US 5,845,694 AGranted

Horizontal venetian blind

OwnerLeone A. Coheninventor

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Abstract

A venetian blind with individually adjustable slats. Each slat has multi-layered decorative slat extensions mounted in a slat extension holder. The individual slat extensions are mounted directly above one another in the unextended position. Each slat can be individually adjusted in length by sliding the slat extensions in opposite directions. The slats in the blinds can be now be extended to allow the blind to be used on windows of varying width. Each slat can be individually adjusted to allow the blind to be used interchangeably or on odd shaped windows, such as arched windows. The cords used to control slat position and the cords used to raise and lower the slats are mounted on the edge of the slats which do not have holes. In addition, a slat holder is described one of its slat extension grips set back from the edge of the slat holder. Slat inserts, constructed of PVC or fabric, for example, can be placed in the slat holder between the slat grips while one or more holes are punched into the space between the edge and the slat grip for accommodating the lift cords and/or tilt cords. A custom venetian blind can be constructed using these slat holders with a single slat extension placed therein.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A venetian blind, comprising:

a head rail having a lift cord drive assembly and a tilt cord drive assembly;
a plurality of lift cord assemblies attached to said lift cord drive assembly in said head rail, each lift cord assembly comprising:
a front lift cord;
a rear lift cord;
and
a plurality of tilt cord assemblies attached to said tilt cord drive assembly in said head rail, each tilt cord assembly comprising:
a front tilt cord;
a rear tilt cord;
and
a plurality of cord rungs each connecting said front tilt cord and said rear tilt cord;
a plurality of elongate slats, at least one of which is an independently adjustable slat, each slat comprising:
an elongate slat holder having a front edge and a rear edge along opposing longitudinal edges of said slat holder, the slat holder further having a an elongate front grip substantially flush with said front edge and an elongate rear grip set back from said rear edge;
a plurality of elongate slat extensions, said plurality of slat extensions inserted in said slat holder one overlapping another and slideably held by said front and rear edge grips, each slat extension independently movable with respect to the other slat extensions such that the width of said slat can be varied independently of other slats in said venetian blind;
and
wherein said front tilt cords and said front lift cords extend outside of and adjacent to said front edge of said slat holder, said rear lift cords extend through a plurality of apertures in said slat holder functioning as cord guides and positioned between said rear grip and said rear edge;
and
wherein each slat rests on at least a pair of cord rungs and neither said front tilt cords, said rear tilt cords, said front lift cords nor said rear lift cords pass through any of said plurality of slat extensions.

14 more elements

A venetian blind, comprising:

a head rail having a lift cord drive assembly and a tilt cord drive assembly;
a plurality of lift cord assemblies attached to said lift cord drive assembly in said head rail, each lift cord assembly comprising:
a front lift cord;
a rear lift cord;
and
a plurality of tilt cord assemblies attached to said tilt cord drive assembly in said head rail, each tilt cord assembly comprising:
a front tilt cord;
and
a rear tilt cord;
a plurality of elongate slats, at least one of which is an independently adjustable slat, each slat comprising:
an elongate slat holder having a front edge and a rear edge along opposing longitudinal edges of said slat holder, the slat holder further having an elongate front grip substantially flush with said front edge and an elongate rear grip set back from said rear edge;
a plurality of elongate slat extensions, said plurality of slat extensions inserted in said slat holder one overlapping another and slideably held by said front and rear edge grips, each slat extension independently movable with respect to the other slat extensions such that the width of said slat can be varied independently of other slats in said venetian blind;
and
wherein said front tilt cords and said front lift cords extend outside of and adjacent to said front edge of said slat holder, said rear lift cords extend through a plurality of apertures in said slat holder functioning as cord guides and positioned between said rear grip and said rear edge;
and
wherein neither said front tilt cords, said rear tilt cords, said front lift cords nor said rear lift cords pass through any of said plurality of slat extensions.

13 more elements

A venetian blind, comprising:

a head rail having a lift cord drive assembly and a tilt cord drive assembly;
a plurality of lift cord assemblies attached to said lift cord drive assembly in said head rail, each lift cord assembly comprising:
a front lift cord;
a rear lift cord;
and
a plurality of tilt cord assemblies attached to said tilt cord drive assembly in said head rail, each tilt cord assembly comprising:
a front tilt cord:
and
a rear tilt cord;
a plurality of elongate slats, each slat comprising:
an elongate slat holder having a front edge and a rear edge along opposing longitudinal edges of said slat holder, the slat holder further having an elongate front grip substantially flush with said front edge and an elongate rear grip set back from said rear edge;
an elongate slat insert inserted in said slat holder and slideably held by said front and rear edge grips each slat insert movable with respect to said slat holder;
and
wherein said front tilt cords and said front lift cords extend outside of and adjacent to said front edge of said slat holder, said rear lift cords extend through a plurality of apertures in said slat holder functioning as cord guides and positioned between said rear grip and said rear edge;
and
wherein neither said front tilt cords, said rear tilt cords, said front lift cords nor said rear lift cords pass through any of said slat inserts.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.