Abstract: A honeycomb structure particularly useful for window coverings is made by simultaneously knitting or weaving a front sheet, a rear sheet and a plurality of webs therebetween. A warp knitting process is used to make the front sheet and rear sheet. At least one warp thread from one sheet is threaded through the opposite sheet to form the webs. Preferably, a wood, metal, textile or plastic slat is placed on each web.

Abstract: A window covering has a sheet of light admitting material which forms a back sheet and a series of spaced apart, generally parallel strips attached at one edge to the back sheet and attached at an opposite edge to an adjacent strip. Each strip contains a light impeding portion and a light admitting portion.

Abstract: A cord shroud used in cooperation with a window shade assembly and the like of the type having a bottomrail and a headrail, with a cord lock attached either internal or external to the headrail. The window blind assembly further having at least two lift cords, each of which are connected at one end to the bottomrail, pass through the headrail and cord lock, and have an opposite end that is accessible to an operator. The cord shroud is fashioned of an elongated, flexible, flexible type ribbon or a ladder type having a first end connected to the headrail and a second end that is accessible to the operator. The cord shroud further has a plurality of apertures disposed along the length of the ribbon, through which the lift cords pass. The ribbon has a length sufficient to fit over substantially all of that portion of the lift cords, which is exposed when the window is open. The apertures may be holes provided through the ribbon or loops or rings attached to the ribbon.

Abstract: A double pane window has a blind between the window panes. The interior window pane is in a housing that can be removed from the window frame. A cord guide is provided in the top edge of the housing. The cord guide has a lift cord slot and a tilt cord slot. The blind has at least one lift cord which passes through the lift cord slot and at least one tilt cord which passes through the tilt cord slot. The blind can be raised, lowered and tilted while maintaining a seal between the window frame and the window panes.

Abstract: A safety device for use on looped cords of the type frequently used in pleated shades, roman shades and venetian blinds has a body containing an anvil and adjacent cord channel. The cord channel is sized to permit at least one cord to pass therethrough. A plunger having a blade attached thereto is positioned so that the blade is above the anvil. A spring attached to the plunger and the body pushes the blade away from the anvil, such that a force acting on the plunger in a direction toward the anvil will cause the blade to move toward the anvil cutting any cords within the cord channel.

Abstract: An improved Roman shade has a series of parallel, generally U-shaped ribs which grip the shade fabric at selected intervals to provide a series of cascading transverse pleats. Each rib is formed by a pair of legs connected together at a proximate end to form a top and abutting one another at their distal end to define a fabric receiving cavity therebetween. At least one cord carrier is attached to the top or one leg of each U-shaped rib and connected to a spacer cord.

Abstract: A safety device for use on looped cords of the type frequently used in pleated shades, roman shades and venetian blinds has a body containing an anvil and adjacent cord channel. The cord channel is sized to permit at least one cord to pass therethrough. A plunger having a blade attached thereto is positioned so that the blade is above the anvil. A spring attached to the plunger and the body pushes the blade away from the anvil, such that a force acting on the plunger in a direction toward the anvil will cause the blade to move toward the anvil cutting any cords within the cord channel.

Abstract: A cord shroud used in cooperation with a window shade assembly and the like of the type having a bottomrail and a headrail, with a cord lock attached either internal or external to the headrail. The window blind assembly further having at least two lift cords, each of which are connected at one end to the bottomrail, pass through the headrail and cord lock, and have an opposite end that is accessible to an operator. The cord shroud is fashioned of an elongated, flexible ribbon having a first end connected to the headrail and a second end that is accessible to the operator. The cord shroud further has a plurality of apertures disposed along the length of the ribbon, through which the lift cords pass. The ribbon has a length sufficient to fit over substantially all of that portion of the lift cords, which is exposed when the window is open. The apertures may be holes provided through the ribbon or loops or rings attached to the ribbon.

Abstract: A window blind for use between double panes of glass which has an aperture in one pane of glass. The blind can be raised, lowered and tilted while maintaining the window seal. The blind includes a headrail, slats, a hollow screw with longitudinal screw channels. The hollow screw passes a headrail aperture and a glass aperture from inside the headrail to outside thus being threaded into a screw duct. At least one lift cord and a tilt control cord separately pass through the longitudinal screw channels thereby providing an external way to control the window blind.

Abstract: A window covering structure has a sheet of first material spaced apart from a sheet of second material. A series of slats are connected between the first material and the second material. A first and second connecting portion connects the slats to the first and second material respectively. When the window covering is in an open position relative to one another, the slats are substantially perpendicular to the first and second materials. When the window covering is in a closed position, the slat intermediate portions are generally aligned to be substantially parallel to the first and second materials.

