US2064165A - Window shade and process of making - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 15, 1936. N 2,064,165

WINDOW SHADE AND PROCESS OF MAKING Filed NOV. 30, 1954 mvsm-on A1"TORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1936 TAT WENDOW SHADE AND PROCESS OF MAKING Samuel J. Johnson, Cincinnati, ilhio, assignor to Clopay Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application November 30, 1934, Serial No. 755,311

Claims.

to curl as a result of its being wound up on the roller. Obviously, these two problems are interrelated inasmuch as the stronger the paper, the greater is its tendency to curl. The problem was solved in Angier Patent No. 1,508,759, which proposed the use of transversely craped paper for Window shades and likewise Johnson Patent No. 1,807,533 which propose-d running the grain of the paper lengthwise of the shade and breaking the grain by transverse creasing to eliminate the tendency to curl.

While these two patents provided highly useful window shades which have been manufactured and sold in large quantities, the shades had the limitation that the craping or embossing of the paper tended to limit the variety of decorative efiects which might be obtained.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a window shade of requisite strength and devoid of the objectionable tendency to curl in which the paper is not physically configurated in such wise as to limit decorative effects or impart to the shade any particular characteristic appearance.

This invention is based on the determination that it is possible to impart to the paper the flexibility requisite for its employment as a window shade material without detracting from its tensile strength to such a degree as to inhibit its use for that purpose.

According to the present invention the paper is impregnated with a softening material, preferably hygroscopic in nature or adapted to retain in the paper a moisture content which renders it flexible and limp. An adhesive may be incorporated with the softening agent to provide greater strength.

While shades made of paper appropriately softened are suitable for many commercial uses, it is the further purpose of this invention to provide a secondary treatment for the impregnated paper which accomplishes one or preferably all of the following functions:

1. Reduces the rate of exchange of moisture between'the paper of the shade and the atmosphere;

2. Provides a finish and appearance which is pleasing to the eye;

3. Provides a finish which is susceptible to hard scrubbing for cleaning purposes without impairment of the appearance of the shade.

The shades so treated do not differ materially in appearance from the best grade of cloth window shades and if desired the surface of the paper may be given a very light surface embossing not sufficient to break the grain of the paper to increase the visual simulation of a cloth shade.

The problem of producing window shades of these properties is inherently a difiicult one for 15 the reason that the use of a moisture retaining material is necessary for impregnating the paper to remove its tendency to curl whereas a moisture repellant material is desirable as a finish to reduce the tendency of the moisture content of the paper to fluctuate with the humidity of the surrounding atmosphere. Moisture receptive and moisture repellant materials do not blend or bond readily and it is therefore difficult to place a finish on the shade sufliciently securely to enable it to withstand the repeated flexing incidental to raising and lowering the shade on its roller.

The invention therefore comprehends a method of fabricating the shade characterized by a moisture retentive and impregnating medium and a moisture repellant exterior finish.

In fabricating the window shades of this invention, a length of paper is impregnated with hygroscopic material. This is normally accomplished by making an aqueous solution of the hygroscopic material and passing the paper through it. In order to increase the strength of the paper, it is recommended that a water soluble adhesive be used in this solution. The hygroscopic material employed may be glycerine, a concentrated invert 4O sugar solution, or calcium chloride. The adhesive employed may be hide glue, casein glue, or the like. Generallyspeaking, the paper is given an impregnation which results in an increase of substantia1ly 15 to 25% in weight when a glycerine or invert sugar is employed. Approximately 3, 10% increase in weight is recommended if calcium chloride is used. An impregnating bath which has been found to give good results consists of 1 part glue, 7 parts water and 7 parts glycerine.

A length of paper is passed slowly through this solution, then dried until the moisture content of the paper is approximately 4 to 8%. The mois ture content of the finished sheet tends to vary with atmospheric conditions but a sheet of paper so treated is more hygroscopic in relation to moisture than an ordinary sheet of paper and is comparatively limp and flexible. The water soluble adhesive tends to impart greater strength to the paper than it would have otherwise and its use is therefore recommended.

If a Washable or water-proof shade is not desirable, the impregnated paper may befabricated into the finished shade ,with or without the application of additional coatings to impart color or other ornamental effects. If, however, it is desirable to make a better grade of shade characterized by durability, washability and attractive texture, an oil finish is employed. In order to get a good bond between the impregnated paper and the proposed finish, it is desirable to work up the oil finish into the form of an emulsion so that it wets and intimately contacts the impregnated paper. Broadly speaking, the finish comprises a drying oil, an emulsifying agent with or without the addition of pigments, fillers, driers, gums, resins and special bodies adapted to provide the particular textures or characteristic visual appearance. Many difierent emulsifying .agents may be used inasmuch as it is not necessary to have a permanent emulsion but merely a relatively fine temporary suspension of the oil finish in relation to an aqueous liquid to secure the desired wetting or binding action at the instant of the application of the finish to the impregnated paper. For instance, a finely divided inert pigment may be used which likewise serves the purpose of rendering the shade more opaque. An example of a finish which may be used is as follows:

200 pounds of water 200 pounds of kaolin clay 150 pounds boiled linseed oil 75 pounds lithopone 10 gallons naphtha 1 quart ammonia 12 pounds pigment ground in linseed oil /z2% manganese drier Other inert fillers may be used in place of the kaolin clay. Boiled China-wood oil, boiled fish oil, or other drying oils may be substituted in whole or in part for the boiled linseed oil. In place of the lithopone, white lead or titanium oxide may be used. In place of the naphtha, toluol or other volatile coal tar or petroleum distillates may be employed. The pigment ground in oil may be selected from the wellknownmineralpigments, the exact quantity used depending upon the color strength of the specific pigment and the desired color of the finished shade. Since these bodies. are mixed up into a very crude emulsion or suspension and applied in that condition before there has been time for any of the ingredients to settle out, the proportioning of the components is not highly critical. Generally speaking, any of the quantities may be varied 20% in either direction, the selection of specific ingredients and proportions in relation to the type of paper beingtreated, the type of coating machinery being used, and the type of drying apparatus available being within the skill of the art of manufacturers of industrial finishes.

