Abstract: An improved venetian type blind has slats having a pair of slots disposed on an outside edge or inside edge of the slats. The slots in each pair are laterally spaced apart. A first ladder having opposite cord type rails and rungs extends therebetween, is positioned with the rails outside of the slots and is connected to the bottomrail. One rail of each ladder is adjacent to a lift cord running through slots in the inside edge or outside edge of the slats.

Abstract: A venetian type blind has a headrail that can be cut down along cut lines very close to the outermost ladder locations. The cradle and spool in the headrail are sized and configured so that the cord lock and tilter can be positioned between a cradle and one side of the headrail.

Abstract: A cellular structure for window coverings has a plurality of cells formed by an upper vane and a lower vane each having a front edge and a rear edge. A C-shaped front wall has an upper end attached to the front edge of the upper vane and a lower end attached to the front edge of the lower vane to form an outwardly extending front tab at each end of the C-shaped front wall. The opposite end of each vane is attached to a rear wall. A C-shaped rear wall could be used for each cell. This structure is made by placing an edge of the vane between a pleat which is bonded to form each front tab and then preferably trimming the tab to a uniform width.

Abstract: A cellular structure for window coverings has a plurality of cells formed by an upper vane and a lower vane each having a front edge and a rear edge. A C-shaped front wall has an upper end attached to the front edge of the upper vane and a lower end attached to the front edge of the lower vane to form an outwardly extending front tab at each end of the C-shaped front wall. The opposite end of each vane is attached to a rear wall. A C-shaped rear wall could be used for each cell. This structure is made by placing an edge of the vane between a pleat which is bonded to form each front tab and then preferably trimming the tab to a uniform width.

Abstract: A headrail for a venetian type blind has reversible modular controls that can be easily switched from the right side of the blind to the left side of the blind or vice versa by the installer. The headrail has an elongated body having a base, a first sidewall and a second sidewall. The first and second sidewalls are spaced apart, generally parallel and attached to the base. Each sidewall has a slot sized to receive a plug or a fitting through which the lift cords and tilt cords or hook for a tilt wand pass. The slots are opposite one another and of a same size. One changes the controls from one end of the headrail to the opposite end of the headrail by moving the lift cords and tilt cord or hook from one slot to the other slot.

Abstract: An operator for a window covering held on a roller or axle has a stationary member having a central cavity and a first bore sized and positioned so that the roller can pass through the bore into the central cavity. A release brake is positioned so that the axle or roller can pass through and be held by the release brake. An inertial ring within the central cavity of the stationary member, surrounds a coil spring which encircles the axle. A release member is provided adjacent the release brake and the inertial ring. The release member is sized and positioned so that when the release ring is in a first position the release member will not engage the inertial ring or the release brake and when the release member is moved in a selected direction the release member will engage and turn the release brake and the inertial ring. A spool is positioned within the central cavity of the stationary member adjacent the inertial ring.

Abstract: Clamps are provided for shortening a venetian type blind to fit windows of different lengths. The clamp has two portions connected by hinge. The two portions are fastened together on a lift cord and ladder below the slat at the desired shortened length. At least two clamps are used to shorten the blind. After the clamps are applied the blind is shortened by removing that portion of the blind below the clamps. This can be done by releasing each lift cord from the bottomrail and pulling the lift cord from the bottomrail through the slats to be removed. The excess slats are removed. Then the ladders are detached from the bottomrail, shortened and reattached to the bottomrail. The lift cords are then reconnected to the bottomrail and the clamps are removed. Alternatively, the clamps which grip the ladders and lift cords can be attached to the bottomrail.

Abstract: A venetian type blind has a length adjustable bottomrail to fit windows of different lengths. A cord stop device is attached to each lift cord and each cord stop device is shaped such that when the device is attached to a lift cord the cord stop device can be removably connected to a retainer in the bottomrail and when not connected to the retainer will orient itself to be self-guiding through route holes in selected slats when the lift cord is pulled through the selected slats. The blind is shortened by releasing each cord stop device from its retainer and passing the device and attached lift cord from the bottomrail through the slats to be removed to the slat at the desired length. The excess slats are removed. Then the ladders are detached from the bottomrail, shortened and reattached to the bottomrail. The cord stop devices are then reconnected to their respective retainers in the bottomrail to complete the shortening process.

Abstract: A venetian type blind has a length adjustable bottomrail to fit windows of different lengths. The bottomrail has a channel at each ladder location through which the lift cords and the cord rails pass. A separate channel can also provided for the lift cord. An opening is provided in the underside of the bottomrail at each ladder location and an insert is disposed therein. The lift cord passes through the channel and attaches to the insert. The cord rails pass through the channel and out through the opening. The insert has a head portion with a bore therein. A threaded plug is installed in the bore. The head portion preferably has a rim portion with apertures through which the cord rails can pass. The threaded plug preferably has a cap portion and a pocket therein for storing the ends of the cord rails. Alternatively, the threaded plug is inserted into the opening itself.

Abstract: An improved venetian type blind has slats having at least one small hole adjacent one edge of each slat. At least two ladders having opposing cord type rails and rungs extending therebetween carry slats and are connected to the bottomrail. A first lift cord runs through the holes and adjacent to the first ladder. A second lift cord runs across the opposite edge of each slat adjacent the rail of a second ladder. A similar arrangement can be provided using pairs of spaced apart holes and two pairs of lift cords. A tilt mechanism attached to the headrail moves the oppositely disposed lift cords and the rails of the ladders together when the blind is changed from an open to closed position.

Abstract: A venetian type blind has a bottomrail, a headrail positioned above the bottomrail and a set of slats. Upper slats or no slats are carried on a set of upper ladders extending from the headrail and a set of lower ladders extending from the bottomrail. Each upper ladder is connected to a lower ladder by a connection device that connects an upper ladder rail to a lower ladder rail. Alternatively, all of the ladders can be connected to a single rail located between the headrail and the bottomrail. The upper ladders are connected to a tilt mechanism. At least two lift cords are attached to the bottomrail, running past slats through the headrail. At least two tilt cords are provided. Each tilt cord runs through the headrail, passing adjacent to one rail of an upper ladder and is connected to either one connector or a rail of the ladder adjacent to a connector.

Abstract: A venetian type window covering has substantially flat front and back layers made of transparent or translucent materials and preferably different sheer fabrics. The space between these layers is spanned by bridges at regular intervals slightly smaller than the space. The bridges are made of strips of material or bands of single or double strands that support slats that can be easily inserted or removed by the consumer. The slats may be flexible or ridged and are restrained from moving laterally by slots in their front and back edges that cords pass through. The cords have tension on them at all times and thereby retain the slats. The slats may also be retained by folding over the ends of the slats around the bridges.

Abstract: In a venetian type blind the bottomrail incorporates a take-up system to increase or decrease the effective operating length of the venetian blind to fit a specific window length by allowing the effective operating portion of the ladders to be adjusted, with the unused portion of the ladders stored inside the bottomrail. The excess length of the ladders are pulled along the length of the bottomrail and can be pulled from the bottomrail to lengthen the blind after shortening. In one embodiment the ladders are attached to a slide that can be moved along the length of the bottomrail and positioned at any desired location. The slide may contain a series of hooks and can be attached to a pull cord that runs through a clamp in an end cap. In another embodiment a series of hooks are provided within the bottomrail to hold selected ladder rungs.

Abstract: In a cording arrangement for large blinds having several lift cords one end of at least some of the lift cords is attached to the headrail and then the lift cord is routed into the bottomrail, over a pulley in the bottomrail, back up to the headrail and through a cord lock forming a generally U-shaped cording arrangement. The cords are attached to the headrail and routed through the headrail in such a manner that the cords are of equal or nearly equal length. Preferably the outermost cords are descending. The cords are laced around or through the rungs of the ladder. Preferably each descending cord has more passes through the rungs than each ascending cord.

Abstract: A method for making a material structure which has at least one section of first material spaced apart from at least one section of second material. A number of thin, elongated strands connect the first material to the second material. The strands may adhere to the first and second material along a transverse edge of each material or may instead adhere to a side of the material sections at some distance from the edge. The resulting material structure may be incorporated into clothing or into window shade structures, for example. The method is performed by positioning an adhesive applicator such that adhesive can be dispensed to form strands which contact and bond the first material. The applicator is moved away from the first material so as to form an elongated strand between the first material and the applicator. The applicator is then moved such that the strand contacts the second material so that the strand connects the first material to the second material.

Abstract: Clamps are provided for shortening a venetian type blind to fit windows of different lengths. The clamp has two portions connected by hinge. The two portions are fastened together on a lift cord and ladder below the slat at the desired shortened length. At least two clamps are used to shorten the blind. After the clamps are applied the blind is shortened by removing that portion of the blind below the clamps. This can be done by releasing each lift cord from the bottomrail and pulling the lift cord from the bottomrail through the slats to be removed. The excess slats are removed. Then the ladders are detached from the bottomrail, shortened and reattached to the bottomrail. The lift cords are then reconnected to the bottomrail and the clamps are removed. Alternatively, the clamps which grip the ladders and lift cords can be attached to the bottomrail.

Abstract: A release brake shade operator for a window covering has a stationary member, a movable member movable relative to the stationary member, and a hub which is movable relative to the stationary member and the movable when not restrained. Preferably the hub is a tube or solid cylinder. A spring having a selected diameter is fitted between the stationary member and the movable member and surrounds a portion of the hub. A first tang at one end of the spring is attached to the stationary member and a second tang at an opposite end of the spring is attached to the movable member so that one tang can be moved relative to the other tang to increase the diameter of the spring. The spring is sized and positioned so that the spring will press against the outside surface of the hub when in a relaxed condition restraining the hub and attached to the roller shade or lift cords.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing fullness and a shape to the upper end of an elongated section of drapery fabric that selectably allows the drapery to be readily foldable when fullness is not needed. The apparatus may also connect the drapery to an overhead, transverse supporting rail such as through hooks and eyelets or pendants. The apparatus includes a generally heart-shaped header made of a flexible, resilient, relatively stiff material. The header is attachable to a mounting portion of the drapery fabric at an upper end of the drapery fabric. The header is designed to be capable of collapsing into a flat unit when sufficient pressure is applied to the header. The headers can be made to expand evenly when the drape is partially opened. The header is formed generally of a first leg and a second leg that are made of a flexible, resilient material. The first leg and the second leg meet and are connected at the front of the header. Ends of the first leg and the second leg extend toward the rear of the header.

Abstract: A bottom stacking and top stacking venetian type blind has a fixed headrail containing a tilt mechanism which tilts the lift cords as well as the movingrail and bottomrail, maintains the centerline plane and center of gravity in the same place throughout the operation of the blind, and provides cord locks for the two sets of lift cords. This blind consists of the fixed headrail containing both tilting and lifting mechanisms; a one-piece or two-piece movingrail; a one-piece or two-piece bottomrail; and a plurality of slats which rest on ladders between the bottomrail and movingrail. The ladders are typically made of cord, but the hardware of this blind will also accommodate fabric tape or sheet ladders. There will always be at least one pair of lift cords which control the movingrail; one cord in the front, and one in the rear. The bottomrail will also have two lift cords passing through, one on each side, if it is a single rail; or four cords for a double rail.

Abstract: An improved venetian type blind has slats each slat having at least two slots along one edge of the slats and one slot on the opposite edge of the slats. A slot on one edge is not opposite a slot on the other edge. Ladders having opposite cord type rails and rungs extending therebetween, are positioned so that one rail of a ladder is outside each of the slots and connected to the bottomrail. A lift cord passes through each of the slots between the slat and the ladder rail. A tilt mechanism attached to the headrail moves the rails of the ladders together when the blind is changed from an open to closed position.