Abstract:
A colinear laminate honeycomb panel permits the use of two or more different materials to form a single panel. In this manner, a retractable cover for an architectural opening may be formed that has a different appearance depending upon which side of the panel is being viewed. The resultant panel is formed by attaching a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells, wherein each precursor tubular cell itself comprises at least two strips of material held in proximity to one another by a common carrier strip.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a division of application Ser. No. 09/014,460, filed Jan. 28, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,103,336, which application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention is directed toward a retractable cover for an architectural opening. More specifically, it relates to a cellular panel used to cover an architectural opening and a method of making the same. 
     b. Background Art 
     It is well known that cellular panels provide excellent coverings for architectural openings. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,750 to Colson et al. discloses a multi-cellular honeycomb insulating panel. Another type of retractable cellular panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,072 to Colson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     A related type of honeycomb insulating panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,012 to Anderson. In the &#39;012 patent, a cell of the panel is formed by folding a strip of material along longitudinally extending fold lines that bring the longitudinally extending edges of the material near each other. Then, a second length of material is secured to the longitudinally extending edges to form a cell. A plurality of these cells are then affixed together to form a panel. Another related type of honeycomb insulating panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,795,515 and 4,871,006 to Kao et al. The &#39;515 patent is directed toward a process and machine for forming the honeycomb panel disclosed therein. According to the &#39;515 patent, a plurality of attaching strips join pleat lines formed in each of the two sheets that comprise the front and rear surfaces of the completed panel. The &#39;006 patent is directed toward a dual fluted shade. Again, in the &#39;006 patent, a plurality of attaching strips join two sheets of fabric along corresponding pleat lines formed in each of the two sheets. Other panels, like those disclosed in the &#39;515 and &#39;006 patents, wherein strips connect adjacent sheets of fabric, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,228,936 (and B1 5,228,936) to Goodhue and 4,673,600 to Anderson. The &#39;600 patent also discloses a panel wherein the two sheets of material forming the front and back faces are joined directly together. The application that issued as the &#39;600 patent was a division of application Ser. No. 796,035, which eventually issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,255 to Anderson. U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,986 to Anderson also issued from an application that was a division of the &#39;035 application. Whereas the &#39;600 patent claims the honeycomb panel, the &#39;986 patent claims a method of fabricating the panel. 
     Still another related type of honeycomb panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,217 to Anderson. In the panel disclosed in the &#39;217 patent, strips of material are folded into Z-configurations, which are then stacked in layers that are adhered together. U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,855 to Anderson issued from an application that was a division of the application that issued as the &#39;217 patent. Whereas the &#39;217 patent claims the honeycomb panel, the &#39;855 patent claims a method of fabricating the panel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,554 and its corresponding reissue Pat. No. Re. 30,254 to Rasmussen disclose yet another related type of honeycomb panel. The panels disclosed in the &#39;254 and &#39;554 patents are formed by stacking precursor tubular members one on top of another, wherein the top surface of a particular precursor tubular member is bonded to the bottom surface of the next adjacent precursor tubular member, and the bottom surface of the particular precursor tubular member is bonded to the top surface of an adjacent precursor tubular member. The stacked and bonded precursor tubular members forming a resulting thermal insulating curtain. 
     Various machines are also known that are capable of manufacturing cellular panels at high speed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,027 to Colson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an apparatus for manufacturing cellular panels. Related U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,108 to Colson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, issued from a continuation-in-part of the application that eventually issued as the &#39;027 patent. 
     The cellular panels manufactured heretofore by interconnecting a plurality of individual precursor tubular cells have generally comprised precursor cells constructed from a single strip of folded material. The resulting elongated precursor tubular cells of a single material are then directly joined together to form a cellular panel. The machine disclosed in the &#39;027 patent may be used to manufacture such panels. Since the precursor tubular cells have been manufactured from single strips of material, however, it has not been possible to obtain the advantages that may be available when the honeycomb panel is constructed of more than one type of material. One such advantage is the ability to construct a cellular panel that is to be used as a window covering wherein one type of material faces inward for viewing by people inside of the room and a second, different material, faces outward. The inward facing side of the panel could be made from an aesthetically pleasing material, whereas the outward facing side could be made from a heat reflective or heat absorptive material. One side of the panel could also be made from a light-blocking material. Simllarly, if an installed panel will have a hidden side, each precursor cell may be constructed to have an aesthetically pleasing material on the visible side of the resulting panel and a less expensive, less attractive material on the hidden side of the panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is desirable to be able to form each precursor tubular cell in a honeycomb panel constructed by interconnecting a plurality of individual precursor tubular cells from a plurality of material types rather than from a single type of material. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the disclosed invention to provide an improved retractable cover for an architectural opening. 