Abstract: An improved machine for welding pleats on fabric that employs a plurality of toothed wheels to index the fabric one pleat at a time. A pusher is positioned between each of a selected pair of adjacent wheels. The pushers are sized and configured to be capable of pushing selected pleats from the wheels to a proper position between the weld stack and anvil for welding. Additionally, the welding stacks are independently pneumatically actuated so that each welding stack may apply the proper welding pressure. A series of air blowers directs a flow of air under a just-welded pleat stripping it from the anvil.

Abstract: A window shade assembly having first and second sheets of pleated material. Each sheet has a plurality of transverse pleats disposed thereon. The pleats of each sheet are alternatingly directed in opposite directions to one another so that each sheet has a series of inward pleats disposed on one face and series of outward pleats disposed on an opposite face. Each outward pleat of the first and second sheets of material has a tab formed on its end. The outward pleats of one of or both the first and second sheets of material further have a transverse slit located adjacent to the tab. The first and second sheets are then overlappingly positioned relative to one another by each outward pleat of one sheet being disposed within a corresponding slit of the other sheet such that a portion of the second sheet overlaps the first sheet. Preferably, cord holes are placed at opposite sides of each tab such that the holes of the first and second sheet overlap when the first and second sheet are overlappingly positioned.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pleated shade, and a method for the manufacture thereof. The shade has two sections forming each rear projecting pleat secured together to form a rear projecting tab. Cord holes are formed in each of the tabs. The rigidity of the pleats may be substantially enhanced by providing double-weld joints for the tabs or by otherwise providing a multiple or continuous bond between the two fabric layers forming the tab. Furthermore, each section of the shade may be formed from a singly pleated section of fabric. A joint used to form a tab may also be used as a splice joint to secure together two pieces of material either for repair of a defective or damaged material, to achieve a desired aesthetic effect or to customize the length or width of the shade. Pleat reversal problems may be overcome by carefully selecting the relative size of the tab and shade sections, by controlling the size and tab positions of cord holes, and by treating the nose pleat to improve its memory.

Abstract: A roller shade is mounted within a headrail and a pleated shade is attached to the bottom of the headrail to form a double layer shade. The two shades are independently operable. When both shades are extended the double layer shade provides a thermally efficient window covering.

Abstract: A honeycomb structure in which pleats of a first pleated material are joined to corresponding pleats of a second pleated material by a plurality of ribbons is provided. The first and second pleated materials are positioned so that a pleat of the first pleated material is directed toward and in line with a corresponding pleat of the second pleated material. Opposite pleats of first and second material are thus facing one another and spaced a selected distance apart. A ribbon is affixed to each pair of opposed pleats so that a first portion of the ribbon is affixed to the pleat of first material, a second portion of the ribbon is affixed to the pleat of second material and the portion of the ribbon lying between the first portion and the second portion is disposed in the spaced between the first material and second material. The ribbon has one or more perforations located between the first portion and the second portion for lift cords to run through.

Abstract: A device for raising and lowering window blind fabrics. The device has a hollow take-up tube disposed around and threadably engaged to a stationary guide. A cord is connected at its one end to the take-up tube and at its other end to the blind fabric. The take-up tube is rotated to wind or unwind the cord. A drive core rotatably disposed within a bi-directional friction brake, the drive core connected to the take-up tube, the bi-directional friction brake being fixed to the headrail. When the cord is wound around the take-up tube, the blind fabric is raised. When the cord is unwound, the blind fabric is lowered.

Abstract: An arch-shaped window blind assembly that uses pleated blind fabric placed between two bars pivotably connected by a slotted hinge. The blind assembly travels through the open and closed positions by the use of a slide that is connected to one of the bars. A cord is tied to the slide and the cord is knotted. The cord and knot travel through a channel in a track. In another embodiment, a spring load friction catch is provided on the end of at least one bar.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shade, a bottomrail therefor and a method for the manufacture thereof. The shade is pleated and has the two sections forming each rear projecting pleat secured together to form a rear projecting tab. Cord holes are formed in each of the tabs. A generally triangular in cross section bottomrail is provided which is designed to assist in offsetting and disguising the roll of the shade caused by the fabric resilience. The generally triangular bottomrail includes a housing comprised of a main body having a cavity therein and a tongue extending in a direction opposite the rear face of the shade body. The tongue has a termination point at one end opposite the main body and the housing further includes a leaf extending from the termination point of the tongue to the main body with the leaf forming a side of the generally triangular bottomrail. The housing additional includes a cord receiving arrangement mounted therein.