Patent Publication Number: US-2012031569-A1

Title: Safety window shade assembly

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/372,033 filed on Aug. 9, 2010 and entitled WINDOW SAFETY SHADE CONSISTING OF ROMAN SHADE AND CELLULAR SHADE, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a shade or screen assembly for fenestrations, including windows and skylights. 
     2. Description of Prior Art and Related Information 
     Window shades in the prior art typically employ lift cords to enable a user to raise and lower the shades as desired. Conventional lift cords are usually exposed to physical since they are intended to be accessed by the user. However, such exposed cords have posed child hazards in the recent past as these cords can cause children to get trapped, and particularly choked. 
     Therefore, a need has arisen to provide window treatments, particularly those having shades, without exposing any cords. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides structures and methods which overcome the deficiencies in the prior art. 
     In one aspect, a safety window shade apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a first front shade and a second rear shade. The first shade has a first display side, a first inward side and a first retaining mechanism. The second shade is disposed adjacent to the first inward side of the first shade. The second shade comprises a second retaining mechanism. A dual channeled coupler couples the first shade to the second shade. The coupler comprises a first channel configured to receive the first retaining mechanism and a second channel configured to receive the second retaining mechanism. In the preferred apparatus, no portion of a cord is disposed anywhere other than in between the first fabric and the second fabric. 
     The first shade may comprise a Roman shade. The second shade may comprise a cellular shade. The first channel preferably comprises a first C-channel, and the second channel preferably comprises a second C-channel. The second retaining mechanism comprises a cylindrical shaft. The first shade may comprise separate segments, where the first retaining member comprises a pair of separate transverse rigid strips, each strip coupled to a corresponding segment. 
     The first shade may also comprise a natural woven shade. Where the first shade comprises a natural woven shade, the first retaining mechanism may comprise a shaft configured to be received in the first channel, and a ring coupled to the shaft and the natural woven shade. 
     The apparatus further comprises a head rail, and a cordless lifting mechanism housed in the head rail and configured to facilitate the lifting and lowering of the first and second fabrics. The apparatus further comprises a bottom rail coupled to a first bottom end of the first fabric and to a second bottom end of the second fabric. The apparatus further comprises a cord extending through one or more holes in the second shade and coupled to the bottom rail. 
     In another aspect, a safety window shade apparatus comprises a first front shade, a second rear shade, and a double-C coupler. The first front shade comprises a first display side, a first inward side, a first retaining mechanism and a first perimeter. The second rear shade is disposed adjacent to the first inward side of the first fabric. The second fabric comprises a second retaining mechanism and a second perimeter. The first perimeter and second perimeter are generally aligned to form a collective perimeter. 
     The double-C coupler comprises a first C-channel configured to receive the first retaining mechanism, and a second C-channel configured to receive the second retaining mechanism. A lifting cord is disposed entirely between the first fabric and the second fabric. Thus, the cord has no portions exposed beyond first perimeter or second perimeter. 
     The first shade may comprise a Roman shade. The second shade may comprise a cellular shade. If the first shade comprises separate segments, the first retaining mechanism may comprise a pair of separate transverse rigid strips, each strip coupled to a corresponding segment. 
     If the first shade comprises a natural woven shade, the first retaining mechanism may comprise a shaft configured to be received in the first channel, and a ring coupled to the shaft and the natural woven shade. The second retaining mechanism may comprise a shaft 
     The apparatus further comprises a head rail, and a cordless lifting mechanism housed in the head rail and configured to facilitate the lifting and lowering of the first and second fabrics. The apparatus may further comprises a bottom rail coupled to a first bottom end of the first fabric and to a second bottom end of the second fabric. The cord is coupled to the bottom rail. 
     In a further aspect, a method of manufacturing a window shade assembly is provided. The method comprises providing a first shade, providing a second shade, coupling the first shade to a dual open-sided coupler, coupling the second shade to the dual open-sided coupler, disposing a lift cord entirely in between the first and second shades, and preventing any portion of the lift cord from being exposed and accessible to physical contact. 
