Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
SEGMENTED ROMAN WINDOW SHADE
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
Serial
No. 60/669,189, filed April 6, 2005, and U.S. Application Serial No.
11/348,145 filed
February 6, 2006, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entireties.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The embodiments herein are directed to a retractable window covering
that
can be manufactured from strips of material arranged in overlapping relation
to cover an area
of a window.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An ancient, but ever-popular forni of window covering is known as a
Roman
shade. This type of shade conventionally includes a fabric sheet at least as
wide as the
window to be covered and as long as or longer than the window. A fabric is
fitted with
periodically-spaced rings or their equivalents on the back (outward-facing)
surface of the
fabric, aligned in vertical columns. Cords are passed through the rings and
attached at the
bottom of the fabric or sometimes to a rigid bar. When the cords are pulled
(the cords being
typically directed through a top rail and cord free ends of the locking
device, so as to be
pulled by an operator), the shade is raised, permitting view through the
window and cleaning.
A variant, called 'hobbled' adds a second set of cords or a second fabric
layer with shorter
periodicity, joined to the back of the first fabric, to form a sequence of
billows in the front
fabric. The periodic spacing of the rings causes the fabric to be taken up in
sequential folds
as lower rings are lifted into contact witli rings just above and held
together by the cord
passing through. Because this type of shade is readily made from any fabric,
Roman shades
have been associated with expensive custom treatments made by hand in custom-
chosen
fabrics. As such, they are perceived as having a very desirable appearance.
[0004] In recent years, some attempts have been made to improve the
manufacturability and function of Roman shades. One example is given in US
Patent No.
5,566,735 to Jelic and now manufactured by Coinfortex Corporation. The shade
uses U-
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
section ribs pressed onto the fabric in a spaced array, combined with snap-on
beaded cords
that connect to the ribs to set the billows or flat spacing of the flat
fabric. Lift cords
extending through eyes in the clips perform the usual Roman gathered lift.
This design
simplifies the assembly of a Roman shade without altering its basic
appearance, but the
cutting and measuring of a fabric piece and positioning of the ribs remain
labor-intensive.
[0005] Other disadvantages of Roman shades include low thennal insulating
value,
fragility in shipping as the fabric is gathered in folds and easily crushed or
creased in
packaging, low solar reflectance (enhanced reflectance is often obtained, for
instance in
cellular shades, with a white outward surface despite choice of interior face
colors),
accessible cords (potential safety hazard), and an unattractively large,
bulging accumulation
of folded fabric when raised. The embodiments described herein address some or
all of these
shortcomings.
SUMMARY
[0006] In the exemplary embodiments described, a window covering is employed
having a carrier grid and a plurality of horizontal strips of fabric secured
to the carrier grid.
The strips are disposed in overlapping and vertically spaced relation to cover
an area of a
window.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become
more
apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and
drawings, of which the
following is a brief description:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a
partially
assembled window covering;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a
partially assembled widow covering showing material strips on a cellular
backer material and
internal lift cords;
[00010] FIG. 2A is a detailed side view of the window covering of FIG. 2
showing a
detail area 2A of FIG. 2;
[00011] FIG. 2B is a detailed side view of the window covering of FIG. 2
showing a
detail area 2B in FIG. 2A;
2
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
[00012] FIG. 2C is a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a
window
covering showing a partially assembled window covering having lift cords not
internal to the
liga.ments or cells and tabs extending outward from a surface of the window
covering;
[00013] FIG. 2D is a detailed side view of the window covering of FIG. 2C
showing
a detail area 2D in FIG. 2C;
[000141 FIG. 2E is a detailed side view of the window covering of FIG. 2C
showing
a detail area 2E in FIG. 2D;
[00015] FIG. 3 is a side view of the window covering of FIG. 2C in an extended
position showing material strips secured to the tabs by a backing clip;
[00016] FIG. 3A is a side view of the window covering of FIG. 2C in a
retracted
position proximate a headrail;
[00017] FIG. 4 is a perspective detailed view of a first example of a material
strip
having two folded-over pockets;
[00018] FIG. 5 is a perspective detailed view of a second example of a
material strip
having pockets formed from joining two smaller pieces of material;
[00019] FIG. 6 is a perspective detailed view of a third example of a material
strip
having a pocket on a first side and an attachment strip on a second side;
[00020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a
partially
assembled window covering having a stiffener at both the upper edge and lower
edge of the
material strip;
[00021] FIG. 8 is a perspective detailed view of an exemplary connection
between a
pocket segment of the fourth exemplary embodiment of a window covering and the
material
strip using an elongated backing clip;
[00022] FIG. 9 is a side view of a first example of the backing clip of FIGS.
