Patent Abstract:
A shade for covering and uncovering an opening. The shade is attachable to drawstrings which raise and lower or otherwise move the end of the shade to obscure/reveal more or less of the opening, as desired. The shade is attachable to the drawstrings through attachments which comprise slots, etc. The attachments do not require threading of the drawstrings through holes in the shade. The shades are conveniently removable from the drawstrings and optionally disposable so that different shades may be coordinated with room colors, seasonal events, etc.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to shutters, blinds and other coverings, collectively referred to as shades, for windows, doorways and other permanent and temporary apertures and openings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shutters and blinds typically have a plurality of horizontally oriented rotatably adjustable slats. Typically, such shades comprise an assembly of plural individual slats. Each slat must be individually replaced if it is desired to change a slat due to any reason, such as damage, soiling, etc. The slats are vertically spaced apart and hang from a plurality of depending drawstrings. The drawstrings must be threaded through each individual slat. By “thread” or “threading”,it is meant that the hole in the shade or attachment is circumscribed by a solid periphery, and the drawstring is necessarily inserted through the hole in a direction generally perpendicular to the plane of such hole. In contrast, according to the present invention, the drawstring may be inserted without threading. Instead of threading, the drawstring may be inserted into the attachment in a lateral or radial direction, providing speed and convenience to the user. Shades having vertically oriented slats are also known in the art, and suffer from much of the same disadvantages, as shades having horizontally oriented slats. 
     Shades also include cellular and single panel embodiments. Such shades typically are suspended from a header by a plurality of drawstrings. These shades often comprise a plurality of horizontal pleats, through which the drawstrings are threaded. These shades provide the benefit that a unitary assembly can be inserted and removed to cover the opening, but also have the disadvantage of requiring threading of the drawstrings through individual pleats. 
     Frequently, the user will wish to provide a pattern, coloring or aesthetically pleasing indicia on the shade. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,529, iss. Nov. 23, 1993 to Landis, teaches individual decals being applied to the slats of horizontally oriented blinds. Each decal contains a portion of the desired design. When the individual slats are viewed together, an entire design is formed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,443,563, iss. Aug. 22, 1995 to Hindel et al., teaches a shade secured to a roller and having a high definition print applied to the face of the shade. The shade is treated to make it non-stretchable. U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,323, iss. May 25, 1971 to Gossling et al., teaches a blind having a decorative scalloped edge. However, these references fail to teach a shade having a design which is conveniently removable and replaceable. Each of these attempts in the art requires complex disassembly and reassembly if the user wishes to change the color, pattern, or other aesthetic effect of the shade. Disassembly/reassembly are equally complex if one wishes to change another feature of the shade, such as its size or position on the opening. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,504, iss. Mar. 7, 2000 to Judkins, teaches an exemplary honeycomb type of cellular window covering suspended from two pairs of cords. Another attempt in the art is U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,035, iss. May 2, 2000 to Laster-Bivens. Laster-Bivens teaches an apparatus for hanging various styles of shades, and comprising four depending draw cords. The individual draw cords are threaded through a hanging grid at discrete predetermined locations. To “simplify” the installation process, the draw cords may be secured with quick release stops. However, both of these attempts in the art still require the time consuming task of threading cords or strings through individual holes in the shades. 
     An attempt to overcome threading individual cords or strings through individual holes is given by U.S. Pat. No. 6,192,962 B1, iss. Feb. 27, 2001 to Glover. Glover teaches a telescoping support bar and window treatment panels which are joined together by hook and loop fasteners. When the consumer desires to change the panel, the hook and loop attachment means are released and a new panel applied. However, Glover does not teach easily replaceable pleated shades which are raised and lowered by the user. 
     Another attempt to forego threading drawstrings through individual holes is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,127, iss. Oct. 27, 1992 to Schumacher. Schumacher teaches a temporary covering fastened to the top of the window frame by an adhesive fastening strip and adjusted to length by a pair of clipping means. Schumacher&#39;s adhesive does not allow for permanent or even long term attachment of the temporary covering. Yet, another attempt is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,045, iss. Nov. 14, 1989 to Stahler. Stahler teaches a flexible window shade assembly having a pair of guide tracks  30  which receive and support the window shade assembly. Stahler is not suitable for use with the existing infrastructure, which primarily relies upon the draw cords disclosed above. U.S. Pat. No. 6,196,292 B1, iss. Mar. 6, 2001 to Jackson, discloses a venetian blind window covering comprising two individual blinds. The individual blinds are detachably secured together, one on top of the other. The blinds may be individually changed or independently controlled by the user. However, the Jackson blinds are not suitable for relatively short windows, and, more significantly, do not allow the user to conveniently change the size or appearance of the entire blind system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,003, iss. Apr. 7, 1987 to Henley, Sr., teaches a shutter assembly with individually removable slats. Henley does not require the assembly to be threaded through drawstrings. Instead, each slat is provided with a dowel at each end. The dowel fits into vertically spaced sockets in the side rails. The Henley assembly does not allow for removal and insertion of a new assembly all at once, nor is Henley usable with the pleated shades so popular today. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,539,238, iss., Sep. 3, 1985 to Markowitz also teaches a window shade comprising strips connected by severable connecting threads. The strips may be torn from each other if one wishes to remove an individual strip for sizing. Markowitz, like Henley, fails to teach a way to conveniently change the entirety of a window shade. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art to accommodate convenient removal and insertion of window shades. Particularly, there is a need to provide removal and insertion of shades which do not require threading individual strings or cords through individual holes in a shade. Further, the need exists for convenient insertion and removal of the popular pleated shades in use today. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises an apparatus for at least partially obscuring or covering an opening. The apparatus comprises a header. The header is attachable to the periphery of the opening and particularly may be attachable to the frame of the opening, if provided. The apparatus further comprises at least one drawstring extending away from the header and in operative association with the header. Also provided is a shade. The shade has a proximal end juxtaposed with the header and a distal end opposed thereto. The shade has a plurality of attachments attachable to the drawstring. The shade is operatively associated with the drawstring without threading the drawstring through holes in the shade. In operation, the distal end of the shade may be moved towards or away from the header by operation of the drawstring. 
     If desired, the shade may be pleated and/or cellular. Multiple drawstrings and/or an external motor for automated operation of the shade may be provided. The shade is conveniently removable from the balance of the apparatus in order that the user may easily replace the shade, as desired. 
     All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference; the citation of any document is not to be construed as an admission that it is prior art with respect to the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a broken perspective view of a pleated shade according to the present invention, having unequally sized pleats in the upper half, within internally facing slots on the attachments and equally sized pleats with externally facing slots on the lower half. 
     FIG. 2 is a broken side elevational view of a shade similar to that shown in FIG. 1, and being cellular. 
     FIGS. 3A-3D are top plan views of externally extending attachments usable with the present invention. 
     FIGS. 3E-3G are top plan views of internally extending attachments usable with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a frontal view of a shade according to the present invention being disposed on tracks. 
     FIGS. 5A-5B are fragmentary vertical sectional views taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 4, showing two different possible constructions, each usable with the shade of FIG.  4 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus  10  comprises a header  12 . The header  12  is attachable to the frame of an opening  40 . At least one, and preferably a plurality, of drawstrings  14  extend away from the header  12 . A shade  16  is suspended from the header  12  by the drawstrings  14 . 
     The header  12  may be horizontally oriented and attached to or juxtaposed with the top of the opening  40 . The opening  40  may comprise a window, door, aperture, portal, access panel or any other blind or through hole, as desired. The drawstring(s)  14  depend downwardly from the header  12 . The drawstring  14  supports and controls the shade  16 . The shade  16  may be pleated. If the shade  16  is pleated, it may have Z-pleats of equal or unequal size. Joined to or otherwise operatively associated with the shade  16  is a plurality of attachments  19 , as described below. The attachments  19  are typically juxtaposed with the vertex of the pleat  18 , although other locations on the pleat  18 , as well as other positions on the shade  16 , may be suitable. 
     The pleated shade  16  is operatively associated with the drawstring  14  in known manner, which will not be repeated here, so that the shade  16  may be moved relative to the opening  40 . Particularly, the shade  16  has a proximal end  20  juxtaposed with the header  12  and a distal end  22  remote therefrom. When the shade  16  is moved, typically the distal end  22  is moved towards and away from the header  12 . The drawstring  14  and shade  16  are operatively associated in a known manner so that the drawstring  14  can operate the shade  16  to obscure and reveal, or cover and uncover, more or less of the opening  40  as desired. In extreme situations, the shade  16  may totally obscure the opening  40 , or not obscure it at all. Alternatively, the portion of the opening  40  obscured/revealed by the shade  16  may remain constant while the absolute position of the shade  16  is moved towards and away from different portions of the frame. 
     The length of the shade  16  is taken from the proximal end  20  to the distal end  22 . The width of the shade  16  is perpendicular to its length and lies within the plane of the shade  16 . The length and width directions define the plane of the shade  16 . 
     The apparatus  10  is useful for partially or totally obscuring/revealing an opening  40 . If the opening  40  is large, the user may not wish to totally obscure the opening  40 . For example, if the opening  40  is a large, tall window, the upper portion of the window may remain uncovered and transparent while the lower portion is covered to provide sufficient privacy for the users. The user may wish to allow portions on one side of the window or around the periphery of the window to always remain uncovered, for example, to allow for light entry. It is to be understood that depending upon the needs of the user and the geometry of the opening  40 , the apparatus  10  of the present invention may be used to partially or totally obscure/reveal the opening  40 . 
     The opening  40  has a geometry defined by a periphery. The geometry may have any desired shape/aspect ratio, and comprise a periphery having straight sides, curved sides, or combinations thereof. The periphery of the opening  40  is typically bounded by a frame, although it is to be recognized that openings  40  may have one or more undefined sides as, for example, occurs when the top of the opening  40  is not bounded. The frame may only be disposed on one side of the opening  40 , may traverse the opening  40 , and may be continuous or discontinuous, as desired. The frame of the opening  40  need only be usable for attachment  19  of the apparatus  10  as set forth below. Thus, the frame includes the walls and other members  32  juxtaposed with the opening  40  and suitable for mounting of the apparatus  10 . The frame may be integral with the periphery of the opening  40  or may be a separate element. 
     The drawstring  14  is any flexible element  32  which can operate the shade  16  to obscure/reveal more or less of the opening  40  as desired, or which may serve to change the position of the shade  16  relative to the periphery of the opening  40 . Drawstrings  14  are inclusive of strings, cords, chains, belts, and bands which can operate the shade  16  as known in the art. Drawstrings  14  are also inclusive of rigid members  32  flexibly attached to the shade  16  and provide for its operation and movement, such as rotatable handles and articulable levers. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the shade  16  may optionally comprise at least one, and preferably a plurality of cells, Z pleats, and other known folds. The pleats  18  allow for accumulation of the material forming the shade  16  as it is compressed to reveal more of the opening  40 , and also allow for extension of the material to obscure more of the opening  40 . The material forming the shade  16  may be elastic or inelastic, as desired. Also, the material forming the shade  16  may be opaque to varying degrees, translucent, or even transparent. If desired, the shade  16  may comprise one or more holes therethrough for viewing, communicating with persons on the opposite side of the shade  16 , etc. The shade  16  may be formed of a single piece of material or may comprise at least two pieces of material disposed 180 degrees out of phase. The at least two pieces of material may be alternatingly opaque and transparent and disposed such that when the shade  16  is transposed the amount of light transmitted through the shade  16  can be varied. The pitch and opacity differences between the transparent and opaque areas can be varied, as desired. 
     If desired, the shade  16  may comprise a flexible panel without pleats  18 . Such a panel would be comprised of any flaccid material which can be accumulated or gathered by known means to reveal more or less of the opening  40  as desired. For example, a flat panel embodiment of the shade  16  may be rolled around a tube in known fashion, as illustrated, for example, by U.S. Pat. No. 4,951,730, iss. Aug. 28, 1990 to Hsu. 