     The method further comprises housing a cordless lifting mechanism within a head rail, and coupling the first shade and the second shade to the head rail. 
     The step of coupling the first shade to the dual open-sided coupler comprises disposing in a first channel of the coupler a shaft coupled to the first shade. The step of coupling the first shade to the dual open-sided coupler comprises coupling a ring to the shaft and the first shade. 
     The step of providing the first shade comprises forming fabric segments, each segment having a top retaining strip and a bottom retaining strip. The step of coupling the first shade to the dual open-sided coupler comprises disposing a top retaining strip and a bottom retaining strip of adjacent segments into a first C-channel of the coupler. 
     The step of coupling the second shade to the dual open-sided coupler comprises disposing in a second channel of the coupler a shaft coupled to the second shade. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a window shade apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a close-up perspective view of the encircled area in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cutaway side view of a top portion of the first preferred shade apparatus, including a head rail assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the first preferred shade apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the first preferred shade apparatus as retracted; 
         FIG. 6  is a cutaway side view of the first preferred shade apparatus as retracted; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a window shade apparatus; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of a window shade apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram of a preferred method of making a cordless shade apparatus; and 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram of a cordless method of operating a dual shade apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description wherein illustrated embodiments are described. It is to be expressly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth as examples and not by way of limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims. 
     Throughout the specification, positional and directional terms below refer to the following:
         axial or vertical generally refer to the direction in which the shade is drawn or retracted;   lateral, sideways or horizontal refer to a direction generally perpendicular to the direction in which the shade is drawn or retracted;   back and front refer to the perspective of a user located within the building and facing the apparatus.       

     While the preferred window shade apparatuses described herein may employ cords, these preferred embodiments may be described as “cordless” in the sense that none of the employed cords are exposed. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a first preferred embodiment of a safety window shade apparatus, or simply shade apparatus, is illustrated and designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The preferred shade apparatus  10  is configured to be used with any fenestration, such as windows and skylights, in any orientation (e.g., vertical, horizontal, etc.). The apparatus  10  defines an axis “A” generally parallel to the direction in which a shade is drawn. The apparatus  10  also includes a front side  12  facing a window and an exterior of the building in which the apparatus  10  is employed, and a back, or rear, side  14  facing an interior of the building. 
     The apparatus  10  comprises dual shades, namely, a first front shade  20  and a second rear shade  22 . In the first preferred embodiment, the first shade  20  may comprise a Roman fabric shade while the second shade  22  may comprise a cellular shade. It is to be expressly understood that each of the dual shades may comprise any kind of shade material, which may or may not be composed of fabrics. 
     The dual shades  20 ,  22  are disposed in a back-to-back arrangement. Thus, the front shade  20  is disposed adjacent to an inward, or interior, side of the rear shade  22 , and the rear shade  22  is disposed adjacent to an inward, or interior, side of the front shade  20 . The dual shades  20 ,  22  are coupled to each other with a preferred coupler, or connector,  24  as described in further detail below. The first shade  20  includes a first pair of side edges  26  which are preferably aligned with a second pair of side edges  28  of the second shade  22 . Accordingly, the apparatus  10  includes a collective shade perimeter  31  collectively defined by the aligned side edges  26 ,  28  and a bottom rail  33 . In the preferred embodiment, no portion of any cords employed in the apparatus  10  extends or lies exposed beyond this shade perimeter  31 . 
     It is within the scope of the invention to omit the bottom rail  33 , in which case a bottom portion of the front shade  20  would be aligned and coupled to a bottom portion of the rear shade  22 . In such an embodiment, the collective perimeter, which defines the boundaries in which any cords would be disposed, would be defined by the aligned pairs of side edges of the front and rear shades, and the coupled bottom portions. 
     As described in further detail below, the dual shades  20 ,  22  hang or extend from a head rail  60 . In unison, the dual shades  20 ,  22  are thus drawn away from or retracted toward the head rail  60  along the axis A. 
     In the first preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10 , the front shade  20  comprises separate segments  35 . As shown more clearly in the close-up view of  FIG. 2 , each segment  35  includes a generally flat planar portion  37  and a pair of transverse retaining strips  39 , namely, a bottom strip  39 - 1  of an upper segment and a top strip  39 - 2  of a lower segment located beneath the upper segment. Accordingly, the front shade  20  includes a first plurality of front retaining mechanisms  42 , each front retaining mechanism  42  comprising a pair of adjacent strips, namely, the bottom strip  39 - 2  of an upper segment  37  and a top strip  39 - 1  of a lower, adjacent segment  37 . Alternatively stated, the adjacent bottom strip  39 - 2  and top strip  39 - 1  of adjacent segments  37  collectively form each retaining mechanism  42 . 
     The rear shade  22  includes a second plurality of rear retaining mechanisms  44 , each rear retaining mechanism  44  preferably comprising a cylindrical shaft  44  which may be coupled to, formed integrally with, a front pleated section  45  of the cellular shade  22 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a preferred head rail assembly, or simply head rail,  60 . The head rail  60  comprises an upper transverse opening  62  configured for attaching valances, and a lower transverse opening  64  for receiving the front shade  20 . The front shade  20  includes a top head rail connector  66  which may comprise a retaining strip or a shaft housed within a pocket of the shade material. 
     A top portion  68  of the rear shade  22  is coupled to the head rail  60 . The top portion  68  may comprise an inner strip  70  and an outer strip  72 , both composed of a stiffener material and housed within a rear chamber  74  of the head rail  60 . A first, inner closure support  76  helps retain the inner strip  70  while a second, outer closure support  78  helps retain the outer strip  72 . 
     Any one of a variety of lifting mechanisms may be employed and housed within the head rail  60 . The lifting mechanism  80  preferably comprises a device that does not require the user to directly engage or contact any external cords in order to lower or retract the shades. Accordingly, the lifting mechanism  80  preferably comprises a “cordless lifting mechanism” which operates with constant force springs. The lifting mechanism  80  employs at least one lift cord  82  extending from the bottom of the mechanism  80  through a bottom opening in the head rail  60 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cord  82  extends through openings  84  formed in the rear shade  22 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2  where the rear shade  22  comprises a cellular shade in the preferred embodiment, the shade openings  84  are defined in horizontal planar sections  86  of the cellular shade  22 . The apparatus  10  preferably employs two transversely spaced apart lift cords  82 , each extending through the horizontally oriented openings  84  down to a bottom rail  33 . The bottom rail  33  comprises space to hold any excess length of each cord  82 . Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , no portion of any cords used in the apparatus  10  is exposed beyond the perimeter  31  of the dual shades  20 ,  22 . Therefore, no portion of any employed cords  82  is accessible for regular or inadvertent contact since said cords  82  are preferably nestled within the confines of the head rail  60 , the shades  20 ,  22 , and the bottom rail  88 . Thus, no portion of any employed cords  82  are exposed or protruding outwardly from the apparatus  10 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of a section of the first preferred apparatus  10  with the shades  20 ,  22  drawn down. From this side view, the shade coupler  24  preferably comprises a back-to-back double-C configuration, including a first C-shaped tube  46  defining a first front cylindrical channel  48  and a first front slot  50  opening thereto, and an oppositely facing second C-shaped tube  52  defining a second rear cylindrical channel  54  and a second rear slot  56  opening thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the dual channeled coupler  24  may be extruded and the transversely extending channels  48 ,  54  sized to receive the respective transversely extending retaining mechanisms  42 ,  44  securely. 
     The rear channel  54  receives the rear retaining mechanism  44  which may comprise a cylindrical shaft  44  coupled to the rear shade  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the rear cylindrical shaft  44  is enclosed within a pocket of fabric formed in the front, pleated section  45  of the rear shade  22 , the pocket of fabric also enclosed within the rear channel  54 . 