3, 3A,
and 8;
[00023] FIG. 10 is a side view of a second example of the backing clip of
FIGS. 3,
3A, and 8; and
[00024] FIG. 11 is a side view of a third example of the backing clip showing
a larger
opening adapted to receive two stiffeners.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00025] Referring now to the drawings, illustrative embodiments are shown in
detail.
Although the drawings represent the embodiments, the drawings are not
necessarily to scale
14
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
and certain features may be exaggerated to better illustrate and explain an
innovative aspect
of an embodiment. Further, the embodiments described herein are not intended
to be
exhaustive or otherwise limit or restrict the invention to the precise form
and configuration
shown in the drawings and disclosed in the following detailed description.
[00026] The embodiments described herein are directed to a window covering 20
having a plurality of horizontal, overlapping and vertically-spaced material
strips 22 secured
to a carrier grid 24 that maintains their spacing as shown in FIG. 1. The
window covering 20
may include lift cords 26 secured to a lowermost strip 28 or a rail 30 that
draws up the strips
22 into a nested stack when the cords 26 are pulled in a downward direction.
The lower
edges 32 of the strips 22 are free-hanging, having either a plain edge or an
edge with a
stiffening rib, as further described below, so that the strips 22 remain free-
hanging when the
they are drawn up. In another example of the strips 22, the lower edges 32 of
the strips 22 are
secured to the carrier grid 24 also, for instance near an upper edge 34
attaclnnent of the next
lower strip 22, so as to provide a folding of each strip 22 when drawn up, and
optionally, a
hobbled look when the strips 22 are lowered. In the embodiment of the window
covering 20
shown in FIG. 1, the free-hanging lower edge 32 of each strip 22 generally
covers and
overlaps the upper edge 34 of the strip directly below it.
[00027] FIG. 1 shows a partially-assembled window covering 20 of a basic type,
according to a first embodiment. The material strips 22 are shown having edge
stiffeners 36
secured to spacing cords 38 by engagement clips 40. A headrail 42 is disposed
at an upper
portion of the window covering 20 and is formed from a material such as
plastic, metal,
wood, polyainide resin or the like. The headrail 42 guides lift cords 44 from
a cordlock 46
and pull tassels 48 through spaced drops 50 to bottom rail 30. The pull
tassels 48 are
provided to move the window covering 20 between an open and closed
orientation, as known
in the art. For ease of understanding, four upper strips and one lower strip
are omitted from
this partial assembly. The engagement of clips 40 to the first strip 52 and
stiffener 36 can be
seen at the uppermost first strip 52 shown. Further, the securement stiffener
36 of strip 22 is
from an exterior orientation of spacing cords 38. In other words, the strips
22 are not secured
within the spacing cords 38 so that each strip 22 may not be easily removed
independently of
the other strips 22. Each strip 22 is secured by the engagement clips 40
allowing a user to
remove a single target strip 22 without removing the entire window covering 20
from an
installed orientation or disassembling the window covering 20 in order to
access the target
strip 22. By providing a window covering 20 that permits the removal of a
single strip 22
4
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
without removal or disassembly of the window covering 20, the user saves time
and effort in
the replacement of the strip 22. The engagement clips 40 may be any clipping
mechanism
adapted to secure the strips 22 to the carrier grid 24. In one exaniple, the
engagement clips 40
may be secured to the carrier grid 24 by molding, pressure-sensitive adhesive,
heat-sensitive
adhesive, stitching, clipping, or the like at a predetermined location along
the vertical length
of the carrier grid 24. The engagement clips 40 may be formed from plastic,
polyainide resin,
metal, or the like. In one illustrated example, the engagement clips 40
include the space drop
50 for guiding the cord 44 and a generally C-shaped body having a
predetermined horizontal
width for engaging the stiffener 36 of the strip 22. The engagement clips 40
are relatively
short in horizontal width and may include any cross-section including the
cross-section
shown in FIG. 11 for secureinent of two strips 22. Furthermore, the clips 40
may include two
generally C-shaped segments (not shown) for securement of an upper strip 22
and a lower
strip 22 at one predetermined location along the vertical length of the window
covering 20.
