EP0004455A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selectively collapsible and expandable curtain and its method of manufacture
Assignee: Successione maria Inkeri Suominen Yrjo suominen La
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Filing: 1979-03-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 1999-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A selectively collapsible and expandable insulating curtain and the method of making same, the curtain having a plurality of collapsible tubes, preferably of plastic material, extending longitudinally for its width and superimposed one on top of the other in a row in the direction of curtain height. Each tube has an upper wall and a lower wall secured together by bands of adhering contact on opposite sides of the tubular cavity. Additional bands of adhering contact secure superimposed tubes to each other longitudinally along midsections of the upper and lower walls. The side bands of contact define fold lines allowing collapse and expansion of the tubes as the curtain is raised and lowered, respectively, in the manner of a venetian blind. The curtain may include additional rows of superimposed tubes one adjacent to the other in the direction of curtain thickness. In making the curtain, a plurality of thin-film strips are wound about the periphery of a forming member with bands of adhering material interlaminated between adjacent strips, the width of the midsection bands corresponding to the desired width of the expanded tubes and bands between successive adjoining layers being in a staggered relationship. After winding is complete, the superimposed strips are cut transversely, removed from the forming member and straightened to form the curtain. The number of spaced bands may be such that the strips may also be cut longitudinally to provide a plurality of curtains. After straightening, means may be secured to the tubular structure for hanging and selectively collapsing and expanding the curtain.
Inventors
- 👤 Heikki Samuli Suominen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:38
CPC Classifications
B; B31; B31D; B31D3/00; B31D3/02; B31D3/0207; B31D3/0215; A; A47; A47H; A47H23/00; E; E06; E06B; E06B9/00; E06B9/24; E06B9/26; E06B9/262; E06B2009/2627
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
A method for manufacturing a selectively collapsible and expandable curtain having a predetermined width and a predetermined height in its expanded state and comprising a plurality of collapsible tubes extending along the width of the curtain and having an upper wall section and a lower wall section, at least two of said tubes being superimposed one atop the other in the direction of curtain height, said method comprising the steps of: a. winding about a forming member a plurality of superimposed strips of a flexible thin-film material, the forming member being chosen to have a peripheral length substantailly equal to said predetermined curtain width or a multiple thereof, b. adheringly securing each said strip to the adjacent contacting strip on the forming member along a plurality of spaced bands each extending in the longitudinal direction of said strips, each said band having a width corresponding to the desired width of the respective collapsible tube formed in part thereby, said bands on successive adjoining layers of said thin-film material on said forming member being in staggered relationship, each said band on any one said strip being spaced transversely from the next band on the next adjacent strip by an amount corresponding substantially to the desired height of each section of said tube wall as measured along the curtain height, c. continuing said winding step until the number of said strips wound on the periphery of said forming member provides said predetermined curtain height, d. cutting said superimposed strips of said thin-film material transverse to the length of the strips, and removing and straightening said superimposed strips to form said curtain.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
269 words
A method for manufacturing a selectively collapsible and expandable curtain having a predetermined width and a predetermined height in its expanded state and comprising a plurality of collapsible tubes extending along the width of the curtain and having an upper wall section and a lower wall section, at least two of said tubes being superimposed one atop the other in the direction of curtain height, said method comprising the steps of: a. winding about a forming member a plurality of superimposed strips of a flexible thin-film material, the forming member being chosen to have a peripheral length substantailly equal to said predetermined curtain width or a multiple thereof, b. adheringly securing each said strip to the adjacent contacting strip on the forming member along a plurality of spaced bands each extending in the longitudinal direction of said strips, each said band having a width corresponding to the desired width of the respective collapsible tube formed in part thereby, said bands on successive adjoining layers of said thin-film material on said forming member being in staggered relationship, each said band on any one said strip being spaced transversely from the next band on the next adjacent strip by an amount corresponding substantially to the desired height of each section of said tube wall as measured along the curtain height, c. continuing said winding step until the number of said strips wound on the periphery of said forming member provides said predetermined curtain height, d. cutting said superimposed strips of said thin-film material transverse to the length of the strips, and removing and straightening said superimposed strips to form said curtain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 in which said transversely spaced bands are substantially parallel to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 in which the width of said strips and the number of said bands is so selected as to provide a plurality of said tubes lying one adjacent to the other in the direction of curtain thickness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 3 which includes the further step of cutting the curtain as formed along at least one cut line extending in the longitudinal direction of said strips to provide a plurality of said curtains, the number of said tubes across the thickness of each curtain being determined by the location of said longitudinal cut lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 in which a plurality of said strips are wound onto said forming member simultaneously and in an interleaved manner from a plurality of sources of strip material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 in which said bands are of equal width and equally spaced across the width of said strips to provide tubes of uniform height and uniform width,
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 in which said bands are unequally spaced across the width of said strips to provide tubes having side sections of varying height.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
8, The method of claim 1 in which said bands are of unequal width across the width of said strips to provide tubes having midsections of varying width.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A thermal insulating curtain made in accordance with the method of claim 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
78 words
A selectively collapsible and expandable curtain having thermal insulating characteristics in its expanded state, said curtain having a predetermined width and a predetermined height in its fully expanded state and comprising, a plurality of collapsible first tubes extending along the width of the curtain and being superimposed one atop the other in the direction of the curtain height, and at least one collapsible tube adjoining at least one of said first tubes in the direction of curtain thickness,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
78 words
A selectively collapsible and expandable curtain having thermal insulating characteristics in its expanded state, said curtain having a predetermined width and a predetermined height in its fully expanded state and comprising, a plurality of collapsible first tubes extending along the width of the curtain and being superimposed one atop the other in the direction of the curtain height, and at least one collapsible tube adjoining at least one of said first tubes in the direction of curtain thickness,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The curtain of claim 10 in which, when said curtain is in its expanded state, said adjoining tubes in the direction of curtain thickness are in staggered relationship to said first tubes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The curtain of claim 10 which includes means for mounting said curtain and for selectively expanding and collapsing said tubes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
The curtain of claim 12 wherein said collapsing and expanding means includes a slat of relatively rigid material secured to the upper end of said curtain, a second slat of relatively rigid material secured to the lower end of said curtain, and means extending between said slats for moving one relative to the other in the direction of curtain height so as to regulate the expanded state of said superimposed tubes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The curtain of claim 10 in which said tubes are of an impermeable material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The curtain of claim 14 wherein said impermeable material is plastic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
67 words
The curtain of claim 10 wherein each tube has an upper wall and a lower wall secured together by bands of adhering contact between said upper and lower walls on opposite sides of the tubular cavity, and each of said first tubes is secured to the next superimposed tube by a band of adhering contact between said upper wall and the lower wall of said next tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The curtain of claim 16 wherein said bands of adhering contact are comprised of an adhesive interlaminated between said adjoining walls.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The curtain of claim 16 which includes means for controlling the passage of light through the curtain.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The curtain of claim 16 wherein said bands of contact extend along the length of said tubes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The curtain of claim 19 wherein said bands of contact are parallel to each other.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The curtain of claim 10 wherein a plurality of collapsible second tubes adjoin said collapsible first tubes in the direction of curtain thickness and said first and second tubes are parallel to each other.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The curtain of claim 21 wherein a plurality of said second tubes are joined one to the other in the direction of curtain thickness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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