Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural strip – slat – or panel type – Venetian blind type
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-13
2001-03-20
Purol, David M. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural strip, slat, or panel type
Venetian blind type
C160S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202731
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to window coverings of the type known as venetian blinds. More particularly, the invention relates to a pitch adjustment divider for venetian blinds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The types of window coverings known as venetian blinds are themselves well known in the art. Modifications to such venetian blinds are also known, and examples of same are discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,402,840 to Jortner et al. is directed to a venetian blind tilt divider. In this patent, slats of blinds are divided into upper and lower portions by the installation of a divider. The divider must be attached individually to each ladder chord. Each divider must be removed and reattached to reposition the divider vertically. This divider offers only a few changes of pitch of the slats.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,335 to Horton et al. is directed to a method and apparatus for opening a portion of a venetian window blind while selectively closing another portion. This patent is directed to a system for modifying existing venetian blinds so as to maintain a desired portion of window slats open while simultaneously maintaining the remaining portion in a closed position. A clip is used in this system. The divider must be attached individually to each ladder chord. Each divider must be removed and reattached to reposition the divider vertically. This divider offer only a few changes of pitch of the slats.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,070 to Warden is directed to a bifold privacy miniblind. In this patent, individual blinds are supported by a string ladder support system on each side. A second control cord must be added to an existing venetian blind. The vertical location of the division cannot be easily changed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,691 to Gaines teaches a venetian blinds control system. In this system, the upper half of blinds can be rotated independently. A second ladder cord and control must be added to an existing venetian blind. The vertical location of the division cannot be easily changed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,672 to Hsu teaches a mechanism for a window blind. The blind includes horizontal slats and a regulating mechanism. When the upper slats are opened, the lower slats can be closed and vice versa. A second ladder cord and control must be added to an existing venetian blind. The vertical location of the division cannot be easily changed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,630 to Rude teaches a tilt mechanism for venetian blinds. In this patent, a tilt mechanism uses band brakes having ends, and ladder cords being attached to these ends. This apparatus does not split the blind into upper and lower portions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,868 to Werner teaches a venetian blind with a three-position tilt adjustment. In this patent, the slats are divided into upper and lower sections, the tilt of the slats being separately adjusted for each section. A second ladder chord and control are required. The vertical location of the division cannot be easily changed.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,229,523 teaches an adjustable closure for a window using bearings and flexible supporting guides. This apparatus differs significantly from applicant's invention.
It remains a problem in the art, however, to provide a venetian blind adjustment device which is easily attached to existing Venetian blinds, which can be replaced vertically without having to remove the device from the ladder chords, and which provides an adjusting divider so that two different portions of the venetian blinds can be adjusted differently.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
From the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art to provide a device meeting the above requirements. According to the present invention, a device is provided which meets the aforementioned requirements and needs in the prior art. Specifically, the device according to the present invention provides a venetian blind adjustment device which is easily attached to existing venetian blinds, which can be relocated vertically without having to remove the device from the ladder chords, and which provides an adjusting divider so that two different portions of the venetian blinds can be adjusted differently.
More specifically, the tilt adjustment device includes tilt adjustment assemblies mounted on, and actuated by, a hexagonal bar, the entire device being mountable on a conventional venetian blind assembly for the purpose of providing separate adjustment of the venetian blind slats above the tilt adjustment device and those below the tilt adjustment device. The hexagonal bar passes through a screw gear of the tilt adjustment assembly. The screw gear when rotated engages slots in a slotted tilt adjuster, and the screw gear and the hexagonal bar are retained together by a housing. In use, the tilt adjustment assembly and hexagonal bar can be attached to an existing venetian blind assembly, such as a mini-blind assembly. The attachment to the venetian blind occurs only once during installation by snapping each vertical ladder chord through the slot of the slotted tilt adjuster.
After the tilt adjustment assemblies are attached to chords of the Venetian blind assembly, the device as a whole can be positioned vertically by lifting the device to the desired elevation while the device is attached to the venetian blind. Then, the hexagonal bar is manually rotated to cause adjustment of the slats. The operation of the hexagonal bar to adjust the slats is performed in a similar way to the operation of the vertical bar typically used to adjust an ordinary venetian blind, and is therefore intuitive and straightforward.
The device may be easily moved to a new vertical location by lifting the hexagonal bar which lifts each slotted tilt adjuster simultaneously. The device does not need to be removed from the ladder chords as required by the cited prior art.
The pitch of the venetian blind below the device is adjusted by twisting the hexagonal bar. Partial rotation of the hexagonal bar simultaneously turns each tilt adjuster, which in turn causes the shortening or lengthening of each vertical ladder chord to change the pitch of the slats located below the device.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2818113 (1957-12-01), Reichel
patent: 4940070 (1990-07-01), Warden
patent: 5205335 (1993-04-01), Horton et al.
patent: 5402840 (1995-04-01), Jortner et al.
Flagg Rodger H.
Purol David M.
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