     The attachments  19  are disposed on the shade  16  in any pattern which allows for operation and movement of the shade  16 . Preferably, the attachments  19  are spaced apart along the length of the shade  16  in a straight line. This disposition not only accommodates convenient attachment  19  of the drawstrings  14  to the attachments  19 , but also allows for simple operation of the drawstrings  14  in known fashion. If a Z pleated or cellular shade  16  is selected, the attachments  19  may be disposed on the vertex of each pleat  18  or cell. Alternatively, attachments  19  may be disposed at other positions on the shade  16 . It is not necessary that each pleat  18  of the shade  16  have an attachment  19 . It is only necessary that the number of attachments  19  be sufficient to move the distal end  22  of the shade  16  towards and away from the header  12 . In an extreme case, a single attachment  19  juxtaposed with the distal end  22  of the shade  16  may be utilized. If the pleats  18  are of unequal size the attachments  19  may be only disposed on the larger pleats  18 , which typically extend further outwardly from the plane of the shade  16 . Further, a Z pleated or cellular shade  16  may have pleats  18  disposed of in two oppositely facing arrays, a first array oriented towards the opening  40  and a second array of pleats  18  oppositely oriented and facing away from the opening  40 . The attachments  19  may be disposed on either the first array, the second array, or both. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3A-3G, attachments  19  provide for operatively associating the shade  16  with the drawstring  14 . Preferably, the attachments  19  do not comprise holes, and thereby avoid the necessity and inconvenience of threading the drawstrings  14  through holes in the attachments  19  or in the shade  16 . Instead, the attachment  19  may connect the drawstring  14  to the shade  16  by mechanical engagement, frictional forces, or any other releasably attachable method or mechanism which does not require the inconvenience of threading the drawstrings  14  through holes in the attachment  19  or the shade  16 . The attachments  19  may be made of plastic, metal, paper, sheet stock, wire, or any other suitable material. 
     Referring particularly to FIGS. 3A-3D, the attachments  19  may extend outwardly from the shade  16 . Each attachment  19  may comprise an open loop. The open loop has a narrow slot through which the drawstring  14  is inserted for attachment  19  of the shade  16 , as illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3B. The slot is narrow enough that it is unlikely that and reasonably difficult for the drawstring  14  to become detached from that attachment  19 . Alternatively, the attachment  19  may comprise wire loops, clips, and compliant geometries—similar to an “owl clip” style paper clip, as illustrated in FIGS. 3C-3D. The open area of the geometry of the attachment  19  preferably provides for smooth operation of the shade  16 . The attachment  19  may be joined to the shade  16  by adhesion, crimping, heat sealing, or various other means known to one of skill in the art. Alternatively, the attachment  19  and shade  16  may be integrally formed at the time of manufacture. Referring to FIGS. 3E-3G, if desired, the attachments  19  may be internal to the shade  16 , such as a slot, notch, or other feature cut from or into the shade  16 . 
     FIGS. 3A,  3 C,  3 E, and  3 G show attachments  19  extending perpendicular to the plane of the shade  16 . FIGS. 3B,  3 D, and  3 F show attachments  19  extending outwardly from or internally into the end of the shade  16 . FIG. 3E shows a J-shaped slot extending generally perpendicular to the plane of the shade  16 . FIG. 3G shows an attachment  19  comprising an open slot terminating at an enlarged hole. 
     One of skill will recognize that many permutations, combinations, and variations of the foregoing attachments  19  are feasible and within the scope of the claimed invention. For example, the slot type attachments  19  need not have an enlarged hole at the distal end  22  of the slot. Slots may be convergently and divergently tapered. Overlapping type clips, such as the owl type clips illustrated may overlap or not overlap, as desired. 
     Additionally, one of skill will recognize that variations and combinations in the type of attachments  19  used on a particular shade  16  are feasible. For example, a first type of attachment  19  may be used near the proximal end  20  of the shade  16  while a different type of attachment  19  may be used near the distal end  22  of the shade  16 . The same pleat  18  may have plural attachments  19  on it, a single attachment  19 , or no attachments  19 . If plural attachments  19  are selected for a given pleat  18 , the attachments  19  may be alike or different. 
     Referring back to FIGS. 1-2, the shade  16  may be joined to the header  12  and/or footer using temporary or permanent means well known in the art, including, but not limited to, magnetic attraction, hook-and-loop fasteners, adhesive, etc. The same joining method need not be used for both the header  12  and footer. A greater holding force is required at the header  12  than the footer. 
