Patent ID: 8210229
Filing Date: 2012-07-03
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
1. A roller shade system comprising: a rotatably-mounted roller tube; a flexible shade fabric windingly received around the roller tube, the shade fabric having a first fabric end connected to the roller tube and a second fabric end opposite the first fabric end, the shade fabric comprising a hembar pocket at the second fabric end, the second fabric end adapted to move in an upward direction and in a downward direction as the roller tube is rotated in respective first and second directions; a pleating hembar contained within the hembar pocket, the pleating hembar characterized by a non-linear shape for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats; and an elongated pleating assembly defining a fabric-receiving opening and mounted parallel to the roller tube such that the shade fabric is received through the fabric-receiving opening, the pleating assembly adapted to fold the shade fabric, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates in the first direction to move the second fabric end of the shade fabric in the upward direction.