Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a pleated cellular shade product from a single web of material to provide different physical characteristics on opposite sides of the shade product. A web is provided having alternate first and second stripe areas extending crosswise of the web at a preset repeat spacing and the striped web is folded crosswise of the web alternately in a first direction along a first fold line intermediate side edges of the first stripe area and in a second direction along a second fold line intermediate side edges of each second stripe area to form a plurality of sidewise adjacent panels serially united in alternate succession along respective first and second fold lines.

Abstract: A venetian blind assembly has a tilt drum support with a base which has a three-segment zig-zag type slot through which two ladder legs extend and are offset sidewardly from one another, with the tilt drum interposed from front to back between the two legs. The slot holds the ladder legs apart to insure non-overlapping winding of the joined ladder legs on the tilt drum. The tilt drum is connected to a flexible cable that turns and extends vertically downwardly on the window stile. The flexible cable is positioned by a plastic guide which is fastened to the stile. The flexible cable has an extruded fitting crimped to it which has a D-shaped opening in it. The fitting receives a vertical control rod which has a D-shape. The fitting opening is substantially deeper than is required to insure a proper connection with the vertical control rod. Hence the same vertical control rod may be installed on windows that vary in height by several inches, with the excess length absorbed within the fitting opening.

Abstract: A venetian blind ladder carrier mechanism for connecting the slat support ladders of a venetian blind to a tilt rod. The ladder carrier mechanism includes a drive member connected to the tilt rod for turning with the tilt rod and, first and second carrier members supported for turning relative to the drive members and relative to each other about a the axis of the tilt rod. The first and second carrier members have respective first and second ladder supports spaced outwardly from the axis of the tilt rod and connected to respective ones of the side strips of the ladder. The drive member is arranged to drive the first carrier member in a first angular direction when the drive member is rotated in the first angular direction by the tilt rod to lift one of the side strips of the ladder and the drive member is arranged to drive the second carrier member in a second angular direction when the drive member is rotated in the second angular direction by the tilt rod and raise the other side strip of the ladder.