Plastic double-cell covering for architectural openings
View Patent ↗A cellular covering for an architectural opening includes a plurality of elongated, longitudinally connected and transversely collapsible cellular units composed of inner and outer cells where the outer cell is a woven, knit, or non-woven product and the inner cell is an air-impermeable film which may be treated to be a low-modulus film with acceptable surface tension so that the panel formed from the cellular units has improved insulative properties and has a relatively long life.
1. A cellular covering for an architectural opening, said cellular covering comprising:
a plurality of interconnected elongated tubular transversely collapsible outer cells forming an expandable and collapsible panel movable between extended and retracted positions,
wherein:
each said outer cell includes a tubular transversely collapsible inner cell secured within said outer cell by at least one adhesive line and expandable and collapsible with expanding and collapsing of said panel;
said inner cell comprises a transparent or translucent orientated polypropylene film and includes a polyvinylidene chloride coating overlying at least a portion of said orientated polypropylene film and positioned between said orientated polypropylene film and said outer cell;
said at least one adhesive line is positioned between said polyvinylidene chloride coating and said outer cell; and
wherein said outer cells are air permeable.
2. The covering of claim 1 , wherein said inner cell comprises a base layer with said orientated polypropylene film overlying at least a portion of said base layer.
3. The covering of claim 1 , wherein said polyvinylidene chloride coating is positioned on an entire outer surface of said orientated polypropylene film.
4. The covering of claim 1 , wherein said orientated polypropylene film has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mil.
5. The covering of claim 1 , wherein said polyvinylidene chloride coating has a melting or softening point above 225° F.
6. A cellular panel for an architectural opening, said cellular panel comprising:
an outer cell;
an inner cell at least partially received within said outer cell, said inner cell formed of a translucent or transparent orientated polypropylene film;
a layer of polyvinylidene chloride overlying an outer surface of said oriented polypropylene film and positioned between said orientated polypropylene film and said outer cell;
a layer of adhesive positioned between said polyvinylidene chloride coating and said outer cell, wherein said adhesive layer secures said inner cell to said outer cell; and
wherein said outer cell is air permeable.
7. The cellular panel of claim 6 , wherein:
said outer cell is connected to said inner cell at a first location and a second location; and
said layer of polyvinylidene chloride is positioned on said inner cell at least at one of said first location or said second location.
8. The cellular panel of claim 7 , wherein said layer of polyvinylidene chloride is positioned on said inner cell at both said first location and said second location.
9. The cellular panel of claim 7 , wherein said inner cell and said outer cell are connected together by said layer of adhesive at said first location and said second location.
10. The cellular panel of claim 7 , wherein said orientated polypropylene film has a thickness of approximately 1.5 mil.
11. The cellular panel of claim 7 , wherein said layer of polyvinylidene chloride has a melting or softening point above 225° F.
12. The cellular panel of claim 6 , wherein said outer cell includes a first crease and a second crease equally spaced from a longitudinal edge of a strip of material.
13. The cellular panel of claim 6 , wherein said inner cell includes a base material, and said orientated polypropylene film overlies an outer surface of said base material.
14. A cellular shade for covering an architectural opening, said cellular shade comprising:
a first cell that is translucent or transparent;
a second cell at least partially received within said first cell and constructed at least in part by substantially clear orientated polypropylene film and a polyvinylidene chloride coating overlying at least a portion of said orientated polypropylene film, said polyvinylidene chloride coating positioned between said orientated polypropylene film and said first cell;
an adhesive layer positioned between said polyvinylidene chloride coating and said first cell, wherein said adhesive layer secures said second cell to said first cell; and
wherein said first cell is air permeable.
15. The cellular shade of claim 14 , wherein said orientated polypropylene film is approximately 1.5 mil thick.
16. The cellular shade of claim 14 , wherein said polyvinylidene chloride coating has a melting or softening point above 225° F.
17. The cellular shade of claim 14 , wherein said second cell includes a base material, and wherein said orientated polypropylene film is attached to at least a portion of an outer surface of said base material.
18. The cellular covering of claim 1 , wherein said oriented polypropylene film is substantially clear.
19. The cellular covering of claim 1 , wherein said outer cells are transparent or translucent.
20. The cellular covering of claim 1 , wherein said inner cell is secured to said outer cell along at least two peripherally-spaced longitudinal lines of attachment.
21. The cellular shade of claim 17 , wherein said base material is transparent.
22. The covering of claim 1 , wherein said orientated polypropylene film forms an innermost layer of said inner cell.
23. The cellular panel of claim 6 , wherein said orientated polypropylene film forms an innermost layer of said inner cell.
24. The cellular panel of claim 6 , wherein said outer cell is translucent or transparent.
25. The cellular shade of claim 14 , wherein said orientated polypropylene film forms an innermost layer of said second cell.