Abstract: A Roman shade having spacers for spacing the folds of the shade when in a raised position to provide the raised Roman shade with a cascading effect.

Abstract: A retrofittable insulation system for solar rooms having glass bays supported by sills along the bottom and separated by vertically extending glazing bars. The system includes extruded, plastic double channel tracks secured to the inside of the glazing bars and extending substantially the full length thereof. An insulating shade sheet is carried by a roller supported on brackets mounted at the tops of adjacent glazing bars. The shade sheet has corded edges captured within the channels of the tracks and a batten is secured to its lower edge. Spring motors are mounted on the sill adjacent the bottom of each track, and cables connect the spring motors to the ends of the batten. The shade is operated by an actuator connected to the shade roller, which acts against the spring motors. In a preferred embodiment, the spring motors exert a pull force on the shade that varies in accordance with the force required to retract the shade which is a function of the relative position of the shade in the tracks.

Abstract: An insulating window shade assembly includes a shade frame having a pair of vertical side channels open in a direction facing one another and designed to be mounted on the inside of the window to be insulated. A flexible insulating shade having inner and outer spaced apart parallel panels extends downwardly from the top of the channels, and the margins of the panels extend into the channels. Edge seals are provided in each channel made up of a pair of flexible polyester film strips with the adjacent sides of the strips being spring biased towards one another but being separable so that the margins of the shade panels may lie between them. The flexible character of the strips forms an effective insulating seal about the margins. A rerailer assembly is provided at the tops of the edge seals to guide the margins of the each panel between the strips of the edge seal should they become dislodged.

Abstract: An edge seal for fabrics such as insulating window shades is disclosed. The seal is formed by tracks disposed on each side of fabric when the fabric is drawn and the tracks receive the fabric margins. A lip is provided on each track, which interlock with flaps cut in the margins to hold the margins in the tracks even when forces are applied to the fabric which would ordinarily pull the margins out of the tracks.

Abstract: An insulating window shade assembly includes a first roller carrying an insulating shade and a second roller carrying a cover fabric. The shade and cover fabric are supported in essentially face to face relationship, and their bottoms are secured together by a Velcro-type fastener. The cover fabric conceals the insulating shade, it may be removed from the shade for cleaning or may be changed and it may be adjusted for smoothness and to compensate for any stretching which occurs in the materials.

Abstract: An insulating window shade assembly includes a shade frame having a pair of vertical side channels open in a direction facing one another and designed to be mounted on the inside of the window to be insulated. A flexible insulating shade having inner and outer spaced apart parallel panels extends downwardly from the top of the channels, and the margins of the panels extend into the channels. Edge seals are provided in each channel made up of a pair of flexible polyester film strips with the adjacent sides of the strips being spring biased towards one another but being separable so that the margins of the shade panels may lie between them. The flexible character of the strips forms an effective insulating seal about the margins. A rerailer assembly is provided at the tops of the edge seals to guide the margins of the each panel between the strips of the edge seal should they become dislodged.

Abstract: An insulating window shade assembly having a roll up shade which covers the window, seals about the shade to increase the effectiveness of the insulation provided by it, and venting means at the top and bottom of the shade assembly for allowing air to flow through the space between the shade and window to cool the space when the temperature exceeds a prescribed value.

Abstract: An insulating shade including a channel-type frame which is designed to be permanently installed on the prime window frame. The shade assembly which is mounted in the frame includes a pair of rollers which are geared together so as to rotate simultaneously and simultaneously either take up or play out the shade material. The rollers with the shade are supported on bearing plates which in turn are hung on spring brackets that snap into the channels permanently secured to the window frame. A cord operated pulley carries a gear which in turn drives the two rollers so as to raise and lower the shade. Weather stripping is secured inside the channels of the frame, which cooperate both with the sides of the shade itself and the weighted roller at the bottom of the shade to prevent cold air from flowing about the shade.