After the paper has been coated with the finishing material, it is heated at a temperature of to F. for a period of 90 to 12.0 minutes. The exact times and temperature must, of course, necessarily vary with the precise nature of the ingredients constituting the coating or finish.

Generally speaking, the time of drying must be greater if a low temperature is used.

Since it is highly desirable as a commercial matter to fabricate window shades of this nature on machinery by passing a longweb of spaper progressively through impregnating, coating and drying apparatus, it is recommended that the composition of the coating material employed be so chosen that it dries in a relatively brief period at a temperature just under that which might be harmful to the properties of the paper. The formulae herein provided have been chosen to provide a relatively rapid drying at about this temperature.

When a coating material of this nature is used to surface paper which has been softened by glycerine or the like, a very flexible product results. Since the paper is very limpit tends to yield evenly to pressure and does not place undue stress on the coating over a localized area. If, on the other hand, the paper were not softened, it would tend to bend sharply at certain points and crack the exterior coating. The combination of the paper holding a softening agent interstitially and the coating of drying oils and pigment applied as an emulsion, provides an article which is relatively durable, possessed of the requisite strength for a window shade, yet not inclined to curl or crack. The process herein disclosed permits the use of a continuous process of treating the paper and consequently 10w unit cost per article. At the same time, the article possesses the appearance of a good grade cloth shade and also the capacity to be washed with soap and Water.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1- shows the window shade of this invention applied to a window.

Figure 2 is a cross section through the shade of Figure 1 taken on the line 2-2.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the coating or sizing of the treated paper.

In Figure 1 the shade of this invention, generally indicated by l, is shown supported by a shade roller 2 of usual construction which is mounted to a window frame 3 by means of brackets 4-4. As disclosed in Figure 2, the paper shade I is secured to the shade roll 2 by the use of an adhesively coated strip 5, one portion of which is secured to the shade roll and the other portion of which is secured to the paper of the shade. This method of mounting the paper shade to the roller facilitates accurate longitudinal disposition and prevents any tendency of the paper to tear at the points of greatest stress which would ordinarily occur with tacks or staples.

At the lower end of the paper shade a wooden strip 6 is disposed within a seamed loop. One method of constituting the stiffener strip loop comprises overlapping the lower edge and back- .wardly folding the overlapped edge toward the paper so that the actual paper edge is concealed, and stitching the overlapped portion, as indicated by '7, to the adjacent paper to form a hem which will receive the stiffener strip. A hem constituted in this manner does not exhibit any tend-- ency to tear along the stitching perforations. A draw cord 8 may be fastened to the shade through the stiffener strip in the usual manner.

The preferred shade of this invention is strong, highly flexible, pleasing in appearance, pleasant to the touch, suitable for use in all climates under all conditions of temperature and humidity, and

readily washable. This latter quality is some .;hat 75 a function of the type coating material used, but if the formulae suggested be employed, lead pencil marks, dirt, greasy soil, and the like, may be removed by scrubbing the shade with soap, water and a brush without impairing its appearance or even affecting the uniformity of its transmission of light.

Having described my invention, I desire to be limited only by the ensuing claims:

1. A continuous process of making window shade sheeting which process consists in impregnating paper with a softening agent interstitially, and then coating. said paper with an aqueous emulsion of .drying oils and pigments, then drying said coating whereby to provide an article which is possessed of the capacity to be washed with soap and water, which is relatively durable,

which is possessed of the strength requisite in window shades but which is not inclined to curl or crack.

2. A continuous process for making window shade sheeting which process consists in impregnating paper with a softening agent adapted to combine with said paper interstitially, then coating said paper with an aqueous emulsion comprised of drying oils and pigment suspended therein, the said emulsion adapted to provide a moisture repellent coating on said paper which is appropriately adherent thereto, then drying said coating, whereby to provide an article which is possessed of the capacity to be washed with soap and water which is relatively durable, and which is possessed of the strength requisite in window shades, but which is not inclined to curl or crack.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a paper window shade which is not inclined'to curl or crack, but which is relatively durable, strong, and washable with soap and water, said shade constituted by impregnating paper with a softening agent such as glycerin adapted to combine therewith interstitially, then coating with an aqueous emulsion of drying oils and pigment which is adapted to provide a moisture repellent coating on said paper which is flexible, then drying said paper.

4. As a new article of manufacture, ,a window shade produced by the process defined in claim 1.

5. A continuous process of making sheeting particularly adapted to use for window shades which process consists in impregnating paper with a softening agent which is hygroscopic, then coating said paper with an aqueous emulsion of drying oils, the coating emulsion adapted to intimately contact said impregnated paper, then drying said coating whereby to provide an article which is possessed of the capacity to be washed with soap and water which is relatively durable and whichis possessed of the strength requisite in window shades, but which is not inclined to curl or crack.

SAMUEL J. JOHNSON.

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