Covering for an architectural opening
Abstract
RETRACTABLE VENEZIAN WITH ARTICULABLE REEDS. A retractable cover for architectural openings having articulated vanes including an upper rail and support structure in the form of a sheet of material, monofilaments, tapes, strips, ropes, or the like, supporting an upper edge of a plurality of horizontally extended vanes, vertically spaced with the lower edges of the reeds being connected to the operating elements adapted to lift the lower edges of each reed towards the upper edges to define openings or gaps between the reeds through which vision and light can pass in an open condition of the roof. The support structure, vanes and operating elements are adapted for wrapping around a roll on the top rail, in a retracted position of the cover, and are unrolled in an extended position. An inhibitor system is incorporated in the cover to allow automatic opening of the vanes when the support structure, vanes and operating elements reach an extended position.
Term
Term ended
Expired 23 February 2026, 0.6 years ago.
- Priority
- Filed
- Granted
- Expired
- Today
28 claims: 5 independent, 23 dependent
- 1REIVINDICAÇÕES 1. Cobertura para uma abertura arquitetural caracterizada pelo fato de compreender em combinação:um trilho superior tendo um rolo montado giratoriamente no mesmo, um painel flexível incluindo uma estrutura de suporte com bordas superior e inferior tendo sua borda superior presa ao rolo e pelo menos uma palheta horizontalmente estendida tendo bordas superior e inferior, uma das bordas superior e inferior da palheta sendo presa à estrutura de suporte e a outra sendo livre para se deslocar verticalmente, pelo menos um elemento operativo flexível preso ao rolo em um local e a outra borda da pelo menos uma palheta em outro local de modo que a outra borda pode ser levantada e abaixada pelo elemento operativo, um trilho inferior preso à borda inferior da estrutura de suporte, e um sistema inibidor para impedir movimento no sentido para baixo da estrutura de suporte em relação ao movimento rotativo do rolo em uma primeira direção, o sistema inibidor incluindo um prendedor no trilho superior e uma virola de prendedor em um corpo preso à estrutura de suporte, o corpo sendo adaptado para ser enrolado em torno do rolo com a estrutura de suporte e podendo ser desenrolado do rolo com a estrutura de suporte na primeira direção de movimento do rolo, a virola de prendedor engatando o prendedor mediante um movimento predeterminado do rolo na primeira direção para impedir movimento adicional no sentido para baixo do trilho inferior na
- 22/8 estrutura de suporte embora o rolo continue a se deslocar na primeira direção. 2. Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 1, caracterizada pelo fato de que o corpo é preso à estrutura de suporte em um local espaçado no sentido para baixo a partir da borda superior da estrutura de suporte.
- 3Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 1, caracterizada pelo fato de que o corpo é semelhante à chapa tendo bordas, superior e inferior, e a estrutura de suporte é conectada ao corpo proximal à sua borda inferior.
- 4Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 3, caracterizada pelo fato de que o corpo é preso à estrutura de suporte em um local espaçado no sentido para baixo a partir da borda superior da estrutura de suporte.
- 5Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 3, caracterizada pelo fato de que a virola de prendedor é posicionada no corpo semelhante à chapa acima da conexão do corpo semelhante à chapa com a estrutura de suporte.
- 6Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 3, caracterizada pelo fato de que o corpo semelhante à chapa é arqueado em seção transversal.
- 7Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 6, caracterizada pelo fato de que o rolo é substancialmente cilíndrico tendo uma superfície externa cilíndrica e a seção transversal arqueada do corpo semelhante à chapa tem uma curvatura correspondente para a superfície externa do rolo.
- 8Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 1, caracterizada pelo fato de que a virola de prendedor define uma ranhura de abertura no sentido para baixo no corpo na 3/8 qual o prendedor pode ser inserido.
- 9Cobertura para uma abertura arquitetural caracterizada pelo fato de compreender em combinação:um trilho superior tendo um rolo montado giratoriamente no mesmo, um painel flexível incluindo uma estrutura de suporte com bordas superior e inferior tendo sua borda superior presa ao rolo e pelo menos uma palheta horizontalmente estendida tendo bordas superior e inferior, uma das bordas superior e inferior da palheta sendo presa à estrutura de suporte e a outra sendo livre para se deslocar verticalmente, pelo menos um elemento operativo flexível preso ao rolo em um local e a outra borda da pelo menos uma palheta em outro local de modo que a outra borda pode ser levantada e abaixada por intermédio do elemento operativo, uma palheta postiça tendo bordas superior e inferior com a borda superior presa à estrutura de suporte, e um trilho inferior preso à borda inferior da estrutura de suporte e à borda inferior da palheta postiça, em que rotação do rolo realiza o movimento vertical da estrutura de suporte e do pelo menos um elemento operativo.
- 10Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 9, caracterizada pelo fato de incluir ainda uma chapa de prendedor no trilho superior e um prendedor à estrutura de suporte, o prendedor sendo posicionado para engatar a chapa de prendedor quando o rolete é girado em uma primeira direção e a estrutura de suporte é desenrolada do rolo para impedir movimento vertical da estrutura de suporte 4/8 independente do desenrolamento adicional da estrutura de suporte a partir do rolo.
- 11Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 10, caracterizada pelo fato de que os elementos operativos são presos ao rolo de modo a serem movidos verticalmente quando o rolo é girado na primeira direção enquanto o prendedor é engatado com a chapa de prendedor de modo a mover a outra borda da pelo menos uma palheta verticalmente em relação à estrutura de suporte.
- 12Cobertura para uma abertura arquitetural caracterizada pelo fato de compreender em combinação:um trilho superior tendo um rolo montado no mesmo para rotação em uma primeira direção e em uma segunda direção oposta, um painel flexível incluindo uma estrutura de suporte com uma borda superior e inferior com a borda superior sendo presa ao rolo em um primeiro local circunferencial no rolo, e uma pluralidade de palhetas horizontalmente estendidas tendo bordas superior e inferior, as bordas superiores das palhetas sendo presas à estrutura de suporte e as bordas inferiores das palhetas sendo verticalmente móveis em relação à estrutura de suporte, uma pluralidade de elementos operativos flexíveis alongados verticalmente estendidos tendo uma extremidade superior presa ao rolo em um segundo local circunferencialmente espaçado do primeiro local e sendo preso em locais espaçados ao longo de seu comprimento às bordas inferiores das palhetas, uma palheta postiça tendo bordas superior e inferior com a borda superior da palheta postiça sendo presa à 5/8 estrutura de suporte, e um trilho inferior preso à borda inferior da palheta postiça e à estrutura de suporte, em que rotação do rolo na primeira direção faz com que a estrutura de suporte e as palhetas sejam desenroladas do rolo permitindo que a estrutura de suporte se estenda verticalmente e a rotação do rolo na segunda direção faz com que a estrutura de suporte e as palhetas sejam enroladas no rolo.
- 13Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 12, caracterizada por incluir ainda uma chapa de prendedor em um de trilho superior e estrutura de suporte, e um prendedor no outro da estrutura de suporte e trilho superior, o prendedor sendo posicionado para engatar a chapa de prendedor para impedir a extensão adicional da estrutura de suporte a partir do rolo quando o rolo está girando na primeira direção.
- 14Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 13, caracterizada pelo fato de que o elemento operativo pode ser levantado quando o rolo é girado na primeira direção enquanto o prendedor e a chapa e prendedor são engatados pelo que as bordas inferiores das palhetas são levantadas verticalmente em relação à estrutura de suporte.
- 15Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 14, caracterizada pelo fato de que o prendedor ou chapa de prendedor presa à estrutura de suporte está localizado próximo à borda superior da estrutura de suporte de modo a engatar a outra chapa de prendedor ou prendedor no trilho superior quando a estrutura de suporte se estende substancialmente através da abertura arquitetural inteira. 6/8
- 16Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 15, caracterizada pelo fato de que a estrutura de suporte é uma folha de material tecido.
- 17Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 16, caracterizada pelo fato de que a folha é transparente.
- 18Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 15, caracterizada pelo fato de que os elementos operativos são microfibras.
- 19Cobertura para uma abertura arquitetural móvel entre posições estendidas e retraída, caracterizada pelo fato de compreender em combinação:um trilho superior incluindo um canal formado ao longo de uma sua borda superior, um rolo montado giratoriamente no trilho superior, um painel flexível sustentado a partir do rolo e adaptado para ser enrolado em torno do rolo na posição retraída da cobertura, um trilho inferior preso ao painel ao longo de uma sua porção inferior, e um suporte de detentor ajustável para engate com o trilho inferior quando a cobertura é totalmente retraída, o suporte incluindo uma base inserida em um canal e presa no mesmo e um elemento detentor pendendo a partir da base e preso à ela, o elemento detentor sendo posicionável seletivamente em relação à base de modo a ser alinhável verticalmente com o trilho inferior quando a cobertura é totalmente retraída independente da extensão do painel enrolado no rolo.
- 20Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 19, caracterizada pelo fato de que o elemento detentor inclui 7/8 dentes de catraca e a base inclui um braço com o braço sendo engatável seletivamente com os dentes de catraca para ajuste da posição do elemento detentor em relação à base,
- 21Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 20, caracterizada pelo fato de que o trilho inferior inclui uma superfície convexa no sentido para cima e o elemento detentor inclui uma superfície côncava no sentido para baixo e em que as superfícies, convexa e côncava, estão em engate quando a cobertura é completamente retraída.
- 22Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 20, caracterizada pelo fato de que a base inclui meios para conectar de forma liberável a base no canal do trilho superior.
- 23Cobertura para uma abertura arquitetural móvel entre posições estendida e retraída caracterizada pelo fato de compreender em combinação:um trilho superior, um rolo montado de forma giratória no trilho superior, um painel flexível sustentado no rolo e sendo adaptado para ser envolto em torno do rolo ou desenrolado a partir do rolo para levantar e abaixar o painel, o painel incluindo uma folha flexível e uma pluralidade de tiras flexíveis tendo bordas superior e inferior, a borda superior de cada tira sendo presa à folha e a borda inferior sendo capaz de deslocamento em direção à borda superior e no sentido contrário à borda superior, uma pluralidade de elementos operativos flexíveis sustentados no rolo e sendo conectados à borda inferior de cada uma das tiras e sendo adaptados para levantar e 8/8 abaixar seletivamente a borda inferior de cada tira, e um sistema limitador no trilho superior e painel adaptado para limitar o movimento do painel quando o rolo é girado para permitir que os elementos operativos levantem e abaixem a borda inferior das tiras em resposta à rotação do rolo.
- 24Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 23, caracterizada pelo fato de que o sistema limitador inclui um prendedor e uma barra de prendedor adaptada para ser engatada de forma liberável.
- 25Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 23, caracterizada pelo fato de que o sistema limitador inclui um ímã e um elemento metálico.
- 26Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 23, caracterizada pelo fato de que o sistema limitador inclui materiais de gancho e laço, liberáveis.
- 27Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 23, caracterizada pelo fato de que o sistema limitador compreende uma trilha arqueada confinada na circunferência do rolo e uma haste de suporte confinada na trilha, a haste de suporte sendo presa a uma borda superior do painel.
- 28Cobertura, de acordo com a reivindicação 27, caracterizada pelo fato de que a trilha arqueada é definida por uma pluralidade de bandas arqueadas se estendendo ao longo da circunferência do rolo e um recesso arqueado na superfície do rolo, as bandas sobrepostas ao recesso. 2/74 a
Independent claims28
365 paragraphs in 4 sections, as filed
(54) Title: RETRACTABLE VENEZIAN WITH ARTICULABLE STRAPS (30) Unionist Priority: 11/03/2005 us 11 / 077.953, 08/04/2005 US 11 / 102.500, 07/02/2006 US 11 / 348.939, 11/03 / 2005 US 11 / 077,953, 02/07/2006 US 11 / 348,939, 04/08/2005 US 11 / 102,500, 03/11/2005 US 11 / 077,953, 02/07/2006 US 11 / 348,939 (73) es): Hunter Douglas INC.
(72) Inventor (s): marjorieg. harper, paula. pedri,
STEPHEN T. WISECUP, TODD R. STEELE (74) Attorney (s): ORLANDO DE SOUZA (86) International Application: pct US2006006246 of 02/23/2006 (87) International Publication: wo 2006/098853 from 21/09/2006 ( 57) Summary: retractable shutter with ARTICULABLE reeds. A retractable cover for architectural openings having articulated vanes including an upper rail and support structure in the form of a sheet of material, monofilaments, tapes, strips, ropes, or the like, supporting an upper edge of a plurality of horizontally extended vanes, vertically spaced with the lower edges of the reeds being connected to the operating elements adapted to lift the lower edges of each reed towards the upper edges to define openings or gaps between the reeds through which vision and light can pass in an open condition of the roof. The support structure, vanes and operating elements are adapted for wrapping around a roll on the top rail, in a retracted position of the cover, and are rolled out in an extended position. An inhibitor system is incorporated in the cover to allow automatic opening of the vanes when the support structure, vanes and operating elements reach an extended position.
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RETRACTABLE VENEZIAN WITH ARTICULABLE REEDS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED ORDERS
This order claims priority for US Order 11 / 348,939 filed on February 7, 2006, which is a continuation-in part of US Order 11 / 102,500 filed on April 8, 2005, whose order is a continuation-in part of US application 11 / 077,953 filed on March 11, 2005, which is a part-continuation of PCT / US2004 / 027197 International Order with international filing date of August 20, 2004, whose PCT application claims priority for provisional application US 60 / 497,020 filed on August 20, 2003 and entitled Retractable Shade With Collapsible Vanes, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to panels that can be used in covers for architectural openings and to an architectural opening using such a panel. 0 The panel includes a support structure having on its face a plurality of strips of material, vertically spaced, horizontally extended whose upper edges are fixed to the support structure at predetermined locations along the height of the support structure and whose lower edges are related sliding to the support structure. The lower edges can be selectively pulled upwards towards the fixed upper edges in order to create openings between the strips of material through which vision and light can pass
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The panel can be used in a cover for architectural openings that could include a roller on top of the cover around which the panel can be wrapped by retracting the panel from an extended position through the architectural opening. The cover is also movable between an open position in which the bottom edge of each strip of material is positioned adjacent to its top edge and a closed position in which the edges, top and bottom, of each strip of material are spaced maximally.
2. Description of the Related Art
Covers for architectural openings such as windows, doors, arcades, and the like have taken many forms for many years. Previous forms of such coverings consisted mainly of fabric extended through the architectural opening and in many cases the fabric was not movable between extended and retracted positions in relation to the opening.
Retractable covers for architectural openings have developed in many different forms including roller blinds in which a piece of flexible material can be extended from a roller wrapped condition to an extended position through the architectural opening and vice versa.
Another popular form of retractable cover for an architectural opening is a blind in which several horizontally arranged blades are suspended on horizontally arranged strips are suspended on rope ladders such that the strips can be rotated around their horizontal, longitudinal axes between open positions and
3/84 closed or the entire shutter can be retracted by lifting the lower strip thereby accumulating each of these strips arranged above until a stack of the strips is disposed adjacent to the top of the architectural opening.
Vertical blinds have also been developed which are similar to blinds except that the strips or vanes are arranged vertically and can be rotated around longitudinal vertical axes to move the cover between open and closed positions. The strips or vanes can also be moved horizontally so that they are stacked adjacent to one or both side edges of the architectural opening when the cover is retracted or extended through the opening with the strips or vanes spaced evenly.
More recently, cellular shutters have become very popular and are presented in many different varieties. In a popular cellular shutter, horizontally arranged tubes of material are connected and vertically stacked to form a panel of such tubes. When the shutter is fully extended, it covers the architectural opening, but the panel can be retracted by lifting the lowest cell in this way by pivoting each cell up until a relatively thin stack of cells is accumulated adjacent to the top of the opening.
Another popular cellular product uses a pair of vertically spaced sheets of translucent material, such as transparent fabric, having a plurality of horizontally arranged reeds if
4/84 extending between them. The vanes can be rigid or flexible and are adapted to rotate around longitudinal axes when the vertical sheets of material are moved in opposite vertical directions. The entire panel of sheets and vanes can also be easily wrapped around a roll to retract the cover.
Modifications to vertical blinds have also recently been developed in which several vertically extended vanes are interconnected along a vertical edge with a sheet of woven material, which can be transparent fabric, so that the cover resembles a curtain product, but the vanes , arranged through the transparent fabric, can be pivoted around vertical longitudinal axes to selectively block vision and light through transparency. Of course, the vanes and the fixed fabric can also be accumulated on one or more sides of the architectural opening by retracting the cover from its extended position through the architectural opening.
The roofing model for architectural openings can be seen as covering several different shapes with these shapes being guided by utilitarian and aesthetic factors. Often one of these factors will determine the other factor, but various combinations of components are constantly being developed to satisfy consumers' insatiable thirst towards roofing for architectural openings in their homes or commercial space that satisfy their desires for utility and aesthetics.
It is to satisfy such desires that the present
5/84 invention was developed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cover for an architectural opening and a panel for use therein where the panel includes a support structure on which are attached several straws or strips of material, adjacent, horizontally extended, vertically spaced. The spaced vanes can be moved between a flat, extended closed position and a retracted open position in which the vanes project in the opposite direction to the support structure and define spaces between them through which vision and light can pass.
The support structure can take several forms including a sheet of flexible material which could, for example, be a transparent fabric. It could also be a plurality of flexible, vertically extended elements that are arranged in parallel spaced and in a common plane. Although in the preferred form of the invention the vanes are arranged horizontally, those skilled in the art could also use the teachings of the invention on a cover where the vanes extend vertically.
The reeds can take many different forms and can be made of different materials such as woven or nonwoven fabrics, vinyl materials or the like. They can also be of flexible, semi-rigid or rigid materials having fold lines, if necessary, allowing them to move between open and closed positions. The vanes are typically strips of material extending horizontally through the frame
6/84 of vertical support with the strips having edges, top and bottom. The top edge of each strip is attached to the support structure at a location vertically spaced from the next adjacent vanes so that the rest of the strip hangs from the top edge thereby forming a panel of material in the aggregate including a plurality of strips material supported on the support structure. The bottom edge of each strip is slidably connected to the support structure so that it can be moved vertically in and away from the top edge of the strip. When the bottom edge is moved towards the top edge, the strip expands or moves away from the support • structure in an open condition of the panel or cover thereby allowing sight and light to pass between the material strips or vanes. When the bottom edge of each strip of material or reed is dropped, as by gravity or otherwise, to a position that is maximally spaced from its top edge, the strips of material are in the flat position in a substantially common plane with the support structure and preferably the strips of material overlap slightly to block vision and light through the panel or cover. In this closed position of the panel or cover, it can be easily wrapped around a roll on an upper rail of a cover by incorporating the panel to move the cover between the extended and retracted positions.
As mentioned, strips of material can take various forms and can even constitute double layers of strips of material so that closed cells are
7/84 formed between them. Separate strips of material can be arranged on one or both sides of the support structure such that the support structure extends along a lateral edge of the cells or through the center of the cells.
The support structure as mentioned earlier could be in the form of one or more sheets of material that would support the top edge of each reed at a predetermined location along the height of the sheet or sheets of material. As an alternative, several flexible, vertically extended, elongated lifting elements could replace the sheet or sheets of material in which case the upper edge of each reed would be attached to the lifting elements, flexible at corresponding locations along their length. In addition to the material sheet or lifting elements, whatever the case may be, several flexible operating elements are also used which are fixedly connected to the bottom edge of each reed, but slide in relation to the top edge of each reed so the lower edges of the vanes can rise or fall in this way by moving the vanes and the panel on which they are mounted between open and closed positions.
Other aspects, characteristics, and details of the present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, considered in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a first
8/84 modality of a panel according to the present invention for use in a cover for architectural openings with the panel in a closed but extended position.
Figure 2 is an isometric view of the panel shown in Figure 1 with the cover in a fully extended position.
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the panel of Figure 1 in a completely open and extended position.
Figure 4 is a vertical section taken through a roller with the panel of the present invention wrapped around it in a completely retracted position.
Figure 5 is a vertical section similar to Figure 4 with the panel partially extended from the roll.
Figure 6 is a view taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing the panel fully extended, but closed.
Figure 7 is a side elevation view of the panel as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a side elevation view of the panel as shown in Figure 3.
Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 9-9 in Figure 1.
Figure 10 is an enlarged view of the portion of the panel encircled in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is an additional enlarged fragmentary section of the same area illustrated in Figure 10.
<td></td><td>The figure</td><td> 12</td><td>is</td><td>section</td><td>fragmentary</td><td>taken at</td><td>long</td>
<td>gives</td><td>line 12-12</td><td>gives</td><td>Figure</td><td> 11.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td>The figure</td><td> 13</td><td>is</td><td>section</td><td>fragmentary</td><td>taken at</td><td>long</td>
<td>gives</td><td>line 13-13</td><td>gives</td><td>Figure</td><td> 11.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
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Figure 14 is a fragmentary exploded isometric view showing the various component parts of a portion of the panel of Figure 1.
Figure 15 is a section taken along line 1515 in Figure 14.
Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 with the component parts further exploded.
Figure 17 is a side elevation view of a second embodiment of a cover according to the present invention in a closed but extended position.
Figure 18 is a side elevation of the modality shown in Figure 17 with the vanes partially open.
Figure 19 is a vertical section similar to Figures 17 and 18 with the vanes fully open.
Figure 20 is a side elevation of a third embodiment of the cover of the present invention with the vanes in a closed position.
Figure 21 is a side elevation similar to Figure 20 with the vanes in a partially open position.
<td>THE</td><td>Figure</td><td>22 is</td><td>an elevation</td><td>side of</td><td>dashboard</td>
<td>Figures</td><td>20 and 21</td><td>with</td><td>the reeds in</td><td>a position</td><td>totally</td>
<td>open.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>THE</td><td>Figure</td><td>23 is</td><td>an elevation</td><td>side of</td><td>a fourth</td>
embodiment of the present invention with the vanes in a completely closed position.
Figure 24 is a side elevation similar to Figure 23 with the vanes in a partially open position.
Figure 25 is a side elevation similar to Figures 23 and 24 with the vanes fully open.
Figure 26 is a side elevation of a farm
10/84 embodiment of the present invention with the vanes in a completely closed position.
Figure 27 is a side elevation similar to Figure 26 with the vanes in a partially open position.
Figure 28 is a side elevation similar to Figures 26 and 27 with the vanes in a completely open position.
Figure 29 is a side elevation of a sixth embodiment of the present invention with the vanes in a closed position.
Figure 30 is a side elevation similar to Figure 29 with the vanes in a partially open position.
Figure 31 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Figures 29 and 30 with the vanes in a completely open position.
Figure 32 is a side elevation of a seventh embodiment of the cover of the present invention with the vanes in a completely closed position.
Figure 33 is a side elevation similar to Figure 32 with the vanes in a partially open position.
Figure 34 is a side elevation similar to Figures 32 and 33 with the vanes in a fully open position.
Figure 35 is a side elevation of an eighth embodiment of the present invention with the vanes in a fully closed position.
Figure 36 is a side elevation similar to Figure 35 with the vanes in a partially open position.
Figure 37 is a side elevation similar to Figures and 36 with the vanes in a fully open position.
Figure 3 8 is a side elevation of a ninth
11/84 embodiment of the present invention with the vanes in a fully closed position.
Figure 39 is a side elevation similar to Figure 38 with the vanes in a partially open position.
Figure 40 is a side elevation of covers 38 and 39 with the blades in a fully open position.
Figure 41 is a side elevation of a tenth embodiment of the present invention with the vanes in a completely closed position.
Figure 42 is a side elevation similar to Figure 41 with the vanes in a partially open position.
Figure 43 is a side elevation similar to Figures 41 and 42 with the vanes in a completely open position.
Figure 44 is an isometric view of an eleventh form of a panel according to the present invention.
Figure 45 is an isometric view looking at the back of a twelfth embodiment of the present invention in which lifting cords and operating cords pass through the center of the cell reeds.
Figure 45A is an isometric view similar to Figure looking at the front of the roof.
Figure 46 is a side elevation of the cover in Figures 45 and 45A showing the cover in a fully extended but closed position.
Figure 47 is a side elevation similar to Figure showing the cover in a partially open position.
Figure 48 is a side elevation similar to Figures
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6 and 47 with the cover in a completely open position.
Figure 49 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 49-49 in Figure 45.
Figure 50 is an additional enlarged fragmentary section similar to Figure 49 illustrating the edges of two adjacent vanes in the closed position of the cover.
Figure 51 is a section taken along line 5151 in Figure 50.
Figure 52 is a section taken along line 5252 in Figure 50.
Figure 53 is a side elevation of a thirteenth embodiment of a cover according to the present invention with the cover and a fully closed position.
Figure 54 is a side elevation similar to Figure with the cover in a partially open position.
Figure 55 is a side elevation similar to Figures and 54 with the cover in a fully open position.
Figure 56a is a side elevation of a fourteenth embodiment of a cover according to the present invention in a fully extended position.
Figure 56b is a side elevation of the cover of Figure 56a in a partially retracted position.
Figure 56c is a side elevation of the cover of Figure 56a in a completely retracted position.
Figure 57 is an isometric view of a cover according to the present invention shown retracted on an upper rail with mounting brackets shown in broken lines.
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Figure 58 is an isometric view looking at the back of the cover shown in Figure 57, again with the mounting brackets shown in broken lines.
Figure 58a is an enlarged fragmentary view looking at one end of the upper rail and an adjustable stop provided thereon.
Figure 58b is a fragmentary isometric view similar to Figure 58a with the holder having been removed for placement in a different location on the top rail.
Figure 59 is an isometric view of the cover of Figure 57 in a partially extended position.
Figure 59a is an enlarged section taken along line 59a-59a of Figure 59.
Figure 59b is an enlarged section taken along line 59b-59b in Figure 59.
Figure 59c is a section similar to Figure 59b showing an alternative system for interconnecting a lower rail with the roof panel.
Figure 59d is an exploded isometric view showing the bottom rail of Figure 59b.
Figure 60 is an isometric view of the cover of Figure 57 in a fully extended but closed position.
<td></td><td>The figure</td><td>61 is un</td><td>aa side elevation</td><td>taken at</td><td>long</td><td>gives</td>
<td>line</td><td>61-61 of</td><td>Figure</td><td> 60 .</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td>The figure</td><td colspan="2">62 is an enlarged section</td><td>taken at</td><td>long</td><td>gives</td>
<td>line</td><td>62-62 of</td><td>Figure</td><td> 60 .</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td>The figure</td><td>62a is</td><td>a similar section</td><td>The figure</td><td>62 with</td><td>The</td>
cover in a position just before it is moved
14/84 from a closed position to an open position.
Figure 62b is a section similar to Figure 62a with the cover fully extended but partially open.
Figure 62c is a section similar to Figure 62a with the cover fully extended and fully open.
Figure 62d is an isometric view of the cover as shown in Figure 62c.
Figure 63 is an isometric view of a cover of the type shown in Figure 62 using a second embodiment of a lower rail.
Figure 63a is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 63a-63a of Figure 63.
Figure 63b is an isometric view showing the bottom rail as shown in Figure 63a.
Figure 63c is a vertical section through the cover of Figure 63 in a fully extended but partially open position.
Figure 63d is a section similar to Figure 63c with the cover in a fully extended and fully open position.
Figure 64 is an isometric view of a cover as shown in Figure 63 with a third embodiment of a lower rail.
Figure 64a is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 64a-64a of Figure 64.
Figure 64b is a section taken along line 64b-64b of Figure 64a.
Figure 64c is a vertical section of the cover shown in Figure 64 in a fully extended position,
15/84 but partially open.
Figure 64d is a section similar to Figure 64c with the cover in a fully extended and fully open position.
Figure 65 is a fragmentary isometric view of a cover without a bottom rail, but with an increased weight rod hidden in a location above the bottom edge of the cover.
