Patent Publication Number: US-2005126716-A1

Title: Shade for an arched window

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/318,975, filed on Dec. 12, 2002.  
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The following invention relates to shades for at least partially occluding the passage of light through a window. More particularly, this invention relates to shades and shade supporting structures for a window that is arched or semi-circular in form.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      In addition to decorative window treatments, it is often desirable to have some form of shade or blind installed adjacent to a window to prelude or diminish the amount of light passing through the window. With most windows having a square or rectangular form, correspondingly square or rectangular shades can be installed adjacent the window, typically within a recess above a sill in which the window is located, to conveniently cover the window as desired.  
      Some windows are known in the prior art which include a horizontal lower edge adjacent a sill and an arched upper edge. Most typically, such arched windows are generally in the form of a half circle (also referred to as a hemi-circle). Typical rectangular shades are ineffective in shading the passage of light through such arched windows. Other arched windows are known which have a flat sill portion that is horizontal or has a non-horizontal orientation, and which have an opposite curving edge that curves more or less than 180°. For instance, quadra-circular arched windows are known which have two flat edges angled 90° from each other with a curving edge joining the two flat edges. For clarity, half circular windows and corresponding shades are referred to as hemi-circular and windows and shades of any circular form less than a full circle, including a hemi-circle, are referred to as semi-circular.  
      While fabric or other materials can be custom cut to shade such arched windows, such solutions involve significant complexity and expense. Accordingly, a need exists for a shade configured particularly for deployment within an arched window which can function as a temporary or permanent shade structure for the window and which can fit a variety of different arched window sizes with little or no modification.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      With this invention a shade is provided that is particularly configured for deployment within an arched window. The shade assembly includes a rectangular pleated shade with sufficient length between a first end and a second end so that the ends can be rotated into a common plane (typically horizontal), or to more or less than a common plane, and with the pleated shade extending in a fanned configuration between the ends. A retainer is provided to hold the shade in the fanned configuration. Particularly, the retainer includes a base and at least one panel or other guide extending up from the base and substantially parallel with the window. The fanned shade can thus be placed upon the base and adjacent the panel with the retainer keeping the shade from tipping out of a vertical planar orientation located adjacent to the arched window when the retainer and shade rest upon the sill. The ends of the shade and the base are typically provided with adhesive or other fasteners to secure the shade and retainer together and to the sill.  
      While the invention is primarily illustrated in the form of a pleated shade of continuous material, the retainer can be used with alternate shades such as those formed from a series of separate slats joined together by a string so that the slats can be oriented in a fanned configuration. Similarly, the slats can be joined together by fabric, such as is commonly provided with a standard expandable hand-held fan.  
      Also, in one form of the invention a shelf is provided which can adhere directly to the glass of the window, particularly for use with windows that have no sill or windows of a domed style with a semi-circular upper end but a rectangular lower end. The shelf functions as a sill upon which the retainer and shade can be deployed for placement adjacent the semi-circular upper portion of such a domed window. The shelf can also support a rectangular shade or blind extending down from the shelf to cover the lower rectangular portion of a domed window.  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a shade for a window which has a semi-circular form for use with arched windows.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an arched window shade which is adjustable in size to fit arched windows of different sizes.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an arched window shade which has an attractive appearance which is similar to the appearance of pleated shades.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a shade for a window which includes an at least partially domed upper portion.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a shade for an arched window which is easy to adjust in size and to position securely in a temporary or permanent fashion adjacent a window.  
      Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIGS. 1-3  are perspective views of an arched window within a wall and with the shade assembly of this invention shown in various stages of deployment in each of the figures.  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the shade assembly of this invention, shown fully deployed.  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the shade portion of this invention before deployment and illustrating the rule and adhesive utilized to properly size and attach the shade portion of this invention.  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a retainer portion of this invention and with part of the shade portion of this invention shown installed therein.  
       FIG. 7  is a full sectional view of the retainer of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 8  is an end elevation view of the retainer of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the retainer of  FIG. 6 .  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative shade in use along with the retainer and installed within a window.  
