Covering for architectural opening including cell structures biased to open

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356080-A1
Application number	US-201615242640-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 22, 2016
Priority date	Apr 15, 2011
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A covering an architectural opening including a support tube and a panel operably connected to the support tube and configured to be wound around the support tube. The panel includes a support sheet and at least one cell operably connected to the support sheet. The at least one cell includes a vane material operably connected to a first side of the support sheet and a cell support member operably connected to the vane material and configured to support the vane material at a distance away from the support sheet when the panel is in an extended position with respect to the support tube.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . A covering for an architectural opening, said covering comprising:
a plurality of cells each formed from a vane material, said vane material of at least one of said cells including a crease extending along a length of said vane material; and a cell support member associated with said vane material of said at least one of said cells, said cell support member positioned adjacent to and extending lengthwise along said crease to provide a biasing force that expands said at least one of said cells.

2 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein said crease forms a bottom edge of said vane material.

3 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein a bottom edge of said cell support member is aligned with said crease.

4 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein said vane material of said at least one of said cells further comprises a main body and a tab separated from said main body by said crease.

5 . The covering of claim 4 , wherein:
said vane material of said at least one of said cells includes a front surface having a first portion and a second portion; said first portion is associated with said main body and faces forwardly away from said support sheet; and said second portion is associated with said tab and faces rearwardly toward said support sheet.

6 . The covering of claim 4 , wherein said cell support member is associated with said main body of said vane material of said at least one of said cells.

7 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein said cell support member is impregnated into said vane material of said at least one of said cells.

8 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein said cell support member extends along an inner surface of said vane material of said at least one of said cells.

9 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein said cell support member extends along an outer surface of said vane material of said at least one of said cells.

10 . The covering of claim 1 , wherein said cell support member comprises a thermoformable material.

11 . The covering of claim 1 , further comprising a support tube, wherein:
said covering is coupled to and retractable onto said support tube; and said cell support member has a curvature substantially the same as a portion of the perimeter of said support tube.

12 . The covering of claim 11 , wherein said cell is configured to collapse upon retraction onto said support tube.

13 . A covering for an architectural opening, said covering comprising:
a plurality of cells each formed from a vane material; and a cell support member associated with said vane material of at least one of said cells and configured to support said vane material in a curved configuration when said covering is in an extended position, said cell support member being resilient so as to allow said at least one of said cells to at least partially collapse when said covering is retracted, and to spring or bias said at least one of said cells to an open configuration when said covering is extended.

14 . The covering of claim 13 , wherein said cell support member is impregnated into said vane material.

15 . The covering of claim 13 , wherein said cell support member extends along an inner surface of said vane material.

16 . The covering of claim 13 , wherein said cell support member extends along an outer surface of said vane material.

17 . The covering of claim 13 , wherein said curved configuration comprises a convex shape.

18 . The covering of claim 13 , wherein said curved configuration comprises a convex shape in a direction facing an associated room.

19 . The covering of claim 13 , wherein said vane material of said at least one of said cells comprises a convex portion and a concave portion.

20 . A covering for an architectural opening, said covering comprising:
a panel comprising:
a first cell comprising:
a first vane material; and
a first cell support member extending along a length of said first vane material; and

a second cell overlapped by said first cell, said second cell comprising:
a second vane material; and
a second cell support member extending along a length of said second vane material;

wherein said first cell support member and said second cell support member are resilient so as to allow said first cell and said second cell to at least partially collapse when said panel is retracted, and to spring or bias said first cell and said second cell to an open configuration when said panel is extended.

21 . The covering of claim 20 , further comprising a support tube to which said panel is coupled, wherein:
said first cell has a first appearance when said panel is extended; said second cell has a second appearance when said panel is extended; and upon retraction of said first cell around said support tube, said second appearance of said second cell remains substantially constant.

22 . The covering of claim 20 , wherein said first vane material is coupled to said second vane material.

23 . The covering of claim 22 , wherein:
said first vane material comprises a main body and a tab separated from said main body by a crease; and said tab is attached to said second vane material.

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Colson Wendell B
• Swiszcz Paul G

Classifications

• E06B9/68 Primary

  Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive · CPC title

• E06B9/34 Primary

  roller-type; {Roller shutters with adjustable lamellae} · CPC title

• E06B9/36

  with vertical lamellae {; Supporting rails therefor} · CPC title

• E06B9/264

  Combinations of lamellar blinds with roller shutters, screen windows, windows, or double panes; Lamellar blinds with special devices · CPC title

• E06B9/40 Primary

  Roller blinds (usable only as awnings E04F10/06) · CPC title