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

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/116,867, filed Jan. 22, 1999 (the &#39;867 application). This application is also related to U.S. nonprovisional patent application Serial No. 09/014,460, filed Jan. 28, 1998 (the &#39;460 application), now pending. The &#39;867 and &#39;460 applications are hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention is directed toward a retractable cover for an architectural opening. More specifically, it relates to a cellular panel used to cover an architectural opening and a method of making the same. 
     b. Background Art 
     It is well known that cellular panels provide excellent coverings for architectural openings. For example, U.S. Pat No. 4,603,072 to Colson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a type of retractable honeycomb cellular panel. A typical honeycomb panel is constructed of a plurality of hollow slats or tubes, stacked and then adhered to one another to form a three-dimensional cellular structure when expanded. In its unexpanded state, the slats or tubes flatten to form a rectangular stack. The height of the stack is dependent upon the length of the panel and the material from which it is made. A retractable multi-cellular honeycomb insulating panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,750 to Colson et al. 
     A related type of honeycomb insulating panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,677,012 to Anderson. In the &#39;012 patent, a cell of the panel is formed by folding a strip of material along longitudinally extending fold lines that bring the longitudinally extending edges of the material near each other. Then, a second length of material is secured to the longitudinally extending edges to form a cell. A plurality of these cells are then affixed together to form a panel. Another related type of honeycomb insulating panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,795,515 and 4,871,006 to Kao et al. The &#39;515 patent is directed toward a process and machine for forming the honeycomb panel disclosed therein. According to the &#39;515 patent, a plurality of attaching strips join pleat lines formed in each of the two sheets that comprise the front and rear surfaces of the completed panel. The &#39;006 patent is directed toward a dual fluted shade. Again, in the &#39;006 patent, a plurality of attaching strips join two sheets of fabric along corresponding pleat lines formed in each of the two sheets. Other panels, like those disclosed in the &#39;515 and &#39;006 patents, wherein strips connect adjacent sheets of fabric, are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,228,936 (and B 1 5,228,936) to Goodhue and U.S. Pat No. 4,673,600 to Anderson. The &#39;600 patent also discloses a panel wherein the two sheets of material forming the front and back faces are joined directly together. The application that issued as the &#39;600 patent was a division of application Ser. No. 796,035, which eventually issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,255 to Anderson. U.S. Pat. No. 4,685,986 to Anderson also issued from an application that was a division of the &#39;035 application. Whereas the &#39;600 patent claims the honeycomb panel, the &#39;986 patent claims a method of fabricating the panel. 
     Still another related type of honeycomb panel is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,217 to Anderson. In the panel disclosed in the &#39;217 patent, strips of material are folded into Z-configurations, which are then stacked in layers that are adhered together. U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,855 to Anderson issued from an application that was a division of the application that issued as the &#39;217 patent. Whereas the &#39;217 patent claims the honeycomb panel, the &#39;885 patent claims a method of fabricating the panel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,554 and its corresponding reissue Pat. No. Re. 30,254 to Rasmussen disclose yet another related type of honeycomb panel. The panels disclosed in the &#39;254 and &#39;554 patents are formed by stacking precursor tubular members one on top of another, wherein the top surface of a particular precursor tubular member is bonded to the bottom surface of the next adjacent precursor tubular member, and the bottom surface of the particular precursor tubular member is bonded to the top surface of an adjacent precursor tubular member. The stacked and bonded precursor tubular members forming a resulting thermal insulating curtain. 
     Various machines are also known that are capable of manufacturing cellular panels at high speed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,027 to Colson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an apparatus for manufacturing cellular panels. Related U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,108 to Colson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, issued from a continuation-in-part of the application that eventually issued as the &#39;027 patent. 
     The cellular panels manufactured heretofore by interconnecting a plurality of individual precursor tubular cells have generally comprised precursor cells constructed from a single strip of folded material. The resulting elongated precursor tubular cells of a single material are then directly joined together to form a cellular panel. The machine disclosed in the &#39;027 patent may be used to manufacture such panels. Since the precursor tubular cells have been manufactured from single strips of material, however, it has not been possible to obtain the advantages that may be available when the honeycomb panel is constructed of more than one type of material. One such advantage is the ability to construct a cellular panel that is to be used as a window covering wherein one type of material faces inward for viewing by people inside of the room and a second, different material, faces outward. The inward facing side of the panel could be made from an aesthetically pleasing material, whereas the outward facing side could be made from a heat reflective or heat absorptive material. One side of the panel could also be made from a light-blocking material. Similarly, if an installed panel will have a hidden side, each precursor cell may be constructed to have an aesthetically pleasing material on the visible side of the resulting panel and a less expensive, less attractive material on the hidden side of the panel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is desirable to be able to form each precursor tubular cell in a honeycomb panel constructed by interconnecting a plurality of individual precursor tubular cells from a plurality of material types rather than from a single type of material. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the disclosed invention to provide an improved retractable cover for an architectural opening. The instant invention is an expandable and contractible honeycomb panel comprising a plurality of parallel rows of interconnected elongated precursor tubular cells, each of the precursor tubular cells being constructed of foldable and creasable material, and each precursor tubular cell comprising at least a first strip of material and a second strip of material. The second strip of material is arranged substantially parallel to the first strip of material, and the two strips are substantially equal in length. The first strip and the second strip are directly joined to each other. The combination of the first strip and the second strip comprises a dual-laminate component that is shaped to form a precursor tubular cell used to construct the honeycomb panel. 
     Thus, in a first aspect of the present invention, an expandable and contractible honeycomb panel having a front side and a back side comprises a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells. Each precursor tubular cell is constructed of foldable and creasable material. Each precursor tubular cell comprises a first strip of a first material, and the first strip has a first longitudinal axis and a first length parallel to the first longitudinal axis. Each precursor tubular cell also comprises a second strip of a second material, and the second strip has a second longitudinal axis and a second length parallel to the second longitudinal axis. The second length is substantially equal to the first length, and the second longitudinal axis is arranged substantially parallel to the first longitudinal axis. The second strip is directly joined to the first strip, forming a dual-laminate component, which is then shaped into the precursor tubular cell such that the first material is on the front side of the honeycomb panel, and the second material is on the back side of the honeycomb panel. 
     In a second aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an expandable and contractible honeycomb panel having a front side and a back side and comprising a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells is described. Each precursor tubular cell is constructed of foldable and creasable material. The method comprises the steps of placing a first strip of a first material substantially parallel to a second strip of a second material in an overlapping configuration; directly joining the first strip and the second strip, forming a dual-laminate component; and folding the dual-laminate component into a precursor tubular cell. These steps are repeated to create a plurality of precursor tubular cells. Then, the method entails connecting the plurality of precursor tubular cells to form the honeycomb panel such that the first material is on the front side of the honeycomb panel, and the second material is on the back side of the honeycomb panel. 
     In a third aspect of the present invention, a method of manufacturing an expandable and contractible honeycomb panel having a front side and a back side, and comprising a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells is described. Each precursor tubular cell is constructed of foldable and creasable material. The honeycomb panel is formed by laying out a first sheet of a first material; laying out a second sheet of a second material, such that the first and second sheets are substantially parallel and overlapping; directly joining the first sheet to the second sheet along a plurality of parallel connecting lines; cutting the joined first and second sheets adjacent one of the plurality of parallel connecting lines, forming a dual-laminate component having a first strip of the first sheet directly joined along a selected connecting line to a second strip of the second sheet. The dual-laminate component is then folded into a precursor tubular cell. These steps are repeated to create a plurality of precursor tubular cells. Then, the method entails connecting the plurality of precursor tubular cells to form the honeycomb panel such that the first material is on the front side of the honeycomb panel, and the second material is on the back side of the honeycomb panel. 
     A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in the following description and claims, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a first embodiment of an elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been assembled and folded; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell taken in the plane of line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell showing initiation of a first fold and a second fold line; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell of FIG. 4 shown in an intermediate configuration; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the elongated precursor tubular cell of FIG. 5 in a fully folded configuration; 
     FIG. 7 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the precursor tubular cell depicted in FIG. 6 shown with a portion of the second strip broken away revealing the adhesive; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of precursor tubular cells according to the first embodiment and forming a honeycomb panel; 
     FIG. 9 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the panel formed using precursor tubular cells according to the first embodiment; 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded, cross-sectional view depicting an assembly of two sheets of material to be cut into a second embodiment of elongated precursor tubular cells; 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly depicted in FIG. 10 further showing cut lines for cutting the assembly into a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells according to the second embodiment; 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary isometric view of the circled portion of FIG. 11, depicting the elongated precursor tubular cell according to the second embodiment before it has been folded; 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded, isometric view of the unfolded, elongated precursor tubular cell depicted in FIGS. 11 and 12; 
     FIGS. 14-18 depict stages of folding the dual-laminate component depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13 into an elongated precursor tubular cell; 
     FIG. 19 is a fragmentary isometric view of the unopened elongated precursor tubular cell depicted in FIG. 18; 
     FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of precursor tubular cells according to the second embodiment and forming a honeycomb panel; and 
     FIG. 21 is a fragmentary isometric view of a portion of the honeycomb panel depicted in FIG.  20 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Two embodiments of a cellular honeycomb panel  10 ,  10 ′ (see FIGS. 8,  9 ,  20 , and  21 ) comprising a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12 ,  12 ′, each precursor cell  12 ,  12 ′ comprising two strips of material  20 ,  22 ,  20 ′,  22 ′, are disclosed. An advantage of the instant invention over the prior art is that the two strips may be of different materials. For example, polymer film, metallized film, nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, knit fabric, and the like. Thus, it is possible to make a cellular honeycomb panel  10 ,  10 ′ having a different look from its front  14 ,  14 ′ and back sides  16 ,  16 ′ using two different materials. 
     Referring first to FIGS. 1-9, a first embodiment of the present invention is described. FIG. 1 shows an exploded isometric view of a dual-laminate component  18  used to make a cellular honeycomb panel  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, each dual-laminate component  18  that is to be folded into the precursor tubular cell  12 , a plurality of which are assembled into a honeycomb panel  10 , includes a first strip of material  20  and a second strip of material  22 . In this first preferred embodiment of the invention, the first strip of material  20  has a first length  24  and a first width  26 . The first length  24  is the longitudinal distance between a first end  28  and a second end  30  of the first strip  20  parallel to a first longitudinal axis  32 . The first width  26  is the lateral distance between a first edge  34  and the second edge  36  of the first strip  20  along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis  32 . In the first preferred embodiment, wherein the precursor tubular cells  12  of the resulting honeycomb panel  10  are arranged horizontally (see FIGS.  8  and  9 ), the first length  24  corresponds to the width of the resulting honeycomb panel  10 , and the first width  26  is related to the thickness of the resulting honeycomb panel  10 . 
     Similarly, the second strip  22  comprises a second length  38  and a second width  40 . The second length  38  is the longitudinal distance between a first end  42  and a second end  44  of the second strip  22  parallel to a second longitudinal axis  46 . The second width  40  is the lateral distance between a first edge  48  and a second edge  50  of the second strip  22  along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis  46 . In the first preferred embodiment, the second width  40  is approximately one-half of the first width  26 . 
     FIG. 1 also depicts the adhesive  52 , which is shown as a layer on a first side  54  of the first strip  20 . In the preferred embodiment the adhesive  52  is spread over the first side  54  of the first strip  20  in an area approximately the same size as a side ( 66  or  68  in FIG. 2) of the second strip  22 . This may be seen to best advantage in FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view taken in the plane of line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . FIG. 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the dual-laminate laminate component  18  that will be ultimately folded into one of the precursor tubular cells  12  that are joined to form the honeycomb panel  10  depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the adhesive  52  is approximately as wide as the second width  40  of the second strip  22 . When the second strip  22  is attached to the first strip  20  by the adhesive  52 , the dual-laminate component  18  shown in FIG. 3 results. 
     The dual-laminate component  18  depicted in FIG. 3 is then folded into a precursor tubular cell  12  as shown, for example, by FIGS. 3,  4 ,  5 , and  6 . As shown by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, a possible first step for forming a precursor tubular cell  12  comprises folding the dual-laminate component  18  of FIG. 3 along a first fold line  56  and a second fold line  58 . FIGS. 5 and 6 depict further progression of the fold until a second side  60  of the first strip  20  is folded against itself along the first fold line  56  and the second fold line  58  (see FIGS.  6  and  7 ). FIG. 7 depicts a flattened precursor tubular cell  12  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A portion of the second strip  22  adjacent its first edge  48  is broken away to show the adhesive  52  between the second strip  22  and the first strip  20 . In this configuration, the first edge  34  of the first strip  20  is adjacent the second edge  36  of the first strip  20 . It should be noted that it is not necessary for hard creases to be present along the first fold line  56  and the second fold line  58 . As depicted, the first fold line  56  and the second fold line  58  do comprise sharp creases, which facilitates assembly of the honeycomb panel  10  from a plurality of precursor tubular cells  12 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, assembly of the honeycomb panel  10  from a plurality of precursor tubular cells  12  formed according to the previous discussion is described. As shown in FIG. 8, two precursor tubular cells  12  according to the first embodiment are joined by a first adhesive bead  62  and a second adhesive bead  64 . In this preferred embodiment, the first adhesive bead  62  is applied to the first side  54  of the first strip  20  adjacent the first edge  48  of the second strip  22 . This first adhesive bead  62  thus extends parallel and adjacent the first longitudinal axis  32 . Alternatively, this first adhesive bead  62  could have been placed on the first side  54  of the first strip  20  of the next adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12  adjacent the first edge  34  of that first strip  20 . Either way, when two precursor tubular cells  12  are placed adjacent each other, the first side  54  of the first strip  20  of a first precursor tubular cell  12  (e.g., the lowermost precursor tubular cell as depicted in FIG. 8) is adhered to the first side  54  of the first strip  20  of the next adjacent precursor tubular cell  12  (e.g., the middle precursor tubular cell  12  as depicted in FIG.  8 ). The second adhesive bead  64  may be applied to a first side  66  of the second strip  22  of either of two adjacent precursor tubular cells  12 . For example, as depicted in FIG. 8, the second adhesive bead  64 , which also extends longitudinally and substantially parallel to the first and second longitudinal axes  32 ,  46 , respectively, could be applied to the first side  66  of the second strip  22  of the precursor tubular cell depicted in the middle of FIG. 8, adjacent the second edge  50  of the second strip  22 , or the second adhesive bead  64  could be applied to the first side  66  of the second strip  22  of the lowermost precursor tubular cell depicted in FIG. 8, adjacent the first edge  48  of the lowermost second strip  22 . Either way, when two precursor tubular cells  12  are placed adjacent each other and pressed together, the first side  66  of the respective second strips  22  of each adjacent precursor tubular cell  12  are affixed to one another. 
     The assembled panel  10 , a portion of which is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, has a different appearance from its front side  14  when compared to the appearance from its back side  16 . When viewing the resulting honeycomb panel  10  from the front side  14 , only the material comprising the first strips  20  of each precursor tubular cell  12  is visible. In contrast, when viewing the resulting honeycomb panel  10  from its back side  16 , only the second strips  22  of each precursor tubular cell  12  comprising the panel  10  are visible. Thus, when the material used for the first strips  20  is different from the material used for the second strips  22 , the resulting panel  10  looks different when viewed from its front and back sides  14 ,  16 , respectively. If desired, the first strip  20  could have a different appearance from its first and second sides  54 ,  60 , respectively, and the second strip  22  could have a different appearance from its first and second sides  66 ,  68 , respectively. Thus, additional variations could be obtained by controlling which side of the respective first and second strips  20 ,  22 , are visible in the dual-laminate component  18  depicted in FIG.  3 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 10,  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 , and  21 , a second embodiment of the invention shall be described. FIG. 10 is an exploded cross-sectional view of an assembly  70  from which dual-laminate components  18 ′ that will be formed into precursor tubular cells  12 ′ are cut. As shown in FIG. 10, the assembly  70  comprises a first sheet of material  72 , a second sheet of material  74 , and a plurality of parallel connecting lines  76 , which are long beads of adhesive in the preferred embodiment, but which could also be, for example, lines of stitching or sonic weld lines. To form the assembly depicted in FIG. 11, the second sheet of foldable and creasable material  74  is laid down, and parallel lines of adhesive  76  are applied to the second sheet  74 . Then, the first sheet of material  72  is laid on top of the second sheet  74 . The lines of adhesive  76  secure the first sheet  72  to the second sheet  74  as shown in FIG.  11 . Once the assembly  70  depicted in FIGS. 10 and 11 has been formed, a plurality of cuts  78  are made (FIG.  11 ). Each cut  78  is made in the assembly  70  comprising the first and second sheets  72 ,  74 , respectively, by cutting adjacent to one side of each adhesive bead  76 . This results in a plurality of subassemblies or dual-laminate components  18 ′ like those depicted in FIGS. 12-19. Each of these dual-laminate components  18 ′ comprises a first strip of material  20 ′, a second strip of material  22 ′, and an adhesive bead  76  attaching the first strip  20 ′ to the second strip  22 ′ along one edge of each strip. In particular, as best shown in FIG. 14, each dual-laminate component  18  comprises a first strip  20 ′ having a first side  54 ′, a second side  60 ′, a first edge  34 ′, and a second edge  36 ′; and a second strip  22 ′, also comprising a first side  66 ′, a second side  68 ′, a first edge  48 ′, and a second edge  50 ′. As shown, the adhesive  76  is between the first strip  20 ′ and the second strip  22 ′ so as to attach the second side  60 ′ of the first strip  20 ′ to the first side  66 ′ of the second strip  22 ′ near the second edge  36 ′ of the first strip  20 ′ and the second edge  50 ′ of the second strip  22 ′. 
     An exploded, isometric view of a dual-laminate component  18 ′ according to the second preferred embodiment is clearly shown in FIG.  13 . The first strip  20 ′ of material has a first length  24 ′, parallel to a first longitudinal axis  32 ′, between a first end  28 ′ and a second end  30 ′ of the first strip  20 ′. The first strip  20 ′ also has a first width  26 ′, which is the perpendicular distance between a first edge  34 ′ and a second edge  36 ′ of the first strip  20 ′ along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis  32 ′. Similarly, the second strip  22 ′ comprises a second length  38 ′, which is the distance between a first end  42 ′ and a second end  44 ′ of the second strip  22 ′ parallel to a second longitudinal axis  46 ′. The second strip  22 ′ also comprises a second width  40 ′, which is a lateral distance between a first edge  48 ′ and a second edge  50 ′ of the second strip  22 ′ along a line that is substantially perpendicular to the second longitudinal axis  46 ′. As a result of how each dual-laminate component  18 ′ is made in this second preferred embodiment, the first width  26 ′ is substantially equal to the second width  40 ′, and the first length  24 ′ is substantially equal to the second length  38 ′. 
     FIGS. 14,  15 ,  16 ,  17 , and  18  show the steps of this preferred embodiment for folding the dual-laminate component  18 ′ into a flattened precursor tubular cell  12 ′ used to form the honeycomb panel  10 ′ depicted in FIGS. 20 and 21. In particular, the dual-laminate component  18 ′ depicted in FIG. 12 is “opened” by folding the first edge  34 ′ of the first strip  20 ′ away from the first edge  48 ′ of the second strip  22 ′ along a third fold line  80 , until the first edge  34 ′ of the first strip  20 ′ is approximately as far away as possible from the first edge  48 ′ of the second strip  22 ′, as shown in FIG.  15 . Subsequently, the dual-laminate component  18 ′ is folded along a first fold line  56 ′ and a second fold line  58 ′. The first edge  34 ′ of the first strip  20 ′ is then brought toward the first edge  48 ′ of the second strip  22 ′ as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 as the fold along the first fold line  56 ′ and the fold along the second fold line  58 ′ is increased. Ultimately, the configuration depicted in FIGS. 18 and 19 is obtained. The configuration depicted in FIGS. 18 and 19 shows a flattened precursor tubular cell  12 ′ ready for assembly into a honeycomb panel  10 ′ depicted in FIGS. 20 and 21. Although the discussion of this second embodiment and of the other embodiment refers to folds or creases, the instant invention does not require them. Creases may be beneficial for some uses of the invention and are used in this disclosure for illustrative purposes, but are not required and need not be severe or well-defined. 
     The process of gluing first and second strips  20 ′,  22 ′, respectively, together and of creasing the resulting dual-laminate component  18 ′, repeated several times, produces a plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12 ′. This plurality of elongated precursor tubular cells  12 ′ may then be connected together to form a honeycomb panel  10 ′ as depicted in FIGS. 20 and 21. As shown to best advantage in FIG. 20, a second adhesive bead  64 ′ is used to attach one elongated precursor tubular cell  12 ′ to an adjacent elongated tubular cell  12 ′. In the preferred embodiment, the second adhesive bead  64 ′ is applied to the second side  60 ′ of the first strip  20 ′ of material adjacent the third fold line  80 . This second adhesive bead  64 ′ extends parallel to the first and second longitudinal axes  32 ′,  46 ′, respectively, for the first length  24 ′ of the first strip  20 ′. Once the second adhesive bead  64 ′ has been applied, a next adjacent elongated precursor tubular cell  12 ′ may be pressed against the adhesive bead  64 ′ such that the portion of the first strip  20 ′ and of the second strip  22 ′ adjacent their first edges  34 ′,  48 ′ are adhered to the exposed side of the second adhesive bead  64 ′. 
     The adhesive  52 ,  62 ,  64 ,  76 ,  64 ′ may be made from a heat-activated or other type of adhesive. For example, the aliphatic adhesives have been used successfully in construction of honeycomb panels  10 ,  10 ′ according to the instant invention. 
     Although two embodiments of this invention have been described above, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, although the first strip  20  is substantially twice as wide as the second strip  22  in the first embodiment, and although the first strip  20 ′ and the second strip  22 ′ are substantially the same size in the second embodiment, this need not be the case. Also, although folds have been variously designated “first,” “second,” and “third,” one of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that folds or creases could be made in a variety of different orders. Similarly, indications of direction or orientation (e.g., top and bottom) are for the convenience of the reader and should not be read as limiting. An important feature in this invention is that different types of material may be united directly to each other to form one or more of the individual, elongated precursor tubular cells  12 ,  12 ′ that are subsequently interconnected to form the resultant honeycomb panel  10 ,  10 ′. Also, although the honeycomb panels  10 ,  10 ′ depicted in the figures are oriented such that they expand and contract vertically, they could be hung such that they would expand and contract horizontally without departing from the scope of this invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8