SELF-RAISING WINDOW COVERING 5 Field of Invention The present invention relates to a window covering that may be raised without the need to apply a force to either a control mechanism or the window covering itself as the window covering is opened. In particular, the present invention relates to a window covering having a control mechanism configured to 10 exert an upward force on the shade element and bottom rail that is of sufficient magnitude to raise the shade element and bottom rail without additional force being applied by the user during raising. Background of the Invention 15 Window shades and coverings are found in many applications and used to regulate the amount of light entering a room, and to provide aesthetic appeal to a decor. Such window shades and coverings take many forms, including roller shades, Roman shades, Venetian blinds, and cellular shades. Conventional cellular or pleated shades utilize cord locks or a transmission mechanism to raise, 20 lower and position the window covering in a desired position. With window coverings utilizing a cord lock, cords run up through the folded fabric, across the inside of a head rail and exit through a locking mechanism. Other cellular shades 1 include a transmission mechanism and a continuous loop cord that is pulled by a user to raise and lower the window shade. Roman shades and Venetian blinds also tend to include raising cords that are secured to a lower bar or bottom rail. There are some disadvantages to these designs. Cords present the 5 potential hazard of a child getting caught in or strangled by the exposed control cord. Cords also tend to distract from the aesthetics of a window covering in that they extend along the face of the window covering and, when the window shade is opened, must either be wrapped on a hook or just left on the floor. With window coverings that utilize cord locks, the cords also experience substantial wear due to 10 friction against surfaces as a result of raising and lowering of the window covering. Other window coverings include common roller shades, which operate in the absence of a cord. These roller shades include a wound torsion spring retraction mechanism in combination with a clutch or locking mechanism mounted with a roller onto which the shade is rolled and collected. In operation, a 15 roller shade is pulled down by a user to a desired location, where it is locked in place by the clutch or locking mechanism. To unlock and release the shade so that it may be raised, the user typically pulls on a bottom rail of the shade, extending the shade sufficiently to disengage the internal clutch or locking mechanism within. When the clutch or locking mechanism is disengaged and the user releases the 20 shade, the shade is retracted using the torsion-spring driven retraction mechanism. Known roller shades, however, are only operable with flat shade material which rolls up neatly into a confined location. 2 The mechanism utilized in such roller shades is not compatible with other window coverings, such as cellular shades, Venetian blinds, and Roman shades. As roller shades are raised, the amount of shade being lifted decreases such that a constant force torsional spring member is capable of applying the necessary 5 winding or upward force throughout the opening range. By contrast, a similar lifting mechanism is typically unsuitable in cellular shades, Venetian blinds, and Roman shades. In these types of window coverings the material of the shade element is typically gathered by raising a bottom member, such as a bottom rail, and increasing amounts of weight are gathered on the bottom member as the 10 window covering is raised. The reason for this is that the shade material or shade element increasingly stacks on the bottom rail as the bottom rail rises, which increases the load on the lifting mechanism. In order to address this increasing weight, very strong torsional springs have been used to accommodate the maximum weight of the shade. One 15 drawback to this approach, however, is that the rate at which the window covering is retracted may be too fast and uncontrolled. One attempt to address this problem is found in U.S. Patent No. 6,666,252, issued to Welfonder. This patent teaches the use of a fluid brake to control the rate at which the raising cords are retracted throughout the raising process. Another approach that has been used is shown in 20 U.S. Patent No. 6,056,036, issued to Todd, which employs a mechanical friction member to continuously slow the rate of retraction. One problem with these approaches has been that the spring utilized exerts a force that makes it difficult for 3 a user to overcome when attempting to lower the shade. Excessive pulling force by the user often results in damage to the window covering. Alternatively, variable force springs have been used. Such variable force springs are substantially more complicated in use and manufacture. 5 Therefore, there is a need for a window covering raising mechanism for window coverings such as Venetian blinds, Cellular shades and Roman shades that is self-raising and overcomes the foregoing problems, or at the least provides a useful alternative to the aforementioned coverings and mechanisms. o Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a self-raising window covering and a control mechanism for the window covering. In particular, the window covering is a self-raising window covering that includes a head rail, a shade element, such as a cellular panel, blind slats, or Roman shade material, a bottom rail, at least one raising cord operatively connected at a first 5 end to the bottom rail, and a control mechanism. The head rail may define an elongated channel wherein the control mechanism is disposed therein. In some embodiments, the control mechanism includes a drive axle and a drive unit operatively connected with the drive axle. The drive unit, which may be a constant force spring, is adapted to provide a substantially constant rotational force on the drive axle. 0 At least one cord winding assembly is also provided in co-axial relation with the drive axle. Typically, the number of cord winding assemblies will be the same as the number of raising cords. However, in some instances, one cord winding assembly may be adapted to operate with multiple cords. The cord winding assembly includes at least one winding drum operatively connected to a second end of the raising cord and having a tapered portion. The cord winding assembly also includes a rotatable positioning member for moving the cord winding assembly laterally along the drive axle upon rotation of the positioning member. In a 5 preferred embodiment, the positioning member is a threaded tubular member connected to the winding drum. The cord winding assembly is adapted to translate the rotational force on the drive axle to a raising force on the raising cord, wherein the raising force is greater than a total downward force exerted by the shade element and bottom rail throughout the range of opening and closing. In a preferred embodiment, the cord winding assembly is rotationally secured with the drive axle by a hub 0 member adapted to engage the cord winding assembly and the drive axle. The hub member may be in a sliding relationship with the tapered portion of the cord winding assembly. A clutch member or locking or actuating member is also operatively connected with the axle and adapted to releasably lock the drive axle in a desired position. In a preferred embodiment, the clutch or locking or actuating member comprises a reciprocator disposed coaxially relative to the drive 15 axle and movable between a released position and a locked position, and a spring member connected to the reciprocator and operable to either tighten or relax the hold of the reciprocator on the drive axle. The reciprocator is configured to cause the spring member to tighten on the drive axle in the locked position for blocking a rotation of the drive axle against the rotational force applied by the drive unit, and cause the spring member to relax the drive axle in the released position to permit a rotation of the drive axle under the rotational force applied by the drive unit 5 Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. I is a perspective view, partly in cutaway, of a preferred embodiment of a window covering according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the single spring coil drive unit of FIG. 1; 10 FIG. 3 is a side elevational cross section view of the single spring coil drive unit of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side elevational cross section view of an alternative single spring coil drive unit; FIG. 5 is a side elevational cross section view of a double spring 15 drive unit; FIG. 6 is a side elevational cross section view of an alternative double spring drive unit; FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the cord winding assembly shown in FIG. 1; 20 FIG. 8A is a front elevational view of the window covering of FIG. I in a closed position and with the head rail in cross section; 6 FIG. 8B is a front elevational view of the window covering of FIG. 1 in a partially open position and with the head rail in cross section; FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a preferred clutch member when the window covering is in a fully raised position; 5 FIG. 9B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. 9A; FIG. 1 OA is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9A as the user pulls down on the window covering; FIG. 10B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. 1 0A; 10 FIG. I IA is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9A as the user releases the window covering; FIG. 1 B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. IIA; FIG. 12A is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9A as 15 the user pulls down on the window covering to release the clutch member; FIG. 12B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. 12A; FIG. 13A is a perspective view of the clutch member of FIG. 9A as the window covering self-raises; 20 FIG. 13B is a cross sectional view of the clutch member of FIG. 13A; 7 FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alterative embodiment of a window covering according to the present invention with a deceleration member; FIG. 15A is a side elevational cross section view of the deceleration member of FIG. 14 disengaged from one cord winding assembly; 5 FIG. 15B is a side elevational cross section view of the deceleration member of FIG. 14 engaging one cord winding assembly; and FIG. 15C is a side elevational cross section view of the deceleration member of FIG. 14 when the window covering is fully raised. 10 Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments The invention disclosed herein is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms. Shown in the drawings and described in detail hereinbelow are preferred embodiments of the present invention. The present disclosure, however, is only an exemplification of the principles and features of the invention, 15 and does not limit the invention to the illustrated embodiments. Referring to FIGURE 1, an embodiment of a self-raising window covering 10 according to the present invention is shown. A head rail 12 defining a channel is provided. A pair of drive units, such as spring units 14 and 16 are coaxially mounted about a drive axle 18. Also mounted on drive axle 18 are cord 20 winding assemblies 20 and 22. Each of cord winding assemblies 20 and 22 includes a frustoconical winding drum 24 and 26, and a threaded tubular member 32 and 34, respectively. Raising cords 28 and 30, which are shown as wound on 8 winding drums 24 and 26, are secured at an end to the winding drums 24 and 26. In this embodiment, an actuator in the form of a clutch 36 is also provided and co-axially mounted on the drive axle 18. Each of these components is discussed in greater detail below. Window covering 10 further includes a shade element, such as cellular shade material 38 and a bottom member, such as bottom rail 40. The 5 term "cord" as used may encompass a cord, strip, ribbon, string or any similar flexible elongated elements that are suitable for supporting the suspended shade element, and can be wound or unwound to deploy or retract the shade element. A relatively short length of cord 42 can also be provided so that the user can pull down the window covering and, as will be discussed in further detail, release the clutch so that the window covering will retract itself. 0 Referring to FIG. 2, a preferred embodiment of the spring unit 14 is shown. The spring unit 14 comprises a spring casing 42, a spring axle 44, a constant force coil spring 46 and a cover 48. The coil spring 46 and the spring axle 44 are secured within the casing 42, which is closed by cover 48. A first end 50 of the coil spring 46 is secured to the spring axle 44, which is coaxially connected to the drive axle 18 (FIG. 1). In this preferred embodiment, the coil spring is configured to provide sufficient 5 rotational force to the drive axle 18 and winding drums 24 and 26 to raise the shade element and bottom rail. Other alternative embodiments of spring units are also possible, such as shown in FIGS. 3-6. For example, a suitable spring unit 114 shown in FIG. 3 may include a coiled spring member 146 having a first end secured with a first spring axle 142 20 25
C)
that connects to the drive axle 18 shown in FIG. 1, and a second end secured with a second spring axle 144 that is offset from the first spring axle 142. The coiled spring 146 in a relaxed position may be initially wound around the second spring axle 144. As the shade element is pulled downward, the coiled spring 146 may 5 stretch out from the second spring axle 144 and progressively wind around the first spring axle 142. This configuration of the spring unit 114 may be suitable when the used coiled spring 146 has a greater length to allow a longer deployment range of the shade element. FIG. 4 illustrates another suitable spring unit 214, which is similar to 10 the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 except that the second end of the coiled spring does not connect to any second spring axle. Instead, the coiled spring 246 winds on itself at its second end, while the first end 252 of the coiled spring 246 connects to a single spring axle 218 connected to the drive axle 18 shown in FIG. 1. Still other suitable embodiments of spring units are shown in FIGS. 15 5 and 6. In FIG. 5, spring unit 314 includes an assembly of two coiled springs 346 and 348 that may be used to provide a greater raising force for the shade element. The first coiled spring 346 has its first end connected to a first spring axle 344, and the second coiled spring 348 has its first end connected to a second spring axle 345. The second end of the first coiled spring 346 and the second end of the second 20 coiled spring 348 respectively connect to a third spring axle 318 located between the first and second spring axles 344 and 345 and connected to the drive axle 18. As the shade element is pulled downward, the coiled springs 346 and 348 may 10 respectively stretch out from the first and second spring axle 344 and 345 to progressively wind around the third spring axle 318 to apply an increased raising force on the drive axle 18. In FIG. 6, the shown embodiment is very similar to that shown in FIG. 5 except that the two coiled springs 446 and 448 that wind on the 5 axle 418 connected to the drive axle do not connect with second spring axles. Although each of the embodiments shown utilizes a spring as the driving mechanism for the drive unit, it should be understood that any suitable mechanism for imparting a rotational force on