US 4,915,153 A · Vertical window covering systems

Abstract

A vertical window covering system which utilizes an area of prepleated drapery fabric having permanently set pleats of a nature such that the fabric behaves like a tension spring tending to bias pleats toward the folded state or a vertical blind with taped or string ladders. The drape is hung from a traverse track adapted to be mounted in a horizontal orientation. A plurality of track mounting arrangements are provided for mounting a plurality of spaced pleats of the fabric intermediate left and right edge pleats thereof for bidirectional traverse relative to the traverse track. First and second drape edge carrier components are mounted to the traverse track with at least one of the carrier arrangements adapted for bidirectional traverse on the track. Drape edge stabilizer arrangements are mounted on each of the carrier arrangements for holding the edge pleats in a substantially true vertical orientation when the drapery fabric is traversed to an open pleat condition, i.e. the drape is closed over whatever structure it is covering. The intermediate pleats are stabilized in true vertical position by thin metal or plastic slats mounted to the intermediate pleats and carried on the pleat hanging arrangement mounting the drape to the traverse track. Preferably a traverse alignment arrangement using tensioned guide cords extending through apertures in each pleat gives pleat alignment during drape traverse.

Claims48

Dependent claims

In a vertical window covering system, a window covering material portion having a plurality of sections disposed in a generally vertical orientation, said portion being adaptable to being traversed between open and closed conditions and having inherent distortion characteristics causing non-vertical hanging of left and right edge portions thereof in an open or partially open condition and misalignment out of the plane of traverse when traversing from an open to a closed condition;

a traverse track adapted to be mounted in a horizontal orientation;
a plurality of track mounting means for mounting a plurality of sections of said window covering material intermediate said left and right edge portions thereof for bidirectional traverse relative to said traverse track;
first and second edge carrier means mounted to said traverse track with at least one of said carrier means adapted for bidirectional traverse on said track;
edge stabilizer means mounted on each of said carrier means and including a housing holding said edge portions of said window covering material in a substantially straight vertical orientation when said material is traversed toward an open condition, a bracket operatively coupled to the upper end of said housing, and a stabilizer rod means mounted to said carrier means at one end and to said bracket at the opposite end and supporting said housing in an accurate vertical orientation and with a degree of rigidity sufficient to overcome said inherent distortion characteristic;
said housings extending at least substantially the entire length of said edge portions of said window covering material and being secured thereto along said length;
traverse alignment means for maintaining the alignment of said vertical material sections during said traverse toward said closed condition, said traverse alignment means including guide apertures formed in said vertical material sections at a prearranged position, an extendible guide cord routed through said guide apertures and tensioning means operatively connected to said guide cord for maintaining said guide cord in substantial tension throughout the traverse of said material portion between said open and closed conditions;
and said edge stabilizer means further comprising a ball detent release mechanism providing the operative coupling between the bracket and the stabilizer rod means;
said ball detent release mechanism being oriented for released pivotal movement about a pivot axis through the bracket to allow the bracket and housing to pivot relative to the stabilizer rod means approximately parallel to the plane of the fabric and having a release threshold such that upon exceeding said threshold the bracket and housing pivot in the direction of applied force in the plane of the material.

5 more elements

A window covering system of the type mounting a window covering material for opening and closing traversal of said material along a traverse track:

a window covering material having a plurality of foldable sections disposed in a generally vertical orientation, at least an edge portion of said material being adapted for traversing said material between opened and closed conditions;
a traverse track adapted for mounting in an orientation transverse to the vertical;
an adjustable orientation, traversing mounting system for said material, comprising:
an edge carrier mounted for traversing movement on said traverse track;
an elongated edge stabilizer member mounted substantially rigidly to said edge carrier and to said material edge portion for holding said edge portion in a preselected substantially vertical fixed orientation;
an means for adjusting the orientation of said edge stabilizer member and said edge portion;
and
traverse alignment means comprising guide apertures aligned along said foldable material sections, an extendable guide cord routed through said guide apertures and connected to said edge stabilizer member;
and means connected to said guide cord for maintaining said guide cord under tension to align said foldable material sections during traversal.

