Abstract: A stain applicator comprising a pad frame, a handle assembly attached to an upperside thereof, and an applicator pad wherein said applicator pad includes a slit therein allowing the retraction and extension of an applicator blade frame and attached applicator blade pad to allow staining of both the tops of generally flat decking boards mounted having gaps therebetween and the sides thereof through the extension and retraction of the applicator blade frame and applicator blade pad.

Abstract: A system for adjusting the length of lift cords used for raising and lowering a bottom rail of a window covering with respect to a head rail includes a receiving element for each lift cord located in the bottom rail and moveable along the length of the bottom rail. A locking element for each receiving element is arranged for being selectively inserted into the receiving element along the bottom rail. The lift cord is attached to one of the receiving element or the locking element. In its most preferred form, the window covering is a fabric window covering, such as a cellular window covering, the receiving element includes a channel which contains at least one cell of the fabric, and the locking element includes a wedge-shaped plate to be inserted into the channel.

Abstract: A cage for a roller cover includes a plurality of hubs, a longitudinal support member interconnecting a plurality of hubs and a roller cover support surface integrally formed with the hubs and the support member. The roller cover support surface is resiliently biased outwardly beyond at least one of the hubs for resiliently engaging the roller cover.

Abstract: A paint supply and finishing system includes a tray and a paint roller. The tray includes a floor, a plurality of upstanding walls extending from the floor to form a basin and a partitioning wall configured for being removably positioned within the basin to create first and second pans within the basin configured for receiving roller covers. The pans preferably include at least one paint metering medium. The paint roller includes a handle, a continuous elongate shaft coupled to the handle, a first roller cover rotatably supported about the shaft and a second roller cover rotatably supported about the shaft. The first and second roller covers are axially spaced from one another so as to independently rotate relative to one another and so as to be simultaneously positionable within the first and second pans.

Abstract: An expandable and contractible cellular panel 10 comprises a plurality of parallel, aligned, elongated tubular sections 12 secured together at the median region of their adjacent longitudinal margins to form the panel 10. The adjacent tubular sections 12 of the panel 10 are made of a pair of substantially identical separate strips of sheet material from those forming the other adjacent tubular sections 12. The various adjacent pairs of strips are laminated together along their confronting longitudinal margins. Each strip is made of at least two separate flexible substrate sheets 18,20 having completely different appearances, and are secured together by welding together their longitudinal margins.

Abstract: An improved footed cooking utensil is provided whereby the cooking utensil may be removed from a hot oven and placed directly on a counter-top or other surface without the need for a hot pad, cutting board, or similar device. The cooking utensil of the present invention includes foot supports which suspend the lower surface of the cooking utensil above the counter-top thereby eliminating contact between the counter-top and hot metal. The low heat capacity footings do not retain heat and any heat absorbed during the baking process is quickly dissipated upon removal of the utensil from the oven. One or more footings may be applied to metal cookware, ceramic cookware or cookware fabricated from other materials.

Abstract: Apparatus for mass producing one or more individual stacks of expandable, secured together tubular strips which includes a stacking station having an inlet and a conveyor system for sequentially delivering tubular strips having a flat face sequentially to a point opposite said inlet. The stacking station includes pushing apparatus opposite said inlet for pushing the strip delivered opposite said inlet into said chamber. The pushing apparatus has a strip-holding face lying in a given plane and having suction apertures for holding said flat face of each strip delivered thereto in said plane. The pushing member is moved back and forth into and out of said stacking chamber at said inlet with said strip-holding face presented parallel to the flat face of the previous strip delivered to said stacking chamber to push the opposite side of the strip against the flat face of the adjacent strip in said chamber to secure the strips together and form a substantially unwrinkled stack of aligned strips.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact, multi-station system for sizing window coverings such as roller shades, mini blinds, pleated shades and vertical blinds. The system includes devices for cutting components of each of the types of shades and coverings to correct window dimensions and an arrangement for presenting to a system operator, the cutting equipment for a particular application. In its most preferred form, the system includes four (4) stations with a flip-top horizontal surface containing sizing equipment on opposed sides. The most preferred system also includes fixed cutters, e.g. for roller shades and for cutting the head rail of vertical blinds. In the most preferred embodiment, the system also includes storage space for product to be sized.

Abstract: A head rail for a mini blind system is disclosed. The mini blind system includes a plurality of pivotable slats supported on flexible ladders that are connected to basket assemblies mounted in the head rail. The head rail includes a pair of sidewalls and a bottom wall. The bottom wall includes flat wall portions and a recessed channel which strengthens the head rail and allows for full pivotable movement of the uppermost mini blind slats. The head rail further includes cross-shaped apertures extending through the recessed channel and configured for locating and receiving the basket assemblies of the present invention. The head rail apertures, as well as the bottom openings on the basket assemblies, include unobstructed cut-out portions which facilitate pivoting of the slats to a position which is very close to a vertical position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cutter for cutting the ends from a mini blind so that the mini blind may be custom sized for a particular window opening. The mini blind cutter includes a framework which has a receiving area for receiving an end of the mini blind. A cutter blade is attached to a slide bar which is slidably mounted in the framework. The slide bar includes a rack engaged with a pinion gear that is rotated by a ratchet handle. Movement of the ratchet handle thus slides the slide bar along the framework and forces the cutter blade through the end of the mini blind.

Abstract: A support for a shelf having a top surface, a bottom surface, a rear wall, and a front wall. The support includes a bracket having a throat for receiving the rear wall of a shelf; and one or more wedges for being inserted between the shelf and the throat of the bracket after the rear wall of the shelf has been received by the throat of the bracket to fix the shelf to the bracket. The shelf is attached to a wall by securing the bracket secured to the support member at the desired location; inserting the rear wall of the shelf into the throat of the bracket until the rear wall is adjacent the rear of the throat; and then inserting one or more wedge members into the throat of the bracket between the top surface of the shelf and the bottom surface of an upper arm of the bracket to fix the shelf to the bracket.