US2803298A

US2803298A - Window shading device

Info

Publication number: US2803298A
Application number: US392075A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph H Schlesinger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-11-16
Filing date: 1953-11-16
Publication date: 1957-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 1974-08-20

Description

All@ 20, 1957 J. H. scHLEslNGER 2,803,298

WINDOW SHADING DEVICE INVENTOR. 46 Josep/7 H. Sdi/@5m en -44 B J. H. SCHLESINGER WINDOW SHADING DEVICE y Aug. 20, 1957 3 sheets-sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1953 Aug 20, 1957 J. H. scHLr-:slNGER v 2,803,298

WINDOW SHADING DEVICE Filed Nov. 16. 1953 3 SheeQts-Sheet 5 Flaw INVENTOR. d A H. 5 H rse/ c c25/nger United States Patent O WINDOW SHADING DEVICE Joseph H. Schlesinger, New York, N. Y. Application November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,075 22 Claims. (Cl. 160-349) The present invention relates to a device for regulating the amount of light and/ or air passing through a window, of the general shade-like type consisting of fabric that is secured to a spring roller mounted at the window opening.

'Ihis application is a continuation in part of my pending application, Serial No. 249,155, filed October 1, 1951, entitled Window Shading Device now abandoned.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an article of the character described which, in addition to vertical adjustment, by winding on the spring roller, may also be laterally adjusted for light and air admission.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a shade-like device of the character described which may be laterally adjusted for regulating light and air admission by means carried on the device itself, without recourse to support from any external structure, such as window frame or adjacent wall.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a shade-like device of the character described which will hangin straight and graceful lines when laterally adjusted for light and air admission as well as when in fully extended position, to thereby provide, optionally, decorative, drape-like window trimming.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a window shading device of the character described having novel means associated with its spring roller for equalizing and compensating for any variation in the thickness of certain portions of the fabric of the device that is rolled thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a window shading device of the character described having portions that may be varied in design and shape and are interchangeable with and replaceable by one another, to permit great latitude in design variation of the completed article and in its draped arrangement.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide window shading devices of the character described which are easy and convenient to use and which are of enhanced appearance and decorative in effect.

The foregoing and other advantages and superiorities of the window shading devices of the invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and from the description following. It is to be understood, however, that such embodiments are shown by Way of illustration only, to make the principles and practice of the invention more readily comprehensible, and without any intent of limiting the invention to the specific details therein shown.

Generally stated, the invention consists in the provision of window shading or similar devices formed of a plurality of longitudinally disposed, elongated fabric sections or panels secured in extended state by one end to a spring roller, or to other supporting means, with the several sections or panels carrying, preferably in a seam formed thereon, common or individual means along which or by which the section fabric may be guided and gathered o r shirred and on or by which the section fabric iCE may be retained in gathered or shirred position, in free' suspension from the roller, in draped arrangement and in smooth ilowing lines, without distortion along any part thereof. The several panels or sections are also provided with means which may comprise the common curved spreader means, or other means, by which the several panels may be integrated for complete light eX- clusion and window shading and for unitary movement vertically on and olf the roller.

The invention consists further in means, in the form of tube sections that may be secured over the spring roller in spaced relation to one another, to provide sections of diierent thicknesses on the roller for accommodating any variation in the thickness of the shade, as where the panels may overlap or where seams, pleats or decorations are provided on them, to form a roll of uniform diameter on the spring roller.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of one embodiment of a window shading device of the present invention, shown as supported before a window and in fully drawn, Window obscuring position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the device of Fig. 1, shown with its panels draped for light admission;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, partly sectional view along the spring roller of the shading device;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of one form of panel spreading or shaping element of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modified form of panel spreading or shaping element;

Fig. 7 isa section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the junction of the extreme lower portion of two overlapping panels, showing one way of interlitting them;

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of a modied embodiment of the window shading device of the present invention, showing modified means for spreading, shaping and holding the panels in draped, light-admitting position;

Fig. l0 is a fragmentary elevational view of the bottom portion of the shading device illustrated in Fig. 9, with the two shade panels in extended juxtaposed position.

Fig. ll is an elevational view of the panel spreading, shaping and retaining means shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. l2 is a section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of still another embodiment of a window shading device of the present invention, shown as drawn, with the panels spread apart and draped for light admission at about the center of the drawn shade; l

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of a further modified embodiment of a window shading device of the present invention, shown as having more than two panels, fully drawn into light obscuring position;

Fig. l5 is la view similar to that of Fig. 14, with the several panels spread and draped for light admission in still another manner;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary front elevation of a modified form of the window shading device of Fig. 14;

Fig. 17 is a section taken on line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is an elevational view of a panel shirring and draping and retaining element of Figs. 14-17, inclusive; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary elevation showing a shading device with panels having individual draping means so supported and arranged as to permit the undraped edge portion of the panel to hang in a straight line.

Referring in greater detail to the accompanying drawings, and with particular reference to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. l and 2 thereof, the shading device comprises a spring roller, 20, which may be of the conventional window-shade roller type, capable of being conventionally supported in place and of being operated in the conventional manner for rolling and unrolling when supported on or at a window frame, as 21. A pair of light screening sections or panels, 22 and 23, which may be formed of any suitable material that is pliable enough to be shirred for draping purposes, such as a suitable textile fabric or plastic sheet material, are secured in fully extended position, by their upper ends, to the spring roller 20, by any desired conventional means. The

panels

22 and 23 are secured in place upon the roller 21 preferably in a manner to leave no gap between their adjacent edges when in drawn position, preferably by providing an overlap of suitable width of their contiguous edges, as at 24. They may, however, if desired be secured with their facing edges spaced from one another. The

panels

22 and 23 may have woven-finish longitudinal edges or may have one or both of longitudinal edges reinforced by a seam, such as the seams 25 and 2.6 on their outer edges.

The window shading device may be provided with means that may be formed of any suitable material that may serve a multiple purpose. Such means may serve the purpose of holding the panels together in extended, light excluding position and in intergrated arrangement for the purpose of moving on and off the roller 20, in tensed state and as a unit. Such means may also serve the purpose of spreading the contiguous portions of the

panels

22 and 23 apart for light admission as well as to retain them in spread apart position. Such means may serve the further purpose of guiding the panels into spread apart position and shaping and draping them in a manner that the portions thereof which are moved away from the vertical during the draping as well as those remaining in the vertical will all hang in smooth lines downwardly from the spring roller 20, without distortion as a result of any foreshortening of any part thereof as a result of the sideways spreading thereof.

Such mutiple purpose means may comprise relatively dat, wide, tubular seams or transversely formed

housings

28 and 29, at the bottom or any desirable portion of each of

panels

22 and 23, respectively, in which is held a spreader guide, generally designated as 30, shown in detail in Fig. of the drawings, which is formed of two relatively symmetrical halves, 31 and 32, one of which is disposed in each of the same 2S and 29.

The spreader guide 30 may be made of wood, metal, synthetic plastic or other suitable material for the multiple purposes for which the spreader guide is intended, and may be in the form of a bar, rod or wire, as may be desired. The spreader guide 30 performs its multiple f and cooperating functions described above with respect to the positioning and draping of portions of the

panels

22 and 23 because of the particular shape and structure in which it is formed.

Such spreader guide 30 is formed with an underside I or bottom edge which curves gradually upwardly in an outward direction to a point short of its ends, to a high point or apex 33, on each of its

halves

31 and 32, from which high point the end portions, 34 and 35, curve more abruptly downwardly.

It will be apparent that the upwardly curving portion of each of the spreader guide halves 3i and 32 permits the inner portion of the panel, either 22 or 23, in the seam of which it is carried or supported, to be moved along thereon in an outward direction and smoothly guided in such direction, to be shirred and draped thereon and thereby form a light admitting space at the center of the shadowing device, until the shirred fabric reaches the high point 33. This can be accomplished without lifting the spreader guide, because of the shape of the spreader guide half, without disturbing the portion of the panel directly above the end portions, as 34 or 35, which curve downwardly, and while retaining the shirred or draped portion in smooth, diagonally downwardly owing lines that are not distorted by the foreshortening of any part of the draped or undraped portion of the panel by the foreshortening of the draped portions due to their movement away from the vertical during the draping.

It may here be stated that the curvature of the inner portions of the

spreader halves

31 and 32 may, for generally best results, follow an arc drawn on a radius the length of the distance between the roller 20 and the bottoms of the

seams

28 and 29 when the shading device is drawn or of approximately the height of the window with which the shading device is intended to be used.

Each of the

spreader guide halves

31 and 32 may be provided on the bottom of its upwardly curving portion, at a suitable distance from its inner end, with a downwardly and inwardly directed projection, 36, which creates a claw-like area at the bottom of the spreader guide half in which the shirred portion of the panel may be gathered and which forms a stop adapted to engage against the inner edge of the panel disposed in such clawiike area to retain the panel bottom in shirred and draped state and prevent its inadvertent straightening out. If desired, more than one such projection 36 may be provided on each spreader guide half, for adjustment and retention of the panel bottom for greater or lesser light admission.

It will be clear that when it is desired to use the shading device to completely keep out the light, in the manner of a conventional window shade, the

panels

22 and 23 are disengaged from the stopper projection 36 and moved toward one another alone the spreader guide until they overlap, as shown in Fig. 1. To permit overlap between the

seams

28 and 29, one of the seams, as 29, which is formed on the outermost of the overlapping panels, is terminated short of the inner edge of the panel 23 on which it is formed, so that the edge portion of the seam 2S may fit and nest within the unfinished part of the seam 29. The two

panels

22 and 23 thus form a unitary shading sheet which is smooth and even and may be rolled on and off the roller 20 as a unit, in a manner readily understood.

Means may be provided to hold the panels together and in extended position and to prevent their diverging or converging while being drawn up on the roller to thereby become creased and create an uneven roll on the roller. Such means may be provided on the

panels

22, and 23, proper, in the form of one or more sets of cooperating fastener elements, such as snap fasteners, 38, provided on the portions of the panels forming the overlap 24. Means for the same purpose may also be provided, additionally if desired, on the spreader guide 30, which may take the form of one or more projections or pins, as the projections 3 9, extending preferably from a side face of the spreader member 30, over which suitably arranged openings, 40, in the panels may t, to keep the panels from moving from side to side and to maintain them in flat as well as tensed position.

Since the portions of the'double or greater thickness on the

panels

22 and 23, as where overlaps like 24 occur or where seams as 25 and 26 are present, or where ornamental layers of fabric may be secured thereon, will, when the panels are rolled up on the conventional spring roller of uniform diameter, create on such roller areas of increasing thickness or bulk as the rolling up proceeds and will result in the distortion of the flat material of which the panels are formed, I provide means on the Spring roller to remedy such condition. I thus provide or create on a conventional spring roller which is of generally uniform diameter, sections having greater and lesser diameter, with the sections of lesser diameter on the roller disposed in position to receive thereon the thicker portions of the

panels

22 and 23. The variations in spring roller diameter thickness is effected through the means of sections of tubular sleeves, 41 which may be fitted on and secured to the roller 20, in spaced apart relation to one another and from the ends of the roller, before the

panels

22 and 23 are secured thereon; the spacingbeing arranged in accordance with the requirements in individual cases, with the parts or spaces between the sleeves 41 or the parts left uncovered on the roller forming the spaces for accommodating the thickened panel portions.

It may here be stated that other means for compensating for the foreshortening of parts of the panels during their being spread apart for light admission may be provided. Such other compensating means may consist of spreader guide members of diierent designs, such as the spreader guide, 42, shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing,

in which the underside is curved similarly to the guide member 30, but which is provided on its underside with suitably deep, preferably regular corrugations into which the rings of the

panels

22 and 23 may tit and be retained.

The foreshortening compensating means may also take the form of different interengagement between the panels and the integrating spreader member. One such dilferent arrangement of interengaging means is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 1l of the drawings, wherein the spreader guide member is a bar or rod 43, having its underside formed with deeply seated and spaced curves or corrugations, 43, which is engaged and supported on the panels by rings, 44, secured in approximately transverse rows adjacent to the bottom of each of the panels in an upwardly curved line of required curvature. It will be clear that when the two panels, 45 and 46 are drawn, the rod or spreader guide will be supported on the higher end rings 44 on each of the panels, the innermost of the rings hanging loosely in place, and that when the

panels

45 and 46 are draped or spread apart, the inner rings will be elevated towards the level of the end rings and will be held in the corrugations of the spreader guide in adjusted draped position.

It may here be pointed out that the rings 44 may be attached in a straight horizontal line, if desired, and used in association with a spreader member such as 42, shown in Fig.' 6 of the drawings, the corrugations on the underside thereof receiving and holding the rings in the shirred and draped position of the panels.

Another form of association between the panels and the spreader guide members is illustrated in Fig. 13 of the drawing, wherein the panels, 48 and 49, have their spreader guide receiving seams, 50 and 51 respectively, intermediate, their ends at a distance from instead of adjacent their bottom. The spreader guide, 56, insuch embodiment is similar to the spreader guide 30 and operated in a similar manner, but, because of its position, :it provides increased spread between the panels, 48 and 49, for admission 'of more light, and the panel bottoms have a graceful drop below their seams 50 and 51.

In Figs. 14-16 there are illustrated additional possible embodiments of the present invention which represent modications of the window shading device of the invent tion in several respects, but, nevertheless, according to a common principle. Thus, they show shading devices, formed of more than two panels, such as the three panels for

wider window

52, 53 and 54, which are supported from a spring roller, 20 with overlaps, 56 and 57 formed between each pair of contiguous panels.

The embodiments of Figs. 14l6 are further modified in that the gathering and shaping functions are performed by separate structural suitable elements or members. Thus, each

panel

52, 53, and 54 is provided at a distance from its bottom with a tubular seam or housing, 58, 59 and 60 respectively, which may be formed by a section of fabric stitched or otherwise secured to the respective panel, with the seam section sewn on the central panel being preferably terminated short of the edges of the panel, to permit an overlap of such panel with its two adjacent panels. Within each of the

seams

58, 59 and 60 is disposed a shirring element 61 which is of a length less than the width of the panel within which it is supported and is formed with hooked ends 62. Each rod,

61 may be secured in position within the receiving seam in any desired manner and may repose therein, without functioning in any manner when the panels are drawn for light-exclusion. When it is desired to drape the panels, 52, 53 and 54, for light admission, which may be selectively done with one or more of the panels, each such panel is shirred over the rod 61 and its longitudinal edges caught in the hooks 62, to retain it in shirred position.

The spreading or shaping of the bottoms of

panels

52, 53, and 54 is effected by means carried in flat tubular seams, 63 64 and 65, respectively, formed on the bottom portion of each of said panels. Such spreading means may be of general overall shape similar to that of the spreader guide 30 of Fig. 5 and may be of unitary structure, as the member 30, or may be segmented, as in Figs. 14 and 15, with the central section, 66 disposed in the seam 64 of the panel 53 and its symmetrical end sections 67, disposed in the

seams

63 and 65 of

panels

52 and 54. lt may here be stated that for decorative and ornamental design purposes, the bottom edge of each of the

panels

52, 53 and 54 and the

seams

63, 64 and 65, may be shaped and formed in conformity to the shape of the shaping member segment desired to be associated therewith, as illustrated in Figs. 14 and l5.

The

panels

52, 53 and 54, when formed with the individual spreader member segments may have means for their integration into a unit, as for movement simultaneously and uniformiy on and off the spring roller such as the two bars or rods, 69, slidably disposed in the bottom seam of any one or two of the

panels

52, 53 and 54, from which each of rods 69 may be moved partly into the seam of an adjacent panel, as shown in Fig. 13, and to integrate such two adjacent panels; both bars thus uniting all three panels for simultaneous movement.

Fig. 16 represents a further modiiication of the embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14 in that

spreader section

66 and 67 are straight and likewise the seams 63', 64', and 65 in which they are supported, such seams being disposed above the decorativeiy cut or indented bottom edges 70.

While the

seams

58, 59 and 60 may be formed as described above, I have illustrated in Figs. 14, 15 and 16, different means formed for receiving the guide and retainer rods 61 which are formed between a separable bottom section, 52a, 53a and 54a, on each of the

panels

52, 53 and 54 respectively; such vbottom sections overlapping the main portion of the panels and securedthereto by parallel rows of fasteners 72, between which the housing for receiving the guide and retainer rods are formed.

The embodiments of Fig. 14, l5 and 16, as it will be readily apparent to any one skilled in the art, by providing separable bottom Sections for the

panels

52, 53 and 54,'

which are interchangeable and replaceable, make possible inlinite variety in the design of the bottoms of the shading devices of the present invention, providing numerous styles and opportunities for numerous color combinations.

lt may here be stated that the ends of the spreader guides such as 3l) may be anchored in place within their tubular seams, such as 28 and 29, or may, if desired, be loosely held therein and hooked around an edge of such seam when the panel is to be draped.

in the embodiment of Fig. 19 I have shown a shading structure in which each panel, 75, is provided with its individual draping means which may be in the form of a rod, 76, having hooked ends 77 and 78, by one of which, as 77, it is carried and supported on the panel 75, as by means of a ring, 79, or similar device that may serve the same purpose.

The member 76, is preferably supported at a distance 7 in Fig. 12, the outer or undraped edge portion of the panel is permitted to hang in straight, unbent and uncurved lines, as illustrated.

