Patent Publication Number: US-8118077-B2

Title: Retractable arched window covering

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to commonly-owned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,631, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates generally to apparatus for mounting blinds within arched windows and drawing the blind across the window to block some or all of the visibility through the arched window. More specifically, the present invention relates to a shade for an arched window including an arched track with a movable carriage and a shade member attached to the carriage. 
     Many new buildings and homes are designed with arched windows or Palladian style windows and doors. Today, there are several types of coverings available for arched windows, but many tend to be either permanently fixed, that is, not retractable, or they are manually opened and closed. While several retractable style arched window covers are currently commercially available, these designs lack aesthetic appeal, which can severely diminish their value as a decorative item, or they are too cumbersome to use, especially for larger diameter arched windows. Due to design limitations, retractable window coverings are not available for arched windows having relatively large diameters. In addition, the mechanisms may be relatively complex or unattractive. 
     Consequently, there remains a need for a retractable shade assembly having a cover that can be remotely operated in order to open or close the cover. Preferably, the covering hides the unattractive mechanical elements of the invention that are in plain view to give it an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The covering may be capable of diffusing or blocking sunlight while the covering is in the closed position. Furthermore, the covering preferably accomplishes these goals using a relatively simple mechanical assembly, and with shade members that are readily available with little or no modification. 
     Conventional approaches exist for using cellular or pleated blinds designed for use with rectangular windows to provide a window covering for arched windows. There are some issues with simply fixing such a blind in an arched window and drawing one corner of the blind around the outer arch of the window. Blinds may tear or distort and improvements to the manner in which a rectangular cellular blind is mounted within an arched window are desirable. 
     Improvements to conventional approaches to providing arched window shades are desirable. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention provides a retractable window covering for covering an arched window. The window covering may include an arched track having an interior groove along a front facing away from the window and an exterior groove along a rear facing the window. A continuous movable member may extend within the grooves of the front and rear of the track. A carriage may be slidably mounted to the interior groove engaging the movable member within the groove. The carriage may be movable along the track between a first end and a second end. A shade member may have an upper rail and a lower rail with a shade extending therebetween. The outer end of the upper rail may be removably attached to the carriage. Intermediate pleats between the upper rail and the lower rail may include members which are received within a groove formed in an inner face of the arched track. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawing figures, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the description, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the figures is as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a window shade system for an arched window according to the present disclosure, with two independently actuated shade elements. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a blind according to the present disclosure for use in the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a blind connector according to the present disclosure for use in the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the connector of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an inner wall view of a portion of a bead chain guide according to the present disclosure for use on a first side of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the bead guide portion of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an end view of the bead chain guide portion of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is an inner wall view of a second mating portion of a bead chain guide according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1 , in conjunction with the bead guide portion of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the bead guide portion of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a view of an inner wall of a track according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and the bead guide of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 11  is a first end view of the track of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a second end view of the track of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of a slide base according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and the track of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom view of the slide base of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a first side view of the slide base of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 16  is a second side view of the slide base of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 17  is an inner wall view of a portion of a bead chain guide according to the present disclosure for use on a second side of the system of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 18  is a top view of the bead guide portion of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is an end view of the bead chain guide portion of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 20  is an inner wall view of a second mating portion of a bead chain guide according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1 , in conjunction with the bead guide portion of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 21  is a top view of the bead guide portion of  FIG. 20 . 
         FIG. 22  is a view of an inner wall of a track according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and the bead guide of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 23  is a first end view of the track of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is a second end view of the track of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 25  is a top view of a slide base according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and the track of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom view of the slide base of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 27  is a first side view of the slide base of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 28  is a second side view of the slide base of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 29  is a side view of a fabric arm according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and for mounting to the slide base of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 30  is a top view of a portion of the fabric arm of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 31  is a side view of a portion of the fabric arm of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 32  is a front view of a second embodiment of a fabric arm according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and for mounting to the slide base of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 33  is a top view of the fabric arm of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 34  is an end view of the fabric arm of  FIG. 32 . 
