초록 ▼

The invention is directed to a temporary window shade that may include an elongated cover having a top end and a bottom end, and that may be adapted to be oriented in a retracted position, an extended position, and a plurality of intermediate positions. The temporary window shade may also include a

The invention is directed to a temporary window shade that may include an elongated cover having a top end and a bottom end, and that may be adapted to be oriented in a retracted position, an extended position, and a plurality of intermediate positions. The temporary window shade may also include a top rail that may be attached to the top end of the elongated cover, a cord having a first end that may be connected to the top rail, and a bottom rail that may be attached to the bottom end of the elongated cover. The bottom rail may have a slot disposed through a surface of the bottom rail, and the slot may be adapted to receive the cord. At least a portion of the slot may have a width less than the thickness of the cord such that the slot may engage the cord to support the weight of the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the elongated cover when the cord is engaged by the at least a portion of the slot.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A temporary window covering, comprising: a pleated cover formed from a sheet of material having a plurality of horizontal creases extending across the width of the sheet thereby defining a plurality of pleats, the pleated cover being moveable between a retracted position wher

What is claimed is: 1. A temporary window covering, comprising: a pleated cover formed from a sheet of material having a plurality of horizontal creases extending across the width of the sheet thereby defining a plurality of pleats, the pleated cover being moveable between a retracted position wherein each of the pleats is substantially horizontally aligned and in contact with the adjacent pleats, an extended position wherein each of the pleats is substantially vertical and substantially vertically aligned with the other pleats, and a plurality of intermediate positions wherein at least some of the pleats are oriented between the pleats' retracted positions and the pleats' extended positions; and a bottom rail formed from a plurality of interconnected sides each having a width approximately equal to the width of the sheet and with one of the sides being attached to a bottommost pleat of the pleated cover, the sides of the bottom rail being moveable relative to each other between a packaging configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail enclose and engage the pleated cover, with the engagement of the sides of the bottom rail preventing the covering from being extended to the extended position, and a support configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail do not enclose the pleated cover such that the pleated cover may be extended to the extended position and to intermediate positions with the sides of the bottom rail providing structural support for the bottommost pleat. 2. A temporary window covering according to claim 1, comprising at least one band disposed on an outside surface of the bottom rail when the bottom rail is in the packaging configuration to retain the sides of the bottom rail in the packaging configuration, wherein the sides of the bottom rail are moveable between the packaging configuration and the support configuration when the at least one band is not disposed on the outside surface of the bottom rail. 3. A temporary window covering according to claim 1, comprising a top rail attached to a topmost pleat of the pleated cover, wherein the sides of the bottom rail enclose the top rail and the pleated cover when the bottom rail is in the packaging configuration. 4. A temporary window covering, comprising: an elongated cover having a top end and a bottom end and a width perpendicular to the direction from the top end to the bottom end, the elongated cover being moveable between a retracted position, an extended position, and a plurality of intermediate positions; and a bottom rail formed from a plurality of interconnected sides each having a width approximately equal to the width of the elongated cover and with one of the sides being attached to the bottom end of the elongated cover, the sides of the bottom rail being moveable relative to each other between a packaging configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail enclose and engage the elongated cover, with the engagement of the sides of the bottom rail preventing the elongated cover from being extended to the extended position, and a support configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail do not enclose the elongated cover such that the elongated cover may be extended to the extended position and to intermediate positions with the sides of the bottom rail providing structural support for the bottom end of the elongated cover. 5. A temporary window covering according to claim 4, comprising at least one band disposed on an outside surface of the bottom rail when the bottom rail is in the packaging configuration to retain the sides of the bottom rail in the packaging configuration, wherein the sides of the bottom rail are moveable between the packaging configuration and the support configuration when the at least one band is not disposed on the outside surface of the bottom rail. 6. A temporary window covering according to claim 4, wherein the elongated cover has first and second outer edges on opposite sides of the elongated cover, and wherein one of the sides of the bottom rail comprises at least one tab extending outwardly beyond a corresponding one of the first and second outer edges, the at least one tab being configured to be folded over and disposed over the corresponding one of the first and second outer edges to enclose the one of the first and second outer edges within the bottom rail when the bottom rail is configured in the packaging configuration. 7. A temporary window covering according to claim 4, wherein the elongated cover has first and second outer edges on opposite sides of the elongated cover, and wherein one of the sides of the bottom rail comprises a tab having a hole therethrough extending outwardly beyond a corresponding one of the first and second outer edges. 8. A temporary window covering according to claim 4, comprising a top rail attached to the top end of the elongated cover, wherein the sides of the bottom rail enclose the top rail and the elongated cover when the bottom rail is in the packaging configuration. 9. A temporary window covering, comprising: an elongated cover having a top end and a bottom end and a width perpendicular to the direction from the top end to the bottom end, the elongated cover being moveable between a retracted position, an extended position, and a plurality of intermediate positions; a top rail attached to the top end of the elongated cover; a cord having a first end connected to the top rail; and a bottom rail formed from a plurality of interconnected sides each having a width approximately equal to the width of the elongated cover and with one of the sides being attached to the bottom end of the elongated cover, wherein the bottom rail has a slot disposed through a surface of the bottom rail, the slot configured to receive the cord, and at least a portion of the slot having a width less than the thickness of the cord such that the slot engages the cord to support the weight of the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the elongated cover when the cord is engaged by the at least a portion of the slot, wherein the sides of the bottom rail are moveable between a packaging configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail enclose and engage the elongated cover, with the engagement of the sides of the bottom rail preventing the elongated cover from being extended to the extended position, and a support configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail do not encircle the elongated cover such that the elongated cover may be extend to the extended position and to intermediate positions with the sides of the bottom rail providing structural support for the bottom end of the elongated cover. 