Apparatus and method for selectively opening a portion of a venetian window blind while closing another portion
First Claim
1. In use with a venetian blind having a head rail for mounting at the top of a window frame over which the blind is to be positioned, first and second pairs of tilt strings depending from the head rail at spaced-apart locations, a first string of each pair being disposed closest to the window and a second string of each pair being disposed farthest from the window, first and second arrays of bridging ties extending between the strings of the first and second pairs respectively in vertically spaced-apart locations, first and second lift strings depending from the head rail generally between the first and second pairs of tilt strings respectively, a bottom rail attached to the lower ends of the lift strings, a plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart slats positioned between the first and second strings of the pairs of tilt strings, each resting on respective bridging ties of the first and second arrays so that as the first and second strings of the pairs of tilt strings are moved vertically relative to one another, the slats are caused to rotate about their long axes generally in unison, and each slat having a pair of spaced-apart openings through which respective lift strings extend, and control means disposed in the head rail and operable to move the first and second strings of the pairs of tilt strings vertically relative to one another,apparatus for selectively allowing rotation of an upper group of slats by a certain degree different from the degree of rotation of a lower group of slats comprisingmeans for clamping together a lift string and a tilt string to prevent relative vertical movement therebetween so that operation of the control means causes rotation of the slats above the location of the clamping means by an amount different from the amount of rotation of the slats below the location of the clamping means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, including apparatus and method, for modifying an existing venetian blind so as to maintain a desired portion of the slats in an open or horizontal position, while simultaneously maintaining the remaining portion of slats in a closed or slanted position. The invention provides for a clip and a method of using the same, the clip being attached to one tilt string and the lift string of the blind to prevent movement of both relative to each other below the clip. The second tilt string of the blind is encompassed loosely by the clip, but remains free to move vertically up and down.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In use with a venetian blind having a head rail for mounting at the top of a window frame over which the blind is to be positioned, first and second pairs of tilt strings depending from the head rail at spaced-apart locations, a first string of each pair being disposed closest to the window and a second string of each pair being disposed farthest from the window, first and second arrays of bridging ties extending between the strings of the first and second pairs respectively in vertically spaced-apart locations, first and second lift strings depending from the head rail generally between the first and second pairs of tilt strings respectively, a bottom rail attached to the lower ends of the lift strings, a plurality of horizontally disposed, vertically spaced-apart slats positioned between the first and second strings of the pairs of tilt strings, each resting on respective bridging ties of the first and second arrays so that as the first and second strings of the pairs of tilt strings are moved vertically relative to one another, the slats are caused to rotate about their long axes generally in unison, and each slat having a pair of spaced-apart openings through which respective lift strings extend, and control means disposed in the head rail and operable to move the first and second strings of the pairs of tilt strings vertically relative to one another,
apparatus for selectively allowing rotation of an upper group of slats by a certain degree different from the degree of rotation of a lower group of slats comprising means for clamping together a lift string and a tilt string to prevent relative vertical movement therebetween so that operation of the control means causes rotation of the slats above the location of the clamping means by an amount different from the amount of rotation of the slats below the location of the clamping means.
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12. In combination with a venetian blind having a plurality of generally vertically spaced-apart, horizontally disposed slats held in position by two pair of tilt strings, a first string of each pair extending vertically on a front side of the slats, and a second string of each pair extending vertically on a back side of the slats opposite the first string, and which, when moved vertically relative to one another, cause rotation of the slats about their long axes generally in unison to open and close the blind, said blind further having two lift strings, each extending vertically, adjacent a respective pair of tilt strings,
a clip for clamping a lift string in a fixed vertical position relative to an adjacent tilt string to prevent relative vertical movement of the clamped strings, said clip comprising a pair of fingers pivotally joined together to move between an open position, in which at least portions of each finger are positioned apart from one another, and a closed position, in which said portions are positioned in a mating relationship to hold the clamped strings therebetween.
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13. A method of manipulating a venetian blind to selectively open a portion thereof and close another portion thereof, said venetian blind including a plurality of slats spaced apart vertically from one another and disposed to extend horizontally and in parallel with one another, a head rail disposed at the top of the blind for mounting over a window, at least two pair of tilt strings, a first string of each pair extending vertically downwardly from the head rail on a front side of the slats and a second string of each pair extending vertically downwardly from the head rail on a back side of the slats opposite the corresponding first string, at least two arrays of bridging ties, each array extending between the first and second tilt strings of a corresponding pair under the slats to provide support therefor, at least two lift strings, each associated with a pair of tilt strings and extending vertically downwardly from the head rail, a bottom rail attached to the lower ends of the lift strings at the bottom of the blind, a control mechanism operable to cause the first tilt string of each pair to move vertically relative to the second tilt string of each pair to thereby cause the slats to rotate about their long axes to vary the amount of light allowed through the blind, and a light mechanism operable to cause the lift strings to move upwardly and thereby raise the bottom rail and any slats encountered by the bottom rail as it is raised, said method comprising
operating the control mechanism to rotate the slats to a horizontal position; -
clamping a clip onto each lift string and the second string of the associated pair of tilt strings thereby preventing relative movement of the clamped lift string and second tilt string below the clip, at the same time allowing for free axial movement of first string of the associated pair of tilt strings; pulling the lift strings slightly upwardly to create slack in the second strings of the associated pair of tilt strings; and selectively operating the control mechanism to open a portion of the slats while closing the remainder.
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16. A method of manipulating a venetian blind to selectively open a portion thereof and close another portion thereof, said venetian blind including a plurality of slats spaced apart vertically from one another and disposed to extend horizontally and in parallel with one another, a head rail disposed at the top of the blind for mounting over a window, at least two pair of tilt strings, a first string of each pair extending vertically downwardly from the head rail on a front side of the slats and a second string of each pair extending vertically downwardly from the head rail on a back side of the slats opposite the corresponding first string, at least two arrays of bridging ties, each array extending between the first and second tilt strings of a corresponding pair under the slats to provide support therefor, at least two lift strings, each associated with a pair of tilt strings and extending vertically downwardly from the head rail, a bottom rail attached to the lower ends of the lift strings at the bottom of the blind, a control mechanism operable to cause the first tilt string of each pair to move vertically relative to the second tilt string of each pair to thereby cause the slats to rotate about their long axes to vary the amount of light allowed through the blind, and a light mechanism operable to cause the lift strings to move upwardly and thereby raise the bottom rail and any slats encountered by the bottom rail as it is raised, said method comprising
operating the control mechanism to rotate the slats to a horizontal position; -
attaching a clip to the second tilt string of a pair of tilt strings; moving the clip upwardly to produce slack in the second tilt string immediately above the clip; attaching the clip to the associated lift string; selectively operating the control mechanism to rotate open the slats above the clip. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification