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Title:
IMPROVED CONTROL SYSTEM AND QUICK ADJUSTMENT DRAPERY-EFFECT DEVICE FOR VERTICAL BLINDS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1999/006666
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The control system of the present invention includes an array of vertically and diagonally suspendable slats (20) each of which are pivotably coupled (80, 82) at an upper end (24) to a slat-suspending member (86) along the perimeter of a window opening. An adjustment arrangement (98) is provided that facilitates easy access and quick adjustments. Connected with the adjustment arrangement (98) is a slat positioning system (12) which is in cumulative engagement with a lower end of the vertical slats (20).

Inventors:
METCALF DARRELL J (US)
TICHENOR CLYDE L
Application Number:
PCT/US1998/016230
Publication Date:
February 11, 1999
Filing Date:
August 04, 1998
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
METCALF DARRELL J (US)
International Classes:
A47H19/00; E06B9/36; E06B9/386; (IPC1-7): E06B9/26
Foreign References:
US5209282A1993-05-11
US5101876A1992-04-07
US2759534A1956-08-21
US2612220A1952-09-30
US2529714A1950-11-14
US2391205A1945-12-18
US2377746A1945-06-05
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Claims:
AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 10 February 1999 (10.02.99); original claims 1-49 replaced by new claims 1-49 (6 pages)]
1. A draperyeffect adjustment means for adjustable slatted coverings of architectural openings having an improved aesthetic and operational characteristics, wherein said adjustment means size and position are substantially hidden from the view of said architectural opening and from views through said slatted coverings, and provide easy and quick adjustment to achieve an aesthetic drapelike appearance, said adjustment means comprising in combination : a plurality of vertically and diagonally suspendable slats which are pivotable about an upper end particularly when the planarmost covering surface of said slats are aligned parallel to the plane of said architectural opening) said slats are comprised of a substantially rigid material and have at least one side surface which aesthetically renders a portion of a drape like appearance. at least one slatsuspending member from which said slats are suspendable and which is affixable in proximity to an upper perimeter portion of said architectural opening, and at least one slat positioning means having a mount tangent to one end that is affixed adjacent to a perimeter portion of said architectural opening and said positioning means is controllable therefrom for positioning a plurality of said slats in a diagonal, contiguously layered. nonflexing, and nonseethrough orientation.
2. The slat positioning means of claim 1 comprising a linelaced control system having at least one substantially hidden line attached at one end to a lower portion of at least one pivotable control slat, a plurality of slats pivotably suspended and sequentially aligned adjacent to said control slat. each slat having a slat aperture which is substantially hidden behind the overlap of an adjacent slat, wherein said line traverses from said control slat sequentially through a respective aperture of each of said adjacent slat and is attached at an opposite end to a linepulling means which is operable adjacent near to a perimeter portion of said architectural opening (s).
3. The linelaced control system of claim 2 wherein the line of said system is retained by a lineretaining means with sufficient retention to suspend a plurality of slats in a diagonal and layered configuration whilst each of said slats is also held with its planarmost covering surface substantially parallel to said architectural opening in a nonseethrough manner.
4. The linepulling means of claim 2 comprising a pull handle.
5. The linepulling means of claim 2 comprising at least one linelaced guide through which said line also traverses.
6. The linelaced guide of claim 5 further comprising a frictionreducing means.
7. The linepulling means of claim 2 comprising at least one electrical motor.
8. The motor of claim 7 further comprising a remote control activation means.
9. The linepulling means of claim 2 comprising at least one hand cranked actuator.
10. The slatpositioning means of claim 1 comprising at least one springassisted actuator to assist in the lateral adjustments of said slats.
11. The slatpositioning means of claim 1 comprising at least one weightassisted actuator to assist in the lateral adjustments of said slats.
12. The linepulling means of claim 2 comprising an engageable aperture which can be engaged and retained in a predetermined position bv an aperture engaging catch.
13. The aperture (s) of claim 2 wherein said aperture is resident in the slat.
14. The aperture (s) of claim 2 wherein said aperture is affixable to the slat.
15. The aperture (s) of claim 2 wherein said aperture is pivotably affixable to the slat.
16. The linelaced control system of claim 2 comprising a 2: 1 pull ratio.
17. The linelaced control system of claim 2 comprising a push button release mechanism having a resilient means therein suitable to retain the line of said system in a desired position until said push button is pushed.
18. The slatsuspending member of claim 1 comprising a plurality of slat mounting apertures formed into a side thereof, into each of which is inserted a respective slat suspending peg, from which a pivotable slat is suspended.
19. The slatsuspending member of claim 1 comprising a plurality of slat mounting pegs outwardly projecting from a side thereof, onto each of which a pivotable slat, having an peg aperture. is suspended.
20. The drapelike appearance of slat side surface (s) of claim 1 wherein a coloring agent is sprayed to render at least one gradient blend along a length of the planarmost surface of said slat side surface (s).
21. The drapelike appearance of slat side surface (s) of claim 1 wherein a coloring agent is applied in a vat to render at least one gradient blend along a length of the planarmost surface of said slat side surface (s).
22. The drapelike appearance of slat side surface (s) of claim 1 wherein a blending of colored extrudable material is extruded to render at least one gradient blend along a length of the planarmost surface of said slat side surface (s).
23. The linepulling means of claim 2 comprising a pullhandle whose outer diameter is coaxial and slideably operative within an inner diameter of said slatpositioning means which has one end adjoined adjacent near to a perimeter portion of an architectural opening, such that a linear pull on the pullhandle. pulls an end portion of the line of the line laced control system.
24. The pullhandle of claim 23 comprising a conventional blind adjustmentwand material.
25. The slatpositioning means of claim 23 further comprising at least one line laced guide.
26. The pullhandle of claim 23 further comprising at least one resilient arm having an outward facing detent formed thereon, wherein said arm and detent combination is slideably operative within the I. D. of the slat positioning means and retains predetermined slat adjustments when said detent is aligned with a preset adustment stop.
27. The slatpositioning means of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of slat alignment guides each having a hook shape, wherein each guide is adjoined to a respective slat, such that a pulling of a line of the linelaced control system will cause the edge of an adjacent slat to be captured within said hook shape to facilitate a collective retention and alignment of the combined slats.
28. The slatsuspending member of claim 1 further comprising at least one membermounting aperture which is slideably operative onto a respective membermounting projection, wherein said projection is affixable adjacent near to a perimeter portion of an architectural opening.
29. The slat positioning means of claim 1 further comprising at least one slat catch having a catch mount adjacent to one end to mount said catch to a perimeter portion of said architectural opening, and a slat retaining edge adjacent to an opposite end, wherein ; the length of said catch is approximately equal to the planarmost width of a single slat, and the length of said slat retaining edge is approximately equal to the combined thickness of a plurality of gathered slats such that said catch is suitable to retain a plurality of slats adjacent to said retaining edge and adjacent to one another while full and partial ranges of sideways adjustments of the uppermost end of said slats are made.
30. The slat positioning means of claim 29 further comprising a catch pivot mount affixed adjacent near to a perimeter portion of said architectural opening, said catch pivot mount having a mounting shaft extending therefrom which is insertable into a catch aperture of said catch to pivotably mount said catch to said catch pivot mount.
31. The catch mounting shaft and catch aperture of 30 further comprising at least one faceted edge along the outer diameter surface of said shaft correspondent with at least one faceted edge along an inner diameter surface of said catch aperture to bias said catch in a desired rotational position when said faceted edges are aligned in registration with one another.
32. The slat retaining edge of the slat catch of claim 29 further comprising a slat catch hook which extends substantially perpendicular from an end of said slat retaining edge to further retain slats within said slat catch.
33. The slat catch of claim 29 further comprising a resilient member to urge a plurality of slats into said slat catch.
34. The slat catch of claim 29 further comprising at least one member which is electromechanically controllable such that said member can be actuated electrically into a position to retain said slats in a diagonal configuration, and out of said position to release said slats.
35. The slat suspending peg of claim 19 further comprising a resilient retaining means for retaining a slat thereon.
36. The slat mounting peg of claim 20 further comprising resilient retaining means for retaining a slat thereon.
37. The slatsuspending member of claim 1 further comprising at least one scissoraction adjustment means having a plurality of slat rotational shaft apertures into each of which a slatrotational shaft can project and can freely rotate such that adjustments to said scissoraction means simultaneously and collectively adjusts an evenly spaced lateral positioning of the slatrotational shafts and respective slats suspending from said shafts.
38. The scissoraction means of claim 37 wherein at least one member thereof is attachable to a suitable drive means and is employable as an actuating arm to adjust said scissoraction means.
39. The slatsuspending member of claim 1 further comprising at least one scissoraction means in operative engagement with a plurality of slatrotational shafts to simultaneously and collectively adjust a lateral positioning of slats suspending from said member such that the slats appear evenly spaced.
40. The slats of claim 1 having an upper end edge contour which is optimal for diagonal pivoting of said slats.
41. The slatsuspending member of claim 1 having at least one pull cord control system to adjust slats sideways wherein said slats further comprise an end edge contour which is optimal for sideways and layered adjustments of vertically and diagonally suspended slats.
42. The slatsuspending member (s) of claim 1 wherein each of a plurality of said members groups a subset of said plurality of slats, and at least one of said members is slideable from a guide track such that it can be slid behind another of the members.
43. The slatsuspending member (s) of claim 42 wherein a sideways movement of at least one of said member (s) is aided by at least one frictionreducing means.
44. The slatsuspending member (s) of claim 42 wherein a sideways movement of at least one of said member (s) is aided by at least one resilient means.
45. The slatsuspending members) of claim 42 wherein a sideways movement of at least one of said member (s) is aided by at least one weight.
46. The slatsuspending member (s) of claim 1 wherein half of the gear combinations driving typical slat rotational shaft mechanisms are configured for clockwise rotation, and the other half of the gear combinations driving said slat rotational shaft mechanisms are configured for counterclockwise rotation, such that the slats suspending from said member (s) can counterrotate freely and can be aesthetically layered with a symmetrical drapelike appearance.
47. The vertically suspendable slats of claim 1 further comprising at least one pivotable joint connecting an upper slat portion and a lower slat portion thereto.
48. The vertically and diagonally suspendable slats of claim 1 further comprising an affixable slat edge wedge having a smooth and rounded leading edge contour suitable for riding over the exterior of a typical blind rotational shaft.
49. The affixable aperture (s) of claim 14 further comprising a slat engagement means having an elongated aperture and an engagement pin, such that when a plurality of said affixable apertures are each affixed to adjacent slats and an outermost slat is secured adjacent parallel to a perimeter portion of an architectural opening, each of said pins will align to project into and engage an adjacent aperture when the slats are rotated into an engaging position, thereafter full and partial sideways adjustments of the uppermost end of said slats can be made by typical pull cord adjusting means.
Description:
IMPROVED CONTROL SYSTEM AND QUICK ADJUSTMENT DRAPERY-EFFECT DEVICE FOR VERTICAL BLINDS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application is a non-provisional claiming priority to provisional application Serial No. 60/054,527, filed August 4,1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of Invention This invention pertains generally to adjustable coverings for architectural openings and, more particularly, to an improved vertical blind control system that is easy to use, adds new adjustment versatility using an economy of parts, and provides an aesthetic, layered, and non-see-through, drape-like appearance.

Description of the Relevant Art Vertical blinds have been available for many years and various refinements have been achieved in the adjusting means for opening and closing the parallel vertical slats of these blinds. However, the vertical blind has remained a type of product that in appearance, is similar from one make or model to another. Cost and operation of the blinds are also issues of concern, in that vertical blind adjustment mechanisms'typically have numerous mechanical parts, and the control of these mechanisms are often more difficult to operate than is necessary, particularly when quick adjustments are desired.

Vertical blinds typically have two methods to adjust the parallel vertical slats which cumulatively span a window. One adjustment means, such as a rope or chain loop, is used to control the angle, or rotational pivot, of the slats. For example, to rotate the slats from a fully open position a user may grab a side of the loop and pull it, causing the angles of the slats to rotate approximately 90 degrees to a fully closed position. Conversely, an opposite side of the loop may be pulled to rotate the parallel vertical slats to an open position. Similarly, a second rope or chain loop may also be

employed to cumulatively gather the parallel slats to one side of the window.

Unfortunately, it is often difficult to tell at a glance which loop is used for which purpose, resulting in the user either tilting the vertical slats when he or she wanted them to slide, or in sliding the slats to a side when he or she merely wanted them to rotate. Furthermore, it may be difficult at a glance to know which side of the loop to pull on to make a desired adjustment, for instance, if the loop should become twisted, or if either loop is otherwise configured in a way that gives no visual cue as to which side should be pulled. Thus, a user might need to pull four loop sides before achieving a desired adjustment of the vertical blinds. The vertical blind customer has an additional problem, which also impacts the manufacturer of the blinds, in that vertical blinds often appear and operate in a similar fashion. The blind manufacturer has the problem of trying to compete in the vertical blind market with blinds that are difficult for customers to differentiate from his or her competitors. Moreover, it is difficult for a manufacturer to differentiate the pricing of these blinds in that they require about the same number of working parts and materials for a comparably-sized vertically slatted blind. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to tell any difference in blind make or model from a distance, whether the blinds are viewed from the inside, or from the outside, of the rooms in which they reside. This aesthetic'sameness'is also due to the vertical blind slats being adjusted by similar adjustment controls: which uniformly rotates them, or cumulatively slides them sideways. Viewed from a distance, there are even fewer distinguishing features to objectively and/or subjectively choose one make or model over another. Accordingly, there are deficiencies in the present state of vertical blind products affecting their respective markets, and there is a need for an improved alternative vertical blind device that is more versatile, to overcome the various aforementioned economic, aesthetic and limited distinctiveness issues.

Attempts to overcome the aforenoted problems are evident in several patent references such as U. S. Patents Nos. 2,529,714; 2,612,220; and, 2,774,418; issued to Turkowski, and U. S. Patent No. 2,173,275 issued to Houmere. The patents to Turkowski disclose a plurality of rigid control members-often comprised of a multiplicity of parts. The Turkowski and Houmere"member (s)" methods, each use a

plurality of rigid members to span all of the slats, so that when the members are raised in an angle from a pivot point, they cumulatively gather the slats relative to the degree of the angle. A drawback of the systems disclosed in the Turkowski and Houmere patents resides in the fact that most of the adjustments offered, occur when the slats reside in, and/or are rotated to, a position that is perpendicular to the window such that the slats are gapped and"see-through."The see-through configuration exposes the bulky adjustment members and their adjustment positions and produces only a limited drape-like effect consisting of strips of fabric (or the like) that collapse along their length and that don't look like a solid drape or curtain.

Two systems similar to the Turkowski and Houmere systems are U. S. Patent No. 5,109,913 issued to Kazuma, and U. K. Patent No. 1,219,326 issued to Kendrick and Baker. Kazuma produces reduced-sized drape portions by an upper-end gathering of narrow flexible strips"via a plurality of operating members" (visibly exposed).

Kendrick and Baker show how to approximate a drape-like effect by employing a plurality of flexible strips configured perpendicular to a window and gathering them with"tie backs"to opposite sides of a window by collapsing the strips along their lengths-in a see-through fashion. Kendrick and Baker neither show nor claim a method to gather their"flexible strips"in a diagonal, overlapped and contiguously layered fashion-which is essential to effectively simulating an aesthetic contiguous drape appearance. The aforementioned prior art have failed to capture sufficient attention of the public and commercial sectors, and have either expired or have been abandoned, and have tended to produce a drape-like effect that renders the look of a stranded, or shredded, drape rather than one comprised of contiguous material-particularly when viewed from a distance.

It is desirable to provide a simpler, more versatile vertical blind, where the controlling system is substantially (and thereby, aesthetically) hidden from view and offers options including a full range of quick slat adjustments for slat rotations; slat vertical openings and closings; and slat diagonal openings and closings having an improved aesthetic where the slats are contiguously layered, non-flexing, and non-see- through-and to accomplish the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The control system of the present invention is comprised of an array of vertically and diagonally suspendable slats or louvers such as a type used on conventional vertical blinds, wherein the slats are each pivotably coupled at an upper end to a slat-suspending member which is affixable in proximity to a perimeter portion of one or more architectural openings-such as a window opening. Due to gravity, the slats normally hang parallel, next to one another, in vertical alignment from their respective couplings, and optionally one or more slats can include a counter-weight adjoined near to a lower end thereof, to assist in urging the slats to a vertical position. Each slat comprises a flat slat-plane, or planar-most surface, which is vertically alignable approximately parallel to the plane of a window such that the window is normally obscured by the cumulative adjacent slats when they hang in this closed position. An adjustment means is provided next to a window at a height that facilitates easy access and quick adjustments. Connected with, and responsive to linear adjustments of the adjustment means, is a slat-positioning means which is in cumulative engagement with a lower end of the vertical slats, such that a range of linear adjustments by the adjustment means is offered which is sufficient to adjust the slats from a vertically aligned or closed configuration, to a cumulatively and diagonally gathered, opened position. With respect to the opening and closing operations of the blinds, it will be seen that there are a number of approaches to accomplish the slat-positioning adjustment means objective.

For example, in a simplest embodiment, an adjustable slat-positioning means comprising a simple fabric belt or loop material can be used to cumulatively encircle a number of vertical slats where one or more loop adjusting means such as a restrictive- fastener can be used to adjust the size of the slat-positioning means. Such restrictive fastening can be achieved with interactive snaps, or aperture engaging catch-and-loop materials, or buttons and button hole combinations, or an aperture-engaging catch in combination with a number of engagement apertures, or any in a variety of other known fastening techniques. In operation, the fabric loop adjustment means is attachable adjacent to a portion of a window and is readily accessible, and a portion of

the loop representing the slat-positioning means encircles a number of vertical slats such that the slats are left freely suspended until one or more fastening means is employed to constrain the slat-positioning means loop, which in turn, cumulatively gathers the slats in a diagonal and layered manner in a direction toward a side of the window and to an adjustment extent desired. To return the slats to a vertical, or closed, position, the one or more fastening adjustment means is released, or adjusted, until the slats are again freely suspending from their respective pivotable mounts.

An alternative method of achieving the slat-positioning objective is with a linear adjustment means that transfers linear motion adjustments through a substantially hidden line-laced control system having line-guidance means. In the line-laced system, one or more line, such as a small diameter control rope, is connected at a first end to a linear adjustment means and laces through one or more line guides, for example, a mountable aperture member, and/or a mountable friction- reducing means pulley. A first variant of this approach comprises a line loop which surrounds a desired number of vertical slats. A second variant, further comprises at least one line second end being affixed to a lower end of a control slat nearest the desired parting location of the vertical blinds-such as a medial slat. The adjustment means described above may be driven in any of a variety of ways, such as a motor, including one that is two-directional and/or remotely operated; a spring-return mechanism, for example, a coil spring, or spring mechanism of a type used in a conventional tape measure; a combination crank handle and line-spooler with an optional release mechanism; or a hand-operated pull-handle may be employed with one in a variety of optional line retaining means.

In operation, a line-pulling means-such as a pull-handle connected to the line of the line-laced control system-is pulled to initiate a quick adjustment means, causing the line loop (of the first variant above), or the line that is laced through the line-guidance means (of the second variant), to be reduced in length, which, in turn, cumulatively gathers adjacent vertical slats, causing the successively gathered slats to pivot about their upper couplings and to diagonally swing to the side (s) of the window to which they are drawn, and, as they gather cumulatively, the slats become diagonally layered, creating an aesthetic drape-like appearance, where they are held in place by

suitable retention imposed on an operative line of the line-laced control system by a line retaining means, having sufficient retention to suspend a plurality of slats in a diagonal, contiguously layered, and non-see-through manner.

In another embodiment of the line-laced control system a plurality of slats have slat apertures, which are formed near a lower end of a desired number of slats (such as a drilled, stamped, injected-molded, or punched hole) or are of a type of aperture member that is affixable thereto, and which may be located such that they are hidden from normal view. Further, the slat aperture can be configured in any of a variety of ways, such as an elongated slot; with a loop material, or partial loop; with a tube material, or partial tube; and, so forth, and when it is preferable to do so, externally affixed aperture members can also be pivotably mounted as pivotably affixed guides to reduce friction or snagging of the line of the line-laced system by pivotably rotating into alignment with the operative adjustment line and with one another, regardless of the diagonal or vertical orientation of the blind slats.

Additionally, a desired number of slats and/or the apertures thereof, can have at least one slat-engaging contour that serves as an adjacent slat alignment stop to facilitate the layering and alignment of successively adjacent slats. The alignment stops can be integrally formed near a lower end of a desired number of slats, or a type that is affixable thereto.

Other features of the invention include adjustment means where the pull- handle has a friction-reducing means such as a pulley and/or is operative in a line- laced control system having an optimal pull ratio such as a 2: 1 ratio, where a pull distance of"X"by the pull-handle equals a linear line adjustment of"2X". The retaining means previously mentioned, can alternatively include the ease of a push- button release which is optionally mountable adjacent the blind, and is normally under sufficient spring-load to retain the gathered slats in a desired position. Thus the quick adjustment of the blinds can be achieved with a simple pull-open, and push-shut action. For example, the user pulls the quick ratio adjustment means handle to quickly open and/or adjust the blinds, and simply pushes the button release to instantly shut the blinds. An added benefit is achieved by this adjustment approach in that an easy-to-reference visual cue is provided by having separate handle and push-

button operations and by an easy referencing of the position of the handle relative to the adjusted position of the blinds. The user simply thinks"pull-open/push-shut".

The invention herein described can also be easily adapted, or retro-fitted, to an existing installed base of vertical blinds by applying the slat-positioning means; the adjusting means; and, as necessary, the affixable slat apertures, and/or slat aperture guides to the conventional blinds. With such components of the invention installed, the user can rotate the vertically aligned slats of the vertical blinds conventionally to a closed position and then employ the newly added adjustment means to gather the blind slats in a diagonal drape-like configuration. Thus, a combination of methods for opening and closing the blinds is provided.

It can also be profitable for a manufacturer to make and sell easy-to-install assembly kits of the drape-like vertical blinds, that have an economy of parts and can be shipped in compact packages. For example, the simplicity of slat movement in the present invention merely requires the slats to laterally pivot from an upper end thereof. The simple swing motion for adjusting the blinds eliminates the need for the numerous mechanical parts used in conventional vertical blinds-for cumulatively turning and/or sliding all of its respective slats. By contrast, the drape-like slats of the simplest variant, are simply suspended from a slat-suspending member by a pivot peg operative in a peg aperture. The pivot peg can extend outward from the slat- suspending member into a peg aperture located near an upper end of a slat, or, the pivot peg can extend from a slat into a peg aperture located on the slat-suspending member. Alternatively, the pivot peg can be separate from the slat-suspending member and a slat, and can be inserted into a peg aperture of a slat and then into a peg receptacle of the slat-suspending member. Thus, an economical and aesthetic vertical blind with far fewer parts is provided, with the result that conventional blind adjustment mechanisms and their numerous respective parts are not necessarily required to produce vertical blinds that are instantly adjustable to an opened, partially opened, closed, or partially closed position, or incrementally adjusted with such adjustments optionally including, adjustment ranges and/or preset adjustment means.

It will be seen that the pivot pegs can be removably inserted into the peg apertures or peg receptacles, and the slat-suspending member can be removably attached to a wall,

and in such cases, a means for the periodic cleaning of the slats and/or the window and the adjacent window area is provided.

To further increase the appearance of fabric drapery, pleated or draped curtains, in the slatted vertical blinds, it can be desirable during the manufacture of the present invention, to create a linear blend of two or more colors or hues along a readily viewable axis of the slats, such as a longitudinal axis thereof, in which case one of two general manufacturing processes can be employed to achieve this result and are described below. It is noted that often when artists capture the look of fabric drapery, pleated, or draped curtains, a highlighted color or hue is used along a longitudinal surface of the drapes and transitions via a linear blend to a darker color or hue along a parallel longitudinal surface. Thus, it can be profitable to the manufacturer to intentionally capture this effect and to offer slatted blinds that further enhance the aesthetic drape-like appearance of his or her products.

A first method for achieving a slat longitudinal-axis linear blend, or linear highlight, is to use a coloring-agent applicator means in combination with a conveyance means of blind-slats, where the conveyance means moves blind-slat portions into and out of a variable coloring-agent applicator phase to render a linear gradient blend of color or hues and thus, create a drape-like appearance along a longitudinal axis of each blind-slat.

One variant of this process is achieved by a coloring-agent applicator means which is comprised of one or more controllable spray-paint source each having a variable coloring-agent applicator comprising a nozzle aperture of a type that provides the application of a varying density of spray paint along a particular spray axis such that the conveyor of the blind slats passes a linear portion of the slats in alignment with the desired spray-paint source, and the color or hue linear blend, is produced. A second variant of this process has a coloring-agent applicator means which is comprised of one or more dye vats where the conveyor of the blind-slats aligns a longitudinal axis of one or more slat horizontal, and parallel to, the orientation of a dye vat and moves a linear portion of the slats into and out of the dye in a coloring- agent applicator phase to produce the desired color or hue linear blend.

A second manufacturing process for achieving a slat longitudinal-axis linear blend, or linear highlight, comprises two or more controllable plastic injector sources, where each source directs a different plastic color or hue at a controllable flow rate into a linear width portion of a plastic injection slat-forming receptacle such as an extrusion die, or other type of plastic-injection mold cavity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs. 1A and 1B show an array of vertical slats pivotably suspended from a slat-suspending member and controlled by a slat positioning means to either close the blinds or to open them in a diagonal and layered drape-like configuration; Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical illustration showing a slat-positioning means having a line-laced system that traverses a width of the collective vertical blind slats (the vertical length of the slats are shown in partial view) and is responsive to a slat- positioning means; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical illustration showing two slat-positioning means, each having a line-laced system to diagonally configure the vertical blind slats; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical illustration similar to Figs. 2 and 3, showing vertical medial slats each having counter-weights adjoined to a lower end thereof; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical illustration showing an adjustment means comprising a motor drive means controlling one line-laced system, and alternatively, a second line-laced system having a pull-handle with an engageable aperture that can be engaged and retained by one or more aperture engaging catch; Figs. 6A and 6B are views similar to Figs. 1A and 1B wherein Fig. 6A shows a slat positioning means comprising a line loop surrounding an array of slats, and alternatively, a fabric belt surrounding another array of slats, wherein the slats surrounded by the loop and belt are adjustable by adjustment means seen in Fig. 6B; Figs. 7A and 7B are diagrammatical illustrations showing an end view of the slats surrounded by the line loop of Figs. 6A and 6B, and the line loop controlled by an adjustment means optionally comprising a push-button line-release means; Figs. 8A and 8B are diagrammatical illustrations showing an end view of the slats comprising a line-laced system having a plurality of slat apertures through which

an operative control line is laced and is linearly adjustable at one line-end and is affixed to a slat at an opposite end; Fig. 9 illustrates a slat-positioning means for diagonally adjusting slats comprising a line-laced system having an array of slats and apertures formed in a lower end of a plurality of slats thereof; Fig. 10 illustrates a slat-positioning means for diagonally adjusting slats comprising a line-laced system having an array of pivotably attached guides with an operative line laced therethrough, having a spring-return adjustment means at one line-end and an aperture retained knot at an opposite line-end; Fig. 11 illustrates a line-laced system having a combination line-spooler and crank handle adjustment means at one line-end, and an opposite line-end attached to an adhesive material; Figs. 12A and 12B are diagrammatic illustrations showing an end view of an array of vertical slats and a line-laced system further comprising slat guides adjoined adjacent to a plurality of slats, and Fig. 12B also shows cross-sectional detail of a push-button line retainer; Figs. 13A through 15B show a slat-suspending member onto which vertical slats are pivotably mountable; Figs. 16A and 16B are cross-sectional views of a tube handle having a preset adjustment means comprising flexible preset adjustment indexing arms slidably interactive within an outer tube having preset adjustment stops; Fig. 17 illustrates a slat coloring method for optimizing an aesthetic drape-like appearance of adjacent pivotable mounted blind slats, using a coloring-agent applicator means for applying a coloring-agent of varying density onto a slat that passes by the applicator via a slat conveyance means; Fig. 18 shows a coloring-agent applicator means for optimizing a drape-like appearance of pivotably mounted blind slats, applying a coloring-agent of varying saturation onto a slat by immersion of the slat into and out of a coloring-agent via a slat conveyance means; Fig. 19 shows controllable plastic injectors for directing a controllable flow of colored plastic into a slat-forming receptacle such as an extrusion die or plastic-

injection mold cavity to integrally form slats having a linear blend of color optimizing a drape-like appearance of the slats when suspended adjacent to one another; Fig. 20 is a partial front view of suspended slats having slat edges with a wedge affixed thereto that prevents adjacent slats from binding on slat rotational shafts; Figs. 21 through 23 are top views of the slats of Fig. 20 converging; Figs. 24 and 25 are partial front views of slats having an end edge contour optimal for sideways movement and/or diagonal pivoting; Figs. 26 through 28 are top views of a scissor-action means, which is shown extended in Fig. 26 and shown contracted in Figs. 27 and 28; Figs. 29 and 30 are perspective views of a slat catch; Figs. 31 and 32 are front views of a blind with its slats engaged by a slat catch to provide for diagonal adjustments of the slats; Figs. 33 and 34 depict the blind of Figs. 31 and 32 with the slat catch disengaged to provide for full vertical adjustments of the slats; Figs. 35 through 38 depict front views of a four-slat-panel blind, shown with six slats per panel; Figs. 39 is a cross-sectional view along line 39-39 of Fig. 35, showing panels A, B, C, D aligned to one another; Figs. 40 is a cross-sectional view along line 40-40 of Fig. 36, showing panels B and C retracting on a guide track behind panels A and D, respectively; Figs. 41 is a cross-sectional view along line 41-41 of Fig. 37, showing the upper-end slat positions; Figs. 42 is a cross-sectional view along line 42-42 of Fig. 38, showing the upper-end slat positions; Figs. 43 and 44 are top and front views, respectively, illustrating panel C movement facilitated by a spring and by a weight; Figs. 45 through 47 are cross-sectional top views of a mechanized slat catch, showing a succession of movement caused by a drive gear;

Figs. 48 and 49 are cross-sectional top views of a mechanized slat catch, showing successive movement of a slat catch whose action is actuated by a motor or servo, which is optionally shown having a radio receiver; Figs. 50 and 51 are partial cross-sectional bottom views of typical rotational shaft actuation means, showing a common drive rod that powers the worm gears it traverses through, and showing an inverse worm gear pitch in"A"gears versus"B" gears, in order to provide counter-rotation of the slats; Figs. 52 and 53 are front views of blinds having slats with a pivotable joint connecting an upper slat portion and a lower slat portion; Figs. 54 and 55 are front views of blinds having slats with at least one side surface that aesthetically renders a portion of a drape-like appearance; Fig. 56 shows a front view of a slat about to be covered by a slat sleeve (shown in partial view); Fig. 57 shows the slat of Fig. 56 covered by the slat sleeve and optionally retained thereon by a typical rotational shaft clip means; Fig. 58 is a perspective view of an affixable aperture and pin member combination; Figs. 59 through 61 are top views showing the aperture and pin member combination of Fig. 58 affixed to an outer edge of slats; and Figs. 62 and 63 are perspective views showing the aperture and pin member combination of Fig. 58 affixed to outer edges of slats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figs. 1A and 1B show the vertical blind drape-like device 10 having an upper slat end 24 of the slats 20 rotatably suspended from a slat-suspending member 86 and controlled by an adjustment means 98 to either close the blinds to a vertical closed position depicted in Fig. 1A, or to open them to a drape-like configuration such as the diagonal open position depicted in Fig. 1B. In Fig. 1A an array of slats 104 are pivotably suspended within slat-suspending member 86 such that the pivotable attaching means are hidden from view, and in Fig. 1B pivotable attaching means 28 are shown external to member 86 at an upper end of the diagonally configured slats,

and each slat upper end 24 is shown having a pivot peg 80 inserted into a respective peg aperture 82. It is noted that pegs 80 can optionally have a bifurcated end with one or more retaining detent extending outward therefrom (not shown) to bias each of the pegs within respectively peg apertures. Member 86 is mounted parallel to horizontal axis 32-32, and it will be seen in Fig. 13B that it can be configured for removable attachment for ease of installation and to facilitate a periodic cleaning of the blinds, the window, and the window area.

Located near to a slat lower end 26 is the adjustment means 98, which is interactive with slat-positioning means 12 and a line-laced control system 14. The slat-positioning means 12 comprises at least one, positioning-line, or operative line 16, which is secured at a first line-end 30 and secured at a second line-end to a control slat or medial slat 96. Operative line 16, of the slat-positioning means 12, can be laced through a handle guide 34 or, one or more line guidance means 18 (guidance means and apertures thereof are shown in closer detail in Figs. 7A through 12B). Fig.

1B illustrates a downward adjustment of pull-handle 90 which linearly adjusts line 16, and being attached at one end near the adjustment means and at an opposite end to a medial slat 96, line 16 is contracted in length by the downward movement of the pull- handle such that, the line and successively adjacent slats are gathered in a diagonal configuration. Line 16 can optionally be retained by retaining and release means 50 such as a spring-tensioned push-button release mechanism, in which case, a pushing of the button releases the retaining tension of the line and the blind slats are returned toward a vertical configuration.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatical illustration of the vertical blind drape-like device 10 showing a slat-positioning means 12 having a line-laced system 14, which traverses a collective width of the vertical blind slats 20 (the vertical slats are shown in partial view) and is responsive to a slat-positioning means 12 comprising a pull-handle 90 with a 2: 1 pull ratio in the preferred embodiment, such that a downward movement of X is converted into a 2X linear adjustment throughout the line-laced system. An operative line 16 is attached at a line first-end 30 to a medial slat 96 by a slat line- affixing means 40 and is attached at a line second-end 38 with a pull-handle 90 of an adjustment means 98 interposed therebetween. A double-line system is shown at 46

wherein two lines can be employed, or wherein two portions of the same operative line 16 can be employed, and in either case, one portion of line 16 is shown having a length that is approximately half of the combined vertical width of slats 20 and is laced through a plurality of slat apertures 22, which are adjoined to one or more slat lower end 26. A second portion of line 16 traverses a horizontal span of the collective slats via one or more line-guidance means 18, any of which can optionally include a friction reducing means 60 such as a pulley, and is also laced through a plurality of slat apertures 22, which are adjoined to one or more slat lower end 26. In operation, the handle 90, which can optionally have a friction reducing means 62 such as a handle mounted pulley, is pulled downward which simultaneously contracts both line portions of line 16 to successively gather the slats 20 starting with medial slats 96.

While the slat apertures 22 are diagrammatically illustrated in plain view, it will be seen that apertures 22, and other apertures, such as those comprising a loop material 136 or a partial loop 138, can readily be formed integrally in, or affixed to, respective slats in a location that is hidden from view.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical illustration similar to Fig. 2, showing instead two slat-positioning means each having a line-laced system to diagonally configure the vertical. blind slats and an adjustment means handle having a 2: 1 pull ratio 48. An operative line 16 of a line-laced system 14 is attached at a line first-end 30 to a medial slat 96 by a slat line-affixing means 40 and is attached at a line second-end 38 with a pull-handle 90 of an adjustment means 98 interposed therebetween.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical illustration similar to Fig. 2, showing one or more vertical slat, such as medial slats 96, each having a weight 106 adjoined to a lower end thereof. In operation, each weight 106 adds to the weight of the respective slat 20 to which it is adjoined to urge the rotatably pivotable slats by gravity from a diagonal configuration into a vertical one when an adjustment means 98, such as pull-handle 90, is moved in an upward direction, or when a line-retaining means, such as a push- button release (not shown) is employed.

Fig. 5 diagrammatically illustrates two adjustment means 98, one comprises a motor drive means 58, and the second is a pull-handle 90, which can be engaged by one or more aperture engaging catches 36. As stated, the first adjustment means 98

comprises a motor drive means 58, wherein drive means 58 is employed to electro- mechanically adjust vertical blind slats to, and/or from, a drape-like configuration.

One or more lines 16 of a line-laced system 14 can be connected with drive means 58 optionally including the type of line-laced system seen in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. By way of example, a single-line system 44 is shown having a line first-end 30 of line 16 attached to a medial slat 96 by slat line-affixing means 40 and is optionally laced through a plurality of line guidance means such as apertures 22, and a line second-end 38 is attached to an adjustment means 98 comprising motor drive means 58, such that line 16 is responsive to motorized adjustments therefrom. Drive means 58 can be of a type which rotates a drive-shaft unidirectionally, providing a means to linearly adjust an attached line 16 in one direction, and further comprising a release mechanism for opposite line adjustments, or can be a type that rotates a drive-shaft in one of two directions at a time, to control linear adjustments of an attached line 16 in either direction, and in either case, motor drive means 58 can optionally be remotely controlled by electrically connected means, or electrically transmittable means, such as means of a known conventional type. A second line-lacing system 14 spanning the six rightmost vertical slats 20 is shown having pull-handle 90 with a catch engagement aperture 126 adjacent to a lower end thereof. When pull-handle 90 is moved downward the vertical slats 20 are moved to a desired diagonally-layered configuration and aperture 126 of the handle 90 can be engaged and retained by a aperture engaging catch 36 at an optimum and desired adjustment height, and optionally, a plurality of aperture engaging catches 36, whether separately mounted or integrally formed adjacent to one another and then mounted, can be employed to provide desirable preset adjustments of the blinds in a drape-like configuration. Both of the line-laced systems 14 illustrated in Fig. 5 show an adjustment means having a 1: 1 pull ratio.

Figs. 6A and 6B are views similar to Fig. lA and Fig. 1B wherein Fig. 6A illustrates a slat gathering means 12 comprising an adjustable loop material 94 surrounding the eight leftmost vertical slats (the dashed line representing the loop behind the slats), and alternatively, adjustable belt material 110 such as fabric belt is surrounds the eight rightmost vertical slats. In a simple variant of the loop adjustment

means, adjustable loop material 94 can be configured as a closed loop, which is routed via line guidance means 18, wherefrom a sufficient length of the loop is provided and is accessible for pulling to proportionately constrain the loop-surrounded slats. When the slats are moved to a desired diagonal configuration, loop material 94 of the gathering means 12 can be retained by a quickly tied knot such as an overhand slip- knot. Alternatively, the closed loop of loop material 94 can be engaged and retained at an optimum height creating a drape-like appearance by a line retaining means 92 such as aperture engaging catch 36, or at variable preset heights by an optional plurality of aperture engaging catches, whether the aperture engaging catches are separately mounted or integrally formed adjacent to one another and then mounted. In Fig. 6B, adjustable loop material 94 of gathering means 12 is shown as a continuation of line-laced system 14, which is shown having an adjustment means 98 to linearly adjust one or both ends of loop material 94 and can optionally comprise a pull-handle 90 and a line retaining and release means 50, such as a push-button mechanism. In operation, one or both ends of loop material 94 can be pulled, for example, by an optional pull-handle 90 being pulled in a downward direction, and loop material 94 is thereby proportionately contracted causing the previously vertical slats to move one by one from a closed position (Fig. 6A) by first moving a medial slat 96 and then moving and successively layering adjacent slats until the slats are moved to a diagonal open position (see Fig. 6B).

The alternative gathering means 12 comprising a belt material 110 shown in Figs. 6A and 6B surrounds a plurality of vertical slats 20 and has fastening adjustment means 112 such as one or more engagement aperture 126, and at least one restrictive fastener 114 such as a aperture engaging catch 124. To adjust the vertical slats to an open diagonal position (Fig. 6A), belt 110 is constrained in length by the engagement of fastener 114 in at least one engagement aperture 126. To return the blind slats to a vertical closed position (Fig. 6A), the interactive fastening means are disengaged and the blinds are thus returned to a freely suspended position. It will be noted that numerous variations of fastener means of a known variety can readily be applied to adjustable belt material 110. For example, the aperture engaging catch in a aperture engaging catch aperture just described, can easily be replaced by interactive snaps;

button and button hole combinations; aperture engaging catch-and-loop material such Velcro@; and, so forth.

Figs. 7A and 7B are diagrammatical illustrations showing an end view detail of slat gathering means 12 having slats 20 and slat lower end 26 surrounded by adjustable loop material 94, wherein loop material 94 is shown connected with and responsive to adjustment means 98, such that a linear adjustment of the loop is achieved by pulling handle 90, which constrains the loop proportionate to a pull ratio thereof, such as the 1: 1 or 2: 1 ratios previously described, and the linear adjustments are retainable by retaining and release means 50 such as push-button 52.

Figs. 8A and 8B are diagrammatical illustrations showing an end view detail of slats 20 and line-laced system 14 having slat-positioning means 12, wherein line guidance means 18, comprising a plurality of apertures 22, have an operative line 16 laced therethrough being attached at line first end 30 to slat line-affixing means 40 and attached at line second end 38 such that linear adjustments from pull-handle 90 can gather slats 20 via the line laced system 14 in a diagonal drape-like configuration.

The slats 20 are returned to a vertical position by pushing push-button 52 of the retaining and release means 50.

Fig. 9 illustrates a slat-positioning means 12 for diagonally adjusting slats comprising a line-laced system 14 having an array of slats 20 and elongated apertures 74 formed in a lower end of a plurality of slats thereof each having an operative line 16 laced therethrough which, by way of example, is attached at line first end 30 to slat line-affixing means 40 of medial slat 96 and attached at line second end 38 to an adjustment means 98 such as a drive motor means 58. It is noted that while elongated apertures 74 are shown, apertures such as drill holes, including holes that are vertical offset on adjacent slats, are alternatively employable. And that such holes can be located such that they will be hidden beneath a slat overlap when the slats are either at rest or are being adjusted. In operation, slat lower end 26 of medial slat 96 is pulled toward adjustment means 98 by a linear adjustment therefrom, whereby operative line 16 causes medial slat 96 and each successively adjacent slat 20 to pivot from their respective upper ends. With the blinds opened, the diagonally configured slats have a vertical displacement in the alignment of a lower portion of each successive slat and

the elongated apertures 74 accommodate the vertical alignment offset such that line 16 is freely laced therethrough when retaining the blinds in the opened position.

Fig. 10 illustrates a line-laced system 14 comprising attachable slat apertures 70 such as pivotably attached apertures 76, which by way of example are tube shaped, having operative line 16 laced therethrough, such that apertures 76 pivot into alignment coaxially with one another as the slats are adjusted by an adjustment means 98. Fig. 10 also shows a slat-line affixing means 40 comprising a line-end retention knot 64 retained at knot engagement aperture 66. An adjustment means is also shown, comprising a spring-return mechanism 56 such as the type used in retractable metal tape measures and the like. In operation, line 16 is responsive to linear adjustments from mechanism 56 such that slats 20 can be quickly adjusted to an open, layered position, by an activation of the spring within means 56.

Fig. 11 illustrates a diagrammatical partial view of line-laced system 14 having an adjustment means 98 comprising a combination line-spooler and crank handle 54 at one line-end, and an opposite line end attached to an alternative line-affixing means comprising an adhesive material 68 near a lower slat end 26 of a medial slat 96. Line 16 is connected with and responsive to means 98 such that a rotation of the crank handle of means 98 is converted into linear adjustments to control line 16 and adjust the slats of line-laced system 14.

Figs. 12A and 12B are diagrammatic illustrations showing end view detail of an array of vertical slats 20 and a line-laced system 14 further comprising slat guides 78 adjoined adjacent to slats 20. Slat guide 78 can be integrally formed adjacent to a slat lower end 26 of a slat 20, or can be affixed thereto, and in either case, can optionally include a line guidance means 18 comprising an aperture 22 through which operative line 16 can be laced.

In operation, a blind-opening linear adjustment is induced by an adjustment means 98, and line 16 being connected therewith on one end is pulled linearly, moving a medial slat 96 connected at the opposite end of line 16 until it is guided by a slat engaging contour 146 to slat alignment stop 150, whereupon the medial slat 96 and the newly engaged slat 20 are likewise drawn to, and engaged by, a slat engaging contour 146 and the slat alignment stop 150 combination of the next successive slat.

Thus, consecutive slats are cumulatively engaged. The slat guides 78 are short enough in height along a longitudinal axis of the slats to be vertically offset as the slats are drawn diagonally and provide an alignment of the guides as shown in Fig.

12B when the slats are adjusted to a drape-like configuration. Fig. 12B also shows a cross-sectional detail of a push-button line retainer wherein line 16 is laced through release mechanism 132 and is retained therein by a spring-load tension 56 of mountable push-button means 130. To release retaining tension on line 16, push- button 52 is pushed, which in turn compresses the spring-load and aligns release mechanism 132 with one or more line guidance means 18 formed adjacent to the side of push-button means 130.

Figs. 13A through 15B show a slat-suspending member 86 onto which vertical slats are pivotably mountable. Figs. 13A and 15A show a front view of the member having a plurality of peg receptacles 84. Fig. 14A shows a front view of the member having a plurality of pivot pegs 80 extending outward therefrom. In Fig. 13B, separate pivot pegs 80 are inserted through respective slat peg apertures 82 and retained in peg receptacles 84 to pivotably attach slats 20 to member 86. In Fig. 14B a plurality of slats having peg apertures 82 are pivotably mountable on pivot pegs 80 extending outward from member 86. In Fig. 15B, a plurality of slats 20 each having pivot pegs 80 extending outward therefrom are inserted into respective peg receptacles 84 of the member 86 and pivotably mounted thereto. Fig. 13B further illustrates diagrammatically, slat-suspending member attachment means 88 for removably mounting the member 86, and can be comprised of a mounting bracket of a known type or of one or more mount receptacle formed in member 86 into which a wall-mounted attachment means 88 can be slid.

Figs. 16A and 16B are cross-sectional views of a slat-positioning means 12 having a handle 90, such as a tube material with a preset adjustment means 152 adjoined to an end thereof further comprising one or more resilient preset adjustment indexing arm 156, which is slidably interactive within a larger tube that is shown with one or more recessed preset adjustment stop 154. Conversely, preset adjustment means 152 can be comprised of a flexible arm member having one or more indexing recesses which is slidably interactive within an outer tube having one or more ribbed

detent on its inner diameter. In either case, one or more desirable preset adjustment is provided, such that the sliding of handle 90 and the adjoining adjustment means 152 within the outer tube, is momentarily restricted when the indexing arm encounters an interactive recess, or ribbed contour, and is tactilely felt by the user so that quick preset adjustments can be achieved. Figs. 16A and 16B also illustrate a substantially hidden line-laced system 14 having line-guidance means 18 with operative line 16 laced therethrough. Line-guidance means 18 can be further comprised of friction reducing means 60, such as a pulley, and a friction reducing means 62, such as a pulley, rotatably adjoined adjacent an end of handle 90, such that a linear movement of handle 90 induces a 2: 1 ratio linear adjustment, when both pulleys 60 and 62 are employed, or a 1: 1 ratio adjustment, when pulley 60 is employed and line 16 is attached adjacent to an end of handle 90.

Fig. 17 illustrates a slat coloring method for optimizing the drape-like appearance of adjacent pivotably mounted blind slats, using a coloring-agent applicator means 160 for applying a coloring-agent of varying density onto a slat 20, which passes by the applicator means via a controllable slat conveyance means 162.

In operation, a slat linear portion 178 of a slat 20 is moved parallel to a slat longitudinal axis 176 by conveyance means 162 such that at least one controllable coloring-agent source 170 controls a flow of a coloring-agent, such as paint, through a coloring-agent aperture 172, such as a spray-paint nozzle, to apply a coloring-agent spray 174 of varying density during a coloring-agent applicator phase 168.

Alternatively, a plurality of slats 20 can be moved simultaneously via a wider conveyance means 162 by a plurality of controllable coloring-agent sources 170. In either case, a substantially continuous source of slat material can be linearly fed onto the conveyance means. Further, a conveyance means may alternatively be comprised of a slat material extrusion device to pass the extruded slat material by one or more controllable coloring-agent source 170 as it is extruded.

Fig. 18 shows a coloring-agent applicator means 160 for optimizing a drape- like appearance of adjacent pivotably mounted blind slats, comprising at least one controllable slat conveyance means 162 having one or more slat retaining means 164 and a coloring agent 182 contained in a coloring-agent vat 180, wherein a varying

saturation of coloring agent 182, such as a dye, is applied to one or more slat 20 by a controlled immersion of a width portion of the slat into and out of the coloring agent 182 via conveyance means 162.

Fig. 19 shows controllable plastic injectors 190 for directing a controllable flow of colored plastic material into a slat-forming receptacle 194, such as an extrusion die or plastic-injection mold cavity, to integrally form slats having a linear blend of color across a slat width 184 thus optimizing a drape-like appearance of the slats when suspended adjacent to other such blind slats. In operation, each plastic injector induces a controllable flow of plastic material through an aperture 172 such as a nozzle, and it can be seen that a relatively light colored or hued plastic can be induced into a central width portion 186 while a darker plastic is simultaneously induced into outer width portions 188 to simulate the highlighted and blended coloration in the contour of fabric drapery as described above. Alternatively, an edge- to-edge linear blend of color starting with a lightest plastic color near one outer width portion 188 can successively be made darker when each successive injector induces darker plastic material into slat-forming receptacle 192.

Figs. 20 through 23 show slat edge wedges 210 affixed to edge portions of slats 20. As can be seen in the succession of converging slats represented in Figs. 21 through 23, each of slat edge wedges 210 has a contour that prevents any adjacent slat from binding on neighboring slat rotational shafts and thus allows for a freer lateral movement of the slats while they are rotated in such substantially closed positions.

Fig. 20 is a partial front view of suspending slats, and Figs. 21 through 23 are top views of slats converging.

In Figs. 24 and 25, slats are shown having an end edge contour 214 seen near to slat upper end aperture 202. Contours 214 can be drilled, stamped, injected- molded, or punched, for example, and are optimized in contour shape for sideways movement and/or diagonal pivoting of the slats and may be uniform in size or shape or can vary from slat to slat according to slat movement needs.

A scissor-action means 220 is shown in Figs. 26 through 28 having several slat rotational shaft apertures 224 through each of which a slat rotational shaft (not shown) operatively extends. Scissor-action means 220 provides a uniform and collective

adjustment to slat shafts that extend downward from a slat-suspending member, such that the slats suspending therefrom, whether rotated closed or rotated to any position or suspended diagonally or vertically, will be evenly spaced when laterally adjusted, as opposed to the typical sequential movement of the slat actuators currently offered.

Thus an increased aesthetic appearance is achieved and the illusion or sense that one is looking at a contiguous and symmetrically formed drape is heightened. This sense is much more difficult to maintain when the overlap of adjacent slats becomes and appears random. It is also noted that the use of scissor-action means 220 eliminates the need for the multiple sequential positioning bands currently used in vertical blinds.

In Fig. 28, one or more scissor-action extended members 226 are employable as auxiliary arms which can be operatively connected to any one in a variety of known actuator means (such as an electric motor or servo, including such means activated by remote control) for the purpose of controlling the lateral movement of the blind slats, thus eliminating drawstrings and the like that are currently required for such adjustments.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, one or more slat catches 230, may provide vertical drape-blind slat positioning to an otherwise conventional vertical blind by positioning a slat retaining edge 234 against edge surfaces of a plurality of slats to retain the slats diagonally. By way of example, embodiments of a slat catch 230 of the present invention are seen in close-up in Figs. 29 and 30, and Figs. 45 through 49. The catch 230 has a slat retaining edge 234, which can be further enhanced for slat retention with a slat catch hook 232. In Figs. 29 and 30, slat catch 230 is pivotably mountable on catch pivot mount 236, and optionally includes a slat resilient retaining means 240 (illustrated in the form of a contoured spring mechanism), which can be employed to urge or bias the slats in a retained position against retaining edge 234. In a typical operation, slat catches 230 are each mounted adjacent opposite sides of an architectural opening and can optionally be secured thereto on a pivotable mount via one or more pivot mount aperture 238. Additionally, a cylindrical shaft extending out from a catch pivot mount 236 can have one or more semi-flattened sides to be interactive with a flexible faceted aperture of the catch 230

to rotatably mount the catch 230 thereto and to bias it in a preferred direction-for example, parallel to a retained position of the slats.

As is seen in Figs. 31 through 34, when engaging the slats 20, catches 230 provide full and complete diagonal adjustments of the slats (indicated by arrows 250), and with the slat catch disengaged as in Figs. 33 and 34, full and complete lateral adjustments of the slats (indicated by arrows 252) is also provided. It is noted that the diagonal adjustments 250 or lateral adjustments 252 can be made by manual or electrically driven means of a known type. Quick disengagement of the retained slats is achieved by pushing the collective slat edges away from retaining edge 234 and/or out of the way of a slat catch hook 232. Similarly, when a slat resilient retaining means 240 is employed, disengagement of the retained slats is achieved by pushing the collective slat edges into resilient retaining means 240 and then away from retaining edge 234. The engaging and disengaging process is easily achieved and can be accomplished with a one hand operation, including the pivoting of a catch (when pivotably mounted) out of the way of the slats. Alternatively, it is noted that slat catches 230 can be rigidly mounted adjacent opposite sides of an architectural opening such as a window frame, each catch extending laterally from their mounting across the width of a plurality of gathered slats and having an arm pivotably mounted adjacent to an end thereof, whereby an adjustable arm and a slat-retaining edge thereof, is pivotable into engagement with edges of the slats to retain the slats in a diagonal position. Additionally, the pivoting arm of rigidly mounted catches can be resiliently biased to stay in one or more preferred positions, for example, substantially perpendicular to the retained slats.

Figs. 45 through 49 show that the positioning of each slat catch 230, or one or more member thereof, can optionally be mechanized and driven by any of a variety of known electrical drive and control means such as a solenoid, a controllable motor or servo, including such means activated by remote control. By way of example, in Fig.

45, a drive gear 260 is shown to rotate counter-clockwise against rack gear 262, which is operatively connected to slat catch 230, and cause a closing of the catch toward slats 20 and a clockwise rotation of alignment arm 264. In Fig. 46, the catch is positioned parallel to the slats and alignment arm 264 is now aligned with arm

alignment slot 266, which rests against alignment arm stop 268. Further counter- clockwise rotation of drive gear 260 against rack gear 262 shown in Fig. 47 causes the combination of slat catch 230, connected slat retaining edge 234, and alignment arm 264, to collectively move, so that arm 264 travels up arm alignment slot 266, such that slats 20 are retained within the slat catch 230. In Figs. 48 and 49, an alternative approach is illustrated wherein at least one pivotable member of a slat catch 230 can be mechanized. For example, with a controllable catch drive motor 270, having a connected drive arm 272, and arm linkage 274 operatively connected to the drive arm on one end and to a portion of a pivotable member (having a slat retaining edge 234) at an opposite end, retaining edge 234 can be made to pivot about catch pivot 276.

Thus, when drive arm 272 moves counter-clockwise, arm linkage 274 urges retaining edge 234 into a position which retains slats 20. Conversely, a clockwise rotation of the motor causes the release of the slats. It is noted that the motor can be controlled by optional communications receiver and control means 278, which is suitable for receiving radio or remote control communications (and the like) and for controlling said motor according to the adjustment range requirements of the operative catch. It is also noted that the motor can be replaced with any in a variety of known controllable electrical drive means such as a servo, a solenoid and so on. Additionally, while the arm linkage 274 just described, is shown to push the slat retaining edge 234 into engagement with slats 20, it is obvious that the linkage could be configured to pull retaining edge 234 into engagement as well.

As previously described, the slat catch 230 is pivotably mountable having a slat retaining edge 234, and while it has been shown to be pivotable into a retaining position in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slats, it is noted that slat retaining edges of catches can also be rotated into a retaining position in a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slats, and that such rotation is also controllable by electrical drive and control means. For example, a slat catch similar to a type described above, or one simply comprising a loop, is pivotably attachable adjacent near to an architectural opening, and when so mounted, can pivot from a attachment point near a lower outer lateral edge of a plurality of slats, over the end of the slats and up adjacent to the inner lateral side of the slats to be retained by

the slat retaining edge 234 in contact with the inner lateral edges. To release the slats from a diagonal position, the slat retaining edge of the catch, or loop, is slid down the inner lateral edge of the slats until it clears the end of the slats.

In operation, the slat catch 230, whether manually controlled or electrically driven and controlled, is typically employed following the lateral sliding of vertically suspending slats to their outermost lateral positions, whereafter the catch, or a member thereof, is rotatable into a position to retain inner lateral edges of a plurality of slats. With the slats catch-retained, the vertically suspending slats are then movable by lateral adjustment control within a slat-suspending member, into a full range of diagonal and layered positions by manual or electrically driven adjustments derived therefrom. Alternatively, the vertically suspending slats can hang from a simplified slat-suspending member (with no or little lateral adjustment control) with each slat hanging from a pivot peg, and the slats can be manually gathered into a diagonal position by hand whereafter they are secured diagonally by a slat catch.

Thus, an economical variant is also provided, with none, or fewer, rotational and lateral adjusting parts of typical vertical blinds.

Figs. 35 through 38 show another embodiment wherein wide aspect ratio windows are readily accommodated by sub-grouping slats into a plurality of slat panels (e. g., A, B, C, D, shown with six slats each). Panels B and C are each suspendable from a guide track, or from rollers (or other friction-reducing means) on a track such as a monorail. The guide tracks direct panels B and C laterally outward and in a layered fashion behind panels A and D respectively, such that panels B and C are substantially hidden behind panels A and D whether the slats are vertically arranged as in Fig. 37 or whether the slats are diagonally arranged as in Fig. 38.

Sectional views showing guide track detail are taken along lines 39-39,40-40,41-41, and 42-42 of Figs. 35 through 38, respectively. Fig. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 39-39 of Fig. 35, showing panels A, B, C, D aligned to one another. Fig. 40 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 40-40 of Fig. 35, showing panels B and C retractable on a guide track behind panels A and D respectively. Figs. 41 and 42 are cross-sectional views taken along line 41-41 of Fig. 37 and line 42-42 of Fig. 38, respectively, showing the upper-end slat positions. Figs. 43 and 44 illustrate panel C

movement facilitated by a spring and by a weight, such that a pulling of a control means to pull the panel against either the spring or the weight causes a potential for returning the panel to a former position and can be used to assist in the action of the movement or positioning of the panels, or alternatively, for the lateral adjustments of the slats of the slat-positioning means by assisting the control of the line-laced control systems previously mentioned.

To create a symmetrical appearance in the drape layering of the slats, it is necessary to layer the slats to, or from, the medial two slats, as opposed to the typical convention of layering them from one side across to the other. Otherwise slats positioned diagonally on one side of a window will have a medial slat in the front of the slat layer, while the other side will have a medial slat in the back of the layer.

Accordingly, it is preferable for aesthetic reasons to have the slats layered symmetrically. However, a counter-rotation on the slats is then necessary if the manufacturer wishes to also provide the consumer with rotational adjustments of the blinds. In order to accomplish this, Figs. 50 and 51 show typical slat rotational shaft actuation means, each figure shows a common drive rod 246 that powers the actuating means worm gears it traverses through. Figs. 50 and 51 further show one worm gear pitch in"A"gears as left worm gears 242, contrasted against inverse"B"gears, having right worm gears 244, such that the turning of the common drive rod 246 provides a smooth and complete counter-rotation of the slats.

In another embodiment, shown in Figs. 52 and 53, slats are shown having a pivotable joint 292 connecting an upper slat portion 294 and a lower slat portion 296 such that the two can pivot freely and can be retained in an open position by installable slat catches located adjacent the diagonal intersection point of cumulative joints 292 to retain the slats thereto, or by having the slat-positioning means of the line-laced control system previously described pull the slats to the sides of the window adjacent the diagonal intersection of the joints.

In another embodiment, views of the blinds having slats with at least one side surface which aesthetically renders a portion of a drape-like appearance are illustrated in Figs. 54 and 55. More particularly, Fig. 56 shows a front view of a slat about to be covered by a slat sleeve, which can made of a fabric material or other material having

an aesthetic surface. Fig. 57 shows the slat surrounded and covered by the slat sleeve and optionally retained thereon by a typical rotational shaft clip means. As previously mentioned, care can be taken to create an illusion of a"drape-blind"and aesthetic means such as the employment of designer fabrics, or the ability to match the blind's appearance with furnishings in a room (e. g., a bed, a sofa, and the like), can be instrumental in facilitating the effect. Thus, a fabric sleeve approach is employable, which fits over the slats to quickly and easily match, or retrofit, the look of drape- blinds to the design of the room in which they reside. In Fig. 56, a slat sleeve 298 having an open end 300 on at least one end is slid over the slat from the open end and retained at the upper end of the slat either by a typical slat clip of a rotational shaft 254, or by any in a variety of known retention means, such as loop and hook material, tie strings, snaps, buttons, and the like. The sleeve material has other advantages in that one side can be used to aesthetically enhance the appearance on the room, while the other side can be used for such practical purposes as using black or reflective colors or material to absorb or reflect heat as desired.

In a last embodiment of the present invention an affixable member having an aperture and pin combination is shown in Figs. 58 through 63. Two principle methods of employing the aperture pin combinations both require the securing of an outermost slat in order to then hold adjacent slats in a desired position. The outermost slat can be secured from an edge (as shown in Fig. 63) or can be pivotably secured at a mid-point beneath the slat (not shown) to allow for complete rotational adjustment of the blind slats. With the outermost slat secured, the first method is to simply hand gather the slats and align and hook the successive pins in adjacent apertures, which will then allow for the upper lateral adjustment of the drape-blinds.

The second method follows a sequence of rotating and sliding the slats into engagement using the adjustment cords and/or pull chains of typical blinds currently in use, such that the slats as shown in Fig. 59 are first pulled into parallel proximity to one another and rotated from Fig. 59 position to Fig. 60 position, where the gap between the slats is then adjustably reduced, and when the slats are rotated from Fig.

60 position to Fig. 61 position, the pins are then engaged in the apertures, and the

upper end of the slats can then be adjusted as described above.

Although various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.