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.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A suspended decorative structure comprising:
 a flexible panel having opposed edges; 
 first and second biasing members cooperating with the opposed edges of the panel, each of the first and second biasing members include a body having a groove receiving one of the opposed edges of the panel; 
 a first cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the first cable and the second biasing member at a second end of the first cable, 
 wherein the first cable cooperates with the first and second biasing members, causing the first and second biasing members to exert forces on the opposed edges of the flexible panel, causing the flexible panel to be bowed away from the first cable in either a concave or convex configuration; 
 a second cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the second cable and to a wall or an overhead ceiling at a second end of the second cable; 
 a third cable attached to the second biasing member at a first end of the third cable and to a wall or an the overhead ceiling at a second end of the third cable; and 
 wherein the flexible panel is suspended from the overhead ceiling in an interior space of a building. 
 
     
     
       2. The suspended decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second biasing members comprises a cam cooperating with the flexible panel. 
     
     
       3. The suspended decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second biasing members comprises a jaw cooperating with a the flexible panel. 
     
     
       4. The suspended decorative structure of  claim 3 , wherein the jaw is pivotable about a pivot point. 
     
     
       5. The suspended decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible panel is formed of a material selected from metal, wood, fabric and plastic. 
     
     
       6. The suspended decorative structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first cable is tensioned by the flexible panel. 
     
     
       7. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel is formed of a plastic. 
     
     
       8. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel is suspended in an open plenum. 
     
     
       9. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 further comprising:
 the flexible panel suspended below the overhead ceiling; and   wherein the flexible panel is bowed away from the first cable in the concave configuration, the first cable positioned below the flexible panel.   
     
     
       10. The suspended decorative structure of claim 9 wherein the first cable is adjacent a concave bottom surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       11. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 further comprising:
 the flexible panel suspended in an open plenum space below the overhead ceiling;   wherein the flexible panel is bowed away from the first cable in the concave configuration, the first cable positioned below a concave bottom surface of the flexible panel; and   the second and third cables extending upward from a convex upper surface of the flexible panel.   
     
     
       12. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 further comprising a first fastener attaching the first end of the second cable to the first biasing member and a second fastener attaching the first end of the third cable to the second biasing member. 
     
     
       13. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel is suspended from the overhead ceiling so that the opposed edges of the flexible panel are at different heights. 
     
     
       14. A suspended ceiling fixture comprising:
 a flexible panel having opposed edges;   first and second biasing members cooperating with the opposed edges of the panel, each of the first and second biasing members include a body having a groove receiving one of the opposed edges of the panel;   a first cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the first cable and the second biasing member at a second end of the first cable,   wherein the first cable cooperates with the first and second biasing members, causing the first and second biasing members to exert forces on the opposed edges of the flexible panel, causing the flexible panel to be bowed away from the first cable in either a concave or convex configuration;   a second cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the second cable and to a wall or an overhead ceiling at a second end of the second cable;   a third cable attached to the second biasing member at a first end of the third cable and to a wall or the overhead ceiling at a second end of the third cable;   wherein the flexible panel is suspended in an open plenum in an interior space of a building below the overhead ceiling by the second and third cables.   
     
     
       15. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 14 wherein the flexible panel is formed of a plastic. 
     
     
       16. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 14 wherein the second end of the second cable is attached to the overhead ceiling and the second end of the third cable is attached to the overhead ceiling. 
     
     
       17. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 14 wherein the flexible panel is bowed away from the first cable in the concave configuration, the first cable positioned below the flexible panel; and wherein the first cable is adjacent a concave bottom surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       18. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 17 wherein the second and third cables extend upward from a convex upper surface of the flexible panel and are attached to the overhead ceiling. 
     
     
       19. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 14 further comprising a first fastener attaching the first end of the second cable to the first biasing member and a second fastener attaching the first end of the third cable to the second biasing member. 
     
     
       20. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 14 wherein the flexible panel is suspended in the open plenum below the overhead ceiling so that the opposed edges of the flexible panel are at different heights. 
     
