Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
VERTICAL LOUVER VENETIAN BLIND HAVING
CpyTOURED LON~UDINAL EDGE LOW ERS
Backqround of the Invention
1 The present inven~ion relates generally to
2 vertical louver type venetian blinds, and more particularly
3 to a novel vertical louver venetian blind wherein the
4 louvers have selectively contoured longitudinal marginal
edges operative to create optical illusion effects.
6 The advent of vertical louver type venetian
7 blinds has brought about new concepts in interior design in
8 both commercial and residential installations. Vertical
9 louver type venetian blinds have be~n particularly well
received in cohtemporary architectural constructions where
11 relatively large expanses of window glass are employed. In
1~ such situations, the vertical louver blinds may be of
13 substantial vertical height and, when clo ed, may extend
14 along a considerable horizontal length of the correspond~ng
wall and window area. The relatively uninterrupted expanse
16 of the vertical louver venetian blind enables broad
17 variations in design and functional effect. Conventional
18 louvers or vanes employed in vertical louver blinds have
19 substantially straight parallel longitudinal marginal edges
and are adapted for movement between open blind positions
21 drawn to one or opposite en~s of a support track or
22 channel, and closed blind positions wherein the vertical
23 louvers are disposed in generally equal space-l relation
24 along the track or channel. The louvers are further
adapted for selective rotation about their longitudina
26 axes when in closed blind positions to control the amount
27 of light emitted into the corresponding room.
28 In many installations, vertical louver type
29 venetian blinds have a significant advantage over
horizontal type venetian blinds in that the vertical
.
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1 louvers may more readily contribute to the overall design
2 scheme of the corresponding room. For example, the
3 vertical louvers may be made from vinyl or other suitable
4 material colored to add an accent color to the room, or
S colored to blend with the main color of the room. Although
6 horizontal louvers may also be made of colored vinyl, they
7 do not present the uninterrupted appearance of vertical
8 louvers. Vertical louvers may also be made from fabric
9 material colored to prov~de an accent color or desired
pattern which forms part of the rooms color scheme.
11 Further, vinyl vertical louvers adapted to support fabric
12 panels in combination vinyl/fabric louvers alsv lend
13 thQmselves to a wide range of design schemes.
14
Summary of the Invention
16 The present ~invention adds a further feature to
17 the use of vertical louver venetian blinds to enhance
18 interior design possibilities. More particularly~ the
19 present invention provides at l~ast one contoured
longitudinal marginal edge on selected ones of the vertical
21 louvers so as to cause light controlled by the louver blind
22 to create optical illusion or image effects which, in
23 various em~odiments, may take the form of generally three-
24 dimensional optical images or illusions.
Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the
26 present invention is to provide a novel vertical louver
27 venetian blind wherein selected ones of the vertical
28 louvers have at least one nonrectilinear contoured
29 longitudinal marginal edge.
A more particular object of the present invention
31 is to provide a novel vertical louver type venetian blind
32 having a plurality of vertical louvers supported for
33 rotation about their longitudinal axes, and wherein
34 selected ones of the louvers have at least one
nonrectilinear contoured longitudinal marginal edge such
36 that corresponding contoured edges of the louvers are
37 operative to create an optical image or illusion effect.
1Another object of the invention is to provide a
2vertical louver venetian blind wherein the inner
3longitudinal marginal edges on selected ones of the
4vertical louvers are contoured such that the contoured
5edges cooperate to create one or more visual images of
6geometric patterns and/or simulated inanimate characters
7when the louvers are in at least partially open positions
8such that light impinges inwardly facing side surfaces of
9the louvers and the ~lind is viewed such that th~ contour
10edges visually overlie the next adjacent rearward louvers.
11A feature of the vertical louver venetian blind
12in accordance with the invention lies in the provision of
13louvers having corresponding nonrectilinear contoured
14longitudinal marginal edges which, in various embodiments,
15create a generally three-dimensional optical illusion
16effect when the louvers are in at least partially open
17positions and the blind is viewed ~rom interior~y of the
18corresponding room at an angle of inclination to the planes
19of the louvers.
20Another feature of at least one embodiment of the
21vertical louver venetian ~lind in accordance with the
22present invention lies in providing contoured edge louvers
~3of contrasting colors so as to enhance the visual image
24created by the contour edges when light impinges the
25inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers.
26Further objects and features of the present
27invention will become apparent from the following detailed
28description of the invention when taken in conjunction with
29the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals
30designate like elements throughout the several views.
31
32Brief Descri~tion of_~h~ n~ ng~
33FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a
34vertical louver type venetian blind employing vertical
35louvers constructed in accordance with the present
36invention;
37FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of
38a vertical louver as employed in FIG. 1;
.
.
1 FIG. 3 is a side edge view of the louvPr ~f FIG.
2 2, taken substantially along line 3 3 o~ FIG. 2; and
3 FIGS. 4-11 are fragmentary perspective views of
4 ~ertical louver type venetian blinds wherein the louvers
havP longitudinal marginal edges contoured in accordance
6 with various embodiments of the present invention.
8 Detailed Description
9 Referring now to the drawings, and in particular
to FIGS. 1-3, a fragmentary portion of a vertical louver
11 type venetian blind constructed in accordance with one
12 embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally
13 at 10. The venetian blind 10 includes a plurality of
14 vertical louvers 12 which are supported a~ their upper ends
from a generally horiæontal support track or channel 14
16 through corresponding louver carriers (not shown) adapted
17 to support the louvers for traverse along the support track
18 between open blind and closed blind positions, and also
19 enable selective rotation of the louvers about their
vertical longitudinal axes. The support track and louver
21 carriers may take the ~orm of any conventionaI known
22 construc~ion such as, for example, tracks and louver
23 carriers commercially available from the LouverDrape
24 Division o~ Home Fashions, Inc., Santa Monica, CA. A draw
cord 16 extends downwardly from the left-hand end of the
26 support track 14 and is operatively coupled to the louver
27 carriers to facilitate selective traverse of the louvers 12
28 between open blind positions adjacent one or the opposite
29 ends of the guide track 14, and closed blind positions
wherein the louvers are spaced generally equally along the
31 length of the support track. A separate control in the
32 form of a beaded chain ~not shown) may hang downwardly with
33 the draw cord 18 and enables selective rotation of the
34 louvers about their vertical longitudinal axes in a known
manner when the louvers are in closed blind positions 50 as
36 to control the amount of light emitted into the
37 corresponding room ~rom a window covered by the vertical
38 louver venetian blind. An example of a louver operating
':
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1 mechanism adapted to enable opening and closing of the
2 blind through a draw ord, and facilitate selective
3 rotation of the louvers about their lon~itudinal axes by a
4 beaded chain or the like between open and closed louver
positions is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,834,162 which
6 is incorporated herein by reference.
7 The vertical louvers 12 are preferably made of a
8 relativaly rigid material, such as rigid vinyl or other
9 suitable material, so that the louvers maintain a generally
fixed transverse cross-sectional configuration when
11 suspended from the guide track 14. Alternatively, the
12 louvers 12 may be made of a suitable fabric material or a
13 combination vinyl and fabric. In all cases, it is
14 desirable that the louvers hang vertically and in parallel
relation to each other. If desired, the lower ends of the
16 louvers may be interconnected by spacer chains or the like
17 to maintain stability and parallelism of the vertical
18 louvers without inhibi~ing rotation about their
19 longitudinal axes. In the various embodiments hereinafter
des~ribed, the vertical louvers are generally planarO
21 However, the lou~ers may be fo~ned as non-planar louvers
22 having generally S-shaped, C-shaped or other non~planar
23 transverse cross-sectional configurations.
24 Each of the louvers 12 has substantially greater
transverse width than thickness, and each louver has
26 longitudinal marginal edges as indicated at 18a and 18b in
27 FIG. 2. In accordance with an important feature of the
28 present invention, at least one of the longitudinal
29 marginal edges 18a and l~b of selected ones of the louvers
12 has a nonrectilinear contour configuration. In the
31 embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, each louver 12 has
32 both of its longitudinal marginal edges 18a and 18b
33 contoured in symmetrical nonrectilinear configurations,
34 alternatively termed curvilinear contour configurativns,
taking generally the form of sine waves. If desired, only
36 one of the longitudinal marginal edges, preferably the
37 inwardly facing edges 18a, of the vanes 12 may be formed
38 with a sine wave contour configuration, while the opposite
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1 outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges 18b of the
2 vanes may be formed as straight edges or as curvilinear
3 contour edges different than the contour vf the
4 corresponding inner edges 18a.
