Roll-up retractable covering for architectural openings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587430-B2
Application number	US-201414311649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2014
Priority date	Aug 26, 2008
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A retractable covering for an architectural opening includes a headrail in which a control system is mounted and a fabric suspended from the headrail. The fabric is mounted to be moved laterally between a rolled up retracted position and an extended position across the architectural opening. At least one roller about which the fabric can be wrapped is mounted at an end of the headrail for rotation about a vertical axis, and the system includes a flexible control element that is substantially horizontally disposed for moving the covering between extended and retracted positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retractable covering for an architectural opening, comprising:
a headrail;
a roller attached to the headrail and rotatable about a vertical axis;
a support strap attached at one end to the roller, the support strap wrappable about the roller;
a plurality of hangers spaced along a length of and attached to the support strap; and
a fabric panel having an upper edge portion attached to the plurality of hangers, wherein:
the support strap is unwrapped from or wrapped about the roller as the fabric panel is extended or retracted across the architectural opening; and
the plurality of hangers are unwrapped from or wrapped about the roller with the support strap.

2. The covering of claim 1 , wherein each hanger of the plurality of hangers includes a connector releasably attached to the support strap.

3. The covering of claim 2 , wherein the connector of each hanger is positioned at a top end of the hanger.

4. The covering of claim 2 , wherein the connector includes a male element positioned on one side of the support strap and a female element positioned on an opposite side of the support strap.

5. The covering of claim 4 , wherein the male element is releasably mated with the female element.

6. The covering of claim 4 , wherein a portion of the male element protrudes outwardly from the one side of the support strap.

7. The covering of claim 4 , wherein the male element defines a forwardly-opening, horizontal channel.

8. The covering of claim 4 , wherein a portion of the female element protrudes outwardly from the opposite side of the support strap.

9. The covering of claim 2 , wherein the support strap defines a plurality of openings spaced along the length of the support strap.

10. The covering of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of openings have square cross-sections.

11. The covering of claim 9 , wherein one or more openings of the plurality of openings is adapted to receive the connector.

12. The covering of claim 2 , wherein the roller defines a circumferential groove.

13. The covering of claim 12 , wherein the connector of one or more hangers of the plurality of hangers cooperates with the circumferential groove defined in the roller so that a portion of the support strap is guided around the roller during operation of the covering.

14. The covering of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hangers are fixedly spaced along the length of the support strap.

15. The covering of claim 1 , further comprising:
a flexible cable having a top end and a bottom end, the top end anchored to the roller; and
a disk secured to the bottom end of the cable, wherein rotation at the top end of the cable causes an equivalent rotation at the bottom end of the cable.

16. The covering of claim 15 , wherein an inner edge of the fabric panel is secured to the disk.

17. The covering of claim 1 , further comprising a cylindrical extension coupled to the roller, the cylindrical extension flexible along its length.

18. The covering of claim 17 , further comprising a spring coupled to and positioned at least partially between the roller and the cylindrical extension.

19. A retractable covering for an architectural opening, comprising:
a headrail;
a roller attached to the headrail and rotatable about a vertical axis;
a support strap attached at one end to the roller, the support strap wrappable about the roller;
a plurality of hangers spaced along a length of and attached to the support strap; and
a fabric panel having an upper edge portion attached to the plurality of hangers, wherein:
the support strap is unwrapped from or wrapped about the roller as the fabric panel is extended or retracted across the architectural opening; and
the plurality of hangers are fixedly spaced along the length of the support strap.

20. The covering of claim 19 , wherein each hanger of the plurality of hangers includes a connector releasably attached to the support strap.

21. The covering of claim 20 , wherein the connector of each hanger is positioned at a top end of the hanger.

22. The covering of claim 20 , wherein the connector includes a male element positioned on one side of the support strap and a female element positioned on an opposite side of the support strap.

23. The covering of claim 22 , wherein the male element is releasably mated with the female element.

24. The covering of claim 22 , wherein:
a portion of the male element protrudes outwardly from the one side of the support strap and defines a forwardly-opening, horizontal channel; and
a portion of the female element protrudes outwardly from the opposite side of the support strap.

25. The covering of claim 20 , wherein the support strap defines one or more openings spaced along the length of the support strap and adapted to receive the connector.

26. The covering of claim 20 , wherein the roller defines a circumferential groove.

27. The covering of claim 26 , wherein the connector of one or more hangers of the plurality of hangers cooperates with the circumferential groove defined in the roller so that a portion of the support strap is guided around the roller during operation of the covering.

28. A retractable covering for an architectural opening, comprising:
a headrail;
a hub having an upper end attached to the headrail and a lower end, the hub rotatable about a vertical axis;
a flexible element attached at one end to the hub, the flexible element wrappable about the hub; and
a fabric panel having an upper edge portion coupled to the flexible element, wherein:
the flexible element is unwrapped from or wrapped about the hub as the fabric panel is extended or retracted across the architectural opening;
the fabric panel is unwrapped from and wrapped about the hub along with the flexible element; and
the fabric panel extends below the lower end of the hub and is only wrapped about itself below the lower end of the hub.

29. The covering of claim 28 , wherein the fabric panel comprises a fabric material including vertically-extending loops.

30. The covering of claim 28 , wherein the fabric panel comprises a front sheet that defines vertically-extending loops.

31. The covering of claim 30 , wherein:
the fabric panel further comprises a backing sheet; and
the front sheet is secured to the backing sheet to retain the loops in the front sheet.

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Colson Wendell B
• Drew Terrence M
• Swiszcz Paul G
• Throne Jason T

Classifications

• A47H5/0325

  using electrical or electronical drive, detecting or controlling means · CPC title

• A47H2/00 Primary

  Pelmets or the like · CPC title

• E06B9/36

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

• E06B2009/405

  Two rollers · CPC title

• A47H5/032

  Devices with guiding means and draw cords (cord pulleys A47H11/06) · CPC title