[00028] Referring now to FIG. 2, a second exemplary embodiment of the window
covering 20 is shown. The covering 20 includes a plurality of material strips
22. Two strips
22 have been renioved to reveal other parts of the covering 20 in an area 2A.
The covering 20
further includes a cellular backing material 54 with internal lift cords 56.
The internal lift
cords 56 are similar to lift cords 44. In the second exemplary embodiment, the
cellular
backing material 54 is adapted to generally extend over the length of the
window covering
20. Because of the weight of the bottom rail 60, cell-wall ligaments 58 are
pulled
downwardly into general alignment, providing a uniform pitch of exterior
ligaments 58a and
58b so that the cell-wall ligament 58 spacing becomes generally uniform in an
extended
position as shown.
[00029] Cellular backing material 54 includes internal ligaments in the form
tabs 59
that are disposed generally perpendicular to the generally vertical cell-wall
ligaments 58. As
illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the joint or seam 59a, which forms each tab 59
may be
provided by welding, sewing, gluing or other suitable methods of joining at
least two
materials. In one example, the joint 59a is formed by ultrasonic welding the
two pieces of
material at a predetermined position, forming the joint or seam 59a between
the folded
materials. Likewise, in one exainple, the exterior ligament 58a is secured to
its respective
cell-wall ligament 58 at a predetermined location by welding, sewing, gluing
or other suitable
methods of joining at least two materials. The length (T) of the tabs 59 will
vary with the
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
desired application, the length T may be in the range of .001" to 5/16" and
pleat sections may
have a length (L) after the tabs 59 are formed in the range of 1/4" to 2".
[00030] Each of the tabs 59 includes at least one cord hole 59b formed
therein. The
exact number of cord holes 59b will vary with the horizontal width of the
covering 20 and the
rigidity of the cellular backing material 54. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIGS. 2, 2A,
and 2B, two cord holes 59b disposed through the tabs 59 are shown. The cord
holes 59b in
the tabs 59 are aligned so that the internal lift cords 56 may pass
therethrough. In addition to
passing through the cord holes 59b in tabs 59, the cords 56 enter the headrail
42 in a
generally conventional fashion and pass over conventional mechanisms including
locking
mechanisms in the headrail 42 and out of the side thereof to control the
raising and lowering
of the covering 20. Cords 56 may also pass through approximately the center
portion of
bottom rail 60. The lower ends of cords 56 may be knotted (not shown), may be
attached to
rings (not shown) or washers (not shown), or may be held in bottom rail 60 in
another
conventional fashion. Cords 56 passing through the cellular backing material
54 permit the
bottom rail 60 to hang generally straight when the shade is lowered.
[00031] In FIG. 2, the material strips 22 secured to consistently-separated
cell-wall
ligaments 58 also obtain a generally uniform spacing in the fully extended
position.
Specifically, the cellular backing material 54 includes the ligaments 58 that
are under a
predetermined tension by the weight of the bottom rail 60 and are generally
vertical while
allowing slack for the pitched exterior ligament 58a and 58b. The securement
of the material
strips 22 to the cellular backing material 54 is discussed in more detail
below.
[00032] Referring now to FIGS. 2C, 2D, and 2E, a third exemplary embodiment of
the window covering 20 is shown. The covering 20 includes a plurality of
material strips 22.
Two strips 22 have been removed to reveal other parts of the covering 20 in an
area 2D. The
covering 20 further includes a cellular backing material 54 with lift cords
56. The cellular
backing material 54 is adapted to generally extend over the length of the
window covering
20. Because of the weight of the bottom rail 60, cell-wall ligaments 58 are
pulled
downwardly into a generally vertical orientation, providing a uniform pitch of
the exterior
ligaments 58a so that the cell-wall spacing becomes generally uniform and
generally similar
to the second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 described above.
