Canopy-like decorative structure

Abstract

A decorative structure is provided that is suspended within a space and includes a flexible panel maintained in a flexed configuration. The decorative structure includes a cable that supports the flexible panel and that is connected to a biasing member. The biasing member cooperates with a portion of the flexible panel to maintain the panel in a flexed configuration. A method of configuring a decorative structure with a flexed panel is also provided.

1 . A decorative structure comprising: 
 a flexible panel;    a biasing member cooperating with a portion of said flexible panel, wherein said flexible panel is maintained in a flexed configuration; and,    a cable connected to said biasing member and supporting said flexible panel.    
   
   
       2 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing member comprises a body having a groove receiving said portion of said flexible panel.  
   
   
       3 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein said cable extends through a portion of said biasing member.  
   
   
       4 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing member comprises a cam cooperating with said flexible panel.  
   
   
       5 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing member comprises a jaw cooperating with said flexible panel.  
   
   
       6 . The decorative structure of  claim 5 , wherein said jaw is pivotable about a pivot joint.  
   
   
       7 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein said flexible panel is formed of a material selected from metal, wood, fabric, and plastic.  
   
   
       8 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , further comprising an opposed biasing member cooperating with said flexible panel.  
   
   
       9 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a tensioned cable cooperating with said biasing member to maintain said flexible in said flexed configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The decorative structure of  claim 9 , wherein said tensioned cable connects said biasing member to an opposed biasing member.  
   
   
       11 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein said biasing member forms an angle in said cable.  
   
   
       12 . The decorative structure of  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor connected to said biasing member and cooperating with said cable.  
   
   
       13 . A method of configuring a decorative structure comprising: 
 providing a cable connecting a biasing member to an opposed biasing member;    engaging the biasing member with a first portion of a flexible panel;    engaging the opposed biasing member with a second portion of the flexible panel; and    adjusting the relative alignment of the biasing member and the opposed biasing member.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 securing the alignment of the biasing member along the cable relative to the opposed biasing member.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein an anchor connected to the biasing member engages the cable.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of tensioning the cable.