Patent ID: 8851142
Filing Date: 2014-10-07
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
1. A vertical blind assembly comprising a module including: a head rail unit having opposite sides and a unit axis extending between the sides; a housing; an axle pivotally connecting the housing to the head rail unit so that the housing can pivot about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the unit axis; an elongated flexible slat having a first end and a second end and being coiled in the housing so that the second end projects from the housing through an opening therein enabling the slat to be extended from the housing a selected distance to an extended position and retracted back into the housing to a retracted position; and a shaft unit rotatably mounted to the head rail unit parallel to the unit axis; a foot rail unit having opposite sides and a pivotal connection to the second end of the slat, the pivotal connection being collinear to the pivot axis, and a turning mechanism in the head rail unit for turning the axle about the pivot axis so that when the slat is extended the selected distance, the slat can be turned between a closed position wherein the slat is substantially parallel to the head rail unit and the foot rail unit and an open position wherein the slat is substantially perpendicular to the the head rail unit and the foot rail unit, wherein the housing, the slat and the foot rail unit have a similar width to that of the head rail unit, and the head rail unit and the shaft are configured to be attached to the head rail unit and the shaft of an adjacent module.