Removable vane cover fastened to a conventional vertical blind system
A vertical blind system includes a conventional vertical blind mechanism, a plurality of Elongated vertical blind vanes preferably of opaque or semi opaque rigid material such as Plastic, aluminum or stiff fabric, pivotally mounted to the vertical blind mechanism; a continuous blind vane cover sheet selected from the group consisting of translucent, or transparent material such as sheer or lace fabric. The cover sheet forms a U-shaped folds that extends between the adjacent blind vanes and removably are secured to the blind vanes at a predetermined spaced intervals by material fasteners. The materials fasteners are constructed and arranged to allow the cover sheet to be detached and reattached to the blind vanes for washing and cleaning, or changing by new. The cover sheet could be secured to a plurality of rigid slats oriented horizontally, thus requiring the use of a different operating system such as a conventional horizontal blind slat mechanism.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to window coverings and more particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a cover in nature of a transparent, yet translucent removably fastened to a plurality of vertical blind vanes and or horizontal blind slats.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A common covering system for windows is a vertical blind having vertical vanes rotatable about vertical axes to an open or closes position.
The covering system may further include a decorative cover fabric extends across vertical blind vanes so as to control the amount of light entering the room and to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,330 issued in 1974 to louver Drape. Inc. there is disclosed a window covering system using conventional vertical blind hardware employed with vertically disposed louvers according to this 330 patent, the window covering made of one kind of continuous material, in order to achieve the decorative effects, this disposed louver system must positioned behind a separate drapery system, or associated with drapers, the drapery material may be pinch pleated and attached at the front of each louver.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,851,699 issued in 1974 to Shapiro, U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,789 issued in 1976 to Ronkholz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,846,243 issued 1989 to Schneider, U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,385 issued 1995 to Vogel, U.S. Pat. No. 5,715,883 issued 1998 to Keith, U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,363 issued 2000 to Colson and U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,213 issued 2001 to Senesac. discloses a vertical louver type window drape where a continuous sheet of fabric material is interwoven with a plurality of relatively rigid vanes such that the vanes which are light impeding alternate with light transmitting sections of the fabric. Two obvious drawback of a system of this type is that the vanes overlap the fabric requiring excessive fabric in order to fabricate the entire window covering, and a user can not separate the continuous sheet of fabric from the rigid vanes.
Window coverings of the afore—no ted type as mentioned previously are desirable from several viewpoints. It has also been discovered that variation in this general type of window covering may be desirable from many stand points, both utilitarian and aesthetic. It is to provide alternatives and improvements to the afore described prior art systems that the present vertical blind and horizontal blind system have been developed.
Fabric window coverings are often preferred by consumers for a number of their features. Features most often considered desirable are the softer appearance relative to traditional Venetian blinds, the uniform appearance which they provide a window and insulating properties associated with cellular fabric shades.
Cellular fabric shades offering these features are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,450,027 to Colson discloses cellular window coverings which may be made of fabric or fill materials. In the process disclosed in the Colson patent, a flexible strip of material is folded into a continuous longitudinal tube and the longitudinal folds thus created are currently set by passing the tubing material around a heat setting wheel. Adhesive is applied along one side of the flattened tubular material which is subsequently stacked by winding onto a rack having flat surfaces. The winding in this manner presses the adhesive to the next layer wound onto the rack to form a bonded unitary stack of closed tubular cells. When the ends are cut from the rack, the stack may be expanded and the permanently set creases provide a neat and uniform outward appearance.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,630 to Schnebley discloses a modification to the Colson process described above. In the Schnebley patent, a hot melt adhesive is applied to one side of the tubular material. After the flat tubular strips have been stacked and cut, they are placed in an oven under pressure and the hot melted adhesive is activated to bond the layers together.
Both of the above patents disclose window coverings which exhibit the desirable features discussed to this point. However, window coverings of that type lack one feature which is often desired by consumers. That feature is the ability to control the amount of light admitted through the window covering, similar to a traditional Venetian blind. There have been some attempts to provide a fabric window covering with the ability to control the amount of light entering the room.
In some attempts, the decorative cover may be removable from the blind vanes to enable a user to clean the fabric cover or to replace with new.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore a general object of this invention is to provide alternative and improvements to this type of window covering.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide two different types of rigid and flexible fabric material in combination, first type is a plurality of conventional vertical blind vanes and a second type is a decorative fabric cover extends across the vertical blind vanes.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a decorative cover fabric extends on an array of conventional horizontal blind slats.
Still yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a window curtain which combines the desirable characteristics of both a conventional vanes type vertical blind and a decorative window drape, affording the adjustable light transmission features of a vertical blind while retaining the esthetic characteristics of a window drape.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a fabric cover, which will be attached to existing, already installed, vertical blind vanes, without any structural modifications being called upon.
Still yet another object of the present invention is that the above-noted combined blind vanes and fabric cover type drape be capable of continuously adjusting the light—diffusing ratio through the drape.
A further object of the present invention is that the above-noted combined blind vanes and fabric cover type drape require very little skill for its installation, and little time to complete the installation.
Additional object of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. The description reference is made to accompanying drawings, which forms apart here of, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. IN the accompanying drawing, like reference characters, designate the same of similar parts throughout the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention adds additional features to both, the conventional vertical blind vanes system and the horizontal blind slats system to enhance interior design aspects. In particular, a cover sheet is attached to the front edge of the blind vanes to provide an aesthetically pleasing and softening appearance of the blind when the blind is closed, opened, or partially open position. In accordance with the teaching of the present invention there is disclosed, certain of its features of one embodiment of the invention can be described briefly.
A vertical blind system includes a conventional vertical blind mechanism and a plurality of vertical blind vanes being pivotally mounted to the vertical blind mechanism which can pivot the blind vanes about vertical axis from open position to a close position, and can traverse the blind vanes to the side (retracted position).
A continuous decorative sheet is removably attached to the blind vanes at a predetermined spaced interval, the decorative cover sheet attached to the blind vanes by using of a plurality of material fasteners. The material fasteners are constructed and arranged to allow the fabric cover to be detached and reattached to the blind vanes for washing and cleaning.
No limitations are contemplated as to a particular embodiment of the blind vane mechanism employed in a vertical blind system of the present invention, and any conventional mechanism can be used, provided vanes are adapted for use with connectors near their tops for mounting the blind vane cover of the invention as claimed here in. The present invention further contemplates that the vertical blind vanes and the blind vane covers can have any configuration, can have any suitable dimensions, can be made from any suitable material, and may or may not be decorative.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views. The figures illustrate the vertical blind and horizontal blind system of the present invention, with regard to the reference numerals used; the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
- 40 conventional vertical blind traverse rod
- 42 ceiling
- 44 blind vanes
- 44a first blind vane
- 44b adjacent blind vanes
- 44c last blind vane
- 46 front edge
- 48 rear edge
- 50 top hole
- 52 pivoting hooks
- 54 track
- 56 pulley system
- 58 cover sheet
- 60 double layer edge portion
- 62a left side free extended end
- 62b right side free extended end
- 64 first folded panel
- 66 front edge of first folded panel
- 68 last folded panel
- 70 front edge of last folded panel
- 72 pocket
- 74 material fastener
- 76 front end of the material fastener
- 78 rear end of material fastener
- 80 top end
- 82 bottom end
- 84 middle wall
- 86 first wall
- 88 second wall
- 90 thin slats
- 94 upper hem
- 96 lower hem
- 98 a means
- 140 blind vanes
- 140a first blind vane
- 140b adjacent blind vanes
- 140c last blind vane
- 142 hole
- 144 rear edge
- 146 front edge
- 148 first wall
- 150 second wall
- 152 material fastener
- 154 thin slats
- 156 top end
- 158 bottom end
- 160 cover sheet
- 162 double layer edge portion
- 164a left side free extended end
- 164b right side free extended end
- 166 first folded panel
- 168 front edge of first folded panel
- 170 last folded panel
- 172 front edge of last folded panel
For the purpose of promoting and understanding of the principles of the present invention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the present invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the present invention as illustrated and described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the present invention relates. Turning now descriptively to the drawings in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several view.
By operation of a pulley system 56, vanes 44a, 44b, and 44c may be slid apart from the center, or from side to side and can be rotated about a vertical axis to an open position or closed position. As should be appreciated other type of mechanisms, such as rotatable rods and the like can be used instead of pulley system 56 in order to operate the blind vane mechanism 40.
In order for the reader to understand the scope of the present invention I may start with detailed description of the material fastener.
in
The adjacent double layer edge portions 162 of the cover sheet 160 secured within adjacent material fasteners 152 of the adjacent blind vanes 140b.
A means 98 of thin strip or batten of plastic could be used to retard the movement of the cover sheet 160 if desired as mentioned previously in
Claims
1. A vertical blind system comprising:
- a vertical blind mechanism;
- a plurality of vertical blind vanes being pivotally mounted to said vertical blind mechanism, said plurality of vertical blind vanes each having a front edge and a rear edge.
- a continuous blind vane cover sheet having the same length of said blind vanes;
- a plurality of material fasteners having a front end and a rear end, said rear end being identical to said front end, said front edge of adjacent vanes secured within said rear end of said material fastener, respectively, while said continuous blind vane cover sheet secured within said front end of said material fastener, respectively, at a predetermined spaced interval, thus defining folds that attends between said adjacent vanes.
2. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 1, wherein said cover sheet being folded longitudinally upon it self in small portions parallel to each other and horizontally spaced a part at a predetermined spaced intervals, thus defining a rear double layer edge portion equal in amount to said plurality of vertical blind vanes, said cover sheet having a first and a last double edge potion, said first and last double edge portion each having a free extended end being longitudinally folded over upon it self, thus defining a first and a last folded panel, each having a pocket, the first and the last said blind vane disposed within said pockets respectively,
- said first and last panel having a front edge, said front edge of said first and last panel being the same said first and last rear double edge portions respectively, said first and last double edge portion secured within said front end of said material fastener along their entire length, while said left and right free extended ends of said cover sheet together with the front edge of said first and last blind vane secured within said rear end of said material fastener along their entire length respectively, and the adjacent said rear double edge portions in the space between said first and last panel being secured within the front end of said material fasteners along their entire length respectively, while said front edge of adjacent blind vanes secured within the rear end of said material fasteners along their entire length, respectively.
3. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 1, wherein said material fastener having a front end and a rear end, said rear end being identical to said front end, said material fastener further comprising:
- a middle wall;
- a first and second wall which are spaced a part, protruding from both sides of said middle wall, said first and second wall having at least one thin slat in each side of them extending inwardly toward said middle wall from an inside surface of each said first and second wall, said at least one thin slat on each wall being inwardly angled, with the thin slats overlapping to secure said front edge of said blind vanes within said rear end of said material fasteners, and to secure said double layer edge portions of said cover sheet within said front end of said material fasteners.
4. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 3, wherein, said thin slats in each wall being substantially pendicular to said first and second wall with the walls being angled toward each other at there front ends, so that said thin slats, become inwardly angled and closer to each other to secure said front edge of said blind vanes within said rear end of material fastener, and to secure said rear double edge portions of said cover sheet within said front end of said material fastener.
5. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 3, wherein said at least one thin slat extending substantially perpendicularly to said first and second wall, with front edge of said thin slats being inwardly angled toward said middle wall, with said front edges overlapping, to retard the movement of said blind vanes and said cover sheet.
6. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 3, wherein said at least one thin slat having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end extending approximately perpendicularly to said first and second wall, while said top end being inwardly angled toward said bottom end, with the thin slats overlapping to secure said front edge of said blind vanes within said rear end of said material fasteners, and to secure said double edge portions of said cover sheet within said front end of said material fasteners.
7. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 3, wherein said at least one thin slat in second wall being inwardly angled toward said middle wall, while at least one thin slat in first wall extending substantially perpendicularly to said second wall, with the thin slats overlapping.
8. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 2, wherein first and last said material fastener having a length equal to the length of said first and last folded panels in said cover sheet, said first and last double edge portions secured within said front end of said first and last material fasteners longitudinally at their entire length respectively, while said left and right free extended ends of said cover sheet together with said front edges of said first and last blind vanes being secured within said rear end of said first and last material fasteners longitudinally at their entire length respectively, said adjacent material fasteners in the space between said first and last folded panels having a sufficient length, thereby said adjacent double edge portions of said cover sheet secured within said front end of said adjacent material fasteners at their top portions only, respectively, while said front edges of said adjacent blind vanes in the space between said first and last folded panels secured within said adjacent material fasteners at their top portions only, respectively.
9. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 8, wherein an upper end of said cover sheet is folded over upon itself and stitched, bonded along its entire face to provide a hem.
10. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 8, wherein said a lower end of said cover sheet is folded over upon itself and stitched, bonded along its entire face to provide a hem.
11. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 1, wherein said front end of said material fasteners having a means of thin strip or batten of plastic material having a sufficient width and having a length equal to the length of said material fasteners to retard the removal of said blind vane cover sheet from said front end of said material fastener.
12. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 1, wherein said blind vane cover sheet forming U-shaped folds that attend between said adjacent vanes.
13. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 1, wherein said blind cover sheet is selected from the group consisting of translucent or transparent material such as sheer cotton, sheer nylon, lace fabric, thermoplastic and combination thereof.
14. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertical blind mechanism allows rotation of said plurality of blind vanes about a vertical axis passing through said plurality of blind vanes.
15. A vertical blind system comprising:
- a vertical blind mechanism;
- a plurality of vertical blind vanes coupled to said vertical blind mechanism said vertical blind vanes substantially parallel to one another at preselected, spaced relations to one another, each said blind vane having a longitudinally front edge and a rear edge, and having a predetermined width so that each said blind vane overlaps adjacent vane when said vertical blind system is in closed position, said blind vanes having a front edge and a rear edge, said front edge having a first and a second wall which is spaced a part, protruding from said front edge of said blind vane, said first and second wall having at least one thin slat in each of them extending inwardly toward said front edge of said blind vane from an inside surface of each of said first and second wall, said at least one thin slat on each wall being inwardly angled with the thin slats over lapping, thus converting said front edge of said blind vane to a material fastener whereby said rear double edge portions of said cover sheet secured within said material fastener.
- a continuous blind vane cover sheet, having a length equal to the length of said blind vanes
16. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 15, wherein said material fastener protruding from said front edge of said blind vane having a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end being a mirror image thereof.
17. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 15, wherein said blind vane having a hole in about the central of its top portion whereby permitting for the hanging means to pass through, said hole in said blind vanes formed by punching.
18. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 15, wherein said blind vane cover sheet being folded longitudinally upon it self in small portions parallel to each other along its entire face at a predetermined space, thus defining a rear double layer edge portions, equal to the amount of said blind vanes, said cover sheet having first and last double edge portions, said first and last double layer edge portions each having a free extended end being longitudinally folded over upon it self, thus defining a first and a last folded panel, each having a pocket, the first and last said blind vane disposed within said pockets, respectively, said first and last panel having a front edge and an inner end, said front edge of said first and last panel being same said first and last rear double edge portions in said cover sheet, respectively, said first double edge portion together with said left free extended end of said cover sheet secured within said first material fastener along their entire length, and said last double edge portion together with right free extended end of said cover sheet secured within said last material fastener along their entire length, while the adjacent said double edge portions in the space between said first and last panel being secured within said adjacent material fasteners thereof, along their entire length respectively.
19. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 15, wherein said cover sheet is formed and selected of the afore mentioned in claims 12 and 13, respectively.
20. A vertical blind system as defined in claim 15, wherein said vertical blind vanes is selected from the group consisting of opaque or semi opaque rigid material such as plastic, aluminum and stiff fabric.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2006
Inventor: Ismail Abdel-Monem Elembaby (Holtsville, NY)
Application Number: 11/405,311
International Classification: A47H 1/00 (20060101);