Figure 66 is a fragmentary isometric view of another embodiment of the present invention in a fully extended and open condition.
Figure 67 is a fragmentary vertical section taken through the lower rail of the Figure 66 shutter.
Figure 68 is an isometric view of the bottom rail of the Figure 66 shutter looking forward.
Figure 69 is an isometric view of Figure 68 looking at the rear of the bottom rail.
Figure 70 is a vertical section through a clamp with a fixing plate that can be attached to the bottom of the upper rail of the shutter in Figure 66.
Figure 71 is a vertical section taken along line 71-71 in Figure 85.
Figure 72 is an isometric view of the clamp shown in Figure 70.
Figure 73 is an isometric view of an alternative to the clamp in Figure 72.
Figure 74 is an isometric view of yet another alternative to the clamp in Figure 72.
Figure 75 is an isometric view of yet another embodiment of the clamp in Figure 72.
16/84
Figure 76 is a vertical section through the Figure 66 shutter when the shutter is initially being unrolled from the fully retracted position of Figure 71.
Figure 77 is a fragmentary vertical section of the shutter as shown in Figure 76 slightly before it is fully extended.
<td></td><td></td><td>Figure 78 is a similar vertical section</td><td>The</td><td>Figure</td><td> 67</td>
<td>with</td><td>The</td><td colspan="3">slightly extended shutter additionally.</td><td></td>
<td></td><td></td><td>Figure 79 is a similar vertical section</td><td>The</td><td>Figure</td><td> 78</td>
<td>with</td><td>The</td><td>shutter even more extended.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td></td><td>Figure 80 is a similar vertical section</td><td>The</td><td>Figure</td><td> 79</td>
<td>with</td><td>The</td><td>Venetian completely extended.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td></td><td></td><td>Figure 81 is a vertical section</td><td colspan="3">fragmentary</td>
showing the bottom of the shutter in Figure 66 with a relatively wide built-in shutter at its bottom.
Figure 82 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to Figure 81 with a built-in shutter slightly smaller than that shown in Figure 81.
Figure 83 is a fragmentary vertical section similar to Figure 82 with a built-in shutter even smaller than that shown in Figure 82.
Figure 84 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the lowest shutter and its overlap with the built-in shutter as shown in one of Figures 81-83.
Figure 85 is an isometric view of the cover of the present invention illustrating a holder support.
Figure 86 is an isometric view looking downwards at the holder
17/84 holder.
<td>THE</td><td>Figure 87</td><td>is</td><td>an</td><td>isometric view</td><td>looking up</td><td>at the</td>
<td>sense</td><td>down</td><td colspan="2">regarding the</td><td>support base</td><td>holder.</td><td></td>
<td>THE</td><td>Figure 88</td><td>is</td><td>an</td><td>isometric view</td><td>looking up</td><td>at the</td>
<td>sense</td><td>up</td><td>at</td><td>part</td><td colspan="3">bottom of the holder bracket</td>
<td>mounted.</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td>
<td>THE</td><td>Figure 89</td><td>is</td><td>an</td><td>isometric view</td><td>looking up</td><td>at the</td>
downwards at the top of the mounted holder bracket.
Figure 90 is a top plan view of the retaining element.
Figure 91 is a top plan view of the base of the holder support.
Figure 92 is a section taken along line 9292 in Figure 85.
Figure 93 is a diagrammatic vertical section through a shutter incorporating an alternative to the limiting system.
Figure 94 is a diagrammatic vertical section similar to Figure 93 showing the components of the limiting system in a different position.
Figure 95 is a diagrammatic vertical section through a shutter showing yet another alternative to the limiting system.
Figure 96 is a diagrammatic vertical section similar to Figure 95 with the system components in a different position.
Figure 97 is a diagrammatic vertical section through yet another limiting system for the shutter of the present invention.
18/84
Figure 98 is a diagrammatic vertical section similar to Figure 97 with the system components in a different position.
Figure 99 is an isometric view of yet another alternative limiting system for the shutter of the present invention.
Figure 100 is a diagrammatic vertical through the shutter shown in Figure 99.
Figure 101 is a diagrammatic vertical section similar to Figure 100 with the components in a different position.
Figure 102 is an isometric view of an additional embodiment of the cover of the present invention enclosed within an upper rail.
Figure 103 is an enlarged section taken along line 103-103 in Figure 102.
Figure 104 is an isometric view of the top rail for the cover of Figure 102 showing a roll incorporated in it.
Figure 105 is an isometric view of the top wall of the top rail for the cover of Figure 102.
Figure 106 is an isometric view of the front wall of the top rail for the cover of Figure 102.
Figure 107 is an isometric view of the rear wall of the upper rail for the cover of Figure
102 .
Figure 108 is an isometric view of the extrusion fastener used in the cover of Figure 102.
Figure 109 is a section similar to Figure 103 with the cover being initially unrolled from the roll.
19/84
Figure 110 is a section similar to Figure 109 with the cover rolled up further from the roll.
Figure 111 is a section similar to Figure 110 with the opening further rolled up from the roll.
Figure 112 is a section similar to Figure 111 with the cover still rolled up further from the roll.
Figure 113 is a section similar to Figure 112 with the fastener extrusion in engagement with the fastener.
Figure 114 is a section similar to Figure 113 with the cover slightly rolled up further.
Figure 115 is a section similar to Figure 114 with the cover fully extended from the roll.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A first embodiment 100 of a panel and cover for an architectural opening according to the present invention is shown in Figures 1-16. The panel 102 for the cover can be seen as including a support structure 104, a plurality of vanes 106 connected to the support structure and operating elements 108 for moving the vanes between the open and closed positions. The support structure in the first disclosed embodiment is in the form of a flexible sheet of transparent fabric although a flexible sheet or sheets of other materials of various structures and transparencies can be used. The sheet is of rectangular configuration having an upper edge 110 and lower 112 and lateral edges, left 114 and right 116, with an increased weight lower rail 117 being attached to the lower edge 112. As probably best seen in Figures 5-8, support sheet 104 is suspended along its upper edge 110 from a generally
20/84 cylindrical 118, arranged on an upper rail 120 for the roof (Figures 4-6) with the roller being mounted for selective reversible rotary movement around a horizontal central axis in a conventional manner. The roller 118, top rail 120 and panel 102 comprise the cover 122 of the present invention.
The roll 118 is provided with first 124 and second 126 identical, circumferentially spaced, axially extended grooves that open through the periphery of the roll with the first groove supporting the upper edge 110 of the support sheet 104. The upper edge of the support sheet can be fitted so that the rod can be inserted through the pad and longitudinally into the groove where it is held by a pair of ferrules defined on the periphery of the roll where the groove opens through the periphery. The ferrules are spaced less than the diameter of the stem so that the stem and the upper, trimmed edge 110 of the support sheet are confined within the groove 124.
The various elongated vanes or sheets of material 106 are suspended horizontally from a front face of the support sheet 104 in vertically spaced locations. Each reed is of a rectangular configuration and is made of a semi-rigid material having a crease line 128 substantially along a longitudinal center line of the reed material. Each vane has an upper edge 130 and a lower edge 132, parallel to the crease line, with the upper edge having an inwardly facing rectangular flange formed along it that is attached to the backing sheet of a
21/84 way to be described next. The lower edge 132 of each reed has an upwardly rectangular inward flap 136 and is slidably related to the backing sheet as will also be more apparent below. The exposed or front face of each reed, between the flaps, 134 and 136, is of a width such that each reed overlaps the adjacent underlying reed when the cover is in the closed position of Figures 1, 5, 6 and 9-13. In the closed position, each reed can be seen to be substantially flat and parallel to the support sheet 104.
Panel 102 and cover 122 further include the plurality of flexible, vertically extended operating elements 108 which are horizontally spaced across the width of the panel with the upper ends of the operating elements being attached to the roller 118 in the second groove 126. This fixation is made by connecting the upper ends of each flexible operating element to a rod that is inserted in the second groove. The operating elements are preferably centered along the length of the roll 118 and distributed evenly over the length of the roll. If the operating elements are strings, as an example, 1-10 strings, especially 2-4 strings, are preferably used for every three inches of roll length. However, a greater number of strings per inch may be convenient if thinner or weaker strings are used and a smaller number of strings per inch may be convenient if thicker or stronger strings are used.
22/84
Each flexible operating element is suspended vertically for the entire height of the panel and is attached in spaced spaces along its length at the bottom or bottom edge 132 of each reed so that if the operating elements are raised, the bottom edge of each reed is raised synchronously towards the top or top edge 130 in order to define an opening or open space 138 (Figure 3) between the reeds through which vision and light are allowed. As will be considered, since each reed is made of a semi-rigid material and has a crease or fold line along its longitudinal center, movement from the lower edge 132 towards the upper edge 130 causes the reed to fold or expand forward as seen, for example , in Figures 2 and 3 defining the segments, upper 140 and lower 142, rectangular, pivotally connected to the reed. The vane in cross section goes from the flat condition in the closed position of Figure 1 to triangular in the open position of Figures 2 and 3. The flexible operating elements 108, as shown, are monofilaments, however they can take several other forms. Examples of other forms include, but are not limited to strips of fabric or other material, synthetic or natural filament cords, particularly polyester yarn cords, polyethylene yarns, such as DSM's Dyneema.RTM yarns. , Aramide yarns such as Kuplar.RTM yarns from Dupont and Nomex.RTM. and Teijin's Twaron.RTM., and nylon yarns such as Honeywell Performance Fibers' Spectra.RTM. yarns, particularly polyester filaments. The operating elements are preferably
23/84 transparent, high strength and non-stretch even at high temperatures that can occur in a sunny window. In addition, the strings could be not only monofilament yarns, but also multifilament yarns, especially monofilament yarns. In addition, the strings are preferably 0.0254 to 0.508 centimeters in diameter and particularly 0.762 to 0.3048 centimeters in diameter. The vanes 106 themselves can be made of any suitable material including, but not limited to, woven or nonwoven fabrics, vinyls, or other such materials.
The upper edge 130 of each reed is connected to the support sheet 104 in a manner probably best illustrated in Figures 14-16. A fixing strip 144 is used to connect flap 134 along the top edge of each reed to support the sheet with the fixing strip extending the full width of panel 102 or cover 122 and having a height that is substantially compatible with the flap height 134. The fixing strip has a core or base material 146 of the total dimension of the fixing strip 144 and has double-sided adhesive strips on its front and back. On the front face of the base material 146, there is a continuous strip 148 of double-sided adhesive which is adhered to the base material along its full length and also the rear face of the flap 134 on top of the associated reed along its length. Total length. On the rear face of the base material 146, however, there are a plurality of longitudinally aligned, double-sided adhesive strips 150 that are attached to the rear face of the base material at intervals in order to
24/84 define openings or vertically extended spaces 152 between them where there is no adhesive. The strips of adhesive on the back face of the base material are attached to the front face of the support sheet 104 in such a way that the operating elements 108 extend in a sliding way through the interrupted line of connection between the top edge of a reed and the support sheet by extension through an opening or associated space 152.
On the rear face of the base material 146, there are options for using a plurality of double-sided adhesive strips 150 with one example being the use of a continuous double-sided adhesive strip that has openings formed on one side of it to define the openings or vertically extended spaces 152. In addition, adhesive lines as opposed to adhesive tape could be used in which the adhesive lines are applied intermittently to define vertically extended openings or spaces 152 between the adhesive lines. As yet another alternative for interconnecting the back face of the base material 146 to the support sheet 104, intermittent ultrasonic welding could be used instead of the plurality of double-sided adhesive strips or other alternatives mentioned above. If ultrasonic welding was used, it would be important to ensure that the welding did not adversely affect the material to a point where it would not operate repeatedly for an extended period of time in a manner that will be described below. The bottom edge 132 of each reed is connected to each operating element 108 with a fastening strip 154 which also has a base material or core 156 extending over the full width of the panel 102 and a
25/84 height which is slightly less than the height of the associated flap 136 at the bottom edge of the reed. The base material 156 has a continuous strip 158 of double-phase adhesive on its front face and is attached to the flap 136 on the lower edge of the reed while adhesively holding the operating elements 108 between them. In this way, it will be considered that the operating elements are attached in places spaced to the flaps 136 along the bottom edge of each reed, but they slide through the interrupted line of fixing the top edge 130 of each reed to the support sheet 104. This system for fixing the blades to the support sheet and operating elements is probably best seen in Figures 12, 13, 15 and 16.
As mentioned earlier, the number of operating elements is optional, but if the significant number of operating elements is used, in other words, a higher number of strings per inch, alternative strings could be attached only to the bottom of each reed and in the second groove 126 of the roll. The remaining strings could be attached only to the top of each reed and to the first groove 124 of the roll so that the backing sheet would not be needed and would be replaced by elements extending between the top of each reed and the first groove 124.
As is probably best considered with reference to Figures 10 and 11, the flap 134 at the top of each reed 106 is slightly lower in height than the flap 136 at the bottom edge of each reed and the flap at the bottom edge of each reed in the closed position the panel if
26/84 overlaps the upper edge of the immediately underlying reed. In this way, when panel 102 is in the closed position of Figures 1 and 9-11, the view and light through the panel is completely blocked.
The operation of panel 102 and cover 122 is probably best illustrated in Figures 4-8. In Figure 4, the panel is shown completely retracted and completely wrapped around roll 118 with the bottom edge of the panel being positioned along the rear side of the roll. When the roller is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Figures 4-8, the panel, in its closed position, falls by gravity with each blade 106 being substantially flat and superimposed on the next adjacent lower blade. 0 The panel remains in this flat, closed orientation until the cover reaches the almost fully extended position of Figure 6 at which point the fixing groove 124 of the support sheet 104 for the roller is at the top of the roller and the fixing groove 126 of the elements operator 108 is at the rear of the roller. Additional counterclockwise rotational movement of the roller to the position of Figure 7 shows the operating elements being pulled backwards relative to the support sheet by means of the forward movement of the second groove 126 in which the operating elements are fixed and when the operating elements are raised in relation to the support sheet, they simultaneously raise the bottom edge 132 of each reed causing the reed to fold or arch outward with the bottom edge of each reed being separated from the top edge 134 of the next
27/84 adjacent lower reed. Continuous counterclockwise rotation of the roll to the position of Figure 8, which is the limit of its counterclockwise rotation, causes the second groove 126 to be arranged close to the front of the roll having raised the bottom edge of each reed to the same extent that it will be lifted so that the panel and cover are in their completely open positions and with the openings 138 between reeds maximized. In the fully open position, the vanes 106 are seen as in the shape similar to an isosceles triangle in cross section.