6 more elements

In a covering system of the type mounting a window covering material for opening and closing traversal of said material along a traverse track:

a covering material having a plurality of foldable sections disposed in a generally vertical orientation, at least an edge portion of said material being adapted for traversing said material between opened and closed conditions;
a traverse track adapted for mounting in an orientation transverse to the vertical and including a longitudinally-extending channel;
and
a stress-relieved, adjustable orientation, traversing mounting system for said material, comprising:
an edge carrier including longitudinally-spaced support members captured within said channel for traversing movement along said traverse track;
an elongated edge stabilizer member mounted along said material edge portion;
support means rigidly mounted said elongated edge stabilizer member to said edge carrier to maintain said edge portion in a preselected substantially vertical orientation, said support means being mounted for pivotal movement in the plane of said window covering material such that upon application of a torque force having a component above a predetermined threshold value in the plane of said material said edge stabilizer member pivots in the direction of applied force to permit free traversal of said traverse system along said traverse track without binding;
and means for adjusting the orientation of said edge stabilizer member and said edge portion.

5 more elements

In a window covering system of the type mounting a window covering material for opening and closing traversal of said material along a traverse track:

a window covering material having a plurality of foldable sections disposed in a generally vertical orientation, at least an edge portion of said material being adapted for traversing said material between opened and closed conditions;
a traverse track adapted for mounting in an orientation transverse to the vertical;
and
a stress-relieved;
traversing mounting system for said material, comprising:
an edge carrier mounted for traversing movement on said traverse track;
an elongated edge stabilizer member mounted along said material edge portion;
and support means substantially rigidly mounting said elongated edge stabilizer member to said edge carrier to maintain said edge portion in a preselected substantially vertical orientation, said support means being mounted so as to overcome said substantially rigid mounting for pivotal movement in the plane of said window covering material such that upon application of a torque force having a component above a predetermined threshold value in the plane of said material, said elongated edge stabilizer member pivots in the direction of applied force to permit free traversal of said traverse system along said traverse track without binding;
and
traverse alignment means comprising guide apertures aligned along said foldable vertical window covering material sections, an extendable guide cord routed through said guide apertures and connected to said edge stabilizer member;
and means connected to said guide cord maintaining said guide cord under tension to align said foldable vertical window covering material sections during traversal.

8 more elements

In a window covering system of the type mounting a window covering material for opening an closing traversal of said material along a traverse track:

a window covering material having a plurality of foldable sections disposed in a generally vertical orientation, at least an edge portion of said material being adapted for traversing said material between opened and closed conditions;
a traverse track adapted for mounting in an orientation transverse to the vertical;
and
a stress-relieved, adjustable orientation, traversing mounting system for said material, comprising:
an edge carrier mounted for traversing movement on said traverse track;
an elongated edge stabilizer member mounted along said material edge portion;
support means substantially rigidly mounting said elongated edge stabilizer member to said edge carrier to maintain said edge portion in a preselected substantially vertical orientation, said support means being mounted so as to overcome said substantially rigid mounting for pivotal movement in the plane of said window covering material such that upon application of a torque force having a component above a predetermined threshold value in the plane of said material said edge stabilizer member pivots in the direction of applied force to permit free traversal of said traverse system along said traverse track without binding;
and means for adjusting the orientation of said edge stabilizer member and said edge portion;
and wherein
said traverse track comprises a front wall, a rear wall, and upper and lower horizontal webs joined to said walls;
said upper web forms an acute outside angle with said rear wall member;
and said vertical covering system further comprises L-shaped bracket means adapted for attachment to a mounting surface such as a wall or ceiling and comprising a horizontal member and a joined vertical member;
said horizontal member including a tab extending downwardly at an angle for mating in said horizontal web section and against said rear wall member, and the lower edge of said vertical member being configured for clamping the lower edge of said rear wall member of said track means.

10 more elements

In a vertical window covering system, a window covering material portion having a plurality of sections disposed in a generally vertical orientation, said portion being adaptable to being traversed between open end closed conditions and having an inherent distortion characteristic causing non-vertical hanging of left and right edge portions thereof in an open or partially open condition, a traverse track adapted to be mounted in a horizontal orientation;

a plurality of track mounting means for mounting a plurality of sections of said window covering material intermediate said left and right edge portions thereof for bidirectional traverse relative to said traverse track;
first and second edge carrier means mounted to said traverse track with at least one of said carrier means adapted for bidirectional traverse on said track;
and edge stabilizer means mounted on each of said carrier means for holding said edge portions of said window covering material in a substantially straight vertical orientation when said material is traversed toward an open condition, including a stabilizer rod means substantially rigidly mounted to said carrier means in an accurate vertical orientation and with a degree of rigidity sufficient to overcome said inherent distortion characteristic, said stabilizer rod means extending at least substantially the entire length of an associated one of said edge portions of said window covering material and being secured thereto at least at a plurality of locations throughout said length.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vertical window covering systems

Life of this patent

Vertical window covering systems

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims48