CA2864364A1 - Flexible tape for guiding the retractable covering material on a vertical shade - Google Patents
Flexible tape for guiding the retractable covering material on a vertical shade Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2864364A1 CA2864364A1 CA2864364A CA2864364A CA2864364A1 CA 2864364 A1 CA2864364 A1 CA 2864364A1 CA 2864364 A CA2864364 A CA 2864364A CA 2864364 A CA2864364 A CA 2864364A CA 2864364 A1 CA2864364 A1 CA 2864364A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- movable rail
- covering material
- flexible
- bend
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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- Operating, Guiding And Securing Of Roll- Type Closing Members (AREA)
Abstract
A flexible guide tape for guiding and holding in position the movable rail of a vertical shade wherein the tape has an arcuate cross-sectional profile and has a twist between the top and bottom of the guide rail to ensure that it bends toward the concave side of the tape both at the top and bottom of the guide rail.
Description
Flexible Tape for Guiding the Retractable Covering Material on a Vertical Shade Background This application claims priority from U. S. Provisional Application SIN
61/881,639 filed September 24, 2013.
The present invention relates to a tape for guiding the covering material on a vertical shade. More particularly, it relates to a flexible metal tape, designed to eliminate failure of the tape due to metal fatigue.
Vertical shades include a fabric or other flexible covering material that is extended across an architectural opening and then retracted adjacent a side of the opening. One edge of the fabric is fixed to the side of the opening (or to a rail which is secured to the side of the opening) and the other edge of the fabric is attached to a movable rail. This movable rail is guided by a flexible metal tape disposed in a generally Z-shaped configuration as disclosed in U. S. Patent 7,513,291 "Colson"
issued April 7, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The problem with the flexible metal tape, identified as item 56 in Figures 1A
and 1C of the Colson '291 Patent, is that the tape, which has an arcuate cross-sectional profile similar to that of a self-retracting measuring tape, with one side being concave and the other side being convex, tends to bend readily in the direction of the concave side but is difficult to bend and eventually results in failure due to metal fatigue when bent toward the convex side.
Summary An embodiment of the present invention provides a flexible metal tape, which is twisted such that the tape bends toward its convex, "bend friendly" side, thereby reducing the likelihood of failure.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vertical shade window covering in the partially open position with the flexible metal tape shown in phantom;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the tape used in the vertical shade of Figure 1 as disclosed in the prior art;
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the tape used in the vertical shade of Figure where there is a twist in the tape;
Figure 4 is a section view along line 4-4 of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a section view along line 5-5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a section view along line 6-6 of Figure 3; and Figure 7 is a section view along line 7-7 of Figure 3.
Description:
Figure 1 illustrates a vertical, retractable shade 10 including a retractable fabric or other flexible covering material 12 extending between a fixed vertical rail 14 on the left side of the fabric 12, which is secured to the left side of the architectural opening, and a movable vertical rail 16 on the right side of the covering material 12.
The covering material 12 is retracted by moving the vertical rail 16 to the left, in the direction of the arrow 18, and is extended by moving the vertical rail 16 to the right, in the direction opposite the arrow 18. The top edge of the covering material 12 is slidingly suspended from a top rail 20. The bottom edge 22 of the covering material 12 extends adjacent the floor 24. Figure 1 also shows, in phantom, the routing of a flexible metal tape 26 described in more detail below.
Figure 2 shows the prior art flexible metal tape 26 used to guide the movement of the movable rail 16 and assist in maintaining the position of the movable rail 16 at any location between the fully extended and the fully retracted positions of the shade 10.
This flexible metal tape 26 resembles the tape of a typical self-retracting tape measure, having an arcuate cross sectional shape, with a convex side and a concave side. The cross-sectional shape of the metal tape 26 at two different locations along the length of the metal tape 26 is shown in Figures 4 and 5.
It should be noted that the metal tape 26 bends readily in the direction of the concave, "bend friendly" side, denoted by the arrow 28 in Figure 4. This same metal tape 26 bends with difficulty in the direction of the convex, "bend unfriendly" side denoted by the arrow 30 in Figure 5.
