Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to window coverings and more particularly to those that fold like conventional curtain assembly, but including in combination a semi opaque or opaque flexible material and transparent or translucent material.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,330 issued in 1974 to louver Drape. Inc. there is disclosed a window covering system using conventional vertical blind hardware employed with vertically disposed louvers according to this 330 patent, the window covering made of one kind of continuous material, thus does not achieve the variety of colors and different, decorative and translucent effects, also in order to achieve the decorative effects, this disposed louver system must positioned behind a separate drapery system, or associated with drapers, the drapery material may be pinch pleated and attached at the front of each louver.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,699 issued in 1974 to Shapiro discloses a vertical louver type window drape where a continuous sheet of fabric material is interwoven with a plurality of relatively rigid vanes such that the vanes which are light impeding alternate with light transmitting sections of the fabric. One obvious drawback of a system of this type is that the vanes overlap the fabric requiring excessive fabric in order to fabricate the entire window covering.  
         [0006]     Window coverings of the afore—no ted type as mentioned previously are desirable from several viewpoints. It has also been discovered that variation in this general type of window covering may be desirable from many stand points, both utilitarian and aesthetic. But none of them offered to use two different types of fabric material in one window covering assembly. It is to provide alternatives and improvements to the afore described prior art systems that the present window curtain has been developed.  
         [0007]     Fabric window coverings are often preferred by consumers for a number of their features. Features most often considered desirable are the softer appearance relative to traditional Venetian blinds, the uniform appearance which they provide a window and insulating properties associated with cellular fabric shades.  
         [0008]     Cellular fabric shades offering these features are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,027 to Colson discloses cellular window coverings which may be made of fabric or fill materials. In the process disclosed in the Colson patent, a flexible strip of material is folded into a continuous longitudinal tube and the longitudinal folds thus created are currently set by passing the tubing material around a heat setting wheel. Adhesive is applied along one side of the flattened tubular material which is subsequently stacked by winding onto a rack having flat surfaces. The winding in this manner presses the adhesive to the next layer wound onto the rack to form a bonded unitary stack of closed tubular cells. When the ends are cut from the rack, the stack may be expanded and the permanently set creases provide a neat and uniform outward appearance.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,630 to Schnebley discloses a modification to the Colson process described above. In the Schnebley patent, a hot melt adhesive is applied to one side of the tubular material. After the flat tubular strips have been stacked and cut, they are placed in an oven under pressure and the hot melted adhesive is activated to bond the layers together.  
         [0010]     Both of the above patents disclose window coverings which exhibit the desirable features discussed to this point. However, window coverings of that type lack one feature which is often desired by consumers. That feature is the ability to control the amount of light admitted through the window covering, similar to a traditional Venetian blind. There have been some attempts to provide a fabric window covering with the ability to control the amount of light entering the room.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     It is therefore a general object of this invention is to provide alternative and improvements to this type of window covering.  
         [0012]     A primary object of the present invention is to provide two different types of flexible fabric material in combination, first type is semi opaque or opaque fabric formed of plurality of vertical louvers and a second type is transparent or translucent fabric arranged to serve as back wall sections for the louvers.  
         [0013]     Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a window curtain which combines the desirable characteristics of both a louver type vertical blind and a conventional window drape, affording the adjustable light transmission features of a vertical blind while retaining the esthetic characteristics of a conventional window drape.  
         [0014]     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a window curtain consisting of a plurality of vertical louvers having variety of colors and or designs.  
         [0015]     Still yet another object of the present invention is that the louvers could be vertically suspended by carriers of any kind of vertical blind tracks with a control system that enables the louvers to be pivoted between an open position where in they extend substantially perpendicularly to the back wall section and closed position where in they extend substantially parallel to the back wall section, and to be drawn across the window.  
         [0016]     Still another object of the present invention is to replace the existing vertical blind slats, vanes and louvers with the new invention of the curtain assembly without having to change the existing track which is already installed.  
         [0017]     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. The description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which forms apart here of, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters, designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views.  
