Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming cellular or non-cellular window shades directly from raw stock to the final desired window shade color, height and width to fit a particular window size, with essentially no wasted material. The shade is fabricated from a bonded array of a predetermined number of stacked, identically shaped and sized, elements or preforms of uniform length corresponding to one of the height or width dimensions of the desired window covering. The number of preforms is selected so that the length of the fully expanded array will correspond with the other of the height or width dimensions of the window covering. The raw stock is in the form of a continuously fed narrow strip of uncolored fabric to which the necessary coloring, folding, cutting-to-length, stacking and bonding steps are applied within the disclosed apparatus.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of foldable, collapsible window shades from a continuously moving strip of material. The method described herein is directed to a variety of methods of handling and processing preforms generated from the strip of material in order to ensure continuous movement of the strip of material during the process.

Abstract: A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers. Each louver is rotatable about an axis offset from its center of gravity. The system further includes a resisting member coupled to a louver located at a lower end of the plurality of louvers, the center of gravity of the louvers with the offset axis pulling against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkages. All of the louvers of the plurality of louvers are rotated in a substantially matched rotation in response to rotation of the lower louver. All of the louvers are held in position in response to the force of gravity on the offset louvers acting against the resisting member.

Abstract: A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a frame and a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers coupled within the frame. Each louver of the plurality of louvers is operatively coupled to adjacent louvers with a collapsible linkage. The system may further comprise a biasing member coupled to a first louver located at a first end of the plurality of louvers and a resisting member coupled to a second louver located at a second end of the plurality of louvers. The biasing member pulls against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkage. According to certain embodiments, the frame elements are coupled within a window opening and trim elements are coupled to cover gaps between the frame elements and the window opening.

Abstract: A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers. Each louver is rotatable about an axis offset from its center of gravity. The system further includes a resisting member coupled to a louver located at a lower end of the plurality of louvers, the center of gravity of the louvers with the offset axis pulling against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkages. All of the louvers of the plurality of louvers are rotated in a substantially matched rotation in response to rotation of the lower louver. All of the louvers are held in position in response to the force of gravity on the offset louvers acting against the resisting member.

Abstract: A method of making a plurality of foldable, collapsible window shades from a continuously moving strip of material. The method described herein is directed to a variety of methods of handling and processing preforms generated from the strip of material in order to ensure continuous movement of the strip of material during the process.

Abstract: A shutter-blind system for windows is provided. The system includes a frame and a plurality of rotatable parallel louvers coupled within the frame. Each louver of the plurality of louvers is operatively coupled to adjacent louvers with a collapsible linkage. The system may further comprise a biasing member coupled to a first louver located at a first end of the plurality of louvers and a resisting member coupled to a second louver located at a second end of the plurality of louvers. The biasing member pulls against the resisting member to maintain tension in the collapsible linkage. According to certain embodiments, the frame elements are coupled within a window opening and trim elements are coupled to cover gaps between the frame elements and the window opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming cellular or non-cellular window shades directly from raw stock to the final desired window shade color, height and width to fit a particular window size, with essentially no wasted material. The shade is fabricated from a bonded array of a predetermined number of stacked, identically shaped and sized, elements or preforms of uniform length corresponding to one of the height or width dimensions of the desired window covering. The number of preforms is selected so that the length of the fully expanded array will correspond with the other of the height or width dimensions of the window covering. The raw stock is in the form of a continuously fed narrow strip of uncolored fabric to which the necessary coloring, folding, cutting-to-length, stacking and bonding steps are applied within the disclosed apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for forming cellular or non-cellular window shades directly from raw stock to the final desired window shade color, height and width to fit a particular window size, with essentially no wasted material. The shade is fabricated from a bonded array of a predetermined number of stacked, identically shaped and sized, elements or preforms of uniform length corresponding to one of the height or width dimensions of the desired window covering. The number of preforms is selected so that the length of the fully expanded array will correspond with the other of the height or width dimensions of the window covering. The raw stock is in the form of a continuously fed narrow strip of uncolored fabric to which the necessary coloring, folding, cutting-to-length, stacking and bonding steps are applied within the disclosed apparatus.

Abstract: A window shade assembly includes a flexible shade material having a pair of non-beaded vertical edges positioned in a pair of opposed vertical side channels. A re-channeling system includes a lip to at least partially define a plane of the flexible shade material within the side channels, and a bottom rail irremovably and slidingly received in each side channel. The side channels can be two parts. A single resilient seal strip is used with the side channels to seal the flexible shade material. The seal strip can be an edge of the flexible wrapping material for the side channels.

Abstract: Embodiments of a window shade assembly include a headrail coupled to a source of a substantially opaque shade material. A pair of opposed vertical, opaque side channels open in a direction facing one another and configured to be mounted to a surrounding frame for receiving at least a portion of an edge of the substantially opaque shade material. Each side channel includes at least one light-absorbing inner surface.

Abstract: A window shade assembly includes a flexible shade material having a pair of non-beaded vertical edges positioned in a pair of opposed vertical side channels. A re-channeling system includes a lip to at least partially define a plane of the flexible shade material within the side channels, and a bottom rail irremovably and slidingly received in each side channel. The side channels can be two parts. A single resilient seal strip is used with the side channels to seal the flexible shade material. The seal strip can be an edge of the flexible wrapping material for the side channels.

Abstract: A window shade assembly includes a flexible shade material having a pair of non-beaded vertical edges positioned in a pair of opposed vertical side channels. A re-channeling system includes a lip to at least partially define a plane of the flexible shade material within the side channels, and a bottom rail irremovably and slidingly received in each side channel. The side channels can be two parts. A single resilient seal strip is used with the side channels to seal the flexible shade material. The seal strip can be an edge of the flexible wrapping material for the side channels.

Abstract: A system is disclosed including a transponder and a shield. The transponder may be a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder and sends a signal to a reader. The shield selectively prevents the transponder from sending the signal. The transponder and the shield are selectively movable relative to each other to permit transmission of the signal from the transponder. A movement of the transponder and the shield relative to each other is indicated by the presence of the signal. Thus, when a signal is present, due to a change or increase of the movement of the shield relative to the transponder, the reader receives an indication of a disturbance or an intrusion.

Abstract: A cord-operated window covering is provided with means for equalizing the individual lift cord lengths to maintain a horizontal and level bottom rail, while avoiding the choking danger to small children presented by exposed cord loops that can become entangled with the child. A break-away coupling of the exposed cord ends is provided in the form of a shear-loaded, separable joint that is strong when subjected to shear-type forces in normal use, but which is weak when loaded in peel or tension perpendicular to the joint, as would occur in a potentially dangerous child-entangled situation. The joint is formed by surface-modifying products applied to the opposed abutting surfaces of the individual cordlock members. Also disclosed is an embodiment that utilizes a continuous lift cord loop that is frictionally gripped by a gripper member secured to the shade.