Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural strip – slat – or panel type – Venetian blind type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2001-07-03
Johnson, Blair M. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural strip, slat, or panel type
Venetian blind type
C160S178200, C160S17610R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253823
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a venetian type blind and more particularly those venetian type blinds that are cut down to make the blind narrower in width by trimming off portions of the headrail, slats and bottomrail.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Venetian type blinds have a series of slats hung on ladders that extend from a headrail to a bottomrail. In most venetian blinds a pair of lift cords is provided each having one end attached to the bottomrail and then passing through elongated holes in the slats up to and through the headrail. Alternatively, the lift cords may pass through slots in the edges of the slats as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,051. A cord lock is usually provided in the headrail through which the lift cords pass. The cord lock allows the user to maintain the blind in any desired position from fully raised to fully lowered.
The slats rest on rungs between rails of the ladders. In most venetian type blinds the upper end of each ladder is attached to a drum. There is one drum for each ladder and the drums are carried on an axle. The blind is in an open position when the rungs are horizontal. To close the blind one operates a tilt mechanism that turns the axle to rotate the drums. This raises one rail of each ladder while allowing the other to be lowered thereby tilting the slats. Tilt mechanisms can be a wand type or a cord type. A wand tilter has a gear drive between the wand and the axle. Wand tilters are usually attached through a gearbox to one end of the axle. The drum of a cord tilter can be anywhere on the axle, but is usually at one end.
The window covering industry has been offering lines of stock blinds that come in standard widths. These blinds are sold through home centers and other large retailers who sell home furnishings. Should the customer have windows that have a width different from the standard width the retailer can trim portions off the ends of the headrail, slats and bottomrail of a standard or stock blind to create a venetian blind that fits the window. The amount that can be removed from a blind is limited to the distance between the outermost ladder and the edge of the blind (usually 6″ or 152 mm) less the space required for the cord lock or tilt mechanism and a portion of the drum and cradle. This space usually requires about 3″ to 3 ½″ (76 to 89 mm) depending if the lift cord and tilter are on the same side or opposite sides of the blind. Since the blinds are cut down to remove an equal amount from each side a total of 5″ to 6″ (127 to 152 mm) is the maximum that a blind can be cut down. Consequently, a larger number of stock widths must be maintained in inventory than would be needed if blinds could be trimmed at the locations closer to where the outermost ladders enter the headrail. For that reason there is a need for a headrail for venetian type blind and blinds containing a headrail that can be cut down very close to the outermost ladders.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We provide a headrail for venetian type blinds that contains a narrow width spool on a compact cradle at each ladder location. Each cradle has at least one and preferably a pair of uprights attached to the cradle base. The cradles support a tilt axle that carries a spool at each ladder location. The uprights are narrow and offset to the backside of the headrail and a height not greater than the height of the sides of the headrail to provide space for a cord lock or tilt mechanism to be mounted either fully or partially in front of the cradle. The spool is a narrow drum having opposite sides and a hub extending from each side. Each upright preferably abuts or supports a hub. A cord lock is positioned so that at least a portion of the cord lock is in front of the cradle. If a cord type tilter is used the fitting which passes the tilt cords from the headrail can be positioned to be at least partially in front of the another portion of the same cradle or be at least partially in front of a cradle on the opposite end of the headrail. This type of construction increases the amount that a blind can be cut down to nearly 10 ½″ (267 mm) and reduces the required number of inventoried sizes by up to 45%.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a description of the present preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2129606 (1938-09-01), Nisenson
patent: 2544184 (1951-03-01), Rosenbaum
patent: 2620026 (1952-12-01), Rutledge
patent: 2620866 (1952-12-01), Rosenbaum
patent: 2659431 (1953-11-01), Nelson
patent: 2667220 (1954-01-01), Rutledge
patent: 2670038 (1954-02-01), Lorentzen
patent: 2721609 (1955-10-01), Rutledge
patent: 2779403 (1957-01-01), Lorentzen
patent: 3425479 (1969-02-01), Lorentzen et al.
Judkins Ren
Ross Ludwig Nicholas
Swopes Cletis F.
Buchanan Ingersoll P.C.
Johnson Blair M.
Springs Window Fashions Division, Inc.
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