Window covering having roll-up shade segments

Abstract

A window covering has a plurality of shade elements, each having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The shade elements are positioned sequentially below a headrail, and each shade element is made of a window covering material that can be rolled about the first longitudinal edge. A first rail or panel of fabric or film extends from the headrail past the first longitudinal edge of each shade element and is connected to lowermost shade element or the bottomrail. A second rail or panel of fabric or film extends from the headrail and is attached to the second longitudinal edge of each shade element. Rungs extend between the first rail or panel and the second rail or panel such that there is one rung below and corresponding to each shade element. The first longitudinal edge of each shade element rests upon a corresponding rung when the window covering is in a closed position. A control mechanism is connected to at least one of the first rail or panel and the second rail or panel. The control mechanism is capable of moving at least one of the first rail or panel and the second rail or panel. Such movement causes each of the plurality of shade elements to roll or unroll about the first longitudinal edge of the shade element. A flap may be attached to and extend from the second longitudinal edge of each shade element or the rungs.

1 . A window covering comprising:
 a headrail;   a plurality of shade elements, each and every shade element having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width, a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the shade elements positioned sequentially below the headrail, each shade element comprised of a window covering material that can be rolled about the first longitudinal edge;   at least two rails extending from the headrail and being adjacent the first longitudinal edge of each shade element;   a panel of fabric or film extending from the headrail and attached to each shade element adjacent to the second longitudinal edge of each shade element;   a plurality of rungs connected between the rails and the panel such that there is at least one rung below and corresponding to each shade element, the first longitudinal edge of each shade element resting upon a corresponding rung when the window covering is in a closed position;   a control mechanism connected to at least one of the rails and the first panel, the control mechanism being configured to move at least one of the rails and the first panel to cause each of the plurality of shade elements to roll or unroll about the first longitudinal edge of that shade element.   
   
   
       2 . The window covering of  claim 1  also comprising at least one lift cord extending from a lowermost shade element to the headrail. 
   
   
       3 . The window covering of  claim 1  also comprising at least one stiffener, each stiffener being attached to a shade element of the plurality of shade elements adjacent the first longitudinal edge of the shade element. 
   
   
       4 . The window covering of  claim 3  wherein the at least one stiffener is a rod or a bar. 
   
   
       5 . The window covering of  claim 1  also comprising at least one stiffener, each stiffener being attached to a shade element of the plurality of shade elements adjacent the second longitudinal edge of the shade element, each stiffener also being attached to the back element. 
   
   
       6 . The window covering of  claim 5  wherein the at least one stiffener is a rod or a bar. 
   
   
       7 . The window covering of  claim 6 , also comprising at least one flap, each flap being attached to a shade element. 
   
   
       8 . The window covering of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one flap is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, films, non-woven fabrics, and sheer fabrics through which light may pass. 
   
   
       9 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the control mechanism is comprised of cords, one cord attached to at least one of each rail, and a cord lock attached to the headrail, the cords passing through the cord lock. 
   
   
       10 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein the control mechanism is comprised of a shaft within the headrail on which the rails are wound. 
   
   
       11 . The window covering of  claim 10  wherein the panel is connected to and can wind around the shaft. 
   
   
       12 . The window covering of  claim 1  wherein each shade element is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, films, plastics, woven woods and woven grasses. 
   
   
       13 . The window covering of  claim 1 , wherein the panel of fabric is comprised of a plurality of segments of fabric. 
   
   
       14 . The window covering of  claim 1  also comprising a valance attached to the headrail. 
   
   
       15 . The window covering of  claim 14  also comprising a connecting cord having one end attached to the valance and an opposite end attached to the rails. 
   
   
       16 . The window covering of  claim 14  wherein the valance is also comprised of an upper edge attached to the headrail, a front surface and a lower edge, and a cord loop, the cord loop of the valance having one end attached to the upper edge of the valance extending over the front surface of the valance, past the lower edge of the valance and an opposite end attached to the rails. 
   
   
       17 . The window covering of  claim 1  also comprising a bottomrail to which the rails and panel are attached. 
   
   
       18 . The window covering of  claim 17  also comprising at least one lift cord extending from the bottomrail to the headrail. 
   
   
       19 . The window covering of  claim 1  also comprising a front panel of fabric or film extending from the headrail and adjacent the first longitudinal edge of each shade element. 
   
   
       20 . The window covering of  claim 19  wherein the front panel of fabric is comprised of a fabric selected from the group consisting of sheer fabrics, cotton, nylon, linen, lace, chiffon, silk, rayon, polyester blends, and acrylic blends. 
   
   
       21 . The window covering of  claim 19  wherein the rungs are connected between the front panel and the panel of fabric or film extending from the headrail and attached to the second longitudinal edge of each shade element. 
   
   
       22 . The window covering of  claim 1  further comprising at least one flap attached to one of the rungs. 
   
   
       23 . The window covering of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one flap is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, films, non-woven fabrics, and sheer fabrics through which light may pass. 
   
   
       24 . The window covering of  claim 1 , also comprising at least one flap, each flap being attached to a shade element of the plurality of shade elements adjacent the second longitudinal edge of the shade element. 
   
   
       25 . The window covering of  claim 24 , wherein each flap is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, films, non-woven fabrics, and sheer fabrics through which light may pass. 
   
   
       26 . The window covering of  claim 1  further comprising at least one rail extending from the headrail adjacent the panel and attached to the second longitudinal edge of each shade element. 
   