     If desired, the shade  16  may have indicia provided thereon. The indicia may comprise any aesthetic pattern, print, or recognizable feature sought by the user. For example, the indicia may be coordinated with the season (Christmas, Easter, Fall, etc.), may comprise sports figures, cartoons for children, color coordinate with the rest of the room or environment in which the shade  16 /opening  40  are used, may provide printed instructions for activities carried out in the vicinity of the shade  16 , may comprise memorabilia unique to the user, photographs of family, local sites of interest, etc. 
     The indicia may comprise ink, dye, or any visually aesthetically discernible pattern, including three-dimensional topographies, such as embossments or debossments. Inks or dyes may be applied to the sheet in any number of ways, including, but not limited to: dipping the sheet into the ink or dye, spraying a solution onto the sheet, or preferably by printing. Suitable printing processes include, but are not limited: lithography, letter press, elcography, laser printing, gravure, screen printing, intaglio, flexography, and preferably inkjet printing. The indicia may be a single color image or multi-colored. Inks and devices suitable for printing of the indicia are found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,412, iss. Aug. 1, 2000 to McFarland, et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,037, iss. May 25, 1993 to Leopardi, II, respectively. Embossing may be accomplished according to commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,475. iss. Mar. 15, 1994 to McNeil, or using other well known methods. The image may be centered on the shade  16  as illustrated in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,580,323. The indicia may be applied during manufacture and prior to purchase by the user. Alternatively, the image may be applied by the user after purchase. If a symmetrical image is desired, the image should have a border feature which allows for trimming of the shade  16  to the desired size. A single shade  16  may have indicia on both sides, if desired. 
     In another embodiment (not shown), the shade  16  may comprise alternating rigid elements and flexible joints. The rigid elements are spaced apart by the flexible joints and may have a major dimension disposed parallel to the width and substantially transverse to the length of the shade  16 . If desired, the rigid members  32  may span the entire width of the shade  16 . The flexible joints may comprise suitable springs. The flexible joints allow for alternating collapse of the space separating the rigid members  32  as the distal end  22  of the shade  16  is retracted towards the header  12 . This embodiment is similar to the well known Roman shade which has rigid joints/bars and the material between the bars which is flexible as the bars are raised and lowered, such a shade  16  is attached to the header  12  and optionally a footer. Opposite the shade  16  are the attachments  19  which are operatively associated with the drawstrings  14 . The attachments  19  may be connected to the flexible joints or, alternatively, to the rigid members  32 . By alternating the rigid members  32  and flexible joints, the shade  16  will preferentially buckle at the flexible joints when the distal end  22  of the shade  16  is retracted towards the header  12 . 
     If desired, a pair of shades  16  may be disposed in parallel and facing each other. This arrangement increases the opacity and thermal barrier provided by the shades  16 . Each shade  16  of the pair may be provided with indicia. The indicia may be mutually different or the same. Of course, three or more shades  16  may be disposed in parallel in this manner. Each such shade  16  may have a portion of the total indicia disposed thereon, with the indicia becoming visually clearer as the shade  16  closest to the viewer is seen. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the header  12  may be movable, rather than fixed to the frame. For example, tracks  30  may be provided on the sides of the opening  40 . One or more members  32  are juxtaposed with the ends of the header  12  and footer (if provided) and attached to tracks  30  to move up and down the tracks  30  to the desired position. This arrangement provides the benefit that more flexibility is available in obscuring/revealing different portions of the opening  40 . A particular benefit to this embodiment is that the top of the opening  40  may remain uncovered without drawstrings  14  hanging from the movable header  12  across the opening  40  to the shade  16 , as occurs in the prior art. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5A-5B, in such an arrangement, the shade  16  may be attached to the track by a compliant member  32  or by any other method or mechanism which engages the track  30  to hold the shade  16  in the desired position. Such a member  32  may be magnetic, biased or spring loaded, as desired, to provide frictional/mechanical engagement. Alternatively, in such an embodiment the drawstring  14  may be eliminated. A plurality of members  32  may be provided, including one disposed on each end of each pleat  18  of the shade  16 . If desired, the members  32  may be integral with and cut into the ends of each pleat  18  of the shade  16 . 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4