# US 11,299,930 B2 · Slatted roller blind > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,930 B2 - Document ID: US11299930B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/175,882 - Filed: 2018-10-31 - Published: 2019-04-25 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-18 - Assignees: Hunter Douglas Inc. - Applicants: Hunter Douglas Inc. - Inventors: Wendell B. Colson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299930B2 ## CPC - E06B 9/34: roller-type; {Roller shutters with adjustable lamellae} - B29C 65/02: by heating, with or without pressure - B29C 65/48: using adhesives {, i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding} - E06B 9/386: Details of lamellae - E06B 9/68: Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A roller blind is disclosed which provides horizontal slats for directional shading, enabling the application of a screen fabric which allows a greater portion of visible light to pass therethrough. The disclosed slatted roller blind is free from the usage of ladder cords and is simplistic in design. The disclosed slatted roller blind maintains a compact formation of a roller shade when retracted and has greater resistance to skewing along the longitudinal axis of the roller while being retracted. Furthermore, the disclosed slatted roller blind design is capable of being utilized as an outdoor or indoor blind. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of shaping a slat of a covering for an architectural opening, comprising: coupling at least two slats to a screen, said at least two slats spaced apart from one another to define a space between adjacent slats of said at least two slats; coupling said screen to a roller; rolling said screen and said at least two slats about said roller to mechanically conform a shape of said at least two slats to a radius of curvature defined at least partially by said roller and underlying portions of said screen and any underlying slats of said at least two slats; and heating said roller, said screen, and said at least two slats after conforming said shape of said at least two slats to said radius of curvature defined at least partially by said roller and underlying portions of said screen and any underlying slats of said at least two slats. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said coupling at least two slats to a screen comprises coupling at least two slats having a rectangular profile to a screen. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said slats are formed from a material which retains said radius of curvature defined by said roller when said covering is in an extended position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein coupling at least two slats to a screen comprises coupling each of said at least two slats along an upper edge of said slat. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each slat includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and a width defined by said upper and lower edges, each of said at least two slats having the same width. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising applying an adhesive to said slats for coupling said slats to said screen. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said space between adjacent slats varies. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein said space between adjacent slats progressively increases depending on a distance from a top of said covering. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said space between adjacent slats is uniform. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said slats are manufactured from a non-woven fabric. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said slats are manufactured from a thermoplastic. ### Claim 12 A method of manufacturing a covering comprising: coupling at least two slats to a screen, each of said at least two slats including a front face and a rear face, said rear faces being coupled to said screen; coupling said screen to a roller; rolling said screen and said at least two slats about said roller to mechanically conform a shape of said at least two slats to a radius of curvature defined at least partially by said roller and underlying portions of said screen and any underlying slats of said at least two slats; and heating said roller, said screen, and said at least two slats after conforming said shape of said at least two slats to said radius of curvature defined at least partially by said roller and underlying portions of said screen and any underlying slats of said at least two slats. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein each of said slats includes an upper edge, a lower edge, and a width defined by said upper and lower edges, each of said at least two slats having the same width. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising applying an adhesive to said slats for coupling said at least two slats to said screen. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising applying an adhesive to said rear face of each of said at least two slats for coupling said at least two slats to said screen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said at least two slats are coupled to said screen spaced apart from one another to define a space between adjacent slats of said at least two slats. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said roller includes an axial length defined by opposing side edges of said roller and said screen includes a width defined by opposing side edges of said screen, said width of said screen being substantially equal to said length of said roller. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein each of said slats include a length defined by opposing side edges of said slats, said length of said slats being substantially equal to said axial length of said roller. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein, when in a retracted position, said screen and said at least two slats wound about the roller, form a spiral curve. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein each slat defines a segment of said spiral curve so that said radius of curvature of each slat progressively changes between adjacent slats.