US3348603A

US3348603A - Movable panel supports

Info

Publication number: US3348603A
Application number: US489604A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Ford
Original assignee: Kirsch Co
Current assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
Priority date: 1965-09-23
Filing date: 1965-09-23
Publication date: 1967-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1984-10-24

Description

Oct. 24, 1967 J. A. FORD I v3,348,603

` MovABLE PANEL SUPPORTS Filed Sept. 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet. l

v l 1 EN J. A. FQRD Oct. 2 4, 1967 MOVABLE PANEL SUPPORTS Filed sept. 25, 1965v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIA A m n .1/1 m M W 7 i 3 35 fx 7,/1 m a 75.; 42 7 .w/ .J M24 f ,QQ f, Hw; w 5 5 l INVENTOR. Jil/ff l F0@ BY Mag/MM ,l/P/l/EYS Oct.- 24., 1967 v J, A, FORD 3,348,603 l MOVABLE PANEL SPPORTS Filed Sept. 25, 1965 4 ShetS-Shee 3 "nl/IM INVENTOR. J//FJ A FQ@ Oct.- 24, y1967' J, A FORD 3,348,603

MOVABLE PANEL `SUPPORTS 4 Sheets-Sheetv 4 Filed Sept. 25, 1965 INVENTOR. c//l/[S A Fd@ United States Patent Ofi ice 3,348,603 Patented Oct, 24;, 1967 3,348,603 MOVABLE PANEL SUPPORTS James A. Ford, Sturgis, Mich., assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 489,604 16 Claims. (Cl. 160-197) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A decorative panel assembly comprising elongated track means having a plurality of lengthwise extending ways. Elongated carriers are movably mounted on the ways by lengthwise movement therealong. The carriers have longitudinally elongated wall portions disposed outside of the track means and which provide mounting surfaces which extend lengthwise of the track means. Panels are secured to the mounting portions of the carriers by interengaging means which provides for easy removal of the panels when desired.

This invention relates to window decorating apparatus and, more particularly, relates to a track and carrier assembly mountable on a wall or ceiling and adapted for supporting for sliding movement substantially planar panels having substantial horizontal stiffness, such movement being for example, to cover or uncover windows.

It has been conventional for many years to mount drapery traverse .rods on a building wall in order to support pleated draperies for traversing movement. Pleated draperies of foldable material are mounted on such rods and the draperies are opened and closed by manipulation of suitable means, such as draw cords. All of this is conventional and well known and needs no further description.

While drapery traverse rods have been highly perfected and are generally satisfactory in use, there are certain inherent limitations of structure, style, and cost of same which make them less than completely satisfactory, and/ or preclude their use in certain situations. For example, it is necessary to form pleats in the drapery because the drapery must be capable of being folded attractively so that it can be packed into as small a space as possible when the drapery is opened and the window is exposed. This usually involves various special manipulations, such as sewing pleater tape along the upper edge of the drapery and the use of multi-prong drapery hooks for reception into pockets in the pleater tape in order that the pleats can be formed in the drapery. Further, the width of the drapery material needed is ordinarily approximately twice the width of the window area to be covered, and such high material requirement increases substantially the cost of the drapery. Moreover, because it is often necessary to sew pleater tape ont the drapery material, or otherwise provide pleats therein, substantial additional costs, primarily labor cost, are involved. Also, because of the cost involved, most users obtain only a single set of draperies at one time and, thus, they cannot modify their window decoration to suit different situations, for example, it might be desired to use a different drapery in summer than that used in winter, but this usually is not done because the cost is too great.

Additional difficulties are encountered from the standpoint solely of appearance. For example, it is diflicult to use more than one type of fabric on known Vtraverse rod structures. Consequently, certain decorative effects, such as might be created, for example, by using two contrasting fabrics in side-by-side relation, cannot conveniently be achieved. Moreover, certain materials such as the relatively stiff or diflicult-to-fold fabrics, woven .WQod

panels, etc., which have attractive design possibilities are not used widely because they do not fold satisfactorily as is required by conventional drapery traverse rod structures. In addition, because conventional traverse rods require the use of pleated drapes, the over-all configurations of drapery traverse rod installations are quite similar and tend to have the same appearance, subject of course, to the different decoration on the drapes themselves. Such a configuration may not be in keeping with the remainder of the room decor, particularly for contemporary designs. For example, it is not possible with conventional drapery traverse rod structures and associated draperies to simulate a Shoji-type screen effect.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved window decorating apparatus for supporting substantially planar panels for sliding movement with respect to the wall on which the apparatus is mounted.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved window decorating apparatus, as aforesaid, which can be used to support various types of flat panels, including particularly, but not confined to, those having substantial stiffness.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved window decorating apparatus, as aforesaid, which is adapted for supporting a plurality of separate panels, which may have different appearances, whereby a number of unique Window decoration treatments can be provided.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved window decorating apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the decorative panels create an effect similar to a hanging tapestry whereby the full pattern and beauty of the decoration on the panels is completely exposed to view.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an irnproved Window decorating apparatus, as aforesaid, which in addition to being used for supporting decorative panels, can also be used for supporting nondecorative panels, such as might be used for sun-screening or sun-reflecting purposes and the like, or to provide a uniform exterior appearance for a building.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved window decorating apparatus, as aforesaid, in which the panels can be easily mounted on or removed from the carrier structures and in which they can be so mounted on the carrier structures as to eliminate any sagging or folding of the panels.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to persons acquainted with equipment of this type upon reading the following description and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a fragmentary perspective view of a track and carrier assembly embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the track and carrier assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view showing all the carriers at one end of the track.

FIGURE 4A is a view similar to FIGURE 42 showing.

FIGURE 7A is a sectional view taken along the line VIIA-VIIA of FIGURE A.

FIGURE 7B is a sectional view taken along the line VIIB--VIIB of FIGURE 5B.

FIGURE 8A is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 and showing a modified construction.

FIGURE 8B is a sectional view taken along the line VIIIB-VIIIB of FIGURE 8A.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view through a carrier structure and showing a modified construction according to the invention.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view through a carrier and showing a further modified carrier structure according to the invention.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional View through a carrier structure and showing yet another modification according to the invention, said view being taken substantially along the line XI-XI of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 12 is a rear elevational view of the carrier structure shown in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII of FIGURE 12.

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view through a carrier showing still another modification of the invention.

FIGURE 15 is an end View of a section of the track structure and showing a modification of the invention, said view being taken along the line XV-XV of FIG- URE 16.

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIGURE 15.

FIGURE 17 is a sectional view through the track shown in FIGURE 15 at one longitudinal end thereof.

FIGURE 18 is a view similar to FIGURE 12 and showing yet another modification of the invention.

FIGURE 19 is a schematic view showing the improved track structure according to the invention used in conjunction with a conventional traverse rod.

FIGURE 20 shows a fragmentary sectional view through a panel for use in conjunction with the track and carrier structure of the invention.

General description According to the invention, there is provided a movable panel assembly comprising elongated `overhead track means having a plurality of lengthwise extending, laterally spaced, externally opening passageways therein. Elongated carriers extend into the passageways and are supported thereon for lengthwise movement along the track means. The carriers each have an externally extending wall portion which presents a mounting surface on which a panel can be mounted, whereby the panels are mounted on the carriers for lengthwise movement therewith. The panels are normally of width equal to the length of said mounting surface and preferably have substantial stiffness so that they can be supported upon the carriers without sagging or folding. The panels are each supported on the respective carriers so that they are flat and unpleated whereby they create an effect similar to that of a hanging tapestry. Stop means are provided for positioning and preventing movement of the carriers in one direction past each other at one end of the track whereby the carriers can be positioned in a fully overlapping, aligned relation in which only the forwardmost one of the panels is exposed to view.

In addition, blocking structures are provided to assure that when the rearwardmost panel is moved lengthwise along the track toward the opposite end thereof and approaches a point at which it would pass beyond the adjacent panel, it then picks up the adjacent panel so that the two panels thereafter move together and a predetermined minimum overlap is maintained therebetween. Hence, as the rearwardmost panel is moved away from said one end of the track, all of the movable panels will follow successively, except for the forwardrnost panel, which can be stationary.

Detailed description Referring to the drawings, the window decoration apparatus 10 comprises an elongated track 11, which desirably is a one-piece aluminum extrusion. The track 11 comprises a base wall 12, a front wall 13 having a rearwardly projecting flange 14 at its lower end, a back wall 16 having a frontwardly projecting flange 17 at its lower end and a plurality, here two, intermediate walls 1S and 19 of inverted, substantially T-shape which in this embodiment -define with said front wall and said back wall three longitudinally extending, laterally spaced

channels

21, 22 and 23. The

crossbars

24 and 26 of the

intermediate walls

18 and 19 are coplanar with the

flanges

14 and 17 and are spaced therefrom to form therewith three

slots

27, 28 and 29 which in this embodiment open downwardly and communicate with the

respective channels

21, 22 and 23. It will be apparent that the track 11 can be provided with a greater or lesser number of channels if desired.

Elongated, substantially T-shaped

carriers

31, 32 and 33 are slideably disposed within the

respective channels

21, 22 and 23. Laterally open grooves 34 are provided at the opposite lateral sides of the crossbars of each of the carriers for snugly but slideably receiving the flanges which define the

slots

27, 28 and 29 whereby the carriers are supported for lengthwise sliding movement along the track 11. It will be apparent that the

carriers

31, 32 and 33 can have different types of support on the track 11, such as by using rollers instead of the slider structures shown in the drawings.

The stem 36 of each of the

carriers

31, 32 and 33 extends downwardly from the track and presents a substantially planar front surface 37. A suitable fastener structure is secured to the front surface 37 whereby a panel can be attached thereto. A preferred fastener structure is a Velcro fastener 39, commonly called a hook, which is comprised of a base, such as a nylon tape 41, which is secured to a front surface 37 in any suitable manner, such as by an adhesive. A multitude of closely spaced, stifliy resilient, hook members (FIGURES 11 and 13) project forwardly from the tape 41 over the entire surface thereof. For convenience of illustration in all figures except FIGURES 11 and 13, the hook members are indicated generally by crisscross hatching.

A cooperating Velcro fastener 42, commonly called a pile, is secured, as by sewing or an adhesive, to the decorative panels P adjacent the upperedge thereof. The pile 42 has a multitude of closely spaced pile threads projecting away therefrom and adapted for positively engaging the hook-shaped members on the fastener 39 (FIG- URES 11 and 13). Velcro fasteners are commercially available and, hence, are not believed to require detailed description herein. Further details of the Velcro fasteners are described in U.S. Patents 3,076,244 and 3,114,- 952 and reference may be made thereto for a more complete description thereof.

A decorative panel P can be attached to the Velcro hook 39 by pressing the pile 42 on the decorative panel P against said hook Where a flexible panel is being installed, this can be done in much the same manner as when a strip of adhesive tape is secured to another surface. The decorative panel can be removed easily by peeling off the pile 42 from the hook 39.

Because they provide a lcontinuous holding of the decorative panel P along its entire upper edge and because they are easy to use, adjustable and durable, Velcro fasteners are preferred for the purposes of the invention. However, at least some of the -broader objects and purposes of the invention can be carried out by the use of other fasteners, such as zippers, buttons, snap fasteners, hooks and the like, as described in greater detail hereinbelow.

The rearward surface 46 of the stern 36 of each of the carriers has a shallow channel 47 (FIGURE 6A) formed therein. A substantially T-shaped stop member 48 (FIG- URE 2) is secured to the longitudinally outer end (leftward end in FIGURE 1) of each of the

carriers

31, 32 and 33. The stem 49 of the stop member 48 extends lengthwise within the channel 47 and it is secured to its associated carrier by a -rivet 51 (FIGURES 4B and 7B). The crossbar of the stop member 48 is comprised of two

flanges

52 and 53, liange 53 being offset longitudinally from the flange 52 a distance substantially equal to the thickness of flange 52. Flange 52 abuts against the end of its associated carrier and it extends frontwardly therefrom. Flange 53 extends rearwardly into overlapping relationship with the flange 52 on the stop member 48 lixed to the adjacent rearward carrier, the above-mentioned offset effecting exact alignment of the panels. Thus, the stops 48 limit movement of the

carriers

31, 32 and 33, in one direction (leftwardly in FIGURE 1) past a position in which the carriers are laterally aligned with each other and are positioned one behind the other (FIGURES 3 and 4B). v

A llexible blocking linger 56 is secured to the frontward two

carriers

31 and 32 close to but spaced from the longitudinally inner end thereof, that is, the rightward en d thereof as appearing in FIGURE 1. The linger 56 includes a leg portion 57 extending lengthwise along the channel 47 and pivotally secured at one end thereof to its associated carrier by -a rivet 57A. The linger 56 has a rearwardly extending flange portion 58 extending toward the adjacent rearward carrier. The flange portion 58 is of such length that it interferes with the flange portion 52 of the adjacent rearward carrier so that when the rearward carrier is moved toward the longitudinal center of the track, it will engage the flange portion 58 of the adjacent frontward carrier and cause same to move therewith and it will maintain the adjacent carriers in partially overlapped Irelation with each other.

The linger 56 can be bent out of the channel 47 yand then pivoted `downwardly to a position (FIGURES 5B and 7B) out of interfering relationship with the flange portion 52 of the adjacent rearward carrier. This permits the adjacent rearward carrier to be moved completely beyond the adjacent frontward carrier so that the entirety of the frontward surface of said rearward carrier is exposed. This procedure is carried out when a decorative panel is to be mounted on or removed from the rearward carrier.

The rearwardmost carrie-r 33 need not be provided with a finger 56. However, a bracket 61 is secured to the rearward surface of the rearwardmost carrie-r 33 adjacent to the longitudinally inner end thereof. The bracket includes a rearwardly angled portion 62 to which a suitable operating mechanism, such as a baton 63 ora suitable pull cord, not shown, of the type used on conventional traverse rods, may be secured whereby the rearwardmost carrier can be pulled along the track and thereby elfect sequential movement of the other movable carriers along the track.

The forwardmost carrier 31 is secured against longitudinal movement along the track by

suitable stop structures

66 and 67 secured to the track adjacent to the opposite ends of the carrier 31. Thus, the front carrier 31 is stationary while the rearward two ca-rriers 32 and 33 are slideable along the track. The rearward two carriers can be disposed completely behind the front carrier and they can be moved with respect to the front carrier so that either the rearwardmost carrier 33 or both

movable carriers

32 and 33 can be longitudinally offset from the front carrier.

The track 11 has holes 31 through its base wall 12 at longitudinally spaced points therealong. Screws (not shown) may extend through the holes for securing the track to a horizontal wall, such as the ceiling of a room.

Operation While the operation of the apparatus has been indicated in the foregoing description, the same will be briefly repeated in order to insure a clear understanding thereof. VThe decorative panels P are secured to the carriers 31,

32 and 33 by pressing the fastener structures 42 on the panels against the cooperating fastener structures 39 on the stems 36 of the carriers. The decorative panel P attached to the stationary carrier 31 can be aliixed thereto without diiculty because the front surface 37 of the carrier 31 is always completely exposed. In order to attach the panels to the

carriers

32 and 33, the fingers 56 on the front carrier 31 andthe intermediate carrier 32 are pivoted downwardly so that the flanges 52 on the

carriers

32 and 33 can move beyond the ends of the adjacent frontward carrier whereby their front surfaces 37 also are completely exposed whereby the decorative panels can be attached thereto.

Following attachment of the panels to the carriers, the

carriers

32 and 33 can then be moved to the outer (leftward in FIGURE l) longitudinal end of the track -and the lingers 56 can then be moved back into the grooves 47 to a position where they can then interfere with the llange portion 52 of the adjacent rearward carrier.

Assuming that the panels are all located at one end of the track and the movable panels are located directly behind the stationary front panel, the panels can be moved to their extended positions by grasping the baton 63 attached to the rearward carrier 33 and moving said carrier 33 longitudinally away from the carrier 31. The rearward carrier 33 will move lengthwise with respect to the carrier 32 so that the major portion of the decorative panel attached to the carrier 33 becomes exposed. However, when the liange portion 52 on the rearward ca-rrier 33 abuts against the linger 56 on the carrier 32, then further movement of the rearward carrier 33 will elfect simultaneous longitudinal movement of the carrier 32. Thus, the panels follow each other in a consecutive fashion with a predetermined overlap being maintained therebetween. The

carriers

32 and 33 can move in this fashion until the flange portion 52 of the carrier 32 engages the stop finger 56 on the stationary carrier 31 whereupon further longitudinal movement of the carriers is blocked.

Reverse movement from the carrier 3-3 will elfect movement of same into overlapping relationship with the carrier 32 until the flange portion 52 of carrier 33 abuts against the flange portion 53 of carrier 32 whereupon both said carriers will be moved in unison until the lian-ge portion 52 of the carrier 32 abuts against the flange portion 53 of theI carrier 31. This will occur when the panels :are in their outermost laterally aligned positions. It will be noted in this respect that because of the offset between the

flange portions

52 and 53, the panels will be fully aligned when they are at the outer longitudinal end of the track.

Modifications FIGURES 8A and 8B illustrate a modification of the invention employing four decorative panels, three of which are mounted on movable carriers and the fourth of which is secured to the front surface of the track. The purpose of this construction is to eliminate the channel and the carrier structure associated with the stationary decorative panel in the principal embodiment of t-he invention.

In this embodiment, the track 11A has three channels 71, 72 and 73, each of which has a

movable carrier

74, 76 and 77 therein. The carriers Isupport decorative panels in the same fashion as in the principal embodiment of the invention. An undercut member 78 projects forwardly from the front Wall of the track 11A. A bracket 79 is mounted on the member 78 and hangs downwardly therefrom and carries suitable fastening means 81 thereon whereby the forwardmost decorative panel can be mounted thereon in a stationary position. It will be apparent that this structural arrangement can also be applied to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1-7, in which case the frontwardmost passageway can be elimin'ated.

FIGURES 8A and 8B also show a wall bracket 82 for supporting the track 11A on a vertical wall. The bracket `82 has a wall mounting portion 83 and an arm 84 extending forwardly therefr-om. The arm 84 has a projection 86 on its forward end which extends into a rearwardly opening groove 87 in the tarck 11A. The arm 84 also has an L-shaped flange 88 extending downwardly from its underside and which underlies the rearward lower corner of the track whereby the track is supported on the bracket. The bracket 32 can also be used to secure the track t-o a horizontal wall by means of a screw 89. Further details of this type of bracket structure are disclosed in Serial No. 433,539.

FIGURE 9 illustrates an alternative structure for supporting the panel on a carrier. Here the stem y36A of the carrier has a lengthwise extending, undercut slot 91 therein. A support member 92 has a substantially T-shaped projection 93 received in the slot 91. The panel is secured to 4the support member 93 in this embodiment by stitching 94. The panel can be attached to the support member and the support member can be mounted on the carrier by sliding it lengthwise along the slot 91 from one end of the carrier.

FIGURE illustrates another modification of the carrier structure in which male snap fastener parts 96 are secured to the stem 36B of the carrier and longitudinally spaced points therealong. Female snap fastener parts 97 are secured to a strip 98 at correspondingly spaced parts therealong and sai-d strip is secured to the panel by stitching 99, whereby Athe decorative panel can be mounted on said carrier by snapping together said snap fastener parts.

FIGURE 14 illustrates still another modification of the structure in which the stem 36C of the carrier is I-shaped. A support member 101 has substantially theshape of an inverted I and its short leg 102 is receivable between the legs of the stem 36C. The support member 101 can be secured to the stern 36C 4by set screws 103. The decorative panel is secured to the support member 101 in any suitable manner, such as -by stitching 104.

In the principal embodiment of the invention, the stop finger 56 is secured to the stem 36 of the carrier in such fashion that the overlap between adjacent decorative panels is constant. FIGURES ll, 12 and 13 illustrate a modification in which the stop finger can be adjusted lengthwise along the track in order to adjust the amount -of overlap between adjacent panels. The stop mechanism 111 comprises a flexible base plate 112 having a rearwardly extending flange 113 thereon, corresponding to flange 58 in the principal embodiment, for engaging a flange portion 52 of the stop member of the adjacent rearward carrier. A roller 114 is rotatably supported on the base plate 112 adjacent one end thereof and said roller is received within a groove 116 in the rearward surface of the stem 36D of the carrier for movement therealong. A pin 117 is secured to the base plate 112 adjacent the other end thereof. A series of spaced-apart holes 118 are provided in the base wall of the groove 116 for receiving the pin in order to lock the stop mechanism 111 against movement along the carrier. Thus, when it is desired to adjust the position to the stop mechanism 111, the flexible lbase plate 112 is bent to remove the pin 117 from the hole 118 with which it is engaged. Then the stop mechanism is moved lengthwise along the track to the desired position and the pin 117 is inserted into another hole to secure it in place.

It may be desired, for purposes of convenience in Vshipping and inventorying parts, to -use standard lengths of track which may be cut to length at the job site or, for longer installations, can be spliced together. FIGURES l5 and 16 illustrate a modified track structure suitable yfor this purpose. The track 11B is provided with a plurality of laterally spaced, lengthwise extending grooves 121 in its upper surface. Splice pins 122 can be snugly disposed within the grooves 121 in adjacent track sections in order to hold same in alignment with each other and against relative longitudinal movement.

FIGURE 17 illustrates a further modified stop structure for stopping movement of the carriers at one end of the track. The track 11B has the same structure as shown in FIGURES l5 and 16. The stop structure 126 includes a pin portion 127 which extends into the grooves 121 and fits snugly therewithin. A flange 128 extends downwardly from the pin portion 127 and abuts against one end of the track and substantially closes the ends of the channels therein, whereby the carriers are blocked from moving beyond said one end of said track.

Referring to FIGURE 18, there is shown a modified carrier structure according to which the length of a carrier can be adjusted by securing thereto additional sections of carrier structure. Here, the main carrier structure is indicated at 131. It will be noted that this carrier structure has the same structure as that disclosed in FIG- URES ll-13. The supplementary carrier structure 132 has a similar cross-sectional configuration and these two carrier structures can be releasably secured together by means of a plate 133 having two pins 134 and 136 secured thereto and which are receivable in openings 137 in the grooves of the carrier parts. Also, the plate has a roller 139 for being guided along the aligned grooves in the carrier parts. The plate also carries a blocking finger 141.

While the foregoing description has -referred to the use of the track and carrier structure for supporting decorative panels, it will be apparent that the structure of the invention can also be used to support other panels, not necessarily of a decorative nature. For example, the track structure of the invention can be used to support sunscreening or sun-shading materials, heat reflective linings, expanded metal screens and other panels for a wide range of purposes.

In FIGURE 19 there is illustrated schematically the use of the track and carrier structure 10A according to the invention in conjunction with a conventional traverse rod 150. The panels supported on the track and carrier structure 10A can, for example, be of a sun-screening material, while the panel supported on the traverse -rod can :be of a conventional decorative type. It will be noted here that not only do the sun-screening panels serve that purpose but they also provide a uniform external appearance which may be desired in certain buildings havmg multiple large exposed glass surfaces.

Referring now to the panels mounted on the carrier structures according to the invention, inasmuch as the panels hang flat and have an effect similar to that of a hanging tapestry, it will be apparent that a wide variety of panels not heretofore capable of use for window decorating purposes can be used in conjunction with the structure of the invention. It will be preferred to use fabrics which do not stretch appreciably in either direction because such fabrics tend to curl and sag which creates a poor decorative effect. Hence, it will be preferred to use panels having substantial stiffness, particularly stiffness against bending in a horizontal plane. If desired, the stiffness of the panels can be enhanced by providing elongated, rigid, stitfening elements 152 as indicated in FIG- URE 2O along the lower edge of the panels. Moreover, even relatively stretchable or flexible fabrics can be used provided they are held against stretching or bending by suitable means. A preferred procedure for this purpose according to the invention is to laminate the fabrics to a stiff material, such as a vinyl shade cloth material 153, as illustrated in FIGURE 20. The vinyl shade cloth material not only will provide adequate resistance to stretching but, also, will protect the panel against the effects of sunlight.

While particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been described, the invention contemplates such changes and modifications therein as lie within the scope of the appended claims.

sive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A movable panel assembly comprising:

an elongated horizontal track having a plurality of lengthwise extending, substantially parallel, downwardly opening passageways, said track having at lease one lengthwise extending, laterally projecting flange adjacent each passageway;

elongated carrier means extending into said passageways and having a length less than the length of said passageways, each ca-rrier means having laterally projecting support means adjacent its upper end disposed above and movably engaging said -ilange so that said carrier means hangs downwardly from and can move lengthwise along said track;

said carrier means including a body portion disposed below said support means and hanging below said track, said body portion having a front mounting surface thereon;

a flat front panel fixedly mounted on said track adjacent one end thereof and hanging downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of further flat panels disposed behind said front panel and respectively connected to said carrier means for movement therewith lengthwise of said track;

fastening means connected to said body portion at the mounting surface thereof whereby said further flat panels can be releasably fastened to said carrier means;

means secured to said carrier means and located below said track for causing sequential movement of said further panels in response to movement of one of said further panels toward the other end of said track, said means including blocking means mounted on the rear side of said body portion below said support means and adjacent one longitudinal end of said carrier means and abutment lmeans mounted on the front side of said body portion below said support -means adjacent the other longitudinal end of said carrier means, said further panels being movable for a limited distance longitudinally with respect to each other and with respect to the adjacent forward panel toward the other end of the track, said relative movement between adjacent panels being limited by abutment of the abutment means of one further panel with the blocking means of an adjacent panel, said abutment means and blocking means coacting to establish a predetermined minimum overlap between adjacent panels; and

stop means coacting between adjacent panels for laterally aligning said further panels directly behind said front panel and preventing movement of said `panels-beyond said one end of said track, said stop fmeans causing one vertical edge of said further panels to bel directly laterally aligned behind the corresponding vertical edge of said front panel.

2. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said further flat panels are of a nonrigid, structure.

3. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said stop means comprises laterally projecting stop elements on one end of said front panel Iand on corresponding one ends of said carriers, said stop elements being engageable with each other at one end of said track means.

4. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said stop means comprises a stop device mounted on said track adjacent one end thereof and blocking corresponding one ends of said passageways whereby said carriers can abut against said stop device.

5. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said front panel is mounted on a carrier disposed in one of said passageways and including means for securing said last-named carrier against lengthwise movement along said one passageway.

6. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which said front panel is stationarily mounted on the front wall of said track.

7. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which each carrier means has a front surface disposed below and extending lengthwise of the track, and said fastening means for connecting said panels to said carriers comprising a continuous strip attached to the front surface of said carrier and having a multiplicity of thin, flexible, lamentary hook members projecting forwardly therefrom and substantially uniformly distributed along the entire length of said strip, the panel having a second continuous strip secured to the rear side thereof adjacent its upper end, said second strip having a multiplicity of thin, flexible, lamentary pile members projecting rearwardly therefrom and substantially uniformly distributed along the entire length of said second strip, said pile members being pressed into snug holding engagement with said hook members whereby said panel is supported on said carrier.

8. A movable panel assembly according to claim 1, in which each carrier means has a front surface disposed below and extending lengthwise of the track, and said fastening means for connecting said panels to said carriers comprising a continuous strip secured to the rear side of each of said panels adjacent the upper end thereof and means for supporting said strip on said front surface.

9. A movable panel assembly comprising: an elongated horizontal track having a plurality of lengthwise extending, substantially parallel, downwardly opening passageways, said track having at least one lengthwise extending, laterally projecting flange adjacent each passageway;

elongated carrier members extending into said passageways and having a length less than the length of said passageways, each carrier member having laterally projecting support means adjacent its upper end disposed above and movably engaging said flange so that said carrier member hangs downwardly from and can move lengthwise along said track;

said carrier member including a body portion disposed below said support means and hanging below said track, said body portion having a front mounting surface thereon;

a plurality of flat panels with one of said panels being connected to each of said carrier members and hanging downwardly therefrom for movement therewith lengthwise of said track;

first fastening means connected to said body portion at the mounting surface and second fastening means secured to said panel adjacent the upper edge thereof, said second fastening means being releasably secured to said first fastening means, the upper edge of said panel being positioned below the lower side of the track;

means secured to said carrier member and located below said track for causing sequential movement of said panels in response to movement of one of said panels toward the other end of said track, said means including blocking means mounted on the rear side of said body portion below said support means and adjacent one longitudinal end of said carrier member and abutment means mounted onL the front side of said body portion below said support means adjacent the other longitudinal end of said carrier member', said panels being movable for a limited distance longitudinally with respect to each other and with respect to the frontmost panel toward the otherend of the track, said relative movement between adjacent panels being limited by abutment of the abutment means of one panel with the blocking means of an adjacent panel, said abutment means and blocking means co- 1 1 acting to establish a predetermined minimum overlap between adjacent panels; and

`stop means coacting between adjacent panels for laterally aligning said panels directly behind said frontmost panel and preventing movement of said panels beyond said one end of said track, said stop means causing one vertical edge of said panels to be directly laterally aligned behind the corresponding vertical edge of said frontmost panel.

10. A movable panel assembly comprising:

elongated track means having a plurality of lengthwise extending, substantially parallel, downwardly opening passageways;

elongated carriers extending into said passageways and movably supported on said track means for lengthwise movement therealong;

a flat front panel fixedly mounted on said track means adjacent one end thereof and hanging downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of further Hat panels disposed behind said front panels and respectively connected to said carriers for movement therewith lengthwise of said track means;

stop means for laterally aligning said further panels directly behind said front panel and preventing movement of said panels past said one end of said track; and

means secured to said carriers and located below said track for causing sequential movement of said further panels in response to movement of one of said further panels toward the other end of said track, said means comprising lost-motion means mounted on said carriers and connecting adjacent panels whereby each of said further panels can move longitudinally with respect to the next adjacent forward panel toward the other end of the track for a limited distance, and then further movement of such adjacent two panels will occur in unison, said lost-motion means including means for establishing a predetermined minimum overlap between adjacent panels, said overlap being less than the width of the panels;

said lost-motion means further comprising a rearwardly projecting blocking means on said front panel and on said carriers, except for the rearwardmost one thereof, said blocking means being located adjacent the end of said panel and said carrier remote from said one end of said track, a forwardly projecting abutment on said carriers and located adjacent to the other end thereof, said abutment extending forwardly to a point where it interferes with the blocking means on said adjacent frontward carrier.

11. A movable panel assembly according to claim 10, including means supporting said blocking means for pivotal movement lwhereby same can be pivoted out of interfering relationship with said abutment.

