EXPANDABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE CELLULAR SHADEThe prior art discloses various cellular structures for windows and the like. U.S. Patents RE 30,254; RE 31,129; 4,450,027; and 4,603,072, disclose a cellular structure formed of a plurality of separate tubes or separate strips that are folded to a tubular configuration and adhered together one on top of the other to form longitudinally extending cells. US. Patents 4,288,485; 4,388,354 and 4,307,768, disclose a cellular structure formed from a plurality of separate sheets that are stacked and adhered together along spaced longitudinally extending bands to form longitudinally extending cells between adjacent sheets. U.S.Patents 4,631,217; 4,676,855; 4,677,012 and 4,677,013, disclose a cellular structure formed from a plurality of separate sheets that are longitudinally folded and adhered together such that each sheet forms a part of two adjacent cells. U.S.
Patents 2,201,356; 4,625,786; 4,673,600 and 4,685,986, disclose a cellular structure formed from two folded sheets disposed at opposite sides of the shade and connected together at spaced locations. U.S. Patent to Brown 4,347,887 discloses a cellular structure formed from a continuous single sheet of material bonded to itself at spaced intervals to form a plurality of adjacent cells arranged in a double row of configuration and such that a double row of cells have generally coplanar outer portions collectively forming a pair of generally parallel outer members and coplanar inner portions collectively forming a common intermediate member spaced between and generally parallel to the outer members.
It is the general object of the present invention to provide an expandable and collapsible cellular shade formed from a single web of foldable material, which is collapsible to a compact condition and which has finished pleats at both sides of the shade when the shade is expanded.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an expandable and collapsible cellular shade comprising a single web of foldable material folded alternately in opposite directions along permanently set first and second creased folds respectively disposed at first and second sides of the shade such as to form a stack of normally flat panels disposed in flat sidewise abutting relation and serially united in alternate succession along respective first and second creased folds.The panels have the same transverse width measured between the associated first and second creased folds and sidewise adjacent panels that are united along each of the first creased folds have adjacent faces bonded together along a narrow first band parallel to and spaced from the associated first creased fold and sidewise adjacent panels that are united along each of the second creased folds have adjacent faces mounted together along a narrow second band parallel to and spaced from the associated second creased fold. The panels are disposed in flat sidewise abutting relation when the shade is fully collapsed and the panels and the permanently set first and second creased folds therebetween have sufficient strength and resilience to normally maintain an acute angle between the panels at the creased folds when the shade is expanded.Preferably, the first and second bands are respectively spaced from the second and first creased folds a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the first and second bands.
FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a collapsible shade embodying the present inventionFig. 2 is an end view of the shade on a larger scale than Fig. 1 and illustrating the shade in an expanded condition; andFig. 3 is an end view of the shade in a collapsed condition.
As shown in the accompanying drawings, the expandable and collapsible shade designated generally by the numeralS is formed of a single web of foldable material that is folded alternately in opposite directions along sharp permanently set first and second creased folds designated F1 and F2 disposed at opposite sides of the shade such as to form a plurality of normally flat panels p that are serially united in alternate succession along respective first and second creased folds. The creased folds F1 andF2 are parallel to each other and are spaced apart a uniform preselected distance so that the panels P have the same transverse width designated W in Figs. 2 and 3 between the associated first and second creased folds F1 and F2.The web can be formed of various different materials which are foldable and sufficiently stiff to retain permanently set creased folds. The web may, for example, be formed of suitable plastic film such as polyester film, or from woven and non-woven material formed from various fibers including natural and synthetic. In the present shade, one side of the web will be exposed at one side of the completed shade and the opposite side of the web will be exposed at the opposite side of the completed shade.
Thus, opposite sides of the web can advantageously be formed with different physical characteristics such as different colors or textures for different aesthetics, or with a light reflection or absorbent surface on one side or the other for enhanced insulating characteristics.
Sidewise adjacent panels that are united along each of the first creased folds have adjacent faces bonded together along a narrow first band designated B1 that is parallel to and spaced a predetermined distance designated D1 inFigs. 2 and 3 from the associated first creased fold, and the sidewise adjacent panels that are united along each of the second creased folds F2 have adjacent faces bonded together along a narrow second band B2 that is parallel to and spaced the same distance D1 from the associated second crease fold, where D1 is greater than one-half the width W of the panels and less than the full width of the panels.
The distance Dl is preferably preselected so as to be about two-thirds the width of the panels so that the distance designated D2 in Figs. 2 and 3 between the bands B1 and the fold lines F2 and the similar distance D2 between the bands B2 and the fold lines F1 is about onethird the width of the panels. Stated otherwise, the first and second bands B1 and B2 are respectively spaced from the second and first creased fold lines F2 and F1 a distance substantially equal to the spacing between the first and second bands B1 and B2. Bands B1 and B2 are formed by a suitable adhesive and are preferably made relatively narrow, for example of tne order of one-eighth inch or less.
The sidewise adjacent panels P are normally flat and are collapsible into a compact stack in flat sidewise abutting relation as shown in Fig. 3 and, when the shade is expanded, the sidewise adjacent panels that are united along the first crease folds and bonded together along the first bands define a first row of cells C1 therebetween and the sidewise adjacent panels that are united along the second creased folds F2 and bonded along the second bandsB2 define a second row of cells C2 therebetween, with the first and second rows of cells C1 and C2 overlapping in the area between the first and second bands.
In order to facilitate mounting and expanding and collapsing the shade in a window opening, one end of the shade is attached to a head member designated HM and the other end of the shade is attached to a bottom member BM.
The panels P are formed with one or more rows of openings designated 0 at a location intermediate the bands B1 andB2, and a lift cord means L is attached to one of the members such as the bottom member BM and extends through the row or rows of openings and over guides G on the headrail.
In making the shade, the web of material is first folded and creased along the first and second fold lines F1 and F2 to form a stack of flat panels in flat sidewise abutting relation. Adhesive bands are advantageously applied after the web is folded and creased, by separating the panels between adjacent creased folds to allow application of the adhesive band to one or both of the separated panels.
From the foregoing it is believed that the construction of the expandable and collapsible cellular shade will be readily understood. The shade is formed from a single web of material with the permanently creased fold lines F1 and F2 disposed as opposite sides of the shade to provide finished pleats at both sides of the shade when the shade is expanded and improved stacking when the shade is collapsed. The creased folds form a unitary connection between adjacent panels and contribute to support of the lower portions of the shade when the shade is expanded.
Further, since opposite sides of the web of material are exposed at opposite sides of the completed shade, opposite sides of the web can be preformed to provide different aesthetic and/or thermal characteristics at opposite sides of the completed shade. Spacing the adhesive bands B1 andB2 from the associated creased fold lines F1 and F2 about two-thirds the width of the panels, allows maximum shade expansion and narrow adhesive bands B1 and B2 between adjacent panels provides a double row of overlapping cells C1 and C2 having a generally diamond shaped configuration when the shade is expanded. The lift cords extend down through the panels between the adhesive bands B1 and B2 and are concealed from both sides of the shade.