         FIG. 35  is a front view of a third embodiment of a fabric arm according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and for mounting to the slide base of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 36  is a side view of the fabric arm of  FIG. 35 . 
         FIG. 37  is a top view of the fabric arm of  FIG. 35 . 
         FIG. 38  is a front view of a fourth embodiment of a fabric arm according to the present disclosure for use with the system of  FIG. 1  and for mounting to the slide base of  FIG. 25 . 
         FIG. 39  side view of the fabric arm of  FIG. 38 . 
         FIG. 40  is a top view of a portion of the fabric arm of  FIG. 38 . 
         FIG. 41  is a schematic view of the fabric arms of  FIGS. 35 and 38  mounting to slide bases and engaging each other according to the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 42  is a partial cross-sectional side view of an actuating end of the window shade of FIG. 1 of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,631. 
         FIG. 43  is a partial cross-sectional view of a an actuating end of a window shade according to the disclosure of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,631, with a slide attached to a shade element in an intermediate position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. References to “cellular” blinds may be taken to include generally pleated shade material as well, assuming the properties of the material are similar. 
     Specific reference is made to co-pending and commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,631, filed on Nov. 10, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a window shade system  100  mounted in position adjacent an arched window  102 . On a first side  104  of system  100  is a first curved or arched track  106 . On a second side  108  of system  100  is a second curved or arched track  110 . It is preferable that tracks  106  and  110  generally match the contour of the arched portion of window  102  but other configurations are anticipated within the scope of the present disclosure. Located along a lower edge of system  100  and window  102  may be a central hub  112  within which inboard ends of the blinds within sides  104  and  108  are positioned. Within first side  104  is a first blind  114  is shown in a fully extended position with an upper rail  115  positioned generally vertically and positioned to engage an upper rail of the blind of second side  108 . 
     Within second side  108 , a blind  116  is shown in a fully retracted position with an upper rail  119  positioned generally horizontally to provide maximum light entry through window  102 . With the system of the present disclosure, the blinds of each side may be positioned independently in any orientation between the fully retracted and the fully extended positions shown. System  100  is shown adjacent arched window  102  which extends for approximately one hundred and eighty degrees with each blind configured to cover approximately one half of the window. It is anticipated that systems with more or fewer blinds may be constructed according to the present disclosure. It is further anticipated that the present disclosure also covers systems for covering windows of less or more than one hundred and eighty degrees of arch. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a blind  120  according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of pleats  122  ending with a top rail  124 . Top rail  124  may include an internal or external stiffener such as but not limited to wood dowel  126  to maintain the linear configuration of the blind. The stiffener may be sewn entirely within the fabric and thus not visible to viewers on either side of the blind. Alternatively, the stiffener may be mounted to one side or the other if it is desirable to have the stiffener not be visible from only one side. In addition to, or in place of the stiffener, a magnet  129  may be included in the top rail to encourage the two blinds of, for example, system  100  shown above, to mate closely with each other when fully extended. So mated, the blinds would block a maximum amount of light or visibility through window  100 . 
     System  100  may include actuating members such as a bead cord, chain, string, cord or other similar member to allow a user of the system to move the blinds between the extended and retracted positions. In the present disclosure, it is preferable that such a member of system  100  would be actuated by a user with members that extend from the outer lower corners  118  of the system, extending adjacent the lower termination of tracks  106  and  110 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , blind  120  is a single pleated blind, as opposed to a cellular blind. While cellular blinds are within the scope of the present disclosure, cellular blinds do provide some inherent structural rigidity as they are extended. Single pleated blinds, however, do not have such inherent structural rigidity. While a single pleated blind may be comprised of multiple fabrics, these fabrics are essentially or functionally bonded directly and continuously to each other. Thus, it may be desirable to provide a pocket  128  formed at the top of each pleat, generally on the same side of the blind as the wood stiffener and/or magnet described above. 
