# US 2006/0137267 A1 · Canopy-like decorative structure

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- Number: US 2006/0137267 A1
- Document ID: US20060137267A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/774,234
- Filed: 2004-02-05
- Published: 2006-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2002-07-19
- Inventors: Richard Stackenwalt; Eric Krantz-Lilienthal; Wesley Bischel; Martin Graver; James Mathis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060137267A1

## CPC

- E04B 9/0414: {being foldable, curvable or rollable}
- E04B 9/0428: {having a closed frame around the periphery}
- E04B 9/34: {Grid-like or} open-work ceilings, e.g. lattice type {box-like modules, acoustic baffles} (E04B9/30 takes precedence)
- E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001})

## Abstract

A decorative structure is provided that is suspended within a space and includes a flexible panel maintained in a flexed configuration. The decorative structure includes a cable that supports the flexible panel and that is connected to a biasing member. The biasing member cooperates with a portion of the flexible panel to maintain the panel in a flexed configuration. A method of configuring a decorative structure with a flexed panel is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A decorative structure comprising:
a flexible panel;
a biasing member cooperating with a portion of said flexible panel, wherein said flexible panel is maintained in a flexed configuration; and,
a cable connected to said biasing member and supporting said flexible panel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein said biasing member comprises a body having a groove receiving said portion of said flexible panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein said cable extends through a portion of said biasing member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein said biasing member comprises a cam cooperating with said flexible panel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein said biasing member comprises a jaw cooperating with said flexible panel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The decorative structure of claim 5, wherein said jaw is pivotable about a pivot joint.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein said flexible panel is formed of a material selected from metal, wood, fabric, and plastic.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, further comprising an opposed biasing member cooperating with said flexible panel.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, further comprising a tensioned cable cooperating with said biasing member to maintain said flexible in said flexed configuration.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The decorative structure of claim 9, wherein said tensioned cable connects said biasing member to an opposed biasing member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, wherein said biasing member forms an angle in said cable.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The decorative structure of claim 1, further comprising an anchor connected to said biasing member and cooperating with said cable.

### Claim 13

A method of configuring a decorative structure comprising:
providing a cable connecting a biasing member to an opposed biasing member;
engaging the biasing member with a first portion of a flexible panel;
engaging the opposed biasing member with a second portion of the flexible panel; and
adjusting the relative alignment of the biasing member and the opposed biasing member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising:
securing the alignment of the biasing member along the cable relative to the opposed biasing member.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein an anchor connected to the biasing member engages the cable.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of tensioning the cable.