Patent Application
20170268289
The present invention relates generally to window coverings and window coverings that are adjustable in size.
Options available to consumers for obtaining Roman shades are somewhat limited. Custom sized Roman shades can be ordered to fit a specific window dimension. Custom ordering can result in delay, and the costs for ordering custom size Roman shades can be high. Many retail outlets offer stock size Roman shades for immediate purchase, but the selection available is limited. Accordingly, it is often difficult for a consumer to achieve a satisfactory fit with the stock sizes available. In many cases, stock Roman shades will be oversized to mount outside the window frame. While many types of window coverings are available through programs featuring stock sizes custom cut to a consumer's specifications at the point-of-sale, due to the nature of and materials used for Roman shades, cutdown programs have not featured Roman shades. Accordingly, consumers have had only two options, custom ordering with delay and additional expense or stock sizes that may not fit as desired.
There is a need for a customizable Roman shade that can be sized like a custom blind yet available the same day like a stock or cutdown blind.
The present invention provides a window covering comprising a head rail adapted to be mounted adjacent a window, first and second panels in lateral overlapping relation to each other, each panel having an upper portion secured to the head rail, a first bottom rail secured to a lower portion of the first panel, and a second bottom rail secured to a lower portion of the second panel. The first and second bottom rails engage each other (e.g., slidably) to form a bottom rail assembly having an axial length, and a position of the first bottom rail relative to the second bottom rail is adjustable to adjust the length of the bottom rail assembly. Preferably, the first bottom rail includes a downwardly opening track, the second bottom rail includes an upwardly opening track, and the downwardly opening track slidably engages the upwardly opening track.
In one embodiment, the window covering further comprises a third panel positioned in overlapping relation to the second panel (the third panel having an upper portion secured to the head rail), and a third bottom rail secured to a lower portion of the third panel. The third bottom rail engages the second bottom rail and is part of the bottom rail assembly. A position of the third bottom rail relative to the second bottom rail is adjustable (e.g., slidably) to adjust the length of the bottom rail assembly. Preferably, the first and third panels are spaced from each other by a gap, and the window covering further comprises a first rod (e.g., a rear rod) coupled to both the first panel and the third panel and spanning the gap between the first and third panels. The window covering can further comprise a second rod (e.g., a front rod) coupled to the second panel.
A double rod clip can be used to connect the first rod to the second rod. Preferably, the double rod clip engages the first rod in the gap between the first and third panels. Single rod clips can be used to secure the first and third panels to the first rod. Each of the rod clips preferably includes a cord guide for guiding and retaining a corresponding lift cord.
The invention also provides a method of assembling a window covering like the one described above. The method includes shortening (e.g., cutting) the length of the headrail to a first desired length, adjusting an amount of overlap between the first and second panels (e.g., by sliding at least one of the panels relative to the headrail), and moving (e.g., sliding in a telescopic manner) the first bottom rail relative to the second bottom rail to change a length of the bottom rail assembly to a second desired length (e.g., equal to the first desired length). If a third panel and third bottom rail are present, then the method can further include adjusting an amount of overlap between the second and third panels, and moving the third bottom rail relative to the second bottom rail.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the illustrated Roman shade 100 includes a headrail assembly 102, a fabric panels section 104, a bottom rail assembly 106, and lift cords 108. Each of the headrail assembly 102, the fabric panels section 104 and the bottom rail assembly 106 is horizontally customizable to provide custom widths within a limited range.
The headrail assembly 102 includes a generally rectangular headrail 110 defining a continuous channel 112 for receiving and holding a plurality of cord motors 114, one such cord motor 114 for each lift cord 108 of the shade 100. Suitable cord motors and the manner for using them are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in further detail herein. Alternatively, the motors can be eliminated, and the cords 108 can be manually actuated. The cord motors are axially slidable along the channel 112 defined in the headrail 110. The headrail 110 further defines a continuous retention slot 116 at the front thereof for receiving and securing the fabric panels section 104 in an axially adjustable manner. As used herein, “axially” refers to a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the headrail 110. Decorative end caps 118 are provided for the ends of the headrail 110. The headrail 110 is connectable to a plurality of mounting brackets 122 that are attachable to a window structure. Mounting of the headrail 110 using such brackets 122 to secure the location and positioning of a shade is well known to those skilled in the art.
The fabric panels section 104 includes first, second, and third panels 130,132,134 having the tops thereof secured to the headrail 110. Specifically, each of the panels 130,132,134 includes a stiff upper spine 136 (e.g., made of wood, cardboard, or plastic) bonded or otherwise secured to an upper edge of the corresponding panel, and each upper spline 136 is slid axially into the retention slot 116 of the headrail, as generally shown in
Referring to
As best shown in
The bottom rails 140,142,144 engage each other in sliding relationships to form a continuous bottom rail assembly 106 at the bottom edge of the fabric panels section 104. To establish the sliding engagement between the bottom rails 140, 142, 144, the first and third bottom rails 140,144 define a downwardly oriented tracks 160, and the second bottom rail 142 defines an upwardly oriented track 162. Axially extending ridges 166 are provided on the inside of each of the tracks 160,162 to facilitate snug engagement between the tracks of the bottom rails 140,142,144 to retain the relative positioning after adjustment.
Each of fabric panels 130,132,134 defines horizontally extending pleats 168. To secure and control the registration of the pleats 168 from one fabric panel to the next fabric panel, each of the illustrated panels 130,132,134 includes pairs of rods 170,172 inserted into sewn loops of fabric in the panels 130,132,134. One rod of each rod pair is a long rod 170 that extends from the pleat 168 of the first fabric panel 130 into the pleat of the third fabric panel 134, resulting in apportion of the long rod 170 being exposed in a gap 174 between the first and third panels 130,134. The other rod of each rod pair is a short rod 172 that extends through the pleat of the second fabric panel 134.
In order to secured the horizontal alignment of the rods 170,172, each rod pair includes a double rod clip 176, as shown in
Each rod pair further includes two single rod clips 182 that each have a single passage 184 for receiving the long rod 170 and corresponding pleat material from the first and third panels 130,134, as shown in
Each of the double and single rod clips 176,182 includes a cord guide 186 for guiding and retaining the position of the corresponding lift cord 108 relative to the pleats. Specifically, each lift cord 108 extends downwardly from the headrail 110 (e.g., from a manual or powered spool or pulley system, as is known in the art) and passes through the corresponding series of aligned cord guides 186 and is secured to the bottom rail assembly 106. In the illustrated embodiment, there is one lift cord for each of the three panels, but it should be understood that other numbers of lift cords and panels can be used.
Referring to
Roman shades as described above can be provided in a few specified sizes to provide custom sized shades within a range. To achieve a desired shade size, an appropriate stock size is selected. The headrail 110 is cut to the required length in an appropriate cutdown machine. It is anticipated that headrails similar to those used in the window coverings of other cutdown programs can be used for the Roman shade described herein so that the headrail can be cut in existing cutdown machines used for other cutdown programs.
In order to cut down the axial length of the Roman shade 100, the first and third fabric panels 130, 134 are slid toward the second fabric panel 132 so that the upper edges of the fabric panels contained in the retention slot 116 are moved away from the end portions of the headrail 110. The cord motors 114 are also moved toward the center of the headrail 110, thereby leaving end portions of the headrail 110 empty and suitable for cutting. Preferably, equal portions are cut from each end of the headrail 110 to achieve the desired final width. However, cutting from just one or the other end of the headrail 110 also can be performed. After the headrail is cut to the desired width, the first and third fabric panels 130, 134 are slid laterally outward to the maximum remaining width of the headrail 110. Generally, it is desirable to center the second panel 132 in the final assembly. While moving the fabric panels, the cord motors 114 can be moved as required to remain in vertical alignment with the lift cords and cord guides 186 attached to the fabric panels 130,132,134. The telescopic arrangement of the bottom rails 140, 142, 144 is adjusted so as to align each of the bottom rails with the corresponding fabric panel.
In this way, a custom sized Roman shade can be provided with sizing performed at the point-of-sale to provide a consumer with the desired shade immediately at a specified size.
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/309,112, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62309112 | Mar 2016 | US |