     The front channel  48  of the coupler  24  receives the first retaining mechanism  42  of the front shade  20  which, in this preferred embodiment, comprises a pair of adjacent strips, namely, the bottom strip  39 - 1  of an upper segment  35 - 1  and a top strip  39 - 2  of a lower, adjacent segment  35 - 2 . 
     It will be appreciated that the apparatus  10  may comprise multiple couplers  24  vertically spaced apart (i.e., along the axis of the shades  20 ,  22 ), such as with the illustrated embodiment in  FIG. 1  which shows three couplers  24 , for example. Accordingly, each shade  20 ,  22  comprises multiple retaining mechanisms  42 ,  44 , respectively, where each front retaining mechanism  42  is preferably positioned adjacent to a corresponding rear retaining mechanism  44  so that each pair of mechanisms  42 ,  44  is aligned. This way, each pair of aligned front and rear retaining mechanisms  42 ,  44  may be connected to a corresponding dual channeled coupler  24 , thereby preventing any wrinkles or undesired folds in the shades  20 ,  22  when drawn down. The coupler  24  thus maintains each pair of mechanisms  42 ,  44  in a fixed relationship whether the shades  20 ,  22  are drawn down or retracted. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate the first preferred apparatus  10  with the shades  20 ,  22  retracted. To operate the apparatus  10 , a user has to push or pull on the bottom rail  33  along the axis (i.e., toward or away from head rail  60 ). Pushing up on the bottom rail  33  releases tension from the lifting cords and allows the cords (hidden in between shades  20 ,  22 ) to roll up on the lifting drum inside of the lifting mechanism  80 . Once the bottom rail  33  moves up, the cells  88  of the cellular shade  22  will collapse into folded sections, and lift up together with Roman shade fabric  20  coupled thereto. Roman shade segments, or panels,  35 , which appear planar when fully extended as shown in  FIG. 1 , will fold up during this process and create a droopy, hobbled look where the panels  35  overlap on top of each other. Even in the fully retracted position as illustrated, no portion of the employed cords are exposed or accessible for direct or inadvertent contact. 
     To lower the dual shades  20 ,  22  in unison, the bottom rail  33  is pulled. The bottom rail  33  coupled to the lifting cords  82  will pull the cords down and roll the cords out of the drum of the lifting mechanism  80 . Cells  88  of the rear cellular shade  22  will open up and hobbles  35  of the front Roman shade  20  will stretch out until the whole shade duo  20 ,  22  fully extends, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Therefore, the preferred embodiment of the apparatus  10  operates by enabling the user to draw or retract the shades  20 ,  22  without having to contact any cords, which are hidden from view and inaccessible anyways. Therefore, a cordless method of operating the apparatus  10  is provided whereby the user need only engage the bottom rail  33  to draw or retract the shades  20 ,  22 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the shade apparatus  10   b  where elements of similar structure and/or function are designated by the same reference numerals followed by the letter b. In the second preferred embodiment  10   b , the front Roman shade  20   b  may comprise integral segments  35   b , all of which may be formed from a single fabric material, as opposed to the separate segments  35  of the first preferred embodiment  10  shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . Each front retaining mechanism  42   b  may comprise a cylindrical shaft enclosed within a pocket of shade material, where the shaft  24   b  and surrounding pocket material are configured to fit snugly in the front channel  48  of the dual channeled coupler  24   b . Therefore, the front retaining mechanism  42   b  in the second preferred embodiment may be substantially similar to the rear retaining mechanism  44   b  which also comprises a cylindrical shaft coupled to the rear cellular shade  22   b  comprising a cellular material. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a third preferred embodiment of the shade apparatus  10   c  having a front shade  20   c  comprising a natural woven shade (NWS)  20   c . The natural woven shade  20   c  may comprise bamboo, grass, wood, or other natural materials. In this third preferred embodiment, the front retaining mechanism  42   c  comprises a cylindrical shaft  92  configured to fit snugly in the front channel  48   c  of the dual channeled coupler  24   c . The front retaining mechanism  42   c  further comprises a ring connector  94  that couples the shaft  92  to a rear side of the natural woven shade  20   c . Each front retaining mechanism  42   c  may comprise a plurality of ring connectors  94  all coupled to a single shaft  92 , with each ring connector  94  transversely spaced apart along the length of the shaft  92 . Instead of a single shaft  92 , each front retaining mechanism  42   c  may alternatively comprise a plurality of shorter shafts, with one shorter shaft provided for each ring connector  94 . 
