The present application is the national stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2012/033670, entitled “Covering For Architectural Opening Including Cell Structures Biased to Open”, filed Apr. 13, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/476,187, filed Apr. 15, 2011, entitled “Shade with Bias to Open Cells,” which is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application in its entirety. This application is related to co-pending PCT International patent application No. PCT/US2012/033674 entitled “Covering for Architectural Opening Including Thermoformable Slat Vanes,” filed Apr. 13, 2012, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates generally to coverings for architectural openings, and more specifically, to retractable cellular coverings for architectural openings.
Coverings for architectural openings such as windows, doors, archways, and the like have assumed numerous forms for many years. Early forms of such coverings consisted primarily of fabric draped across the architectural opening, and in some instances the fabric was not movable between extended and retracted positions relative to the opening. Some newer versions of coverings may include cellular shades. Cellular shades may include horizontally disposed collapsible tubes that are vertically stacked to form a panel of tubes. The cellular tubes may trap air, and so if used to cover windows may help provide an insulative factor. In these shades the panel is retracted and extended by lifting or lowering the lowermost cell. As the lowermost cell is lifted, it lifts the cells above it and collapses them atop one another. As the lowermost cell is lowered, the cells are pulled open. When in a refracted position, current cellular shades are stored in a stacked configuration, i.e., one cell on top of the other cells. This retracted configuration is required, since wrapping the cells around a roller tube may damage the cells and/or prevent cells from opening.
The present disclosure includes a covering for an architectural opening. The covering for an architectural opening includes a support tube and a panel operably connected to the support tube. The support tube may be configured to support the panel from above or the side of the architectural opening. The panel is configured to be wound around the support tube. The rotation of the support tube is controlled by activation cords engaging a drive mechanism, which in turn engages the support tube. The panel includes a support sheet and at least one cell operably connected to the support sheet. The cell includes a first material operably connected to a first side of the support sheet and a cell support member operably connected to the first material and configured to support the first material at a distance away from the support sheet when the panel is an extended position with respect to the support tube.
In some examples, the covering may include a first cell and a second cell. The first cell includes a first cellular support member and a first vane material operably connected to the first cellular support member. The first vane material includes a first top portion, a first middle portion, and a first bottom portion. The first top portion is operably connected to the support sheet adjacent a first top edge of the first vane material defining a first leg, the first top portion extends downwards adjacent the support sheet and at a first inflection point transitions away from the support sheet to the first middle portion, the first middle portion transitions at a second inflection point to the first bottom portion, and the first bottom portion is folded rearwardly to face the support sheet. The second cell includes a second cellular support member and a second vane material operably connected to the cellular support member. The second vane material includes a second top portion, a second middle portion, and a second bottom portion. The second top portion is operably connected to the support sheet adjacent a second top edge of the second vane material defining a second leg, the second top portion extends downwards adjacent the support sheet and at a third inflection point transitions away from the support sheet to the second middle portion, the second middle portion transitions at a fourth inflection point to the second bottom portion, and the second bottom portion is folded rearwardly to face the support sheet.
Other examples of the present disclosure may take the form of a method for manufacturing a covering for an architectural opening. The method includes operably connecting a vane material and a cell support member, wrapping the vane material and the cell support member around a support tube, heating the vane material and the cell support member so that the cell support member forms a shape substantially the same as a shape of or corresponding to the support tube, cooling the vane material, the cell support member and the support tube.
The cellular shade panel of the present disclosure substantially maintains its appearance during retraction or extension from the support tube, creating and maintaining a constant clean appearance without gathering or distortion of the cell shapes. The cellular shade panel may be manually refracted or extended using control cords, or may be extended or retracted by a motor drive system without the use of control cords.
Yet other examples of the present disclosure may take the form of a shade for an architectural opening. The shade includes a support sheet, a first cell operably connected to the support sheet, and a second cell operably connected to the support sheet. The first cell includes a first vane material operably connected at a first location to the support sheet and a first cell support member operably connected to the first vane material and configured to define a first cell chamber between the support sheet and the first vane material when the shade is in an extended position. The second cell includes a second vane material operably connected at a second location to the support sheet and operably connected at a third location to the first vane material and a second cell support member operably connected to the second vane material and configured to define a second cell chamber between the support sheet and the second vane material when the shade is in an extended position.
These and other aspects of embodiments of the disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description and drawings that follow.
