Blind with light-transmitting slats
First Claim
1. A blind having an interior side and an exterior side and comprising:
- (a) a plurality of elongated slats made of lightweight, flexible and generally resilient polycarbonate plastic material having a thickness not greater than 0.062 inches and selected light-transmitting qualities, each slat being bent by means of cold-forming without the application of heat to provide a transverse cross-sectional configuration in which a first longitudinally extending portion and a second longitudinally extending portion of the slat intersect to form a selected angle of not more than 170°
, the angled slat structure imparting sufficient stiffness to the slat so that the slat will not substantially sag between and beyond widely spaced suspension points, and wherein at least one of the first and second portions is transparent, said transparent slat portion transmitting visible light with a minimum of distortion; and
(b) means for suspending the slats in parallel relation, the suspension means being adapted to rotate the slats about their longitudinal axes between an inwardly facing position, in which first surfaces of the slats are presented at the interior side of the blind with the first portions of the slats lying substantially within a single plane, and an outwardly facing position in which the first surfaces of the slats are presented at the exterior side of the blind and the second portions of the slats lie generally within a single plane, the suspension means being further adapted to hold the slats at a distance from each other such that when the slats are in one of the inwardly facing and outwardly facing positions the portions of the slats not then co-planar extend sufficiently far toward the slat immediately adjacent thereto as to substantially prevent the passage of light in a direction generally normal to the co-planar portions of the slats without that light being interrupted by the slats.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A blind having an interior side and an exterior side and having a plurality of elongated slats is disclosed. The slats are made of a flexible and generally resilient polycarbonate material having selected light-transmitting qualities and superior optical clarity. Each slat has a generally V-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration in which a first portion and a second portion of the slat correspond to the two sides of the V, intersecting at an angle of 90° to 160°. The slats are suspended in parallel relation, the slats being rotatable about their longitudinal axes between an inwardly facing position, in which the upper surfaces of the slats are presented at the interior side of the blind with the first portions of the slats substantially co-planar, and an outwardly facing portion, in which the upper surfaces are presented at the exterior side of the blind and the second portions of the slats are substantially co-planar. The slats are held at a distance from each other such that when the slats are in one of the inwardly facing and outwardly facing positions, the portions of the slats not then co-planar extend sufficiently far toward the slat immediately adjacent thereto as to overlap the immediately adjacent slat, to prevent the passage of light in a direction generally normal to the co-planar portions of the slats without that light being interrupted by the slats.
60 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A blind having an interior side and an exterior side and comprising:
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(a) a plurality of elongated slats made of lightweight, flexible and generally resilient polycarbonate plastic material having a thickness not greater than 0.062 inches and selected light-transmitting qualities, each slat being bent by means of cold-forming without the application of heat to provide a transverse cross-sectional configuration in which a first longitudinally extending portion and a second longitudinally extending portion of the slat intersect to form a selected angle of not more than 170°
, the angled slat structure imparting sufficient stiffness to the slat so that the slat will not substantially sag between and beyond widely spaced suspension points, and wherein at least one of the first and second portions is transparent, said transparent slat portion transmitting visible light with a minimum of distortion; and(b) means for suspending the slats in parallel relation, the suspension means being adapted to rotate the slats about their longitudinal axes between an inwardly facing position, in which first surfaces of the slats are presented at the interior side of the blind with the first portions of the slats lying substantially within a single plane, and an outwardly facing position in which the first surfaces of the slats are presented at the exterior side of the blind and the second portions of the slats lie generally within a single plane, the suspension means being further adapted to hold the slats at a distance from each other such that when the slats are in one of the inwardly facing and outwardly facing positions the portions of the slats not then co-planar extend sufficiently far toward the slat immediately adjacent thereto as to substantially prevent the passage of light in a direction generally normal to the co-planar portions of the slats without that light being interrupted by the slats. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A slat adapted for use in a multi-slat blind wherein a plurality of slats are suspended in parallel relation and are adapted to be rotated about their longitudinal axes, comprising:
- an elongated slat made of lightweight, flexible and generally resilient polycarbonate plastic having a thickness not greater than 0.062 inches and selected light transmitting, absorbing and reflecting qualities, the slat having a first surface and a second surface and being bent by means of cold forming and devoid of heat treatment to provide a transverse cross-sectional configuration in which a first longitudinally extending planar portion and a second longitudinally extending planar portion of the slat intersect at a selected angle of not more than 170°
, the angled slat structure imparting sufficient stiffness to the slat so that the slat will not substantially sag between and beyond widely spaced suspension points, wherein at least one of the first and second portions is transparent, said transparent slat portion transmitting visible light with a minimum of distortion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- an elongated slat made of lightweight, flexible and generally resilient polycarbonate plastic having a thickness not greater than 0.062 inches and selected light transmitting, absorbing and reflecting qualities, the slat having a first surface and a second surface and being bent by means of cold forming and devoid of heat treatment to provide a transverse cross-sectional configuration in which a first longitudinally extending planar portion and a second longitudinally extending planar portion of the slat intersect at a selected angle of not more than 170°
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22. A slat adapted for use in a multi-slat blind wherein a plurality of slats are suspended in paralled relation and are adapted to be rotated about their longitudinal axes, comprising:
an elongated slat made of lightweight, flexible, and generally resilient planar polycarbonate plastic material having a thickness not greater than 0.062 inches and selected light-transmitting, absorbing, and reflecting qualities, the slat having a permanent V-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration with a longitudinally extending bend between first and second planar portions, the V-shaped structure imparting sufficient stiffness to the slat so that when supported horizontally the slat will not substantially sag between and beyond widely spaced suspension points, the bend having an inside radius of curvature of not more than 1/4 inch, the planar material of the first and second portions of the strip on either side of the bend being unaltered by mechanical manipulation or heat, at least one of the first and second portions being transparent, said transparent portion transmitting visible light with a minimum of distortion.
Specification