Automatically configurable blind cutting center
AssigneeNewell Window Furnishings, Inc.
InventorJoseph Potts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sizing window coverings slidably extendable from a bay into an aisle 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.
Claims18
An apparatus to size the width of a mini blind in a retail store, comprising:
- a support surface adapted to support a blind to be sized;
- a first cutter configured to cut the width of a mini blind to a predetermined length and disposed adjacent the support surface;
- and
- an input device configured to accept information;
- the first cutter being automatically configured based on the information received by the input device.
An apparatus to size the width of a mini blind in a retail store, comprising:
- a support surface adapted to support a blind to be sized;
- a first cutter configured to cut the width of a mini blind to a predetermined length and disposed adjacent the support surface;
- a second cutter configured to cut the width of a mini blind to a predetermined length and disposed adjacent the support surface;
- and
- an input device configured to accept information, one of the first cutter and the second cutter being enabled, and the other of the first cutter and the second cutter being disabled based on the information accepted by the input device.
An apparatus to size the width of a mini blind in a retail store, comprising:
- a support surface adapted to support a blind to be sized;
- a first cutter configured to cut the width of a mini blind to a predetermined length and disposed adjacent the support surface;
- and
- an input device adapted to accept information, the apparatus configured to be enabled by the receipt of a user identification by the input device.
A method of adapting a variable blind cutting center to cut a desired blind, comprising:
- providing a support surface adapted to support a blind to be sized, a first cutter adjacent the support surface, the blind cutting center being initially in a disabled condition;
- inputting the identification of the user into an input device;
- enabling the blind cutting center;
- and
- inputting the identification of the blind to be sized into the input device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.