         [0018]     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     In accordance with the teaching of the present invention, there is disclosed in combination of integral series of parallel regularly spaced louvers made of semi opaque or opaque flexible material and a sheet of transparent or translucent material serve as back wall section. Each louver is formed with a single loop and each loop having a pocket. Louvers are horizontally spaced a part a pre-selected distance and being attached to the back wall section along vertical seams and or material fasteners. The louvers being adapted to hang forwardly from the curtain wall sections, thus defining a curtain assembly formed of a continuous assembly of alternating semi opaque or opaque louvers and transparent or translucent curtain wall sections.  
         [0020]     Louvers having a means attached to the inner of the top portion of their pockets except for a small opening at about the central of top edge of each pocket to accommodate a means for hanging the louvers. The louvers extended vertically and being pivotally mounted to a horizontal track having a plurality of sliding carriers connected to the louvers which can pivot the louvers about longitudinal vertical axis from open position to a close position, and can traverse the louvers to the side (retracted position).  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 through 5  shows schematic plan views of lopped curtain louvers of a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention, in an open, half open, another half open, closed and retracted positions respectively.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  shows an oblique diagram of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 through 5  in the open position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  shows an oblique diagram of the present invention of  FIGS. 1 through 5  in the closed position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary section of a rear view showing stitches running longitudinally from behind the transparent material along the length of the overlapping portions with the semi opaque fabric.  
         [0025]      FIG. 9  is a fragmentary isometric view showing two adjacent louvers in open position and being attached to the transparent material strip along vertical seams.  
         [0026]      FIG. 10  is a fragmentary isometric view similar to  FIG. 9  with the louvers in a retracted position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11  is a fragmentary section showing a means made of thin strip of plastic that forms a loop with opposed faces, each face having a hole in about the central of it.  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary section showing a louver hung vertically from a hook adapted to extend downwardly from a sliding carrier (not showing).  
         [0029]      FIG. 13  is a fragmentary section showing a louver hung vertically from a hook, the bottom part of the hook along with the means of thin strip of plastic being hidden in the pocket of the louver.  
         [0030]      FIGS. 14 through 16  are front elevational views of the curtain assembly hung on horizontal track mounted on a vertical wall over a window from open, closed and retracted positions respectively.  
         [0031]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of a material fastener.  
         [0032]      FIG. 18  is an end elevational view there of from the top end, the bottom end elevational view being a mirror image there of;  
         [0033]      FIG. 19  shows a top side view of the opposed faces of the louvers along with the curtain wall section secured within the front end of the material fastener.  
         [0034]      FIG. 20  is a fragmentary section of a rear view showing the top portion of the ends of the opposed faces of the louver along with the top portion of the curtain wall section being secured within the front end of a material fastener having a sufficient length, and curtain wall section having an upper hem (lower hem not showing) while the opposed faces of the louver are connected together along a vertical seam.  
         [0035]      FIG. 21  is a fragmentary isometric view showing two adjacent louvers in open position along with the curtain wall sections secured within the material fasteners at their entire length.  
         [0036]      FIG. 22  is a fragmentary isometric view similar to  FIG. 21  with the louvers in a retracted position.  
         [0037]      FIG. 23  is a front side view showing a plurality of rectangular strips of semi opaque fabric attached to a plurality of rectangular strips of transparent material along vertical seams.  
         [0038]      FIGS. 24 and 25  shows perspective and topside views respectively of a continuous assembly of alternating semi opaque lopped louvers and transparent material sections.  
         [0039]      FIGS. 26 and 27  show front side views of actual colored photocopy of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention, in an open and closed position respectively.  
         [0040]      FIGS. 28 and 29  show perspective and topside views respectively of a first arrangement of the second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 30  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  30 - 30  of  FIG. 29 .  
