Fabric light control window covering

Abstract

A fabric light control window covering in which fabric vanes are adhesively bonded between two sheer fabric sheets such that relative movement between the sheer fabric sheets in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fabric vanes changes the angle of the fabric vanes and, thus, controls the amount of light admitted through the shade. The vanes are bonded to the sheer fabric sheets in a manner which tends to bias the sheer fabric sheets together to the nonlight admitting position. Also, disclosed are methods and apparatus for manufacturing the above window covering. The method features linear application of adhesive to the vane material which provides for a uniform appearance in the finished product. A heat setting process and apparatus is disclosed in which the bonded layers of sheer fabrics and vanes are fed between belts over hot and cool surfaces, under uniform tension and pressure. This provides for heat setting of the layers of the window covering to a uniform temperature-size relationship without inducing wrinkles or distortion into the fabric during heat setting.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A light control covering for an architectural opening comprising a first sheet of material, a second sheet of material disposed parallel to said first sheet, and a plurality of substantially parallel elongated strips of material, secured to and extending between said first and second sheets of material, wherein at least one of said first and second sheets is a transparent material.  
     
     
         2 . The covering of    claim 1    wherein both of said first and second sheets of material are transparent.  
     
     
         3 . The covering of    claim 1    wherein said transparent material is a plastic material.  
     
     
         4 . A light control covering for an architectural opening comprising a first sheet of material, a second sheet of material disposed parallel to said first sheet, and a plurality of substantially parallel elongated strips of material secured to and extending between said first and second sheets of material, wherein said vanes include at least a portion thereof of a black-out material.  
     
     
         5 . The covering of    claim 4    wherein said black-out material is a laminate.  
     
     
         6 . The covering of    claim 5    wherein said laminate includes at least one layer of a spun bonded or spun laced polyester non-woven material.  
     
     
         7 . The covering of    claim 6    wherein said laminate includes a layer of a polyester film.  
     
     
         8 . The covering of    claim 5    wherein said laminate is a three-ply laminate comprising a polyester film sandwiched between two layers of spun bonded or spun laced polyester non-woven material.  
     
     
         9 . The covering of    claim 4    wherein said strips each include a stiffened central portion formed from a black-out material.  
     
     
         10 . The covering of    claim 9    wherein said black-out material is a laminate.  
     
     
         11 . The covering of    claim 9    wherein longitudinal edge of said strips are left free of black-out material and define hinge lines along the edges of the vanes.  
     
     
         12 . The covering of    claim 4    wherein said black-out material is a vinyl.  
     
     
         13 . The covering of    claim 4    wherein said black-out material is a laminate including vinyl.