   
       27 . The window covering of  claim 26  wherein the rungs are connected between the at least two rails and the at least one rail extending from the headrail adjacent the panel and attached to the second longitudinal edge of each shade element. 
   
   
       28 . A window covering comprising:
 a headrail;   a plurality of shade elements, each and every shade element having a length and a width, the length being greater than the width, a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, the shade elements positioned sequentially below the headrail, each shade element comprised of a window covering material that can be rolled about the first longitudinal edge;   a first panel of fabric or film extending from the headrail and adjacent the first longitudinal edge of each shade element;   a second panel of fabric or film extending from the headrail and attached to the second longitudinal edge of each shade element;   a plurality of rungs extending between the first and second panels such that there is at least one rung below and corresponding to each shade element, the first longitudinal edge of each shade element resting upon a corresponding rung when the window covering is in a closed position;   a control mechanism connected to at least one of the first panel and the second panel, the control mechanism being configured to move at least one of the first panel and the second panel to cause each of the plurality of shade elements to roll or unroll about the first longitudinal edge of that shade element.   
   
   
       29 . The window covering of  claim 28  wherein each shade element is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, films, plastics, woven woods and woven grasses. 
   
   
       30 . The window covering of  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first panel and second panel is comprised of a plurality of segments of fabric. 
   
   
       31 . The window covering of  claim 28  also comprising a valance attached to the headrail. 
   
   
       32 . The window covering of  claim 31  also comprising a connecting cord having one end attached to the valance and an opposite end attached to the first panel. 
   
   
       33 . The window covering of  claim 31  wherein the valance is also comprised of an upper edge attached to the headrail, a front surface and a lower edge, and a cord loop, the cord loop of the valance having one end attached to the upper edge of the valance extending over the front surface of the valance, past the lower edge of the valance and an opposite end attached to the first panel. 
   
   
       34 . The window covering of  claim 28  also comprising a bottomrail to which the first panel and second panel are attached. 
   
   
       35 . The window covering of  claim 34  also comprising at least one lift cord extending from the bottomrail to the headrail. 
   
   
       36 . The window covering of  claim 28  also comprising at least one lift cord extending from a lowermost shade element to the headrail. 
   
   
       37 . The window covering of  claim 28  also comprising at least one stiffener, each stiffener being attached to a shade element of the plurality of shade elements adjacent the first longitudinal edge of the shade element. 
   
   
       38 . The window covering of  claim 37  wherein the at least one stiffener is a rod or a bar. 
   
   
       39 . The window covering of  claim 28  also comprising at least one stiffener, each stiffener being attached to a shade element of the plurality of shade elements adjacent the second longitudinal edge of the shade element, each stiffener also being attached to the back element. 
   
   
       40 . The window covering of  claim 39  wherein the at least one stiffener is a rod or a bar. 
   
   
       41 . The window covering of  claim 40 , also comprising at least one flap, each flap being attached to a shade element. 
   
   
       42 . The window covering of  claim 41  wherein the at least one flap is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, films, non-woven fabrics, and sheer fabrics through which light may pass. 
   
   
       43 . The window covering of  claim 28  wherein the control mechanism is comprised of at least one cord, the at least one cord attached to at least one of the first panel and the second panel, and a cord lock attached to the headrail, the at least one cord passing through the cord lock. 
   
   
       44 . The window covering of  claim 28  wherein the control mechanism is comprised of a shaft within the headrail on which the first panel is wound. 
   
   
       45 . The window covering of  claim 44  wherein the second panel is connected to and can wind around the shaft. 
   
   
       46 . The window covering of  claim 28  wherein at least one of the first panel and the second panel is a panel of fabric comprised of a fabric selected from the group consisting of sheer fabrics, cotton, nylon, linen, lace, chiffon, silk, rayon, polyester blends, and acrylic blends. 
   
   
       47 . The window covering of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one flap attached to one of the rungs. 
   
   
       48 . The window covering of  claim 47  wherein the at least one flap is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, films, non-woven fabrics, and sheer fabrics through which light may pass. 
   
   
       49 . The window covering of  claim 28  further comprising a plurality of flaps wherein each rung of the plurality of rungs is connected to at least one of the flaps. 
   
   
       50 . The window covering of  claim 28 , also comprising at least one flap, each flap being attached to a shade element of the plurality of shade elements adjacent the second longitudinal edge of the shade element. 
   
   
       51 . The window covering of  claim 50 , wherein each flap is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, films, non-woven fabrics, and sheer fabrics through which light may pass. 
   
   
       52 . The window covering of  claim 28  further comprising at least one rail, the at least one rail extending from the headrail adjacent to one of the first panel and the second panel. 
   
   
       53 . The window covering of  claim 52  wherein each of the plurality of rungs is connected to the at least one rail and one of the first panel and the second panel. 
   
   
       54 . The window covering of  claim 28  further comprising at least one rail extending from the headrail adjacent the first panel and at least one rail extending from the headrail adjacent the second panel. 
   
   
       55 . The window covering of  claim 54  wherein each of the plurality of rungs is connected to the at least one rail extending from the headrail adjacent the first panel and to the at least one rail extending from the headrail adjacent the second panel. 
   
   
       56 . The window covering of  claim 28  wherein each of the plurality of rungs is connected to the first panel of fabric and is connected to the second panel of fabric.