Vertical blind assembly

In a vertical blind assembly of the type including a head casing having an elongated configuration extending in overhanging relation along a given length;

• a plurality of vertical blinds each attached at its upper end to a holder and movably interconnected in depending relation to said head casing by a carrier means movably mounted to travel along a track formed on said head casing and structured for pivotal orientation of each vertical blind about its own longitudinal axis and collective travel of said plurality of blinds along the length of said head casing between an open, retracted position and a closed, outwardly extended position, the improvement comprising:
• (a) each of said carrier means comprising a carrier frame having a one-piece open construction defined by oppositely disposed, open lateral faces on said carrier frame,
• (b) a follower formed on opposite ends of said carrier frame and being disposed and configured for movable engagement with the track of said head casing and travel of said carrier frame along the length thereof,
• (c) a first positioning means for moving said plurality of vertical blinds along the length of said head casing between said open position and said closed position and interconnected to consecutively disposed carrier frames and attached to an endmost carrier frame and extending outwardly therefrom in opposite directions, a portion of said first positioning means positioned exteriorly of said head casing for manipulation and activation thereof,
• (d) a second positioning means extending along the length of said head casing in interconnected substantially driving relation to each of said carrier frames for angular orientation of each of said blinds about its own longitudinal axis,
• (e) each of said carrier frames including a first recess and a second recess each having an open ended construction, said first and said second recesses disposed in adjacent and spaced, transverse relation to one another,
• (f) said carrier means further comprising a first gear element rotatably disposed within said first recess and said holder rotatably disposed within said second recess, said holder including a second gear element connected thereto so as to rotate therewith and disposed in mating engagement with said first gear element through said open ended construction of said first recess,
• (g) said open ended constructions of said first recess and said second recess cooperatively disposed and configured to respectively receive said first gear element and said holder therethrough and said open ended construction of each first and second recess further structured to define a removable, snap-fit connection with said first gear element and said holder respectively, whereby both said first gear element and said holder are removable from said carrier frame independent of one another,
• (h) wherein said first gear element is connected in driven attachment with said second positioning means to cause rotation of said first gear element within said first recess and rotation of said holder and blind attached thereto, through mating engagement of said first gear element and second gear element,
• (i) connecting means for movable attachment of each of said carrier frames to the next adjacent carrier frame and structured for movable, collective interconnection of said carrier frames along the length of said head casing, and
• (j) said carrier means further comprising a stop means disposed and structured for limited rotation of each of said holders and attached vertical blinds about their own longitudinal axis through an arc of substantially 180.degree..