     These pockets  128  may provide some structural rigidity by themselves, and may be sufficient for smaller, thinner or lighter blinds. When the size of the blinds or the nature of the fabric from which the blinds are made dictates, additional intermediate structural support may be provided for the blind in the form of dowels, rods, battens, etc., inserted within one or more of the pockets  128 . 
     Installed as part of blind  120  along an outer edge  130  may be a plurality of connectors to ensure that the blind engages and moves along track  104  or track  108  of system  100 . A primary connector  132  may be located as part of the end pleat adjacent top rail  124 . Additional connectors  134  may be positioned along edge  130  between adjacent pleats. As will be discussed below, track  106  and  110  may include features to engage connectors  134  to provide support and stiffening tension to blinds  120  as they are extended or retracted along the tracks of system  100 . Connector  132  is provided to engage a movable carriage that transits along track  106  and  110  to be actuated by a user of system  100  to change the position of the blinds. 
     As shown, the connectors  132  and  134  may be the same size, type and style of connector to promote operational and manufacturing efficiency. However, this feature of the present disclosure is certainly not required and it is anticipated that connectors  132  and  134  may be of different sizes and configurations as needed to move and support blind  120  as it is moved along the tracks of system  100 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a bottle connector  136  that may be attached along outer edge  130  to serve as either a connector  132  or  134 . Connector  136  includes a tab portion  138  which may be adapted for easy attachment to blind  120 . Tab  138  may be sandwiched between fabric layers if blind  120  includes different interior and exterior fabrics for visual impact and sun blocking, respectively. Opposite tab  138  is a ball or bottle connector head  140 . Extending between tab  138  and ball  140  is a shaft  142  that is smaller is size than the diameter of ball  140 . It is not intended to limit the configuration of connector  132  or  134  to the exact configuration of connector  136 . Other connector arrangements and configurations may be used within the scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIGS. 5 to 9  illustrate first portion  150  and second mating portion  152  of a bead chain guide according to the present disclosure. These portions combine to form an enclosed path for a bead chain to extend into and away from lower ends  118  of track  104 . Formed within portion  150  are a pair of grooves  154  through the bead chain may run. Portion  150  also includes a plurality of mounting openings  156  to permit the fastening of the bead guide to the track as well as the fastening of portion  152  to portion  150 . 
     A mounting face  158  is provided for mounting the bead guide to the track with exits from the grooves  154  aligned with grooves in the track through the bead guide runs. At an opposite end  160 , grooves  154  direct the bead guide down to be accessed by a user to actuate the blinds. The horizontal distance between the exits at face  158  and the exits at end  160  may be selected and matched to a desired amount offset to permit the bead chain to project out beyond obstructions along the wall to which system  100  is mounted. 
     Portion  152  is provided to permit the bead chain to be easily routed through grooves  154  and then captured within the grooves by mounting portion  152  to portion  150 . Portion  152  includes matching fastener openings  162  and a lip  164  which mates with a recess  166  in portion  150 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 10 to 12 , track  104  is shown with a groove  170  extending along an inner face  172 . At a first end  174  of track  104 , groove  170  is configured with a broader or wider portion sized to receive ball head  140  of connector  136 . A narrower portion extends between the wider portion and inner face  172  and is sized to receive shaft  142  of connector  136  but is too small to permit ball head  140  to pass. This configuration of groove  170  provides a path for movement of connectors  134  of blind  120  as the blind is moved between the retracted and extended positions of system  100 . 
     Adjacent a second end  184  of track  104  is a insertion point  188  where the passage between inner face  172  and the wider portion of groove  170  is sized to permit insertion of ball head  140  into groove  170 . Insertion point  188  permits blinds to be mounted to system  100  or removed from the system. 
     Track  104  further includes a plurality of fastener openings  182  to enable the track to be fitted and mounted adjacent window  102  as part of system  100 . Fastener openings  180  are provided in first end  174  to permit mounting of bead guide portions  150  and  152  to the track. Lateral grooves  176  and  178  are provided along front and rear sides of track  104  for passage of the bead chain. Grooves  176  and  178  are connected by a smoothly curved path  186  adjacent second end  184  to permit a continuous length of bead chain to move between grooves  176  and  178 . The operation of these grooves  176  and  178 , the bead guide and the bead chain are described in the above referenced and incorporated application Ser. No. 11/558,631. 