[000331 In FIGS. 2C, 2D, and 2E, a first portion of a continuous material
forms the
pleat of exterior ligaments 58a and a second portion of continuous material
forms the
generally vertical cell-wall ligaments 58. Generally, each exterior ligament
58a includes tabs
6
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
59 formed between the pleats and disposed generally perpendicular to the cell-
wall ligaments
58. However, the tabs 59 are flexible and may rest in any generally horizontal
position. The
tabs 59 are formed in a folded orientation as shown in FIG. 2E by at least one
of the first
portion of material that forms the exterior ligaments 58a and the second
portion of material
that forms the cell-wall ligaments 58. The joint or seam 59a that forms the
tabs 59 may be
provided by welding, sewing, gluing or other suitable methods. In one
exaniple, the joint 59a
is fonned by ultrasonic welding the two pieces of material at a predetermined
position
forming the joint or seam 59a between the folded materials. Further, the
stiffener 36 may be
disposed within the joint 59a between the folds of either the first portion of
material or the
second portion of material for securing at least one strip 22 to the cellular
backing material 54
as shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A. As discussed above, the length (T) of the tabs 59
will vary with
the desired application; the length T may be in the range of .001" to 5/16"
and pleat sections
may have a length (L) after the tab 59 is formed in the range of 1/4" to 2".
The tab 59
counterbalances.the pleat and thereby improves the appearance and operation of
the cellular
backing material 54.
[00034] As shown in FIGS. 3, 3A, and 4, the stiffener 36 may be included at
the
lower edge 32 of each strip 22 to maintain its general vertical orientation
and uniformity and
to prevent excessive flapping of the strip 22 in a breeze. Attachment to the
cellular backing
material 54 by any known method such as adhesive, stitching, clamping,
fastening, and the
like provides securement of the upper edge 34 of the strip 22. Further, the
stiffener 36 may be
included in the upper edge 34 for securing the strip 22 to the cellular
backing material as
further discussed below. The combination of cellular backing material 54 and
the material or
strip 22 provides excellent thermal insulation.
[00035] FIG. 3 is a partial side view of the window covering 20 of FIG. 2C
showing
the window covering in the extended position having the strips 22 secured to
the tabs 59 by a
backing clip 74. The backing clip 74 is described in more detail below and is
illustrated
enlarged for clarity. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the strip 22 includes a
stiffener 36 at both
the lower edge 32 and the upper edge 34. The lower edge 32 of the strip 22
generally covers
the upper edge 34 of the strip 22 above it in the extended position. The
vertical length of the
strip 22 may be varied depending on the user's requirements. The strip 22 is
shown to be
secured to every second tab 59 at a securement point. However, the
predetermined vertical
length of the strip 22 dictates the number of tabs between securement points.
The tab 59 may
include a stiffener 36 for attaching the backing clip 74. The stiffener may be
disposed
7
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
between the material that forms the exterior ligaments 58a or between the
material that forms
the cell-wall ligaments 58 at the tab 59. In FIG. 3A, the window covering 20
of FIG. 2C is
shown in a retracted position having the upper edges 34 of each strip 22
relatively closer than
in the extended position of FIG. 3.
[00036] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a first exemplary embodiment of the
material strip
22 of FIGS. 1, 2, and 2C. The material strip 22 includes edge pockets 64 that
may be formed
by folding the lower edge 32 and upper edge 34 of the strip 22 and joining
each portion at an
attachment area 66. Any joining method may be used including sewing, using an
adhesive,
adhesive heat welding, stitching, mechanically attaching and the like. The
strip 22 may be
laminated or include a printed material that presents a white or reflective
face on one side and
an attractive color or texture on the other side.
[00037] FIG. 5 is a detail view of a second exemplary embodiment of the
material
strip 22 of FIGS. 1, 2, and 2C. The material strip 22 includes a face material
68 and may
include at least a partially-laminated back material 70. The material may be
fabric, plastic,
vinyl, polyester, a woven and non-woven film, or the like. Attachment areas 66
are adapted to
form pockets 64 and may be formed by any joining method including sewing,
using an
adhesive, adhesive heat welding, stitching, mechanically attaching or the
like. The back
material may be white for reflectivity or any color for uniformity.