       FIG. 11  is a front elevation view of the shade assembly of this invention as part of an overall domed window shade assembly installed within a domed window in a wall and including a shelf with a rectangular shade extending down from the shelf and the shade assembly of  FIGS. 1-9  resting upon the shelf.  
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG. 11  and illustrating details of the shelf attachable to the glass of the window to support the domed window shade assembly.  
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a shade fanned to a quadra-circular form and held by a quadra-circular retainer of an alternative embodiment of this invention.  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the retainer of  FIG. 13  alone.  
       FIG. 15  is a left side elevation view of the retainer of  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the retainer of  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 17  is a front elevation view of the retainer of  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 18  is a bottom plan view of the retainer of  FIG. 14 .  
       FIG. 19  is a right side elevation view of the retainer of  FIG. 14 .  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  is directed to an assembly including a shade  20  and a retainer  50  ( FIGS. 1-4 ) to provide a shade for an arched window according to this invention. The arched window is typically located within a planar wall W ( FIGS. 1-3 ) with a horizontal sill S below the glass G of the window and a curving ceiling C extending in an arched fashion up from the sill S over the window space and back down to the sill S. The assembly  10  is supported upon the sill S and provides for occlusion of at least a portion of light passing through the glass G of the window when deployed.  
      In essence, and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , the basic details of the assembly  10  are described. The assembly includes the shade  20  and the retainer  50 . The shade  20  can be any of a variety of different shades which are capable of being expanded in length, with the standard pleated shade  20  shown according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. The shade  20  can be fanned, such as by motion of a first end  24  ( FIG. 4 ) away from a second end  22  along arrow A ( FIGS. 1-3 ) so that the pleated shade  20  assumes a semi-circular form. A rule  40  ( FIG. 5 ) is provided on at least one of the ends  22 ,  24  of the shade  20 . A user can utilize the rule  40  after measuring a radius of the window to cut the shade  20  to the appropriate size before deployment adjacent the window as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 .  
      The retainer  50  ( FIG. 6 ) is a rigid structure which holds the shade  20  sufficiently so that the shade  20  does not buckle or fall off of the sill S. The retainer  50  preferably includes a base  52  adapted to extend horizontally and with guides preferably in the form of a front panel  54  and rear panel  56  extending vertically up from the base  52 . A slot between the panels  54 ,  56  is wide enough to accommodate a thickness of the shade  20  between the panels  54 ,  56 . Adhesive  46 ,  53  ( FIGS. 5 and 9 ) can be provided on the base  52  of the retainer  50  and on the ends  22 ,  24  of the shade  20  to secure the shade  20  to the retainer  50  and to the sill S, and to secure the base  52  of the retainer  50  to the sill S, so that the assembly  10  remains in the desired position adjacent the window.  
      More specifically, and with particular reference to  FIG. 4 , particular details of the shade  20  of the assembly  10  of this invention are described. While the shade portion of this invention can take on a variety of different forms, most preferably the shade is provided in the form of a standard pleated shade  20 . The preferred shade  20  includes a first end  24  spaced from a second end  22  and with an inside edge  26  and outside edge  28  extending from the first end  24  to the second end  22 . The ends  22 ,  24  are generally parallel to each other and spaced apart. This spacing between the ends  22 ,  24  is variable depending upon the amount of expansion which is being experienced by the shade  20 .  
      The inside edge  26  and outside edge  28  are typically parallel to each other when the shade  20  is in a collapsed form. The edges  26 ,  28  are spaced apart by a width of the shade  20 . This width remains substantially constant whether the shade  20  is collapsed ( FIG. 5 ) or deployed ( FIG. 4 ). If the shade  20  is expanded a greater amount of expansion adjacent the outside edge  28  than it is adjacent the inside edge  26 , the shade  20  will take on a curving form. In such a curving form the inside edge  26  and outside edge  28  maintain their constant distance away from each other but are no longer parallel. By providing the shade  20  in a form sufficiently long between the ends  22 ,  24  the shade  20  can be fanned into a semi-circle and particularly a hemi-circle ( FIG. 4 ). Such a hemi-circle fanned configuration for the shade  20  is shown in the preferred embodiment for use according to this invention.  
      If the shade  20  is sufficiently long between the first end  24  and second end  22  the shade  20  could be fanned to form a complete circle or fanned a greater or lesser amount. Preferably, and according to a preferred form of this invention, the shade  20  is configured to conveniently be fanned into a hemi-circular form for use adjacent an arched window having a similar hemi-circular form. This invention is appropriately modifiable for use in situations where a window has a greater or lesser semi-circular portion of a circle to be covered by the assembly  10 . The retainer  50  would be appropriately modified, along with the hump  60  to have a curving surface with an angular measure which typically matches the angle of the window glass G to be covered. Also, the non hemi-circular retainer  50  would require two flat portions replacing the planar base  52 , with the two flat portions angled relative to each other, typically to match the angle of the glass G to be covered. One such arrangement, in the form of a quadra-circular retainer  250  for a quadra-circular window is shown in  FIGS. 13-19 . In this representative embodiment of a non hemi-circular, semi-circular retainer  250 , the shade  20  is only expanded/fanned 90°. A hump  260  is located at a junction between planar perpendicular base portions  270  and  280 . Guide plates  290  act as panels to hold the shade  20  in a vertical plane.  
      The shade  20  specifically includes a series of rectangular planar surfaces  32  which are joined together by pleats  34 . The surfaces are entirely planar when the shade  20  is collapsed ( FIG. 5 ), but actually twists slightly when the shade  20  is fanned. This slight twist of up to ninety degrees is considered to be substantially planar.  
      The pleats  34  connect adjacent planar surfaces  32  from alternating edges thereof, such that the overall pleated shade  20  takes on a “zig-zag” configuration. The shade  20  can be formed from a variety of different materials, as is known in the art. If the shade  20  is formed of a plastic material, the pleats  34  are typically formed along with the original formation of the shade or are provided in a separate process such as by a heat welding process or an ultrasound welding process to form the pleat into the shade. If the shade  20  is formed of a fabric material, the pleats  34  can be provided in any fashion typically provided in the formation of pleats in textile fabric materials.  
      While the shade  20  is preferably in the form of a pleated continuous material ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the shade portion of the assembly  10  of this invention can alternatively take on other forms, as are known in the art for occluding the passage of light through windows. For instance, and as shown in  FIG. 10 , one example of such an alternative shade  120  is provided. With this alternative shade  120 , a series of slats  122  are provided adjacent each other with a cord  124  joining adjacent slats  122  together, near a peripheral edge of each of the slats  122 . The slats  122  can maintain a perpendicular orientation relative to the window glass or can be twisted or oriented parallel with the window glass, depending upon the aesthetic desires of the user. Typically, the slats  122  would all be joined together adjacent where the retainer  50  is utilized to hold the alternate shade  120  in position.  
      As an alternative to the cord  124 , fabric could be provided to join the slats  122  together, such as in the basic form provided with an expandable hand-held fan. Also, various different expandable shades with various different pleat patterns other than those shown in  FIG. 4 , but known in the art, could be utilized according to this invention. The pleated shade  20  shown in  FIG. 4  provides a preferred form of a means to allow the shade to be adjusted in length and formed into a fanned configuration. The alternate shade  120  of  FIG. 10  and the other alternate shades described herein provide other alternative means to adjust the distance that the first end is spaced from the second end of the shade, and to provide for the fanned configuration for use of the shade with the retainer  50  or other support according to this invention.  
      With particular reference to  FIG. 5 , details of the rule  40  on the shade  20  are described. The rule  40  includes a series of gradations  42  (i.e. lines or other generally linear markings) extending along at least a portion of the thickness of the shade  20 , preferably adjacent both the first end  24  and second end  22 . Indicia  44 , preferably in the form of numbers, are provided adjacent at least some of the gradations  42  to identify the gradations  42 . Preferably, a rule  40  is provided on both the first end  24  and the second end  22 . While the rule  40  can be identical on both the first end  24  and second end  22 , preferably English units of measurement are provided on the rule  40  on the first end  24  and metric units of measurement are provided on the rule  40  on a second end  22 .  