This completes the description of the several embodiments of the window shading devices of the present invention. It will be readily apparent that such shading devices possess many advantages in utility and appearance over the conventional shades now used for the purpose and that, because their several panels are separated for light admission to permit a longitudinal opening to be formed, are additionally useful for improved air circulation which generally requires an opening at the top as well as the bottom of the window.

It will likewise be apparent that numerous other modifications and variations may be made in the window shading devices of the invention, in accordance with the principles of the invention and without the use of any inventive ingenuity. I desire, therefore, to be protected for any and all such variations and modifications that may be made within the spirit of the present invention and the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What l claim is:

1. A shading device comprising a plurality of pliable flat shade sections, each securable by an end to a shade roller, and means carried by and supported on said sections for selectively guiding and retaining them in juxtaposed relation and in spread apart relation to one another.

2. A shading device comprising a plurality of pliable fabric shade panels, each securable by one end to a shade roller with their facing edges juxtaposed, and means carried by and supported on said panels for selectively retaining said panels in juxtaposed and in spread apart relation to one another, said means including a rigid element and supporting elements on said panels for said rigid element; one of said elements being curved to compensate for the foreshortening of the panels vertically as they are moved into spread apart relation.

3. A shading device comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable material and each securable by one end to a shade roller with the adjoining edges of the said panels overlapping, and means carried on and supported by said panels for selectively guiding and retaining their unattached end portions into juxtaposed and into spaced apart relation to one another, said roller having a plurality of tubular sleeve sections secured thereon, said sleeve sections being spaced apart from one another opposite said panel overlap to leave a portion of said roller with reduced diameter, said portion of reduced diameter accommodating the fabric thickness produced by said overlap when panels are rolled up on said roller.

4. A shading device, comprising at least two shade panels formed of pliable sheet fabric, each securable by one end to a shade roller and means for selectively guiding and retaining the contiguous edges of said panels in juxtaposed and in spaced apart relation to one another including a tubular seam formed on each of said panels in substantial alinement with the others, and a rigid spreader guide member supported in said seams, said member having a curved underside adapted to compensate for the foreshortening of portions of said panels vertically as they are moved into spaced apart relation on said member.

5. A shading device, comprising at least two shade panels formed of pliable sheet fabric, each securable by an end to a shade roller and means for selectively guiding and retaining the unattached portions of said panels into juxtaposed and into spread apart relation to one another, including a tubular seam formed on each of said panels, and a rigid member supported in each of said seams, said rigid member having hook means spaced from the center thereof, each for engaging a panel at an edge thereof to retain it in spaced apart relation from the edge of an adjacent panel.

6. A shading device, comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable sheet fabric, each securable its center toward a point adjacent to each of its ends' and having its end portions curving less gradually downwardly.

7. A shading device, comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable sheet fabric each securable by an end to a shade roller, said panels having means for selectively guiding them in and out of juxtaposed relation to one another, including a tubular hem formed on each of said panels at a distance from its unattached end and in aliuement with the other seams, and a rigid unitary guide member supported in said hem, said guide member having an underside curving gradually upwardly and outwardly from its center to a point short of each end thereof and having its end portions curving less gradually downwardly and outwardly from said upwardly curved portions, said guide member having at least one projection on each upwardly curving portion thereof adapted to engage a panel and retain it in selected position relative the other and having means on its outer end for engaging a panel and preventing its removal therefrom.

8. A shading device, comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable sheet fabric each securable by one end to a shade roller, said panels having means for selectively guiding them o-ut of and into juxtaposed relation to one another, including a plurality of rings secured in an approximately transverse row on each of said panels, and a rigid unitary guide member having relatively deep corrugations regularly formed on its under side supported on said rings, said guide member and said rows of rings being selectively curved gradually upwardly and outwardly to compensate for the change in vertical length in portions of said panels as they are moved out of and into juxtaposed position.

