Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural and/or with rigid closure – Roll type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-16
2001-05-29
Johnson, Blair M. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural and/or with rigid closure
Roll type
C160S084050
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237667
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an improved roller shade tube assembly, and more particularly, to a roller shade tube assembly having an extension wing for supporting a shade or fabric.
In the marketplace, it is very desirable to use fabrics in window covering systems. In most conventional systems, the fabrics are operated on or otherwise wound about a roller shade tube which is located inside a headrail unit. The fabric typically consists of an inside and outside sheet between which a series of light-blocking or light-diffusing slats are connected.
When the shade or fabric is lowered, it is desirable to have the light-blocking or light-diffusing slats turned substantially perpendicular to the window (or parallel to the floor) in order to allow the maximum amount of light into the room. In order to do so, in prior art systems, the tube onto which the shade or fabric is wound would have a diameter size which is at least as large as the width of the fabric slats.
In that regard, in current systems offered by the companies Comfortex and Levolor, the roller shade tube assembly utilizes a larger diameter tube design of approximately 1 ½ inches. In the current Silhouette system being offered for sale by Hunter Douglas, the light-blocking slats are turned perpendicular to the window by utilizing a tube that has permanent extensions, effectively rendering the diameter of the tube approximately 1 ⅜ inches.
As can be appreciated, the problem with current roller shade systems is that they require large diameter tubes, which necessitates the need for a large high profile headrail system. While it is possible, from a weight stand-point, to have a roller shade supported on a tube of a smaller diameter, a smaller sized tube does not have sufficient diameter to effect the turning of the slats so that they are directed perpendicular to the window. As a result, the headrail which carries the tube is typically greater than 2 inches or more in height in prior art systems, which consumers find to be somewhat unattractive. Moreover, because both the rail and tube are of a large size, cost is increased in manufacture and production.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a roller shade tube assembly which can operate a suspended fabric shade so that the light-blocking slats may be turned perpendicular to a window, yet have a tube size to enable a low profile headrail design.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improved roller shade tube assembly is provided. The assembly includes a roller or tube member having an outside surface around which a fabric shade is wound. The fabric shade has outside and inside sheets between which are a series of fabric slats. The assembly also includes an extension wing element having one end that is pivotally connected to the outside surface of the roller member and a second opposite end to which one of the fabric sheets is attached.
As can be appreciated from an understanding of the invention, by utilizing an extension wing that is pivotally connected to the outside surface of the roller member, it is possible to use tubes having a tube diameter far smaller than in prior art designs. In operation, once the fabric shade has been unwound from the roller member and is in a fully down position, the extension wing pivots away from the roller and thereby allows the slats of the shade to be rotated so that they are disposed substantially perpendicular with respect to the window. In addition, the extension wing may be used as a stop mechanism, preventing the fabric shade from winding around the roller or tube member in an opposite direction, which, if allowed to happen, could damage the fabric shade.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved roller shade tube system.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a roller shade tube system which enables the slats of the fabric shade to be turned substantially perpendicular with respect to the window.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved roller shade tube system which enables the utilization of a low profile headrail.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved roller shade tube system that is less expensive to produce.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2029675 (1936-02-01), Schlamp
patent: 2267869 (1941-12-01), Loehr
patent: 4194550 (1980-03-01), Hopper
patent: 5320154 (1994-06-01), Colson et al.
patent: 5855235 (1999-01-01), Colson et al.
Cross David M.
Fraczek Richard R.
Gottlieb, Rackman & Keisman, P.C.
Johnson Blair M.
RollEase Inc.
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