Patent ID: 7530543
Filing Date: 2009-05-12
Classification: A47B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus holding an existing window blind at an upright position during cleaning procedures, said apparatus comprising: a central support shaft having an elongated and rectilinear shape provided with axially opposed end portions disposed along a vertical axis, said end portions being elevated above a ground surface during operating conditions; a plurality of rectilinear legs having axially opposed end portions directly conjoined to a bottom one of said central support shaft end portions and extending outwardly therefrom at an oblique angle offset from the vertical axis, said legs being selectively pivotal between compressed and expanded positions such that said legs become abutted against said central support shaft when articulated to the compressed position; a plurality of coextensive auxiliary support shafts having elongated and rectilinear shapes provided with axially opposed medial and lateral end portions; a plurality of brackets directly attached to said central support shaft and vertically spaced along a longitudinal length thereof; and a plurality of clamps slidably positional along associated ones of said auxiliary support shafts wherein each said clamps is selectively adaptable between open and closed positions for releasing and gripping the existing window blind at opposed edges thereof, the existing window blind being centrally registered between said auxiliary support shafts during cleaning operations; wherein said auxiliary support shafts are pivotally conjoined to said brackets and selectively pivotal about said medial end portions respectively such that said auxiliary support shafts can be independently biased between vertical and horizontal positions respectively; wherein selected ones of said clamps include a plurality of hook and loop fasteners for allowing the user to tightly wrap said selected clamps about opposite ends of the window blind respectively, said selected clamps further including a plurality of linear segments monolithically connected to each other and configured in such a manner that selected ones of said linear segments overlap each other when adapted about said auxiliary support shafts; wherein first, second and third ones of said linear segments directly and contiguously abut first, second and third faces of said auxiliary support shafts respectively; wherein a fourth one of said linear segments travels downwardly from said third linear segment and terminates adjacent to the existing window blind; wherein a fifth one of said linear segments spans beneath a top one of the opposite ends of the existing window blind and is engaged therewith; wherein a sixth one of said linear segments travels upwardly from the existing window blind and terminates adjacent to said first face of said auxiliary support shafts; wherein seventh and eight ones of said linear segments are removably engaged with said first and second linear segments such that said selected clamps maintain a firm grip against said auxiliary support shafts and the top end of the existing window blind.