Bottom up top down cordless shade

Abstract

A cordless bottom up top down window covering is disclosed. The window covering includes a headrail, an intermediate rail, a bottom rail, at least one lift cord extending through each of the headrail, intermediate rail and bottom rail, at least one post or unidirectional wheel located in the intermediate rail, and a single lifting mechanism operatively connected to the at least one lift cord. The lift cords are engaged with either the post or unidirectional wheel.

1 . A bottom up top down window covering comprising: 
 a headrail;    an intermediate rail;    a bottom rail;    at least one lift cord extending through each of said headrail, intermediate rail and bottom rail;    means for balancing and tensioning said at least one lift cord; and    means for retracting said at least one lift cord.    
     
     
         2 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 1 , wherein said intermediate rail is moveable with respect to said headrail and said bottom rail.  
     
     
         3 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for balancing and tensioning said at least one lift cord is at least one post and said at least one lift cord is engaged with the at least one post.  
     
     
         4 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for balancing and tensioning said at least one lift cord is at least one unidirectional wheel and said at least one lift cord is engaged with the at least one unidirectional wheel.  
     
     
         5 . The bottom up top down window covering according to claims  3  or  4 , wherein said means for balancing and tensioning said at least one lift cord further includes at least one pulley and said at least one lift cord is engaged with the at least one pulley.  
     
     
         6 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 5 , wherein said means for retracting said at least one lift cord is a spring motor.  
     
     
         7 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 6 , wherein said intermediate rail is moveable with respect to said headrail and said bottom rail.  
     
     
         8 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 7 , wherein said window covering includes a pair of lift cords, a single spring motor located in said bottom rail for retracting said pair of lift cords, a locking mechanism to releasably secure said pair of lift cords in position, and shade material connected between said intermediate rail and said bottom rail, wherein an upward force on said bottom rail allows said intermediate rail to move downward and wherein said intermediate rail can be positioned by applying a force directly thereto.  
     
     
         9 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 1 , wherein said means for balancing and tensioning said at least one lift cord is at least one pulley and said at least one lift cord is engaged with the at least one pulley.  
     
     
         10 . A bottom up top down window covering comprising: 
 a headrail;    an intermediate rail;    a bottom rail;    at least one lift cord extending through each of said headrail, intermediate rail and bottom rail;    at least one post located in said intermediate rail, said at least one lift cord frictionally engaged with said at least one post; and    at least one spring motor operatively connected to said at least one lift cord, wherein said at least one lift cord is capable of being retracted by said at least one spring motor.    
     
     
         11 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 10 , wherein said intermediate rail is moveable with respect to said headrail and said bottom rail.  
     
     
         12 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one lift cord is wrapped around said at least one post.  
     
     
         13 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 12 , wherein said window covering includes a pair of lift cords, two posts, each lift cord wrapped around a different post, and a single spring motor located in said bottom rail for retracting said pair of lift cords.  
     
     
         14 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 13 , further comprising a pulley centrally located in said intermediate rail, said pair of lift cords engaged with the pulley.  
     
     
         15 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 14 , wherein said spring motor includes a main body; a pair of cord spools rotatably mounted on the main body, each of the cord spools connected to one of the pair of cords; a drum rotatably mounted on a central portion of the main body, the drum in rotatable engagement with the pair of cord spools; and a pair of coil springs connected to the drum, the coil springs each being biased to rotate the drum which rotates the cord spools to wind the each of the cords onto one of the spools.  
     
     
         16 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 15 , further comprising a locking mechanism to releasably secure the cords in position.  
     
     
         17 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 16 , wherein actuation of said locking mechanism allows movement of said bottom rail, an upward force on said bottom rail allows said intermediate rail to move downward, and wherein said intermediate rail can be positioned by applying a force directly thereto.  
     
     
         18 . The bottom up top down window covering according to  claim 17 , further comprising shade material connected to said intermediate rail and said bottom rail.  
     
     
         19 . A method of positioning a bottom up top down window covering comprising: 
 providing a window shade including a head rail, an intermediate rail, a bottom rail, at least one lift cord extending through each of said headrail, intermediate rail and bottom rail, means for balancing and tensioning said at least one lift cord, and at least one spring motor operatively connected to said at least one lift cord, wherein said at least one lift cord is capable of being retracted by the spring motor;    moving said bottom rail upwardly or downwardly, wherein movement of said bottom rail downwardly includes pulling said at least one lift cord away from said spring motor, and movement of said bottom rail upwardly includes lifting said bottom rail while said at least one lift cord is retracted by said spring motor; and    moving said intermediate rail.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said moving of said intermediate rail includes lifting up said bottom rail in order to lower said intermediate rail or applying a force directly thereto.