9. A shading device, comprising a plurality of pliable fabric shade panels each securable by one end to a shade roller and each having a detachable panel portion secured to the opposed end thereof, means for selectively guiding unattached portions of said panels into transversely gathered and into extended position comprising a rigid member disposed transversely of said shading device, and means for supporting said guide means on said panels, including an overlap between each of said panels and its detachable portion and a pair of spaced apart transverse rows of fasteners securing the overlap-` ping portions to one another, leaving a space between them to receive and support said guide means.

l0. A shading device, comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable sheet fabric, each securable by one end to a shade roller, said panels having means for selectively guiding them out of and into juxtaposed relation to each other, including a plurality of rings secured in approximately a transverse row on each of the said panels and a rigid unitary guide member having a plurality of spaced projections provided on a face thereof supported on said rings, said guide member and said rows of rings being selectively curved gradually upwardly and outwardly and then less gradually downwardly and outwardly, the spaces between said projections adapted to receive said rings between them.

l1. A shading device comprising, a plurality of pliable fabric shade panels each securable by one end to a shade roller with their facing edges juxtaposed, means carried by and supported on said panels for selectively retaining said panels in spread-apart relation to one another, and means carried by said panels for maintaining said panels in vertically and laterally aligned position for movement on and olf said roller, including aligned rod supporting means on adjacent panels and a rod member 9 supported by and moveable within said rod supporting means.

12. A shadingdevice comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable sheet material each secured by one end to a shade roller, and means on each of said panels for selectively retaining it in gathered position and spread apart from the other, including guide member supporting means secured on each of said panels and a guide member arranged within said supporting means, said guide member having means for engaging the panel at each of its longitudinal edge portions when said panel is gathered over said guide member.

13. The shading device of claim l2, wherein a selected one of said guide member supporting means and said guide member are slanted upwardly in the direction from one side edge of one of said panels toward the other side edge thereof.

14. A shading device comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable sheet material, each secured by one end to a shade roller, a rigid, elongated element supported on said panels approximately transversely thereof, and means associated with said rigid element for engaging said panels in gathered position.

15. A shading device comprising at least two shade panels formed of pliable sheet material, each secured by one end to a shade roller, and means on each of said panels for optionally retaining it in gathered position, said means comprising a member carried on and supported by said panel, said member adapted to engage the said panel at one edge portion and at a distance from the opposed edge, in approximately transverse relation to said panel, to gather the same.

16. A shading device comprising at least two panels formed of a pliable sheet material, eachV secured by one end to a roller, and means on each of said panels for selectively retaining it in gathered position and spaced apart from the other, said means including guide member supporting means on each of said panels and a guide member supported by said supporting means, said guide member having means for engaging said panel at approximately each end thereof and arranged to engage said panel at one longitudinal edge and at a distance from its opposite longitudinal edge, for gathering the same.

17. A shading device comprising at least two shade panels formed of a pliable sheet material, each secured by one end to a shade roller and means for optionally retaining each panel in gathered position, including a single member for holding each panel in gathered position supported on and carried by each of said panels, and means for interengaging said member and said panel at at least one longitudinal edge thereof.

18. A shading device comprising a pair of panels formed of a pliable sheet material each dependently supported by one end substantially in a plane with and parallel to the other, and means on each of said panels for optionally retaining it in gathered position comprising a member carried and supported solely by said panel, said member having means for engaging said panel at an edge thereof when said panel is gathered to retain the same in gathered position.

19. A roller for flexible sheet material adapted to be wound thereon7 said material having longitudinally extending portions of greater thickness and adjacent portions of lesser thickness, comprising a roller member of substantially uniform diameter, said roller member having a tubular sleeve section fitted and secured thereon in register with material portions of lesser thickness, when said material is rolled on said roller and sleeve section, leaving an uncovered roller section in register with portions of the material of greater thickness.

20. A shading device, including a panel formed of pliable sheet material, supported by one end in suspended v position, and means on said panel for opitionally retaining it in gathered position, comprising a member carried by and supported solely on said panel, said member having means for engaging said panel to retain the same in gathered position.

21. A shading device, including a panel formed of pliable sheet material supported by one end in suspended position, and means on said panel for optionally retaining it in gathered position, said means comprising a rigid member carried by and supported solely on said panel, said member having means for engaging said panel to retain the same in gathered position.

22. A shading device comprising a roller member consisting of a cylindrical rod of substantially uniform diameter, said rod having sleeve sections iitted and secured about portions thereof, to provide portions of roller of greater thickness separated by a portion of lesser thickness, and a pair of panels of pliable sheet material, each secured by one end to said roller in overlapping relation with one another, said sleeves secured around said rod in position to have a space between them opposite said overlap, and means carried and supported by said panels for maintaining the free ends of said panels in overlapping position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 433,509 Arnold Aug. 5, 1890 799,719 Cummings Sept. 19, 1905 1,161,444 Boughton Nov. 23, 1915 1,243,923 Dargo Oct. 23, 1917 2,219,253 Cunningham Oct. 22, 1940 2,301,081 Rosenberg Nov. 3, 1942