[00038] FIG. 6 is a detail view of a third exemplary embodiment of the
material strip
22 of FIGS. 1, 2, and 2C. The material strip 22 includes the face material 68,
at least one
stiffener 36, and at least one attachment strip 72. The stiffener 36 is
disposed inside pocket 64
between attachment areas 66. The attachment strip 72 is shown to be secured to
the upper
edge 34. However, the attachment strip 72 may be secured to the strip 22 at
any location
along the horizontal width of the strip 22 by any known attachment method,
including using
pressure-sensitive or heat-sensitive adhesive, stitching, and the like.
[00039] FIG. 7 is a fourth exemplary embodiment of a window covering 20. The
window covering 20 includes stiffeners 36 at both the upper edge 34 and the
lower edge 32.
Each edge 34, 32 is secured to the carrier grid 24. The carrier grid 24 may
include spacing
cords 38 or a cellular backing material 54 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 2C and
described above.
When the vertical width of the strip 22 is greater than the distance between
engagement clips
40, represented by grid pitch P, the strips 22 form billows 72a and resemble
conventional
hobbled Roman shades. When the vertical width of the strip 22 is generally the
same length
as grid pitch P, then the strip 22 resembles a conventional flat Roman shade.
In one
8
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
example, the stiffeners 36 engage one another within the engagement clip 40.
The upper edge
34 of a first strip 22 having a first stiffener 36 abuts the lower edge 32 of
an adjacent strip 22
having a second stiffener 36. This can be achieved, for instance, by making
the strips 22
interlocking along their length. Alternatively, the stiffeners 36 may be
adjacent and clipped
together by the carrier grid 24. Where the carrier grid 24 is cellular
material, one or both of
the edge stiffeners 36 may be omitted.
[00040] FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a window
covering 20. Specifically, FIG. 8 illustrates a detailed view of an exemplary
connection
between a pocket segment 73 of the cellular backing material 54 using an
elongated backing
clip 74 and the material strip 22. The elongated backing clip 74 may have any
length from the
horizontal width of the window covering 20 to any predetermined length desired
by the user.
The pocket segment 73 represents any ligament including exterior ligaments 58a
and 58b of
FIGS. 2 - 3A. The backing material 54 includes a plurality of pocket segments
73. A section
of cellular backing material 54 is shown securing one material strip 22. The
material strip 22
includes the face material 68 projecting in a downward direction from the
backing clip 74.
The stiffener 36 is disposed within the pocket 64 thereby securing the strip
22 to a first
elongated body portion 76 of the backing clip 74. A second elongated body
portion 78 of the
backing clip 74 is secured to the cellular backing material 54 by a stiffener
36 placed inside
the pocket segment 73 and secured within the second portion 78 of the backing
clip 74. The
backing clip 74 captures the cellular backing material 54 at a predetermined
line of
connection. A first portion opening 80 is sized to secure the strip 22 and the
stiffener 36 and
minimize any slipping between the strip 22 and the backing clip 74. A second
portion
opening 82 is sized to secure the pocket segment 73 to the backing clip 74 and
minimize
distortion of the cellular backing material 54. However, there are other
attachment methods
that may secure the material strip 22 to the pocket segment 73 including
clipping, welding,
sewing, gluing or other suitable methods.
[00041] In operation, the backing clip 74 is slid over the pocket 64 and
stiffener 36,
thereby securing the strip to the backing clip 74. The backing clip 74 is then
slipped over the
pocket segment 73 and stiffener 36, thereby securing the backing clip to the
cellular backing
material 54. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, to enable the above described
assembly, the
backing clip 74 includes at least two receiving openings: the first portion
opening 80 and the
second portion opening 82. A first portion mouth 84 is configured to allow the
stiffener 36
and pocket 64 to pass through during installation while providing securement
of the stiffener
9
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
36 and pocket 64 in the installed orientation. A second portion mouth 86 is
configured to
allow the stiffener 36 and a portion of the pocket segment 73 to pass through
during
installation while providing securing of the stiffener 36 and the pocket
segment 73 in the
installed orientation. The first portion 76 and the second portion 78 are
shown to be generally
perpendicular to one another. However, any angle between the first portion 76
and the second
portion 78 is contemplated. FIG. 9 shows a first portion 76 generally larger
than the second
portion 78, and FIG. 10 shows the first portion 76 to be generally equal in
size to the second
portion 78. However, any combination of the first portion 76 and the second
portion 78 is
contemplated. Furthermore, in yet another example, one or both ends of the
openings 80, 82
may be sealed, either at the time of segment cutting to length or later to
retain the stiffeners
36. For material segments, cutting to length may be done with a sealing
cutting. By way of
example, hot wire cutters, ultrasonic cutters, and the like may be used to
seal the pocket ends
at generally the same time. A small slit (not shown) may also be made in the
backside of the
pocket 64 to insert the stiffener 36.
[00042] Three distinct appearances are achieved by the exemplary embodiments
described above: hobbled, flat-continuous, and flat-shingled. One example
includes having
the hobbled appearance as illustrated in FIG. 7. The clip 74 (not shown) or 40
is disposed at
both the lower edge 32 and the upper edge 34 of each strip 22, with the lower
edge 32
secured to a pocket segment 73 (not shown) at generally the same location (the
clips 74 or 40
being proximate one another) as the upper edge 34 of the next lower strip 22,
and at a
distance smaller than the vertical width of the strip 22, such that each strip
22 bows out over
the next lower strip 22, at least generally covering the clip 74, 40 with a
billow. Another
example of the hobbled appearance includes providing a continuous material
having
stiffeners 36 disposed at predetermined locations along the vertical length of
the material for
securing to the clips 74 or 40 disposed along the vertical length of the
window covering 20 in
the same manner described above. Yet another example of the hobbled appearance
includes
providing the clip 74 or 40 having a cross-section of the exemplary embodiment
of FIG. 11
for selectively securing both the upper edge 34 of a first strip 22 and the
lower edge 32 of a
second strip as illustrated in FIG. 11 and fiirther described below. For the
flat-continuous
application fonned from strips 22, two smaller-diameter stiffeners 36 may be
used to fit the
lower edge 32 of one strip 22 and the upper edge 34 of the adjacent strip 22
into a single
larger opening 80 of clip 74 as shown of FIG. 11 showing two adjacent strips
22 sharing the
opening 80. Alternatively, the clips 74 and 40 may have three pockets (not
shown), with the
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
two pockets for adjacent strips 22. Further, the strip 22 may be secured to
the carrier grid 24
by any method including molding, pressure-sensitive adhesive, heat-sensitive
adhesive,
stitching, clipping, or the like.
[000431 As will be clear to one skilled in the art, the described embodiments,
though
having the particular advantages of compactness and convenience, are not the
only
embodiments or arrangements that fall within the scope of the present
invention. Some
exemplary variants may include: a) use of a pleated grid in place of the
cellular backing
material 54 for spacing; b) using external instead of internal, pocketed
stiffeners 36; c)
including quilted or other multi-layer material strips 22; d) having non-
linear (wavy or
scalloped) free edges 32, 34 on strips 22, especially for the flat-shingled
embodiment; e)
using rigid or resilient, stiff strips 22 instead of a fabric material,
especially on the flat-
shingled embodiment where the strips 22 are generally flat; f) having top-down
instead of
bottom-up actuation; and g) the use of two spacer cords in the hobbled
embodiment, instead
of one set sharing attachments, whereby raising the spacer set attached to the
lower edges 32
of the strips 22 provides a Venetian-like view-through mode by opening gaps
between
adjacent strips 22.
[00044] The embodiments described above offer a number of advantages over
various prior art sliades. Some of these advantages are aesthetic and others
are practical,
either in manufacturing cost or serviceability of the end product. Below are
some exeniplary
elements of the described embodiments with notes of comparison to earlier
approaches.
[00045] Rollable strips: The strips 22 as described above could provide the
appearance and function of a single sheet covering an entire window; but are
made instead
from controlled strips 22 of material allowing efficient use of goods and
minimal scrap in
fabrication. Strips 22 (before insertion of stiffeners 36) also ease packaging
and stock storage
before fabrication because they can be stored in rolls. Damage is easily
replaced at minimal
cost, rather than losing the entire window covering 20.
[00046] Fast assembly: In comparison to the handling of a conventional Roman
window covering, made from a single, large sheet of material equal in extent
to a window, a
strip-fabricated system can be built rapidly with minimal floor space demand
and convenient
equipment. No large flat cutting table is required. No marking and measuring
of the broad
goods is required to locate multiple rings or other attachments that are
automatically located
by the dimensions intrinsic to the strips.
11
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
1000471 Insulation: By comparison to ordinary Roman window coverings, the
cellular-backed embodiments provide multiple air cells behind the facing to
significantly
increase the thermal insulation value of the product.
[00048] White back: In modeni homes, interior rooms are commonly decorated in
different colors, yet the house presents a more formal, uniform face to the
outside world.
Products which can present a white outer face sustain that uniformity, even as
the interior
faces carry differing room colors. Many condominium and homeowner associations
require a
uniform external appearance of window treatments. The embodiments described
above
enable such a dichotomy through their layered or laminated construction.
[00049] Cord contained: Safety is a primary concern in the window coverings
20.
One of the primary risks is associated with accessible cords that can entangle
small children
in a choking hazard. The cellular-backed einbodiments fully encapsulate the
cords that lift
the covering 20 within the cells, unlike any other Roman-style product,
reducing that hazard.
The second example of the cellular backed embodiment shown in FIG. 2C, though
not
completely encapsulating cords, nonetheless shields them from accidental
entanglements by
enclosing them between the strips 22 and backing material 54.
[00050] View-through option: Conventional Roman-look shades are made from
continuous material. The embodiments described, by mimicking the look of such
a
continuous piece, although made from multiple strips, offer the option of
independent
articulation of those strips to allow a view-through mode more like that of a
Venetian blind.
[00051] Multiple product looks from same stock: The embodiments described may
all be assembled from the same basic parts (material strips, cord or cellular
backing material,
and hardware), providing a significant economy of scale and lower stock-
carrying costs for
fabricators and retailers. This latter feature is of particular importance in
lowering the costs
of such custom-made window treatments through direct finishing at the retail
level and
elimination of one level in the distribution.
[00052] Multiple product looks from assembly of different strips: The
einbodiment
descried may all be assembled from multiple strips 22, each having a different
color or style
of fabric providing flexibility for the user to be more creative with the
assembly of the strips
22.
[00053] Low waste from strip construction, including flaw removal and cutting
efficiency: When large rectangles must be cut from yard goods, as in the
conventional
Roman process, there is always a higher waste factor as differing sizes of
rectangle are fitted
12
CA 02601269 2007-09-10
WO 2006/108152 PCT/US2006/013133
to finite-width goods. In the embodiments described, continuous ribbon is cut
to strips of
window size, with little or no waste between succeeding strips. Even when a
flaw occurs in
the ribbon, the loss can be no more than the length of one strip, where in a
broadgoods
cutting, an inconveniently located flaw can prevent the usage of a large area
of fabric.
[000541 Unlimited width and length: In conjunction with to the low waste with
ribbon-strip construction comes the better orientation of raw material run
with respect to
finished product dimension. If cut from broad goods, either the vertical
length or horizontal
width is constrained by the horizontal width of the source material. With
ribbons to strips,
the unlimited length of their ribbons (corresponding to the production run
direction of the
original material) is oriented to the width of the window covering 20 and so
can provide
unlimited width to the shade. Because the window covering 20 length is then
built up from
unlimited numbers of such strips, the length of the shade, too, is unlimited.
This is becoming
more important in modern homes where "window walls" are part of the design:
high and
wide glass areas too large for conventional window coverings.
[00055] Ready replacement of damaged or soiled areas without total loss: This
is
another feature of economy and convenience that derives from the strip
construction. Not
being a single expanse of material, a window covering 20 may be repaired at
low cost by
replacing only those strips 22 that suffer damage or discoloration in service.
With some
materials, it may even be possible to remove individual strips 22 for cleaning
and
replacement.
[00056] The present invention has been particularly shown and described with
reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the
best modes for
carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the
art that various
alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be
employed in
practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention as
defined in the following claims. It is intended that the following claims
define the scope of
the invention and that the method and apparatus within the scope of these
claims and their
equivalents be covered thereby. This description of the invention should be
understood to
include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein,
and claims
may be presented in this or a later application to any novel and non-obvious
combination of
these elements. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no
single feature
or element is essential to all possible combinations that may be claimed in
this or a later
application.
13