General Description
The present disclosure relates generally to a cellular panel for covering an architectural opening. The cellular panel or covering may be configured so that it may be retracted and expanded, and when in the retracted position the cellular panel may be wound around a support tube, bar, rod, or the like. Additionally, the cellular panel may be configured so that each cell within the panel may be biased to open configurations as the cellular panel is extended. This allows the cellular panel to provide the benefits of a cellular covering (e.g., insulation, aesthetic appeal), while at the same time providing the benefits of a non-cell shaped covering (e.g., hidden and compact storage). Specifically, by having a retracted position that allows the cellular panel to be stored around a support tube, the cellular shade may be stored from view behind a head rail. This is beneficial as prior art cellular shades may be stored only in a vertically stacked position and thus would not be fully hidden from view in a head rail. Additionally, because the cellular panel may be rolled onto a support tube, it may be protected by a head rail or other member from dust, sun damage (e.g., fading), and so on. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the cellular panel may be retracted to a stacked position, alternatively to being wound around a support tube, thus the cellular panel as described herein may have the option to be both stacked or rolled when in the retracted position.
Some embodiments of the cellular panel may include cells that extend laterally and are positioned vertically relative to one another. Each cell may be operably associated with adjacent upper and lower cells and operably connected to a support sheet. The cells may be formed by a combination of the support sheet, the adjacent lower cell, and the vane material of the respective cell. In some embodiments, each cell may be operably connected to the support sheet such that a top free portion or leg may extend past a point of connection between the cell and the support sheet. This leg may assist the cell in biasing open as the cellular panel is extended. Each cell may be generally tear-drop shaped in cross section, and form a tube extending length-wise across the cellular panel, and the ends of each cell may be open. Each of the cells includes a cell support member that may be heat formed to the particular shape of the support roll. For example, the cell support member may be a thermoformable or thermoset material that becomes partially or substantially shapeable after heating, and retains its formed shape after cooling. The cell support member may be operably connected to the vane material (e.g., fabric) and form an outer covering of the vane, or an inner covering of the vane. However, in some embodiments, the cell support member may be integrated with material forming each cell.
The cellular panel is formed by operably connecting the cell support member to a vane material and then wrapping both the vane material and the cell support member around a support tube, mandrel, or other forming member. The support tube, the vane material, and the cell support member may then heated. As the components are heated, the cell support member is re-shaped to conform generally to the shape of the support tube. After cooling, the vane material takes on the shape of the cell support member where the two are engaged. Then, the support tube and cellular panel may be installed over an architectural opening.
It should be noted that embodiments herein may refer to a panel or shade for covering an architectural opening. However, the panels disclosed herein may be used in various manners. For example, the panels may be used as wall coverings, wallpaper, ceilings, and so on.
Cellular Panel
The cellular panel 106 may include a plurality of cells 108 defined at least in part by a support sheet 110, a vane material 112, and a cellular support member 114. The vane material 112 and the support sheet 110 operably connected to one another to form a front side of the cellular panel 106. In some embodiments, the cells 108 may be stacked on top of another, and in other embodiments, the cells 108 may be spaced apart from one another (see, e.g.,
In addition to the vane material 112, as shown in
The cellular panel system 100 will now be discussed in more detail.
In the embodiment illustrated in
With reference to
With reference to
Additionally, the vane material 112 and the support sheet 110 may have varying light transmissivity properties. For example, the vane material 112 and/or the support sheet 100 may be made of a sheer fabric (allowing a substantial amount of light through), translucent fabric (allowing some amount of light through), or a black-out fabric (allowing little or no light through). Both the vane material 112 and the support sheet 110 may also have insulating properties along with aesthetic properties. Further, the vane material 112 and the support sheet 110 may include more than one individual sheets or layers, and may be made of a different number of sheets or layers operably connected together. The vane material 112 may have a high level of drape (less stiff), or a low level of drape (more stiff), which may be selected for obtaining the appropriate or desired cell 108 shape. A more stiff vane material 112 may not result in as pronounced of a “S” shape as shown in
In some configurations, such as shown in
With specific reference to
The value of Ho, whether as a percentage of Hc, or an absolute value, affects the external appearance of the shade, among other things. Where Ho is relatively large (ratio or dimension), it will result in less of the height (in reference to
Additionally, the value of the dimension Ho may effect the distance that the vane material 112 extends away from the support material 110, which would affect the volume of the cell, and thus its insulative properties. Other features of the shade structure may also work together with the Ho value to affect the internal volume of the cell 108. Also, the value of Ho affects how many layers the light must pass through as it strikes the rear of the support sheet 110. With reference to
As shown best in
Similar to the vane material 112 of the first cell 108a, the vane material 112 of the second cell 108b is attached by the vane connection mechanism 122 generally along a top edge to the front side of the support sheet 110. The top edge of the vane material 112 of the second cell 108b is positioned on the support sheet 110 at about the mid-point of the height H1 of the first cell 108a. This position may be higher or lower depending on the desired cell shape. The shape of the cell 108 is thus formed by the combination of the vane material 112 of the first cell 108a, the support sheet 110, and the top portion of the vane material 112 of the second cell 108b. The chamber 105 cross-section is approximately tear-drop shaped with a narrow top portion and a more bulbous bottom portion. In other embodiments, the shape of the chamber 105 may be differently configured.
Referring to
With reference again to
The shape and height of the cell 108 and its respective chamber 105 may be determined by the length or height of the tab 107, as well as the transition from the front or main body of the vane material 112 to the tab 107. In some instances, the vane material 112b may bend at fold line 125 to form a tab 107b of the vane material. The tab 107b of the vane material 112b may be operably connected to the vane material 112 of an adjacent but lower cell 108 at a location near the top end of the support material 114, and may further enhance the transition in the curvature of the “S” shape as mentioned above. The tab 107b may be positioned such that a front surface (now facing the backing sheet 110) may be operably connected to the vane material of the following cell. The tabs 107a, 107b of each cell may be operably connected to the vane material 112 by the tab connection mechanism 118.
As discussed above, the vane material 112 may form a general “S” shape. In some instances, the point of transition between the curve being concave towards the backing sheet 110 (where the support member 114 is positioned on the vane), and concave away from the support sheet 110 (above the support member 114) is defined by where the vane 112 is bonded or coupled to the upper end of the cellular support member 114.
Referring to
The cellular support member 114 may extend along at least a portion of the vane material 112 between the locations of the vane connection mechanisms 122 and the tab connection mechanisms 118. In some examples, the vane material 112 may be sufficiently stiff (have structural properties) so that the “S” shape is formed in spite of the weight of the cellular support member 114 and vane below it. In this way, the rigidity of the cellular support member 114 creates a twist or torque at its upper junction with the vane material 112, and the stiffness of the vane material 112 as it extends upwards from this point is levering the entire cell 108 assembly outwards (laterally away from the backing sheet 110), creating a deeper cell 108 than if the cell 108 had been defined by the curve of the cellular support member 114 itself. Referring to
In some embodiments, the cellular support member 114 may be plastic, moldable laminate, fibers, moldable tape, adhesive, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, PET, polyester film, or the like. For example, the cellular support member 114 may be a thermoformable material such as a laminate material and may have an adhesive-like property when heated and then cooled. In other examples, the cellular support member 114 may be a partially thermoformable material that may have an increased adhesive-like property when heated and/or cooled, but may not completely loose its original shape or structure during heating and/or cooling. Furthermore, as shown in
Additionally, the cellular support member 114 may be configured to have aesthetic properties. Similar to the vane material 112 and the support sheet 110, the cellular support member 114 may have varying light transmissivity properties, e.g., the cellular support member 114 may be sheer, clear, opaque, or black-out. In other embodiments, the cellular support member 114 may be wood veneer or the vane material 112 may include a wood veneer. For example, a wood veneer may be attached to or form the vane material 112, which may then be operably connected to the cellular support member 114, or in instances where the vane material 112 may be impregnated with the support member 114, the wood veneer may form to or otherwise be connected to the outer surface of the vane material 112. Alternatively, the wood veneer may include a thermoformable material or may itself be impregnated with the cellular support member 114. A vane material of wood veneer may be positioned on the outside of the vane material with the cellular support material below it to create the shape. If the veneer was used without an additional cellular support material, it may be formed to have a curved shape by being wetted, then rolled up onto a forming roller or tube, and dried in the oven heat to set the curvature of the veneer. This formation of the veneer may or may not be repeatable to reform the wood veneer with a different curvature. Furthermore, the cellular support member 114 may have varying thicknesses, and in some embodiments, the cellular support member 114 may be as thin or thinner than the vane material 112. In these embodiments, the cell 108 may remain substantially flexible and may be able to flex, bend, and/or wrap around the support tube, although the cellular support member 114 may be a substantially/partially rigid material.