the drive axle may be utilized. Referring again to FIG. 1, the rotational force exerted upon a drive 10 axle 18 causes the cord winding assemblies 20 and 22 to rotate and translate for winding the cords 28 and 30, which thereby raises the shade element 38 vertically toward the head rail 12. Further details on a preferred embodiment of a cord winding assembly are provided with reference to FIG. 7. Cord winding assembly 20 is mounted co-axially with the drive axle 15 18 that passes through a fixed housing comprised of a frame 64 and upper cover 65. The cord winding assembly 20 includes a winding drum 24 and a rotational positioning member, such as threaded tubular member 32, fixedly connected at an end of the winding drum 24. The cord winding assembly 20 is preferably mounted on the drive axle 18 via a hub member, such as adapter 60 that is configured to 20 transmit rotational movement between the drive axle 18 and the cord winding assembly 20 while allowing a relative translation movement therebetween. In some embodiments, the adapter 60 may be coaxially mounted inside a central hole 11 of the winding drum 24, and include a through hole for mounting the drive axle 18. To transfer rotational movement while permitting smooth relative translation between the winding drum 24 and the adapter 60, a peripheral surface of the adapter 60 may be provided with radial portions that contact with ribs protruding 5 radially inward from the surface of the central hole of the winding drum 24. Further, the threaded tubular member 32 engages with toothed rollers 66, which are rotatably mounted to frame 64 and bracket 68 fixedly secured in head rail 12. Rotational movements thereby can be transferred between the drive axle 18 and the cord winding assembly 20, while smooth relative translations with reduced frictions 10 are permitted therebetween. In addition, the engagement via the adapter 60 and the threaded tubular member 32 allows an improved support of the load of the suspended components, e.g. shade element 38 and bottom rail 40. The winding drum 24 is tapered and is preferably frustoconical in shape, and may include striations or grooves to improve gripping of the cord 28 15 wound on the surface of the winding drum 24. An end of the raising cord (not shown) is secured towards the larger diameter end 62 of the winding drum 24. As the cord winding assembly 20 rotates and translates in a direction to wind the raising cord 28, the raising cord is wrapped around increasingly narrower portions of the winding drum 24. 20 Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the raising operation of the window covering is shown. When the shade element 38 is fully deployed, as shown in FIG. 8A, the raising cord 28 is fully extended from a wider portion of the winding drum 12 24. As the bottom rail 40 rises under the resilient force of the spring units 14 and 16, as shown in FIG. 8b, the threaded engagement between the threaded tubular member 32 and rollers 66 causes the rotating cord winding assembly 20 to move laterally within the head rail 12, such that the raising cord winds along the winding 5 drum 24 towards its narrower end. Because the rising bottom rail 40 causes the shade element 38 to collapse and stack up thereon, the total weight being raised by the resilient force applied by spring units 14 and 16 thus increases. The load on the spring units is now described with reference to one of the spring units. The load on one spring 10 unit 14 is derived with an adequate scale factor from a momentum M on the drive axle 18 that can be approximated by the product between the suspended weight W, including the weight of the bottom rail plus the amount of shade element 38 stacked thereon, and a winding radius R of the winding drum 24. As the bottom rail 40 rises, W will increase, and R will decrease because the raising cord 28 winds 15 on increasingly narrower portions of the tapered winding drum 24 that slide with reduced frictions owing to the adapter 60 and threaded tubular member 32 and adapter 60. Accordingly, even though the suspended weight W increases, the load M on one spring unit 14 can be kept at a level that varies slightly and can be overcome by the constant force spring 46 (FIG. 2) to fully raise the bottom rail 40 20 and shade element 38. In order to lower the window covering, a user exerts an approximately constant pulling force regardless of the position in height of the window covering. With the cord winding assemblies 20 and 22, spring units 14 13 and 16 of constant force thus can be suitably used to raise a suspended weight charge W that increases as it rises. In some embodiments, such as the one depicted, the shade element itself may have an effect on the total downward force or suspended weight. For example, where the shade element is a cellular 5 window covering, an inherent upward spring bias to the material may serve to decrease the total downward force. The total contribution of this spring bias varies depending on the degree to which the cellular window covering is extended. As explained, as the window covering opens, the total weight suspended increases and the total raising force decreases. As such, the rate at which the window cover raises decreases as it nears a 0 fully opened condition. Therefore, the shortcoming typically found in roller shade where the shade is retracted to quickly and violently avoided. Referring again to FIG.6, the actuator or clutch member 36 is provided in order to lock the shade element 38 and bottom rail 40 in a desired position. Actuator or clutch member 36 is mounted coaxially with the drive axle 18 and is configured to unlock the drive axle 18 as the user pulls down 5 the bottom rail 40 to stretch the shade element 38, and to lock the drive axle 18 when the user releases the bottom rail 40 at the desired height. When the user pulls down slightly on the bottom rail again, the actuator or clutch disengages and allows the bottom rail 40 to be raised by the spring units 14 and 16. Referring to FIG. 9 A and 9B, the actuator or clutch member 36 includes a casing 70 that has fixed protrusions 72 and 74. A collar 76 rotating with the drive axle 18 20 25 1 A is provided, which reciprocates axially along the drive axle 18. A reciprocator 78 is co-axially mounted over collar 76 and is movable both rotatably and axially therewith. A spring 80 having a first end 82 and a second end 84 is provided between collar 76 and reciprocator 78. FIGS. 9A and 9B show the actuator or clutch when the window covering 10 is in a fully raised 5 position. Spring 80 is in a relaxed condition with second end 84 in an abutting relationship with protrusion 74. As shown in FIGS. IOA and lOB, when the user pulls on the bottom rail (not shown), a clockwise rotation (as shown) of the axle 18 and the collar 76 occurs and causes the second end 84 of the spring 80 to disengage from protrusion 74. Spring 80 tightens on collar 76 such that rotation of the collar 76 is transmitted to reciprocator 78 via the contact between first end 82 of the spring 80 and 0 reciprocator 78, which brings reciprocator 78 into abutment with protrusion 72. As the reciprocator 78 abuts against protrusion 72, the spring 80 relaxes again and the drive axle 18 may continue to rotate as the user further pulls on the bottom rail. Referring to FIG. I IA and 1 IB, as the user releases the bottom rail at a desired height, spring 80 tightens on collar 76 and the drive axle 18, urged by the spring units 14 and 16 (FIG. 1), rotates reciprocator 78 in a counterclockwise direction until it reaches 5 a locking position where protrusion 72 abuts against a stop 79 on the reciprocator 78. In this locking position, the spring 80 tightens to stop rotation of the drive axle 18 against the raising force exerted by spring units 14 and 16. Referring to FIGS. 12A and 12B, as the user pulls down slightly on the bottom rail, the spring 80 tightens and a resulting 20 25 clockwise rotation of the drive axle 18 and collar 76 causes the reciprocator 78 to disengage from the locking position to a release position. When the user releases the bottom rail as shown in FIGS 13A and 13B, the spring units 14 and 16 cause the drive axle 18 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to bring second end 84 of 5 the spring 80 into engagement with protrusion 74, and thereby loosening spring 80, which permits drive axle 18 to continue rotating and fully opening the window covering. An alternative embodiment of the window covering according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 14. In most aspects, this embodiment is the 10 same as the ones previously discussed. Window covering 510 includes a head rail 512 having a pair of spring units 514 and 516 mounted with a drive axle 518. Cord winding assemblies 520 and 522 are also provided. Raising cords 528 and 530 pass through shade element 538 and are connected with bottom rail 540. In addition, at least one deceleration member 550 is provided. Deceleration member 550 is 15 engageable with one cord winding assembly 522 to slow down the rise of the bottom rail 540 as it approaches the head rail. The preferred embodiment of the deceleration member 520 is shown in FIGS. 15A - 15C. In the position of FIG. 15A, the cord winding assembly 522 is disengaged from the deceleration member 550. As the cord winding assembly 522 20 winds the cord 526, the cord winding assembly 522 also moves towards the deceleration member 550. As the cord winding assembly 522 engages with a plate 552 of the deceleration member 550 as shown in FIG 15B, the rotation of the cord 16 winding assembly 522 causes the plate 552 to rotate. The plate 552 is connected to an axle sleeve 554, which is in contact with a decelerating member, such as viscous oil liquid, contained inside a housing 556. The sleeve 554 is configured to achieve a resistant contact with the decelerating member to decelerate the rotation of the cord winding assembly. For example, protrusions or fins may be 5 provided on the axle sleeve 554. The rate at which the bottom rail is raised by the spring units 5 14 and 516 is slowed as the bottom rail reaches the head rail so that the bottom rail more smoothly stops at a fully opened position. Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words "comprise" and "include" and variations such as "comprising" and "including" will be 0 understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 5 It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications in its scope. 0