Patent Publication Number: US-2023132417-A1

Title: Fastening system and window shade including the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/274,535 filed on Nov. 2, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to window shades including vertical panels, and fastening systems used in the window shades. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Some existing window shades include a plurality of panels made of a fabric material that vertically hang from a head rail. The panels are conventionally attached to hangers, which are movably assembled with the head rail. The hangers can slide along the head rail and rotate so that the panels can be displaced horizontally or rotated to control an amount of light entering a room. 
     For attaching the panels to the hangers, fasteners are usually provided at the top of the panels. Each fastener may clip a panel and attach to one hanger, e.g., by having a hook of the hanger engaging a hole provided on the fastener. In practice, the conventional fasteners may have some disadvantages. For example, the fasteners may not suitably hold the panels, cause tearing of the panels, and/or do not provide a flexible use. Moreover, some conventional fasteners may keep the panels distant from a lower edge of the head rail, which may cause light leakage between the head rail and the panels. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved fastening system that can be conveniently used in window shades and address at least the foregoing issues. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application describes a fastening system for a window shade, and a window shade using the fastening system. 
     According to an embodiment, a fastening system for a window shade includes a first clipping element having a first latching part, and a second clipping element having a second latching part operable to engage with the first latching part for attaching the first and second clipping element to each other, the first and second clipping element being attachable to each other for holding at least one panel of a window shade in a gap between the first and second clipping element. The first and second clipping element are attachable to each other according to a first and a second configuration, the gap between the first and second clipping element being greater in the first configuration than in the second configuration. The fastening system is adapted to hold two panels of a window shade in contact with each other in the gap between the first and second clipping element in the first configuration, and to hold a single panel of a window shade in the gap between the first and second clipping element in the second configuration. 
     Moreover, the present application provides a window shade including a first vertical panel, a second vertical panel, an outmost vertical panel and the fastening system, wherein the fastening system is disposed to either hold the first vertical panel and the second vertical panel adjacent to each other or to hold an outer side portion of the outmost vertical panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded view illustrating an embodiment of a fastening system suitable for use with a window shade, the fastening system being shown in a first configuration adapted to hold two panels of a window shade; 
         FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fastening system in the first configuration; 
         FIG.  3    is an exploded view illustrating the fastening system in a second configuration adapted to hold a single panel of a window shade; 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fastening system in the second configuration; 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged view illustrating a latching portion provided in the fastening system; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a window shade including a plurality of vertical panels; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view illustrating the use of the fastening system for attaching the vertical panels; 
         FIG.  8    is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the assembly of the fastening system for attaching two adjacent vertical panels; and 
         FIG.  9    is an enlarged perspective view illustrating the assembly of the fastening system for attaching an outer side portion of an outmost vertical panel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG.  1    is an exploded view illustrating an embodiment of a fastening system  100  suitable for use with a window shade, and  FIG.  2    is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fastening system  100 . Referring to  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the fastening system  100  includes two clipping elements  102  and  104 . Each of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  can be formed as a single piece. Examples of suitable materials for making the clipping elements  102  and  104  may include, without limitation, plastic materials. The two clipping elements  102  and  104  are attachable to each other for holding at least one panel of a window shade in a gap  106  between the two clipping elements  102  and  104 . The gap  106  may be defined between an inner surface  108  of the clipping element  102  and an inner surface  110  of the clipping element  104  that face each other when the clipping element  102  is attached to the clipping element  104 . 
     According to an example of construction, the two clipping elements  102  and  104  can have similar outer shape boundaries that can match each other when the clipping elements  102  and  104  are attached to each other. For example, each of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  may correspondingly have two opposite outer edges of a greater length (i.e., outer edges  102 A and  102 B for the clipping element  102  and outer edges  104 A and  104 B for the clipping element  104 ), and two opposite outer edges of a shorter length (i.e., outer edges  102 C and  102 D for the clipping element  102  and outer edges  104 C and  104 D for the clipping element  104 ), each of the two outer edges of the shorter length being respectively connected to the two outer edges of the greater length. 
