Window shade assembly and side channel therefor having light-absorbing surface

Abstract

Embodiments of a window shade assembly include a headrail coupled to a source of a substantially opaque shade material. A pair of opposed vertical, opaque side channels open in a direction facing one another and configured to be mounted to a surrounding frame for receiving at least a portion of an edge of the substantially opaque shade material. Each side channel includes at least one light-absorbing inner surface.

1 . A window shade assembly comprising:
 a headrail coupled to a source of a substantially opaque shade material; and   a pair of opposed substantially vertical, substantially opaque side channels open in a direction facing one another and configured to be mounted to a surrounding frame for receiving at least a portion of an edge of the substantially opaque shade material, each side channel including at least one light-absorbing inner surface.   
     
     
         2 . The window shade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each side channel is substantially C-shape. 
     
     
         3 . The window shade assembly of  claim 2 , wherein each side channel includes a pair of adjacent light-absorbing inner surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The window shade assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the pair of adjacent light-absorbing inner surfaces include a first inner surface of the substantially C-shape facing a window sash within the surrounding frame and a second inner surface coterminous with a bight portion of the substantially C-shape. 
     
     
         5 . The window shade assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the substantially opaque shade material includes a cellular shade material including a slot positioned in each edge thereof configured to receive a first leg of the substantially C-shape of a respective side channel. 
     
     
         6 . The window shade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each light-absorbing surface has a substantially black coloration. 
     
     
         7 . The window shade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one light-absorbing inner surface is selected from a group consisting of: a layer coupled in the side channel, a co-extruded layer with the side channel, a thermal alteration of a surface of the side channel and a texturing of a surface of the side channel. 
     
     
         8 . The window shade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially opaque shade material includes a flexible, planar shade material. 
     
     
         9 . The window shade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one light-absorbing inner surface is not visible from a position inside of the surrounding frame relative to a window sash therein. 
     
     
         10 . A side channel for a window shade assembly, the side channel comprising:
 an opening configured to receive at least a portion of an edge of a substantially opaque shade material, the opening including at least one light-absorbing inner surface.   
     
     
         11 . The side channel of  claim 10 , wherein each opening is substantially C-shape. 
     
     
         12 . The side channel of  claim 11 , wherein each opening includes a pair of adjacent light-absorbing inner surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The side channel of  claim 12 , wherein the pair of adjacent light-absorbing inner surfaces include a first inner surface of the substantially C-shape facing a window sash and a second inner surface coterminous with a bight portion of the substantially C-shape. 
     
     
         14 . The side channel of  claim 11 , wherein the substantially opaque shade material includes a cellular shade material including a slot positioned in each edge thereof configured to receive a first leg of the substantially C-shape of a respective side channel. 
     
     
         15 . The side channel of  claim 10 , wherein each light-absorbing surface has a substantially black coloration. 
     
     
         16 . The side channel of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one light-absorbing inner surface is selected from a group consisting of: a layer coupled in the side channel, a co-extruded layer with the side channel, a thermal alteration of a surface of the side channel and a texturing of a surface of the side channel. 
     
     
         17 . The side channel of  claim 10 , wherein at least one light-absorbing inner surface is not visible from a position inside of the surrounding frame relative to a window sash therein. 
     
     
         18 . A cellular window shade assembly comprising:
 a headrail coupled to a source of a substantially opaque cellular shade material, the cellular shade material including a slot positioned in each edge thereof; and   a pair of opposed substantially vertical, substantially opaque and substantially concave side channels open in a direction facing one another and configured to be mounted to a surrounding frame, each side channel configured to receive at least a portion of a respective edge of the substantially opaque cellular shade material with a first leg of a respective side channel extending into the slot,   wherein each side channel includes at least one light-absorbing inner surface.   
     
     
         19 . The cellular window shade assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each side substantially concave channel includes a pair of adjacent light-absorbing inner surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . The cellular window shade assembly of  claim 18 , wherein each substantially concave side channel is substantially C-shape.