Boxed bamboo shade and method of packaging bamboo shades

Abstract

A shade of the type having a headrail, a panel of bamboo or faux bamboo slats attached to a headrail, at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool attached to the bottom surface of the headrail and lift cords connected to the panel and passing over a portion of the cord lock or the cord spool is packaged for trimming in a cut-down machine. The panel is folded into a plurality of folds such that the folds abut the top surface of the headrail. This shade is placed in an inner box having cut-outs through which the cord locks or spring motor and cord spool extend. Alternatively, a band is wrapped around the folded shade to form a banded shade. The band is sized and positioned so that a portion of the panel adjacent each side edge is exposed. The shade and the inner box, or the banded shade, is placed in an outer box. The shade is removed from the outer box and can then be trimmed in a cut-down machine without any further unpackaging.

1 . A packaged shade comprising: 
 a bamboo shade or faux bamboo shade having a headrail, a panel comprised of bamboo or faux bamboo slats, the panel having two side edges and attached to the headrail, the headrail having a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool connected to a bottom surface of the headrail, and lift cords attached to the panel and passing over a portion of the at least one cord lock or the cord spool, the panel being folded into a plurality of folds, the folds positioned adjacent the top surface of the headrail,    an inner box having a cut-out for the at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool, the bamboo shade or faux bamboo shade placed within the inner box in a manner so that the at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool extends through the cut out, and    an outer box into which the inner box is placed.    
   
   
       2 . The packaged shade of  claim 1  also comprising spacer material positioned adjacent the at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool.  
   
   
       3 . The packaged shade of  claim 1  also comprising shade hardware positioned within the cavity.  
   
   
       4 . The packaged shade of  claim 1  also comprising a valance attached to the headrail.  
   
   
       5 . The packaged shade of  claim 1  wherein the shade is a roman shade or a roll-up shade.  
   
   
       6 . A packaged shade comprising: 
 a bamboo shade or faux bamboo shade having a headrail, a panel comprised of bamboo or faux bamboo slats, the panel having two side edges and attached to the headrail, the headrail having a top surface and a bottom surface, at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool connected to a bottom surface of the headrail, and lift cords attached to the panel and passing over a portion of the at least one cord lock or the cord spool, the panel being folded into a plurality of folds, the folds positioned adjacent the top surface of the headrail,    a band extending around the headrail and folded panel; and    an outer box into which the inner box is placed.    
   
   
       7 . The packaged shade of  claim 6  also comprising spacer material positioned adjacent the at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool.  
   
   
       8 . The packaged shade of  claim 6  also comprising shade hardware positioned within the cavity.  
   
   
       9 . The packaged shade of  claim 6  also comprising a valance attached to the headrail.  
   
   
       10 . The packaged shade of  claim 6  wherein the shade is a roman shade or a roll-up shade.  
   
   
       11 . A method for packaging a bamboo shade or faux bamboo shade of the type having a headrail, having a top surface and a bottom surface, a panel comprised of bamboo or faux bamboo slats and attached to the headrail, at least one cord lock or spring motor and cord spool attached to the bottom surface of the headrail, and lift cords connected to the panel and passing over a portion of the at least one cord lock or the cord spool comprising: 
 folding the panel into a plurality of folds such that the plurality of folds abut the top surface of the headrail;    placing one of a band or an inner box around the shade to form a packed shade, and    placing the packed shade into an outer box.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  also comprising placing a spacer material into the outer box.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  also comprising placing shade hardware into the outer box.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein there is a valance attached to the shade and also comprising positioning the valance to cover the folded panel.