Abstract: A kit is provided for modifying a control mechanism of a cord-operated window blind. The conventional control mechanism comprises a control housing including a removable end plate disposed at an end of a head rail of the blind, and a pulley disposed within the control housing and operatively coupled to a pivot rod of the blind. The kit includes: an adapter unit capable of being operatively mounted on the control housing in place of the removable end plate; and a shaft coupler adapted to be operatively mounted within the adapter unit and capable of operatively coupling an output shaft of the drive unit to the pivot rod. The adapter unit comprises a shaft opening disposed substantially co-axially with the pivot rod, and support means disposed on an exterior surface of the adapter, proximal the opening, for operatively supporting a drive unit of a conventional blind remote control.

Abstract: A carrier assembly comprises a housing having an aperture formed substantially centrally thereon for accepting a splined tilt rod. The tilt rod interconnects a plurality of carrier assemblies which form a vertical blind assembly. The splined tilt rod permits uniform rotation of a linear gear member contained within the carrier assembly to interact with a gear-headed slat support which may be removably connected to the housing. The interaction permits a slat depending from each of the plurality of carrier assemblies of the vertical blind assembly to rotate synchronously. Additionally, the gear-headed slat support is provided with a flush mounted stopping member for engaging the terminus of either end of the linear gear member to prevent skipping of the slats when said slats are fully opened or fully closed.

Abstract: A control cord end security device includes a base plate for mounting on a wall surface. A guide member is disposed on the base plate for slidably retaining an end loop of a cord of a window covering such as a blind. A cover plate is removably affixed to the base plate and covers the guide member and respective end loop of the cord. The guide member comprises a semicircular wall defining a generally U-shaped channel for slidably retaining and guiding a respective cord of the window covering. Preferably, the guide member includes a flange portion disposed distal the base plate. The flange portion abuts an interior surface of the cover plate such that an end loop of a respective control cord is prevented from binding between the guide member and the cover plate, even in the presence of slack in the control cord.

Abstract: A venetian blind comprising: a top rail; a bottom rail; a first group of slats; at least two first ladders extending between the top and bottom rails and supporting the first group of slats; a second group of slats; at least two second ladders extending between the top rail and the bottom rail and supporting the second group of slats; and a tilt assembly comprising: a tilting rod received within the top rail; a manipulating member for operating the tilting rod; and a reversing mechanism associated with each of the at least one first and second ladders, each reversing mechanism being articulated to the tilting rod and including a first plate and a second plate; each one of said at least two first ladders is connected to a corresponding first plate and each one of said at least two second ladders is connected to a corresponding second plate, said first and second plate being normally biased into rotational engagement with one another, whereby rotation of the tilting rod entails rotation of the first plate and t

Abstract: A blind clasp for adjusting the height of the louvers of a vertical blind above a surface over which they have been suspended without the need to move the horizontal head rail. The clasp has a first end to which the louver of the blind is attached and a second end with two or more securing or ratchet points which can be attached to a holder of the vertical blind suspension mechanism and by changing or varying the securing point the height of the louver can be varied over the surface which it is suspended above.

Abstract: An extendible drapery assembly including a mounting track. A plurality of roller assemblies are slidably coupled along the mounting track. Next provided is a blind control assembly coupled to each of the roller assemblies. Also included is a plurality of discrete blinds each connected to one of the associated blind control assemblies. Each blind includes at least two blind portions hingably coupled along side edges thereof. In use, the blind portions are rotatable between an extended orientation with the blind portions linearly aligned in tandem and a retracted orientation with faces of the blind portions abutting each other. Finally, a control mechanism is provided for allowing the selective transfer of the blind portions between the extended and retracted orientation.

Abstract: A drive gear unit is provided for tilting vertically orientated slats of a vertical blind system. The unit includes a frame and a connection element for connecting the frame to a tubular support rail for a vertical blind system. The unit further includes a wand drive member having a shaft and a first spur gear wheel provided on the shaft so that the shaft for operative connection to a wand, the first spur gear having teeth which extend radially outwardly from a central hub. A rod locating member is associated with the frame and has a passage for locatingly receiving the vertical blind drive rod. A rod drive member has a rod connecting part adapted to be operatively joined to the vertical blind drive rod, and further has a second spur gear wheel joined to the rod connecting part. The second spur gear wheel has teeth which extend radially outwardly from a central hub. The first spur gear wheel and the second spur gear wheel are in operative mesh.

Abstract: A first track assembly is adapted to be mounted to a top of a window opening. A plurality of first cord support assemblies are slidably mounted within the first track assembly. A plurality of second cord support assemblies are slidably mounted within a second track assembly. A plurality of columns of panels is provided, each column being strung between a pair of the first and the second cord support assemblies. A vertical opening and closing mechanism is provided for pulling the second track assembly toward the first track assembly and for lowering the second track assembly away from the first track assembly, thus collapsing and extending each column of panels.

Abstract: A connecting assembly for connecting a vertical louvre to a support and including a first component disposed within the support and a second component having a connection formation from which a louvre may be suspended. Each of the first and second components are releasably interconnected, such that the second component is retained in connection with the first component for use, and such that the second component is separable from the first component, and replaceable with a substitute component while the first component is mounted in the support member.

Abstract: A vertical blind apparatus having a wand operated control for traversing the slats along a headrail and for rotating the slats. The blind apparatus has an actuator shaft with its axis disposed in a central vertical plane equidistant from the sidewalls of the headrail; slat carriers are mounted on slat carriages for rotation about vertical axes disposed in the central vertical plane and a control shaft for the wand operated control is also mounted for rotation in the central vertical plane. The wand operated vertical blind apparatus can be used in either left or right draw installations and in two-way draw installations.

Abstract: A vertical blind control includes a single control mechanism for traversing the vanes (8), i.e., opening or closing the blind, and for rotating the vanes to change the amount of light admitted by the closed blind. The control mechanism includes a wand (29), which is used to slide and rotate a shaft (35) carrying opposed bevel gears. One bevel gear (72) is engageable with a mating gear system (76) connected to a tilt rod (10) for rotating the vanes. The other bevel gear (63) is engageable with a drum (48) carrying a cord (13) for traversing the vanes to open or close the blind. The shaft is slidable within the mechanism so that only one of the bevel gears is engaged at any one time to effect the desired operation.

Abstract: A control system for a vertical vane covering for use in an architectural opening includes a headrail having an upwardly opening channel in which a plurality of carriers are disposed for sliding movement along the length of the headrail. The headrail is of a thin profile with only a minority portion of the carriers being positioned within the hollow interior of the headrail. The carriers are interconnected by a scissors-type linkage to effect uniform separation of the vanes when the covering is expanded across an architectural opening and each carrier includes a rack and pinion system for rotating the vanes suspended thereby. Unique mountings for the endmost vanes allow the endmost vanes to cover the ends of the headrail.

Abstract: A vertical blind device with a crank rod for operation, in which slats, which are hung on slat carriages, can be pivoted about a vertical axis by 180.degree. from a closed hanging position, directed horizontally in a plane parallel to one another, into the other closed hanging position and are horizontally movable with the slat carriages in a support rail. A pivot pin of a pivot drive is provided for a pivot shaft, guided through all the slat carriages in an axially displaceable manner and adapted to rotate in unison, and the crank rod have complementary coupling elements. The pivot pin lies with its coupling element in the two stopped positions of the slats laterally outside the plane of the closed hanging. During a reversed rotation, the pivot pin with its coupling element, together with the 180.degree. pivoting movement of the slats, pivots from one side to the other side of the then closed hanging slats.

Abstract: An operating structure for a vertical blind, which is used to adjust the angle of the slats and collect the slats, including an operative pulley seat, a guide cord, a shaft wheel, a hollow pull rod, a latch hook, an upper cock body, a lower cock body, an adjustment block, two conic sleeves, a screw, a hollow rotary bar and a distance-adjusting strip.