Blind and shade cutting center for cutting two different window covering products

#The present invention relates generally to the field of window covering sizing machines and more particularly to a blind and shade cutting center.

#Mass retail merchandisers sell a large number of window coverings directly to consumers. Standard sized window coverings are sized to a consumer's specifications while the consumer waits. The apparatus employed to size the various window coverings must be both easy to use by an employee of a retail outlet and should not require an extensive training period.

#Additionally, the floor space that the cutting apparatus requires should fit within the existing structure and layout of the retail outlet. Further, the cutting apparatus ideally should size a number of different types of window coverings, such as metal or vinyl mini-blinds, vertical blinds, pleated shades, and cellular shades.

#The invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus located in a bay in a stored position.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cutting apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operating position.

#Referring now to the drawings, an apparatus for sizing both blinds and shades for window coverings is generally illustrated in FIG. 1. The blind and shade cutting center 10 is slidably movable on rails 12 in and out of a bay 14. The cutting center 10 includes a first cutting station 16 for sizing mini-blinds, pleated shades, and cellular shades. The cutting center further includes a second cutting station 18 for sizing wooden blinds and vertical blinds. The first and second cutting stations 16, 18 are supported by and located on opposing ends of a housing 20. A controller mechanism 22 allows an operator to gain access and to control the first and second cutting stations 16, 18. Further, cutting center 10 includes a center locating and measuring system 24 to position the blinds and shades to be sized.

#Referring to FIGS. 2 and 17 the housing 20 of the cutting center 10 includes a bottom 26, a front wall 28, a first and second side wall 30, 32, a rear wall 34, and a top working surface 36. For purposes of this application the cross housing direction is defined as the direction that is perpendicular to the front wall 28 and rear wall 34. Similarly, the longitudinal direction will be defined as the direction that is perpendicular to the first and second side walls 30, 32. The right side of the housing 20 will be defined from the perspective of an operator as they face the bay 14. Accordingly, the first side wall 30 is on the right side of the housing, while the second side wall 32 is on the left side of the housing. The longitudinal axis of the housing will be defined as an axis extending centrally on the top working surface 36 and perpendicular to the first and second side walls 30, 32. The cross center axis will be defined as an axis extending centrally on the top working surface 36 and parallel with the cross housing direction. The cross center axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

#Housing 20 may be moved from a stored position (as illustrated in FIG. 1) in which the housing 20 is located within the bay 14 to an operating position (as illustrated in FIG. 2) in which the housing 20 is located substantially outside of the bay 14. The stored position permits the housing to be completely out of the aisle of a retail or mass merchandising outlet. In the operating position, the housing is accessible for an operator to size a blind or shade product as will be described below. While it is possible to size a blind or shade product while the housing is in the stored position, the length of the product to be sized may be limited by the size of the bay.