Patent US4940070A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4940070A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Bifold privacy miniblind
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1989-03-10
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2009-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A miniblind Venetian blind. The individual blinds are supported by a string ladder support system on each side. Each string ladder support system has a front vertical ladder string and a back vertical ladder string with short support strings fastened between them like a ladder which supports the individual slats. A main pull string at each ladder support system extends down through holes in each blind to a bottom rail where it is attached. The main pull string goes through the top housing and down over a roller so that the blind can be raised and lowered. A new privacy drawstring is strung along the main pull strings and is connected to the back ladder string at a selected level. By pulling on the privacy drawstrings the blinds below the point at which these privacy drawstrings are attached to the ladder can be tilted independently of the tilt of the blinds above that point. In one embodiment the ends of the privacy drawstring are attached such that by pulling on the privacy drawstring the main drawstring is also pulled.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott L. Warden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:11
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B9/00; E06B9/24; E06B9/26; E06B9/38; E06B9/382; E06B2009/2423; E06B2009/2441; E06B2009/2447; E06B2009/2452
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
344 words
A window blind comprising: a top member; a plurality of horizontal slats; at least two ladder support systems supporting said slats and in which each system has a front ladder string exterior of said slats, a back ladder string and a plurality of slat support strings connecting the two ladder strings at spaced positions therealong; a mechanism supported by said top member and operable by rotating the stem for adjusting the front ladder string with respect to the back ladder string so as to adjust the inclination of each slat; each said slat having a hole therein adjacent said each said slat support string; a drawstring support and locking mechanism supported by the top member; a main drawstring and pull knob for lifting the slats and extending through the holes thereof; a guide in the top member and having a passage means therethrough for the main drawstring and for each said front ladder string and for each said back ladder string; the path of said main drawstring extending from adjacent one end of said slats upwardly through said drawstring support and locking mechanism, along said top member, down said passage means, through the holes in said slats and secured at the lower end of said window blind; at least one privacy drawstring having a first end and a second end, the path of said privacy drawstring beginning at or near the first end of said main drawstring following upwardly along said main drawstring through said support and locking mechanism, then along said top member adjacent said main drawstring, thence down the opening means in said top along side and adjacent one of said ladder strings down to a selected located on such ladder string, the privacy drawstring passing over no pulley or support not passed over by said main drawstring; means to attach the second end of said privacy drawstring to a ladder string at said selected location; a privacy pull knob means slidably interconnected to said main drawstring, and said privacy pull knob means connected to said first end of said privacy drawstring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
344 words
A window blind comprising: a top member; a plurality of horizontal slats; at least two ladder support systems supporting said slats and in which each system has a front ladder string exterior of said slats, a back ladder string and a plurality of slat support strings connecting the two ladder strings at spaced positions therealong; a mechanism supported by said top member and operable by rotating the stem for adjusting the front ladder string with respect to the back ladder string so as to adjust the inclination of each slat; each said slat having a hole therein adjacent said each said slat support string; a drawstring support and locking mechanism supported by the top member; a main drawstring and pull knob for lifting the slats and extending through the holes thereof; a guide in the top member and having a passage means therethrough for the main drawstring and for each said front ladder string and for each said back ladder string; the path of said main drawstring extending from adjacent one end of said slats upwardly through said drawstring support and locking mechanism, along said top member, down said passage means, through the holes in said slats and secured at the lower end of said window blind; at least one privacy drawstring having a first end and a second end, the path of said privacy drawstring beginning at or near the first end of said main drawstring following upwardly along said main drawstring through said support and locking mechanism, then along said top member adjacent said main drawstring, thence down the opening means in said top along side and adjacent one of said ladder strings down to a selected located on such ladder string, the privacy drawstring passing over no pulley or support not passed over by said main drawstring; means to attach the second end of said privacy drawstring to a ladder string at said selected location; a privacy pull knob means slidably interconnected to said main drawstring, and said privacy pull knob means connected to said first end of said privacy drawstring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A window blind as defined in claim 1 in which said means to attach is a clamp means which can be releasably clamped to said ladder string.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
209 words
An improvement to a Venetian blind for hanging in a window which has a plurality of slats supported on at least one ladder support system in which each said ladder support system has a front ladder support system in which each said ladder support system has a front ladder string, a back ladder string and a plurality of slat support strings connecting the back ladder string and the front ladder string, a plurality of slats, there being a slat on each such slat support string, a weight bar, means to adjust the tilt or inclination of the slats, the improvement which comprises: a privacy pull having a first hole extending therethrough; a main drawstring pull; a main drawstring fixed to said main drawstring pull and extending through said first hole in said privacy drawstring pull through a stop roller means, along a top support to an opening and downwardly to a weight bar; a privacy drawstring secured to said privacy drawstring pull and extending upwardly through the stop roller that said main drawstring extends and along said top support adjacent said main drawstring, then down through said top support along one of the ladder strings where it is secured to one of said ladder strings at a selected location.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
209 words
An improvement to a Venetian blind for hanging in a window which has a plurality of slats supported on at least one ladder support system in which each said ladder support system has a front ladder support system in which each said ladder support system has a front ladder string, a back ladder string and a plurality of slat support strings connecting the back ladder string and the front ladder string, a plurality of slats, there being a slat on each such slat support string, a weight bar, means to adjust the tilt or inclination of the slats, the improvement which comprises: a privacy pull having a first hole extending therethrough; a main drawstring pull; a main drawstring fixed to said main drawstring pull and extending through said first hole in said privacy drawstring pull through a stop roller means, along a top support to an opening and downwardly to a weight bar; a privacy drawstring secured to said privacy drawstring pull and extending upwardly through the stop roller that said main drawstring extends and along said top support adjacent said main drawstring, then down through said top support along one of the ladder strings where it is secured to one of said ladder strings at a selected location.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
An improvement as defined in claim 3 in which there is a privacy drawstring section for another of said ladder strings such that by pulling on the privacy drawstring pull both privacy drawstring and main drawstring operate through the stop roller locking together such that both drawstrings lock and unlock together when desired.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-01-08 | 1994-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-09 | 1998-01-08 | 1998-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |