Multipanel window shade

Abstract

A window blind with a shade having at least two panels, each generally sized to cover the window, suspended between first and second rollers. A roller actuator operating a first roller typically includes a pull loop and a friction clutch. The second roller has a biased mechanism to roll the shade onto the second roller as the shade is unrolled from the first roller. The panels of the shade have different translucencies to provide variety in light transmission through the window blind.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A blind for a window, comprising: 
 a first roller;    a second roller;    a roller actuator comprising a pull loop, said roller actuator being arranged to rotate one of said first and second rollers; and    a shade disposed between said first and second rollers for being rolled onto said second roller as said shade is unrolled from said first roller, said shade comprising: 
 a first light blocking area sized in approximate agreement with a light transmitting area of said window; and  
 a second light blocking area; wherein: 
 said first light blocking area is operable to block transmission therethrough of a first amount of light, and said second blocking area is operable to block transmission therethrough of a second amount of light.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . The window blind of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first light blocking area permits transmission of a portion of light impinging thereon; and    said second light blocking area blocks transmission of substantially all light impinging thereon.    
     
     
         3 . The window blind of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first blocking area permits transmission therethrough of a first portion of impinging light; and    said second blocking area permits transmission therethrough of a second portion of impinging light, wherein said first and second portions are different quantities.    
     
     
         4 . The window blind of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a biasing mechanism operable to roll said shade onto one of said first and second rollers as said shade is unrolled from the other of said first and second rollers.    
     
     
         5 . The window blind of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a quick-detach coupling mechanism operable to hold said second roller spaced apart from said first roller.    
     
     
         6 . The window blind of  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said quick-detach coupling mechanism comprises coupling structure anchored at a location spaced apart from said first roller, said coupling structure being adapted for coupling to roller suspension structure associated with one of said rollers.    
     
     
         7 . The window blind of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 a component of said coupling structure is anchored to structure associated with said window.    
     
     
         8 . The window blind of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 a component of said coupling structure is anchored to a wall.    
     
     
         9 . The window blind of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said roller actuator further comprises a clutch mechanism operable to resist undesired rolling and unrolling of a roller.    
     
     
         10 . The window blind of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a blocking area comprises a rollable sheet of a material comprising spaced apart apertures disposed thereon.    
     
     
         11 . The window blind of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 a first blocking area comprises a material forming apertures of a first size;    a second blocking area comprises a material forming apertures of a second size; wherein: 
 said first and second sizes of said first and second apertures are different, whereby to permit aggregate transmission through said first and second light blocking areas of respective first and second quantities of light.  
   
     
     
         12 . The window blind of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first light blocking area comprises a first material having a first translucency and said second light blocking area comprises a second material having a second translucency.    
     
     
         13 . The window blind of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 a side shield disposed to block impinging light from entering a room, in a straight path, past a side edge of said shade.    
     
     
         14 . A blind to cover an opening, comprising: 
 a first roller;    a second roller;    a roller actuator arranged to rotate one of said first and second rollers; and    a shade disposed between said first and second rollers for being rolled onto said second roller as said shade is unrolled from said first roller, said shade comprising: 
 a first light blocking area sized in approximate agreement with a light transmitting area of said opening; and  
 a second light blocking area, said first light blocking area being operable to block transmission therethrough of a first amount of light, and said second blocking area being operable to block transmission therethrough of a second amount of light.  
   
     
     
         15 . The blind according to  claim 14 , said roller actuator comprising: 
 a pull loop arranged to override a friction clutch mechanism, said friction clutch mechanism operating to resist undesired rolling and unrolling one of said first and second rollers.    
     
     
         16 . The blind according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a biasing mechanism operable to roll said shade onto one of said first and second rollers as said shade is unrolled from the other of said first and second rollers.    
     
     
         17 . The blind according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a side shield disposed to block impinging light from entering a room, in a straight path, past a side edge of said shade.    
     
     
         18 . The blind according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 a quick-detach coupling mechanism operable to space said second roller apart from said first roller.    
     
     
         19 . The blind according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said first light blocking area comprises a first material having a first translucency; and    said second light blocking area is sized in approximate agreement with said first light blocking area, and said second light blocking area comprises a second material having a second translucency.    
     
     
         20 . A window blind, comprising: 
 a first roller;    a second roller;    a roller actuator arranged to rotate one of said first and second rollers, said actuator comprising a pull loop arranged to override a friction mechanism, said friction mechanism operating to resist undesired rolling and unrolling one of said first and second rollers; and    a shade disposed between said first and second rollers for being rolled onto said second roller as said shade is unrolled from said first roller, said shade comprising: 
 a first light blocking area sized in approximate agreement with a light transmitting area of said opening; and  
 a second light blocking area, wherein: 
 said first light blocking area is operable to block transmission therethrough of a first amount of light, and said second blocking area is operable to block transmission therethrough of a second amount of light;  
 
   a biasing mechanism operable to roll said shade onto one of said first and second rollers as said shade is unrolled from the other of said first and second rollers; and    structure operable to space said second roller apart from said first roller.