     The instant invention is an expandable and contractible honeycomb panel comprising a plurality of parallel rows of interconnected elongated precursor tubular cells, each of the precursor tubular cells being constructed of a foldable and creasable material, and each precursor tubular cell comprising at least a first strip of material and a second strip of material. The second strip of material is arranged substantially parallel to the first strip of material, and the two strips are substantially equal in length. A carrier strip joins the first strip and the second strip. The combination of the first strip, the second strip, and the carrier is shaped to form a precursor tubular cell used to construct the honeycomb panel. 
     A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of an elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell after the material has been folded; 
     FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of precursor tubular cells according to the first embodiment and forming a honeycomb panel; 
     FIG. 1E is a perspective view of a portion of the honeycomb panel formed using precursor tubular cells according to the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 2A is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of an elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell after the material has been folded; 
     FIG. 2D is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of precursor tubular cells according to the second embodiment and forming a honeycomb panel; 
     FIG. 2E is a perspective view of a portion of the honeycomb panel formed using precursor tubular cells according to the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 3A is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of an elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell after folding of the material has been initiated; 
     FIG. 3D is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell after the material has been folded; 
     FIG. 3E is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of precursor tubular cells according to the third embodiment and forming a honeycomb panel; 
     FIG. 4A is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell after the material has been folded; 
     FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of precursor tubular cells according to the fourth embodiment and forming a honeycomb panel; and 
     FIG. 4E is a perspective view of a portion of the honeycomb panel formed using precursor tubular cells according to the fourth embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Several embodiments of a cellular honeycomb panel  10  (FIG. 1E, FIG. 2E, FIG.  4 E), comprising a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12 , each precursor cell comprising at least two different materials, are disclosed. An advantage of the instant invention over the prior art is that the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  may be of different materials. For example, Polymer film, metallized film, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, knit fabric, and the like. Thus, it is possible to make a cellular honeycomb panel  10  having a different look from its front and back sides. 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1A through 1E, a first embodiment of the invention shall be described. FIG. 1A is an exploded cross-sectional view of an elongated precursor tubular cell  12  before the component parts are assembled and creased. A first strip  14  of a foldable and creasable material is laid down adjacent and substantially parallel to a second strip  16  of foldable and creasable material. The first strip  14  includes a first longitudinal edge  18  and a second longitudinal edge  20 . Similarly, the second strip  16  includes a first longitudinal edge  22  and a second longitudinal edge  24 . A good view of the first longitudinal edge  18  of the first strip  14  is visible in FIG.  1 E. The width of the first strip is the distance between the first longitudinal edge  18  and the second longitudinal edge  20  of the first strip  14 . Similarly, the width of the second strip  16  is the distance between the first longitudinal edge  22  and the second longitudinal edge  24  of the second strip  16 . The length of the strips  14 ,  16  define the width of the resulting honeycomb panel  10 . 
     In preparation for forming the laminate strip that will be folded into the elongated precursor tubular cell  12 , a carrier strip  26  is placed below the first strip  14  and the second strip  16 . This carrier strip  26  also has a first longitudinal edge  28  and a second longitudinal edge  30 . The distance between the first longitudinal edge  28  and the second longitudinal edge  30  of the carrier strip  26  defines the width of the carrier strip  26 . An adhesive  32  is used to bind the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  to the carrier strip  26 . The adhesive  32  may be a heat-activated or other type of adhesive. An acceptable type of adhesive is aliphatic adhesive. The first strip  14  and the second strip  16  may, alternatively, be heat laminated to the carrier strip  26 . Two-sided tape or some other continuous film adhesive could also be used to adhere strip  16  to the carrier strip  26 . These latter types of adhesive may even be preferable in some applications as they may better inhibit fraying. 
     No matter what type adhesive  32  is used, the gap in the adhesive  32  depicted in FIG. 1A is not required. In other words, the adhesive  32  could form a continuous band spanning the distance between the second longitudinal edge  20  of the first strip  14  and the first longitudinal edge  22  of the second strip  16 . Alternatively, several gaps could be present in the adhesive  32  as long as sufficient adhesive  32  is present to bind the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  to the carrier strip  26 . This is true for each of the four embodiments described herein. 
