# US 2018/0023338 A1 · Various Systems of Sculptural Slats and Methods of Manufacture Thereof

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- Number: US 2018/0023338 A1
- Document ID: US20180023338A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/657,110
- Filed: 2017-07-21
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-22
- Inventors: Bruce M. Werner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023338A1

## CPC

- E06B 9/303: with ladder-tape
- E04B 1/994: {Acoustical surfaces with adjustment mechanisms}
- E04D 1/26: Strip-shaped roofing elements {simulating a repetitive pattern, e.g.} appearing as a row of shingles
- E04F 10/08: of a plurality of similar rigid parts, e.g. slabs, lamellae {(E04F10/005 takes precedence)}
- E06B 7/08: Louvre doors, windows or grilles {(shutters E06B9/04; louvre awnings E04F10/08 - E04F10/10)}
- E06B 9/01: Grilles fixed to walls, doors, or windows; Grilles moving with doors or windows; Walls formed as grilles, e.g. claustra {(emergency release of window grilles E05B65/1033; security bars for wings E05C19/003)}
- E06B 9/02: Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary (louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26)
- E06B 9/28: with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable (louvre windows or gratings E06B7/08)
- E06B 9/36: with vertical lamellae {; Supporting rails therefor}
- E06B 9/384: Details of interconnection or interaction of tapes and lamellae
- E06B 9/386: Details of lamellae
- F24F 13/15: with parallel simultaneously tiltable lamellae
- E06B 2009/2417: {Light path control; means to control reflection}
- E06B 2009/247: {Electrically powered illumination}
- 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)
- 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})
- E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00)
- E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B)
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to sculptural slats, wherein varying orientations of sculptural slats within a sculptural slat structure may provide a range of one or both decorative or ambient variable impact. For example, sculptural slats may provide transitional states for a window covering, wherein if the covering is in an open position, the sculptural slat structure may provide an ambient variable impact, and wherein the ambient variable impact may change as the orientation of the sculptural slats is adjusted. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides variations on potential designs, smart technology integration, and applications to other types of slattable objects, including, for example, exterior and interior window coverings, architectural panels, dividers, screens; furniture; and automobiles components. Aftermarket solutions to upgrade traditional slatted structures and slattable objects are described, along with manufacturing methods to create customized sculptural slats and sculptural slat structures based on preferences, installation requirements, and slattable object.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sculptural slat comprising:
a substantially planar sheet comprising four edges, wherein at least one of the four edges comprises a first sculptural edge, and wherein the substantially planar sheet comprises at least:
a first functional zone comprising a core portion of the sculptural slat and a slattable object integration feature, wherein the first functional zone is configured to control at least one ambient variable between a first environment and a second environment, and wherein a slattable object integration mechanism integrates into the slattable object integration feature when the sculptural slat is integrated into a slattable object; and
a second functional zone comprising a first sculptural portion extending from the core portion to the first sculptural edge, wherein the second functional zone is configured to cast a first sculptural shadow onto one or more adjacent sculptural slats and surfaces in the second environment.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sculptural slat of claim 1, wherein the one or more ambient variable comprises at least a passage of light between the first environment and the second environment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sculptural slat of claim 1, wherein the one or more ambient variable comprises at least a temperature control between the first environment and the second environment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sculptural slat of claim 1, wherein the one or more ambient variable comprises at least visual privacy between the first environment and the second environment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sculptural slat of claim 1, wherein the first functional zone comprises a clear zone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sculptural slat of claim 1, wherein the sculptural slat is configured to fit over a non-sculptural slat.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sculptural slat of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar sheet sculpted in two axes also comprises variable dimensions along a third axis, and wherein the core portion is located interior to the substantially planar sheet.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sculptural slat of claim 1, further comprising a second sculptural edge opposite to the first sculptural edge, wherein the substantially planar sheet further comprises a third functional zone comprising a second sculptural portion extending from the core portion to the second sculptural edge, wherein the third functional zone is configured to cast a second sculptural shadow onto one or more adjacent sculptural slats and surfaces in the second environment.