, Referring back to Figure 2, which depicts the prior art arrangement, a first end 32 of the metal tape 26 is secured to the fixed rail 14 (note, only the metal tape 26 is shown in these views, with the other items being omitted for clarity). The metal tape 26 makes a first 90 degree bend at the lower left corner 34 of the architectural opening, bending toward the concave, "bend friendly" side 28 of the metal tape 26. The metal tape 26 then extends horizontally, routed through the bottom edge 22 of the flexible covering 12, before making a second 90 degree bend at the bottom right corner of the retractable fabric 12 at the point 36, which again is toward the concave, "bend friendly"
side 28 of the metal tape 26. The metal tape 26 then extends vertically inside the right side of the retractable fabric 12 along the movable rail 16 to the top of the movable rail 16 before making a third 90 degree turn at the point 38, located at the top right corner of the fabric 12 (the top of the movable rail 16), but this time the bend is toward the convex, "bend unfriendly" side 30 of the metal tape 26. Finally, the metal tape 26 extends in the left-to-right direction, horizontally along the top rail 20, and is secured at the right end 37 of the top rail 20.
As noted earlier, the above prior art arrangement results in three bends of the metal tape 26, with one of those bends 38 being toward the convex, "bend unfriendly"
side 30 of the metal tape 26. As the user moves the movable rail 16 to the left and right, retracting and extending the shade 10, the rail 16 and covering 12 slide relative to the tape 26, with the bends 36, 38 in the tape 26 remaining aligned with the top and bottom edges of the movable rail 16, so the bends 36, 38 travel along the metal tape 26 as the movable rail 16 moves back and forth, travelling toward the left end 32 of the , .
tape 26 as the movable rail 16 is moved to the left to retract the shade 10 and then travelling toward the right end 37 of the tape 26 as the movable rail 16 is moved to the right to extend the shade 10.
Not only is it more difficult (more effort required by the user) to bend the metal tape 26 toward the convex, "bend unfriendly" side 30 at the bend 38, but the repeated bending in this direction may eventually result in failure of the metal tape 26 due to metal fatigue.
Referring now to Figure 3, which shows an embodiment of the present invention, the metal tape 26' follows the same path followed by the prior art metal tape 26 of Figure 2. However, a gradual, 180 degree twist 40 about the longitudinal axis of the tape 26' is applied to the metal tape 26' in the vertical portion of the tape 26' between the lower bend 36' at the bottom of the movable rail 16 and the upper bend 38' at the top of the movable rail 16, such that now all three bends 34', 36', 38' are toward the concave, "bend friendly" side 28 of the metal tape 26', as evidenced by the cross-sectional views of Figures 6 and 7. This makes it easier to extend or retract the shade 10 (less effort is required from the user), and it extends the life of the metal tape 26'.
Of course, it is understood that a mirror image of this arrangement could be used for a shade that is secured at the right side of the covering material 12 and has a movable rail 16 on the left side of the covering material 12.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other modifications also may be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed.
61/881,639 filed September 24, 2013.
The present invention relates to a tape for guiding the covering material on a vertical shade. More particularly, it relates to a flexible metal tape, designed to eliminate failure of the tape due to metal fatigue.
Vertical shades include a fabric or other flexible covering material that is extended across an architectural opening and then retracted adjacent a side of the opening. One edge of the fabric is fixed to the side of the opening (or to a rail which is secured to the side of the opening) and the other edge of the fabric is attached to a movable rail. This movable rail is guided by a flexible metal tape disposed in a generally Z-shaped configuration as disclosed in U. S. Patent 7,513,291 "Colson"
issued April 7, 2009, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The problem with the flexible metal tape, identified as item 56 in Figures 1A
and 1C of the Colson '291 Patent, is that the tape, which has an arcuate cross-sectional profile similar to that of a self-retracting measuring tape, with one side being concave and the other side being convex, tends to bend readily in the direction of the concave side but is difficult to bend and eventually results in failure due to metal fatigue when bent toward the convex side.
Summary An embodiment of the present invention provides a flexible metal tape, which is twisted such that the tape bends toward its convex, "bend friendly" side, thereby reducing the likelihood of failure.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vertical shade window covering in the partially open position with the flexible metal tape shown in phantom;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the tape used in the vertical shade of Figure 1 as disclosed in the prior art;
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the tape used in the vertical shade of Figure where there is a twist in the tape;
Figure 4 is a section view along line 4-4 of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a section view along line 5-5 of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a section view along line 6-6 of Figure 3; and Figure 7 is a section view along line 7-7 of Figure 3.
Description:
Figure 1 illustrates a vertical, retractable shade 10 including a retractable fabric or other flexible covering material 12 extending between a fixed vertical rail 14 on the left side of the fabric 12, which is secured to the left side of the architectural opening, and a movable vertical rail 16 on the right side of the covering material 12.
The covering material 12 is retracted by moving the vertical rail 16 to the left, in the direction of the arrow 18, and is extended by moving the vertical rail 16 to the right, in the direction opposite the arrow 18. The top edge of the covering material 12 is slidingly suspended from a top rail 20. The bottom edge 22 of the covering material 12 extends adjacent the floor 24. Figure 1 also shows, in phantom, the routing of a flexible metal tape 26 described in more detail below.
Figure 2 shows the prior art flexible metal tape 26 used to guide the movement of the movable rail 16 and assist in maintaining the position of the movable rail 16 at any location between the fully extended and the fully retracted positions of the shade 10.
This flexible metal tape 26 resembles the tape of a typical self-retracting tape measure, having an arcuate cross sectional shape, with a convex side and a concave side. The cross-sectional shape of the metal tape 26 at two different locations along the length of the metal tape 26 is shown in Figures 4 and 5.
It should be noted that the metal tape 26 bends readily in the direction of the concave, "bend friendly" side, denoted by the arrow 28 in Figure 4. This same metal tape 26 bends with difficulty in the direction of the convex, "bend unfriendly" side denoted by the arrow 30 in Figure 5.
, Referring back to Figure 2, which depicts the prior art arrangement, a first end 32 of the metal tape 26 is secured to the fixed rail 14 (note, only the metal tape 26 is shown in these views, with the other items being omitted for clarity). The metal tape 26 makes a first 90 degree bend at the lower left corner 34 of the architectural opening, bending toward the concave, "bend friendly" side 28 of the metal tape 26. The metal tape 26 then extends horizontally, routed through the bottom edge 22 of the flexible covering 12, before making a second 90 degree bend at the bottom right corner of the retractable fabric 12 at the point 36, which again is toward the concave, "bend friendly"
side 28 of the metal tape 26. The metal tape 26 then extends vertically inside the right side of the retractable fabric 12 along the movable rail 16 to the top of the movable rail 16 before making a third 90 degree turn at the point 38, located at the top right corner of the fabric 12 (the top of the movable rail 16), but this time the bend is toward the convex, "bend unfriendly" side 30 of the metal tape 26. Finally, the metal tape 26 extends in the left-to-right direction, horizontally along the top rail 20, and is secured at the right end 37 of the top rail 20.
As noted earlier, the above prior art arrangement results in three bends of the metal tape 26, with one of those bends 38 being toward the convex, "bend unfriendly"
side 30 of the metal tape 26. As the user moves the movable rail 16 to the left and right, retracting and extending the shade 10, the rail 16 and covering 12 slide relative to the tape 26, with the bends 36, 38 in the tape 26 remaining aligned with the top and bottom edges of the movable rail 16, so the bends 36, 38 travel along the metal tape 26 as the movable rail 16 moves back and forth, travelling toward the left end 32 of the , .
tape 26 as the movable rail 16 is moved to the left to retract the shade 10 and then travelling toward the right end 37 of the tape 26 as the movable rail 16 is moved to the right to extend the shade 10.
