Method and apparatus of infinitely sizing a mini blind
First Claim
1. A manual method of sizing a mini-blind having a plurality of slat means and a first ladder means at an undisturbed end of said slat means and a second ladder means at a cuttable end of said slat means to an exact, specified width at the time of purchase by an operator, said method including the steps of:
- locating the second ladder means at the cuttable end of the mini-blind in a position remote from the final position of the ladder cord,forming the mini-blind into a rigid structure,forming an aperture through the rigid structure for a ladder cord for the second ladder means,sizing the mini-blind to the specified width by separating excess mini-blind material from the balance of the mini-blind by the application of a manually applied lever-assisted force to the rigid mini-blind structure,positioning several of the ladder links of the second ladder means on each side of the aperture, andthreading a ladder cord through the aperture and securing it in fixed relationship to the lower portion of the slat means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sizing a slat window blind to an exact width at the point of purchasing using the level of operator skill typically found in retail outlet. The invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a type of blind in which a number of individual, horizontally disposed slats are spaced vertically apart from one another along flexible lines, often referred to as ladder cords, and which have a flat or slightly curved cross-sectional configuration. Often such slats are approximately one inch in width and frequently the term "mini blind" has been applied to this type of article.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A manual method of sizing a mini-blind having a plurality of slat means and a first ladder means at an undisturbed end of said slat means and a second ladder means at a cuttable end of said slat means to an exact, specified width at the time of purchase by an operator, said method including the steps of:
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locating the second ladder means at the cuttable end of the mini-blind in a position remote from the final position of the ladder cord, forming the mini-blind into a rigid structure, forming an aperture through the rigid structure for a ladder cord for the second ladder means, sizing the mini-blind to the specified width by separating excess mini-blind material from the balance of the mini-blind by the application of a manually applied lever-assisted force to the rigid mini-blind structure, positioning several of the ladder links of the second ladder means on each side of the aperture, and threading a ladder cord through the aperture and securing it in fixed relationship to the lower portion of the slat means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A manual method of sizing a mini-blind having a plurality of slat means and a first ladder means at an undisturbed end of said slat means and a second ladder means at a cuttable end of said slat means to an exact, specified width at the time of purchase by an operator, said method including the steps of:
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locating the second ladder means at the cuttable end of the mini-blind in a position remote from the final position of the ladder cord, forming the mini-blind into a rigid structure, forming an aperture through the rigid structure for a ladder cord for the second ladder means by the application of hand controlled drilling forces to the rigid structure, sizing the mini-blind to the specified width by separating excess mini-blind material from the balance of the mini-blind by the application of a manually applied lever-assisted force to the rigid mini-blind structure, positioning several of the ladder links of the second ladder means on each side of the aperture, and threading a ladder cord through the aperture and securing it in fixed relationship to the lower portion of the slat means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for sizing a mini-blind having a plurality of slat means to an exact, specified width at the time of purchase by an operator said apparatus including
means for supporting a mini-blind in a position to be cut to specified width, manually activated lever assisted force applying cutting means for cutting all elements of the mini-blind which have a dimension greater than the specified width, to the specified width, means for forming a ladder cord aperture in the mini-blind at a location adjacent the cut end of the mini-blind, and means for placing several of a plurality of ladder links comprise a ladder means on the cut end side of the aperture and for placing several of said plurality of ladder links which comprise said ladder means on the opposite side of the aperture whereby, when a ladder cord associated with said ladder means is threaded into said aperture and fixed with respect to the lower most portion of the mini-blind, said ladder means is substantially precluded from displacement in either direction from the ladder cord.
Specification