Blind and shade cutting center
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of sizing a window covering in a retail outlet, comprising:
- obtaining a width specification for a finished window covering;
providing a stock window covering having a bottom rail provided with two ends, a head rail, and a window covering material operatively connected to the bottom rail, the bottom rail having a connector centrally located between two ends of the bottom rail, the stock window covering having a width greater than the width specification of the finished window covering;
providing a housing including a locator for engaging the connector;
engaging the connector with the locator;
positioning the locator and window covering connector a distance equal to one half of the width specification from a cutting plane of a sizing mechanism; and
removing a portion of a first end of the bottom rail, head rail and slats extending beyond the cutting plane distal the locator with the sizing mechanism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sizing window coverings slidably extendable from a bay into an isle of a retail outlet. The method includes the steps of locating the center of the window covering relative to a cutting station utilizing a half scale for removing a portion of the window covering from each of its ends.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of sizing a window covering in a retail outlet, comprising:
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obtaining a width specification for a finished window covering;
providing a stock window covering having a bottom rail provided with two ends, a head rail, and a window covering material operatively connected to the bottom rail, the bottom rail having a connector centrally located between two ends of the bottom rail, the stock window covering having a width greater than the width specification of the finished window covering;
providing a housing including a locator for engaging the connector;
engaging the connector with the locator;
positioning the locator and window covering connector a distance equal to one half of the width specification from a cutting plane of a sizing mechanism; and
removing a portion of a first end of the bottom rail, head rail and slats extending beyond the cutting plane distal the locator with the sizing mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for sizing a window covering in a retail outlet, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a first end and a second end, and a top operating surface supporting a window covering to be sized; and
a first cutting station having a top portion and being movably secured to the first end of the housing, and movable from a first operating position to size a window covering to a second retracted position in which the top portion is substantially flush with or lower than the top operating surface;
the cutting station including a first stationary die and a first movable die. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20)
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16. A system for locating the center of a window covering to be sized, comprising:
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a window covering having a head rail;
a clip releasably attached to the center of the head rail; and
a locator positioning the clip and head rail relative to a cutter.
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17. A system for sizing window coverings in a retail outlet, comprising:
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a window covering having a head rail and a window covering material and a bottom rail operatively connected to the head rail;
the head rail, window covering material and bottom rail having a predetermined starting width, the bottom rail having a first end and a connector located a distance equal to one half of the predetermined width from the first end.a cutter having a cutting plane;
a table surface supporting the window covering, and a linear measure having half scale indicia relative to the cutting plane;
a locator releasably engaging the connector of the window covering, the locator being movable along the linear measure positioning the center of the window covering relative to the half scale indicia.
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21. A method of positioning a window covering in a sizing mechanism for sizing the window covering in a retail outlet, comprising:
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obtaining a width specification for a finished window covering;
providing a stock window covering having a bottom rail, a window covering material and a head rail having a width grater than the width specification of the finished window covering;
providing a scale calibrated from a cutting plane of a sizing mechanism, the scale having indicia that are twice the actual distance form the cutting plane; and
locating a center of the window covering on an indicia in the scale having a value equal to the width specification.
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22. A method of positioning a window covering sizing mechanism in a retail outlet comprising
providing a housing supporting a sizing mechanism; -
attaching the housing within a bay of a retail outlet, for slidably extending the housing into and out of the bay; and
sliding the housing from a retracted position in which the housing is located within the bay to an extended position in which at least a portion of the housing extends out of the bay. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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23. An apparatus for moving a window covering sizing mechanism to and from a bay in a retail outlet;
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a housing supporting at least one window covering sizing mechanism;
a slide secured to a bay of a retail outlet;
the housing being slidably coupled to the slide and being movable from a first position located substantially within the bay to a second position in which at least a portion of the housing extends out of the bay.
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24. A method of sizing different window covering products on a sizing center comprising:
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providing at least two cutters;
each cutter including a separate scale having a different color; and
providing at least two different window covering products having a color marking that corresponds to the color of the scale to be used to measure the respective window covering.
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Specification