         [0042]      FIGS. 31 and 32  show perspective and topside views respectively of the second arrangement of the second embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 32  shows the distance C  10  along line  29 - 29  of  FIG. 29 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS  
       [0043]     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views. The figures illustrate the window curtain covering of the present invention, with regard to the reference numerals used; the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               38  window curtain covering  
               40  louvers  
              C curtain wall sections  
               42  loop  
               44  distal end of the loop  
               46  pocket  
              D 1  width of the louver  
              D 2  width of curtain wall sections  
              S seam  
               48  shaping means  
               50  hole  
               52  hook  
               54  track  
               56  brackets  
              F window frame  
               58  mechanisms  
               60  elongated cable  
              W wall  
              T material fastener  
              B back wall  
              A 1  first wall  
              A 2  second wall  
              M seam  
              N thin slat  
              H upper hem  
              P 1  strips of first sheet  
              P 2  strips of second sheet  
              D width of strip P 1   
              S 1  seam  
              S 2  seam  
               138  window curtain covering  
              C 10  curtain wall sections between adjacent loops  
              C 20  curtain wall sections between opposed faces of the loops  
               142  loop  
               144  distal end of the loop  
               146  pocket  
              D 3  width of curtain wall sections  
              D 4  distance between opposed faces of the loop  
              D 5  width of the opposed faces of the loop  
              E seam  
               148  shaping means  
               238  window curtain covering  
              C 30  curtain wall sections between adjacent loops  
              C 40  curtain wall sections between opposed faces of the loops  
               150  hole  
               162  loop  
               164  distal end of the loop  
               166  pocket  
              D 30  width of curtain wall sections  
              D 40  distance between opposed faces of the loop  
              D 50  width of the opposed faces of the loop  
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0095]     The following discussion describes in detail two embodiments of the invention and several variations of these embodiments. This discussion should not be construed. However, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.  
         [0096]     Turning now descriptively to the drawings in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several view.  FIGS. 1 through 7  illustrate the first embodiment of the window curtain covering assembly of the present invention indicated generally by the numeral  38  and consists of a combination of a series of parallel regularly spaced louvers  40  made of semi opaque, or opaque flexible fabric material such as woven, non-woven, knitted, or stitched bonded fabric, and curtain wall sections C made of transparent or translucent flexible material such as sheer cotton, sheer nylon, lace, thermoplastic and combinations thereof. The louvers  40  and curtain wall sections C having the same length.  
         [0097]     The louvers  40  having a width designated D 1  measured from the curtain wall sections C to the distal end of the loop  44  and is about the same or greater than the distance between adjacent louvers designated D 2  as shown in  FIG. 1  such that each louver overlaps a subjacent louver when the curtain  38  is in the closed position as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . In this position the louvers  40  which are made of semi opaque fabric overlapping each other will decrease the transmission of light through to the room, and when the louvers made of opaque fabric will substantially block the transmission of light through to the room.  
         [0098]     In the open position of curtain  38  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 6  the curtain wall sections C limits the space between adjacent louvers  40  by the distance D 2  and is completely visible which permitting the transmission of light through the room, in this position the louvers  40  and the curtain wall sections C are arranged in relation to one another as to form a combination of continuous assembly of alternating louvers  40  and curtain wall sections C respectively.  
         [0099]     For closing the curtain  38  the louvers  40  may be moved either to the left  FIG. 2  or to the right  FIG. 3  from the open position shown in dot-and-dash lines, so that they will then occupy a position in which the curtain  38  is half open or half closed respectively.  
         [0100]     With the louvers  40  in the open position shown in  FIG. 1  the entire curtain  38  can be retracted in the known manner as shown in  FIG. 5  to form a stack of louvers, in this position the curtain wall sections C are completely concealed by the louvers.  
         [0101]      FIG. 8  shows a louver  40  being independently formed by folding a strip of the semi opaque or opaque flexible fabric material back upon itself longitudinally so as to define a single loop  42  that extends from one side only of the curtain wall section C and opposed faces of each loop are connected together with the curtain wall sections along vertical seam S parallel to and spaced from the distal end  44  of the loop  42  to form a pocket  46  in the loop.  
         [0102]     The seams S preferred to run from behind the curtain wall sections C, by doing that the curtain wall sections will curve forwardly between the adjacent louvers  40  as shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0103]     When the entire curtain  38  moved to the retracted position in the known manner to form stack of louvers  40 , in this position the curtain wall sections C are curved forwardly and completely concealed by the louvers  40  as shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0104]     The seams S can be formed in any desired manner, for example by ultrasonic welding when the curtain wall sections C is formed of synthetic fibers or a blend of synthetic and natural fibers, or by heat sealing if the curtain wall sections is formed of a thermoplastic material. The seams can also be formed by use of suitable adhesive or by sewing. However, the practitioners skilled in the art will recognize the suitable right way to form the seams.  