     The clipping element  102  is attachable to the clipping element  104  according to at least a first and a second configuration, the gap  106  between the two clipping elements  102  and  104  being greater in the first configuration than in the second configuration.  FIGS.  1  and  2    illustrate the fastening system  100  used in the first configuration. In the first configuration, the fastening system  100  is adapted to hold two panels  112  and  114  of a window shade in contact with each other in the gap  106  between the two clipping elements  102  and  104 . The two panels  112  and  114  held by the fastening system  100  can respectively contact with the two clipping elements  102  and  104 . Moreover, each of the two panels  112  and  114  held by the fastening system  100  can have a top edge that is positioned adjacent to the outer edges  102 A and  104 A of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  and extends along the outer edges  102 A and  104 A. 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    illustrate the fastening system  100  used in the second configuration. In the second configuration, the fastening system  100  is adapted to hold a single panel  116  of a window shade in the gap  106  between the two clipping elements  102  and  104 . The single panel  116  held by the fastening system  100  can respectively contact with the two clipping elements  102  and  104  at two opposite sides. Moreover, the single panel  116  held by the fastening system  100  can have a top edge that is positioned adjacent to the outer edges  102 A and  104 A of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  and extends along the outer edges  102 A and  104 A. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the clipping element  102  has a latching part  120 , and the clipping element  104  has a latching part  122 . The latching part  122  is operable to engage with the latching part  120  for attaching the clipping element  104  to the clipping element  102  in any of the aforementioned first and second configuration. According to an example of construction, the latching part  120  can be fixedly connected to the clipping element  102 , and the latching part  122  can be fixedly connected to the clipping element  104 . For example, the latching part  120  can be formed integrally with the clipping element  102 , and the latching part  122  can be formed integrally with the clipping element  104 . According to an example of construction, the latching part  120  can protrude from the outer edge  102 A of the clipping element  102 , and the latching part  122  can protrude from the outer edge  104 A of the clipping element  104 . When the two clipping elements  102  and  104  are attached to each other for holding one or more panel of a window shade, the two latching parts  120  and  122  can engage with each other above a top edge of the one or more panel. 
     The latching parts  120  and  122  may have any suitable constructions allowing attachment of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  with the gap  106  set to a desirable size. According to an example of construction, the latching part  120  can have two engagement portions  124  and  126 , and the latching part  122  can engage with any of the two engagement portions  124  and  126  for attaching the two clipping elements  102  and  104 . The latching part  120  including the two engagement portions  124  and  126  may be exemplarily formed integrally with the clipping element  102 . The latching part  122  can engage with the engagement portion  124  for attaching the clipping element  102  to the clipping element  104  in the first configuration (i.e., with the gap  106  having a greater size), and can engage with the engagement portion  126  for attaching the clipping element  102  to the clipping element  104  in the second configuration (i.e., with the gap  106  having a smaller size). The two engagement portions  124  and  126  can be spaced apart from each other along a direction that is transversal to the gap  106  and orthogonal to the inner surface  108  of the clipping element  102  and the inner surface  110  of the clipping element  104 . According to an example of construction, the engagement portions  124  and  126  can include protrusions, and the latching part  122  can include one or more slot  128  adapted to engage with any of the engagement portions  124  and  126 . 
     According to an example of construction, the latching part  122  can engage with any of the engagement portions  124  and  126  of the latching part  120  through a snap-fit method. For facilitating the engagement of the latching part  122 , each of the two engagement portions  124  and  126  can have a ramp surface, e.g., ramp surface  124 A for the engagement portion  124  and ramp surface  126 A for the engagement portion  126 . As the two clipping elements  102  and  104  move toward each other for connection, the latching part  122  can come in sliding contact with the ramp surface  124 A or  126 A, which causes the latching part  122  to elastically deflect sideways relative to the direction of relative movement between the clipping elements  102  and  104  until the slot  128  is aligned with the engagement portion  124  or  126  and the latching part  122  can elastically move back and engage with the engagement portion  124  or  126 . 
     It will be understood that each of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  may include any suitable numbers of the latching parts  120  and  122  to ensure proper attachment. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  is exemplarily shown as including one latching part  120  and one latching part  122 . In other embodiments, one of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  may have one, two or more of the same latching part  120 , and the other one of the two clipping elements  102  and  104  may have one, two or more of the same latching part  122 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the clipping element  102  can have a notch  130  open on the outer edge  102 A thereof and extending into the inner surface  108 , and the clipping element  104  can correspondingly have a hanger engaging portion  132  for attachment of the fastening system  100  to a hanger provided in a head frame of a window shade. According to an example of construction, the hanger engaging portion  132  may include a slot  132 A configured to engage with a protrusion provided on the hanger of the head frame. When the clipping elements  102  and  104  are attached to each other, the notch  130  can overlap with the hanger engaging portion  132  across the gap  106 . Accordingly, the two clipping elements  102  and  104  attached to each other are adapted to hold at least one panel of a window shade in a region of the gap  106  overlapping with the notch  130  and the hanger engaging portion  132 . 