In a reverse rotation of the roll 118, that is, in a clockwise direction from the position in Figure 8, the second groove 126 will initially move to the position of Figure 7 allowing the bottom edge 132 of each reed to fall through the action from gravity to the position of Figure 6 where the vanes are closed entirely and in a substantially coplanar relationship with the support sheet 104. Continuous clockwise rotation causes the panel in its closed position to be wrapped around the roller until it again takes on the retracted position of Figure 4.
It will be considered from the above that the cover 122 can be completely retracted, as shown in Figure 4, or lowered with the vanes in their fully closed position to any desired degree until the panel is fully extended as shown in Figure 6, but with the vanes 106 closed. Additional rotation of the roll 118 causes the vanes themselves to open by defining the openings 138 between them through which
28/84 vision and light can pass through the panel. As will be considered, the vanes can be opened only when the panel 102 is fully extended although the vanes are closed, the degree of extension of the panel through the architectural opening can be any desired degree.
A second embodiment 160 of the invention is illustrated in Figures 17-19 where again a cover includes a roller 118 to which the support sheet 104 is attached as well as the operating elements 108 in the same manner as in the first embodiment described. In this embodiment, however, reeds or strips of material 164, although still made of a somewhat semi-rigid material, do not have a fold or crease line so that when the reeds are moved from the closed position of Figure 17, in that they fall, but are in closely spaced relation to the backing sheet, towards an open position, they expand forward in a substantially symmetrical manner through the partially open position of Figure 18 to a fully open position in Figure 19. It will be seen that due to the nature of the semi-rigid material from which the reeds are made, they will project or extend substantially horizontally away from the backing sheet.
A third embodiment 166 of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 20-22 and it will be seen that a roller 118 is again provided with two fixing grooves 124 and 126 and with the support sheet 104 attached to a groove 124 and the operating elements 108 to the second groove 126. The reeds or strips of material 168 are connected again to the support sheet and the operating elements of the same
29/84 way as in the first and second modality, but the reed material is not as rigid. More specifically, the reed material is somewhat flexible material in order to drop downwards regardless of whether or not the reeds are closed or open. In the closed position illustrated in Figure 20, the lowest extension of each reed overlaps the highest extension of the next adjacent lower reed, but when the reeds are partially opened, the bottom edge of each reed is raised to a point so that a opening 138 is established between the vanes. When the bottom edge of each reed is fully raised as shown in Figure 22, the gap between the reeds is greater than in the partially open position of Figure 21, but the spacing is not as large as, for example, in the first and second modes described.
In a fourth embodiment 170 of the cover as shown in Figures 23, 24, a roller 118 is provided with circumferentially spaced fastening grooves 124 and 126 with a support sheet 104 secured in one groove 124 and the operating elements 108 in the other groove 126 . In this embodiment, the reeds 172 are again connected to the support sheet and the operating elements as described in the previous embodiments and the reeds are made of a semi-rigid material and molded similar to that of the first described embodiment shown in Figures 1-16 except that a longitudinally extended horizontal fold or crease line 174 is closer to the upper edge 176 of the reed than the lower edge 178. Consequently, the reeds are again divided into
30/84 upper rectangular segments 180 and lower 182, but in which the upper segment is slightly smaller than the lower segment. When the vanes are moved from the closed position of Figure 23 through the partially open position of Figure 24 to the fully open position of Figure 25, the vanes substantially define a right angle in cross section as opposed to the isosceles triangle formed in the first embodiment described .
A fifth embodiment 184 of the cover of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 26-28. In that embodiment, again, a roller 118 is provided with first 124 and second 126 grooves for fixing the support sheet 104 and the operating elements 108 and vanes 186 are fixed to the operating elements as described in the previous embodiments. In that embodiment, however, each reed 186 has an outer strip of material 188 and an inner strip of material 190 with the outer strip of material being a semi-rigid material such as a fourth embodiment described in Figures 23-25 and the inner strip of material being a flexible material as in the third embodiment described in Figures 20-22. The inner flexible strip of material 190 is attached to the outer semi-rigid strip of material 188 along the edges, top and bottom, with the combined strips being connected to the support sheet 104 identically to the previously described modalities so that the elements again operating elements 108 slide past the fastening line from the top edge of each reed to the support sheet, but are attached to the operating elements along the bottom edge of each
31/84 reed. Consequently, when the cover is moved from the closed position of Figure 26, where the vanes are flat in substantially coplanar relation with the backing sheet, they move through the partially open position of Figure 27 to the fully open position of the Figure 28 where the flexible strip of material is confined within the outer semi-rigid strip of material used in the reeds establishing closed cells between the strips of material. The cells are evidently opened at their ends adjacent to the opposite sides 114 and 116 of the support sheet. This modality allows the variation in functional and aesthetic characteristics of the cover and, for example, the internal flexible strip of material could be an opaque material while the external semi-rigid material could be a translucent or clear material in such a way that the vision between reeds are allowed in the fully open position of Figure 28, but completely blocked by the opaque internal material when in the closed position of Figure 26. Other variations will also be easily evident and as an example, the inner and outer layers can be of different colors or transparencies to create different effects.
A sixth embodiment 192 of the invention is illustrated in Figures 29-30. This modality as will be considered is very similar to that of Figures 26-28 in which a roll 118 is again provided with first 124 and second 126 grooves, but the grooves are diametrically opposite and the support sheet 104 is suspended from the front of the roll as opposed to back. Again, in this embodiment, the support element is attached to a groove 124 while
32/84 the flexible operating elements 108 are supported in the other groove 126. The vanes 194 have an outer strip of material 196 that is semi-rigid and an inner strip of material 198 that is flexible and connected to the support sheet and elements of operation similarly to the modality of Figures 26-28. In this embodiment, the vanes are moved from the closed position of Figure 29 where they are substantially coplanar with the support sheet through the partially open position of Figure 30 to the fully open position of Figure 31 by clockwise rotation of the roller as opposed to counterclockwise.
A seventh embodiment 200 of the invention is illustrated in Figures 32-34 and again it will be seen that a roller 118 having a pair of fixing slots 124 and 126 support the support sheet 104 from a slot 124 and operating elements 108 a from the second slot 126. In this embodiment, the vanes 202 and 204 are simply strips of material having tabs facing downwards, inwards 206 along their upper edges and with the strips being slightly concave inwards in the cross section. Starting at the top of the panel for the roof and moving downwards, alternating vanes 220 have the flap along their upper edge attached to the support sheet 104 as in the previously described modalities so that the operating elements 108 can slide through the broken connection line. Starting with the second vane 204 from the top, alternating vanes have their flap 206 along the top edge attached to the operating element 108 of the same
33/84 way as the lower edges of the reeds in the modalities described previously. In this way, the cover can be moved from the completely closed position of Figure 32 where each reed overlaps the next underlying, adjacent reed, through a partially open position shown in Figure 33, where alternating reeds starting with the second reed from top are lifted by the operating elements so that they slide into a cavity 208 defined between the next adjacent upper vane 202 and the support sheet 204. When the cover is fully opened as shown in Figure 34, alternating vanes 204 starting with the second upper vane are substantially completely confined within the cavity 208 between the next adjacent upper vane 202 and the backing sheet in order to define gaps or openings 138 between pairs of reeds 202 and 204 through which light and vision can pass.
An eighth embodiment 210 of the cover of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 35-37 where again it will be considered that a roller 118 has two circumferentially separated grooves and fixation 124 and 126 with a groove 124 supporting the support sheet 104 and the other groove 126 a plurality of operating elements 108. In this embodiment, the vanes 212 are similar to the vanes of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 23-25 in that they include a semi-rigid strip 214 having tabs, upper 216 and lower 218, connected to the support sheet and operating elements respectively and with a fold line 220 slightly above its segments, top 222 and
34/84 lower 224, forming, central, longitudinal. The vanes can be moved between a closed position where they are situated in a substantially coplanar relationship with the support sheet 104 and an extended position in which they project forward away from the support sheet in a substantially accurate triangular configuration. In this embodiment, the arcuate rigid or semi-rigid arcuate strip 226 is attached to the upper segment 222 of the semi-rigid reed component so that an inner edge 228 of the rectangular strip is adjacent to the support sheet. The strip 226 has a height approximately twice the size of the upper segment 222 of the reed so that when the reeds are in the open position of Figure 37, the strips protrude a greater distance away from the backing sheet than the upper segment of the guitar pick. When the vanes are closed as shown in Figure 35, the strips overlap with a lower strip immediately adjacent. Figure 36 illustrates the vanes in a partially open position. As will be considered, a gap or gap 138 begins to be formed between adjacent vanes until the gap or gap is maximized when the vanes are fully opened as shown in Figure 37. Strips 226 are slightly concave inward or outward. low in cross section providing the roof with a pleasant aesthetic appearance when open or closed.
A ninth embodiment 230 of the invention is illustrated in Figures 38-40 with that embodiment again including a roller 118 having circumferentially spaced attachment grooves 124 and 126 with a groove 124 supporting the sheet
35/84 of support 104 and the other of the operating elements, flexible 108. The vanes 232 for the cover have internal components 234 and external 236 with the external component being a flexible strip, of material similar to that revealed in the form of Figures 20- 22. The upper edge of the outer strip of material is attached to the support sheet 104 so that the operating elements are slidable through that connection with the lower edge of the outer strip being attached to the flexible elements 108 similar to the embodiment of Figures 20-22. 0 inner component 234 of the vanes is a second flexible strip of less height than the first flexible strip 236 so that the second flexible strip will fall inwardly relative to the external flexible strip when the cover is in the open position of Figure 40, but with the internal flexible strip 234 located substantially coplanar with the support sheet when the cover is closed as shown in Figure 38. The outer strip 236 falls even in the closed position of the cover for aesthetic purposes. The figure
<td colspan="3">39, of course, illustrates</td><td>The</td><td colspan="2">cover in a position</td>
<td>partially</td><td>open</td><td>in</td><td>what</td><td>clearances or</td><td>openings</td>
<td>relatively</td><td>small</td><td> 138</td><td>are</td><td>defined between</td><td>reeds</td>
<td>adjacent with</td><td>that</td><td colspan="2">opening</td><td>being maximized</td><td>when the</td>
cover is fully open as in Figure 40. The purposes for the inner and outer material strips used in the reeds are diverse including, but not limited to, the fact that they define air receptacles, closed cell phones, except along the opposite sides 114 and 116 of the support sheet where they open through the ends of the panel, for improved insulation. Beyond
36/84 In addition, strips of internal and external material may have different transparencies and / or color schemes for varying aesthetic appearances.
A tenth embodiment 238 of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 41-43 and in that embodiment a roller 240 is provided with a single groove 242 for securing the upper ends of a plurality of operating elements 108. The roller is pivotally mounted within a rail top 244 configuration in cross section in the inverted L shape. The upper rail, therefore, defines a front plate 24 6 and an upper plate 24 8 with the front plate supporting a pelmet in the form of a slope reed 250 preferably made of a somewhat flexible material so that the bottom edge of the loop in the reed extends beyond the bottom edge of the front plate of the top rail. Successively horizontally extended vanes 252 of the same configuration in cross section are supported on a support sheet 104 which is suspended vertically from the front plate of the upper rail. Each reed 252 has an upper edge 254 and a lower edge 256, but the upper and lower edges are coincidentally secured on the backing sheet along a horizontal line with an interrupted line of adhesive 258 identically to the shape on which the upper edge each reed is connected to the support sheet as shown in Figures 1-16. Each successively lower flap 252 is mounted on the backing sheet in the same way so that the bottom edge of the side on each flap slightly overlaps the top edge of the next adjacent bottom flap. The operating elements 104 pass through the
37/84 gaps or openings (not seen) in the adhesive lines 258 connecting the vanes to the backing sheet so that they can slide through the adhesive lines. The lower ends of each operating element 108 are attached to a lifting bar 260 which could be mostly any rigid or semi-rigid bar such as polyethylene plastic or the like. When roll 240 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction with the cover fully extended as shown in Figure 41, the operating elements are wrapped around the roll thereby lifting the lifting bar that engages the lower line of adhesive as shown in Figure 42. As the roll continues to rotate in a clockwise direction, the lift bar accumulates the vanes like the adhesive lines adjacent to the top rail as shown in Figure 43 so that the looped vanes are stacked attractively.
Figure 44 illustrates another embodiment 262 of the cover of the present invention that is very similar to the embodiment of Figures 1-16. In this embodiment, a support sheet 104 which has been illustrated as a sheet of transparent fabric is connected to a roll (not seen) along a groove in the periphery of the roll. Several semi-rigid vanes 264 having folded flaps 266 along the upper and lower edges, and a longitudinal fold line 268 along approximately their longitudinal center are supported on the support sheet. The vanes are supported on the support sheet by means of strips of adhesive interrupted 270 along an upper edge in order to define openings or spaces through which the elements of
38/84 operation 272, which in the embodiment of Figure 44, are tapes or strips of material instead of the monofilaments illustrated in the embodiment of Figures 1-16. The tapes or strips 272 have their upper ends trapped in a second groove in the roll (not seen) that is spaced circumferentially from the first groove so that the cover operates in the same way as that in Figures 1-16 except that the monofilaments were replaced by tapes or strips 272 that are attached to the bottom edge of each reed 264 so that the upward movement of the strips or tapes when caused by rotation of the roll raises the bottom edges of each reed in relation to the upper edges.