     In the first embodiment, the carrier strip  26  is first laid down. Then, adhesive  32  is applied to the carrier strip  26  in the location shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. With the carrier strip  26  and adhesive  32  in place, the first strip  14 , comprising a first foldable and creasable material, is placed over the carrier strip  26  such that the adhesive  32  is between the carrier strip  26  and the first strip  14 . The second strip  16  is then placed on the carrier strip  26  after being positioned as depicted in FIG.  1 B. In this embodiment the first longitudinal edge  18  of the first strip  14  is adjacent to, but not in contact with, the second longitudinal edge  24  of the second strip  16 . If desired, the adhesive  32  could be applied to the first and second strips  14 ,  16 , rather than to the carrier strip  26 . 
     In this embodiment, the width of the carrier strip  26  is greater than the combined widths of the first strip  14  and the second strip  16 . In fact, in this embodiment, the carrier strip  26  is wide enough to accommodate a gap between the first strip  14  and the second strip  16 , and also extend beyond the first longitudinal edge  22  of the second strip  16  and beyond the second longitudinal edge  20  of the first strip  14 . As shown in FIG. 1B, the carrier strip  26  thus has a first extended portion, wing, or free edge  34  and a second extended portion, wing, or free edge  36 . These extended portions  34 , 36  may be used as attachment points when a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12  are attached to form a honeycomb panel  10  (see FIG.  1 D). Even if the carrier strip  26  were not wide enough to extend beyond the longitudinal edges  22  and  20 , a honeycomb panel  10  incorporating the inventive concept of the present invention could be formed. 
     The flat combination depicted in FIG. 1B is then folded or creased into the shape depicted in FIG. 1C, thereby forming an elongated precursor tubular cell  12 . The precursor tubular cell  12  depicted in FIG. 1C is formed by making a plurality of creases in the combined material depicted in FIG.  1 B. For example, a pair of first creases  38 , second creases  40 , and third creases  42  could be formed in the carrier strip. A first crease  38  could be formed by bending the first extended portion  34  of the carrier strip  26  at the point adjacent to where the first longitudinal edge  22  of the second strip  16  is attached to the carrier strip  26 . A corresponding first crease  38  could be formed by bending the second extended portion  36  of the carrier strip  26  at the point adjacent to where second longitudinal edge  20  of the first strip  14  is attached to the carrier strip  26 . If the carrier strip did not have the first extended portion  34  or the second extended portion  36  (i.e., if the lateral edges of the carrier strip  26  were even with the first longitudinal edge  22  of the second strip  16  and with the second longitudinal edge  20  of the first strip  14 ), a first crease  38  would be made in both the carrier strip  26  and in the first strip  14  near one longitudinal edge of the combination depicted in FIG. 1B, and a corresponding first crease  38  would be made in both the carrier strip  26  and in the second strip  16  near the other longitudinal edge of the combination. 
     A second crease  40  could subsequently be formed in the carrier strip  26  near the midpoint of the second strip  16 , and a corresponding second crease  40  could be formed in the carrier strip  26  near the midpoint of the first strip  14 . Each second crease  40  changes the shape of what will become the elongated precursor tubular cell  12  by bringing the first longitudinal edge  28  of the carrier strip  26  closer to the second longitudinal edge  30  of the carrier strip  26 . Finally, a third crease  42  is made in the carrier strip  26  adjacent to the point where the second longitudinal edge  24  of the second strip  16  is attached to the carrier strip  26 , and a corresponding third crease  42  is made in the carrier strip  26  adjacent to the point where the first longitudinal edge  18  of the first strip  14  is attached to the carrier strip  26 . After the first, second, and third pairs of creases  38 ,  40 ,  42  have been formed, the once flat combination resembles an elongated precursor tubular cell  12 . 
     Although the discussion of this first embodiment and of the other embodiments refers to “pleats” or “creases,” the instant invention does not require them. Pleats or creases maybe beneficial for some uses of the invention and are used in this disclosure for illustrative purposes, but are not required and need not be severe or well-defined. 
     The process of gluing first and second strips  14 ,  16  onto carrier strips  26  and creasing the resulting combination, repeated several times, produces a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12 . This plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12  may then be connected together to form a honeycomb panel  10  (FIGS.  1 D and  1 E). It should be noted that in this embodiment, the creases  38 ,  40 ,  42  have been formed such that the carrier strip  26  in toward the inside of the resulting elongated precursor tubular cells  12 . 