10. A temporary window covering as recited in claim 9, wherein the elongated cover comprises a pleated cover formed from a sheet of material having a plurality of horizontal creases extending across the width of the sheet thereby defining a plurality of pleats, the pleated cover being adapted to be oriented in the retracted position wherein each of the pleats is substantially horizontally aligned and in contact with the adjacent pleats, the extended position wherein each of the pleats is substantially vertical and substantially vertically aligned with the other pleats, and a plurality of intermediate positions wherein at least some of the pleats are oriented between the pleats' retracted positions and the pleats' extended positions, and wherein the top rail is attached to a topmost pleat of the pleated cover and one of the sides of the bottom rail is attached to a bottommost pleat of the pleated cover. 11. A temporary window covering as recited in claim 9, wherein the bottom rail has a first hole and a second hole therethrough, and wherein the cord is threaded through the first hole and the second hole such that the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the elongated cover are supported by the cord when a portion of the free end of the cord extending through the second hole is disposed in the at least a portion of the slot. 12. A temporary window covering as recited in claim 9, wherein the bottom rail has a first hole therethrough, wherein the slot has an opening having a width greater than the thickness of the cord such that the cord may pass through the opening of the slot, and wherein the cord is threaded through the first hole and the opening of the slot such that the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the pleated cover are supported by the cord when a portion of the free end of the cord extending through the opening of the slot is disposed into the at least a portion of the slot having the width less than the thickness of the cord. 13. A temporary window covering as recited in claim 12, wherein the slot has a first narrow portion having a width less than the thickness of the cord and a second narrow portion having a width less than the thickness of the cord, wherein the first and second narrow portions are disposed on opposite sides of the opening of the slot. 14. A temporary window covering according to claim 9, wherein the bottom rail has a first notch having a first inner edge and a second notch having a second inner edge, wherein the first inner edge is disposed on the side of the first notch proximate the second notch and the second inner edge is disposed on the side of the second notch proximate the first notch, the first and second inner edges configured to have a portion of a free end of the cord extending beyond the slot wrapped around the first and the second inner edges of the first and second notches, respectively. 15. A temporary window covering according to claim 14, wherein the first inner edge is angled inwardly toward the second notch and the second inner edge is angled inwardly toward the first notch. 16. A temporary window covering, comprising: a pleated cover formed from a sheet of material having a plurality of horizontal creases extending across the width of the sheet thereby defining a plurality of pleats, with each pleat having a hole therethrough, the pleated cover being moveable between a retracted position wherein each of the pleats is substantially horizontally aligned and in contact with the adjacent pleats, an extended position wherein each of the pleats is substantially vertical and substantially vertically aligned with the other pleats, and a plurality of intermediate positions wherein at least some of the pleats are oriented between the pleats' retracted positions and the pleats' extended positions; a top rail attached to a topmost pleat of the pleated cover; a cord having a first end connected to the top rail, with the cord being threaded through the holes of the pleats of the pleated cover; and a bottom rail formed from a plurality of interconnected sides each having a width approximately equal to the width of the sheet and with one of the sides being attached to a bottommost pleat of the pleated cover, wherein the bottom rail has a slot disposed through a surface of the bottom rail, the slot being adapted to receive the cord, and at least a portion of the slot having a width less than the thickness of the cord such that the slot engages the cord to support the weight of the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the pleated cover when the cord is engaged by the at least a portion of the slot, wherein the sides of the bottom rail are moveable between a packaging configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail enclose and engage the pleated cover, with the engagement of the sides of the bottom rail preventing the pleated cover from being extended to the extended position, and a support configuration wherein the sides of the bottom rail do not encircle the pleated cover such that the pleated cover may be extend to the extended position and to intermediate positions with the sides of the bottom rail providing structural support for the bottom end of the pleated cover. 17. A temporary window covering as recited in claim 16, wherein the bottom rail has a first hole and a second hole therethrough, and wherein the cord is threaded through the first hole and the second hole such that the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the pleated cover are supported by the cord when a portion of the free end of the cord extending through the second hole is disposed in the at least a portion of the slot. 18. A temporary window covering as recited in claim 16, wherein the bottom rail has a first hole therethrough, wherein the slot has an opening having a width greater than the thickness of the cord such that the cord may pass through the opening of the slot, and wherein the cord is threaded through the first hole and the opening of the slot such that the bottom rail and an accumulated portion of the pleated cover are supported by the cord when a portion of the free end of the cord extending through the opening of the slot is disposed into the at least a portion of the slot having the width less than the thickness of the cord. 19. A temporary window covering as recited in claim 18, wherein the slot has a first narrow portion having a width less than the thickness of the cord and a second narrow portion having a width less than the thickness of the cord, wherein the first and second narrow portions are disposed on opposite sides of the opening of the slot. 20. A temporary window covering according to claim 16, wherein the bottom rail has a first notch having a first inner edge and a second notch having a second inner edge, wherein the first inner edge is disposed on the side of the first notch proximate the second notch and the second inner edge is disposed on the side of the second notch proximate the first notch, the first and second inner edges configured to have a portion of a free end of the cord extending beyond the slot wrapped around the first and the second inner edges of the first and second notches, respectively. 21. A temporary window covering according to claim 20, wherein the first inner edge is angled inwardly toward the second notch and the second inner edge is angled inwardly toward the first notch.