Looped-cord tensioner for an architectural covering

Abstract

A looped-cord tensioner for an architectural covering including a housing adapted for attachment to a looped-cord, an abutment member positioned within the housing, a slide member positioned within the housing, and at least one biasing element having a first end and a second end. One of the slide member and the abutment member is adapted to engage the second end of the biasing element and the first end of said biasing element is adapted to engage the housing such that one of the slide member and the abutment member is moveably positioned in the housing so as to bias one of the slide member and the abutment member toward engagement with the looped-cord such that the looped-cord is normally non-movably sandwiched between the slide member and the abutment member prior to installation of the looped-cord tensioner. One of the slide member and the housing is adapted to be fixedly installed to a non-movable structure adjacent the architectural covering such that one of the slide member and the abutment member is disengaged from the looped-cord and the looped-cord is free to moveably pass through the housing.

1 . A looped-cord tensioner for an architectural covering, comprising:
 a housing adapted for attachment to a looped-cord;   an abutment member positioned within said housing;   a slide member positioned within said housing; and   at least one biasing element having a first end and a second end;   wherein one of said slide member and said abutment member is adapted to engage said second end of said biasing element and said first end of said biasing element is adapted to engage said housing such that one of said slide member and said abutment member is moveably positioned in said housing so as to bias one of said slide member and said abutment member toward engagement with the looped-cord such that the looped-cord is normally non-movably sandwiched between said slide member and said abutment member prior to installation of said looped-cord tensioner;   wherein one of said slide member and said housing is adapted to be fixedly installed to a non-movable structure adjacent the architectural covering such that said one of the slide member and said abutment member is disengaged from the looped-cord and the looped-cord is free to moveably pass through said housing.   
     
     
         2 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein the other of said slide member and said abutment member cooperates with said biasing element to maintain tautness in the looped-cord. 
     
     
         3 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 2 , wherein the other of said slide member and said abutment member is moveably positioned in said housing. 
     
     
         4 . The cord tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a male member having a first slot and a female member having a second slot, said first and second slots being adapted to receive a portion of said slide member. 
     
     
         5 . The cord tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a male member having a first slot and a female member having a second slot, said first and second slots being adapted to receive a portion of said abutment member. 
     
     
         6 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes at least one guide wall and the looped-cord is retained by said housing between said abutment member and said at least one guide wall. 
     
     
         7 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein said abutment member is a pair of tabs that cooperatively extend from opposing sides of said housing. 
     
     
         8 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing element is a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 1 , wherein one of said slide member and said housing is adapted to be secured to a non-movable structure using a fastener. 
     
     
         10 . In an architectural covering comprising a shade, a headrail, a bottom rail, and at least one lift cord, the headrail including a rotating shaft having a clutch that includes a looped-cord used to operate the clutch to raise and lower the shade and the bottom rail, the lift cord being attached to rotating shaft and wound about the rotating shaft during raising of the shade and unwound during lowering of the shade, the architectural covering also including an improved looped-cord tensioner comprising:
 a housing adapted for attachment to the looped-cord, said housing including a male member having a first slot and a female member having a second slot;   an abutment member positioned within said housing,   a slide member positioned within said housing; and   at least one biasing element including a first end engaging said housing and a second end engaging one of said slide member and said abutment member;   wherein one of said slide member and said abutment member is moveably positioned in said first slot and said second slot so as to bias one of said slide member and said abutment member toward engagement with the looped-cord such that the looped-cord is normally non-movably sandwiched between said slide member and said abutment member prior to installation of said looped-cord tensioner;   wherein one of said slide member and said housing is adapted to be fixedly installed to a non-movable structure adjacent the architectural covering such that one of said slide member and said abutment member is disengaged from the looped-cord and the looped-cord is free to pass through the housing.   
     
     
         11 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 10 , wherein the other of said slide member and said abutment member cooperates with said biasing element to maintain tautness in the looped-cord. 
     
     
         12 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 11 , wherein the other of said slide member and said abutment member is moveably positioned in said housing. 
     
     
         13 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 10 , wherein said housing includes at least one guide wall and the looped-cord is retained by said housing between said abutment member and said at least one guide wall. 
     
     
         14 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 10 , wherein said abutment member is a pair of tabs that cooperatively extend from opposing sides of said housing. 
     
     
         15 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 10 , wherein said biasing element is a spring. 
     
     
         16 . The looped-cord tensioner of  claim 10 , wherein one of said slide member and said housing are adapted to be secured to a non-movable structure using a fastener.