Abstract: A control system for a vertical vane covering for use in an architectural opening includes a headrail having an upwardly opening channel in which a plurality of carriers are disposed for sliding movement along the length of the headrail. The headrail is of a thin profile with only a minority portion of the carriers being positioned within the hollow interior of the headrail. The carriers are interconnected by a scissors-type linkage to effect uniform separation of the vanes when the covering is expanded across an architectural opening and each carrier includes a rack and pinion system for rotating the vanes suspended thereby.

Abstract: An improved expandable and contractible window covering comprising a series of elongated cells is disclosed. Each cell is formed by joining a pleated sheet of material with an unpleated sheet in an area of creases on the pleated sheet. The rear wall of the cell is of less height than the front wall of the cell and the material of the cell is chosen to be relatively soft and flexible so that the front wall of each cell droops downwardly and outwardly away from the rear wall. The covering is mountable on a roll bar so as to be retracted by rolling about the roll bar and extended by unrolling from the roll bar.

Abstract: A window covering is described wherein at least one translucent or transparent sheet is suspended vertically and has a plurality of parallel vertically extending vanes projecting rearwardly therefrom. The vanes are formed from fabric material which has either been rigidified with a rigidifying compound or rigidified by the formation of a pocket into which a rigid slat is inserted. Variations are provided for varying the flexibility of a hinge defined along a juncture line between the vanes and the fabric sheet.

Abstract: A roller for supporting and storing a flexible light control material. The roller is a substantially circular cylindrical tube defining an outer surface with circumferentially-spaced, longitudinally-extending ribs integral therewith and extending radially outwardly therefrom. One of the ribs defines a radially outwardly extending surface, and a separate one of said ribs defines a radially extending blade-like rib having a tapered and rounded free edge. A clip secures a flexible light control material to the roller. An elongated, resilient, transversely arcuate clip secures the flexible material to the body. The clip defines V-shaped ribs and radially inwardly directed V-shaped channels.

Abstract: A panel is provided including multiple rows of parallel cells extending transversely of the rows and with the cells of adjacent rows of cells staggered longitudinally of the rows relative to each other, two, three, four and five cell row panels being disclosed. The panels are formed by folded material strips stacked one upon the other with each material strip having portions thereof glued together and adjacent material strips in each stack of strips glued together such that each material strip forms at least one complete cell of one row of cells and at least three-quarters of an adjacent cell in an adjacent row of cells.Also, a support system is provided for supporting the upper margin of a vertically disposed multi cell row panel wherein an upper cell or cells has one or two horizontal stiffening strips disposed therein and spaced beneath a stationery support strip.

Abstract: A stabilizing clamp for securing a retractable awning canopy to an adjacent rafter arm is pivotally mounted on the rafter arm and moveable between a non-use position in alignment with the arm and an extended perpendicular position wherein a pair of clamping jaws releasably grip the side edge of the awning canopy. The clamp is of very low profile so as to not interfere with movement of the awning into a retracted position adjacent a support surface.

Abstract: A slide system for interconnecting the outer end of a rafter arm to an associated support arm in a retractable awning includes a slide member pivotally connected to the outer end of a rafter arm and also pivotally and slidably connected to the associated support arm to permit the two arms to become skewed during extension and retraction of the awning. The system further includes an automatic catch system to releasably secure the slide member to the outer end of a support arm in a manner such that it can be quickly released for retraction of the awning.

Abstract: A system for confining articles in a container includes a flexible air impermeable membrane that is adapted to overlie articles in the container and can be pneumatically and forcefully draped over the articles in the container to hold them in place. In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the membrane is in the form of an enclosed bladder which can either be inflated against the articles in the container or drawn against the articles by a vacuum drawn around the bladder. Pour spouts and pressure dispensing spouts are also disclosed for use in certain embodiment of the invention whereby liquids can be confined in the bladder and dispensed at either ambient pressures or elevated pressures. The bladder further defines means by which a coolant can be placed in the container and retained in a segregated relationship relative to the other articles in the container.

Abstract: A window covering includes at least one piece of sheer material and a spaced but parallel support system in the form of a second sheet of sheer material, strips of similar material or strings, with a plurality of spaced flexible vanes extending therebetween. The vanes are attached to at least the sheer sheet of material by an adhesive line that penetrates the sheer material so as to protrude through an opposite side thereof and encapsulate the fibers of the sheer material. The surface of the adhesive on the opposite side of the sheer material from the vane is roughened to create a dull appearance. Strips of fabric material which can be used as vanes are also disclosed as being formable from elongated strips of material which are lengthwise tensioned prior to applying a bonding composition to the material so as to render the strip of material more stiff in its lengthwise direction than in a cross direction.

Abstract: A covering for an architectural opening such as a window or door is in the form of a vertically oriented fabric assembly having front and rear sheer fabrics interconnected by vertically extending vanes. The vanes can be tilted through a series of carriers mounted on a track rail from which the covering is suspended in order to adjust the spacing between the fabrics between open and closed positions and adjust the light transmitting characteristics of the covering. The covering can be extended across the opening by separating the carriers on the track rail and can be contracted by stacking the carriers toward one end of the track rail. A unique design of carrier allows the covering to fold on itself in the contracted state, in the manner of a conventional drape.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a blind or shielding device having angularly adjustable and retractable slats 12, said mechanism comprising a first driven element 27 for pivotally adjusting the angular orientation of the slats and a second driven element 30 for transversely moving the slats towards and away from the retracted position, a common actuating member 22 for driving said first and second driven elements, a coupling device 24 directly coupling said first driven element to said common actuating member, a final engagement and lost motion mechanism 28, 30 for releasibly engaging said common actuating member to said second driven element and allowing entraining of said second driven element after a predetermined number of revolutions of said actuating member neither of two different rotational senses, the final engagement associated with said lost motion mechanism in each rotational sense inducing a reactive force in an axial direction, said reactive force assisting in declutching of said coupling device.

Abstract: An expandable and contractible tubular cell window covering includes a plurality of contiguous cells which have been bonded together to form a wavy or undulating pattern along the length of the cells. The undulating or wavy patterns can be created by initially stretching the cells before bonding adjacent cells and subsequently releasing the stretch so that the fibers engaged with the bonding medium remain in a stretched or separated condition while the remaining fibers are relaxed. The cells can also be bonded with an adhesive that expands on curing to create the same effect without having to prestretch the fabric before applying the bonding medium. In a third embodiment of the invention, adjacent tubular cells are bonded together with curved lines of adhesive which again create an undulating or wavy configuration along the length of each tubular cell. The methods for forming the window covering is also disclosed.