Consumer sizable and installable fabric type window shade and method of manufacture thereof

Claim 2

Sheeting for use in a window shade which can be sized to a desired width at the point of installation without the use of tools, said sheeting including, in combination, a layer of fabric material, plastic sheeting underlying the fabric material, said plastic sheeting being solid, means for securing the layer of fabric material to the plastic sheeting to thereby form a composite structure, and at least one line of weakness in said composite structure, the portion of the line of weakness in the fabric layer portion of the composite structure consisting of a cut extending completely through said fabric layer to thereby sever the fabric, the portion of the line of weakness in the underlying plastic sheeting consisting of a cut extending part way into, but not all the way through, the plastic sheeting, the depth of the plastic sheeting directly underlying said cut being sufficiently thin to enable easy separation of the plastic sheeting, and thereby the composite structure, upon the application of a hand separating force applied to the end portion of the line of weakness in said composite structure, the depth of the plastic sheeting directly underlying said cut being sufficiently thick to resist premature separation of the composite structure when subjected to normal manufacturing, transporting, and handling stresses prior to a hand-applied separation force to the end portion to the line of weakness at the point of installation.

Claim 3

The composite sheeting structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the plastic sheeting is composed of a single layer of plastic.

Claim 4

The composite sheeting of claim 1 further characterized in that the plastic sheeting is composed of a plurality of layers of plastic.

Claim 5

The composite sheeting of claim 1 further characterized in that the means for securing the layer of fabric material to the plastic sheeting is an adhesive.

Claim 6

A do-it-yourself-without-tools window shade which is width adjustable and installable by the consumer at the point of installation without the use of tools or cutting elements, said do-it-yourself-without-tools window shade including, in combination, a roller assembly, sheeting which can be sized to a desired width at the point of installation without the use of tools, said roller assembly being width adjustable at the point of installation to accommodate a desired width of sheeting, and means for securing the sheeting to a roller assembly, said sheeting including, in combination, a layer of fabric material, plastic sheeting underlying the fabric material, said plastic sheeting being of a non-foam material, means for securing the layer of fabric material to the plastic sheeting to thereby form a composite structure, and at least one line of weakness in said composite structure, the portion of the line of weakness in the fabric layer portion of the composite structure consisting of a cut extending completely through said fabric layer to thereby sever the fabric, the depth of the plastic sheeting directly underlying said cut being sufficiently thin to enable easy separation of the plastic sheeting, and thereby the composite structure, upon the application of hand separating force applied to the end portion of the line of weakness in said composite structure, the depth of the plastic sheeting directly underlying said cut being sufficiently thick to resist premature separation of the composite structure when subjected to normal manufacturing, transporting, and handling stresses prior to a hand-applied separation force to the end portion of the line of weakness at the point of installation.

Claim 7

A do-it-yourself-without-tools window shade which is width adjustable and installable by the consumer at the point of installation without the use of tools or cutting elements, said do-it-yourself-without-tools window shade including, in combination, a roller assembly, sheeting which can be sized to a desired width at the point of installation without the use of tools, said roller assembly being width adjustable at the point of installation to accommodate a desired width of sheeting, and means for securing the sheeting to a roller assembly, said sheeting including, in combination, a layer of fabric material, plastic sheeting underlying the fabric material, said plastic sheeting being of a non-foam material, means for securing the layer of fabric material to the plastic sheeting to thereby form a composite structure, and at least one line of weakness in said composite structure, the portion of the line of weakness in the fabric layer portion of the composite structure consisting of a cut extending completely through said fabric layer to thereby sever the fabric, the depth of the plastic sheeting directly underlying said cut being sufficiently thin to enable easy separation of the plastic sheeting, and thereby the composite structure, upon the application of hand separating force applied to the end portion of the line of weakness in said composite structure, the depth of the plastic sheeting directly underlying said cut being sufficiently thick to resist premature separation of the composite structure when subjected to normal manufacturing, transporting, and handling stresses prior to a hand-applied separation force to the end portion of the line of weakness at the point of installation.

Claim 8

The do-it-yourself-without-tools window shade of claim 5 further characterized in that, the plastic sheeting is composed of a single layer of plastic.

Claim 9

The do-it-yourself-without-tools window shade of claim 5 further characterized in that the plastic sheeting is composed of a plurality of layers of plastic.

Claim 10

The do-it-yourself-without-tools window shade of claim 7 further characterized in that the individual layers of plastic are secured to one another by fusion derived from heat and pressure.