     FIG. 1D best depicts how a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12  are combined into a single honeycomb panel  10 . As seen in FIG.  1 D and FIG. 1E, beads of adhesive  44 ,  46  are applied to the exposed exterior portion of the carrier strip  26  of one elongated precursor tubular cell  12 . The extended portions  34 ,  36  of an adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12  are then attached by the adhesive beads  44 ,  46  to the exposed portion of the carrier strip  26  of an adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12 . The adhesive beads  44 ,  46  may be made from a heat-activated or other type of adhesive. For example, the aliphatic adhesives have been used successfully in construction of honeycomb panels  10  according to the instant invention. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 2A through 2E, a second embodiment is described. The primary difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment described above is that, in this embodiment, the width of the carrier strip  26  is less than the combined widths of the first strip  14  and the second strip  16 . Since the carrier strip  26  is not as wide as the combined widths of the first strip  14  and second strip  16 , the first, second, and third creases  38 ,  40 ,  42  are not all made in the carrier strip  26  as they were in the first embodiment. As may be clearly seen in FIG. 2C, the first crease  38  is made in each of the strips  14 ,  16 , but the carrier strip  26  does not extend to this point along the back or interior side of the first and second strips  14 ,  16 . Thus, in this second embodiment, the first extended portion  34  comprises a portion of the second strip  16 , and the second extended portion  36  comprises a portion of the first strip  14 . As may be seen by comparing FIG. 2C with FIG. 1C, it is clear that the extended portions  34 ,  36  may comprise either a longitudinal portion of the strips  14 ,  16  or of the carrier strip  26 . 
     Once a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12  have been formed, they may be joined to form a single honeycomb panel  10  (FIG.  2 D and FIG.  2 E). In this embodiment the adhesive beads  44 ,  46  are again applied to the exposed portion  48  of the carrier strip  26 . In this embodiment, however, a portion of the fabric strips  14 ,  16  is affixed to the exposed portion of the carrier strip  26 , rather than affixing a portion of the carrier strip  26  from an adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12  to the exposed portion of the carrier strip  26 . The exposed portion  48  of a carrier strip  26  is clearly visible in FIG.  2 E. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3A through 3E, a third embodiment of the instant invention is described. This embodiment most closely resembles the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1A through 1E. In this embodiment, the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  are placed against or contiguous with each other. In other words, the first longitudinal edge  18  of the first strip  14  touches the second longitudinal edge  24  of the second strip  16 , thereby forming the seam  50  depicted in FIG.  3 A. Longitudinal edges  18 ,  24  are not labeled in FIG. 3A but maybe clearly seen in FIG.  1 A. FIG. 3B is similar to FIG. 1B, but again depicts the third embodiment where the first and second strips  14 ,  16  are placed against each other so as to form the seam  50 . 
     With reference to the first embodiment described above, formation of an elongated precursor tubular cell  12  was achieved by making a series of creases in the composite structure depicted in FIG.  1 B. As described above, the first step toward shaping the composite structure depicted in FIG. 1B into the elongated precursor tubular cell  12  depicted in FIG. 1C involved making the first crease  38  in two places along the carrier strip  26 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3C, an alternative series of creases is depicted. FIG. 3C depicts the folding of the composite structure depicted in FIG. 3B as commencing near the center portion of the carrier strip  26  rather than near the longitudinal edges  28 ,  30  of the carrier strip  26 . In FIG. 3C, therefore, the third crease  42  in the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  is depicted as being made first. It would be clear to someone of ordinary skill in the pertinent art that the creases could be made in any order. Also, as discussed above with references to the first embodiment, it is not required that the carrier strip  26  extend beyond the second longitudinal edge  20  of the first strip  14  or beyond the first longitudinal edge  22  of the second strip  16 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3E, the manner in which adjacent elongated precursor tubular cells  12  are attached to form a honeycomb panel  10  is clearly depicted. FIG. 3E shows a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the plane of a resultant honeycomb panel  10 . From this cross-sectional view it may clearly be seen where the adhesive beads  44 ,  46  are placed between adjacent elongated precursor tubular cells  12 . In this embodiment, the beads  44 ,  46  are applied directly to the exterior surface of the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  near the seam  50 . Then, an adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12  is attached to the adhesive beads  44 ,  46 . In particular, the first extended portion  34  and the second extended portion  36  of the adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12  are placed in contact with the beads  44 ,  46  to attach the adjacent elongated precursor tubular cells  12 . 
     A fourth embodiment of the instant invention is depicted in FIGS. 4A through 4E. This embodiment is most closely analogous to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2A through 2E. The primary difference between these two embodiments is that in the fourth embodiment the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  touch along one longitudinal edge of each strip. In particular, the second longitudinal edge  24  of the second strip  16  is in contact with the first longitudinal edge  18  of the first strip  14  along all or substantially all of the respective longitudinal edges  24 ,  18 . This close relationship between the first strip and the second strip  16  creates a seam  50 , which may be clearly seen in FIG.  4 E. 
     The elongated precursor tubular cell  12  depicted in FIG. 4C is formed much like the precursor tubular cell  12  depicted in FIG. 2C is formed. In particular, a series of creases are formed in the composite structure depicted in FIG. 4B until the tubular configuration depicted in FIG. 4C is obtained. Once the three crease pairs  38 ,  40 ,  42  have been formed in the composite structure depicted in FIG. 4B, the carrier strip  26  is no longer visible to someone viewing one of the elongated precursor tubular cells  12  of the resultant honeycomb panel  10 , since the series of folds have resulted in the carrier strips  26  being enclosed in the interior of the elongated precursor tubular cells  12 . This is particularly true for this embodiment wherein the first strip  14  and the second strip  16  are placed closely together, leaving little, if any, of the carrier strip  26  visible through the seam  50 . 
     The honeycomb panel  10  that is ultimately used as a cover for an architectural opening is formed by attaching a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12  to each other as depicted in FIGS. 4D and 4E. As discussed above with regard to the previous three embodiments, two adjacent elongated precursor tubular cells  12  are attached by applying adhesive beads  44 ,  46  along the top portion of one elongated precursor tubular cell  12  and pressing an adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12  onto the adhesive beads  44 ,  46 . In particular, the adhesive beads  44 ,  46  are applied in the fourth embodiment adjacent the seam  50 . The adhesive bead  44  is applied to the exterior surface of the first strip  14  near the first longitudinal edge  18  of that strip. Similarly, the adhesive bead  46  is applied to the exterior surface of the second strip  16  near its second longitudinal edge  24 . Once the beads of adhesive  44 ,  46  have been applied, the first extended portion  34  and the second extended portion  36  of an adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12  are forced into contact with adhesive beads  46 ,  44 , respectively. 
     A particularly preferred method of making the cellular panels  10  described above is in accordance with the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,027, the disclosure of which has been hereby incorporated by reference. The apparatus and method disclosed in the &#39;027 patent folds the composite material depicted in FIGS. 1B,  2 B,  3 B, and  4 B. In other words, using the method and apparatus disclosed in the &#39;027 patent, honeycomb panels  10  could be formed using multiple types of material for each elongated precursor tubular cell  12 . The apparatus described in the &#39;027 patent makes only one pair of creases in the material. That pair of creases corresponds to the creases  40  depicted, for example, in FIGS. 1C,  2 C,  3 D, and  4 C. The creases  38  and the creases  42  are subordinate to the creases  40 . In other words, a honeycomb panel  10  can be formed without the crease pairs  38  and  42 , with only the crease pairs  40  being present. Similarly, it will be appreciated that, although pleats or creases maybe preferred, they are not necessary, and the scope of the invention should be interpreted to incorporate uncreased structures and partially creased structures. This is true for each of the four embodiments described herein. Additionally, a hexagonal structure is shown, but any shape of structure is contemplated. 
     Although four embodiments of this invention have been described above, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, although the first strip  14  and second strip  16  in each of the embodiments are approximately the same width, this need not be the case. An important feature in this invention is that different types of material may be united using a carrier strip  26  to form one or more of the individual, elongated precursor tubular cells  12  that are subsequently interconnected to form the resultant honeycomb panel  10 . For example, an aesthetically pleasing fabric maybe used as the first strip  14 , which, in the resulting honeycomb panel  10 , would face toward the interior of a room. A less expensive fabric could be used for the second strip  16  if this second strip  16  is not in plain view of someone observing the resultant honeycomb panel  10  in position over an architectural opening. Also, although the honeycomb panel  10  depicted in the figures is oriented such that it expands and contracts vertically, it could be hung such that it would expand and contract horizontally without departing from the scope of this invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting.