US3853168A

US3853168A - Roll-up shade construction and method of erecting same

Info

Publication number: US3853168A
Application number: US00403410A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Wrono
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-01-18
Filing date: 1973-10-04
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10

Abstract

A roll-up shade construction has a plurality of assemblies each of which includes vertical runner guide track bars mounted on respective base strips and carrying a slatted roll-up shade. Vertical joints at the adjoining edges of the assemblies are provided by closure panels secured to the adjacent guide bars of the assemblies by vertical frame bars by which the assemblies are adapted to be connected to a ceiling by means of brackets attached thereto. To facilitate erection on a supporting surface bounded by angularly related edges along which the roll-up shade construction must be mounted, conforming angle templets are prepared and then used for attaining proper joinder of the base plate strips on which the assemblies are mounted.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Wrono Dec. 10, 1974 1 ROLL-UP SHADE CONSTRUCTION AND 1,362,591 4/1964 France 160/133 METHOD OF ERECTING SAME 701,083 1/1965 Canada 160/ 133 1,465,993 12/1966 France 160/133 [76] Inventor: Walter A. Wrono, 829 N. Southlake 1 237 239 3 19 7 Germany 133 D1'., North Miami Beach, Fla. 33020 1,809,136 6/1970 Germany 160/133 [22] Filed: Oct. 4, 1973 Primary ExaminerPeter M. Caun [21] Appl' 403,410 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hi11, Gross, Simpson, Van

R l Application Data Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 218,720, Jan. 18, 1972,

abandoned, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. [57] ABSTRACT 147,431, May 27, 1971, Pat. No. 3,732,913.

A roll-up shade construction has a plurality of assem- 52 Us. or. 160/133, 160/113 blies of which includes Vertical guide [51] int. Cl E06b 3/48 track bars mounted on YeSPemVePaS? s trips and [58] Field 61 Search 160/133, 201, 113, 209, a slatted YOU'UP Shade- ,Vemcal the 16O/368 49/372 379, 394, 29/407 oining edges of theassembhes are provided by c10- sure panels secured to the adjacent guide bars of the [56] References Cited assemblies 15y verical ftrJame bars byiwhich thelassertn- 1es are a apte to e connecte to a ceimg y UNITED T T PATENTS means of brackets attached thereto.

To facilitate erection on a supporting surface bounded 2,169,889 8/1939 Waterbury 49/372 by angularly elated edges along whch rolliup 2,827,960 3/1958 Keating et a1 160/368 a shade Construction must be mounted, conformmg 3,493,032 2/1970 Brown, Jr. et a1, 160/201 angle templets are P p and used for 3,640,332 2/1972 Luby 160/133 attaining proper joinder of the base plate strips on FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS which the assemblies are mounted.

16,163 5/1929 Australia 160/133 39 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTS] BEE l 0l974 SHEET 1 OF 3 ROLL-UP SHADE CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD OF ERECTING SAME The present application is a continuation of my copending application Ser. No. 218,720, filed Jan. 18,

1972, now abandoned, and is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 147,431, filed May 27, 1971 (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,913, issued May 15, 1973) copending therewith.

This invention relates to roll-up shade construction and method of erecting same, and more particularly such construction and method especially adapted for erection along angularly related edges of a supporting surface boundary.

In my prior application Ser. No. 147,431 filed May 27, 1971, I have disclosed a new and improved roll-up slatted shade assembly which is especially suited for erection on supporting surfaces such as patios, porches, apartment house terraces, and the like. Often such surfaces have boundaries with angularly related edges along which the shade construction must be erected. The boundary angles may vary as to angularity from ins tallation to installation, and may deviate considerably from a right angular relationship. While right angles do not present much of a problem, angles other than right angles do present a problem in attaining proper juncture relationship at the joints of the base plate strips to match the erection site angles. Further, closure of the joint between adjacent shade assemblies in an installation presents a problem.

It is to the solving of the foregoing and other problems in the erection of roll-up shade construction of the type indicated, to which the present invention has been addressed.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved roll-up shade construction which is especially adapted for erection along supporting surface boundaries having angularly related edges.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for neatly joining the adjacent edges of angularly related roll-shade assemblies.

A further object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for mounting a plurality of roll-up shade assemblies in a cooperative relation wherein some of the assemblies may be required to have angular relationship to one another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for mounting roll-up shade assemblies.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method of erecting roll-up shade assemblies in a construction along angularly related edges of a supporting surface boundary.

A still further object of the invention is to provide new and improved means for accurately conforming juncture between adjacent roll-up shade assemblies and angularly related edges of a supporting surface boundary.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional plan view of a rollup shade construction embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a supporting surface with a boundary having angularly related edges along which a roll-up shade construction is to be erected and demonstrating the making of angular templets for the respective angles or corners, according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an angular templet useful in practicing the method of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an angular joint in a roll-up shade installation;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing another such roll-up shade construction assembly joint;

FIG. 6 is a fragmental sectional plan view similar to FIG. 1 but on a larger scale;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top edge plan view of a corner joint between a pair of roll-up joint assemblies; and

FIG. 8 is a top edge plan view of a corner joint between another pair of the roll-up shade assemblies set at a different angle to one another.

On reference to FIG. 1, a representative roll-up shade construction is depicted embodying a suitably aligned plurality of roll-up shade units 10 cooperating to provide a shade enclosure on a supporting surface '11 which may be a balcony or terrace of a building, patio, porch, or the like, and which may be of wood, but most generally will be concrete, fixed tile, or the like. Each of the units 10 comprises a base plate strip 12 of suitable length and width and provided along its inner edge with an upstanding flange 13. Means such as lag bolts or screws 14 secure the base plate 12 to the surface 11 in each instance. Rising vertically from each of the end portions of each of the base plates 12 is a vertical guide track bar 15 is desirably formed as an aluminum extrusion and respectively provided with a vertical guide channel 16 oriented in allochiral relation for recieving the side margins of a slatted shade assembly 18 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) of the respective unit. At their upper ends, the bars 15 support respective arm brackets 17 (FIG. 4) carrying a spring loaded roll-up device for the respective shade 18. At their lower ends, the bars 15 are secured to the base plate flanges 13 by means of screws 19.

Means are provided for securing the units 10 to each other along their contiguous vertical edges, and to a ceiling 20 where applicable. Where the units 10 are aligned in coplanar relation, so that it is feasible to have the contiguous side edges closely adjoining, as shown at the center of FIG. 1, the contiguous edges are desirably secured to the center flange of a cross-sectionally T-shaped stud bar 21 by means of screws or bolts 22, the bar being provided with integral respective outwardly extending vertical attachment flanges 23 for this purpose.

It is necessary in order to enable proper functioning of the roll-up devices on the arms 18 and the shades rolled up thereon to mount the contiguous side edges of angularly related ones of the units 10 in suitable spaced relation. For this purpose vertical supporting and reinforcing angle stud bars 24 are provided of generally L-shaped cross section, each having a long leg extending in front-to-rear direction and a short leg located adjacent to the inner face of the associated bar 15. In this instance attachment of the bars 24 to the bars 15 is by means of screws 25 having their shanks extending through the associated bar 24 and through a vertical slot 27 in the edge of the bar 15 opening into a groove 28 of greater width than the slot and within which is received a nut plate 29 between which and the screw head the bars 24 and the side edges of the bars 15 are clampingly secured. In order to close the gap between the adjacent angularly related units, respective inwardly facing panels 30 are provided which are, for example, thin aluminum sheet panels of suitable gauge and finish having respective angular generally outwardly directed marginal flanges clampingly secured between the

bars

15 and 24. Above the upper ends of the bars 15, the flanges 31 are secured to the bars 24- as by means of rivets 32 (FIG. 8). Width of the panels 30 will be determined by the included angle of the respective corner of the assembly to which applied. For example, as best seen at the right in FIGS. 1 and 6 and in FIG. 8, where the included angle is relatively large such as on the order of 150 to 160, a relatively narrow width will suffice because the stud frame bars 24 can be brought relatively closely together, actually about the width of the innermost of the narrow flanges of one of the stud bars, against which the panel 30 engages in reinforced relation. Where the included angle is smaller, such as represented at the right side of FIGS. 1 and 6 and in FIG. 7, being about l IO", so that a wider spacing is required, the panel 30 will be substantially wider. Nevertheless, the wider panel 30 receives some reinforcing support from the stud bar flange parallel thereto.

In preparation for erecting a roll-up shade construction according to the present invention, suitable measurements are taken at the jobsite including the total width of the area to be enclosed, the height between floor level and ceiling, the length of edges of the boundary of the supporting floor surface between angles in such boundary, the distance the shade structure must be located inwardly from the boundary edges to accommodate other structures such as railings, screens, louvers, windows along or adjacent to the boundary, the required lengths of the base plate strips and the angles at which the strips must join to conform with the boundary angles, as well as the widths of the several cooperating shade assemblies needed. For this purpose a floor pattern or layout is prepared with proper dimensions thereon and this is then used at the fabricating plant. There factory workers lay out the pattern on a table and the base plate strips 12 are cut to proper lengths with the ends of the base plates to be joined at other than right angles being properly mitered as necessary. All other components of the shade units are completed and to the extent desirable assembled and transported to the jobsite. There the base plates 12 are secured to the supporting floor base 11, spaced properly from the boundary of the floor I1 and joined at their contiguous ends. Then the guide track bars with the

stud bars

21 and 24 as assembled at the factory where that has been feasible, are erected and secured by the screws 19 to the base plate flanges 13. At their upper ends the stud bars are provided with angular aterection of the stud bars, care is taken to have all of the vertical components properly squared up with one another and with the building structure, and in effecting this, the flexibility inherent in the corner panels 30 facilitates making minor adjustments.

In order to assure proper conforming angularity of the roll-up shade assembly corners to the boundary angles of the supporting surface 11, exactly conforming templets 37 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are prepared at the jobsite and then carried to the factory. In a simple and efficient construction, the templets comprise respective pieces of rectangular paperboard 37a and 37b, or at least pieces that have respective straight edges 38. By laying the straight edges 38 along the converging edges of the supporting surface boundary at a respective corner and with contiguous ends 39 of the edges 38 overlapped, substantial areas of the panels 37a and 37b inwardly from the ends 39 will be in overlapping relation as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 so that they can be permanently secured together as by means of staples 40. This retains the templets fixed with respect to the included angle between the edges 38. The respective templets 37 are used at the factory to lay out the joints between the contiguous ends of the base plate strips 12 to define the respective corners of the roll-up shade assembly. Exact conformity to the jobsite corner angles is thus attained and human error is avoided. Further, by again using the templets 37 during erection of the assembly at the jobsite, exact conformance at the site is assured even though there may be some inevitable tolerances in the fabricated joints in the base plate strips.

In trimming the base plate strips 12 to corner angle conformance with the templets 37, the joint should be effected with minimum trimming to reduce tolerances to a minimum. For example, in the relatively large included angle corners such as represented at the left in FIGS. 1 and 6 and in FIG. 8, the end of one of the base plate strips at the joint is desirably square with the edges of the strip while the end of the joining strip will be mitered to effect end abutment attaining the desired included angular conformity to the appropriate templet. Where a smaller included corner angle is necessary as depicted at the right side in FIGS. 1 and 6 and in FIG. 7, the end of the base plate strip 12 which has the guide rail bar 15 attached thereto is mitered to abut the inside edge of the contiguous base plate strip 12 which is then desirably trimmed off to have its end in linear alignment with the outer edge of the joined base plate strip 12, especially wherethe outer edges of the base plate strips must remain clear of or at least not intrude upon the area between the shade assembly and the boundary of the supporting surface 11 occupied by other structures such as railing, screen, jalousies, windows, or the like. For right angular corners, or course, the templets 37 may not be needed since no problem is generally encountered in producing a right angular corner structure using a conventional square to assure proper right angularity during fabrication and jobsite erection. However, for any angle other than right angle corner structure the templets 37 offer an ideal solution to the attainment of accuracy both during fabrication and then during erection of the shade assembly at the jobsite as depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5. Not only are the templets 37 easy to make, but they are of ample durability for the intended limited use. Being quite inexpensive, the templets can be discarded after use. If desired, of course, the panels 37a and 37b may be separated after the templet has served its purpose, by removal of the staples 40, and the panels reused, for example by joining the opposite ends in the reconstructed templet.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

I claim as my invention: 1. A method of erecting a roll-up shade construction along angularly related supporting surface boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising:

making a templet with an edge conforming to said edges and the joining angle of said edges; and

utilizing said templet as a guide, trimming and fitting the ends of a pair of elongated base plate strips in complementary relation to one another to conform to said angle whereby to enable erecting and supporting respective shade units on said strips parallel to said edges.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising fixing said base plate strips to said surface spaced from said edges to enable other structure to be supported on'said surface between said edges and said base plate strips and the shade assemblies carried thereby.

3. A method according to claim 1, including mounting roll-up shade unit structure on said base plate strips with contiguous edges of the units spaced apart, and securing joint closure panel to and between said spaced edges.

4. A method according to claim .1, comprising mounting shade assembly structure units on said base plate strips including vertical guide runner bars located at the vertical edges of the units, mounting a joint closure panel between adjacent edge bars of the units, and clampingly securing flanges of said panel between said edge bars and vertical stud bars.

5. A method according to claim 4, including securing upper ends of said stud bars to a ceiling.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising laying respective panels with straight edges along said boundary edges and with ends of said straight edges matching the corner at juncture of said boundary edges, and securing overlapping portions of the panels together to fix the same into the templet.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said angle is other than a right angle, and fitting said strips into a mitered joint.

8. A method of erecting a roll-up shade construction beneath a ceiling on a supporting surface floor having boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising:

fitting ends of elongated base plate strips together to conform to said angle and with the strips adapted to lie parallel to said edges; i

erecting on said strips roll-up shade units having adjacent spaced apart vertical edges;

affixing a joint closing panel to and between said vertical edges, and

attaching the units to the floor and to the ceiling to anchor the units in place as independently supported free standing structures.

9. A method according to claim 8, comprising fixing said base plate strips to said floor spaced from said boundary edges to enable other structure to be supported on said floor between said boundary edges and said base plate strips and the shade assemblies carried thereby.

10. A method according to claim 8, comprising clampingly securing flanges of said panel between vertical edge runner bars of the shade units and vertical stud frame bars.

11. A method according to claim 10, including securing upper ends of said stud bars to a ceiling.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said angle is other than a right angle, and fitting said strip ends into a mitered joint.

13. A method according to claim 8, comprising making a templet with an edge conforming to said boundary edges and the joining angle of said boundary edges, and utilizing said templet as a guide, trimming and fitting the ends of the base plate strips in complementary relation to effect the conformance to said angle.

14. A method according to claim 13, comprising laying respective panels with straight edges along said boundary edges and with ends of said straight edges matching the corner at juncture of said boundary edges, and securing overlapping portions of the panels together to fix the same into the templet.

15. A roll-up shade construction mounted along supporting surface boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising:

a pair of base plate strips having ends connected in a joint according to a templet conforming to said angle; and

respective roll-up shade assemblies mounted on said base strips parallel to the respective edges.

16. A construction according to claim 15, said base plate strips being fixed to said surface spaced from said boundary edges to enable other structure to be supported on said surface between said edges and said base plate strips and the shade assemblies carried thereby.

17. A construction according to claim 15, said shade assemblies comprising respective units having adjacent vertical edges spaced apart, and joint closure panels secured to and between said vertical edges.

18. A construction according to claim 17, wherein said units include vertical guide runner bars at said vertical edges, said closure panel having vertical side flanges, and vertical stud frame bars clampingly securing said flanges to said runner bars.

19. A construction according to claim 18, including a ceiling overlying said floor, and means securing upper ends of said stud frame bars to said ceiling.

20. A construction according to claim 15, wherein said angle is other than a right angle, and said strip ends are mitered to fit together conformable to said angle.

21. A roll-up shade construction adopted to be mounted beneath a ceiling on a supporting surface having boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising:

elongated base plate strips having ends fitted together to conform to said angle and with the strips adapted to lie parallel to said boundary edges;

respective roll-up shade units mounted on said strips and having adjacent vertical edges spaced substantially apart to afiord working room for rolling up the shade units at the top of the respective units;

means closing the space between said vertical edges,

and

means connected to the units for attaching the units to the floor and to the ceiling to anchor the units in place as independently supported free standing structures.

22. A construction according to claim 21, wherein said units have vertical runner strips with shade roll-up supporting structure at the tops of said runners, and vertically extending stud frame bars secured to said runner bars and having upper end portions extending above the runner bars and the roll-up supporting structure, and means on the upper ends of said stud frame bars for securing the same to a ceiling.

23. A construction according to claim 22, wherein said means closing the space between said vertical edges comprise a panel having marginal flanges clamped between said runner bars and said frame bars and having the upper portions of the flanges secured to said stud frame bars.

24. A roll-up shade construction for attachment to a floor and a ceiling comprising:

a base plate strip;

vertical runner bars mounted in spaced relation on said base plate strip;

a roll-up shade mounted operatively on said runner bars;

at least one of said runner bars having an outer side edge provided with a vertical channel defined by flanges with a separating vertical slot; a vertically extending stud frame bar along said channel edge; 7

means cooperable with said strip and with an upper end of said vertical extending stud frame bar for anchoring said roll-up shade construction to a ceiling and to a floor; and

means securing said stud frame bar to said flanges.

25. A construction according to claim 24, said securing means comprising nut blocks in said channel and screws extending through said stud bar and said slot and engaging said nut blocks.

26. In a roll-up shade assembly including a pair of units for attachment to a floor and a ceiling:

each of said units having a hingedly slatted curtain attached at one end to a roller rotatably mounted over a pair of vertical track bars providing tracks for running of opposite sides of the curtain in the tracks between open and closed positions;

means mounting said units angularly relative to one another with respective track bars of the units in adjacent relation;

a vertical connecting panel secured to and between said adjacently related track bars, and

27. An assembly according to claim 26, said panel being of angular cross section providing angularly related flanges, and means securing one of said flanges to one of said adjacently related track bars and the other of said flanges to the other of said adjacently related track bars.

28. An assembly according to claim 26, said adjacently related track bars being in spaced relation with a gap of substantial width therebetween, and said panel extending across and closing said gap.

29. An assembly according to claim 26, said units being secured angularly relative to one another at an angle at variance of and with said units being free standing independent of any structures on the floor and/or the ceiling.

30. An assembly according to claim 26, including vertical stud bars secured to said panel and to both of said adjacently related track bars.

31. An assembly according to claim 26, each of said adjacently related track bars having a laterally extending vertical flange thereon, said panel being attached to said flanges.

32. An assembly according to claim 26, with said adjacently related track bars having laterally extending vertical flanges thereon, and means clamping said panel to said flange.

33. An assembly according to claim 32, said clamping means comprising vertically extending stud bars.

34. In a roll-up shade assembly for attachment between afloor and a ceiling including a pair of roll-up shade assemblies each of which includes a frame having vertical complementary spaced track bars with a roller over the tops of the bars supporting an articulated slatted shade for movement in tracks of the bars between open and closed conditions:

said units being located in side-by-side relation with respective track bars of the units in adjacency;

said track bars having attachment flanges extending therefrom; and a vertical member attached to said flanges of the adjacent track bars with means for attachment to the floor and ceiling.

35. An assembly according to claim 34, said vertical member comprising a panel secured to and between said flanges of the track bars.

36. An assembly according to claim 34, said vertical member including a stud bar secured to and between said flanges of the adjacent track bars.

37. An assembly according to claim 36, said stud bar being of generally T-shape cross section having the leg of the T between and secured to said flanges of the adjacent track bars and with the head of the T extending across the joint thus provided.

38. An assembly according to claim 36, said attachment flanges being in parallel relation, said stud bar being disposed between said flanges, and means securing the stud bar in clamped relation between said flanges.

39. An assembly according to claim 34, said track bars comprising aluminum extrusions having said attachment flanges, said vertical connecting member extending between and engaging said-flanges, and fasteners securing said member to said flanges.

Claims

1. A method of erecting a roll-up shade construction along angularly related supporting surface boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising: making a templet with an edge conforming to said edges and the joining angle of said edges; and utilizing said templet as a guide, trimming and fitting the ends of a pair of elongated base plate strips in complementary relation to one another to conform to said angle whereby to enable erecting and supporting respective shade units on said strips parallel to said edges.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising fixing said base plate strips to said surface spaced from said edges to enable other structure to be supported on said surface between said edges and said base plate strips and the shade assemblies carried thereby.

4. A method according to claim 1, comprising mounting shade assembly structure units on said base plate strips including vertical guide runner bars located at the vertical edges of the units, mounting a joint closure panel between adjacent edge bars of the units, and clampingly securing flanges of said panel between said edge bars and vertical stud bars.

8. A method of erecting a roll-up shade construction beneath a ceiling on a supporting surface floor having boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising: fitting ends of elongated base plate strips together to conform to said angle and with the strips adapted to lie parallel to said edges; erecting on said strips roll-up shade units having adjacent spaced apart vertical edges; affixing a joint closing panel to and between said vertical edges, and attaching the units to the floor and to the ceiling to anchor the units in place as independently supported free standing structures.

15. A roll-up shade construction mounted along supporting surface boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising: a pair of base plate strips having ends connected in a joint according to a templet conforming to said angle; and respective roll-up shade assemblies mounted on said base strips parallel to the respective edges.

21. A roll-up shade construction adopted to be mounted beneath a ceiling on a supporting surface having boundary edges joining at an angle, comprising: elongated base plate strips having ends fitted together to conform to said angle and with the strips adapted to lie parallel to said boundary edges; respective roll-up shade units mounted on said strips and having adjacent vertical edges spaced substantially apart to afford working room for rolling up the shade units at the top of the respective units; means closing the space between said vertical edges, and means connected to the units for attaching the units to the floor and to the ceiling to anchor the units in place as independently supported free standing structures.

24. A roll-up shade construction for attachment to a floor and a ceiling comprising: a base plate strip; vertical runner bars mounted in spaced relation on said base plate strip; a roll-up shade mounted operatively on said runner bars; at least one of said runner bars having an outer side edge provided with a vertical channel defined by flanges with a separating vertical slot; a vertically extending stud frame bar along said channel edge; means cooperable with said strip and with an upper end of said vertical extending stud frame bar for anchoring said roll-up shade construction to a ceiling and to a floor; and means securing said stud frame bar to said flanges.

26. In a roll-up shade assembly including a pair of units for attachment to a floor and a ceiling: each of said units having a hingedly slatted curtain attached at one end to a roller rotatably mounted over a pair of vertical track bars providing tracks for running of opposite sides of the curtain in the tracks between open and closed positions; means mounting said units angularly relative to one another with respective track bars of the units in adjacent relation; a vertical connecting panel secured to and between said adjacently related track bars, and means connected to the units for attaching the units to the floor and to the ceiling to anchor the units in place as independEntly supported free standing structures.

29. An assembly according to claim 26, said units being secured angularly relative to one another at an angle at variance of 90* and with said units being free standing independent of any structures on the floor and/or the ceiling.

34. In a roll-up shade assembly for attachment between a floor and a ceiling including a pair of roll-up shade assemblies each of which includes a frame having vertical complementary spaced track bars with a roller over the tops of the bars supporting an articulated slatted shade for movement in tracks of the bars between open and closed conditions: said units being located in side-by-side relation with respective track bars of the units in adjacency; said track bars having attachment flanges extending therefrom; and a vertical member attached to said flanges of the adjacent track bars with means for attachment to the floor and ceiling.

39. An assembly according to claim 34, said track bars comprising aluminum extrusions having said attachment flanges, said vertical connecting member extending between and engaging said flanges, and fasteners securing said member to said flanges.