       FIGS. 13 to 16  illustrate a slide base  190  for use with system  100  and track  104 . Slide base  190  is configured with a pair of legs  192  and  194  sized and configured to extend along the front and rear faces of track  104  and a transverse plate  196  configured to be adjacent inner face  172 . Legs  192  and  194  include openings to mount guides configured to be received within grooves  176  and  178 . The guide mounted to leg  192  is configured to engage the bead chain within groove  176  and move the slide base when the bead chain is moved. A plurality of fastener openings  198  may be provided in plate  196  to permit mounting of arms for engaging connectors  132  of blind  120  (discussed below). 
       FIGS. 17 to 28  illustrate elements of system  100  which are configured for mounting along second side  106 . The function, configuration and operation of these elements is essentially the same as described above with regard to  FIGS. 5 to 16  and have been generally marked with corresponding numbers beginning with 200 instead of 100, if they have not already been defined in  FIG. 1 . Where the discussion below regarding additional elements of system  100  refers to elements numbered in the 100&#39;s, it is intended that these discussions apply equally to parts numbered in the 200&#39;s. 
       FIGS. 29 to 31  illustrate a first fabric arm  300  for use with system  100  and mounting to slide base  190 . A pair of fastener openings  312  are provided in a transverse bar  314  to permit secure fastening of slide arm  300  to slide base openings  198 . An extension  302  includes a top face  310  with a notch  304  for receiving ball head  140  and shaft  142  of connector  132  of blind  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 30 , notch  304  includes a wider portion  306  sized to receive ball head  140  and a narrower portion  308  sized to receive shaft  142 . Portion  308  is sized to not permit passage of ball head  140  so that connector  132  may only be removed or inserted into notch  304  through top face  310 . 
     Notch  304  may also be configured with a narrower opening in top face  310  so that ball head  140  is a snap fit into notch  304 . This snap fit will provide a degree of security to ensure that connector  132  does not lose contact with fabric  300  during operation of system  100 . 
       FIGS. 32 to 34  illustrate a second fabric arm  320  for mounting to slide base  190 . Arm  320  includes similar fastener openings  322  and a notch  324  in a top face  326  to permit secure mounting to slide base  190  and engagement of ball head  140  of connector  132 , respectively. Arm  320  provides a notch that is more centrally located along the slide base and would permit a narrower blind to be used with a wider track  104  in a system  100 . Also, it may be desirable to have the blind within system  100  to be offset from the window or the interior edge of the system. Arm  320  permit blind  120  to be positioned as needed with the top rail mounted away from the window or interior edge. Arm  320  further does not position notch  324  on an extension away from slide base  190  but rather mounts connector  132  adjacent the edge of the slide base. 
       FIGS. 35 to 37  illustrate a third embodiment of a fabric arm  350  which is configured to cooperate with a fourth embodiment of a fabric arm  370  illustrated in  FIGS. 38 to 40 . Arms  350  and  370  are configured to more tightly overlap and close off any gaps that might occur between blinds  106  and  110  when the blinds are fully extended. When magnets along a top rail of the blinds are not sufficient to seal the gap or for blinds which do not incorporate a magnet in the top rail, arms  350  and  370  provide for an enhanced gap seal. 
     Since slide bases  190  and  290  are configured to extend along tracks  104  and  106 , respectively, and the tracks have send ends that are adjacent one another at a top of window  102  in system  100 , the slide bases cannot overlap each other and at best can be brought into a butting engagement. Arm  350  includes a pin  352  that extends from a top face  354  which also includes a notch  356  for engaging connector  132 . Arm  350  would be securely mounted to slide base  190  adjacent leg  194 , positioned toward the window. Arm  370  includes a central pivot opening  372  in a transverse bar  374  that is configured to permit arm  370  to be pivotably mounted to plate  296  of slide base  290 . A notch  376  is formed in a top face  378  to receive ands engage a connector  132 . 
     Pin  352  is sized to extend across any gap between the slide bases when the slide bases approach one another as both blinds are in the fully extended position to engage arm  370  at an engagement point  380  on an opposite side of bar  374  from notch  376 . As the slide bases  190  and  290  come nearer after pin  352  engages point  380 , pin  352  causes arm  370  to rotate about pivot about a fastener in opening  372 . This rotation caused by pin  352  extends top face  378  and notch  376  to extend closer toward slide base  190 . This extension of notch  376  and the blind  110  engaged by the notch brings the top rails of blinds  106  and  110  into closer engagement to provide a better closure of any gap that might exist when the blinds are fully extended. This engaged and pivoted arrangement of arms  350  and  370  is illustrated in  FIG. 41 . 
     When the blinds are retracted, pin  352  moves out of engagement with arm  370  and the arm returns to its neutral position. A spring or other similar resilient member  390  (shown in  FIG. 41 ) may be provided between arm  370  and slide base  290  to urge the arm back to its neutral position. It is desirable to have the arm return to the neutral position as this permits the blind to lay flatter along the bottom of system  100  when fully retracted and does not undesirably block any portion of light or visibility through the window. 
     The following description is drawn from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/558,631, the disclosure of which was incorporated herein by reference. The references to  FIGS. 13 and 14  in the referenced application have been changed to  FIGS. 42 and 43  to avoid confusion with the drawings numbered  13  and  14  in the present application. Reference numbers used in the following description and shown in  FIGS. 42 and 43  are intended to be limited to these two drawings. As shown in the FIGS. above, actuating shade  100  to move a blind  102  is carried out by use of a bead chain  106 . It is anticipated that other types of cords or chains may be used within the scope of the present disclosure. However, it has been determined through experimentation that use of a bead chain such as chain  106  permits larger blinds to be actuated with less force than the other options known at the present time. Bead chain  106  is comprised of a main cord  202  with a plurality of spaced apart beads  204  having a greater diameter than cord  202 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . The beads may be made of plastic or similar materials that have reduced friction within a track  116  as compared to the other options for an actuating cord. For smaller windows, this advantage may not be as desirable, as the forces required to move blinds  102  would not be as great. For larger blinds, used in arched windows having a radius of up to, for example, four or more feet, such reduced friction in the cord may permit greater windows to be shaded. Practical limitations on size may be mainly based on the required tension needed to move blind  102  from collapsed to fully extended, when shades  100  or  200  are manually operated. For motor driven shades, such considerations may be lessened, but reduced friction is generally desirable regardless of the drive used. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 13  is a central extension  206  of a chain guide  126 . Extension  206  may be lengthened or shortened as need to provide spacing between the vertical to horizontal transition of bead chain  106  about idlers  182  and the horizontal to vertical transition of bead chain  106  within an outer end  208  of chain guide  126 . The length of extension  206  needed may be based on a width of window ledge  104 , adjacent trim or other architectural features, or other aesthetic or functional limitations. With incorporation of a power drive to actuate shade  100 , the extension  206  and outer end  208  may be eliminated from shade  100  or  200  within the scope of the present disclosure, or may be included to provide a manual backup to the power actuation. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a longer extension  206  and a wall mounted chain keeper  210 . Between chain guide  126  and keeper  210  are two lengths of bead chain  106 , labeled A and B. As shown, a slide  118  is slidably mounted to a track  116  by a slide arm  130  and a forked slide arm  132 . Forked slide arm  132  engages bead chain  106  within track  116 . Tensioning length A by pulling on bead chain  106  will move slide  118  and an attached blind downward. Tensioning length B by pulling on bead chain  106  will move slide  118  and an attached blind upward. 
     While the apparatus hereinbefore described is effectively adapted to fulfill the aforesaid objects, it is to be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific preferred embodiments of retractable arched window shade as set forth above. Rather, it is to be taken as including all reasonable equivalents to the subject matter of the appended claims.