Locking mechanism for vertical slat blind

Claim 1

In a slatted blind having a plurality of vertical slats, a top rail, opposed guide flanges on said top rail defining a track groove and slat supports supported by said guide flanges in said track groove for supporting said vertical slats, the improvement comprising a locking means, means connecting said slats to each other, said connecting means also connecting the locking means to the last slat of said blind, a hook extending from said locking means in one direction away from said last slat, a stop fixed to the top rail, said locking means being engaged in said track for movement therealong, said locking means also being tiltable with respect to said top rail, tension means engaged with said locking means for moving said locking means along said track in either direction, said locking means upon movement by said tension means in said one direction bringing the hook of said locking means into contact with said stop on said top rail and upon continued movement in said one direction said locking means tilting to lockingly engage said hook in said stop of the top rail, and said connecting means when said hook is lockingly engaged in said stop biasing said locking means in a direction to maintain said locking engagement whereby the slats of said blind are maintained in their spaced relationship.