### Claim 9

A sculptural slat structure comprising:
a slattable object;
a plurality of sculptural slats inserted within the slattable object, wherein each of the plurality of sculptural slats comprises:
a substantially planar sheet comprising four edges, wherein at least one of the four edges comprises:
a first sculptural edge, and
a first aligned edge wherein the first aligned edge of each of the plurality of sculptural slats slats are aligned;
wherein the substantially planar sheet comprises at least:
a first functional zone comprising a core portion of the sculptural slat and a slattable object integration feature, wherein the first functional zone is configured to control at least one ambient variable between a first environment and a second environment; and
a second functional zone comprising a first sculptural portion extending from the core portion to the first sculptural edge, wherein the second functional zone is configured to cast a first sculptural shadow onto one or more adjacent sculptural slats and surfaces in the first or second environment; and
a slattable object integration mechanism connecting the plurality of sculptural slats to the slattable object, wherein the slattable object integration mechanism connects to the slattable object integration feature.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The sculptural slat structure of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of sculptural slats are configured for a plurality of orientations within the slattable object.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The sculptural slat structure of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orientations are controllable through the slattable object integration mechanism.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The sculptural slat structure of claim 10, wherein the plurality of orientations creates a plurality of ambient variable impact.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The sculptural slat structure of claim 12, wherein the one or more ambient variables comprises at least a passage of light between the first environment and the second environment, and wherein the ambient variable impact comprises one or both a depth of casting of shadow and a level of reflecting light.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The sculptural slat structure of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of substantially planar sheets sculpted in two axes also comprise variable dimensions along a third axis, and wherein the core portion is located interior to the substantially planar sheet.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The sculptural slat structure of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of sculptural slats further comprise a second sculptural edge opposite to the first sculptural edge, wherein the substantially planar sheet further comprises a third functional zone comprising a second sculptural portion extending from the core portion to the second sculptural edge, wherein the third functional zone is configured to cast a second sculptural shadow onto one or more adjacent sculptural slats and surfaces in the first or second environment.

### Claim 16

A method for manufacturing a sculptural slat structure comprising the steps of:
receiving installation data comprising one or more height data, width data, and depth data related to an installation site;
receiving sculptural edge data comprising at least sculptural design data;
receiving installation environment data comprising at least a first environment data and a second environment data, wherein the sculptural slat structure is configured to be installed between a first environment and a second environment;
receiving slattable object integration mechanism data comprising at least slattable object integration mechanism type;
generating rough sculptural slat specification data comprising at least sculptural slat width data and sculptural edge design, wherein a sculptural slat comprises a substantially planar sheet comprising four edges, wherein at least one of the four edges comprises a first aligned edge and a first sculptural edge, and wherein the substantially planar sheet comprises at least:
a first functional zone comprising a core portion of the sculptural slat and a slattable object integration feature, wherein the first functional zone is configured to control at least one ambient variable between the first environment and the second environment;
and a second functional zone comprising a first sculptural portion extending from the core portion to the first sculptural edge, wherein the second functional zone is configured to cast a sculptural shadow onto one or more adjacent sculptural slats and surfaces in the first or second environment;
generating specifications for the first functional zone, comprising slattable object integration feature specifications and alignment specifications, wherein alignment specifications define the first aligned edge, wherein adjacent sculptural slats are aligned at the first aligned edge when installed; and
generating refined sculptural slat specifications that define augmentation of the first functional zone and the second functional zone, wherein the refined sculptural slat specifications are based at least in part on the at least one ambient variable, the slattable object integration mechanism, installation environment data, and the rough sculptural slat specification data.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising:
generating slattable object specifications comprising at least a slattable object type, height data, depth data, and width data, wherein the slattable object specifications are based at least in part on one or more of the installation data, sculptural edge data, and generated rough sculptural slat specifications;
generating sculptural slat installation data, wherein the sculptural slat installation data comprises at least a quantity of sculptural slats and alignment specifications defining at least installation distance between adjacent sculptural slats and installation distance between sculptural slats and the slattable object; and
generating slattable object integration mechanism specifications comprising at least slattable object integration mechanism type and spacing specifications defining installation areas within the first functional zone.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the slattable integration mechanism specifications further comprise orientation data defining orientation ranges of each of the sculptural slats within the slattable object.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving ambient variable impact range specification preferences defining a potential range of ambient variable impact based on one or more of the installation data, sculptural slat material, the installation environment data, and sculptural edge data, wherein the ambient variable impact range specifications at least partially define the slattable integration mechanism specifications and refined sculptural slat specifications.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of executing manufacturing of one or more of the sculptural slat, the slattable object, the sculptural slat structure, or slattable object integration mechanism.