EP0409486A1

EP0409486A1 - Vertical louver venetian blind having contoured longitudinal edge louvers

Info

Publication number: EP0409486A1
Application number: EP90307625A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kay L. Ruggles
Original assignee: Home Fashions Inc
Current assignee: Home Fashions Inc
Priority date: 1989-07-19
Filing date: 1990-07-12
Publication date: 1991-01-23
Also published as: CA2020850A1; JPH03132576A

Abstract

A vertical louver type venetian blind having a plurality of vertical louvers (12) supported for rotation about their longitudinal axes, and wherein each louver has at least one nonrectilinear contoured longitudinal marginal edge (18a,18b,18c,18d) 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

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to vertical louver type venetian blinds, and more particularly to a novel vertical louver venetian blind wherein the louvers have selectively contoured longitudinal marginal edges operative to create optical illusion effects.
The advent of vertical louver type venetian blinds has brought about new concepts in interior design in both commercial and residential installations. Vertical louver type venetian blinds have been particularly well received in contemporary architectural constructions where relatively large expanses of window glass are employed. In such situations, the vertical louver blinds may be of substantial vertical height and, when closed, may extend along a considerable horizontal length of the corresponding wall and window area. The relatively uninterrupted expanse of the vertical louver venetian blind enables broad variations in design and functional effect. Conventional louvers or vanes employed in vertical louver blinds have substantially straight parallel longitudinal marginal edges and are adapted for movement between open blind positions drawn to one or opposite ends of a support track or channel, and closed blind positions wherein the vertical louvers are disposed in generally equal spaced relation along the track or channel. The louvers are further adapted for selective rotation about their longitudinal axes when in closed blind positions to control the amount of light emitted into the corresponding room.
In many installations, vertical louver type venetian blinds have a significant advantage over horizontal type venetian blinds in that the vertical louvers may more readily contribute to the overall design scheme of the corresponding room. For example, the vertical louvers may be made from vinyl or other suitable material colored to add an accent color to the room, or colored to blend with the main color of the room. Although horizontal louvers may also be made of colored vinyl, they do not present the uninterrupted appearance of vertical louvers. Vertical louvers may also be made from fabric material colored to provide an accent color or desired pattern which forms part of the rooms color scheme. Further, vinyl vertical louvers adapted to support fabric panels in combination vinyl/fabric louvers also lend themselves to a wide range of design schemes.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention adds a further feature to the use of vertical louver venetian blinds to enhance interior design possibilities. More particularly, the present invention provides at least one contoured longitudinal marginal edge on selected ones of the vertical louvers so as to cause light controlled by the louver blind to create optical illusion or image effects which, in various embodiments, may take the form of generally three-dimensional optical images or illusions.
Accordingly, one of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide a novel vertical louver venetian blind wherein selected ones of the vertical louvers have at least one nonrectilinear contoured longitudinal marginal edge.
A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a novel vertical louver type venetian blind having a plurality of vertical louvers supported for rotation about their longitudinal axes, and wherein selected ones of the louvers have at least one nonrectilinear contoured longitudinal marginal edge such that corresponding contoured edges of the louvers are operative to create an optical image or illusion effect.
Another object of the invention is to provide a vertical louver venetian blind wherein the inner longitudinal marginal edges on selected ones of the vertical louvers are contoured such that the contoured edges cooperate to create one or more visual images of geometric patterns and/or simulated inanimate characters when the louvers are in at least partially open positions such that light impinges inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers and the blind is viewed such that the contour edges visually overlie the next adjacent rearward louvers.
A feature of the vertical louver venetian blind in accordance with the invention lies in the provision of louvers having corresponding nonrectilinear contoured longitudinal marginal edges which, in various embodiments, create a generally three-dimensional optical illusion effect when the louvers are in at least partially open positions and the blind is viewed from interiorly of the corresponding room at an angle of inclination to the planes of the louvers.
Another feature of at least one embodiment of the vertical louver venetian blind in accordance with the present invention lies in providing contoured edge louvers of contrasting colors so as to enhance the visual image created by the contour edges when light impinges the inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers.
Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the several views.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vertical louver type venetian blind employing vertical louvers constructed in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vertical louver as employed in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side edge view of the louver of FIG. 2, taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and
FIGS. 4-11 are fragmentary perspective views of vertical louver type venetian blinds wherein the louvers have longitudinal marginal edges contoured in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-3, a fragmentary portion of a vertical louver type venetian blind constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The venetian blind 10 includes a plurality of vertical louvers 12 which are supported at their upper ends from a generally horizontal support track or channel 14 through corresponding louver carriers (not shown) adapted to support the louvers for traverse along the support track between open blind and closed blind positions, and also enable selective rotation of the louvers about their vertical longitudinal axes. The support track and louver carriers may take the form of any conventional known construction such as, for example, tracks and louver carriers commercially available from the LouverDrape Division of Home Fashions, Inc., Santa Monica, CA. A draw cord 16 extends downwardly from the left-hand end of the support track 14 and is operatively coupled to the louver carriers to facilitate selective traverse of the louvers 12 between open blind positions adjacent one or the opposite ends of the guide track 14, and closed blind positions wherein the louvers are spaced generally equally along the length of the support track. A separate control in the form of a beaded chain (not shown) may hang downwardly with the draw cord 18 and enables selective rotation of the louvers about their vertical longitudinal axes in a known manner when the louvers are in closed blind positions so as to control the amount of light emitted into the corresponding room from a window covered by the vertical louver venetian blind. An example of a louver operating mechanism adapted to enable opening and closing of the blind through a draw cord, and facilitate selective rotation of the louvers about their longitudinal axes by a beaded chain or the like between open and closed louver positions is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,834,162 which is incorporated herein by reference.
The vertical louvers 12 are preferably made of a relatively rigid material, such as rigid vinyl or other suitable material, so that the louvers maintain a generally fixed transverse cross-sectional configuration when suspended from the guide track 14. Alternatively, the louvers 12 may be made of a suitable fabric material or a combination vinyl and fabric. In all cases, it is desirable that the louvers hang vertically and in parallel relation to each other. If desired, the lower ends of the louvers may be interconnected by spacer chains or the like to maintain stability and parallelism of the vertical louvers without inhibiting rotation about their longitudinal axes. In the various embodiments hereinafter described, the vertical louvers are generally planar. However, the louvers may be formed as non-planar louvers having generally S-shaped, C-shaped or other non-planar transverse cross-sectional configurations.
Each of the louvers 12 has substantially greater transverse width than thickness, and each louver has longitudinal marginal edges as indicated at 18a and 18b in FIG. 2. In accordance with an important feature of the present invention, at least one of the longitudinal marginal edges 18a and 18b of selected ones of the louvers 12 has a nonrectilinear contour configuration. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, each louver 12 has both of its longitudinal marginal edges 18a and 18b contoured in symmetrical nonrectilinear configurations, alternatively termed curvilinear contour configurations, taking generally the form of sine waves. If desired, only one of the longitudinal marginal edges, preferably the inwardly facing edges 18a, of the vanes 12 may be formed with a sine wave contour configuration, while the opposite outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges 18b of the vanes may be formed as straight edges or as curvilinear contour edges different than the contour of the corresponding inner edges 18a.
The adjacent vertical louvers 12 of the venetian blind 10 are longitudinally or vertically offset relative to each other so that, except for the end louvers, a convex curvature portion 18c of each louver contour edge is at a horizontal level corresponding to a concave curvature portion 18d of the next adjacent louver on either side of the louver under consideration. By so contouring the longitudinal edges of the louvers 12, a generally three-dimensional optical illusion effect is created by light emitted through the closed venetian blind when the louvers are in fully open or partially open louver positions so that light impinges the inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers and the venetian blind is viewed from internally of the corresponding room at an angle of inclination, such as between about 45°-90°, to the planes of the louvers so that the inwardly facing contoured longitudinal edge of each louver is in the foreground of and visually overlies the side surface of the adjacent rearward louver. Depending on the transverse width of the louvers, such an angle of inclination may be established by rotating the louvers 12 relative to their fully open positions normal to the support track so that light impinges the inwardly facing sides of the louvers and the inward longitudinal edge of each louver overlies the next adjacent rearward louver side surface, or by viewing the partially open louvers at an angle of inclination which achieves the same result. It will be appreciated that the optical illusion effect created by the contour edge vertical louvers 12 may be altered by rotating the louvers about their longitudinal axes to vary the amount of light emitted between the vertical louvers and impinging common planar sides of the louvers.
In accordance with one feature of the present invention, which finds particular application with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the louvers 12 may be given contrasting colors so that each louver is of a different color than the next adjacent louvers on either side of the louver under consideration. For example, each odd numbered louver, counting from the left-hand edge of blind 10, may be of a relatively light color such as white or other light color. Each even numbered louver may be of a relatively dark color such as brown or other contrasting color. In this manner, the visual image created by the contoured edge louvers and light impinging the inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers is significantly enhanced. By providing alternate louvers of contrasting colors, the visual image generally created by natural light passing through the partially open louvers can also be achieved by artificial light impinging inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers from internally of the corresponding room, particularly when the louvers are in closed or substantially closed positions. This feature of alternate contrasting color louvers can also be applied to the following described embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 20, which includes a plurality of generally planar vertical louvers 22 constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The louvers 72 are supported from their upper ends through a support track and associated louver carriers (not shown) in similar fashion to the louvers 12 so as to enable traverse of the louvers between open and closed blind positions, and rotation of the louvers about their longitudinal axes between closed louver and open louver positions to control the amount of light emitted through the venetian blind. Each of the louvers 22 has longitudinal marginal edges 22a and 22b at least one of which, preferably the inwardly facing longitudinal edge 22a, is formed with a nonrectilinear contour configuration, alternatively termed a curvilinear contour configuration.
In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges 22a of the vertical louvers have irregular longitudinal contour curvatures such that the inner contoured edges 22a of each pair of adjacent vertical louvers are different. The outer longitudinal edge 22b of each louver 22 may be formed as a straight edge parallel to the longitudinal axis of the louver, or may be formed as an irregular contour curvature similar to the corresponding inwardly facing longitudinal edge. In this manner, a generally three-dimensional optical illusion effect of random abstract images is created across the horizontal width of the venetian blind when the louvers are in fully open or partially open positions so that light emitted through the blind impinges the inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers and the blind is viewed from internally of the corresponding room at an angle of inclination, such as between about 45°-90°, relative to the planes of the louvers with the inner edge of each louver visually overlying the side surface of the next adjacent rearward louver. It will be appreciated that the optical illusion effect created by the contoured louvers 22 may be varied by rotating the louvers about their longitudinal axes so as to selectively control the amount of light emitted through the venetian blind 20 and impinging corresponding inwardly facing planar sides of the louvers.
FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a vertical louver type venetian blind, indicated generally at 30, employing contoured edge vertical louvers in accordance with the present invention. The venetian blind 30 includes a plurality of vertical louvers 32 which are supported at their upper ends from a support track and associated louver carriers (not shown) in similar fashion to the louvers 12. Selected ones of the vertical louvers 32, and preferably all of them, have at least their inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges 32a formed in nonrectilinear contour configurations. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the inner longitudinal marginal edges 32a are formed as generally irregular curvilinear curvatures giving the appearance of somewhat jagged longitudinal edges. The opposite outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges of the louvers 32, one of which is shown at 32b, may be formed as straight edges or as nonrectilinear contour configurations similar to the inner edges 32a. The contour edge vertical louvers 32 are operative to create a generally three-dimensional abstract-like optical illusion effect as light is selectively emitted through the contoured vertical louvers and impinges upon common planar inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers, and when the blind is viewed from internally of the corresponding room at an inclined angle of between approximately 45° and 90° to the planes of the louvers so that the inner edge of each louver visually overlies the side surface of the next adjacent rearward louver.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of a vertical louver type venetian blind, indicated generally at 40, which employs contour edge vertical louvers 42 supported at their upper ends from a support track by corresponding louver carriers (not shown) enabling traverse of the louvers between open and closed blind conditions, and enabling selective rotation of the louvers about their longitudinal axes when in closed blind positions so as to control the amount of light emitted through the venetian blind. The vertical louvers 42 have at least one longitudinal marginal edge, preferably their inwardly facing longitudinal edges 42a, formed in a contour configuration taking the form of a generally scalloped contour. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the contoured longitudinal edges 42a of selected ones of the louvers 42 may take the form of negative or concave scallops, such as formed on the louvers indicated at 42′, or may take the form of positive or convex scallops such as formed on the louvers indicated at 42˝. The negative and positive scalloped edge louvers may be selectively combined and oriented to obtain different optical illusion effects across the width of the venetian blind. For example, the left-most and third-from-left vertical louvers 42′ have negative or concave scalloped contour inwardly facing longitudinal edges, while the intermediate vertical louver 42˝ has a positive or convex scalloped contour inwardly facing longitudinal edge which is oriented such that its convex scallops are horizontally aligned with concave scallops on the next adjacent louvers. The louvers to the right of the second louver 42′ may comprise a series of positive or convex scalloped edge contour louvers 42˝ which are vertically or longitudinally offset relative to each other by a distance equal to approximately one-half the length of a chord connecting the ends of an arcuate scallop. The vertical louvers 42′ and 42˝ may have their outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges formed as curvilinear or scalloped contour configurations similar to their corresponding inwardly facing longitudinal edges, or may be formed as straight edges parallel to the longitudinal axes of the associated louvers. By alternating the vertical louvers 42′ and 42˝, generally three-dimensional spherical-like optical illusions or images are created as the louvers are viewed from internally of the corresponding room and light is emitted through the venetian blind so as to impinge corresponding inwardly facing planar sides of the louvers.
FIG. 7 illustrates a fragmentary portion of a vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 50, employing contour edge vertical louvers 52 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The louvers 52 are supported at their upper ends from a support track by associated louver carriers (not shown) so as to enable selective traverse of the louvers between open and closed blind positions, and also enable rotation of the louvers about their longitudinal axes between open louver and closed louver positions to control light emitted through the venetian blind. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, each of the louvers 52 has an inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edge 52a which is defined as having a nonrectilinear contour configuration even though the longitudinal edge is a combination of straight edge portions interrupted by patterns of inwardly directed recesses. For example, the inwardly facing longitudinal edge 52a of the left-hand louver in blind 50 includes generally straight edge portions 52b interrupted by intermediate patterns of recesses 52c which intersect the inner longitudinal edge and are generally normal or angularly inclined to the straight edge portions. As illustrated, the recesses 52c in the various vertical louvers 52 may be formed in different patterns and at various angles of inclination to the corresponding inwardly facing longitudinal edges of the louvers so that the longitudinal edges of adjacent louvers 52 have different contour configurations. The thus contoured inner longitudinal edges of the louvers 52 create an abstract-like optical illusion effect when the louvers are viewed from internally of the corresponding room, preferably at an inclined angle to the planes of the louvers, so that the inner edge of each louver visually overlies the side surface of the next adjacent rearward louver and when the louvers are selectively rotated about their longitudinal axes so that light emitted through the venetian blind 50 impinges inwardly facing planar side surfaces of the louvers. The outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges of the vertical louvers 52 may be formed as straight or rectilinear edges, such as indicated at 52d, or may be formed as curvilinear contoured edges similar to their corresponding inwardly facing edges 52a.
FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmentary portion of a vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 60, employing vertical louvers having at least one contoured longitudinal marginal edge in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention. The vertical louvers employed in louver blind 60 are of two basic designs, indicated at 62 and 64, and are supported at their upper ends in similar fashion to louvers 12. The louvers 62 and 64 have inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges 62a and 64a, respectively, which have nonrectilinear contour configurations operative to create a generally three- dimensional optical illusion effect when light is selectively emitted through the venetian blind. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the louver inner longitudinal edges 62a and 64a are formed as generally square-wave contour configurations. The outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges of the vertical louver 62 and 64 may be formed as straight edges parallel to the longitudinal axes of the louvers, or as generally square-wave contour configurations, such as indicated at 62b, similar to their corresponding inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edges 62a and 64a.
The vertical louvers 62 and 64 are substantially identical but are longitudinally or vertically offset relative to each other so that corresponding outward or convex portions 62c and 64c of the square-wave longitudinal edges are horizontally aligned with inward or concave edge portions 62d and 64d on the next adjacent louvers on opposite sides of the louver under consideration. In this manner, selective rotation of the louvers 62 and 64 about their longitudinal axes so that light from externally of the blind impinges the inwardly facing planar sides of the louvers creates optical illusion effects when the venetian blind is viewed from internally of the corresponding room and at an angle of inclination to the planes of the louvers, such as between approximately 45° and 90°, so that the inward edge of each louver overlies a portion of the next adjacent rearwardly disposed louver.
FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary portion of a vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 70, employing vertical louvers having at least one contoured longitudinal marginal edge in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The vertical louvers of venetian blind 70 are indicated at 72a-d and are supported at their upper ends from a support track by associated louver carriers (not shown) which enable movement of the louvers between open blind and closed blind positions and also facilitate rotation of the louvers about their longitudinal axes when in their closed blind positions to control light emitted through the venetian blind. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, each of the louvers 72a-d has an inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edge, indicated at 74a-d, respectively, which is formed in a nonrectilinear contour edge configuration. The longitudinal marginal edges 74a and 74c of louvers 72a and 72c, respectively, are defined by generally straight edge portions and concave generally semi-circular recess portions 76a and 76c. The louvers 72b and 72d are supported in alternating relation with louvers 72a and 72c and have their inner longitudinal marginal edges defined by straight edge portions and generally semi-circular convex portions 76b and 76d. The outwardly facing longitudinal marginal edge of each of the louvers 72a-d may be formed as a straight rectilinear edge surface or as a nonrectilinear contoured configuration similar to the corresponding louver inwardly facing longitudinal marginal edge.
The vertical louvers 72a-d are supported in selected pairs such that each adjacent pair of louvers creates a generally three-dimensional spherical optical illusion effect when light is emitted through the venetian blind so as to impinge generally inwardly facing planar side surfaces of the louvers, and when viewed from within of the associated room at an angle of incline to the louvers so that the inner edge of each louver overlies a portion of the next adjacent rearward louver. For example, 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 of louver 72b. The louvers 72c and 72d are similarly matched so that the concave recess portions 76c are horizontally aligned with convex edge portions 76d. In this manner a pattern of generally spherical optical illusions or images may be created over the venetian blind 70.
FIG. 10 illustrates a fragmentary portion of another embodiment of a vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 80, employing vertical louvers 82 which are supported at their upper ends from a support track by louver carriers enabling movement of the louvers between open and closed blind positions and rotation of the louvers about their longitudinal axes between closed louver and open louver positions. Selected ones of the louvers 82 have generally parallel rectilinear longitudinal marginal edges, such as indicated as 82a and 82b. The remaining louvers 82 have inner longitudinal marginal edges, indicated at 82c, in which are formed predetermined contour configurations cooperative to create at least one visual geometric image pattern when the louvers are in at least partially open positions such that light impinges the inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers, and the inner edges of at least the contour edge louvers visually overlie the next adjacent rearward louvers. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, a geometric image pattern in the form of a circle is created by the contour edge louvers. Other geometric image patterns such as rectangles, triangles, or combinations of different geometrical patterns, may be obtained through selective contouring of the inner longitudinal marginal edges of the louvers.
FIG. 11 illustrates still another embodiment of a vertical louver venetian blind, indicated generally at 90, in accordance with the present invention. The vertical louver blind 90 employs a plurality of vertical louvers 92 which are supported at their upper ends by a support track and louver carriers which enable traverse of the louvers between open and closed blind positions and rotation about their longitudinal axes between open and closed louver positions in similar fashion to the aforedescribed embodiments. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, selected ones of the louvers 92 have generally parallel longitudinal marginal edges, such as indicated at 92a and 92b, while the remaining louvers have inner longitudinal marginal edges 93c in which are formed predetermined contour configurations cooperative to create at least one visual simulated inanimate character image, such as a bear or similar animal or character image. The contoured edge louvers 92 may also cooperate to create geometric image patterns such as balloons or the like as illustrated in FIG. 11. The vertical louvers in the venetian blinds 80 and 90 may also be formed of contrasting colors to further enhance the visual images created by the contour louvers.
Thus, in accordance with the present invention, various embodiments of vertical louvers are provided having longitudinal marginal edges in which are formed nonrectilinear contour configurations operative to create optical illusion or image effects when the louvers are in closed blind positions and rotated to at least partially open positions such that light is emitted through the associated venetian blind and impinges inwardly facing side surfaces of the louvers. While a number of alternative longitudinal marginal edge contour configurations have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that the number of variations and permutations is virtually unlimited, with each different contour edge louver creating a slightly different optical illusion or image effect with other vertical louvers in a vertical louver venetian blind.
Accordingly, while various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Various features of the invention are defined in the following claims.

Claims

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 2 wherein each of said contoured longitudinal marginal edges defines a generally sine wave curvature.

8. A venetian blind as defined in claim 7 wherein adjacent louvers have their said sine wave contour marginal edges offset longitudinally relative to each other.

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

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

11. 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.

12. A venetian blind as defined in claim 1 wherein said louvers are supported for rotation about their longitudinal axes 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.

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

14. 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.

15. A venetian blind as defined in claim 14 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.