Abstract:
A structure and process for producing an even cut for window covering horizontal slat sets includes a cutting sleeve attached at opposite ends of the slats of a window covering horizontal slat set to be cut which gather in selective ones of the slates together for cutting in a way which minimizes collective bowing and ripping of the finished surface immediately adjacent the cut ends of the slats. The cutting sleeves can be spaced to hold groupings of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more slats. Embodiments of the cutting sleeves can have two main opposite walls or eliminate one wall in favor of a comb topography which can load from the side.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a method of insuring a proper cut for horizontal slat window coverings which combats the ripping effect resulting from cutting the slats in simple compression by providing a cutting sleeve which is preferably cut at the time of cutting of the slats and which highly supports the area of the slats being cut. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Some window covering horizontal slat sets are provided in standard widths and are provided such that customers can have the ends trimmed to a smaller size to make a custom fit within a window opening. This system enables the manufacturers to provide a smaller number of standard sizes, along with the provision that six to eight inches can be trimmed from the outer dimensions of the slats, the portion extending beyond the lift cords. 
   Typically a purchaser will have the seller perform two cuts at the time of sale to keep bilateral symmetry of the window covering horizontal slat sets. The majority of the window covering horizontal slat sets which are provided for cutting have base slats, regular slats and head rail members which extend laterally beyond the lift cords as constant cross sectional members and which have the ability to be cut with even force. If the material of the base slat and head slat presented different cutting softness, and uneven cut would occur. Further, during the cutting process, the window covering horizontal slat sets are supported in a compacted position with the head rail and base slat brought together and collectively orienting the intermediate slats together to enable them to be cut simultaneously. 
   The cutting devices provided at the point of sale are typically circular saws mounted on a miter-box arrangement and are typically used for making other types of cuts to a wide variety of other products. The blades are typically carbide tipped for long wear and are expensive to replace, especially since the cutting expenses are cost centers, typically with no charge being made to cut purchased product. Many retailers do not change the blades often, the objective being to have a blade continue in service until it is so worn that cutting becomes difficult. 
   Even when the blades are perfectly new and in 100% proper working order, the cut produced is almost never a clean cut. Any cutting motion which has an angle which produces a force component normal and leading away from a main surface of the slat had a tendency to produce a slight rip of the material on the main surface of the slat if the compression of the main surface is not maintained. 
   This surface end “rip” does not always become apparent when the window covering horizontal slat sets are cut in their compressed state, re-boxed and handed to the customer. The customer typically only detects any ripped surface at the time the window covering horizontal slat sets are installed, and usually after significant work in mounting the support brackets closely within a window opening and mounting the window covering horizontal slat set within the support bracket and testing the installed window covering. The ripped surfaces are most pronounced when the slats are tilted and depending upon which main surface the blade departed. 
   As before, the newer the blade, the fewer the ripped surface interruptions. It is impractical to use a new blade for each window covering horizontal slat set to be cut, and even if this were done, the ripped surfaces would not be eliminated. The negative aspects of the creation of ripped surfaces increase as the slat covering is colored differently than the material from which the slat is made. The more severe the color difference, the more noticeable the ripped surface. 
   The imperfections which occur during cutting are even more disappointing for the customer as the product is usually not returnable once it has been cut to the user&#39;s specific dimensions. Re processing to “touch up” the rips or jagged surface interruptions would require the use of a paint or surface material which matches the paint or surface material on the slat. This is very impractical and costly and would erase the savings which occurred from the use of a window covering horizontal slat set which was both engineered for and amenable to cutting. 
   The problem of ripping is created due to a number of effects. A first effect could lie in the limitations of the cutting system of the retail outlet (which can vary widely). As before, the blade might form a cutting angle which was given to higher ripping rates. The cutting table might not have a good structure to compress the slats of the window covering horizontal slat sets. However, even where a good compressive structure is available, the compression of the complete window covering horizontal slat set, including head rail, base rail and slats, will invariable result in some ripping. 
   This second effect is due to the use of a ladder tape or ladder rope which is generally a series of vertical cords joined by thinner cords to form a support for the slats. Movement of the vertical cords slightly upward or downward with respect to each other is what causes the window covering horizontal slats to achieve an angle together. The main vertical cords lie outside the slats and when the slats are drawn together by pulling the main ladder cord, they cause no impediment to close fitting of the adjacent slats, even if a good cutting support for the window covering horizontal slat sets are available. The thinner cords which form slat supports extend between each of the slats adjacent the lift cord. 
   Although the cords which join the first and second vertical ladder cords is quite thin, having one extend between each slat in the set adds significant spreading distance and impedes the slats from close contact at their ends, where the cutting occurs. Further, cutting tables are configured to compress the whole window covering horizontal slat sets from top to bottom and do not provide additional force at the ends immediately at the areas which are to be cut. Any such system might also cause the slats to be cut unevenly where the top slat is swept down and the bottom slat is swept upwardly. 
   Other structures can interfere with the cutting step including kinked lift cords or portions of the two main vertical ladder cords which inadvertently slip in-between any two adjacent slats. Further, any holding device which is capable of high compression of the window covering horizontal slat sets, particularly at the ends will have a high probability of damaging the head rail. The head rail typically has thin vertical walls and cannot withstand significant compression vertically. Where the head rail material is made of plastic, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, fiber glass, metal, glass, carbon composite, polypropylene, Teflon or other soft material amenable to cutting, over-compression could cause head-rail damage. 
   Applying pressure selectively to the slats near their tip ends would create a general bowing effects where the top and bottom slats would be shorter than the slats in the middle, and would create rips in the slats as the pressure on each slat was selectively cut and released as it was cut. Applying anything to the slats which could pull off the paint is also not advisable and could pose a safety hazard and perhaps damage the window covering horizontal slat set. 