The adjacent vertical louvers 12 o~ the venetian
6 blind 10 are longitudinally or vertically offset relative
7 to each other so that, except for the end louvers, a convex
8 curvature portion 18c of each louver contour edge is at a
9 horizontal level corresponding to a concave curvature
portion 18d of the next adjacent louver on either side of
11 the louver under consideration. ~y so contouring the
12 longitudinal edges of the louvers 12, a generally three-
13 dimensional optical illusion ef~ect is created by light
14 emitted through the closed venetian blind when th~ louvers
are in fully open or partially open louver positions so
16 that light impinges the inwardly facing side surfaces of
17 the louvers and the venetian blind is viewed from
18 internally of the corresponding room at an angle of
19 inclinatisn, such as between about 45-~, to the planes
of the louvers so that the inwardly facing contoured
21 longitudinal edge of each louver is in the foreground of
22 and visually overlies the side surface of the adjacent
23 rearward louver. Depending on the ~ransverse width of the
24 louvers, such an angle of inclination may be established by
rotating the louvers 12 relative to their fully open
26 positions normal to the support track so that light
27 impinges the inwardly facing sides of the louvers and the
28 inward longitudinal edge of each louver ov~rlies the next
29 adjacent rearward louver side surface, or by viewin~ the
partially open louvers at an angle of inclination which
31 achieves the same result. It will be appreciated that the
32 optical illusion effect created by the contour edge
33 vertical louvers 12 may be altered by rotating the louvers
34 about their lonqitudinal axes to vary the amount of light
emitted between the vertical louvers and impinging common
36 planar sides of the louvers.
37 In accordance with one feature of the present
38 invention, which finds particular application with the
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l embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the louvers 12 may he
2 given contrasting colors so that each louver is of a
3 different color than the next adjacent louvers on either
4 side of the louver under consideration. For example, each
odd numbered louver, counting from the left-hand edge of
6 blind 10, may be of a relatively light color such as white
7 or other light color. Each even numbered louver may be of
8 a relatively dark color such as brown or other contrasting
9 color. In this manner, the visual image created by the
contoured edge louvers and light impinging the inwardly
ll facing side surfaces of the louvers is significantly
12 enhanced. By providing alternate louvers of contrasting
13 colors, the visual image generally created by natural light
14 passing through the partially open louvers can also be
achieved by artificial light impinging inwardly facing side
16 surfaces of the louvers from internally of the
17 corresponding room, particularly when the louvers are in
18 closed or substantially closed positions. This feature of
l9 alternate contrasting color louvers can also be applied to
the following described embodiments of the invention.
21 FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a
22 vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 20,
23 which includes a plurality of generally planar vertical
24 louvers 22 constructed in accordance with another
embodiment of the present invention. The louvers 22 are
26 supported from their upper ends through a support track and
27 associated louver carriers (not shown) in similar fashion
28 to the louvers 12 so as to enable traverse of the louvers
2~ between open and closed blind positions, and rotation of
the louvers about their longitudinal axes between closed
31 louver and open louver positions to control the amount of
32 light emitted through the venetian blind. Each of the
33 louvers 22 has longitudinal marginal edges 22a and 22b at
34 least one of which, preferably the inwardly facing
longitudinal edge 22a, is formed with a nonrectilinear
36 contour configuration, alternatively termed a curvilinear
37 contour configuration.
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1In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the inwardly facing
2lQngitudinal marginal edges 22a of the vertical louvers
3have irregular longitudinal contour curvatures such that
4the inner contoured edges 22a of each pair o~ adjacent
5vertical louvers are different. The outer longitudinal
6edge 22b o~ each louver 22 may be formed as a straight edge
7parallel to the longitudinal axis of the louver, or may be
8formed as an irregular contour curvature similar to the
9corresponding inwardlyl facing longitudinal edge. In this
10manner, a generally three-dimensional optical illusion
lleffect of random abs~ract images is created across the
12horizontal wi~th of the venetian blind when the louvers are
13in fully open or partially open posi~ions so that light
14emitted through the blind impinges the inwardly facing side
15surfaces of the louvers and the blind is viewed from
16internally of the corresponding room at an anyle of
17inclination, such as between about 4~-90, relative to the
18planes of the louvers with the inner edge of aach louver
19visually overlying the side sur~ace of the next adjacent
20rearward louver. It will be appreciated that the optical
21illusion effect created by the con~oured louvers 22 may be
22varied by rotating the louvers about their longitudinal
23axes so as to selectively control the amount of light
24emitted through the venetian blind 20 and impinging
25corresponding inwardly facing planar sides of the louvers.
26FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a
27vertical louver type venetian blind, indicated generally at
2830, employing contoured edge vertical louvers in accordance
29with the present invention. The venetian blind 30 includes
30a plurality of vertical louvers 32 which are supported at
31their upper ends from a support track and associated louver
32carriers (not shown) in similar fashiorl to the louvers 12.
33Selected ones of the vertical louvers 32, and preferably
34all of them, have at least their inwardly facing
35longitudinal marginal edges 32a formed in nonrectilinear
36contour configurationsO In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the
37inner longitudinal marginal edges 32a are formed as
38generally irregular curvilinear curvaturPs giving the
1 appearance of somewhat jagged longitudinal edges. The
2 opposite outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges of
3 the louvers 32, one of which is shown at 32b~ may be formed
4 as straight edges or as nonrectilinear contour
configurations similar to the inner edges 32a. The contour
6 edye vertical louvers 32 are operative to create a
7 generally three-dimensional abstract like optical illusion
8 effect as light is selectively emitted through the
9 contoured vertical louvers and impinges upon common planar
inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers, and when the
11 blind is viewed from internally of the corresponding room
lZ at an inclined angle of between approximately 45 and 90
13 to the planes of the louvers 50 that the inner edge of each
14 louver visually overlies the side surface of t~e next
adjacent rearward louver.
16 FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of
17 another embodiment of a vertical louver type venetian
18 blind, indicated generally at 40, which employs contour
19 edge vertical louvers 42 supported at their upper ends from
a support track by corresponding louver carriers (not
21 shown~ enabling traverse of the louvers between open and
22 closed blind co~ditions, and enabli~g selective rotation of
23 the louvers about their longitudinal axes when in closed
24 blind positions so as to control the amount of light
emitted through the venetian blind. The vertical louvers
26 42 have at least one longitudinal marginal edge, preferably
27 their inwardly facing longitudinal edges 42a, formed in a
28 contour configuration taking the form of a generally
29 scalloped contour. In the embodiment of F~G. 6, the
contoured longitudinal edges 42a of selected ones of the
31 louvers 42 may take the form of negative or concave
32 scallops, such as formed on the louvers indicated at 42',
33 or may take the form of positive or convex scallops such as
34 formed on the louvers indicated at 42". The negative and
positive scalloped edge louvers may be selectively combined
36 and oriented to obtain different optical illusion effects
37 across the width of the venetian blind. For example, the
38 left-most and third-from-left vertical louvers 42' have
- lo 2~
1 negative or concave scalloped contour inwardly facing
2 longitudinal edyes, while the intermediate vertical louver
3 42" has a positive or convex scalloped contour inwardly
4 facing longitudinal edge which is oriented ~uch that its
convex 3callops are horizontally aligned with concave
6 scallops on the next adjacent louvers. The louvers to the
7 right of the second louver 42' may comprise a series of
8 positive or convex scalloped edge contour louvers 42" which
9 are vertically or longitudinally offset relative to each
other by a distance equal to approximately one-half the
11 length of a chord connecting the ends of an arcuate
12 scallop. The vertical louvers 42' and 42" may have their
13 outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges formed as
14 curvilinear or scalloped contour configurations similar to
their corresponding inwardly facing longitudinal edges/ or
16 may be formed as ~traight edges parallel to the
17 longitudinal axes of the associated louvers. By
18 alternating the vertical louvers 42' and 42", gellerally
19 three-dimensional spherical-like optical illusions or
images are created as the louvers are viewed from
21 internally of the corresponding room and light is emitted
22 through the venetian blind so as to impinge corresponding
23 inwardly facing planar sides of the louvers.
