Covering for architectural opening including cell structures biased to open

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540874-B2
Application number	US-201214111666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2012
Priority date	Apr 15, 2011
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A covering for 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 comprising:
a panel comprising:
a support sheet; and
at least one cell operably connected to the support sheet and comprising:
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;

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

2. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the cell support member is formed of a thermoformable material.

3. The covering of claim 1 , further comprising a support tube, wherein:
the panel is operably connected to the support tube and configured to be wound around the support tube; and
the cell support member comprises an arc of curvature that is substantially the same as an arc of curvature of the support tube.

4. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the vane material and the cell support member are integrally formed together.

5. The covering of claim 1 , wherein an arc of curvature of the cell support member is modified by reforming the cell support member.

6. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the cell support member is positioned adjacent and extends along a crease of the vane material.

7. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the cell support member extends along an inner surface of the vane material.

8. The covering of claim 1 , wherein in the open configuration the at least one cell defines a chamber between the support sheet and the cell support member.

9. The covering of claim 8 , wherein the at least one cell is configured to substantially collapse, substantially decreasing a size of the chamber, when the panel is in a retracted position.

10. The covering of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support tube to which the panel is connected; and
a motor drive system operably associated with the support tube to rotate the support tube to retract the panel around the tube;
wherein:
the cell support member includes a thermoformable layer operably associated with the vane material and having a curvature;
the at least one cell is configured to expand upon extension of the panel from the support tube such that the support sheet and the cell support member are spaced apart for at least a portion of the cell height to form a chamber; and
the at least one cell is configured to collapse upon retraction onto the support tube, decreasing the size of the chamber.

11. The covering of claim 10 , wherein:
the motor drive system includes a motor drive mechanism operably associated with the support tube to selectively rotate the support tube; and
the motor drive mechanism is controlled to retract or extend the panel from the support tube.

12. The covering of claim 11 wherein
the motor drive mechanism is manually controlled by a user.

13. The covering of claim 11 wherein
the motor drive mechanism is automatically controlled.

14. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cell comprises at least a first cell and a second cell.

15. The covering of claim 14 , wherein:
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 having a first top portion, a first middle portion, and a first bottom portion; wherein:
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; and

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 having a second top portion, a second middle portion, and a second bottom portion;
wherein:
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 first bottom portion operably attached to 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.

16. The covering of claim 15 , wherein:
the second cell is positioned below the first cell; and
in the extended position a first edge of the first bottom portion is positioned on the first vane material between the second top portion and the second middle portion and the second top portion extends upwards on the support sheet to approximately a centerline of the first cell.

17. The covering of claim 15 , wherein the first cellular support member and the second cellular support member are each formed of a thermoformable material.

18. The covering of claim 15 , wherein:
the first cellular support member extends along at least a portion of the first vane material between a fold line of the first bottom portion and the first inflection point; and
the second cellular support member extends along at least a portion of the second vane material between a fold of the second bottom portion and the second inflection point.

19. The covering of claim 18 , wherein:
the first vane material is impregnated with the first cellular support member; and
the second vane material is impregnated with the second cellular support member.

20. The covering of claim 18 , wherein:
the first cellular support member extends along an outer surface of the first vane material; and
the second cellular support member extends along an outer surface of the second vane material.

21. The covering of claim 18 , wherein:
the first cellular support member extends along an inner surface of the first vane material; and
the second cellular support member extends along an inner surface of the second vane material.

22. A method of manufacturing a covering for an architectural opening comprising:
operably connecting a vane material and a cell support member to create a cell;
operably connecting the cell to a support sheet, wherein an outer perimeter of the cell is defined by the vane material, the support sheet, and an adjacent cell;
wrapping the vane material and the cell support member around a support tube;
heating the vane material and the cell support member to a forming temperature so that the cell support member forms a shape substantially the same as a shape of the support tube; and
cooling the vane material, the cell support member, and the support tube, wherein the cell support member is resilient so as to allow the cell to at least partially collapse when the cell is wound around the support tube, and to spring or bias the cell to an open configuration when the cell is unwound from the support tube.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein operably connecting the ce

Assignees

• Colson Wendell B
• Swiszcz Paul G
• 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

• E06B9/40 Primary

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

• E06B2009/2625

  Pleated screens, e.g. concertina- or accordion-like · CPC title

• E06B2009/2429

  One vertical sheet and slats · CPC title