The cellular support member 114, as shown in
The cellular support member 114 may extend laterally along the full length of the cell 108 (across the width of the cellular panel 106). The cellular support member 114 may also extend along a portion of the length of the cell 108, or may include a plurality of cell support members 114 positioned at discreet positions along the length of the cell 108.
The cellular support member 114 may be adhered to the vane material 112 continuously along its entire length, continuously along a portion of its length, at spaced positions along its length, at the top and bottom edges of the support member 114, or in other locations. The top edge 141 of the cellular support member 114 of the second cell 108b may be aligned with a top edge 143 of the tab 107 of the first cell 108a as shown in
Varying the height as well as the placement of the cellular support member 114 in the cell 108 may alter the shape of the cell 108 and chamber 105, as well as the distance or space between the support sheet 114 and the vane material 112 when the cell 108 is biased open. For example, a smaller cellular support member 114 may create a smaller distance between the support sheet 114 and the vane material 112, which may make the cell 108 appear “flatter” as compared to a cell 108 having a larger cellular support member 114. The length of the rear portion of each cell 108 is nearly as long as the length of the front section of each cell 108. In practice the front section may be a small amount longer because it rolled up on the outside of the rollup sandwich on the support tube 116, but typically this difference is small.
Once the panel 106 is unrolled from the support tube 116, and cells 108 are formed, the curvature of the cell support material 114 effectively shortens not the length of the front side of the cell, but the straight-line distance between the vertex or fold line 125 and the top juncture (connection line 122). There is some shortening of the length of the rear side of the cell 108 as well, but it is less because there is less total angle of curvature. The differential in these two distances opens the beak 149 at the bottom of each cell 108. Generally, where the cell support structure 114 has the same height, the beak 149 will be wider when there is a large angular curvature (smaller radius of curvature) of the cell support structure 114 as shown in
Forming the Cellular Panel
Referring now to
The cell support members 114 may be formed (or re-formed) around the support tube 116 to create the desired formed shape.
To form the panel the vanes 112 may be operably connected to the support sheet 110 and to each other (e.g., the tab 107 may be operably connected to the vane below) prior to the cellular support members 114 being formed and/or wound around the support tube 116. As an example, a process such as the process disclosed in PCT International patent application no. PCT/US2011/032624, filed Apr. 15, 2011, entitled “A Process and System for Manufacturing a Roller Blind,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, may be used to form the covering. For example, the connection members 118, 122, which may be adhesive, may be applied onto either the vane materials 112 or the support sheet 110. The cellular panel 106 may be formed by aligning the cellular support members 114 with the vane materials 112, applying the support connection mechanism 120 to the cellular support member 114 and the vane material 112. Then, the vane material 112 may be connected to the support sheet 110 by the vane connection mechanism 112 and the tab connection mechanism 118. For example, in instances where the vane connection mechanism 122 and the tab connection mechanism 118 are adhesive, the adhesive lines may be applied to the support sheet 110. Once the connection mechanism 118, 120, 122 are applied to one of the vane material 112, cellular support member 114, and/or support sheet 110, the panel 106 or portions thereof may be heated or otherwise (e.g., by a bonding or melting bar) to a first temperature (or otherwise activated) to adhere the vane material 112 and the support sheet 110 together.
As a specific example, a melting bar or a bonding bar may apply pressure and/or heat to activate the connection mechanisms 118, 120, 122 (which in some instances may be heat and/or pressure activated). In some instances, the connection mechanisms 118, 120, 122 may have a high activation or melting temperature, for example approximately 410 degrees Fahrenheit. This first temperature may be higher than a second temperature used to form the cellular support members 114, discussed below.
Once the vane material 112 and the support sheet 110 are connected together, the panel 106 may be wound around the support tube 116. After the cellular panel 106 is wrapped around the support tube 116, the support tube 116 and the cellular panel 106 may be heated to a second temperature, which may be less than the first temperature. For example during this operation, the panel 106 may be heated in this process to a temperature of approximately 170 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit, for up to approximately one and one-half hours. A temperature of 175 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 15 minutes has been found to be suitable in some circumstances. Other temperatures and times may be acceptable as well.
