Cellular shade material

• US 5,692,550 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 12/02/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Newell Window Furnishings Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Ford, James Arthur, Presdorf, Ronald Lynn, Bertva, Don Lee, Kennedy, James Murrell
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, BLAIR M
• Application Number:
  US08/699,593
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 160/84.01, 160/84.05, 156/193, 156/197, 428/116, 428/118
• US Class Current: 160/84.05
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2625 Pleated screens, e.g. concertina- or accordion-like
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/2627 Cellular screens, e.g. box or honeycomb-like
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/262 with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds , i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/323 Structure or support of upper box
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/388 Details of bottom or upper slats or their attachment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1003 by separating laminae between spaced secured areas [e.g., honeycomb expanding]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24149 Honeycomb-like

Abstract

A cellular pleated shade material is provided for cellular pleated shades. Each pleat thereof is formed from a single strip of shade material which is folded longitudinally in half, and the edges thereof are glued together to form a fin. The side of one cell is affixed to the side of the next adjacent cell adjacent the centerline of the sides. The ratio of cell height to cell width may be varied, without affecting the overall aesthetic presentation of the shade, by varying the size of the fin.

Claims

1. A cellular pleated shade member having a plurality of interconnected cells, at least one of the cells comprising:

a strip of shade material folded lengthwise to form an upper cell wall and a lower cell wall extending from a fold, each upper and lower cell wall having a free edge and a folded edge;

said upper cell wall and lower cell wall of said strip interconnected adjacent their respective free edges; and

said upper cell wall and said lower cell wall each having at least one attachment zone on each side of a longitudinal center line of each said cell wall for connecting said cell to an adjacent cell.

2. The cellular pleated shade of claim 1, wherein one of said upper cell wall and lower cell wall includes two attachment zones that extend longitudinally thereon.

3. The cellular pleated shade of claim 1, wherein said free edges of said upper cell wall and lower cell wall are interconnected by sonic welding.

4. The cellular pleated shade of claim 1, wherein said free edges of said upper cell wall and lower cell wall are interconnected by an adhesive glue.

5. The cellular pleated shade of claim 1, wherein said free edges of said upper cell wall and lower cell wall are interconnected by an adhesive strip.

6. The cellular pleated shade of claim 2, further including a pullcord disposed through the pleats of said cellular pleated shade between said two attachment zones.

7. The cellular pleated shade of claim 1, wherein said cell is connected to said adjacent cell at said attachment zones.

8. The cellular pleated shade of claim 7, wherein a glue bead connects said cell to said adjacent cell at each said attachment zone.

9. The cellular pleated shade of claim 7, wherein an adhesive strip connects said cell to said adjacent cell at each said attachment zone.

10. A cellular shade for covering a window, said shade comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally extending, substantially parallel interconnected fabric cells, wherein substantially all cells within said plurality of cells have for each cell;

a front side and a rear side;

a crease forming a tip on said front side;

an upper cell wall extending from said crease and having a rear edge, said upper cell wall having a longitudinal center line equidistant along said upper cell wall from said crease and from said rear edge of said upper cell wall;

a lower cell wall extending from said crease and having a rear edge, said lower cell wall and said upper cell wall being substantially equal in length; and

a fin on said rear side, wherein said fin is formed by joining a portion of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall with a portion of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall; and

material located on at least one of said upper cell wall and said lower cell wall for attaching each cell of said plurality of cells to an adjacent cell of said plurality of cells.

11. The cellular shade of claim 10, wherein said material for attaching includes an adhesive strip.

12. The cellular shade of claim 11, wherein said adhesive strip passes through said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

13. The cellular shade of claim 10, wherein said material for attaching includes at least one glue bead.

14. The cellular shade of claim 13, wherein said at least one glue bead passes through said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

15. The cellular shade of claim 10, wherein said material for attaching includes a glue bead on each side of said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

16. The cellular shade of claim 15, wherein said glue beads are approximately equidistant along said upper cell wall from said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

17. The cellular shade of claim 10, wherein said portion of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall is joined with said portion of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall by a glue bead.

18. The cellular shade of claim 10, wherein said portion of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall is joined with said portion of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall by an adhesive strip.

19. The cellular shade of claim 10, wherein said portion of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall is joined with said portion of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall by sonic welding.

20. The cellular shade of claim 10, wherein when said cellular shade is extended, the interior surfaces of said upper cell wall and said lower cell wall define a six-sided polygon, said six-sided polygon having an upper rear side, an upper middle side, an upper front side, a lower front side, a lower middle side, and a lower rear side.

21. The cellular shade of claim 20, wherein said fin, said upper middle side and said lower middle side are substantially in parallel arrangement.

22. The cellular shade of claim 20, wherein an interior angle defined by said upper from side and said lower front side is less than an interior angle defined by said upper rear side and said lower rear side.

23. The cellular shade of claim 20, wherein said upper middle side is approximately equal in length to said lower middle side.

24. A cellular shade for covering a window, said shade comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally extending interconnected fabric cells, wherein each cell within said plurality of cells has;

a front side and a rear side;

a crease forming a tip on said front side;

an upper cell wall extending from said tip and having a rear edge, said upper cell wall having an upper surface and an interior surface and having a longitudinal center line equidistant along said upper cell wall from said tip and from said rear edge of said upper cell wall;

a lower cell wall extending from said tip and having a rear edge, said lower cell wall having a lower surface and an interior surface, said lower cell wall and said upper cell wall being substantially equal in length; and

a fin on said rear side, wherein said fin is formed by joining a first portion of said interior surface of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall with a first portion of said interior surface of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall;

an adhesive on substantially all cells of said plurality of cells, said adhesive for connecting each cell of said substantially all cells to an adjacent cell of said plurality of cells;

an upper rail assembly, said upper rail assembly attached to an uppermost cell of said plurality of cells;

a lower rail assembly, said lower rail assembly attached to a lowermost cell of said plurality of cells; and

a pullcord, said pullcord for raising and lowering one of said upper and lower rail assembly in relation to the other of said upper and lower rail assembly.

25. The cellular shade of claim 24, wherein said adhesive includes an adhesive strip on said upper surface of said upper wall.

26. The cellular shade claim 25, wherein said adhesive strip passes through said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

27. The cellular shade of claim 24, wherein said adhesive includes an adhesive strip on said lower surface of said lower cell wall.

28. The cellular shade of claim 24, wherein said adhesive includes a glue bead on said upper surface of said upper cell wall.

29. The cellular shade of claim 28, wherein said glue bead passes through said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

30. The cellular shade of claim 24, wherein said adhesive includes a first glue bead on said upper surface of said upper cell wall and a second glue bead on said upper surface of said upper cell wall, said first and said second glue beads being on opposite sides of said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

31. The cellular shade of claim 30, wherein said first and said second glue beads extend longitudinally along said upper surface of said upper cell wall of said cell.

32. The cellular shade of claim 31, wherein said first portion of said interior surface of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall is joined with said first portion of said interior surface of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall by an adhesive.

33. The cellular shade of claim 32, wherein when said cellular shade is extended, a second portion of said interior surface of said upper cell wall and a second portion of said interior surface of said lower cell wall define a six-sided polygon, said six-sided polygon having an upper rear side, an upper middle side, an upper front side, a lower front side, a lower middle side, and a lower rear side.

34. The cellular shade of claim 33, wherein said fin, said upper middle side and said lower middle side are substantially in parallel arrangement.

35. The cellular shade of claim 33, wherein an interior angle defined by said upper front side and said lower front side is less than an interior angle defined by said upper rear side and said lower rear side.

36. The cellular shade of claim 35, wherein said first and said second glue beads are approximately equidistant along said upper cell wall from said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall.

37. The cellular shade of claim 36, wherein said first glue bead is proximate to a front end of said upper middle side and said second glue bead is proximate to a rear end of said upper middle side.

38. The cellular shade of claim 37, wherein said upper middle side is approximately equal in length to said lower middle side.

39. The cellular shade of claim 24, wherein said adhesive includes a first glue bead on said lower surface of said lower cell wall and a second glue bead on said lower surface of said lower cell wall.

40. The cellular shade of claim 39, wherein when said cellular shade is extended, a second portion of said interior surface of said upper cell wail and a second portion of said interior surface of said lower cell wall define a six-sided polygon, said six-sided polygon having an upper rear side, an upper middle side, an upper front side, a lower front side, a lower middle side, and a lower rear side.

41. The cellular shade of claim 40, wherein said fin, said upper middle side and said lower middle side are substantially in parallel arrangement.

42. The cellular shade of claim 40, wherein an interior angle defined by said upper front side and said lower front side is less than an interior angle defined by said upper rear side and said lower rear side.

43. The cellular shade of claim 40, wherein said upper middle side is approximately equal in length to said lower middle side.

44. The cellular shade of claim 43, wherein said first glue bead is proximate to a front end of said lower middle side and said second glue beads is proximate to a rear end of said lower middle side.

45. The cellular shade of claim 44, wherein said first and said second glue beads extend longitudinally along said lower surface of said lower cell wall of said cell.

46. The cellular shade of claim 45 wherein said first portion of said interior surface of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall is joined with said first portion of said interior surface of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall by an adhesive.

47. A cellular shade for covering a window, said shade comprising:

a plurality of longitudinally extending interconnected fabric cells, wherein substantially all cells within said plurality of cells have for each cell;

a front side and a rear side;

a crease forming a tip on said front side;

an upper cell wall extending from said tip and having a rear edge, said upper cell wall having an upper surface and an interior surface and having a longitudinal center line equidistant along said upper cell wall from said tip and from said rear edge of said upper cell wall;

a lower cell wall extending from said tip and having a rear edge, said lower cell wall having a lower surface and an interior surface; and

a fin on said rear side, wherein said fin is formed by joining a first portion of said interior surface of said upper cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said upper cell wall with a first portion of said interior surface of said lower cell wall adjacent said rear edge of said lower cell wall;

an adhesive on substantially all cells of said plurality of cells, said adhesive for connecting each cell of said substantially all cells to an adjacent cell of said plurality of cells, wherein said adhesive includes a first glue bead on said upper surface of said upper cell wall and a second glue bead on said upper surface of said upper cell wall, said first and said second glue beads being on opposite sides of said longitudinal center line of said upper cell wall, said first and said second glue beads extending longitudinally along said upper surface of said upper cell wall;

an upper rail assembly, said upper rail assembly attached to an uppermost cell of said plurality of cells;

a lower rail assembly, said lower rail assembly attached to a lowermost cell of said plurality of cells; and

a pullcord, said pullcord for raising and lowering said one of said upper and lower rail assembly in relation to the other of said upper and lower rail assembly;

wherein when said cellular shade is extended,

a second portion of said interior surface of said upper cell wall and a second portion of said interior surface of said lower cell wall define a six-sided polygon, said six-sided polygon having an upper rear side, an upper middle side, an upper front side, a lower front side, a lower middle side, and a lower rear side;

the length of said upper middle side and said lower middle side are of approximately equal lengths, the length of said upper middle side being less than the length of either of said upper rear side and said upper front side, and the length of said lower middle side being less than the length of either of said lower rear side and said lower front side; and

said fin, said upper middle side and said lower middle side are in substantially parallel arrangement.