Collapsible vane structure and related method for a shade for an architectural opening

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9080377-B2
Application number	US-201313948692-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2013
Priority date	Dec 2, 2009
Publication date	Jul 14, 2015
Grant date	Jul 14, 2015

Abstract

A base structure and associated method for converting the base structure into an operable vane on a shade for an architectural opening. The base structure includes a back sheet and a front sheet attached together in engagement regions spaced along the length of the back sheet and front sheet. The front sheet is separated into front strip sections having a free end. Operating elements are positioned along the back sheet and situated so as to move relative thereto. The operating elements are attached adjacent to a free end of the front strip. Movement of the operating elements actuates the free end of the front strip to move from a closed position to an open position as desired by the user.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of making a shade for an architectural opening having at least one operable vane, the operable vane moving from an open position to an extended position while the shade is at least partially extended, the method comprising:
providing a base structure having a back sheet and a front sheet, the back sheet and front sheet connected by one or more engagement regions extending periodically along a length of extension of the back and front sheets, and unconnected between the one or more engagement regions;
cutting the front sheet adjacent at least one of the one or more engagement regions to form a strip comprising a first edge joined to the back sheet and a second free edge;
positioning at least one operating element between the back sheet and the strip so that the at least one operating element is movable relative to the back sheet; and
attaching the at least one operating element to the strip to form the at least one operable vane;
wherein the at least one operable vane is configured to move relative to the back sheet upon actuation of the operating element.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning step further comprises:
inserting the at least one operating element through the back sheet from a front side of the base structure.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one operating element is inserted through the back sheet from the front side of the base structure at a position located above the at least one of the one or more engagement regions.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the positioning step further comprises:
inserting the at least one operating element through the back sheet from a back side of the base structure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one operating element is inserted through the back sheet from the back side of the base structure at a position located below the at least one of the one or more engagement regions.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inserting a piece of adhesive tape between the at least one operating element and the back sheet.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the adhesive tape includes a first side configured to adhere to the at least one operating element and to the second free edge of the strip.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the adhesive tape includes a second side opposite the first side configured to allow the adhesive tape to move relative to the back sheet.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising attaching the at least one operating element to a back side of the second free edge of the strip with the adhesive tape.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the operating element is a cord.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the attaching step comprises attaching the at least one operating element to a back side of the second free edge of the strip to form the at least one operable vane.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more engagement regions are formed by woven intersections of the front sheet and the back sheet.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first edge is a top edge.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second free edge is a bottom edge.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising extending the at least one operating element down a front side of the back sheet to above an engagement region of the one or more engagement regions.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising extending the at least one operating element through the back sheet from the front side of the back sheet to a back side of the back sheet above the engagement region.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
extending the at least one operating element along the back side of the back sheet; and
extending the at least one operating element through the back sheet from the back side of the back sheet to the front side of the back sheet below the engagement region.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising alternating the at least one operating element from the front side of the back sheet to the back side of the back sheet and back to the front side of the back sheet in order to bypass the one or more engagement regions.

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Holt Ronald
• Long Marcus
• Rahn Kelly Q
• Throne Jason T
• Wisecup Stephen T

Classifications

• E06B9/34 Primary

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

• Y10T156/13

  Severing followed by associating with part from same source · CPC title

• Y10T156/1052

  with cutting, punching, tearing or severing · CPC title

• Y10T156/1064

  Partial cutting [e.g., grooving or incising] · CPC title

• E06B9/386

  Details of lamellae · CPC title