Figures 45-52 illustrate a twelfth embodiment 274 of the cover of the present invention where again a roller 118 having circumferentially spaced attachment grooves 124 and 126 is provided. In this modality, the support structure, which was illustrated as a sheet of transparent fabric in the previously described modalities, is a plurality of parallel and flexible spaced, vertically extended lifting elements 278, which in this modality are monofilaments although it will be considered that others flexible elements could be used such as ribbons, strips or bands of material, natural or synthetic ropes or the like. The lifting elements have their upper ends attached to the first groove 124 of the roller. The operating elements 108 are identical to the previously described modalities and again they constitute a plurality of the operating elements that
39/84 are vertically suspended in parallel spaced relation with the upper ends secured in the second groove 126 of the roller. The reeds 280 in this embodiment consist of components, front 282 and posterior 284, with both components being made of a semi-rigid material similar to the embodiment in Figures 1-16 so that they have rectangular flaps 286 along their edges, top and bottom, and a longitudinally extended fold line 288 along its approximate longitudinal center. The reed components 282 and 284 are mounted opposite back to back on opposite sides of the lifting elements 278 and the operating elements 108. The reed component 282 on the front side of the panel is slightly larger than the reed component 284 on the back side so that it extends downwards along the length of the lifting elements for a slightly greater distance for the purpose to be described later. The upper edges of the reed components are coincident in their places of attachment to the lifting elements.
The upper edges of each reed component are attached to the lifting elements with strips of adhesive 290 in order to define clearances between them through which the operating elements 108 are slidably passed. The vanes 280 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance so that a closed position of the cover, as illustrated in Figure 46, the lower edge of the front component 282 of each reed overlaps the upper edge of the front component 282 of the next adjacent lower vane for closure complete.
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The lower edges of each reed component are attached to the operating elements 108 at predetermined locations along the lengths of the operating elements so that the lower edges of the vanes can be pulled towards the upper edges of the vanes by moving the cover to an open position by lifting the operating elements in relation to the lifting elements.
In the operation of the cover, the vane panel 280 can be seen in Figure 46 suspended from the rear side of the roller 118 with the groove 124 supporting the lifting elements 278 being positioned approximately on the top of the roller and the groove 126 supporting the lifting elements. operation 108 on the back of the roll. The panel is shown in a fully extended position with the vanes closed so that each van is flat and substantially parallel and co-planar with the lifting elements and the operating elements. To retract the cover, the roll is simply rotated in a clockwise direction causing the reed panel to wrap around the roll, but open the reeds from the fully extended closed position of Figure 46, the roll is rotated in a counterclockwise so that in a partially open position, as shown in Figure 47, the groove 124 securing the lifting elements is approximately at the rear of the roller while the groove 126 supporting the operating elements is positioned approximately at the bottom of the roller. As will be considered, the operating elements are pulled up when the groove 12 6 is moved a
41/84 starting from the lifting elements causing the lower edges of each reed to be raised. Additional counterclockwise rotation of the roller moves the cover to the fully open position of Figure 48, defining clearances or spaces 138 between the vanes through which vision and light can pass. As will be considered, in this embodiment of the invention, closed cells that are opened at opposite ends of the panel, are defined by the vanes with cells extending in the forward and backward directions from the lifting and operating elements. Cellular covers of this type have utilitarian advantages in providing insulating properties not available with conventional roller shutters, for example.
A thirteenth embodiment 292 of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 53-55 which again uses a cylindrical roller 118 having two circumferentially spaced grooves 124 and 126 with one of the grooves 124 used to secure the upper ends of a set of lifting elements 278 and the other groove 126 used to secure the upper end of a set of operating elements 108. As with the embodiment of Figures 45-52, each reed 294 has a front component 296 and a rear component 298 with the reeds and being of cross-sectional configuration generally in the shape of a teardrop. The front vane component 296 has a flap 300 extended downwardly, inwardly along its bottom edge, and the rear vane component 298 has a flap extended upwardly, inwardly
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02 along its upper edge with the reed components being of substantially the same configuration, however, inverted in relation to each other. Again, the upper edges of each reed are connected to the lifting elements 278 with strips of adhesive in order to define the spaces between them through which the operating elements 108 can slide and be attached to the lower edges of the components reed. This modality of the invention operates in the same way as the modality of Figures 45-52 and with reference initially to Figure 53, the cover is shown in a fully extended position, however, closed so that the front vane component of each vane overlaps slightly to the next adjacent lower vane and the vanes form a closed cell with open ends on the sides of the panel. The lifting and operating elements extend vertically through the center of the cells formed by the vanes. When the cover is moved towards an open position as shown in Figure 54, the bottom edges of each cell are raised towards the top edges causing the cells to expand in both directions back and forth until the cover is completely open as shown in Figure 55 defining openings or spaces between adjacent cells through which vision and light can pass.
A fourteenth embodiment of a panel according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 56a-56c. In this embodiment, a plurality of strips or reeds 304 is supported on a support structure 306 that again
43/84 could be a sheet of material such as a transparent fabric or a plurality of flexible support elements. The strips or vanes are made of rigid or semi-rigid material which is alternately creased in opposite directions at equally spaced places 308 in order to define lines of bending along which the generally flat component parts 309 of the strip can be pivoted with respect to to an adjacent component. Along the top edge or the marginal zone of each strip is a downward facing wing 310 which is attached, as with adhesive, to the support structure 306 as defined in the previous embodiments in a way to define clearances through which the flexible control or operating elements 312 can slide through. The control elements are attached to the lower edge or marginal zone of each strip or vane along an upwardly facing wing 314 provided along it. Consequently, when the operating elements are moved up and down, the bottom edge of each reed is moved up or down accordingly as the operating elements slide through the clearances in the downward facing wing connection 310 in the upper edge of the reed to the support structure.
Figure 56a shows the fourteenth embodiment of the invention in a completely extended and closed condition in which each strip or vane 304 is suspended completely extended in a substantially flat orientation adjacent to the front face of the support structure 306. Movement of the operating elements 312 in the upward, which is caused by counterclockwise rotation
44/84 of a roll bar 316 from which the panel is suspended when the cover is fully extended, raises the bottom edge of each reed in relation to the support structure and due to the pre-crease of the reeds, each reed is grouped in the upward direction causing the component parts 308 of them to pivot relative to the adjacent component parts so that triangular cells 318 having opposite open ends are formed. The cells being formed are illustrated in Figure 56b with Figure 56c showing the vanes in a completely retracted position defining openings 320 between them.
With reference to Figures 57-64, a hardware system that could be associated with any of the panels previously described is illustrated. 0 For the purpose of describing the hardware system, a panel 322 of the general type disclosed in Figures 38-40 is illustrated except that the vanes 324 are made of material slightly more rigid than that of Figures 38-40 so that the vanes can protrude outwardly away from the support structure 326 rather than descending from it.
Referring first to Figure 57, an upper rail 328 for supporting the panel 322 of the covering material is shown including a pair of end caps 330 supporting a longitudinally extended front fascia panel 332 that extends partially across the top of the rail and is designed to be supported in a conventional manner with 334 mounting brackets (shown in dashed lines) that can be
45/84 attached to the frame around an architectural opening. The top rail would typically be arranged adjacent to the top of the architectural opening and includes a roll or roll bar 336 as illustrated by way of example, in Figure 59a around which the material panel 322 can be selectively wrapped in a stowed or partially retracted position. retracted from the cover. 0 The roller is reversibly driven with an endless control rope 338 through an operating mechanism that can be of the type disclosed and described in US Patent 6,289,964, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. It will be considered in the operating mechanism that the endless control rope 338 can be circulated in any direction in this way by correspondingly rotating the roller bar 336 to move the panel of the covering material between extended and retracted positions. In the extended position, the panel is extended in the opposite direction from the roll bar, but suspended from the roll bar as described in connection with the previously described modalities of the panel and when retracted, the panel is wrapped around the roll bar. roll. Such an operation will be described in more detail below.
Referring to Figures 59-62, the cover material panel 322 can be seen to include a bottom rail 340 which has previously been revealed in more general terms as element 117. The bottom rail is used to add weight along the bottom edge of the material panel to encourage the panel to fall by gravity as permitted by the operation of the roll bar on which the panel is supported. As will be described in detail later, the bottom rail is a
46/84 two segments, articulated designed to cooperate with the support structure 326 and operating elements 312 associated with the panel in a way that provides an aesthetically pleasing bottom edge, finished to the roof. The pivoted bottom rail is also designed to cooperate with an adjustable stop 344 provided on the top rail that limits roll rotation in a retracted direction. In other words, when the panel is fully retracted on the top rail, the bottom rail 340 engages the adjustable stop 344 to prevent further rotation of the roll bar in that direction. The cooperation of the adjustable keeper with the lower rail will be described in more detail below.
With reference to Figure 59a, and as described, generally, previously in connection with the various other modalities of the panel, the roller bar 336 has diametrically opposite grooves 346 and 348 adapted to fix the upper ends of the support structure 326 and the elements of operation 312, respectively. The lower edge of the support structure and the lower edge of a reed or insert strip 350 secured to the lower ends of the operating elements 312 are anchored to the lower rail 340 as possibly best seen in Figures 59b and 59c. In those figures, it will be seen that the bottom rail is comprised of a larger extruded segment 352 and a smaller extruded segment 354 with the larger segment being shown below the smaller segment. The segments are interconnected with a hinge element 356 where the hinge element is an elongated strip of rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic having edges
47/84 crimps 358. The strip 350 is preferably a strip of the same material as used in the panel vanes or strips 324. The false strip has an upper edge (not seen) attached to the lower edge of the reed or lower strip 324 on the panel and a lower edge 362 attached to the lower rail as will be defined below.
The larger segment 352 of the lower rail has a slightly arched body 364 with a projected edge 366 at its upper end and adjacent to it an embossed fastener 368 having an open groove 370 adapted to pivotally receive a crimped edge 358 of the element articulation 356. The opposite or lower end 372 of the large segment is curved and spaced from a relief element 374 of cross-section generally in the shape of a T in order to define a receptacle 3 76 between them in which the lower edge of the strip 350 for the panel can be anchored as shown in Figure 59c. The lower edge of the insert strip is looped around a fixing strip 378 which is inserted into the receptacle 376 defined between the curved end of the major rail segment and the raised T-shaped element. The insert strip in an alternate fixation shown in Figure 59b can be wrapped around the curved end 372 of the large lower rail segment so that it extends across the face of the arched body 364 and is adhesively attached to it after it has been wrapped around of its upper edge 3 66. In any case, if the support structure is fixed as shown in Figure 59c or 59b, the structure is attached to a lower edge of the major segment.
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A second receptacle 382 is defined between the T-shaped element 3 74 and the fastening element 3 68 to receive ribs 384 on the covers and end of the lower rail 340 which are inserted into that receptacle and are shown in Figure 59d.
The smaller segment 354 of the lower rail, which is illustrated above the larger segment 352 in Figures 59b and 59c, has a concave body 386 and a lower edge 388 that defines an open groove 390 adapted to pivot and retain the frieze 358 along the opposite edge of the hinge element 356 from that attached to the major segment. The upper or opposite edge 392 of the lower lower rail segment is curved to define a receptacle 394 between the raised rib 396 in the concave body and the curved edge 392 of the minor segment. This receptacle is adapted to receive and retain the lower edge of the support structure 326, which can be wrapped around a rigid or semi-rigid fixing strip 398 positioned in the receptacle.
From above, it will be considered that the operating elements 312 are operatively fixed to the lower edge of the major segment of the lower rail through the false reed 350 as shown in Figures 59b and 59c and the support structure 326 is fixed to the upper edge of the minor segment or top of the bottom rail as shown in Figures 59b and 59c with the two segments of the bottom rail being pivotally connected for pivoting movement in relation to each other.
Figure 59d illustrates the major 352 and minor 354 segments of the bottom rail in an exploded view with the
49/84 hinge element 356 between them and end caps 3 86 associated with each of the lower, larger and smaller rail segments, which are provided for aesthetic appearance and to confine the hinge element and fastening strips used to attach the support structure and the false reed to the extruded segments of the lower rail.
Figure 61 shows the bottom rail 340 suspended at the bottom edge of the panel 322 just before the panel is fully extended from the roll bar 336. Figures 62, 62a, 62b and 62c are seen operatively illustrating how the bottom rail cooperates with the support structure 326 and the flap 350 as well as the roll bar when moving the panel from a retracted position wrapped around the roll bar to a fully extended position.
Looking first at Figure 62, the panel 322 is shown to be extended substantially completely and as will be considered the major 352 and minor 354 segments of the lower rail 340 are oriented and aligned vertically. It should also be noted that the groove 348 on the roll bar to which the operating elements 312 are attached is on the left side of the roll bar or roll 336 while the groove 346 to which the support structure 326 is attached is on the right side of the roll and rolled over the top of the roll. Figure 62a shows the roller having rotated through a quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction so that the bottom rail has been lowered to its lowest extent adjacent to the window sill or other architectural opening in which the cover is mounted . In Figure 62b,
50/84 the roller has rotated through another quarter turn in a counterclockwise direction and the groove 348 in which the operating elements are attached is now considered to be on the right side of the roller and has been pulled upwards over the operating elements that raise the false reed 350 which is connected to the lower end of the operating elements so as to raise the lower edge of the lower rail when the upper edge of the lower rail continues to move in the downwards with the support structure 326. This movement forces the lower edge of the lower rail to move forward as seen in Figure 62b. When the roller continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, the groove 348 in which the operating elements are fixed moves to the top of the roll, pulling the operating elements even higher and with them the lower edge of the lower rail 340 and simultaneously the support structure is continuing to move towards down when the groove 346 in the roll to which it is connected moves from the left side of the roll to the bottom of the roll as shown in Figure 62c. In this position, it will be considered that what was originally the upper edge of the lower rail has fallen very close to the threshold of the architectural opening and the lower edge of the lower rail has been raised while allowing the lower rail in general to remain closely adjacent to the threshold. During this process, each of the vanes 324 has moved to a raised or open position so that there are openings 402 between the vanes through which light and vision can pass. Panel 322 is shown in Figure 62d in an isometric view in the same
51/84 position it occupies in Figure 62c.
