US20130087297A1

US20130087297A1 - VertiQuiet

Info

Publication number: US20130087297A1
Application number: US13/269,624
Authority: US
Inventors: Lori Wolin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-10-10
Filing date: 2011-10-10
Publication date: 2013-04-11

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus that selectively retains a chosen number of vertical blind slats. It comprises an elongated two-arm apparatus holding and conforming to common slat designs. Objectives and advantages include: user friendly, inexpensive to manufacture, convenient, comfortable to hold, beautifies blinds, allows for chosen amounts of light let in, and substantially reduces the rattling blind slat noise made when a window or door is open. The description herein provides preferred embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting its scope. For example, variation in the size, length, height, and width of the apparatus as long as it remains easy and convenient to use by an adult; the material used; colors; and textures. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than being limited to the examples given.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A CD

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to vertical blinds that are conventionally installed in residential, commercial, industrial, and government buildings and, more specifically, to apparatus and method for clipping more than one slats of a vertical blind together.
2. Description of the Related Art
Notable patented prior art relating to methods and inventions for retaining vertical blind window coverings include:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,177, wherein Kratzer teaches a “sun-tie” for gathering groups of vertical blind slats so that a medial portion of each slat in a group is juxtaposed in an abutting relationship with other slats of the group. The sun-tie comprises a combination of a fixed “anchor pocket” that can be slid over a selected slat and a clip having a fixed size into which the rest of the group of slats can be gathered. Kratzer relies on having some of the slats diverge laterally both above and below the sun-tie in order to keep the anchor pocket from sliding off the selected slat under the influence of gravity. This requires all the slats to be turned parallel to a window. Shortcomings include a complicated apparatus and all slats must be parallel to a window for the invention to work.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,374, wherein Mouzakis teaches an apparatus of several fastening arrangements including a combination of a holder and a tie for retaining slats of a vertical blind. Shortcomings include a complicated apparatus.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,553, wherein Jensen discloses a two-part slat-retaining clip having a first portion fixedly attached to a wall and a second portion for capturing a group of slats. Shortcomings include the necessity of a wall attachment.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,869, wherein Rozon teaches an apparatus of an articulated arm engaged to the lower ends of blind vanes by a cleat pivotally engaged to each end thereof. Shortcomings include a complicated apparatus and limited noise reduction.
U.S. Pat. Application No. 20110017409, wherein Houghton teaches a device that comprises a base plate that is adapted for fixing to a surface adjacent the blind and an integral retaining member which is adjustable to releasably secure a variable number of louvers against the base plate. Shortcomings include the necessity of a wall attachment and a complicated device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,938, wherein Toti teaches a device that holds the edges of vertical blind slats together. Shortcomings include one clip is needed for every 2 slats and the slats must be in limited positions for the clips to work.
Great Britain Pat. No. GB20080022203.6, wherein Horwath teaches a clip for receiving the slats of a vertical blind and a housing space for the blind's pulley cords. The clip needs to be secured to the wall surrounding the blind. Shortcomings include the need for a wall attachment and the clip does not stop several blind slats from rattling.
Vertiquiet overcomes the abovementioned shortcomings as it is one simple, easy-to-use piece. No wall attachments are needed. The blind slats can be in any order. When VertiQuiet is in use, the blind slats stop rattling and present a pleasant appearance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention offers options to retain selectively a first vertical blind slat plus a chosen number of additional slats that comprise a vertical blind. The groups of slats can be juxtaposed. This clip comprises two elongated arms along with a connecting piece on one side. The apparatus is designed to form to the common and majority of designs of blind slats. The use of the apparatus prohibits the gathered slats from being rattled by moving air and making noise while also presenting an appealing visual appearance and allowing chosen amounts of incoming light when the door or window is open.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a full side view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a full front view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a full back view of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a view of three ways in which the invention can be used to hold and quiet blinds.

FIG. 4A shows the way in which gathered blinds look when the blinds are not drawn together and front-facing,

FIG. 4B shows the way in which gathered blinds look when the blinds are drawn together and side-facing,

FIG. 4C shows the way in which gathered blinds look when the blinds are not drawn together and side-facing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for retaining a plurality of slats of a vertical blind (along with the blind's hanging, dangling hardware if desired, and does so in a fashion that prevents blind rattling. The clip can be left attached to one slat of a group of slats even when the slats in that group are not retained in a juxtaposed arrangement. That is, the blind can be operated in a conventional fashion even with the invention attached to one of the slats.
Operation of the invention is simple. The user opens and rotates the blinds to a desired position. The user gathers an amount of slats. The user opens the clip and slides or places the elongated leg of the clip over the decorated face of the gathered slats and the shorter leg over the other face. The user may clip the invention along most any point of the length of the slats.
Although it is believed that the foregoing recital of features and advantages may be of use to one who is skilled in the art and who wishes to learn how to practice the invention, it will be recognized that the foregoing recital is not intended to list all of the features and advantages. Moreover, it may be noted that various embodiments of the invention may provide various combinations of the hereinbefore recited features and advantages of the invention, and that less than all of the recited features and advantages may be provided by some embodiments.
Although the present invention has been described with respect to several preferred embodiments, many modifications and alterations can be made without departing from the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all such modifications and alterations be considered as within the spirit and scope of the inventions defined in the attached claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for retaining a selected amount of vertical slats of a mounted vertical blind, when the vertical blind is open or drawn to any position, with the slats thereof rotated to any position, comprising: a holding clip used to hold a gathered, selected group of vertical slats in overlying relationship to each other and securing the gathered ones of said selected group of vertical slats in said overlying relationship to each other with VertiQuiet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus can be placed on nearly any vertical location of the blind stats.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a length of one of the legs of the holding device is greater than the other leg.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shorter leg is shaped to fit well with most all shapes of vertical blind slats.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the longer leg is shaped to fit well with most all shapes of vertical blind slats.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of end of the two arms is open and the other end is a flat connection piece.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the connection side is shaped well with most all shapes of vertical blind slats.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a U shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein slight pulling apart pressure of the two arms allows the apparatus to open and be placed around the desired number of blind slats.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the holding device around the gathered slats so as to prohibit the gathered slats from being rattled by moving air and making noise.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the holding device around the gathered slats so as to make the blinds present in an appealing visual appearance.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the step of connecting the holding device around the gathered slats so as to block as much or as little light while also minimizing rattling slat noise when the window or door is open some amount.