     The coupler  24   c  is formed with transverse slots  96  to receive the corresponding ring connectors  94  and enable the ring connectors  94  to slide horizontally. This enables the front shade  20   c  to move horizontally, within a limited scope, with respect to the rear shade  22   c  which comprises a cellular material. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a preferred method  200  of making a cordless shade apparatus. The method  200  comprises the step  210  of providing a front shade which may comprise a Roman shade or a natural woven shade. Step  220  comprises providing a rear shade which may comprise a cellular shade. Steps  210  and  220  preferably comprise forming each shade with similar widths such that one shade does not stick out laterally with respect to the other. Steps  210  and  220  also preferably comprise forming both shades with a drawn down, or fully extended, length. Accordingly, steps  210  and  220  are performed so as to form a back-to-back duo of front and rear shades which collectively define an aligned perimeter, within which any employed cords would be disposed and thus hidden from view and access. 
     In step  230 , the front shade is coupled to the rear shade using a dual channeled coupler, or connector. Step  230  comprises disposing a front securing mechanism of the front shade in a front channel of the coupler and disposing a rear securing mechanism in a rear channel of the coupler. Thus, each coupler is connected to a pair of aligned front and rear securing mechanisms. 
     Where the front shade comprises a natural woven shade, step  230  may comprise disposing a shaft in the front channel of the coupler and attaching a ring connector to the cylindrical shaft and a rear side of the natural woven shade. Slots are formed in the front tube of the coupler to enable the ring connector to attach to the cylindrical shaft located within the front channel. 
     Step  240  comprises providing a head rail which houses a lift mechanism. The lift mechanism may comprise a cordless lift mechanism. 
     Step  250  comprises coupling top portions of the front shade and the rear shade to the head rail. The top portions of the front and rear shade may be formed with stiffened materials which can reside in one or more chambers or openings formed in the head rail. 
     Step  260  comprises coupling a bottom rail to bottom portions of the front and rear shades. Thus, step  260  help define the bottom border of the overall perimeter between the front and rear shades. 
     Step  270  comprises concealing any employed lift cords within the perimeter of the dual shades and the bottom rail such that no portion of any cord is exposed or accessible. In other words, no portion of any employed cord would be accessible for direct contact or tangling. Step  270  may comprise disposing a lift cord extending from the head rail downward through the coupled front and rear shades to the bottom rail without exposing any portion of the lift cord beyond the perimeter of the dual shades. Thus, step  270  comprises disposing any excess length of the lift cord into the bottom rail. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a preferred cordless method  300  of operating a dual shade apparatus, namely, manually operating a front and rear shade combination in unison without directly contacting any cords. The method  300  comprises the step  310  of drawing down a front and rear shade in unison by pulling a bottom rail. Step  310  comprises fully extending both the front and rear shade in tandem without directly contacting any cords. Step  310  may comprise drawing down a front Roman shade and a rear cellular shade in unison. 
     Step  320  comprises retracting the front and rear shade in tandem by pushing up the bottom rail without directly contacting any cords. Step  320  may comprise retracting a front Roman shade and a rear cellular shade in unison. 
     The method  300  further comprises the step  330  of viewing a rear side of the dual shade apparatus, whether drawn down or retracted, and not seeing any visible cords. 
     In all the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that the rear cellular shade enhances the overall appearance of the shade apparatus by presenting a more aesthetically pleasing interior view than simply looking directly at the rear of a Roman shade. Forming the apparatus with a rear cellular shade also provides an additional benefit of heat insulation. 
     Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. 
     The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species. 
     The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
     The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.