Abstract:
The present invention provides a shade assembly which comprises a shade fabric and a plurality of battens arranged vertically with respect to one another, each batten aligned horizontally along the fabric and forming a pleat therewith. A plurality of spacers are also provided which are coupled to and positioned adjacently to one of the plurality of battens in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the shade fabric. The plurality of spacers maintains the plurality of battens in a substantially vertical arrangement when the shade fabric is drawn into an open position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/081,456 filed Nov. 18, 2014 and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/081,554 filed Nov. 18, 2014, the contents of which are 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to window shade or blind systems, and in particular relates to batten spacers adapted for use in roman shade systems and assemblies. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Roman window shade systems and assemblies include a shade and/or a backing fabric that is adapted to fold into a plurality of horizontal pleats as the shade is opened. The pleats are formed using rigid battens or sewn-in dowels or combinations of such elements.  FIG. 1  shows a photograph of a side view of an example roman shade  10  in a fully opened position. In this opened position, the shade  10 , which typically disposed on the back of the assembly toward a window (not shown), forms a plurality of folds, e.g.,  12 ,  14 ,  16 , and the battens, e.g.,  22 ,  24 ,  26  to which they are coupled are collectively drawn into a backwards-J configuration. As the folds are compressed and forced backwards, they may come into contact with the window surface and accumulate condensation, and the contact with the window, trim and/or walls will push the stack of battens forward. For this reason, and also because the shade assembly can become unsightly and otherwise difficult to manipulate and release when the folds  12 ,  14 ,  16  become bunched in the manner shown, it would be useful to provide a means for a roman shade assembly to be opened fully without becoming distended in this disadvantageous way. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a shade assembly which comprises a shade fabric and a plurality of battens arranged vertically with respect to one another, each batten aligned horizontally along the fabric and forming a pleat therewith. A plurality of spacers are also provided which are coupled to and positioned adjacently to one of the plurality of battens in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the shade fabric. The plurality of spacers maintains the plurality of battens in a substantially vertical arrangement when the shade fabric is drawn into an open position. 
         [0005]    According to one embodiment, the present invention also provides a batten spacer for a shade system including a plurality of battens, the batten spacer comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, and a planar element connecting the upper and lower portions. The upper and lower semicircular portions and the planar element define an interior space adapted to receive an annular element; a height from a bottom of the lower semicircular portion to a top of the upper semicircular portion is approximately the same as a height of one of the plurality of battens. 
         [0006]    According to another embodiment, the present invention provides a batten spacer for a shade system including a plurality of battens, the batten spacer comprising a cylindrical annulus having a height that is approximately the same as a height of one of the plurality of battens, and a planar element extending tangentially to the cylindrical annulus, the planar element adapted to couple to cooperating receiving elements on the plurality of battens 
         [0007]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention that refers to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The invention will now be described in greater detail in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings in which: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a photograph of a side view of an example roman shade assembly according to the prior art in a fully opened position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a photograph of a side view of an example roman shade assembly with batten spacers according to the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a photograph of an end view of an example batten according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view illustration of a batten spacer according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  is another perspective view illustration of a batten spacer according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4C  is a top (or bottom) plan view illustration of a batten spacer according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4D  is a front plan view illustration of a batten spacer according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4E  is a side plan view illustration of a batten spacer according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a photograph of a side view of an example batten spacer according to one embodiment of the present invention, indicating an example scale of the spacer. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a photograph of an example annular element adapted to couple to a batten spacer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a photograph of an example annular batten spacer according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a photograph of an embodiment of a batten spacer element according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an embodiment that is presently preferred, in which like numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. 
         [0022]    It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another element, it can be directly coupled or connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly coupled” or “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a photograph of a side an example shade assembly  200  according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating its contrast with the existing art shown in  FIG. 1 . The shade assembly  200  includes a shade fabric  202 , coupled at a top end to a roller tube  204  and to a bottom panel  206 . Along the length of the fabric, a plurality of battens, e.g.,  212 ,  214 ,  216 , are detachably coupled to the shade fabric  202  by pincer-like clamp elements that may clamp around dowel elements sewn in to the shade fabric  202  or simply clamp the shade fabric itself  FIG. 3  is a photograph showing an end view of a batten  300  according to one particular embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the end of the batten  300  includes a first, larger pincer element  305  adapted to couple to the shade fabric and a second pincer element  310  which may form a track along the length of the batten to receive other coupling elements, as discussed further below. At the points where the plurality of battens, e.g.,  212 ,  214 ,  216  couple to the shade fabric, pleats e.g.  222 ,  224 ,  226  are formed. The shade assembly  200  may be lifted or lowered by use of one or more lift cords e.g.,  230  positioned along the horizontal length of the assembly. The lift cord  230  may be coupled, for example, to the bottom batten so that when the cord is pulled, the bottom batten is raised up to and pushes on the next lowest batten on so on, raising the entire assembly. 
         [0024]    Positioned at intervals along the assembly  200  are stacks of batten spacers,  232 ,  234 ,  236 , each of composed of a plurality of individual spacers (e.g., a first stack  232  includes spacers  242 ,  244 ,  246 ). Each stack  232 ,  234 ,  236  includes one spacer for every batten e.g.,  212 ,  214 ,  216 , and each spacer e.g.,  242 ,  244 ,  246  is coupled to one of the respective battens. The spacers  242 ,  244 ,  246  are formed to have heights (in the vertical direction) approximately equivalent to the battens to which they couple. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the stacks of  232 ,  234 ,  236  battens act as semi-rigid ‘spines’ preventing the assembly  200  from collapsing or distending in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . Rather, as indicated in  FIG. 2 , when the shade assembly is opened, the plurality of battens remain in a substantially vertical arrangement instead of bending into a J-shape. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the spacers e.g.,  242 ,  244 ,  246  do not couple directly to the plurality of battens, but rather, are each adapted to receive annular ring elements (not shown in  FIG. 2 ), which in turn couple to the battens. Among the advantages of using annular elements, are that the lift cord can be made to run through the elements, preventing the lift cords from being manipulated in other directions aside from up and down. Shroud cords, e.g.,  250 , which further prevent unintended extensions of the lift cord can also be attached to the annular elements, providing safety features. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 4A-4E  are engineering drawings of an embodiment of a batten spacer  400  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the perspective views of  FIGS. 4A, 4B , batten spacer  400  includes an upper semicircular portion  402 , and a lower semicircular portion  404 , mutually connected at their curved portions via a planar element  406 . These elements bound an interior space  408  between the upper and lower portions adapted to receive and couple to an annular element (not shown).  FIG. 4C  shows a top or bottom plan view indicating a substantially semi-circular design of the top and bottom surfaces, and  FIG. 4D  shows a frontal plan view clearly indicating the upper  402  and lower  404  portions and the receiving space between  408 .  FIG. 4E  is a side plan view indicating a C-shaped cross-section of the exemplary batten spacer  400 . As clearly shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 4B  and also the side plan view of  FIG. 4E , the bottom surface  410  of the upper semicircular potion  402  and the top surface  412  of the lower semicircular portion  404  include respective inclined protruding elements  422 ,  424  that are adapted to provide a snap-fit connection with cooperating portions of an annular element. In addition, as the side view of  FIG. 4C  most clearly indicates, the upper and lower portions may contain hollow sections. It should be noted that the design of the batten spacer shown in  FIGS. 4A-4E  is by way of example and numerous modifications or alterations could be made to the batten spacer depicted and still remain within the scope of the present invention. For example, batten spacer as a whole can be formed in a different shape, and the upper and lower portions of the batten spacer in particular may be formed in another shape, for example, angled rather than semi-circular. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  is a photograph of a side view of an example batten spacer  500  according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 4A-E . The size of batten spacer of  FIG. 5  is adapted for battens of a particular height of approximately 0.5 inches. While it is anticipated, given the heights of battens typically employed in roman shade assemblies, that the batten spacers between 0.06 and 1.00 inches in height may be used, these dimensions are not to be taken as limiting as the size of the batten spacers should be adapted to and match the height of the battens in any given shade assembly. The batten spacer may be formed from any suitably lightweight and substantially rigid material, such as a plastic. 
         [0028]      FIG. 6  is a photograph showing a top view of an example annular element  600  adapted to couple to the batten spacers with the plurality of battens. The annular element includes a ring or annulus portion  605  adapted to be received in space  408  of the batten spacer. The annulus portion  605  may be secured in the receiving space  408  by snap-fit by virtue of the protruding elements  422 , 424  or otherwise securely coupled in the receiving space. In some embodiments, the annular portion  605  may have an inner diameter of approximately 0.3 to 0.4 inches and an outer diameter of 0.5 to 0.6 inches. Shade system cords, including the lift cords may extended through the central hollow region of the annular element. Shroud cords may run through the central region and/or may be directly attached to the annular element  600 . The annular element  600  also includes a planar element  610  that extends in a tangential direction on an outer edge of the annular portion  605 . Planar element  610  may be used to couple the annular element  600  to one of the plurality of battens of a shade assembly. According to one embodiment, mentioned above, planar element  610  may be inserted into a track formed within the extending pincer element  310  of a batten as shown in  FIG. 3 . By this means, the annular element  600 , and the batten spacer, e.g.  500 , in which it is received, may be securely coupled to one of the battens of the shade assembly. 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  shows a batten spacer according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which the functions of the spacer and annular element are combined in a single element. As shown, batten spacer  700  includes a annular portion  705 , which is cylindrical in the embodiment shown, having a height adapted to match the heights of the plurality of battens in the shade assembly, and a planar element  710  that extends in a tangential direction on an outer edge of the annular portion. The planar element may be inserted to into a track formed within the extending pincer element  310  of a batten as shown in  FIG. 3 . By this means, the annular element  600 , and the batten spacer, e.g.  500 , in which it is received, may be securely coupled to one of the battens of the shade assembly. 
         [0030]      FIG. 8  shows a batten spacer  800  according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The batten spacer  800  has a height adapted to match the battens of the shade assembly and includes a hole  805  through which a cord (e.g., the shroud cord) may be threaded to secure the spacer from moving substantially in horizontal direction. However, other means may be used to secure the spacer  800  for undue horizontal movement such as staples, glue, a snap fit to the battens, etc. Batten spacers  800  may be positioned adjacent to annular elements  600  in a shade assembly and may be coupled directly to the annular elements (e.g., via a cord) or may not be directly coupled, depending on the implementation. 
         [0031]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.