Fabric having a backing material for a covering for an architectural opening

Abstract

An architectural covering with an operable vane having a fabric backing is provided. The vane may include a vane fabric and a backing material connected to the vane fabric by a layer of adhesive. The backing material may increase a machine-direction stiffness of the vane while slightly affecting a cross-direction stiffness of the vane. As such, the vane may have increased stiffness in its machine direction while simultaneously remaining flexible in its cross direction.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A fabric laminate for an architectural covering, the fabric laminate comprising:
 a fabric material portion having a first stiffness in a first direction, and a second stiffness in a second direction transverse to said first direction; and   a backing material portion adhesively bonded to said fabric material portion such that said backing material portion and said fabric material portion form discrete layers of the fabric laminate, wherein said backing material portion increases said first stiffness, said backing material portion increasing said second stiffness less than said first stiffness so as to increase a stiffness ratio between said first stiffness and said second stiffness;   wherein:   said backing material portion comprises a plurality of fibers or filaments oriented substantially along said first direction; and   said backing material portion has a basis weight of less than 20 grams per square meter (gsm).   
     
     
         43 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein:
 said first direction extends along a machine direction of said fabric material portion; and   said second direction extends along a cross direction of said fabric material portion.   
     
     
         44 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein:
 said fabric material portion has a first stiffness ratio biased in one of said first direction or said second direction; and   said backing material portion causes said fabric laminate to have a second stiffness ratio biased in the other of said first direction or said second direction.   
     
     
         45 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein said stiffness ratio is greater than approximately 1.5:1. 
     
     
         46 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein said backing material portion comprises a non-woven web. 
     
     
         47 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 46 , wherein said nonwoven web comprises a spunbond web, a meltblown web, a carded web, a hydroentangled web, an airlaid web, a wetlaid web, or a coform web. 
     
     
         48 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein said backing material portion comprises a woven material. 
     
     
         49 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein said backing material portion has a basis weight of less than 17 gsm. 
     
     
         50 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein said fabric material portion has an elongation in said first direction and wherein said backing material portion bonded to said fabric material portion decreases said elongation in said first direction at least about 20%. 
     
     
         51 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein the backing material portion bonded to said fabric material portion increases an opacity of said fabric material portion by less than about 30%. 
     
     
         52 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 51 , wherein said fabric material portion has an optical density (opacity) of from about 0.2 to about 2. 
     
     
         53 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 42 , wherein said fabric material portion comprises one of a woven material, a non-woven material, or a knit material. 
     
     
         54 . A fabric laminate for an architectural covering, the fabric laminate comprising:
 an outer material having a first stiffness in a first direction, and a second stiffness in a second direction transverse to said first direction; and   a backing material portion formed directly on said outer material, said backing material portion comprising a plurality of substantially unidirectionally oriented fibers or filaments applied directly on a surface of said outer material, said backing material portion having a basis weight of less than 20 grams per square meter (gsm);   wherein said backing material portion increases said first stiffness, said backing material portion increasing said second stiffness less than said first stiffness so as to increase a stiffness ratio between said first stiffness and said second stiffness.   
     
     
         55 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 54 , wherein:
 said first direction extends along a machine direction of said outer material; and   said second direction extends along a cross direction of said outer material.   
     
     
         56 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 54 , wherein:
 said outer material has a first stiffness ratio biased in one of said first direction or said second direction; and   said backing material portion causes said fabric laminate to have a second stiffness ratio biased in the other of said first direction or said second direction.   
     
     
         57 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 54 , wherein said stiffness ratio is greater than approximately 1.5:1. 
     
     
         58 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 54 , wherein said backing material portion increases the first stiffness in the first direction at least about 1.5 times greater than an effect on said second stiffness in said second direction. 
     
     
         59 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 54 , wherein said backing material portion comprises a non-woven web formed directly on said outer material, 
     
     
         60 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 54 , wherein said outer material comprises one of a woven material, a non-woven material, or a knit material. 
     
     
         61 . A fabric laminate according to  claim 54 , wherein said backing material portion has a basis weight of less than 15 gsm.