12. A movable panel assembly according to claim 10, in which each said blocking means is mounted on a carriage which is longitudinally movable along the rear side of its associated carrier, and means for releasably securing said carriage against longitudinal movement.

13. A carrier and track construction for supporting a panel for lengthwise movement comprising:

an elongated horizontal track having at least one lengthwise extending, laterally projecting ange;

an elongated body member having laterally projecting support means adjacent its upper end disposed above and movably engaging said track so that said body member hangs downwardly from and can move lengthwise along said track;

said body member having a front mounting surface below said support means and disposed below said track, said mounting surface having fastening means thereon whereby a panel can be releasably fastened to said carrier;

a rearwardly projecting blocking means on the rear side of said body member below said support means and adjacent to one longitudinal end of said body member; and

a forwardly projecting abutment projecting beyond said front mounting surface, said abutment being mounted on said body member adjacent the other longitudinal end thereof.

14. A carrier according to claim 13, including means pivotally supporting said blocking means so that it can be moved to a position in which it will not interfere with the passage therepast on an abutment on another similarly constructed carrier.

15. A carrier according to claim 14, in which the rear surface of said body member has a longitudinally extending recess in which said blocking means is partially received and is releasably held against movement, said blocking means being resiliently exible so that it can be bent out of said recess and then pivoted with respect to said carrier. v

16. An elongated one-piece track having an elongated plurality of lengthwise extending, substantially parallel, downwardly opening passageways therein, said passageways being of the same length and being disposed in sideby-side relation and being separated from each other by common upright intermediate wall means;

elongated carriers extending into said passageways and movably supported on said track for lengthwise movement therealong, said carriers being of less length than said passageways;

a at front panel xedly mounted on said track adjacent one end thereof and hanging downwardly therefrom;

a plurality of further liat panels disposed between said front panel and respectively connected to said carriers for movement therewith lengthwise of said track;

said panels being exible and being stiffened along the upper and lower edges thereof and the lower edges of said panel being free from guided relationship so that the panels are supported and guided solely by said carriers; and

means secured to said carriers and located below said track means for causing sequential movement of said further panels in response to movement of one of said further panels toward the other end of said` track.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 805,085 11/1905 Meier et al. 129-16 1,135,310 4/1915 Memmler 211-46 2,104,261 1/1938 Landau 160-330 X 2,523,844 9/ 1950 Rohrman 160-202 2,833,346 5/1958 Preston 160-197 2,850,089 9/1958 Burke 1604-202 2,851,167 9/1958 Rosenberg 211-46 2,895,183 7/1959 Dumbotton 160-197 2,975,904 3/1961 Krebs et al 211-46 3,054,446 9/ 1962 Cayton 160-173 FOREIGN PATENTS 492,411 9/ 1938 Great Britain. 944,994 12/ 1963 Great Britain.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

PETER M. `CAUN, Examiner.

Claims

1. A MOVABLE PANEL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED HORIZONTAL TRACK HAVING A PLURALITY OF LENGTHWISE EXTENDING, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, DOWNWARDLY OPENING PASSAGEWAYS, SAID TRACK HAVING AT LEASE ONE LENGTHWISE EXTENDING, LATERALLY PROJECTING FLANGE ADJACENT EACH PASSAGEWAY; ELONGATED CARRIER MEANS EXTENDING INTO SAID PASSAGEWAYS AND HAVING A LENGTH LESS THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID PASSAGEWAYS, EACH CARRIER MEANS HAVING LATERALLY PROJECTING SUPPORT MEANS ADJACENT ITS UPPER END DISPOSED ABOVE AND MOVABLY ENGAGING SAID FLANGE SO THAT SAID CARRIER MEANS HANGS DOWNWARDLY FROM AND CAN MOVE LENGTHWISE ALONG SAID TRACK; SAID CARRIER MEANS INCLUDING A BODY PORTION DISPOSED BELOW SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HANGING BELOW SAID TRACK, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING A FRONT MOUNTING SURFACE THEREON; A FLAT FRONT PANEL FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND HANGING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM; A PLURALITY OF FURTHER FLAT PANELS DISPOSED BEHIND SAID FRONT PANEL AND RESPECTIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIER MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH LENGTHWISE OF SAID TRACK; FASTENING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID BODY PORTION AT THE MOUNTING SURFACE THEREOF WHEREBY SAID FURTHER FLAT PANELS CAN BE RELEASABLY FASTENED TO SAID CARRIER MEANS;