Figures 63-63d illustrate an arrangement of the roof of the present invention in which the lower rail has been modified from a two-segment lower rail to a lower rail 404 having more than two segments and as illustrated five components 406. In this arrangement of the lower rail, which is probably best seen in Figures 63a and 63b, it will be considered that there are five identical lower rail components, pivotally interconnected 4 06 each having a body 4 08 of arcuate cross section and having ferrules inwards 410 and 412 on the concave side of the component along the upper and lower longitudinal edges, respectively. The components are evidently elongated so as to extend over the full width of the window covering. The ferrules in each component cooperate with the <concave main body portion of the component to define a receptacle 414 to receive a fixing strip 416 that extends the entire length of the component and serves to fix the insert strip 50 that moves in sync with the operating elements 312 or the support structure 326 which is revealed to be a sheet of transparent material.
The insert strip 350, which moves in sync with the operating elements 312, has a lower portion attached to the three upper components 406 of the lower rail 404 as best illustrated in Figure 63a. As will be considered, the insert strip, which is flexible, extends downwards from its connection with the lower edge of the lower reed 324 on panel 322 of the cover and is looped around the upper ferrule
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410 of the highest rail component and then extends downwards and is looped over the lower ferrule 412 of the highest rail component. The built-in strip is held in that position with a rigid or semi-rigid fixing strip 416 which is positioned in the receptacle 414 defined on the concave side of the component. The built-in strip then extends downwards by wrapping around the upper ferrule 410 in the second highest rail component 406 and subsequently wrapping around the lower ferrule 412 in the second highest rail component and is held in place in that component with another fixing strip 416 positioned in receptacle 414 of the second highest rail component. The built-in strip extends around the upper ferrule 410 of the third highest component and is again held in place with a fixing strip 416 positioned in the receptacle 414 of the third highest rail component.
The transparent material or support structure 326 for the cover extends downwards to the lower edge of the lower rail where it is secured within the lower rail component 046 with a fixing strip 416 positioned in the receptacle 414 on the side concave of the lower rail component. The support structure then extends upwards and winds around the upper ferrule of the lower rail component and subsequently around the lower ferrule 412 of the second lower rail component. Thereafter, it extends upwards and around the upper ferrule 410 of the second lowest component and again is held in position within the second lowest component with a
53/84 fixing strip 416. The support sheet then wraps around the lower ferrule 412 of the third highest component mentioned above and is held in position with the fixing strip 416 on the third highest component.
The operation of the cover with the bottom rail shown in Figures 63, 63a, and 63b is illustrated in Figures 63c and 63d. In Figure 63c, the cover panel 322 is shown to have been lowered to its lowest extent with the groove 348 in the roller securing the operating components 312 and thereby associated with the strip 350 having been moved to the right side of the roller when the roller is rotating in a counterclockwise direction. This movement raises the bottom edge of the bottom rail '404 when the top edge of the bottom rail continues to fall once it is connected to the support structure 326 and the groove 34 6 to which the support structure is attached is on the • left side of the roll. Continuous counterclockwise rotation of the roll allows the support structure to fall even lower when its support groove 346 moves to the bottom of the roll while the groove 348 securing the operating elements moves from the right side of the roll to the top of the roll thereby raising the bottom edge of the bottom rail further so that the bottom rail generally becomes channel shaped in cross section as seen in Figure 63d. In addition, during this process, the lower edges of the vanes 324 are raised as previously described in order to create an opening 402 between the vanes, as seen in Figure 63d.
Yet another modality of a lower rail for use
54/84 on a cover as previously described in Figures 62-62d is shown in Figures 64-64d. In Figure 64, the panel 322 for the roof is shown fully extended but with the vanes 324 in a closed position and the lower rail 418 which has a main body in the shape of a channel that opens in the upward direction 420 is suspended under the panel. An elongated roller 422 is hinged to the main body in the shape of a channel for rotation therein and has the strip material 350 wrapped around it towards the rear face of the panel with the free end of the strip material being attached to the rear face of the support structure 326 which in the disclosed embodiment is a sheet of transparent fabric. The operation of the cover having this modality of the lower rail is illustrated in Figures 64c and 64d. Referring to Figure 64c, the groove 348 on the roller 336 securing the operating elements 346, and thus operatively connected to the built-in strip, has been rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the groove is on the right side of the roller so that the elements operatives began to be raised. When the operating elements are being lifted, the transparent support structure 326 continues to fall once its groove 346 for fixing the roller 336 is on the left side of the roller and moving downwards as the right side of the roller is moving upwards. Consequently, as the material of the strip moves with the operating elements, when the operating elements are pulled upwards, the front portion of the strip is pulled up while the rear portion of the
55/84 built-in strip material where it is connected to the support structure moves downwards with the support structure. Referring to Figure 64d, the groove 348 securing the operating elements has moved to the top of the roll and raised the lower edges of the vanes 324 to their full extent in order to create opening 402 between the vanes. The strip material, which is wrapped around the roller 422 on the lower rail, simply rotates with the roller inside the main body 420 of the lower rail so that the lower rail remains in a lower position adjacent to the sill of the architectural opening on which the cover is mounted. It will be considered by those skilled in the art that the bottom rail would not necessarily need to be a roll, since a fixed surface that was preferably curved to provide a smooth sliding surface for the strip material would also work.
With reference to Figure 65, it will be noted that a lower rail would not always be necessary since an increased weight rod or other element 423 could be attached to panel 322 in a spaced location, for example, above the lower edge 425 of the panel with the weight of the rod or other element being sufficient to encourage the panel to be conveniently suspended from an upper rail (not seen) while also providing some resistance to lifting the lower edges of the reeds 324 with the operating elements 346. As an example, and as illustrated, a receptacle 427 is formed inside a vane spaced upwards from the bottom edge of the panel where the panel could be
56/84 formed from the same material as the reed itself. The receptacle would be positioned internally to the reed and so as not to be visible and the elongated rod 423 of a modest amount of weight could be confined to the receptacle. In this way, when the panel is unrolled from a roll bar, the weight of the rod would encourage the panel to be suspended in a vertical orientation and since the rod is confined within a reed adjacent to the bottom edge of the reed, when the elements operative are raised to open the reeds by lifting the lower edges of the reeds, the rod would provide some resistance to the opening of the vanes and thus help to let the lower edge of the vanes fall when the operating elements were lowered as when the vanes were moving towards a closed position. The exact weight of such a rod or element 423 would be within the knowledge of those skilled in the art and would evidently be chosen to allow the operation of the cover as described. It should be considered that as the weighted rod is positioned near the bottom of panel 322, there would be a short extension of suspended panel material under the weighted rod and that short length of material would not need an increased weight element for retain its vertical suspension.
As mentioned earlier, the cover hardware of the present invention includes an upper rail 328 that has end caps 33 0 to support a fascia panel 332. The end caps also support the roll or roll bar 33 in a manner
57/84 conventional for reversible rotation about its longitudinal axis with the endless control rope 338. The precisely mentioned adjustable detectors 344 can be mounted on the end caps in any one of a plurality of different positions in order to engage the rail bottom 340 of the cover when the cover is being retracted to stop the rotation of the roller bar 336 in a completely retracted position of the cover. As the panel 322 for the roof can take on any of the various extensions depending on the size of the architectural opening in which the roof is mounted, the extent of panel build-up on the roll will vary directly depending on the variation of the effective diameter of the roll within the top rail when the cover is completely retracted. In other words, the longer the panel, the greater the effective diameter of the roll with the panel wrapped around it in the completely retracted position of the cover.
The stop 344 used in the cover of the present invention to limit the retraction rotation of the roller 336 in a clockwise direction as seen in the drawings is adapted to engage the bottom rail 340 along the bottom of the panel 322 and as the material radius of panel accumulated on the roll will vary depending on the length of the panel, the position of the lower rail 340 will also vary when it enters the upper rail 328 in the completely retracted position of the cover. Consequently, it is necessary to be able to position the stop 344 at different radial distances from the rotational axis of the roller 336. To accommodate the variable position of the lower rail when it enters the upper rail, the adjustable stop 344, the
58/84 which is best seen in Figures 58a and 58b, can be positioned in any one of three different sets of openings or seats 424 provided in each end cap 330 of the upper rail. The holder is also reversible so as to be accommodated in any of the pairs of openings in either of the two positions so that there are six different positions for the holder accommodated by the system of the present invention.
Referring first to Figure 58b, holder 344 can be seen to include a main body in block shape 426 having a somewhat concave bottom edge 428 and with two pairs of vertically spaced and aligned arms 430 extending in opposite directions from opposite sides 432 of the body. The upper arm 434 of each pair has a fastener 436 at its end end. It is also important to note that each pair of arms 430 is arranged closer to an edge 438 of the body 426 than the opposite edge 44 0 which will vary the positioning of the holder in a manner to be described later.
Each end cap 33 0 has a receptacle 442 for the detent element that includes the three opening sets or seats 424. Each set of openings has a vertically aligned upper passage 444 and lower 446 with the upper passage of each pair communicating with a vertical opening 448 through the top of end cap 330. Each pair of passages is adapted to receive a pair of arms 430 in the holder and the fastener 436 in the upper arm is adapted to be detachable in the vertical opening 448 associated with the pair of
59/84 passages on which the keeper is willing.
It will therefore be considered that with the holder 344 oriented in an orientation, for example, as seen in Figure 58b, the pair of arms 43 0 on the left side of the holder can be inserted into any of the three sets of openings 424 and retained from release in that place with the clamp 43 6 on the upper arm. Each set of openings disposes the bottom concave edge 428 of the main body 426 of the holder at a different radial distance from the rotational axis of the roller 336 to accommodate panels of different lengths that have accumulated on the roller. Upon inversion of the holder, the pair of arms in the holder protruding from the opposite face can be inserted into one of the three sets of openings, but, as both pairs of arms are arranged closer to an edge 438 of the main body than from the other edge 440, this will position the lower concave edge of the body in different positions than if the other set of arms were positioned in one of the passages. Consequently, by orienting the detent element in one of the two orientations and inserting it in one of the three sets of passages in the end cap, six different locations for the concave bottom edge 428 of the detent element can be achieved to engage the bottom rail of the cover in the completely retracted position of the cover. Of course, as the concave lower edge of the retaining element is relatively wide, each position in and of itself accommodates several effective radii of the roll with a panel wrapped around it and obviously panels of lengths within a given range.
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Another embodiment of the coverage of the present invention is shown in Figures 66-84. This embodiment uses a panel 450 similar to that shown in Figures 57-64 in which a support structure 452 is illustrated as an example as being a sheet of transparent fabric material that supports on its front face a plurality of double-interlocked operating vanes 454. The vanes have inner loops 4 56 and outer loops 4 58 which are contiguous at an upper edge 460 and a lower 462 of the reed with the upper edge of each reed being attached to the transparent fabric along a horizontal attachment line 464 with adhesive or the like. The fixation of each reed is at a predetermined spacing from adjacent reeds. Various operating elements 466 illustrated as examples in the form of microfilaments or the like extend vertically along the front face of the transparent fabric and are attached in equally spaced locations along their lengths to the bottom edge 462 of each reed while being free to slide through the clearances (not seen) in the fixing line 464 of the upper edge 460 of each reed to the transparent fabric.
The upper end of the operating elements and the upper edge of the transparent fabric are secured in opposite slots 468 and 470 respectively on a roll 472 as will be described later. The operating elements 466 are adapted to be raised or lowered in relation to the transparent fabric during operation of the shutter and when the operating elements are raised in relation to the transparent fabric 452, they raise the lower edges 462 of each reed towards its edge
61/84 upper 460 until the reeds are in the open position of Figure 66 with the edges, top and bottom, of each reed closely adjacent to each other. Evidently, the inverse movement of the operating elements in relation to the transparent fabric, that is, in a downward direction, allows the bottom edge of each reed to descend in relation to the top edge until the reeds assume a closed position in which they meet. extend vertically in overlapping relationship with the transparent fabric in slightly overlapping relationship with an adjacent reed in order to prevent the passage of vision and light through the shutter.
As possibly best considered with reference to Figure 76, the lowest operating vane 454, which is immediately above an inoperative false vane 474 at the bottom of the shutter, has an increased weight bar 476 along its bottom edge so that when the operating elements 466 are moved downwards relative to the transparent fabric, the increased weight bar pulls the lower edge of the lower reed downwards by gravity and in doing so pulls the bottom edge of each of the upper reeds downwards simultaneously when each of the lower edges of the reed is attached to operating elements in locations spaced along its length.
The inoperative false reed 474 is simply a loop preferably of the same material as the operating reeds that is attached at its upper edge to the front face of the transparent fabric 452 and at its lower edge to a
62/84 lower rail 478.
The lower rail 478 is generally U-shaped and is connected to the lower edge of the transparent fabric 452 and the lower edge of the false reed 474 as best considered with reference to Figures 67-69. It will be considered that the lower rail has an arched front wall 480 and two vertically spaced legs projected backwards 482 which are hooked along their rear edges 484 and in cooperation with the front wall define a channel 486 between they. A 488 receptacle is also formed on the outer surfaces of both the upper and lower spaced legs. The legs have projections in the 490 inward direction that define a mouth for channel 486.
The lower edge of the transparent fabric 452 is wrapped around an upper fixing bar 492 which is inserted into the receptacle 488 on the upper leg 482 and the lower edge of the built-in reed 474 wrapped around a lower fixing bar 494 which is seated in receptacle 488 on the lower leg. The central channel 486 defines a seat on which one or more slidingly adjustable ballast bars 496 can be positioned with the ballast bars being known in the art. In the present disclosure, the ballast bars are illustrated as being circular in cross section and having fingers projected 498 from a rear surface that can be gripped manually to move the ballast bar along the length of the channel between axially fixed positions. The ballast bars are used to adjust the distributed weight of the shutter so that the bottom rail is
63/84 always horizontally arranged so that the shutter will gently roll on the roll.
Roller 472 is pivotally mounted on an upper rail 500 (Figure 71) in a conventional manner with the upper rail including an arched front wall 502 ending at a forked back edge 504 and a top wall 506 with the upper wall having a recess opening backwards 508 just below it to which end caps 510 can be attached. 0 The roller is rotated in either direction by a 512 control rope in a conventional manner with the control rope being illustrated in Figure 66.
In Figure 71, the shutter is shown in a fully retracted position with the panel 450 wrapped around the roller 472 and the lower rail 478 suspended from it, but confined within the upper rail 500 for aesthetic reasons. The forked bottom edge 504 of the top rail front wall has a clamp 514 connected to an upper leg 516 with the clamp securing a bottom edge of a decorative top rail cover sheet 518 of fabric material or the like for the lower leg 520 of the bifurcation. The upper edge 522 of the cover sheet 518 is attached by adhesive or otherwise to the upper wall 506 of the upper rail.
The clamp 514, forming part of a limiting system, is a preferably extruded, elongated element, which is also shown in Figure 70 as having an obliquely extended fastening plate 524, which is tilted upwards and backwards , and arms
64/84 horizontally extended upper 526 and lower 528 outside a lower portion of the fastener plate. The upper arm has a downward facing ferrule 530 that can be connected to a forward facing wall 532 of the forked upper leg 516 and the lower arm has a return ferrule 534 that engages the bottom edge of the fabric cover 518 to hold it in position. Therefore, it can be seen in Figure 71 that the clamp can be releasably attached to the lower edge of the upper rail with the clamping plate 524 projecting upwards and backwards for the purpose to be described below.
The operation of the shutter is illustrated in Figures 71 and 76-80 with Figure 76 showing the shutter when it begins to unwind in a counterclockwise direction from roll 472 on the top rail 500. The bottom rail 478, which it is relatively heavy in relation to the fabric panel 450, falls by gravity when the roller is rotated and of course the rotation can be stopped in a conventional manner with the 512 control rope. As mentioned earlier, the transparent fabric 452 is fastened in a groove 470 on the roll 472 with a fastening rod 536 and the upper ends of the operating elements are fastened in the diametrically opposite groove 468 with a fastening rod 538 so that when the shutter is approaches full extension (Figure 77), the groove 470 having the transparent fabric attached to it is at the top of the roll and the groove 468 having the operating elements attached to it is at the bottom of the roll. A fastener bar
65/84
540, as best seen in Figures 72 and 77-80, is attached horizontally to the front face of the transparent fabric 452 immediately above the upper edge of the highest reed 454 in panel 450. Fixation can be with adhesive, ultrasonic connection, or any other suitable method. The fixing bar, as possibly best seen in Figure 72, has a vertical rear plate 542 which is attached to the transparent fabric and a plurality of elongated fingers projected in a downward and forward direction 544 and which are spaced apart with the spaces 545 defining passages through which the selected elements among the operating elements 466 can slide through. The fingers 544 are adapted to overlap vertically with the fastener plate 524 for the purpose to be described below. A reinforcement strip 546 of any rigid or semi-rigid material is preferably attached to the opposite side of the transparent fabric, from the fastening bar, to assist in holding the fastening bar vertically, and in vertical alignment with the fastening plate 524.
Alternatives to the limiting system having the gripping bar 540 shown in Figure 72 are seen in Figures 73-75 with Figure 73 illustrating one of a plurality of flat bars 546 that can be attached to the transparent fabric with punch tabs 548 defining fingers designed for front in spaced spaces along the extension of the bar adapted to cooperate with the fastener plate 524 as will be described later. There could be several bars 546 with the operating elements passing between the punctured flaps. Figure 74 shows a
66/84 additional modality 550 very similar to that of Figure 71 except where the back plate 552 is notched at 553 along a lower edge and in the openings between the fingers 554 in order to confine an operative element in that place so that it remains in the clearance between adjacent fingers. Figure 75 shows yet another arrangement in which there would be a plurality of elements in the inverted V shape 556 with the back plate 558 attached to the transparent fabric and a finger projected in the forward and downward direction 560. The operating elements would slide between the connection locations of each element
556 transparent fabric.
With reference to Figure 77, the shutter is in a position where fastener 540 is immediately overlapping fastener plate 524 on clamp 514 so that further rotation of the roller in a counterclockwise direction drops the fastener onto the fastener plate (Figure 78) thereby preventing further downward movement of the fastener and the transparent fabric 4 52 connected to it. When this occurs, the groove 468 on the roll holding the operating elements 466 has additionally rotated away from the clamping plate in order to start pulling the operating elements which, through their connection with the lower edges 462 of the vanes, cause the lower edges of the reeds start to rise. Additional rotation of the roller in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 79 causes the top edge of the operating elements to be pulled even further away from the gripping plate in order to raise the bottom edge of the vanes even further as
67/84 seen in Figure 80, the shutter is fully extended and the vanes are completely open through an extreme position of the roller. It can be seen in Figure 78-80 that when the operating elements are raising the lower edges of the vanes, the excess transparent fabric 452 is grouped within the upper rail in a non-visible manner. The remainder of the transparent fabric, as mentioned earlier, remains static and preferably with the lower rail 478 adjacent to the window sill or the lower edge of an architectural opening in which the shutter is mounted.
An alternative limiting system is shown diagrammatically in Figures 93 and 94 in which a hook bar 560 is mounted within the upper rail 500 to the shutter adjacent to the rear side of the transparent fabric 52, that is, the opposite side from the operating elements 466 and reeds 454. The hook bar could be made of any suitable rigid or semi-rigid material such as metal or plastic and supported within the top rail in any suitable manner. The hook bar has a vertical body 562 and a lower ferrule angled forward and upward 564 defining a notch 566 adapted to releasably hold or receive a clip 568 mounted on the rear face of the transparent fabric at a predetermined location. The clamp could again be made of any suitable material such as metal or plastic and is rigid or semi-rigid in nature. A reinforcement strip (not shown) could be mounted on the opposite or front side of the transparent fabric in
68/84 alignment with the clamp to reinforce the clamp's fixation to the fabric so that it remains oriented as illustrated and desired. In Figure 93, the shutter is shown as almost fully unfolded, but before the reeds are opened with the operating elements. A continued counterclockwise rotation of the roll as shown in Figure 94 allows the clamp to fall into the groove 566 on the hook bar to prevent further movement downward from the transparent fabric so that the operating elements can open the vanes as previously described in connection with other limiting systems.
Figures 95 and 96 show diagrammatically yet another alternative to the limiting system in which a support bar 570 is mounted inside the upper rail 500, in any suitable way in a location behind and immediately adjacent to the transparent fabric 452 on the opposite side of the transparent fabric from vanes 454 and operating elements 466. The support bar has a horizontal recess along its lower edge to which a magnet 572 is attached in a position closely adjacent to the rear face of the transparent fabric. A horizontal metal strip 574 is attached to the rear face of the transparent fabric at a predetermined location so that the metal strip can be attracted and releasably connected to the electromagnet when the metal strip on the transparent fabric passes through that place. In Figure 95, the shutter is shown in a position just before it is fully unfolded, but with the blades closed. In Figure 96, roller 472 for the shutter was rotated in one direction on the
69/84 counterclockwise for a slight distance by placing the metal strip in alignment with the electromagnet so that they are attracted and connected releasably. This, of course, limits or restricts additional downward movement of the transparent fabric so that the operating elements can lift the vanes in their open position as previously described when the roller is further rotated in a counterclockwise direction. The support bar can be fitted snugly to the top rail to ensure that the electromagnet is closely adjacent to the metal strip when the shutter reaches its fully extended position, but a description of a system for mounting the support is not considered necessary once which is known to those skilled in this technique.
Figures 97 and 98 illustrate an additional alternative to the shutter limiting system of the present invention. In that alternative, the forked lower edge 532 of the upper rail 500 receives an anchor 576 in the space between the fingers forked with the anchor having a portion of vertical plate 578 with a strip of Velcro.RTM lace material. on its posterior vertical face. A strip 582 of Velcro.RTM hook material. it is mounted on the front face of the transparent fabric 452 immediately above the highest reed 454 and in a position to grab the loop material at the anchor when the hook material approaches the loop material in the unfolding of the shutter. Preferably there would be a plurality (not seen) of horizontally spaced strips 582 of the hook material to provide a space between them for the elements
70/84 operative 466 move. When the shutter is fully extended, as shown in Figure 98, the hook material is aligned with the loop material and effectively pulled to engage with it when the roll 472 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the operating elements, which are being pulled forward on the top rail. Of course, hook and loop materials are released when the roller is rotated in a clockwise direction to retract the shutter and additionally it will be considered that hook and loop materials could be inverted as this would not be supported in the operation of the system. limiter.
Figure 99-101 further illustrates an additional limiting system in which the roller 584 has been modified from the arrangements previously described by providing an arcuate recess 586 along its length covering approximately 180 degrees of its circumference. An arcuate support 588 having three spaced arcuate bands 590 of rigid or semi-rigid construction is fixed at 592 to the roll longitudinally and adjacent to the higher end of the arcuate groove as seen in Figure 99. As is best considered in Figures 100 and 101, the bands cooperate with the arcuate groove in the roll to define an arcuate track 593 on which a support rod 594 can travel with the support rod being attached to the top edge of the transparent fabric 452 and with 596 slits formed in the fabric to receive the arched bands. As is best considered by reference to Figure 100, when the shutter is being raised and rotated in a clockwise direction (not shown) the rod is received at
71/84 bottom end of track 593 and will be loaded in this manner during the clockwise rotation of the roll so that the shutter is wrapped around the roll and the outer surface of the bands. However, when the shutter is unrolled, as shown in Figures 100 and 101, by rotating the roller in a counterclockwise direction, the support rod 594 is allowed to run up the track when the operating elements 466 are pulled in the direction to forward by the roller by lifting the vanes 454 to an open position. It will be considered that the track remains equidistant from the lower edge of the upper track 500 when the operating elements are lifted in such a way that the transparent fabric is prevented from falling to allow the operating elements to lift the vanes to their open positions.
A still further embodiment of the coverage of the present invention is shown in Figures 102-115. This modality again uses a panel 450 similar to that shown in Figures 57-64 in which a support structure 452 is illustrated as an example as being a sheet of transparent fabric material that supports on its front face a plurality of operating vanes in double loop 454. The vanes have inner 456 and outer 458 loops that are contiguous at an upper edge 460 and lower 462 of the reed with the upper edge of each reed being attached to the transparent fabric along a horizontal attachment line 464 with adhesive or the like. The fixation of each reed is at a predetermined spacing from the adjacent reeds. Various operating elements 466 illustrated as an example in the form of microfilaments or
Similar 72/84 extend vertically along the front face of the transparent fabric and are attached at equally spaced locations along its length to the bottom edge 462 of each reed while being free to slide through openings (not shown) in the line. fixing 464 of the upper edge 460 of each reed to the transparent fabric.
The upper end of the operating elements and the upper edge of the transparent fabric are secured in opposite slots 468 and 470, respectively, on a roll 472 as will be described later. The operating elements 466 are adapted to be raised or lowered in relation to the transparent fabric during operation of the shutter and when the operating elements are raised in relation to the transparent fabric 452, they raise the lower edges 4 62 of each reed towards its upper edge 460 until the reeds are in the open position of Figure 115 with the top and bottom edges of each reed closely adjacent to each other. Evidently, the inverse movement of the operating elements in relation to the transparent fabric, that is, in a downward direction, allows the bottom edge of each reed to descend in relation to the top edge until the reeds assume a closed position in which they meet. extend vertically in overlapping relationship with the transparent fabric and in slightly overlapping relationship with an adjacent reed in order to prevent the passage of vision and light through the shutter.
As possibly best considered with reference to Figure 109, the lowest operating vane 454
73/84 which is immediately above an inoperative false reed 474 at the bottom of the shutter has an increased weight bar 4 76 along its lower edge so that when the operating elements 466 are moved downwards relative to the transparent fabric, the increased weight bar pulls the lower edge of the lower reed downwards by gravity and in doing so pulls the lower edge of each of the upper reeds downwards simultaneously when each of the lower edges of the reed is attached to operating elements in locations spaced along their lengths.
The inoperative false reed 474 is simply a loop preferably of the same material as the operating reeds, which is secured at its upper edge to the front face of the transparent fabric 452 and at its lower edge to a lower rail 478.
The lower rail 478 is generally U-shaped and is connected to the lower edge of the transparent fabric 452 and the lower edge of the false reed 474 as best considered with reference to Figures 103 and 109. It will be considered that the lower rail has an arched front wall 480 and vertically spaced legs projected backwards 482, which are hooked along its rear edges 484 and in cooperation with the front wall define a channel 486 between the same. A receptacle 488 is also formed on the outer surfaces of both spaced, upper and lower legs. The legs have projections in the inward direction 490 that define a mouth for channel 486.
74/84
The lower edge of the transparent fabric 452 is wrapped around an upper fixing bar 492, which is inserted into the receptacle 488 on the upper leg 482 and the lower edge of the built-in reed 474 is wrapped around a lower fixing bar 494 a which is seated in receptacle 488 on the lower leg. The central channel 486 defines a seat in which one or more slidingly adjustable ballast bars 496 can be positioned with the ballast bars being known in the art. The ballast bars are used to adjust the distributed weight of the shutter so that the bottom rail is always horizontally arranged so that the shutter will roll smoothly over the roll.
Roller 472 is pivotally mounted on an upper rail, Figures 103 and 109, in a conventional manner with the upper rail as best seen in Figures 102-107 having a front wall 62 0, an upper wall 622, a rear wall 624 and covers end cap 625.