Not only is it more difficult (more effort required by the user) to bend the metal tape 26 toward the convex, "bend unfriendly" side 30 at the bend 38, but the repeated bending in this direction may eventually result in failure of the metal tape 26 due to metal fatigue.
Referring now to Figure 3, which shows an embodiment of the present invention, the metal tape 26' follows the same path followed by the prior art metal tape 26 of Figure 2. However, a gradual, 180 degree twist 40 about the longitudinal axis of the tape 26' is applied to the metal tape 26' in the vertical portion of the tape 26' between the lower bend 36' at the bottom of the movable rail 16 and the upper bend 38' at the top of the movable rail 16, such that now all three bends 34', 36', 38' are toward the concave, "bend friendly" side 28 of the metal tape 26', as evidenced by the cross-sectional views of Figures 6 and 7. This makes it easier to extend or retract the shade 10 (less effort is required from the user), and it extends the life of the metal tape 26'.
Of course, it is understood that a mirror image of this arrangement could be used for a shade that is secured at the right side of the covering material 12 and has a movable rail 16 on the left side of the covering material 12.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other modifications also may be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the present invention as claimed.
Claims
1. A vertical shade, comprising:
a vertical movable rail;
a flexible covering material having left and right sides and top and bottom edges, wherein one of the left and right sides of the flexible covering material is fixed to the vertical movable rail and the other of said left and right sides of the flexible covering material is fixed to an architectural opening having left, right, top and bottom sides;
a flexible guide tape having an arcuate cross-sectional shape defining a convex side and a concave side, said flexible guide tape being secured to said architectural opening at a top position on one of the left and right sides of the architectural opening and at a bottom position on the other of the left and right sides of the architectural opening;
said flexible guide tape also extending in the left-to-right direction along the bottom of the retractable covering material, making a first bend at the bottom of the movable rail 16 to extend in the vertical direction along the movable rail 16, and making a second bend at the top of the movable rail 16 to extend in the left-to-right direction along the top side of the architectural opening, wherein said flexible guide tape defines a longitudinal axis and makes a gradual, 180 degree twist about the longitudinal axis in the portion of the flexible guide tape extending along the movable rail 16 between the first and second bends so that both the first and second bends bend toward the concave side of the flexible guide tape.
a vertical movable rail;
a flexible covering material having left and right sides and top and bottom edges, wherein one of the left and right sides of the flexible covering material is fixed to the vertical movable rail and the other of said left and right sides of the flexible covering material is fixed to an architectural opening having left, right, top and bottom sides;
a flexible guide tape having an arcuate cross-sectional shape defining a convex side and a concave side, said flexible guide tape being secured to said architectural opening at a top position on one of the left and right sides of the architectural opening and at a bottom position on the other of the left and right sides of the architectural opening;
said flexible guide tape also extending in the left-to-right direction along the bottom of the retractable covering material, making a first bend at the bottom of the movable rail 16 to extend in the vertical direction along the movable rail 16, and making a second bend at the top of the movable rail 16 to extend in the left-to-right direction along the top side of the architectural opening, wherein said flexible guide tape defines a longitudinal axis and makes a gradual, 180 degree twist about the longitudinal axis in the portion of the flexible guide tape extending along the movable rail 16 between the first and second bends so that both the first and second bends bend toward the concave side of the flexible guide tape.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US201361881639P | 2013-09-24 | 2013-09-24 | |
| US61/881,639 | 2013-09-24 | ||
| US201414468460A | 2014-08-26 | 2014-08-26 | |
| US14/468,460 | 2014-08-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2864364A1 true CA2864364A1 (en) | 2015-03-24 |
Family
ID=52737543
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2864364A Abandoned CA2864364A1 (en) | 2013-09-24 | 2014-09-23 | Flexible tape for guiding the retractable covering material on a vertical shade |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2864364A1 (en) |
-
2014
- 2014-09-23 CA CA2864364A patent/CA2864364A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request |
Effective date: 20190823 |
|
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20220314 |
|
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20220314 |