CA2020850A1 - Vertical louver venetian blind having contoured longitudinal edge louvers - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A vertical louver type venetian blind having a plurality of vertical louvers supported for rotation about their longitudinal axes, and wherein each louver has at least one nonrectilinear contoured longitudinal marginal edge such that corresponding contoured edges of the louvers create, in various embodiments, generally three-dimensional optical illusion effects when light is emitted through the blind so as to impinge inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers and when the blind is viewed from interiorly of the corresponding room at an angle of inclination of the planes of the louvers.

Description

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 .

- 2 - ~ 3 ~ ~

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.

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.

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;

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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 ':

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 - 6 ~

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 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.

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-' ' ' 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 ~ ~

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 ~ ~

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 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.

Claims (33)

1. In a venetian blind having a plurality of elongated louvers supported in substantially vertical relation and wherein each louver has a pair of longitudinal marginal edges, the improvement wherein at least one of the longitudinal marginal edges of selected ones of said louvers has a nonrectilinear contour configuration.

2. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 1 wherein a corresponding longitudinal marginal edge of each of said louvers has a nonrectilinear contour configuration.

3. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein the contoured longitudinal marginal edges of said louvers have substantially equal nonrectilinear contour configurations.

4. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein the longitudinal marginal edges of said louvers are contoured along substantially their full longitudinal lengths.

5. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein both longitudinal marginal edges of each of said louvers have nonrectilinear contour configurations.

6. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 1 wherein the opposite longitudinal marginal edge of each of said selected louvers is formed as a straight edge.

7. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 1 wherein each of said louvers is generally planar and has substantially greater longitudinal length than transverse width.

8. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein each of said contoured longitudinal marginal edges defines a generally sine wave curvature.

9. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 8 wherein adjacent louvers have their said sine wave contour marginal edges offset longitudinally relative to each other.

10. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein said contoured longitudinal edges are defined by irregular curvatures.

11. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein the opposite longitudinal marginal edge of each of said louvers is substantially straight.

12. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein said contoured longitudinal edges of said louvers are defined by generally square-wave contour configurations.

13. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 2 wherein said contoured longitudinal edges are defined by selected combinations of generally semicircular convex and semicircular concave curvatures.

14. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 1 wherein said louvers are supported for rotation about their longitudinal axis in a manner to control light passage from an outer side of the venetian blind to an inner side, said contoured longitudinal edges being operative to create a generally three-dimensional optical illusion when the venetian blind is viewed from said inner side and at an inclined angle to said louvers when in at least partially open louver positions.

15. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 1 wherein said louvers are selected from a group including planar louvers and louvers of nonplanar transverse cross-sectional configuration.

16. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 1 wherein said louvers have nonplanar transverse cross-sectional configurations.

17. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 1 wherein alternate louvers have contrasting colors.

18. A louver for use in a vertical louver type venetian blind, said louver comprising a relatively thin member having substantially greater longitudinal length than transverse width and defining a pair of longitudinal marginal edges, at least one of said marginal edges having a nonrectilinear contour configuration.

19. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein both longitudinal marginal edges of said louver have nonrectilinear contour configurations.

20. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein said contoured longitudinal marginal edge of said louver is contoured along substantially its full longitudinal length.

21. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein the other of said longitudinal marginal edges is formed as a straight edge.

22. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein said contoured longitudinal marginal edge defines a generally sine wave curvature.

23. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein said contoured longitudinal marginal edge is defined by an irregular longitudinal curvature.

24. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein said contoured longitudinal marginal edge is defined by a generally square-wave contour configuration.

25. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein said contoured longitudinal marginal edge is defined at least in part by generally semicircular recesses.

26. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein said contoured longitudinal marginal edge is defined at least in part by generally semicircular convex curvature portions.

27. A louver as defined in Claim 18 wherein said contoured longitudinal marginal edge is defined by alternating straight edge portions and patterns of recesses intersecting said marginal edge.

28. In a vertical louver type venetian blind including a plurality of substantially vertical louvers having longitudinal marginal edges and being supported at their upper ends for rotation about longitudinal axes between closed louver and open louver positions; the improvement wherein selected ones of said longitudinal marginal edges have predetermined contour configurations cooperative to create a visual image when the louvers are in at least partially open positions.

29. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 28 wherein each louver has outer and inner longitudinal marginal edges, said predetermined contour configurations being formed on the inner longitudinal marginal edges of said selected louvers.

30. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 29 wherein said predetermined contour configurations are cooperative to create at least one visual geometric image pattern.

31. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 29 wherein said predetermined contour configurations are cooperative to create at least one visual simulated inanimate character image.

32. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 29 wherein alternate louvers have contrasting colors.

33. A venetian blind as defined in Claim 32 wherein said louvers define two basic colors with louvers of one color alternating with louvers of another color.