     
       21. A suspended ceiling system comprising:
 at least first and second suspended decorative structures, each of the first and second suspended decorative structures comprising:
 a flexible panel having opposed edges; 
 first and second biasing members cooperating with the opposed edges of the panel, each of the first and second biasing members include a body having a groove receiving one of the opposed edges of the panel; 
 a first cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the first cable and the second biasing member at a second end of the first cable, 
 wherein the first cable cooperates with the first and second biasing members, causing the first and second biasing members to exert forces on the opposed edges of the flexible panel, causing the flexible panel to be bowed away from the first cable in either a concave or convex configuration; 
 a second cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the second cable and to a wall or an overhead ceiling at a second end of the second cable; 
 a third cable attached to the second biasing member at a first end of the third cable and to a wall or the overhead ceiling at a second end of the third cable; and 
   wherein the first and second suspended decorative structures are suspended in an edge-to-edge alignment in an open plenum within an interior space of a building below the overhead ceiling such that a first one of the opposed edges of the first suspended decorative structure is adjacent a second one of the opposed edges of the second suspended decorative structure.   
     
     
       22. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein for each of the first and second suspended decorative structures, the flexible panel is formed of a plastic. 
     
     
       23. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein for each of the first and second suspended decorative structures, the second end of the second cable is attached to the overhead ceiling and the second end of the third cable is attached to the overhead ceiling. 
     
     
       24. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein for each of the first and second suspended decorative structures, the flexible panel is suspended from the overhead ceiling in the interior space of the building. 
     
     
       25. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein for at least one of the first and second suspended decorative structures, the flexible panel is bowed away from the first cable in the concave configuration, the first cable positioned below the flexible panel; wherein the first cable is adjacent a concave bottom surface of the flexible panel; and wherein the second and third cables extend upward from a convex upper surface of the flexible panel and are attached to the overhead ceiling. 
     
     
       26. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein each of the first and second suspended decorative structures comprises a first fastener attaching the first end of the second cable to the first biasing member and a second fastener attaching the first end of the third cable to the second biasing member. 
     
     
       27. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein for at least one of the first and second suspended decorative structures, the flexible panel is suspended in the open plenum below the overhead ceiling so that the opposed edges of the flexible panel are at different heights. 
     
     
       28. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein a gap exists between the first one of the opposed edges of the first suspended decorative structure and the second one of the opposed edges of the second suspended decorative structure. 
     
     
       29. A suspended ceiling fixture comprising:
 a flexible panel having opposed edges;   first and second biasing members cooperating with the opposed edges of the panel, each of the first and second biasing members include a body having a groove receiving one of the opposed edges of the panel;   a first cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the first cable and the second biasing member at a second end of the first cable,   wherein the first cable cooperates with the first and second biasing members, causing the first and second biasing members to exert forces on the opposed edges of the flexible panel, causing the flexible panel to be bowed away from the first cable in a concave configuration;   a second cable attached to the first biasing member at a first end of the second cable and to a wall or an overhead ceiling at a second end of the second cable;   a third cable attached to the second biasing member at a first end of the third cable and to a wall or the overhead ceiling at a second end of the third cable;   the first cable positioned adjacent and below a concave bottom surface of the flexible panel; and   wherein the flexible panel is suspended in an interior space of a building.   
     
     
       30. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 wherein the flexible panel is bowed away from the first cable in a convex configuration so that a concave upper surface of the flexible panel faces the first cable, the first cable positioned above the concave upper surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       31. The suspended decorative structure of claim 30 wherein the second and third cables extend upwardly from the concave upper surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       32. The suspended decorative structure of claim 31 wherein the first, second, and third cables are located on the same side of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       33. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 wherein the first, second, and third cables are located on the same side of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       34. The suspended decorative structure of claim 1 wherein a concave upper surface of the flexible panel faces the overhead ceiling. 
     
     
       35. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 14 wherein the first cable is tensioned by the flexible panel. 
     
     
       36. The suspended decorative structure of claim 14 wherein the flexible panel is bowed away from the first cable in a convex configuration so that a concave upper surface of the flexible panel faces the first cable, the first cable positioned above the concave upper surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       37. The suspended decorative structure of claim 36 wherein the second and third cables extend upwardly from the concave upper surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       38. The suspended ceiling system of claim 21 wherein the first cable is tensioned by the flexible panel. 
     
     
       39. The suspended decorative structure of claim 21 wherein the flexible panel is bowed away from the first cable in a convex configuration so that a concave upper surface of the flexible panel faces the first cable, the first cable positioned above the concave upper surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       40. The suspended decorative structure of claim 39 wherein the second and third cables extend upwardly from the concave upper surface of the flexible panel. 
     
     
       41. The suspended ceiling fixture of claim 29 wherein the first cable is tensioned by the flexible panel. 
     
     
       42. The suspended decorative structure of claim 29 wherein the second and third cables extend upwardly from a convex upper surface of the flexible panel.