Top and bottom stacking blind

Abstract

In a top down, bottom up blind with a fixed headrail as well as an intermediate or moving rail and bottom rail at least one spring is provided in the headrail or in the intermediate rail and is connected to the lift cords that raise and lower the intermediate rail. When the intermediate rail is fully raised to abut the headrail, the spring or springs pulls a portion of each lift cord into the headrail or intermediate rail. Consequently, the spring or springs compensate for the slippage of the lift cords that control the intermediate rail and there is no gap between the headrail and the fully raised intermediate rail.

1 . An improved top down, bottom up blind of the type comprised of an intermediate rail located between a headrail and a bottom rail, window covering material connected between the intermediate rail and the bottom rail, a first set of lift cords connected to the bottom rail and passing into the headrail, and a second set of lift cords connected to the intermediate rail and passing through a cord lock in the headrail wherein the improvement comprises at least one spring connected to the headrail or the intermediate rail and connected to at least one of the lift cords in the second set of lift cords.  
     
     
         2 . The improved top down, bottom up blind of  claim 1  wherein the window covering material is selected from the group consisting of pleated shade material, cellular material, roman shade material and a set of slats on at least two ladders.  
     
     
         3 . The improved top down, bottom up blind of  claim 1  also comprising a second window covering material connected between the headrail and the intermediate rail.  
     
     
         4 . The improved top down, bottom up blind of  claim 3  wherein the window covering material is selected from the group consisting of pleated shade material, cellular material, roman shade material and a set of slats on at least two ladders.  
     
     
         5 . The improved top down, bottom up shade of  claim 1  wherein the at least one spring is a single spring located within the intermediate rail in which the one end of the spring is connected to one of the lift cords in the second set of lift cords and an opposite end is connected to a second lift cord in the second set of lift cords.  
     
     
         6 . The improved top down, bottom up blind of  claim 1  wherein the at least one spring is a pair of springs located in the headrail, each spring having one end attached to the headrail and an opposite end containing an eye through which at least one lift cord of the second set of lift cords passes.  
     
     
         7 . The improved top down, bottom up blind of  claim 1  wherein the at least one spring is a pair of springs located in the intermediate rail, each spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end containing an eye through which at least one lift cord of the second set of lift cords passes.  
     
     
         8 . The improved top down, bottom up blind of  claim 1  wherein the second set of the lift cords is comprised of a first lift cord and a second lift cord, the second set of lift cords being connected to the intermediate rail by the at least one spring, and wherein the at least one spring is comprised of a first spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end attached to the first lift cord, and a second spring having one end attached to the intermediate rail and an opposite end attached to the second set of lift cords.