     According to an example of construction, the latching parts  120  and  122  may be provided at two opposite sides of the region of the notch  130  and the hanger engaging portion  132  for a balanced weight distribution. For example, the illustrated embodiment has the latching parts  120  and  122  disposed adjacent to the notch  130  and the hanger engaging portion  132  at two opposite sides thereof. It will be appreciated, however, that other placements of the latching parts  120  and  122  along the outer edges  102 A and  104 A of the clipping elements  102  and  104  may be possible. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 4   , the inner surface  108  of the clipping element  102  can have a plurality of protruding teeth  134  and a plurality of openings  136 , the protruding teeth  134  and the openings  136  being distributed at two opposite sides of the notch  130 . The inner surface  110  of the clipping element  104  can likewise have a plurality of protruding teeth  138  and a plurality of openings  140 , the protruding teeth  138  and the openings  140  being distributed at two opposite sides of the hanger engaging portion  132 . The protruding teeth  134  and  138  are adapted to pierce one or more panel of a window shade held in the gap  106  between the two clipping elements  102  and  104 , the openings  136  in the clipping element  102  being adapted to respectively receive at least partially the protruding teeth  138  of the clipping element  104 , and the openings  140  in the clipping element  104  being adapted to respectively receive at least partially the protruding teeth  134  of the clipping element  102 . 
     In conjunction with  FIGS.  1 - 5   ,  FIGS.  6 - 9    are schematic views illustrating exemplary use of the fastening system  100  in a window shade  200 . Referring to  FIGS.  6 - 9   , the window shade  200  can include a head frame  202  and a plurality of vertical panels  204 . The head frame  202  may be affixed at a top of a window frame, and may have an elongate shape. 
     Each vertical panel  204  can be made of a flexible material including, but not limited to, a fabric material, a web material, a mesh material, and the like. Each vertical panel  204  can include two side portions  206 A and  206 B, and a central portion  208  between the two side portions  206 A and  206 B. According to an embodiment, the two side portions  206 A and  206 B and the central portion  208  may have different light transmissivities. For example, the light transmissivity of the central portion  208  may be higher than that of each side portion  206 A and  206 B. Each vertical panel  204  can have generally U-shape when it is connected to the head frame  202 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 9   , multiple fastening systems  100  as described previously can be used to attach the vertical panels  204  adjacently to one another and to hang the vertical panels  204  below the head frame  202 . More specifically, the fastening systems  100  can include fastening systems  100 A in the first configuration described previously, and fastening systems  100 B in the second configuration described previously. The fastening systems  100 A and  100 B can be respectively connected to the head frame  202  for hanging the vertical panels  204 . For example, the head frame  202  can include a head rail  210 , and a plurality of hangers  212  that are movably connected to the head rail  210  and can respectively engage with the hanger engaging portions  132  of the fastening systems  100 A and  100 B. According to an example of construction, each of the hangers  212  can have a slot  212 A, and the hanger engaging portion  132  can be inserted into the slot  212 A for engaging the hanger  212  with the hanger engaging portion  132 . The notches  130  of the fastening systems  100 A and  100 B can respectively receive at least partially the hangers  212  when the hangers  212  are engaged with the hanger engaging portions  132 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  1 - 8   , each fastening system  100 A can be applied for holding two adjacent vertical panels  204  at a top thereof. For example, the vertical panels  204  can include two vertical panels  204 A and  204 B, and the fastening system  100 A can be used to attach one side portion  206 B of the vertical panel  204 A to one side portion  206 A of the other vertical panel  204 B so that the two vertical panels  204 A and  204 B are held adjacent to each other. Once the fastening system  100 A is connected to the corresponding hanger  212 , the two vertical panels  204 A and  204 B (in particular the side portion  206 B of the vertical panel  204 A and the side portion  206 A of the vertical panel  204 B) held by the fastening system  100 A can be at least partially received through the slot  212 A of the hanger  212 . This arrangement allows the vertical panels  204 A and  204 B to be positioned substantially close to a lower edge of the head rail  210 , which can prevent light leakage between the head rail  210  and the vertical panels  204 A and  204 B. 
     Referring again to  FIGS.  6 - 9   , the vertical panels  204  can further include an outmost vertical panel  204 C having an outer side portion  206 B not attached to any other vertical panel. The fastening system  100 B can be used for holding the outer side portion  206 B of the outmost vertical panel  204 C, the top of the outer side portion  206 B being held between the two clipping elements  102  and  104  of the fastening system  100 B. Once the fastening system  100 B is connected to the corresponding hanger  212 , the outer side portion  206 B of the outmost vertical panel  204 C held by the fastening system  100 B can be at least partially received through the slot  212 A of the hanger  212 . This arrangement allows the outmost vertical panel  204 C to be positioned substantially close to the lower edge of the head rail  210 , which can prevent light leakage between the head rail  210  and the outmost vertical panel  204 C. 
     The fastening system described herein is relatively simple in construction, and can be used to conveniently attach vertical panels of a window shade. The fastening system has multiple configurations that allow attachments of adjacent vertical panels as well as outer side portions of outmost vertical panels. Moreover, the vertical panels can be positioned substantially close to the lower edge of the head rail, which can prevent light leakage between the head rail and the vertical panels. 
     Realizations of the structures have been described only in the context of particular embodiments. These embodiments are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the claims that follow.