cords acts in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction, namely does not act in a direction to push the protrusion from its recess.
In order to couple a cord holder 201 to the base 260 as depicted in Fig. 7, the user may first insert the protrusions 275 of the cord holder 201 into the recesses 276 of the base 260 with the cord holder 201 at a slight angle relative to the base 260. Next, the user may press down on the second end 273 of the cord holder 201 in order to engage the snap- fit connectors 277, 278 at the second ends 273, 274 of the cord holder 201 and base 260.
In such an arrangement, the engagement of the protrusions 275 within the recesses 276 provides a strong resistance to the tension of the cords 202. The snap-fit connection at the second ends 273, 274 of the cord holder 201 and base 260 prevent the cord holder 201 moving relative to the base 260 in a direction that would disengage the protrusions 275 from the recesses 276. However, the snap-fit connection does not need to be strong enough to resist the tension of the cord. Accordingly, when a user wishes to disengage the cord holder 201 from the base 260, the user may disengage the snap- fit connectors 277, 278 at the second ends 273, 274 of the cord holder 201 and base 260 using a force that is less than the tension within the one or more cords 202 and then disengage the protrusions 275 from the recesses 276.
It should be appreciated that such an arrangement as explained above not only enables a user to couple and disengage the cord holder 201 from the base 260 without using a tool but also enables the coupling between the cord holder 201 and base 260 to withstand a greater tension in the cords 202 than the force that the user must use to disengage the cord holder 201 from the base 260.
It should also be appreciated that, although in the arrangement depicted in Figs. 9 and 10 the cord holder is arranged with two protrusions 275 that engage with two recesses 276 within the base 260, other numbers of protrusions and corresponding recesses may be used. Similarly, other arrangements of snap-fit connections than those depicted in Fig. 9 may be provided between the second end 273 of the cord holder 201 and the second end 274 of the base 260.
As shown in Fig. 10, if desired a cover 280 may be provided that detachably couples to one or both of the cord holder 201 and the base 260. For example, such a cover may have a snap-fit connection to one or both of the cord holder 201 and the base 260. Alternatively or additionally, one of the cover and the component to which it is to be connected may have ridges that engage with grooves in the other of the cover and component to which it is to be connected, arranged such that the cover can be coupled by sliding it into place. The cover 280 may conceal the free ends of the one or more cords that are engaged with the cord holder 201, namely the ends other than the ends of the cord 202 that extend from the tension cord mounting under tension.
In an arrangement, the cover 280 may hold the free ends of the cord 202 in a desired position relative to the cord holder 201, for example, against a wall 215 that defines one end of the pathway of the cord 202 within the cord holder 201.
These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent from the detailed description, the scope of the invention being set out in the appended claims.

Claims

A tension cord mounting (110) for an architectural covering, configured to be mounted to an outside edge of an architectural structure (101), the tension cord mounting (110) including:
a cord holder (201) for engaging one or more cords (202);

wherein the cord holder (201) includes a plurality of walls (210-216, 241-244) arranged in fixed positions relative to one another such that the walls (210-216, 241-244) define a pathway through the cord holder (201) for one or more cords (202),

wherein the walls (210-216, 241-244) are configured such that the pathway includes at least two inflection points, and wherein the pathway is configured such that, when a cord (202) is placed within the pathway, the cord (202) includes at least two changes of direction; and characterized in that

the pathway is arranged such that, when a cord (202) is placed within the pathway and is under tension, the tension of the cord (202) itself creates a contact pressure between the cord (202) and the walls (210-216, 241-244) of the cord holder (201), the contact pressure establishes friction between the cord (202) and the walls (210-216, 241-244) of the cord holder (201), and the friction between the cord (202) and the walls (210-216, 241-244) of the cord holder (201) engages the cord (202) with the cord holder (201), such that the section of cord (202) under tension does not move in its axial direction relative to the cord holder (201).
A tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 1, wherein the cord holder walls (210-216, 241-244) are configured such that, at each point along the pathway for the one or more cords (202), the one or more cords (202) can be placed in the pathway by movement of the one or more cords (202) in a direction that is at an angle relative to the direction in which the one or more cords (202) extend at that point.
A tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 1 or 2, further including a base (260);
wherein the base (260) is configured to be mounted to an outside edge of the architectural structure (101); and
the cord holder (201) is configured to be detachably coupled to the base (260).
A tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 3, wherein the cord holder (201) and the base (260) are configured to be coupled by at least one of a fastener and a snap-fit connection.
A tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein, when the cord holder (201) and base (260) are coupled to one another, first and second ends (271, 273) of the cord holder (201) engage with first and second ends (272, 274), respectively, of the base (260);
the first end (271, 272) of one of the cord holder (201) and the base (260) includes at least one recess (276) configured to receive a corresponding at least one protrusion (275) provided on the first end (271, 272) of the other of the cord holder (201) and the base (260); and
the second ends (273, 274) of the cord holder (201) and the base (260) include respective parts of a snap-fit connection (277, 278).
A tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 5, wherein the tension cord holder (201) is configured such that, in use, the sections of the one or more cords (202) mounted under tension for an architectural covering extend under tension from the first ends (271, 272) of the cord holder (201) and the base (260).
A tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 6, wherein the tension cord holder (201) is configured such that, in use, the at least one protrusion (275) extends from the first end (271, 272) of the cord holder (201) or base (260) in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the sections of the cords (202) mounted under tension extend.
A tension cord mounting (110) according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the base (260) defines an aperture configured to receive a fastener (261, 262) to mount the base (260) to the outside edge of the architectural structure (101).
A tension cord mounting (110) according to any preceding claim, further including a cover (280), configured to be detachably coupled to at least one of the cord holder (201) and the base (260).
A tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 9, wherein the cover (280) is configured to conceal the free ends of the one or more cords (202).
An architectural covering for fitment to an architectural structure (101) including one or more tension cord mountings (110) according to any preceding claim.
A method of mounting a tension cord (202) of an architectural covering to the periphery of an architectural structure (101) by using a tension cord mounting (110) according to any one of claims 1-10, the method including:
providing the cord (202) to the pathway through the cord holder (201); and characterized by

placing the cord (202) under tension such that the tension of the cord (202) itself creates a contact pressure between the cord (202) and the walls (210-216, 241-244) of the cord holder (201), the contact pressure establishes friction between the cord (202) and the walls (210-216, 241-244) of the cord holder (201), and the friction between the cord (202) and the walls (210-216, 241-244) of the cord holder (201) engages the cord (202) with the cord holder (201), such that the section of cord (202) under tension does not move in its axial direction relative to the cord holder (201).
A method according to claim 12 for mounting a tension cord (202) of an architectural covering to the periphery of an architectural structure (101) using a tension cord mounting (110) according to claim 3 or claims dependent thereof, the method further includes:
mounting the base (260) to an outside edge of the architectural structure (101); and

coupling the cord holder (201) to the base (260).
A method according to claim 13 for mounting a tension cord (202) of an architectural covering to the periphery of an architectural structure (101) using a tension cord mounting (110) according to any one of claims 5 to 7 or claims dependent thereof, the method including:
inserting the at least one protrusion (275) into the corresponding at least one recess (276) at the first ends (271, 272) of the cord holder (201) and base (260); and

subsequently engaging the snap-fit connection between the second ends (273, 274) of the cord holder (201) and the base (260).