         [0105]      FIG. 11  is showing a shaping means of thin strip of plastic material  48  having sufficient width and is formed with a single loop by folding the strip of plastic upon itself width wise. Thus defining opposed faces made smaller than the opposed faces of the loop  42  so it can be attached to the inner edge of the top portion of the pocket  46  by using adhesive (shows as a shaded area) and end before the seam S to allow the passage of the stitches or adhesive to go through to the top end of the louver  40 .  
         [0106]     The thin strips of plastic  48  having a hole  50  in about the central of there opposed faces and can conveniently be formed in the opposed faces by punching. The area around the hole  50  left unattached (shows as non shaded area) to allow for the hook  52  to be adapted to the hole as shown in  FIG. 12  so that the thin strip  48  and the bottom portion of the hook  52  are hidden inside the pocket  46  as shown in  FIG. 13 . The shaping means  48  also can be attached to the pocket  46  by making a hem in the inner upper end of the loop  42  by extending the material in length at the upper end and then folding the extension back upon itself to keep the louvers  40  and curtain wall sections C at the same length. Then insert the shaping means  48  into the hem and make holes in the inner part of the hem so it will fit over the holes  50  in the shaping means. The hem could be stitched or glued.  
         [0107]      FIGS. 14, 15 , and  16  are showing the louvers  40  in the curtain  38  suspended in a track  54  anchored horizontally to wall W by brackets  56  located above the top of the window frame F. The track  54  contain a number of sliding carriers (not showing) together with a mechanism  58  that can be controlled in the conventional fashion by elongated cable  60  for shifting the louvers to their various positions opened, closed and retracted positions respectively. Each carrier having a hook  52  adapted to extend downwardly from the carrier. The carriers (not showing) and the shifting mechanisms are well-known in the art and do not constitute a part of the present invention.  
         [0108]      FIGS. 17 and 18  showing a perspective view and an end elevational view for the material fastener respectively. The material fastener T includes a back wall B, a first wall A 1  and a second wall A 2 . The first wall A 1  and the second wall A 2  are parallel to each other and are spaced apart. They protrude from the back wall B. The material fastener T further include one or more thin slats N which extend from inside surfaces of the first and second walls A 1  and A 2  of the material fastener T. The thin slats N can be inwardly angled and preferably overlap each other to firmly secure the opposed faces of the louvers  40  along with the curtain wall sections C as shown in  FIG. 19 . Preferably the material fastener T is made of a more rigid thermoplastic and the thin slats N are made of a more resilient thermoplastic.  
         [0109]      FIG. 20  shows a louver  40  being independently formed by folding a strip of the semi opaque or opaque flexible fabric material back upon itself longitudinally so as to define a single loop  42  that extends from one side only of the curtain wall section C and opposed faces of the loop are connected together along a vertical seam M parallel to and spaced from the distal end  44  of the loop  42  to form a pocket  46 ;  
         [0110]     The curtain wall section C and louver  40  secured at their top portion only within a material fastener T having a sufficient length.  
         [0111]     In this arrangement the upper end of the curtain wall section C is preferably folded over upon itself and stitched, bonded along its entire face to provide a hem having the same length as the material fastener, to help maintain and stiffen the outward facing. Also the lower end of the curtain wall section C could be folded over upon itself and stitched, bonded along its entire face to provide a bottom hem (not showing).  
         [0112]     The seams M can be formed in any desired manner. For example by ultrasonic welding or by bonding the seams can also be formed by use of suitable adhesive or by sewing. However, the practitioners skilled in the art will recognize the suitable right way to form the seams.  
