Apparatus and method for making a window covering having operable vanes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8944134-B2
Application number	US-201213675199-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Aug 20, 2003
Publication date	Feb 3, 2015
Grant date	Feb 3, 2015

Abstract

An apparatus and associated method for manufacturing a window covering for an architectural opening. The apparatus includes a support structure handling assembly, an operating element handling assembly, and a vane handling assembly. The handling assemblies process the respective materials to an assembly station to attach one portion of a vane to the operating elements, and another portion of the vane to the support structure, allowing movement of one portion of the vane relative to other portion of the vane.

First claim

We claim:

1. A covering for use in an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
a rotatable roller;
a support sheet attached to the roller at a first attachment point and wrappable about the roller;
a plurality of vanes extending across a face of the support sheet and attached to the support sheet, at least one vane movable between a closed position and an open position; and
an operating element attached to the roller at a second attachment point and wrappable about the roller, the operating element operably associated with the at least one vane to effect movement of the at least one vane from the closed position to the open position, wherein during movement of the at least one vane from the closed position to the open position, the circumferential distance between the first attachment point of the support sheet and a disengagement point of the support sheet from the roller decreases, while the circumferential distance between the second attachment point of the operating element and a disengagement point of the operating element from the roller increases, wherein the at least one vane includes a first edge portion and a second edge portion, wherein the operating element is movable relative to the first edge portion, wherein the operating element is attached to the second edge portion, and wherein during movement of the at least one vane from the closed position to the open position, the second edge portion moves toward the first edge portion.

2. The covering of claim 1 , wherein in the open position, the at least one vane has an arcuate cross-sectional shape.

3. The covering of claim 1 , wherein in the closed position, the at least one vane is flattened into a substantially coplanar relationship with the support sheet.

4. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the operating element is substantially coplanar with the support sheet.

5. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment points are circumferentially spaced from each other.

6. A covering for use in an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
a rotatable roller;
a support sheet suspended from the roller;
a plurality of vanes extending across a face of the support sheet, at least one vane having a first edge portion attached to the support sheet and a second edge portion movable relative to the first edge portion between a closed position and an open position; and
a plurality of operating elements suspended from the roller and extending transversely to the at least one vane, the operating elements being movable relative to the support sheet and to the first edge portion of the at least one vane, the operating elements operably attached to the second edge portion of the at least one vane, wherein during movement of the second edge portion from the closed position to the open position, the operating elements are wrapped around the roller while the support sheet is unwrapped from the roller, wherein the operating elements are operative to selectively move the second edge portion toward and away from the first edge portion upon rotatable movement of the roller.

7. The covering of claim 6 , wherein the support sheet is attached to the roller along a first longitudinally extending line of attachment, and wherein the operating elements are attached to the roller along a second longitudinally extending line of attachment.

8. The covering of claim 7 , wherein the first and second lines of attachment are circumferentially spaced from each other.

9. The covering of claim 6 , wherein the at least one vane has a generally rectangular configuration.

10. The covering of claim 6 , wherein the first edge portion of the at least one vane is intermittently secured to the support sheet so as to define unsecured locations configured to permit the operating elements to slidably extend between the support sheet and the first edge portion.

11. The covering of claim 6 , wherein the operating elements are disposed in substantially the same plane as the support sheet.

12. A covering for an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
a rotatable roller;
a flexible support structure;
a plurality of operating elements each having one end secured to the roller; and
a plurality of strips of material each having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge being secured to the flexible support structure, the second edge being secured to the operating elements, the operating elements being movable relative to the support structure to move the first and second edges toward and away from each other between open and closed positions, wherein during movement of the first and second edges toward each other, the operating elements are wrapped around the roller while the support structure is unwrapped from the roller.

13. The covering of claim 12 , wherein the support structure is attached to the roller along a first longitudinally extending line, and wherein the operating elements are attached to the roller along a second longitudinally extending line.

14. The covering of claim 13 , wherein the first and second lines are circumferentially spaced from each other.

15. The covering of claim 12 , wherein the first edges of the strips are intermittently secured to the support structure so as to define unsecured locations configured to permit the operating elements to slidably extend between the support structure and the first edges.

16. The covering of claim 12 , wherein the support structure, the operating elements, and the strips of material are wrappable about the roller.

17. The covering of claim 12 , wherein the operating elements are disposed in substantially the same plane as the support structure.

18. A covering for use in an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
a rotatable roller;
a support sheet attached to the roller at a first attachment point and wrappable about the roller;
a plurality of vanes extending across a face of the support sheet and attached to the support sheet, at least one vane movable between a closed position and an open position; and
an operating element attached to the roller at a second attachment point and wrappable about the roller, the operating element operably associated with the at least one vane to effect movement of the at least one vane from the closed position to the open position, wherein during movement of the at least one vane from the closed position to the open position, the circumferential distance between the first attachment point of the support sheet and a disengagement point of the support sheet from the roller decreases, while the circumferential distance between the second attachment point of the operating element and a disengagement point of the operating element from the roller increases, wherein the operating element is substantially coplanar with the support sheet.

19. A covering for use in an architectural opening, the covering comprising:
a rotatable roller;
a support sheet suspended from the roller;
a plurality of vanes extending across a face of the support sheet, at least one vane having a first edge portion attached to the support sheet and a second edge portion movable relative to the first edge portion between a closed position and an open position; and
a plurality of operating elements suspended from the roller and extending transversely to the at least one vane, the operating elements being movable relative to the support sheet and to the first edge portion of the at least one vane, the operating elements operably attached to the second edge portion of the at least one vane, wherein during movement of the

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Ballard Jr Eugene M
• Colson Wendell B
• Dann Kevin M
• Fogarty Daniel M
• Harper Marjorie G
• Hartman David P
• Kovach Joseph E
• Marino Gary A
• Rahn Kelly Q
• Wisecup Stephen T

Classifications

• E06B9/34

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

• E06B9/266 Primary

  Devices or accessories for making or mounting lamellar blinds or parts thereof {(cleaning of lamellar blinds A47L4/00; joining plastics plates for making venetian blinds B29C66/437)} · CPC title

• Y10T29/49627

  Frame component · CPC title

• Y10T156/10

  Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor · CPC title

• Y10T29/49947

  by applying separate fastener · CPC title