      Uniquely, the gradations  41  and indicia  44  of the rule  40  are distorted slightly from a true measurement of a width of the shade  20  from the inside edge  26  to the outside edge  28 . Specifically, the rule  40  is shifted a slight amount toward the inside edge  26 . This slight amount matches a radius of the hump  60  within the retainer  50 , described in detail below. Because the hump  60  causes the inside edge  26  of the shade  20  to be slightly raised above the sill S, the user avoids the complexity of subtracting out the height of the hump  60  when properly measuring and cutting the shade  20 .  
      For instance, if the hump  60  has a radius of a half inch, the rule  40  is provided with the gradations  42  and corresponding indicia  44  shifted one half inch toward the inside edge  26 . Hence, by way of example, the number “20” would be an indicia  44  adjacent a gradation  42  which would in actuality be 19.5 inches away from the inside edge  26  of the shade  20 . When a user cuts the shade  20  at the gradation  42  adjacent the “20” indicia  44  the shade  20  will have been cut to have a width between the inside edge  26  and the outside edge  28  which is 19.5 inches. When the shade  20  is later deployed adjacent the retainer  50 , the hump  60  will raise the shade  20  by a half inch so that the shade will actually have a height of  20  inches above the sill. Preferably, the rule  40  is also shifted additionally slightly (i.e. one fourth of an inch) to accommodate thickness of the base  52  of the retainer  50  and to provide a margin of clearance for the shade  20 . Hence, a user merely measures a height of the window and then cuts the shade  20  at the indicia  44  which matches the measurement made of the window height.  
      Preferably, either a portion or all of the rule  40  is provided upon a backing strip  48  which protects an adhesive  46  on the first end  24  and second end  22 . Hence, after the shade  20  has been cut, the backing strip  48  can be removed to expose adhesive  46  underneath for securing the ends  22 ,  24  to a base  52  of the retainer  50  and to the sill S. In this way, the shade  20  is securely held to the retainer  50  and to the sill S when deployed. Other fasteners could similarly be utilized including tacks or other mechanical fasteners or a user could provide a separate adhesive, such as glue or paste, or utilize adhesive tape, or any other fastening means.  
      With particular reference to  FIGS. 6-9 , details of the retainer  50  are described. The retainer  50  is a preferred form of a support which provides a means for holding the shade  20  in a fanned configuration within a substantially vertical plane adjacent the window to be covered by the assembly  10  of this invention. In the preferred form of this invention, the retainer  50  is a rigid construct formed from a unitary mass of material, such as injection moldable plastic. The retainer  50  is preferably made of transparent or partially transparent plastic.  
      The retainer  50  includes a planar base  52  adapted to rest horizontally upon the sill S. The base  52  includes a guide, preferably in the form of a front panel  54 , extending vertically up from one edge of the base  52  and an optional but preferred second guide in the form of a rear panel  56  extending vertically up from an opposite edge of the base  52 . An adhesive region  53  ( FIG. 9 ) can be provided on the base  52  to secure the base  52  to the sill S. The front panel  54  preferably is shaped to extend up to a semi-circular rim  55 . Similarly, the rear panel  56  is preferably shaped to extend up to a semi-circular rim  57 . Such a semi-circular form for the panels  54 ,  56  cause the retainer  52  to provide the required amount of lateral support so that the shade  20  does not buckle and bend out of the retainer  50 . The panels  54 ,  56  thus provide a means to buttress the shade  20  to keep the shade  20  in a vertical orientation adjacent the window. The retainer thus provides a means to hold the shade  20  in the fanned configuration adjacent the window. A centerline  58  is preferably provided at a center of the front panel  54  to assist in properly positioning the retainer  50  at a center point of the window.  
      While the panels  54 ,  56  provide a preferred form of guide to buttress the shade  20 , other guides could be provided to provide such lateral support and buttressing of the shade  20 . Specifically, rather than providing panels  54 ,  56  which are continuous in form, guides which merely provide support adjacent the rims  55 ,  57 , such as in the form of rigid wires could be effective. Also, panels or other structures of various different geometries could be provided, or of various different sizes. At a minimum, the guide of the retainer  50  or other support must merely provide lateral support at a position sufficiently far above the inside edge  26  of the shade  20  so that the shade  20  can maintain the deployed fanned configuration adjacent the window without buckling or tipping away from the window.  