24 ~IG. 7 illustrates a fragmentary portion of a
vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 50,
26 employing contour edge vertical louvers 52 in accordance
27 with another embodiment of the present invention. The
28 louvers 52 are supported at their upper ends from a support
29 track by associat~d louver carriers ~not shown) so as to
enable seleotive traverse of the louvers between open and
31 closed blind positions, and also enable rotation o~ the
32 louvers about their longitudinal axes between open louver
33 and closed louver positions to control light emitted
34 through the venetian blind. In the embodiment of FIG. 7,
each of the louvers 52 has an inwardly facing longitudinal
36 marginal edge 52a which is defined as having a
37 nonrectilinear contour confiyuration even though the
38 longitudinal edge is a combination of straight edge
1 portions interrupted by patterns of inwardly directed
2 recesses. For example, the inwardly facing longitudinal
3 edge 52a of the left-hand louver in blind 50 includes
4 generally straight edge portions 52~ interrupted by
int~rmediate pattern~ of recesses 52c which intersect the
6 inner longitudinal edge and are generally normal or
7 angularly inclined to the straight ~edge portions. As
8 illustrated, the recesses ~2c in the various vertical
9 louvers 52 may be formed in different patterns and at
various angles of inclination to the corresponding inwardly
11 facing longitudinal edges of the louvers so that the
12 longitudinal edges of adjacent louvers 52 have different
13 contour configurations. The thus contoured inner
14 longitudinal edges of the louvers 52 create an akstract-
li~e optical illusion effec~ when the louvers are viewed
16 from internally of the corresponding room, preferably at an
17 inclined angle to the planes of the louvers, so that the
18 inner edge of each louver visually overlies the side
19 surface of the next adjacent rearward louver and when the
2~ louvers are selectively rotated about their longitudinal
21 axes so that light emitted through the venetian blind 50
22 impinges inwardly facing planar side surfaces of the
23 louvers. The outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges
24 of the vertical louvers 52 may be formed as straight or
rectilinear edges, such as indicated at 52d/ or may ~e
26 formed as curvilinear contoured edges similar to their
27 corresponding inwardly facing edges 52a.
28 FIG. ~ illustrates a ~ragmentary portion of a
29 vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 60,
employinq vertical louvers having at least one contoured
31 longitudinal marginal edge in accordance with still another
32 embodiment of the pre~ent invention. The vertical louvers
33 employed in louver blind 60 are of two basic designs,
34 indicated at 62 and 64, and are supported at their upper
ends in similar fashion to louvers 12. The louvers 62 and
36 64 have inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges 62a and
37 ~a, respectively, which have nonrectilinear contour
38 configurations operative to create a generally three-
' '
'
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l dimensional optical illusion effect when light is
2 selectively emitted through the venetian blind. In the
3 embodiment of FIG. 8, the louver inner longitudinal edges
4 62a and 64a are formed as generally square-wave contour
configurations. The outwardly facing longitudinal marginal
6 edges of the vertical louver 62 and 64 may he formed as
7 straight edges parallel to the longitudinal axes of the
8 louvers, or as generally square-wave contour
9~ configurations, such as indicated at 62b, similar to their
corresponding inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges
11 62a and 64a.
12 The vertical louvers 62 and 64 are substantially
13 identical but are longitudinally or vertically offset
14 relative to each other so that corresponding outward or
convex portions 62c and 64c oE the square-wave longitudinal
16 edges are horizontally aligned with inward or concave edge
17 portions 62d and 64d on the next adjacent louvers on
18 opposite sides of the louver under consideration. In this
l9 manner, selec~ive rotation of the louvers 62 and 64 about
their longitudinal axes so that light from externall~ of
21 the blind impinges the inwardly facing planar sides of the
22 louvers creates optical illusion effects when the venetian
23 blind is viewed from internally of the corresponding room
24 and at an angle of inclination to the planes of the
louvers, such as between approximately ~ and 90~, so that
26 the inward edge of each louver overlies a portion of the
27 next adjacent rearwardly disposed louver.
2~ FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary portion of a
29 vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 70,
employing vertical louvers having at least one contoured
31 longitudinal marginal edge in accordance with another
32 embodiment of the present invention. The vertical louvers
33 of venetian blind 70 are indicated at 72a-d and are
34 supported at their upper ends from a support track by
associated louver carriers (not shown) which enable
36 movement of the louvers between open blind and closed blind
37 positions and also facilitate rotation of the louvers about
38 their longitudinal axes when in their closed blind
3 ~ ~
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1 positions to control light emitted through the venetian
2 blind. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, each of the louvers
3 72a-d has an inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edge,
4 indicated at 7~a-d, respectively, which is fo~med in a
nonrectilinear contour edge configuration. The
6 longitudinal marginal edges 74a and 74c of louvers 72a and
7 72c, respectively, are defined by generally straight edge
8 portions and concave generally semi-circular recess
9 portions 76a and 76c. The louvers 72b and 7Zd are
supported in alt0xnating relation with louvers 72a and 72c
11 and have their inner longitudinal marginal edges clefined
12 by straight edge portions and gen~rally semi-circular
13 convex portions 7Sb and 76d. The outwardly facing
14 longitudinal marginal edge of each of the louvers 72a-d may
be formed as a straight rectilinear edge surface or as a
16 nonrectilinear contoured configuration similar to the
17 corresponding louver inwardly facing longitudinal marginal
18 edge.
19 The vertical louvers 72a-d are supported in
~ selected pairs such that each adjacent pair of louvers
21 creates a generally tAree-dimensional spherical optical
22 illusion effect when light is emitted through the venetian
23 blind so as to impinge generally inwardly facing planar
24 side surfaces of the louvers, and when viewed from within
of the associated room at an angle of incline to the
26 louvers so that the inner edge of each louver overlies a
27 portion of the next adjacent rearward louver. For example,
28 the louvers 72a and 72b are supported relative to each
~ other such that the concave recess portions 76a of louver
72a are horizontally aligned with convex edge portions 76b
31 of louver 72b. The louvers 72c and 72d are similarly
32 matched so that the concave recess portions 76c are
33 horizontally aligned with convex edge portions 76d. In
34 this manner a pattern of generally spherical optical
illusions or images may be created over the venetian
36 blind 70.
37 FIG. 10 illustrates a fragmentary portion of
38 another embodiment of a vertical louver venetian blind,
g ~ ~
- 14 -
1 indicated generally at 80, employing vertical louvers 82
2 which are supported at their upper ends from a support
3 track by louver carriers enabling movement of the louvers
4 between open and closed blind positions and rotation of the
louvers about their longitudinal axes between c105 d louver
6 and open louver positions. Selected ones of the louvers 82
7 have generally parallel rectilinear longitudinal marginal
8 edges, such as indicated as 82a and 82b. The remaining
9 louvers 82 have inner longitudinal marginal edges,
indicated at 82c, in which ar~ formed predetermined contour
ll configurations cooperative to create at least one visual
12 geometric image pattern when ~he louvers are in at least
13 partially open positions such that light impinges the
14 inwardly facing side surfaces of the lcuvers; and the inner
edges of at least the contour edge louvers visually overlie
16 the nex~ adjacent rearward louvers. In the embodime~t of
17 FIG. 10, a geometric image pattern in the form of a circle
18 is created by the contour edge louvers. Other geometric
l9 image patterns such as rectangles, triangles, or
combinations of different geometrical patterns, may be
21 o~tained through selective contouring of the inner
22 longitudinal marginal edges of the louver~.
23 FIG. 11 illustrates still another embodiment of
24 a vertical louver venetian blindl indicated generally at
ga, in accordance with the present invention. The vertical
26 louver blind 90 employs a plurality of vertical louvers 92
27 which are supported at their upper ends by a support track
28 and louver carriers which enable traverse of the louvers
29 between open and closed blind positions and rotation about
their longitudinal axes between open and closed louver
31 positions in similar fashion to the aforedescribed
32 embodiments. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, selected ones
33 of the louvers 92 have generally parallel longitudinal
34 marginal edges, such as indicated at 92a and 92b, while the
remaining louvers have inner lonyitudinal marginal
36 edges 93c in which are formed predetermined contour
37 configurations cooperative to create at least one visual
38 simulated inanimate character image, such as a bear or
- 15 -
1similar animal or character image. The contoured edge
2louvers 92 may also cooperat~ to create geometric image
3patterns such as balloons or the like as illustrated in
4FIGo 11~ The vertical louvers in the venetian blinds 80
5and 90 may also be formed of contrasting colors to further
6enhance the visual images crea~ed by the contour louvers.
7Thus, in accordance with the present invention,
8various embodiments of vertical louvers are provided having
9longitudinal marginal edges in which are formed
10nonrec~ilinear contour configurations operative to create
11optical illusion or image effects when the louvers are in
12closed blind positions and rotated to at least partially
13open positions such that light is emitted through the
14associated venetian blind and impinges inwardly facing side
15surfaces of the louvers. While a number of alternative
16longitudinal marginal edge contour configurations have been
17illustrated and described, it will be understood that the
18number of variations and permutations is virtually
19unlimited, with each diffarent contour edge louver creating
20a slightly different optical illusion or image effect with
21other vertical louvers in a ~ertical louver venetian blind~
22Accordingly, while various embodiments of the
23present invention have been illustrated and described, it
2~will be understood that changes and modifications may be
25made therein without departing from the invention in its
26broader aspects. Various features of the invention are
27defined in the following claims.