As the cellular panel 104 is heated, the cellular support members 114 may become formable and conform to the support tube 116. With reference to
In some instances, the vane material 112 may be a thermoset material which may be formed around a heated mandrel or support tube 116. The vane material 112, once formed or heated, may take a permanent shape having the curvature of the support tube 116. In this instance, the cellular support member 114 may be attached to or operably associated with the vane material 112 after it has been formed. In some instances, the thermoset material forming the vane 112 may be overcome by the rigidity of the cellular support member 114 such that the cell shape may be formed by the shape of the cellular support member 114. However, while forming the cellular support member 114, which may be a thermoformable material and have a lower forming temperature than the thermoset material forming the vane material 112, the thermoformable material may “release” or become pliant. Once the thermoformable material of the cellular support member 114 has released, it may then take the shape of the vane material 112, which due to the higher activation temperature, may not “release.” In these embodiments, the shape of the cells 108 may be generally determined by the shape of the vane material 112, which may then be reheated with the cellular support member 114, to vary the shape of the cellular support member.
In some instances the connection mechanisms 118, 120, 122 may be activated at a higher temperature than the forming temperature of the support member 114. In these instances, the cellular support members 114 may be formed without substantially affecting the connection of the vanes 112 to the support sheet and/or to each other (by the tabs 107). Thus, the cellular support members 114 may be formed after the panel 106 has been substantially assembled and/or connected together. For example, the connection mechanism 118, 120, 122 may be high temperature pressure set adhesive, which may allow for the support member 114 to be formed by a heated processes, without substantially weakening or destroying a connection between the vane material and the support sheet. In this example, the vane connection mechanisms 118, 120, 122 may have a higher melting point than a material used to form the cellular support member 114. In one instance, the melting point for the vane connection mechanism 122 and tab connection mechanisms 118 may range between 350 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit and in a specific instance may be 410 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows the cellular support member 114 to be formed and possibly reformed at the necessary temperature without affecting the adhesion properties of the vane and tab connection elements.
Additionally or alternatively, the vane connection mechanism 118 may be a different type of adhesive and/or may be activated at a higher temperature than the support connection mechanism 122. As an example, the support connection mechanism 122 may be a high temperature crystal melt co-polymer and the vane connection mechanism 118 may be a hot melt adhesive which may melt and re-bond during the heating of the support member 114. In this embodiment, the vane connection mechanism 118 may have a similar melting point as the cellular support member 114 forming temperature, such that it may become at least partially flexible/pliant during forming the cellular support member 114, whereas the support connection mechanism 122 may remain substantially secured or bonded. In this manner, if the positioning of adjacent cells 108 changes during the formation of the cellular support members 114 (e.g., due to a change in curvature) the vane connection mechanism 118 may be re-bonded at a different location to the vane material 112 to account for the changes in shape of the cellular support member 114. However, in other embodiments, the vane connection mechanism 118 and the support connection mechanism 122 may have substantially the same, if not the same, activation or melting temperatures, so that the connection points for the cells 108 may remain in place while the cellular support member 114 is formed.
After heating the cellular panel 106, the support tube 116 may be cooled. During cooling, the cellular support members 114 stiffen or harden in the shape of the support tube 116. This is because the cellular support members 114 may become at least partially formable or moldable when heated, but after the heating process the cellular support members 114 may harden back into a substantially the shape of the support member.
Once cooled, the cellular support member 114 maintains the general shape of the support tube 116 and thus be slightly curved. Thus, after forming of the cellular support member 114, the cells 108 may be curved as shown in
For example, in some embodiments, the cellular support member 114 may be shaped generally as a portion of a “C”, thus, as the cellular panel 106 wraps around a cylindrically shaped support tube, the cellular support member 114 may conform to a portion of the perimeter of the support tube 116. This facilitates the cells 108 to be wrapped or rolled around the support tube 116 in the retracted position, and also to bias open as the cellular panel 106 is unwound from the support tube 116. The resistance of the cellular support member 114 and its connection to the support sheet and lower vane aids in the automatic-open features. The stiffness of the curve-formed cellular support material helps cause the cell to re-open (the support sheet and the vane material to move apart from one another) to its expanded shape when unrolled from the roller. Thus, the cells 108 may have insulative properties as they may trap packets of air, although they may be completely or partially collapsed when in a retracted position (e.g., wound around the support tube 116).
The cellular panel 106, while originally formed around a support tube 116, may be disconnected from the original support tube and re-attached to a different support tube (such as having a larger or smaller diameter support tube) for subsequent reforming. The top edge of the cellular panel 106 may be attached to a new support tube 116 with a line of adhesive 147, or by a hem received in a slot, or other means. Also, if a portion of a cellular panel 106 is separated from a larger length of cellular panel 106 by a lateral slice along the width of the cellular panel 106, the now separate cellular panel 106 may be attached to a new support tube (such as by the means described herein) having the same diameter as the original support tube, or it may be attached to a new support tube having a different diameter than the original support tube and be reformed.
After the cell support members 114 are formed and the cellular panel 106 is operably connected to the support tube 116, a panel section of different widths may be formed by cutting the combination of the wrapped cellular panel 106 and support tube 116 to the desired length. In these embodiments, end caps or the like may be placed on the terminal ends of the support tube 116 creating a refined appearance. For example, a single support tube 116 may be used to create multiple different panels or shades for a variety of different architectural openings.
Operating the Cellular Panel
Operation of the cellular panel 106 will now be discussed in more detail. As discussed above, the cellular panel 106 may be wound around the support tube 116 or other member (e.g., rod, roller, mandrel, etc.). See, for example,
Continuing with reference to
In the cellular panel 106 each cell 108 may be operably associated with each other cell 108 as described above. For example, as shown in
Referring to
In some instances the cellular panel 106 may also be retracted in a stacked configuration, rather than wound around the support tube 116.
Alternative Examples of the Panel
In some embodiments, the shape of the cells 108 may be varied. The shape of the cells 108 may be modified by changing the height of the vane material 112 and/or the cellular support member 114. For example, the diameter of the support tube 116 may be increased in order to increase the radius of curvature of the cellular support member 114 during forming, which may correspondingly change the shape of the cells 108.
Additionally, the shape of the formed cellular support member 114 may also vary the appearance of the cells 108.
Also, it should be noted that in some embodiments, the shape of the cells 108 may be varied by varying the attachment locations of the vane material 112 to the support sheet 110. For example, two cells having approximately the same radius of curvature may appear different depending on a height between a top connection point and a bottom connection point. Continuing with the example, the first cell may appear more “droopy” than a second cell if the first cell has an increased height between the top connection point and the bottom connection point to the support sheet.
In some embodiments, during the forming process, cells 108 on the outer layers of the wrapped configuration may have a cellular support member 114 with a larger radius of curvature than the cells 108 in the inner layers 131 of the wrapped configuration. See
Still referring to
However, in other embodiments, for example, the heights of the top cell 208a and the bottom cell 208b may be substantially the same. These embodiments may be created by altering an unformed length of material for the cellular support member 114. By altering the unformed total length of the cellular support member 114 prior to forming based on the position of the cellular support member 114 in the length of the cellular panel 106, the cell 208b may be shorter. However, this may allow the top and bottom cells 208a, 208b to appear to have substantially the same dimensions. These embodiments create a more uniformed appearance for the cellular panel 106 (especially for taller cellular panels 106), as all the cells 108 may appear to have substantially the same dimensions, although they may be formed in substantially the same manner as the cellular panel 106 illustrated in
One aspect of the cell structure disclosed herein is the constancy of appearance during retraction and extension of the shade panel from the support tube. In many instances, cellular shades are retracted by stacking from the bottom-up, which changes the appearance of the cells at the bottom of the shade panel as they are compressed and collected by the lifting of the bottom rail. The same distortion of the cells occurs during extension of the stacked cells. In at least one example of the cellular shade as described and disclosed herein, the appearance of the cells (individually and collectively) during retraction and extension are not substantially affected, and in some instances are not affected at all.
The shade panel, for instance 106 in
Unlike the changing appearance of stacked cellular shade panels when retracted and extended, the appearance of at least one example of the cells disclosed and described herein does not substantially change upon extension or retraction. In other words, the appearance of individual cells or a collection of the cells, is not greatly affected by the amount the shade is extended, or the act of extending or retracting the cells. This constancy of appearance, both individually and collectively, is due to the use of the support tube to retract and extend the cells. Since the support tube is engaged with or operably associated with the top portion of the shade panel (such as by attaching to the support sheet), the appearance of individual cells and/or collection of cells are not changed substantially between the bottom of (or below) the support tube and the bottom rail positioned at the lower edge of the shade panel. Until actual engagement around the support tube (during retraction) the appearance of a particular cell is largely unchanged from it's appearance when the shade is fully extended. The collective appearance of the cells between the head tube and the bottom rail (other than the shade panel becoming shorter in length) is also largely unchanged. Similarly, upon extension from a refracted position, once a cell has been unwound from the support tube, its individual appearance is largely unchanged during extension below the head tube.
Unlike stackable cellular shades, in at least one example of the cellular shade structure described and disclosed herein, the appearance of the individual cell or a collection of cells below or not engaging the support tube is largely unchanged during retraction and extension. The height, curvature or lateral depth (from front of the vane material to the support sheet, as created by chamber size) that together or individually create or affect the appearance of the individual or collection of cells are substantially unchanged. The effect is that the shade panel has a clean and consistent appearance not affected by the vertical position (amount of retraction or extension) of the shade panel.
Additionally, the embodiments of
In other embodiments, the cellular panel 102 may include cells 108 on one side and one or more vanes 211 or slats extending from an opposite side.
In other examples, the panel may include cells that may be defined by a vane material, the support sheet, and one or more connecting members.
The connection member 515 may include a tab 507 formed by folding the connection member 515 at fold line 513. The tab 507 may extend upwards and away from the panel. The fold line 513, the tab 507 and the connection member 515 defined a generally “V” shaped recess that receives a terminal end of the vane material 512. An adhesive 519 positioned in or near the V-shaped recess may then connect an outer surface of each vane material 512 and an inner surface of the tab 107. In other words, the V-shaped portion may cradle a terminal end of each vane material 512, and an adhesive strip 519 may generally secure the slat vane material 512 in place. The tab 107 may be visible on an outer surface of the panel 506.
Additionally, the top edge of the vane material 512 may be operably connected by an adhesive 521 to a back surface of the connection member 515, adjacent the bottom edge of the connection member 515. In this example, the vane material 512 may be operably connected to two separate connection members 515, which creates or defines a chamber between the support sheet 110, the two connection members 515, and the slat 511. Thus, the connection members 515, vane material 512, and the support sheet 110 defines the cells 508. The second adhesive 521 may correspond generally to a location (on the opposite face of the connection member 515) where the vane material 512 for the adjacent cell 508 may be received.
In some embodiments, the cellular panel 106 or panel 306 may be configured to have the cells 108 extend vertically and either be retracted and extended horizontally.
An opposite end of the head rail 416 may include an idler pulley 418 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis. The strap 426 or cord may be operably connected to a control wand 409 and may be operably associated with the idler pulley 418 and the take up drum 420. As the control wand 409 (e.g., end rail 104) moves, the strap 426 may also move and rotate the idler pulley 418 and the take up drum 420. The take up drum 420 then may rotate the idler gear 422, which rotates the roller 424 (via a horizontal gear). The take up drum 420 and the roller 424 may rotate at the same speed, but in opposite directions, as they may be operably connected via the idler gear 422. As the roller 424 rotates, the cellular panel 106 may wrap around itself on the roller 424, thus retracting. Similarly, when the control wand 409 is moved in the opposite direction, the idler pulley 418 and the take up drum 420 rotate in an opposite direction. This rotation causes the idler gear 422 to rotate in an opposite direction, unwinding the cellular panel 106 from the roller 424 and thus extending the cellular panel 106 horizontally over the architectural opening. Thus, movement of the control wand 409 from one end of the head rail 416 to the other causes the cellular panel 106 to be wrapped or unwrapped from the roller 424 as the strap 426 is unwrapped or wrapped around the take up drum 420, respectively.
It is contemplated that the shade may be retracted or extended by either control cords or by a motor drive system. Using control cords, the control cord(s) would allow manual retraction or extension by a user to the desired position. The control cord(s) engage and actuate a drive mechanism operably associated with the support tube, and positioned in or adjacent the head rail. The drive mechanism may include a clutch (coil spring or otherwise) and transmission (such as a planetary gear mechanism) to improve the gear ratio and allow retraction and extension with less load on the control cord.
Using a motor drive system 209 to retract and extend the shade from the support tube is represented in
All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, front, back, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, radial, axial, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of this disclosure. Connection references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and joined) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. As such, connection references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other.
The exemplary drawings are for purposes of illustration only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative sizes reflected in the drawings attached hereto may vary.
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