      While the retainer  50  preferably is provided with both a front panel  54  and rear panel  56  or other pair of guides, the retainer  50  could function with only the front panel  54  or only the rear panel  56 , or other single guide. In such a single guide configuration, the front panel  54  or other guide would extend vertically up from the base  52  and the base  52  would be located sufficiently close to the glass G of the window so that the shade  20  can be supported between the front panel  54  or other guide and the glass G of the window. Alternatively, the single guide could be attached to the shade  20  to reside on either side of the shade  20 . The rear panel  56  is thus not strictly required for the retainer  50 , but rather it is preferred to provide the greatest flexibility in positioning of the shade  20  at a desired distance away from the glass G of the window.  
      When the shade  20  is configured in the fanned configuration, the inside edge  26  of the shade  20  remains in a tightly focused curve. However, the inside edge  26  does not occupy merely one point in space. Rather, it passes along a curved surface having a perimeter length similar to a height of the shade  20  when in the collapsed configuration. To provide adequate support and uniform deployment of the shade  20  in the fanned configuration, a hump  60  is preferably provided extending up from a center of the base  52  and providing a curved top surface  62  against which the inside edge  26  of the shade  20  can rest. This curved surface  62  of the hump  60  is preferably circular in cross-section ( FIG. 7 ).  
      While the hump  60  is preferably a solid structure, the hump  60  can merely be in the form of one or more circular ribs having the cross-sectional contour similar to that shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      Often an arched window is not perfectly semi-circular in form, but rather has an upper edge which is of slightly shorter radius at a maximum height portion and of slightly greater radius adjacent the sill S. Other arched window configurations are also conceivable, such as where the arched window will be taller than one half of the width adjacent the sill S. To accommodate such variation in arched window configurations, the hump  60  can be provided with a curved surface  62  which corresponds with such non-circular anomalies in the arched window. In this way, the shade  20  can be caused to more closely match the geometry of an arched window of non-circular form. Alternatively, the hump  60  can remain circular and the inside edge  26  of the shade  20  can be placed and adhered to the base  50  at a location slightly spaced from the hump  60  so that the outside edge  28  maintains a desirable constant small spacing from the ceiling C ( FIGS. 1-3 ) arching over the sill S. The hump  60  or alternative ribs described above thus provide one means for causing the shade  20  to exhibit a fanned configuration with a geometry which matches a geometry of the arched window.  
      With particular reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , details of a domed window shade assembly  210  of this invention for use with a domed window are described. Domed windows are known which include a hemi-circular or other arched form at an upper portion of the window, and typically with a generally rectangular form below the arched portion of the window. As particularly shown in  FIG. 12 , a shelf  230  is provided which is preferably attached directly to the glass G of the window. The shelf  230  includes a ledge  232  which is planar and extends horizontally similar to the sill S of the arched window of  FIGS. 1-3 .  
      The retainer  50  and shade  20  of the preferred embodiment of this invention can rest upon or be adhesively attached to the ledge  232  of the shelf  230  so that the shade assembly  10  is provided adjacent the arched upper portion of the domed window. A foot  234  extends vertically down from the ledge  232 . Adhesive  235  secures the foot  232  directly to the glass G. Alternatively, the shelf  230  could be fastened to sides of a recess in the wall W for proper support of the ledge  232 . Adhesive  235  is similarly utilized to secure the retainer  50  and shade  20  upon the ledge  232  of the shelf  230 .  
      The remainder of the domed window which is generally rectangular can be at least partially occluded with a standard rectangular shade  220  having a width similar to a width of the lower portion of the domed window. The rectangular shade  220  of approximately twice the width of the shade  20  can be adhesively attached to an undersurface of the ledge  232  and depend down from the shelf  230  to occlude the rectangular portions of the window below the arched portions of the domed window above the shelf  230 . In this way, an overall occlusion of light passing through such a domed window can be achieved.  
      This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified.