US2837152A

US2837152A - Horizontally adjustable venetian blind

Info

Publication number: US2837152A
Application number: US573816A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Nathan Edward Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-03-26
Filing date: 1956-03-26
Publication date: 1958-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1975-06-03

Description

June 3, 1958 N. E. MOORE. JR

VENETIAN BLIND HORIZONTALLY ADJUSTABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1956 INVENTOR. NATHAN EDWARD MOORE JR.

ATTORNEY June 3, 1958 N. E. MOORE. JR

. VENETIAN BLIND HORIZONTALLY ADJUSTABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1956 FIG.7

INVENTOR. NAT HAN EDWARD MOOREJH ATTORNEY 7 2,837,152 HORIZONTALLY ADJUSTABLE VENETIAN BLIND, Nathan Edward Moore, Jr., Greensboro, N. C, Application March 26, 1956, Serial No. 573,816

' Claims. (11. 160-168 The present invention relates to adjustable closures of the multiple louver Venetian blind type' and relates more particularly to improvements in Venetian blinds in which the entire closure may be adjusted widthwise within limits.

Normally louver closures of the Venetian blind type are custom built to specific specificationsvboth in length and in width corresponding to the window or recess frame in which the blind will be suspended- Mismeasurement in oversizing blind widths necessitates time consuming material removal from the ends of each blind slat. Also some material must be removed from the width of the tilt bar, the channel box and the bottom rail of each blind before the complete blind maybe mounted in place.

In view of the manywindow widths, standard as well as special, customarily found in a single home or apartment, equipping all of the windows entails blinds of various widths. Retail establishments desiring to merchandise Venetian blinds are obliged to invest in large inventories in order to stock blinds of the many different widths so as to have them available for immediate sale.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is the provision of av width-adjustable Venetian blind which is freely extendable between limits.

Another object of this invention is to provide a Venetian blind in which the individual slats have overlapping portions which reach between'supporting ladder tapes and the slats are extendable widthwise.

Yet another object of the present invention is-the provision of an extensible Venetian blind in which each slat is compounded or articulated with two slat portions that are slidably movable relative to each other and supported between a pair of ladder tapes with a single slat thickness extending beyond the end of each side of the blind and an overlapping intermediate section of the slat portions between the tapes with the inner end of each slat concealed behind opposite ladder tapes.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a width adjustable Venetian blind in which longitudinal manipulation of the top channel will correspondingly vary the overall width of the tilt bar and the ladder slat supporting tapes from which repositioning the individual louver slats may be readily aligned.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of a multiple-tape Venetian blind suitable for expansion between extensive varying widths.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a Venetian blind which is extensible in width with the individual louver members extending at opposite ends in single thickness beyond supporting ladder tapes with the other ends of the louver members fastened to transverse ladder members and concealed by the ladder tapes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind that is extensible over a large expanse by utilizing a compound louver in which the individual United States Patent() 2 louver members have a single thickness at the terminal ends of the blind and the intermediate portion between louver supporting tapes has a double thickness of the louver and the length of the doublethickness portion will vary depending upon the width of opening on which the blind is suspended.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a variable width Venetian blind in which the intermediate portion of the blind is provided with a double thickness of slat members suitably fastened to prevent objectionable slat sagging and so constructed as to conceal the overlapping slats as much as possible.

Other and further objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent as the invention becomes better understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view, with. portions removed, illustrating one form of an adjustable Venetian blind of the present invention employing the use of a single pair of spaced louver supporting ladder tapes;

Figs. 2, 3, and 4am enlarged partial perspective views of a portion of acompound slat with a ladder type illus trating various means for securing the compound slat for slidable size adjustment;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a compound slat and a slat keeper and aligning means;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the tilt bar of Fig. '1 with a portion omitted;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view with portions removed illustrating a modified Venetian blind of the present inventionincorporating the use of double ladder tapes for supporting compounded slats for increased extensibility;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of an adjustable tilt bar with portions removed illustrating the form of tilt bar employed in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective .view illustrating one form of ladder tape supporting drum.

Referring to the drawing and particularly to Fig. 1

there is broadly shown a widthadjustable louver enclosure 10, popularly referred to as a Venetian blind, in which the horizontal slats or louver members 11 are supported on the

ladder tapes

12 and 13 that are individually connected at thetop of the blind to the extensible tilt bar 14 which is pivotally supported in the top extensible channel enclosure 15 and at the bottom to the bottom rail member 16. Suitable slat raising and lowering means areprovided for the slats in the form of the lifting cords 17 and lift locking mechanism 18. Tilting of the .individual slats 11 to dispose the slats to the desired angular position is accomplished by means of the pivotal action of the tilt bar 14 which is actuated manually through'the flexible tilt bar operating cords 19 and 2t) and the tilt bar operating mechanism 21 mounted at the right end of V the top channel in Fig. l. I

Each individual slat of the series forming the blind is constituted by a compound member formed with two elements; a left portion 23 and a right portion 24, each of which portions has substantially identical cross-sectional areas that are preferably arcuate to enable one slat element to nest in overlapping relation within the other complementing portion. The lengths of the

individual slat elements

23 and 24 are equal, and the slat element 23 extends from the right ladder tape 13 to the left margin of the blind. The other slat element 24 of a compound louver slat extends from the left ladder tape 12 to the right margin of the blind. As is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, somewhat in exaggerated form, the end or overhanging portions of each compound slat is constituted bysingle thickness which extends beyond ladder tape members or rungs or 26 which arefastener to and extend between the vertical reaches of each:

ladder tape

12 and 13. Obviously the rightsiat element 24. may. be fastened at the left to the left tape transverse member 25- with the right portion ing tothe right margin of the blind. 23 will be fastened to the right tape transverse member 26, below the right element24 and the transverse member 25, with the left portion of the element 23- resting on the top of the left tape transverse element 26 and below the fastened end of the right securing each element of a compound slat in a similar manner the slat elements may slide longitudinally over each other in the intermediate portion with the fastened ends remaining virtually concealed behind the ladder tapes. The slat sections may be supported against falling upon pivoting the tilt bar 14 to a suitable angle when the blind is closed by having the slat members constrained from transverse displacement by either fastening the top right slat element 24 at the left to the transverse member 25 as well as the constraining action exerted by the transverse element 25 on top of the element 24 at the right tape member 13.

Asthe greater portion of the Venetian blinds being sold are either made of aluminum or a steel slat variety, the structure will be so described as having either aluminum or steel slats, however, it is contemplated that with some insubstantial modifications the inventive concept may be equally applicable to'woodor plastic slats. One means for securing the inner ends of the slat members to a transverse tape member is to provide a reverse bend 27 in the terminal end portion of the slat. This reverse bend is preferably formed. in each individual slat either prior to or during fabrication of the blind and a final crimping operation will securely fasten the to a transverse member such as 25. It will be apparent that this reverse bend is preferably formed to return above the slat portionfor the right element 24 and below for the left element 23in order to permit the individualelements to be contiguous.

In Fig. 2 there is illustrated a modified means for fastening the

individual portions

23 and 24 to a transverse ladder member 25 by providing the terminal portions of each slat element with a split tape fastening slot 29. The tape fastening slot is formed with openings and 31 .spaced apart by the intermediate tabs 32 which are integrally formed. in the slat so that each tab may beraised or lowered slightly transversely to the slat to insert a

transverse member

25 or 26 therein. It is preferred that the width of each of the

openings

30 and 31 is slightly greater than the

width members

25 and 26 transverse member between the tabs 32 disengagement.

A further modified means for securing the slat por-' tions to the

transverse tape members

25 and 26. providing a suitable staple 35 which may be inserted to clamp a transverse tape member to an end of a slat member as shown in Fig. 4. It has been found desirable in some applications to employ the use of a metal clamp 36, shown more clearly in transverse member connecting position in .orderto maintain the individual slat mmebers in constantalignment without impairing the extensible'features of the members 23 and'24. The clamp 36 is provided with a contour of the transverse tape in order to prevent an edgeof the from being alignedwith the split thereby eliminating possibilities of appearing across 'thehorizontal of the slat passing. under, the right tape transverse member 25 and extend- The left element element 24. By

reverse bend Fig. 5 for-installation at each.

substantially similar to the slat cross-section with the terminal. portions 31 turned inwardly to engage the slat edges in order to maintain slat alignment. Each clamp 36 may be made so as to fit conveniently on a transverse tape to facilitate installation of the clamps at convenient positions on each slat at the terminal portions so as to conceal the clamp from view behind the vertical reach of the ladder tape.

The top ends of each vertical slat supporting

ladder tape

12 and 13 are clamped to a supporting druni 4% that is mounted on one of the

telescoping rod sections

41 or 42 of the tilt bar 14. The tilt bar 14 may be provided with-longitudinalkeyways 43 and 44 in the

rod sections

41 and 42, respectively, to receive and guide a supporting drum 49 therein. Relative rotation of the rod sections is reduced due to the locking connection between the base of the supporting drum 4% against the edges of the opening illzz'in the section 41. One end of the rod section 41 is supportedwithin the opening 45 in the channel tiltibar' supporting plate tlfiand the other end of. the tilt bar section'42' issupported in the channel tilt bar supporting plate47 bymeans of the tilt bar operating mechanism 48 which may be of conventional form. Suitable fasteningmeans (not. shown) may be applied to thetilt bar'ends to prevent the tilt bar fronrheing separatedfrom the tilt.

bar supporting plates

46 and 47.

As more clearly. depicted inFig. 6, the left tape securing' drum 4a is. mounted to through. the elongatedopening 49in the outer rod section 41.

portions slidable with each other with the section 153' slidably receivable into thersection 15b. Expansion or contraction of the tilt bar 14 may be correlated with ere pension and contraction of the channel 15. The chat-1 nelbases 5l-are provided withspaced tape opcningsSZ adjacent to the free end of each. channel. Additional spaced elongated tape openings 53 are furnished adjacent to thetiltbar. supporting ends of 'the channels to allow for the. longitudinal movement of the tapes 1?. and 13 as the blind is adjusted to the required width.

Upon adjusting the width of the blind the tape Band right drum 4t). will move to the left with the tape 13 vwhich passes through. the opening 52 being able to pass unobstructedthrough the elongatedopening 53 in movement to the left. Similarly tape 12 and the left drum t!) may bemovedto the right with the tape 12 passing through opening 52 in-the channel base 51 of section 15b: and the openings 53 in section 15a which are elongated sufiiciently to'permit lateralmovenient of thetape 12 to the right or left- The bottom rail member 16, constituted by the sec tions 16a and 16b, telescopes longitudinally making the rail adjustable.

Ladder tapes

12 and 13 are secured about the bottom-of the rail with a. suitable fastening means'soas to permit the sections to telescope within each other and also to permit the tapes to be displaced along the bottom-rail for alignment'with the ladder tape fastening drums 40 mounted on the: tilt bar- 41 enabling the ladder tapes to be maintainedinparallel relationship.

Raising and lowering the bottom rail 16 and the slats is accomplishedby means of the lifting cords 17 which reach through the conventional lift locking means-18 and through-the guide pulley 65 supported in the channel-plate 45"and extend to the guidemeans 56 and 57 that are supported on the bottom part of the drums 40 on the tilt bar. The lifting cords 17. extendin separate reaches to the bottom rail reach of.the ladder tapes 12. and Band. adjacent to one the inner rod section 42 The. right tape securing drum 4%) is fastened. to the outer rod section in spaced longitudinal relation 16'along the inner face of thevertical verse tape members channel 84 by means of the end plates 83 and edge of the slat members. By extending along the ladder tapes adjacent to the interior side it is possible to eliminate the necessity of nciching the individual slats. The cords 17 fit conveniently between the

splittransverse ladder members

25 and 26 which members restrict the vertical cord reaches from shifting laterally. The lower rail-engaging ends of lift cord 17 are fastened to the bottom rail in the elongated openings 58 that are provided in the bottom rail to allow for the telescopic action of the individual bottom rail sections 16a and 16b during adjustment of the blind to a requisite width. A modification of the present invention appears in Figs. 7 and 8 wherein there is illustrated in Fig. 7 a Venetian blind capable of being expanded or contracted between rather extensive widths. In this form the individual slats 70, compounded with two sections, a left section 71 and a right section 72 supply the requisite flexibility in width for the blind. Two pairs of

ladder tapes

73, 74 and 75 and 76 are furnished to support the slat members in positon. The left slat section 71 is supported in a conventional manner at the left to project from the single transverse tape member 77 and extends between the double transverse member 78 on tape 75 to be secured to'the bottom transverse member of the double transverse tape members 78 on the tape 74, under-the horizontal reach of the slat member 72. The slat 72 extends from right to left and is supportedon the ladder. tape 76 in the conventional manner to overhang to the right. Extending to the left, slat 72 overlaps the right portion of slat 71 and extends between the double trans- 78 on the tape 74 and is secured to the top double transverse tape member 78 on tape 75. Each of the

sections

71 and 72 is provided with a lift cord receiving slot 79 through which the lift cords 80 may be passed so as to be fastened in a known manner to the telescoping bottom rail member 81. A lift cord locking device 82 through which the lifting cords 80 pass is supported by the end plate 83 supported in the top box or channel 84. i

A tilt bar 85 is pivotably supported within the top 86. Tilting mechanism 87 of conventional form is supported on the plate 86 for operation by the tilting cords 88 which reach between the

plates

83 and 86 to pivot the tubular telescoping tilt bar 85. The outer sleeve member 89 of the tilt bar is secured at the right end of the channel to plate 83 and reaches a substantial distance toward plate 86. An intermediate portion 91 of the outer tube 89 is removed to expose the inner tube 90 to which is connected the tape clamping drum 92 from which the ladder tape 74 is suspended. Spaced axially from the tape clamping drum 92 which is mounted on the inner tube 90 is a corresponding drum 93 that is fastened to the other sleeve member 89 to which is connected the ladder tape 75. Two other

tape supporting drums

94 and 95 are fastened adjacent to the ends of the telescoping tilt bar 85 with the drum 94 being affixed to the inner tube member 90 and drum 95 being affixed to the outer sleeve member 89. As is more clearly shown in Fig. 8 which illustrates the left portion of the tilt bar 85 the

drums

92 and 94 are illustrated as being affixed to the inner tube 90 and movable therewith in fixed axial relationship. Relative rotation of the sleeve member 89 and tube member 90 is prevented in the manner as described above by connection of the drum 92 to the inner member 90 through the opening in member 89. i

The bases 96 of each of the top box channel portions 84a and 84b are provided with elongated openings 97 through which the

tapes

74 and 75 may pass transversely during expansion or contraction of the top channel. The individual channel sections are also provided with elongated openings 98 at each end through which the stationary tapes may pass.

To facilitate lifting of the bottom rail 81 and any number of the other horizontal slats, the lifting cords '80 are r the slat supporting elements,

The bottom rail 81 is supported to the blind by means of the ladder tapes which are secured in'a suitable man- I ner to the bottom of the rail member. The end tapes 73 and76 are securely fastened in position, with the tapes '74 and being free to be displaced relatively along the base rail member.

In operation, for modifying the width of the blind it is only necessary to expand the top channel 84 which in turn will elongate the tilt bar with the tape fastening drums 92 and 94 being displaced to the left on the inner tube section and the drums 93 and on the outer sleeve member 89 being displaced to the right. The distance between

thetapes

74 and 75 will be diminished as the tapes approach one another as the overall width of the blind is increased. It is this intermediate portion only such as shown by the fastening openings are sub-.

stantially. the same as those shown and described for Fig. 2, however, other fastening means may be employed. When the Venetian blind top channel is extended the bottom rail member 81 maybe telescoped outwardly in order to expand the tapes at the bottom permitting the tapes to be arranged in parallel relation.

Obviously many modifications and variations may be made in the construction and arrangement of the fasten ing means as well as theposition of the various tape clamping means on the tilt baras wellas modifications made to the top channel box and the bottom rail in the light of the above teachings without departing from the real purpose and spirit of this invention of expanding individual louver slat members. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims many modified forms of the present inventive conceptas well as the use of alternatives and mechanical equivalents may be reasonably included and modifications are contemplated.

1 ported in the top channel, a pair of ladder tape clamping means axially spaced from each other on said tilting bar,

said clamping meansbeing movable toward each other as the top channel is extended, and away from each other as the channel is contracted longitudinally, a pair of ladder tapes spaced apart and extending from said clamping means at one end, said ladder tapes having double transverse slat supporting elements, an extensible bottom rail supported at theother end of the tapes, a series of horizontal compound louver slat members supported on each of said slat members having one end reaching beyond a tape and one portion reaching between the pair of tapes, the slat reach extending between tapes forming an overlapping portion, each of said slat members of a single compound slat being fastened adjacent to the other end to a transverse element on opposite tapes, in overlapping sliding relation, means for pivoting the tilting bar and tape clamping means, and means for raising and lowering the bottom rail and other slats in successive order upwardly from the bottom rail.

' channel is contracted-longitudinally,

2. An adjustable Venetianblind enclosure comprising a telescoping top channel,-a telescopingtilt bar pivotally supported in said channel, said tilt bar having sections slidable in each other, a pair of ladder tape clamping rail supported at the other end of the tapes, a series of horizontal compound slat members supported on the slat supporting elements, each of said slat members having one end reaching beyond a tape and one portion reaching between the pair of tapes, the slat reach extending between tapes forming an overlapping portion, each of said slat members of a single compound slat being fastened adjacent to the other end to a transverse element opposite tapes, in overlapping-relation, the end fastened to a transverse element being concealed by a ladder tape, means mounted on the channel for pivoting the tilt bar and tape clamping means, and means for raising and lowering the bottom rail and other slats in successive order upwardly from the bottom rail.

3. An adjustable Venetian blind comprising a top channel, an extensible tilting bar pivotally supported in the channel, a pair of ladder tape clamping means axially spaced from each other on said tilting bar, said clamping means being movable toward each other as the tilting bar is extended, and away from eachother as the a ladder tape extending from each of said clamping means at one end, said ladder tapes having transverse slat supporting elements, a bottom rail supported at the other end of the ladder tapes, a series of horizontal compound slats supported on the slat supporting elements, each of said slats having one end reaching beyond a ladder tape and one portion reaching between the pair of ladder tapes, the slat reach extending between tapes forming a double slat thickness, each of said slats of a slat being fastened adacent to the other end to a transverse element on opposite tapes, in overlapping sliding relation, means mounted in the channel for pivoting the tilting bar and tape clamping means, and means for raising and lowering the bottomrail and other slats in successive order.

4. An adjustable Venetian blind comprising an extensible top channel, an extensible tilting bar pivotally supported in the channel, an extensible bottom rail, a pair of vertically reaching ladder tapes laterally spaced from each other, said tapes having vertically spaced slat supporting transverse members fastened to the tapes, said tapes connected at one end to the tilt bar and at the other end to the bottom rail, a series of articulated slats supported on the transverse members, each articulated slat reaching from one tape laterally beyond the opposite tape, the reach between tapes having overlapping slat portions and a single slat thickness extending beyond each tape, means for pivoting the tilting bar, and lifting means for raising and lowering the bottom rail and the louver slats.

5. A widthwise adjustable Venetian blind comprising a telescoping top enclosure, a telescoping tilting bar mounted for pivotal movement in the top enclosure and extensible therewith, a telescoping bottom rail, spaced apart vertically reaching ladder tapes extending between the tilt bar and the bottom rail and fastened thereto, tape fastening means on the tilt bar receiving one end of the tapes, the other end of the tapes being fastened to support the bottom rail, each of said tapes having vertically spaced transverse members, a series of horizontal compound'slat members spaced vertically on the single compound .bar for pivoting the bar, and means lowering the bottom rail and the slat members in transverse tape members, members having two portions, each of said slat portions reaching: only a portion of blind overall width, an opposite end of each slat portion fastened to a transverse member, the slat reach between tapes having a double thickness constituted by the two slat portions and an end of each slat portion projecting with a single thickness at one end beyond a ladder tape, said slats being slidable relative to each other as the ladder tapes are separated or brought closer together.

6. A Venetian blind comprising an extensible head channeha telescoping tilting bar in said channel supported for oscillatory movement, means connected to the tilting bar for oscillating the bar, spaced apart ladder tapes each having connecting rungs, said tapes bein connected for suspension from the tilting bar, a series of vertically members supported on the rungs, each of-said slat members being articulated with at least two slat reaches, reach extending between the one portion of each slat spaced apart tapes in overlapping relation and the other reach of each slat extending beyond a tape to form an overhanging end portion, one end of each slat being fastened to a tape rung, a telescoping bottom rail, said bottom rail being. connected to the other end of the tapes, and lifting cord means extending from the tilting bar to thebottom rail between a tape and an edge of the slat members whereby the head channel, slat members and bottom rail may be adjusted between limits to a range of widths.

7. A Venetian blind of the character described comprising a longitudinally adjustable top channel, a tilting bar mounted in the channel for pivotal movement, said tilting bar having telescoping sections, spaced apart ladder tapes having transverse slat supporting members, at least one tape being suspended from each of the tilting bar sections whereby upon extension of the channel said tilting bar is correspondinglyextended reducing the lateral spacing between at least two ladder tapes, a series of horizontal slat members supported on the transverse slat members, each of said slats having two sections, each of said sections reaching between a pair of spaced apart tapes and extending at opposite ends beyond one tape at one slat end and the other slat end fastened to a transverse member of the opposite tape, an adjustable bottom rail connected to the lower ends of the ladder tapes, means connected with the tilting for raising, and

sequence.

8. in combination with a Venetian blind head channel and a bottomrail, bar mounted in said channel and supported for pivotal movement, spaced apart ladder tapes each having transverse members, said tapes being suspended from having a the tilting bar, a series of vertically spaced apart slat t members supported on the ladder tape transverse members, each of said least two slat reaches,-one portion of each slat reach extending betweenthe spaced apart tapes in overlappingv relation, and the other reach of each slat extending beyond a tape to form an overhanging end portion, one end of each tape being fastened to a transverse member concealing theend behind a tape, the bottom rail being suspended by the other end of the tapes, and lifting cord means extending from the tilting bar to the bottom rail between a tape and an edge of the slats whereby the slats may be adjusted between limits to a range of widths.

9. For use in combination with a Venetian blind having atop channel, a tilting bar and a 'tilting'b'ar mechanism, and means for raising and loweringthe blind, a pair of spaced apart ladder tapes having. transverse slat supporting members, series of compound slat members supported in vertical spaced relation on the,

each of said compound slat spaced apart compound slata telescoping tilting slats being compounded with at overhanging reach slat supporting members, each of said slat members having two sections, each of said sections reach at least between the pair of spaced apart tapes and each section extending at one end beyond opposite tapes, and the other slat end fastened to a transverse member of the opposite tape.

10. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination with a top channel box, a tilting bar and tilting bar mechanism supported in the channel box, a bottom rail member, and spaced apart ladder tapes having transverse slat supporting members, a series of horizontal compound slats supported on the ladder tapes, each of the compound slats having two sections, each of said sections overlapping each other only between the spaced apart ladder tapes, one end of each slat section being attached to opposite ladder tapes, and the other end of each slat section extending beyond the opposite ladder tape to which the first slat end is attached. 11. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination with a telescoping tilting bar and tilting mechanism, spaced apart ladder tapes having transverse slat supporting elements, compoundslats supported on the transverse slat supporting elements in spaced vertical relationship, each of said compound slats having two sections, each of said sections having an inner and an extending portion, the inner slat portions of each compound slat overlapping between the spaced apart ladder tapes, and the extending portions of each compound slat reaching beyond opposite ladder tapes.

12. For. use in combination with an adjustable Venetian blind having a channel box, a tilting bar and tilting mechanism mounted on the channel box, a bottom rail member, and ladder tapes reaching between the tilting bar and the bottom rail, said tapes having slat supporting elements spaced vertically, a compound slat supported on each of the slat supporting elements, said compound slat having two sections, each of said sections having a supported reach extending between said ladder tapes and an overhanging reach extending beyond opposite tapes'for each slat.

1-3. In combination with an adjustable Venetian blind having a channel box, blind tilting means and blind raising and lowering means mounted in the'channel box, an adjustable tilting bar provided with telescoping inner and outer sections, spaced apart ladder tapes mounted on thetilting bar for movement in response to the movement of the tilting bar, said ladder tapes having slat supporting elements, compound slats supported on each of the slat supporting elements, each of said compound slats having two sections, each of said sections having a supported reach extending between said ladder tapes and an extending beyond opposite tapes for each slat.

14. In an adjustable Venetian blind, a longitudinally extensible telescoping channel box, a telescoping tilting bar extensible in response to longitudinal movement of the channel box, ladder tapes extending from the tilting 'bar in spaced relation and displaceable laterally in response to longitudinal movement of the tilting bar, and a series of compound slats supported on the ladder tapes in vertical spaced relation, said compound slats being formed of two sections, a portion of each section reach ing between the ladder tapes forming a double overlapping slat thickness and the other portion of each section projecting beyond the ladder tapes at one end, the other end of each slat section being fastened to a ladder tape whereby upon longitudinal movement of the tilting bar the tapes and compound slats may be aligned accordingly.

15. An adjustable louver enclosure comprising an extensible top channel, an extensible tilting bar pivotally supported to the top channel, two pairs of ladder tape clamping means axially spaced from each other on said tilting bar one of said clamping means of each pair being movable toward each other as the top channel and tilting bar is extended, and away from each other as the channel is contracted longitudinally, the other clamping means being movable in the direction of the channel expansion or contraction, ladder tapes spaced apart and extending from each of said clamping means at one end, said ladder tapes having slat supporting elements, an extensible bottom rail supported at the other end of the tapes, a series of horizontal compound louver slats supported on the slat supporting elements, each of said slats having one end reaching beyond a tape fastened to one end of the other clamping means, and one portion reaching between the pair of tapes fastened to the clamping means movable toward or away from each other as the channel is extended or contracted, the slat reach extendbetween tapes forming an overlapping portion, each a single compound slat being ing of said slat portions 1 f fastened adjacent to the on the oppositely movable tapes, in overlapping sliding relation, means for pivoting the tilting bar and tape clamping means, and means for raising and lowering the bottom rail and slats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS other end to a transverse element-