         [0113]      FIG. 21  shows two adjacent louvers  40  in open position along with curtain wall sections C secured within material fasteners T respectively along their entire length. The thin slats N firmly secure the louver  40  and the curtain wall section C and retard there removal, by securing the louvers  40  and the curtain wall sections C within the material fasteners T, the curtain wall sections C will curve forwardly between the adjacent louvers. When the entire curtain  38  moved to the retracted position in the known manner to form stack of louvers  40 , in this position the curtain wall sections C are curved forwardly and completely concealed by the louvers  40  as shown in  FIG. 22 .  
         [0114]      FIGS. 23-25  showing the two sheets of flexible fabric material divided to a plurality of strips having the same length.  
         [0000]     First strips made of semi opaque or opaque fabric P 1 .  
         [0000]     Second strips made of transparent or translucent P 2 .  
         [0115]     The strips of first sheet having a width designated D is about double or greater than the width of the strips of second sheet (curtain wall sections C) designated D 2  as shown in  FIG. 23 . and by providing one strip of first sheet and positioning it so that the left edge portion and right edge portion overlaps the adjacent edge portions of strips of second sheet longitudinally and doing this with repetition and by attaching them together along vertical seam S 1  along the length of the overlapping of adjacent portions as to define a combination of continuous assembly of alternating semi opaque or opaque strips and transparent or translucent strips. By folding the strips of first sheet P 1  upon themselves longitudinally so as to define single loops  42  that extend from one side only of the strips of second sheet P 2  (serve as curtain wall sections C) and opposed faces of each loop are connected together along vertical seam S 2  parallel to and spaced from the distal end  44  of the loop to form a pocket  46  in each loop (P 1  will serve as louvers  40 ) as shown in  FIG. 24 . The edges of seam S 1  is inserted between the opposed faces of the loop  42  so the seam S 2  will hide the edges of seam S 1  to give a clean and finish look for the window curtain covering  38 . The curtain wall sections C limits the space between adjacent louvers  40  by the distance D 2  as shown in  FIG. 25 .  
         [0116]     The seams S 1  and S 2  can be formed in any desired manner as the examples mentioned here before.  
         [0117]     The strips P 1  and P 2  could be pre fabricated of pre selected colors and designs to ease the production of the present invention of window curtain covering  38 .  
         [0118]      FIGS. 26 and 27  is actual colored photocopy of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention in an open and closed position respectively. It shows the louvers  40  in the curtain  38  suspended in a track  54  anchored horizontally to wall (not showing). The tracks  54  contain a number of sliding carriers (not showing). Each carrier having a hook  52  adapted to extend downwardly from the carrier.  
         [0119]     Second Embodiment of the present invention which the window curtain covering  138  is formed with a U-shape loop, as shown in  FIGS. 28-30  where in, the semi opaque or opaque fabric strips are about three times larger in width than the transparent or translucent curtain wall sections C 10 . In this arrangement the semi opaque or opaque strip folded upon itself to form a loop  142  and the opposed faces of the loop is parallel to each other and having shaping means of thin strip of plastic having holes  150  in the top portion of each side of it and in about the central of its sides.  
         [0120]     The opposed faces of the loop  142  being attached to the transparent or translucent material along vertical seams E a pre selected distance D 4  which keeps the opposed faces of the adjacent loops always parallel to each other and to form curtain wall sections C 20  between the opposed faces of each loop, also forming a pocket  146  in the loop. The curtain wall sections C 10  will limit the space between adjacent loops  142  by the distance D 3  which is about the same width as the width of the opposed faces of the loops D 5  which measured from the curtain wall section C 10  to the distal end  144  of the loop. Each side of the loop  142  adapted to hang vertically from adjacent hooks  52  in  FIG. 31 .  
         [0121]      FIG. 32  shows the curtain wall sections C 20  being narrowed down to C 40  so the distance D 4  in  FIG. 29  became less to a pre selected distance D 40  which makes the opposed faces of the loop  162  more closer to each other. In this condition the curtain wall sections C 10  shown in  FIG. 29  will increase in width to C 30  which is shown in  FIG. 32 . This will increase the transmission of light through the room when the curtain is in open position. By doing that the distance D 3  and D 4  added together in  FIG. 29  will remain the same as the distances D 30  and D 40  added together in  FIG. 32 .

Technology Category: e