Abstract: An improved method of making a single-cell honeycomb fabric structure includes forming a double-cell honeycomb fabric structure from a single continuous length of foldable material, and removing parts of the cells defining a face of the double-cell honeycomb structure to obtain the desired single-cell honeycomb structure having folded outwardly-extending pleats on one face and tabbed outwardly-extending pleats on the other face.

Abstract: A vertical blind has individual vertically extending vanes that include vertically extending interior compartments. The compartments are created by bonding a corrugated or pleated first member to a generally planar second member. In the first several embodiments, the members of each vane are formed of a relatively flexible, translucent sheet of material. A method of diffusing light through the translucent members of the vane and interior compartment is disclosed. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the vertical vane is comprised of a relatively thick and rigid backing member wherein the thinner front member is bonded to the backing member to form the vertically extending interior compartments. In this embodiment, one vertical edge of the room-facing side of the vane is flattened, such that adjacent vanes are able to overlap.

Abstract: A window covering comprises a series of spaced collapsible cells, each cell having a pair of opposed panels which are joined by permanently creased flexible material. One panel of each cell is secured to a first control cord and the opposite panel of each cell is secured to a second control cord. Relative longitudinal movement of the two control cords causes said opposed panels to move toward or away from each other to expand or collapse the cells. Each panel includes a stiffening portion which has a mechanical interlock formation which retains a bead on the associated control cord. In their collapsed condition, the cells are spaced from each other to allow light to pass from one side of the window covering to the other through the space between the cells.

Abstract: A machine (300) and the process for manufacture of a unique completely pleated product-(110) which is made from a continuous, flexible web (311) for the covering of windows and the like. The machinery consists of a production line (300) with at least a screen printing assembly (306), printing phase control apparatus (330), a unique pleating assembly (400) and a folding assembly (500) for stacking and receiving the final product. Screen printing and web travel phasing is performed in accordance with standard practices in the industry, while the pleating and folding of the finished product is performed by apparatus designed and constructed by the instant inventors. After predetermined patterns of adhesive or bonding material (212) have been applied to the continuous web (311), it is pleated by a paired roller assembly (400) and, through the use of an air knife assembly (500), folded into a collecting apparatus.

Abstract: A shade positioning and mounting apparatus 10 is disclosed which allows a shade 12 to be raised or lowered to a desired position by means of a cord 80 under the control of a cam 22. The cord lock body 20 is symmetrically configured about a longitudinal axis so that the same body can be interchangeably used at either end of the top shade rail 14. Mounting bracket 16 permits shade rail 14 to be readily secured to or released from a supporting wall or ceiling by means of a manually operable locking member 50 which slides between the locked and released positions without the need for any tools.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved multi-cellular shade which is adapted to be mounted within a window and in particular a non-vertical window. The shade has a cut away portion on each of its end. This cut away portion is defined by a stepped section that terminates in an angled section as viewed from the rear side toward the front side of the shade. The stepped section is further defined by two substantially perpendicular walls, one wall being generally perpendicular to the faces of the shade and the second wall being generally parallel to the faces. The second or parallel wall terminates in the angled portion, and the angled portion is at a generally obtuse angle to the second wall. Preferably, the cutaway end of the shade is configured to be recieved with in a C-shaped channel.

Abstract: A machine (300) and the process for manufacture of a unique completely pleated product (110) which is made from a continuous, flexible web (311) for the covering of windows and the like. The machinery consists of a production line (300) with at least a screen printing assembly (306), printing phase control apparatus (330), a unique pleating assembly (400 or 800) and an optional folding assembly (500) for stacking and receiving the final product. Screen printing and web travel phasing is performed in accordance with standard practices in the industry, while the pleating and folding of the finished product is performed by apparatus designed and constructed by the instant inventors. After predetermined patterns of adhesive or bonding material (212) have been applied to the continuous web (311), it is pleated by a paired roller assembly (400 or 800) and, through the optional use of an air knife assembly (500), folded into a collecting apparatus.

Abstract: A low power consumption wireless data transmission and control system 10 is disclosed and in one embodiment, is used to automatically articulate a shade 24 by use of a transmitted command signal 14. The system 10 contains a receiver/detector 18 which is selectively activated for only certain intervals of time thereby allowing substantially all of the previously transmitted signals 14 to be received while reducing the power consumed by the detector 18 during periods in which the signals 14 are absent.

Abstract: A machine (300) and the process for manufacture of a unique completely pleated product (110) which is made from a continuous, flexible web (311) for the covering of windows and the like. The machinery consists of a production line (300) with at least a screen printing assembly (306), printing phase control apparatus (330), a unique pleating assembly (400) and a folding assembly (500) for stacking and receiving the final product. Screen printing and web travel phasing is performed in accordance with standard practices in the industry, while the pleating and folding of the finished product is performed by apparatus designed and constructed by the instant inventors. After predetermined patterns of adhesive or bonding material (212) have been applied to the continuous web (311), it is pleated by a paired roller assembly (400) and, through the use of an air knife assembly (500), folded into a collecting apparatus.

Abstract: A low power consumption wireless data transmission and control system 10 is disclosed and in one embodiment, is used to automatically articulate a shade 24 by use of a transmitted command signal 14. The system 10 contains a receiver/detector 18 which is selectively activated for only certain intervals of time thereby allowing substantially all of the previously transmitted signals 14 to be received while reducing the power consumed by the detector 18 during periods in which the signals 14 are absent.

Abstract: A machine (300) and the process for manufacture of a unique completely pleated product (110) which is made from a continuous, flexible web (311) for the covering of windows and the like. The machinery consists of a production line (300) with at least a screen printing assembly (306), printing phase control apparatus (330), a unique pleating assembly (400) and a folding assembly (500) for stacking and receiving the final product, screen printing and web travel phasing is performed in accordance with standard practices in the industry, while the pleating and folding of the finished product is performed by apparatus designed and constructed by the instant inventors. After predetermined patterns of adhesive or bonding material (212) have been applied to the continuous web (311), it is pleated by a paired roller assembly (400) and, through the use of an air knife assembly (500), folded into a collecting apparatus.

Abstract: Manual deployment apparatus for specialty, pleated or multi-cellular window covering treatments including uniquely hinged mounting rails and single and/or continuous strand pull cords. The invention consists of apparatus that is used to acquire two modes of pleated or multi-cellular shade fabric deployment over generally curvilinear window openings, but particularly over window openings having circular and segmented shapes. A translational deployment, known as the "Blossom Mode" moves as culptured shade from its rest positon by actuation of a continuous cord that is under constant tension. The shade may be deployed to any extent from the mere movement from the completely stowed position to the fully extended. The second modality, known as the "Fan Mode" contemplates deployment of the multi-cellular shade by commencing with the stowed shade marginally secured between a pair of superimposed, and hingably connected rails.

Abstract: A window covering (10) having the appearance of a pleated curtain of the expansible-collapsible type and containing therein, and discretely postured within at least one plane of cells, an array of slats (30) capable of arcuate movement by a cord ladder (18, 19, 22) apparatus. The preferred embodiment of the invention (10) uses a multicellular curtain of the pleated type (14), and especially one having a continuous web-like ligature connecting the internal acute vertices of the cells. A Venetian blind apparatus is interposed between the outside pleated faces of the cell network so that a blind slat (30) may be rotated from a rest position on one cell ligament (28) and into contact with an adjoining cell ligament (31). Through an array of reflectively coated or opacified slats (26) or ligaments (28), in combination with the rotatable Venetian blind slats (30), light diffusing through the curtain (14) is readily controlled.

Abstract: An extensible and collapsible covering (10) for framed openings. A shade, having periodically emplaced elastic rod stiffeners (28), is motivated over parallel tracks (20) by a movable sill (26). During shade manufacture, stiffeners (26) are inserted into shade pockets by a machine (100) which examines the fabric, excises flaws and creates pockets for the envelopment therein of the stiffeners. The process for flaw removal uses a single pass technique that cuts fabric around a stiffener, reforms it and bonds the cut ends so as to capture the stiffener in a pocket formed thereby.

Abstract: Manual deployment apparatus for specialty, pleated or multi-cellular window covering treatments including uniquely hinged mounting rails and single and/or continuous strand pull cords. The invention consists of apparatus that is used to acquire two modes of pleated or multi-cellular shade fabric deployment over generally curvillinear window openings, but particularly over window openings having circular and segmented shapes. A translational deployment, known as the "Blossom Mode" moves a sculptured shade from its rest position by actuation of a continuous cord that is under constant tension. The shade may be deployed to any extent from the mere movement from the completely stowed position to the fully extended. The second modality, known as the "Fan Mode" contemplates deployment of the multi-cellular shade by commencing with the stowed shade marginally secured between a pair of superimposed, and hingably connected rails.

Abstract: Manual deployment apparatus for speciality, pleated or multi-cellular window covering treatments including uniquely hinged mounting rails and single and/or continuous strand pull cords. The invention consists of apparatus that is used to acquire two modes of pleated or multi-cellular shade fabric deployment over generally curvilinear window openings, but particulary over window openings having circular and segmented shapes. A translational deployment, known as the "Blossom Mode" moves a sculptured shade from its rest position by actuation of a continuous cord that is under constant tension. The shade may be deployed to any extent from the mere movement from the completely stowed position to the fully extended. The second modality, known as the "Fan Mode" contemplates deployment of the multi-cellular shade by commencing with the stowed shade marginally secured between a pair of superimposed, and hingably connected rails.

Abstract: A pleated, variable light-filtering, insulative window treatment. A horizontally or vertically pleated Venetian Blind is fashioned after two distinct processes with blind slats which extend rearwardly of the front pleated covering and, further, are cambered towards a motivation source proximate the planar cover. Articulator cords are used to move the trailing edges of the slat extensions uniformly in one direction while the forward edges of the slats are caused to pivot along the points of juncture of the slat leading edges and the trough lines of the front pleated cover. Upon complete articulation of the cambered slat edges, effecting an enclosure of the air space in the laterally disposed pleats by forming laterally concatenated air columns, a light-reflecting, room-darkening, highly insulative mode is achieved. Two processes, preferred by the inventors, are disclosed for manufacturing the invention's articulatable hinged extension slats, with the pleated fabric, to form the compound shade apparatus.

Abstract: A pleated, variable light-filtering, insulative window treatment. A horizontally or vertically pleated Venetian Blind is fashioned after two distinct processes with blind slats which extend rearwardly of the front pleated covering and, further, are cambered towards a motivation source proximate the planar cover. Articulator cords are used to move the trailing edges of the slat extensions uniformly in one direction while the forward edges of the slats are caused to pivot along the points of juncture of the slat leading edges and the trough lines of the front pleated cover. Upon complete articulation of the cambered slat edges, effecting an enclosure of the air space in the laterally disposed pleats by forming laterally concatenated air columns, a light-reflecting, room-darkening, highly insulative mode is achieved. Two processes, preferred by the inventors, are disclosed for manufacturing the invention's articulatable hinged extension slats, with the pleated fabric, to form the compound shade apparatus.