Patent ID: 6302982
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B29C,B31D,E06B

Abstract:
In a method of forming a light-control panel from a multi-element strip member, the method comprising:providing first and second elongated light-transmitting strip portions and an elongated, relatively opaque strip portion;orienting said strip portions in a generally parallel array, each strip portion having right and left longitudinally extending edge portions;positioning said strip portions so that said first strip portion overlaps at least a substantial portion of the transverse width of said relatively opaque strip portion, and said left edge portions of said first strip portion and of said relatively opaque strip portion are substantially superimposed, and so that said right edge portion of said relatively opaque strip portion and said left edge portion of said second strip portion have a superimposed relationship to each other, leaving most of the transverse width of said second strip portion free of said superimposed relationship with said relatively opaque strip portion;joining said left edge portion of said first strip portion to said left edge portion of said relatively opaque strip, and joining said right edge portion of said relatively opaque strip portion to said left edge portion of said second strip portion to thereby form a three-element strip member;positioning longitudinally extending segments of said three-element strip member in parallel and partially transversely overlapping relationship;securing selected portions of a first segment to selected portions of an adjacent second segment to form an elongated cell having front and rear walls defined by said first and second light-transmitting strip portions of said second segment, said cell further having two additional walls defined by said relatively opaque strip portions of said first and second segments; andrepeating said segment-securing step with additional adjacent segments to form an extended array of parallel cells.