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Home > Window Shades > Glossary of Window Shade Terms

Glossary of Window Shade Terms

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Click here to download a copy of these definitions in PDF format.

Ball Stops

Upper and lower stopping limits for bead chain clutch shades. [ Click for important Child Safety information. ]

Bead Chain

Operating chain for clutch shades. Stainless steel standard. Optional plastic in five standard colors. [ Click for important Child Safety information. ]

Bead Chain Connector

Metal piece to connect bead chain. [ Click for important Child Safety information. ]

Bracket

Standard mounting point for shade. Use the term "bracket" when providing shade without fascia or headbox.

Ceiling / Wall Headbox

Also called a "surface headbox." Consists of decorative front fascia panel and top back cover. Shade is accessible by removing front fascia.

Clutch

Bead chain operator for manual roller shades. Sized as needed for shade panel lifting requirement.

Clutch NEXD

Heavy-duty clutch mechanism is integrated into mounting endcap. NEXD is available in three hardware sizes (slim, small, and large) and two additional dual roller hardware sizes (small and large) to accommodate a wide range of window shade sizes.

Coupled

Two or more bands of shades operating on a single motor or crank. Also sometimes referred to as "multi-banded" shades.

Coupler

Allows one motor or crank to operate multiple shade fabric bands.

Endcap Cover

Decorative cover for endcap. Included in width of shade measurements as standard. If endcap covers are not to be used, notify Draper so width of covers may be taken into account.

Endcap with Fascia or Headbox

Endcaps provide mounting point for shade, and attachment point for fascia/headbox. No brackets are needed when endcaps are used.

Fascia

Decorative aluminum shade cover.

Pocket Style Headbox

Four sided cover intended for recessed installation. Shade is accessible from the bottom.

Railroad / Transverse

Width of window is greater than width of fabric. Pieces of fabric are rotated, seamed horizontally and trimmed to the correct width. In some cases several pieces may be seamed together to cover unusually tall windows. Not all fabrics are suitable for seaming.

Regular Roll / Reverse Roll

Regular Roll: (Fig. 1) Fabric is rolled off back of roller, next to window. Reverse Roll: (Fig. 2) Fabric is rolled off front of roller, away from window.

Seams

Two pieces of fabric joined together to make larger piece. All Draper seams are heat sealed. Custom locations available to match mullions.

Slat Bar

Bottom shade weight which is enclosed in a heat sealed hem.

Spline Attachment

A method of attaching shade fabric to a roller that allows shade fabric to be removed without removing roller assembly from mounting hardware. Fabric is welded to a plastic spline then inserted securely into a matching channel in the roller. May affect which shade sizes use small/large fascia or headbox.

Spring Assist

Also known in specifications as Lift Assist Mechanism (LAM). Specialized roller which reduces resistance when raising a manual shade.

Stay

Metal strip to minimize fabric curling or for fabric retention in side channels.

Tensioned Hold-Down

Effective June 1, 2024, in compliance with the updated ANSI/WCMA A100.1-2022 child safety standard, all Draper® window shades operated by a bead chain will be furnished with a tensioned hold-down device that is permanently attached and partially disables the product if not installed correctly. [ Click for more. ]