The upper wall 622 is similar to those previously described in order to be supported from the mounting brackets for mounting the upper rail in an architectural opening. It includes a groove 626 along a front edge that releasably receives a tongue 628 along the top edge of the front wall 620. The front wall is a backward concave arched wall having a bottom edge projected towards forked back 630. The upper wall also has a groove 632 adjacent to its rear edge which is adapted to releasably receive a tongue 634 along the upper edge of the rear wall 624. The edge
75/84 bottom of the rear wall defines a fastener in the shape of a hook that opens in the upward direction for a purpose to be described below, and considered, the rear wall is also arched in cross section in order to be concave in the direction for front with the bottom edge 636 extending forward and downward. All three components of the top rail can be extruded items made of aluminum, plastic or the like and the front wall, for example, can be covered with a 638 fabric material for aesthetic purposes, if desired.
The clamp 636 cooperates with the clamping plate or extrusion 640 which is incorporated or attached to the transparent fabric 452 in a location spaced a short distance downwards from the top edge of the transparent fabric and its connection with the roller 4 72. A short distance for purposes of the present disclosure is approximately half the circumference of the roll. The clamping plate is possibly best seen in Figures 108-115 as being an element similar to the extruded sheet of arcuate cross section having a groove that opens in the upward direction 642 defined between confronting ferrules 644 adjacent to its lower edge, a groove that it opens in the downward direction 646 defining a clamping ferrule 648 just above the groove 642 and a top edge in the shape of a hook 650. Although it is evident that the clamping plate rotates with the roller until it separates from the roller close to the end of rotation in the counterclockwise direction of the roller as will be evident below, for the purposes of the present disclosure, reference to
76/84 various locations on the fastener plate will assume the orientation of the fastener plate as seen in its various views. A third fixing bar 652 is used to secure the fastening plate to the transparent fabric by wrapping the transparent fabric partially around the third fixing bar and inserting the third fixing bar into the groove that opens upwards 642. The arcuate curvature of the clamping plate adjusts to the generally cylindrical outer surface of the roll so that the clamping plate can generally be wrapped tightly with the support structure around the roll when the cover is fully retracted as shown, for example, in Figure 103.
When the cover is unrolled, as shown in sequence from the fully retracted position of 103 to the fully extended position of 115, it can be seen that when the roller 472 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, the lower rail 478 due its weight is lowered by gravity initially through the position shown in Figure 109 so that the transparent fabric 452 and the operating elements 466 begin to unwind from the roll. Figure 110 shows the cover with the transparent fabric having a little more than one final loop around the roll and after another complete turn, Figure 111 shows the transparent fabric only partially wound through the top of the roll and with the holding plate 640 being released from the roll while remaining attached to the transparent fabric. It will be considered that in the position of Figure 111, the fastening ferrule 648 on the fastening plate overlaps fastener 636 to the bottom edge of the wall
77/84 posterior 624 of the upper rail so that when the transparent fabric is further unrolled as shown in Figure 112, the fastener plate is lowered with the fastener ferrule of the fastener plate moving to a closely adjacent relationship with the fastener on the rear wall of the fastener top rail. In Figure 113, which shows the roller having been turned in a counterclockwise direction for a slightly shorter distance, the clamping plate's clamping ferrule having been inserted into the clamp that opens upwards from the rear wall and the clamp being inserted into the groove 646 so that the clamping plate will not further move downwards although the roll continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. It should also be considered by reference to Figure 113 that the lower edge of the clamping plate 640 in that position fills a gap between the lower edge of the rear wall and the lower edge of the front wall and the operating elements slidably engage the forked lower edge 630 of the front wall. When the roller continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 114, the transparent fabric 452 loosely joins inside the upper rail above the clamping plate and the operating elements 466 are pulled upwards when the Their fixed locations with the roller increase their separation from the forked lower edge of the front wall. Figure 115 shows the roll in its extreme unrolled position with the vanes 454 being moved to their fully open positions by pulling the lower edge 462 of each reed close to the upper edge
78/84
460 of each reed.
When the cover is rolled back by turning the roller in a clockwise direction, the operating elements are initially lowered to allow the vanes to move from their open position in Figure 115 to their closed position in Figure 113. and subsequently the fabric transparent film begins to be wrapped with the operating elements around the roll, which causes the fastener plate to be lifted from its holding relationship with the fastener on the rear wall of the upper rail. The transparent fabric then lifts the clamping plate in a complementary relationship with the roll and when the roll continues to rotate in a clockwise direction, the transparent fabric is wrapped around the clamping plate until the cover is fully retracted to the position of the Figure 103.
Figures 81-83 simply illustrate a variation in the shape in which the built-in reed 474 can be made from different heights with the highest height shown in Figure 81 and the smallest in Figure 83. The variance in the height of the built-in reed can be for aesthetic reasons and to provide the selected lengths of the shutter particularly where the lower reed of the operating reeds 454 is spaced at a different distance from the window sill with this gap being filled with the built-in reed. Figure 84 is simply an enlargement showing the overlapping of the lower edge of the lower operating blade 454 with the upper edge of the false operating blade 74 and with the lower edge of the lower operating blade having the bar increased in weight 476 on it and the lower edge of the operating elements 466 attached to them.
79/84
The rotational retraction or clockwise movement of the roller is limited with a holder holder against 562 best seen in Figures 85 to 91, which is mounted on the upper rail and positioned to engage the lower rail 478 at a predetermined location when the shutter has been completely retracted to the top rail and with the panel wrapped in the 472 roll. The holder bracket is best seen in Figures 86 and 91 comprising a two-piece holder having a mounting base 564 that can be attached to the top edge of the top rail 500 and a pendant holding element 566 that is adjustable to the base 564 .
The base 564 includes a main body generally U-shaped 568 defined by a lower leg 570 and a pair of perpendicular backwardly extended side legs 572 with the side legs having vertically spaced pairs of spaced inwardly oriented fingers 574 defining channels 576 between them along each leg. The sets of fingers include a plurality of fingers along the top edge of each side leg 572 and a plurality of fingers along the bottom edge of each side leg with the top and bottom fingers in each set being displaced in relation to each other. A holding arm 578 extends backwards from the lower leg 570 between and in an equally spaced parallel with each of the side legs. The holding arm is slightly less than the length of the side legs, but preferably more than half the length of the side legs. The gripping leg has a ferrule projected on the
80/84 downwards 580, adjacent to its most posterior border. The holding arm is inherently somewhat flexible due to the nature of the material from which the holding support is made. The material could be any suitable plastic, polyurethane or even a metal that is somewhat rigid, but having some flexibility. A portion of the insert plate 582 of the base 564 extends forward from the lower leg 570 of the base with the insert plate consisting of a generally rectangular loop 584 of material that is approximately half the depth of the main body 568 of the base and having a rectangular opening 586 formed at its center. A clamp leg 588 attached to one end to the front side of the lower leg of the main body of the base, protrudes forward into the rectangular opening with the clamp leg having a ferrule 590 protruding downwards from its end further ahead as seen best in Figure 83. The fastener leg is somewhat rigid, but has some flexibility due to the nature of the material from which the holder support is made.
The retaining element 566 is generally of an inverted L-shaped configuration having an upper horizontal leg 592 defined by a pair of parallel side rails 594 spaced by a middle portion generally of baseboard 596 with the baseboard including tapered teeth 598 having vertical sides 600 along from its posterior edge and upper surfaces tapered in the forward and downward directions 602 contiguous to the next adjacent teeth. The thickness of the side walls is such that
81/84 to slide reasonably fit within the channels 576 defined between the pairs of fingers 574 on the main body of the base and the ferrule 58 0 at the rear edge of the fastener arm is adapted to be displaced into the space between the teeth selected in the footer body.
It will therefore be considered that the upper horizontal leg 592, of the detent element 566, is selectively confined to the main body 568 of the base, and held in position by the detent arm 578, at a selected insertion depth in the main body of the base. A vertical leg 604 hangs downwardly from the rearmost edge of horizontal leg 592 and ends at its lower end in an arcuate encounter body 606 which is concave downwardly. The vertical leg has a reinforcement gusset 608 on its front face to reinforce the vertical leg.
As will be seen below, the concave body in the downward direction 606 is adapted to engage the lower rail 478 of the shutter when the shutter reaches its fully retracted position and the relative relationship of the
<td>holder element 566 and</td><td>gives</td><td>base</td><td> 564,</td><td>support</td>
<td>holder, will allow</td><td>O</td><td>body</td><td>in</td><td>encounter be</td>
<td>properly positioned</td><td>for</td><td colspan="2">hitch the</td><td>bottom rail.</td>
As will be considered, the spacing of the lower rail from the roll 472 will vary depending on the length of the panel 450 of material in the shutter and consequently, the thickness of the wrap of the panel material in the roll. Evidently the thickness of the wrap determines the location of the lower rail when the shutter is completely retracted and the retaining element is
82/84 accordingly positioned.
Referring to Figure 92, and as mentioned earlier, the upper wall 506 of the upper rail 500 projects horizontally. It covers a generally parallel leg 610 formed on the top rail in order to define the recess 508 between them. The horizontal leg 610 in turn has a longitudinally extended notch 612, formed therein, and a fastener 614 at its distal edge. The insert plate portion 582 of the base is adapted to be inserted into the recess 508 between the upper edge of the upper rail and the parallel leg 610 with the ferrule 590 at the rear edge of the fastener leg 588 being adapted to fit the notch 612 formed in the parallel leg. The insertion plate is thus releasably confined to the recess formed in the upper rail and fastened to it thereby presenting the main body 568 of the base for receiving the horizontal leg of the detent element 566.
It will be considered from the above that when the holder support 562 is accordingly mounted on the upper rail 500, it is arranged in a position to meet and to limit further movement of the lower rail 478 thereby interrupting the clockwise rotation of the roll on which the fabric panel 450 is rolled up when the shutter is fully retracted. Of course, the holder support does not inhibit the counterclockwise rotation of the roll so that the panel 450 can be easily unrolled and unfolded as previously described when it extends completely through the architectural opening with the fastener 540 engaged on the plate
83/84 of fastener 524 to limit further extension of the support structure to the shutter.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many variations of a cover according to the present invention are possible with some of these variations if related to the replacement of a support sheet as the support structure with a plurality of vertically extended monofilaments, tapes or strips , natural or synthetic ropes, or the like. Similarly, the operating elements can be varied between monofilaments, strips or bands of material, natural or synthetic fibrous cords or the like. In addition, the cross-sectional configuration of the vanes may vary for different aesthetic appearances and additionally cellular vanes that are formed on opposite sides of the lifting elements and operating elements may be symmetrical in different configurations or asymmetrical having different configurations in a front element and its posterior element. In addition, the flexibility of the material from which the reeds are made can be varied to obtain different aesthetic effects and where rigid or semi-rigid materials are used, creases defining fold lines can be formed in the material to obtain functionality desired. The transparency of the reeds can also be regulated as well as the color through the use of selected materials.
Additionally, although the vanes have been revealed to be connected to the support structure along an upper edge with the lower edge being movable to move the cover between the open and
84/84 closed, the reverse could be applied. That is, the bottom edge of the reeds could be attached to the support structure and the top edge moved, or, of course, the reeds could be mounted vertically with one edge being attached to the support structure and the other being movable in the opposite direction. to that edge to move the vanes between open and closed positions.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the disclosure was made as an example, and changes in detail or structure can be made without departing from the inventive concept of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
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Contents4
228 members in 18 offices
Priority claims4
| Document | Office | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7795305 | United States of America | A | |
| 10250005 | United States of America | A | |
| 34893906 | United States of America | A | |
| 2006006246 | United States of America | W |
Members228
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| WO2006023751A3 | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A3 | |
| MXPA06001857A | Mexico | A | |
| EP1664471A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| TW200619488A | Taiwan Province of China | A | |
| MXPA06007089A | Mexico | A | |
| US2006191646A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP1697611A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
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| CN101043973A | China | A | |
| AR056277A1 | Argentina | A1 | |
| EP1856364A2 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A2 | |
| KR20070114311A | Republic of Korea | A | |
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| CN101171397A | China | A | |
| BRPI0514355A | Brazil | A | |
| US2008168637A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| CA2618204A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| CA2923501A1 | Canada | A1 | |
| US7402391B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| JP2008533331A | Japan | A | |
| HK1113556A1 | Hong Kong, China | A1 | |
| US2008280304A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| RU2345206C2 | Russian Federation | C2 | |
| US7549455B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| JP4301789B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| CN100518592C | China | C | |
| NZ545258A | New Zealand | A | |
| US7588068B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| NZ547840A | New Zealand | A | |
| BRPI0608403A2This record | Brazil | A2 | |
| US2009321024A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2010059186A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| AU2004267493B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| US7704694B2 | United States of America | B2 | |
| CN101043973B | China | B | |
| US2010126675A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| AU2004308391B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| USD622964S | United States of America | S | |
| CN101823340A | China | A | |
| USD623419S | United States of America | S | |
| AU2010214739A1 | Australia | A1 | |
| AU2004267493C1 | Australia | C1 | |
| US2010276088A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| US2010276089A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| AU2006223635B2 | Australia | B2 | |
| USD632492S | United States of America | S | |
| USD632493S | United States of America | S | |
| EP1697611A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 |
6 legal events, as the office reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| Others concerning applications: changing of nature [chapter 15.10 patent gazette]B15J | B15J | |
| Appeal against refusal [chapter 12.2 patent gazette]AppealB12B | B12B | |
| Patent application refused [chapter 9.2 patent gazette]INDEFIRO O PEDIDO DE ACORDO COM O(S) ARTIGO(S) 8O E 11 DA LPIB09B | B09B | |
| Application suspended after technical examination (opinion) [chapter 7.1 patent gazette]B07A | B07A | |
| Grant of priority examination of the patent application (request complies with dec. 132/06 of 20061117)B65Y | B65Y | |
| Notification of requirement for priority examination of patent applicationB65X | B65X |
Numbers
- Application
- 6084036
Titles2
- Portuguese
- veneziana retrátil com palhetas articuláveis
- English
- retractable shutter with articulated reeds
Classification
- CPC, 12
- E06B9/323
- E06B9/40
- A47H2201/02
- E06B9/24
- E06B9/262
- E06B9/264
- E06B9/322
- E06B9/34
- E06B9/388
- E06B2009/2429
- E06B2009/2625
- E06B2009/2627
- IPC, 1
- E06B3 32