   What is needed is a device and method to prevent rips which occur during cutting. The device should enable control and a high degree of cutting consistency regardless of the cutting system employed, and even where a cutting blade is near the end of its service life and has high blade wear. The needed device and method should be utilizable easily, both by factory producers, retail outlets who typically perform the cutting, and by users who elect to cut the window covering horizontal slat sets at home, at the time of installation. 
   The needed device and method should produce an even cut, and will avoid harsh and excessive application of force to the ends of the slats. The ideal device and method should not only be amenable for introduction at the manufacturing plant, but also be amenable for use on window covering horizontal slat sets produced by others by either the retail outlets or by users at the time of cutting of their window covering horizontal slat sets for home installation. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The structures and process for producing an even cut for window covering horizontal slat sets is a cutting sleeve attached at opposite ends of the slats to be cut which gather in selective ones of the slates together for cutting in a way which minimizes collective bowing. A device which tightly grasps collected small multiples of the slats can overcome the effects from the horizontal ladder cords which extend between individual slats. By pushing together small groupings, the combined effects of the ladder cord separation are numerically mitigated and isolated. By causing small groupings to come together, only the contribution of “n−1” horizontal strings have to be overcome in the grouping. For example, where the slats are collected in groups of four, the effects of only three between-slat thin horizontal ladder strings have to be overcome. The use of a cutting sleeve in accord with the description herein yields several advantages. 
   First, regardless of the influence of the horizontal ladder cords between the slats, the cutting sleeve will not only gather the slats, but support them through a channel in the cutting sleeve a compressed and parallel fashion. Because the groupings are small, the resistance effect from the horizontal ladder cords in having the cutting sleeve approach the ladder cords is slight and only pronounced once the sleeve approaches the ladder cords in the last few centimeters. 
   Second, because the slats are grouped and slightly separated, a slightly lesser cutting density is presented to the saw. 
   Third, the necessity to highly compress the window covering horizontal slat sets is eliminated. Because of the fact that the slats are supported with respect to each other and with respect to the cutting sleeve, the slats within the cutting sleeve will have even higher stability than either the base slat or the head rail. 
   Fourth, because the cutting sleeve is attached to the ends of the slats and can be slid toward the ladder cord portion of the horizontal slats. 
   Fifth, where the cutting sleeve is made from cuttable material matching the softness of the slats, the cutting sleeve can bear a cutting line which will enable the person performing the cutting to both cut the cutting sleeve down the middle so that both sides of the collected group are cut together and to give a more precise visual identification of the line to be cut. The latter is especially true where it is desired not to mark on the window covering horizontal slat sets or where a mark might be placed in a place which becomes inconvenient to see during cutting. 
   Sixth, the cutting sleeve facilitates the more exact placement of the cut, particularly where the cutting sleeve has a cutting line of predetermined length from its outer edges. In a case where the cutting sleeve is two inches wide with a central cutting line, and where the user desires to cut three inches from each end, the outer edge of the cutting sleeve can be moved exactly two inches from the end of the evenly collected slat sets and all the user need do is cut on the center cutting line of the adjusted cutting sleeve. 
   Seventh, because the cutting sleeve can be constructed to support groupings of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, slats, the cutting sleeve can be used with window covering horizontal slat sets having horizontal ladder cords of significant thickness. As the number of groupings within each channel of the cutting sleeve is reduced, the density of the slats being cut is reduced, with the total density based more upon the combination of softness of the material in the cutting sleeve and softness of material of the slats. 
   Eighth, where the cutting sleeve is made from cuttable material, one of the major stresses on the slats is eliminated, which is the ability for the last portion of slat being cut to either be ripped by the force of the blade or to participate in the ripping process due to lack of support which would otherwise come from support being had with respect to the slat portions being cut away. Put another way, when the last bit of a single slat, on the other side of the blade is present, the blade may act to push that last bit and its web to tear it away from the slat being cut rather than to cut the last bit of web away. The cutting away of the last bit of web between the slat portions to be cut will occur if both sides are supported. Because the sleeve envelops the slat groupings completely external to the slat groupings, where the cutting sleeve is being cut, it will always be the last piece of material which could potentially be unsupported to fall away from the blade. In most cases, however the other side of the slats to be cut will be generally supported. In any event, the last web portion, where a cutting sleeve will be cut along with the slats, will be cut rather than ripped. 
   Ninth, as a disposable item carried by retail stores, the cutting sleeves can be made of long channel length with a series of cutting lines such that it can be used and cut several times. As a non-disposable guide, and this is the least recommended use, a cutting guide providing slat groupings could be used to cut outside of the guide, even though this is not recommended practice for maximum prevention of ripping. Ripping from a worn blade might have a probability of occurring anywhere that the slat is not supported against movement of the blade. Best results would dictate that the guide be placed close to the line of cutting and might run the risk of inadvertently having the blade contact the non-cuttable guide. 
   Tenth, and especially as provided at the manufacturing site, the cutting sleeve is of sufficient utility and low cost that it can be provided directly onto the window covering horizontal slat sets as they are packed for shipment at the factory. Further, pre fitting of the cutting sleeve onto the slats will further help to protect the slats during shipment, as well as provide an attached cutting guide for use at the retail facility. 
   The materials of choice for the cutting sleeve are more varied than the materials which can be selected and used for slats. The cutting sleeve may be made from plastic, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, fiber glass, wood, glass, carbon composite, polypropylene, Teflon, shrink wrap, elastic, paper, cardboard, or metal. The cutting sleeve will ideally resemble a multi-celled structure and may be advantageously plastic injection molded. It will have cellular symmetry and may have other internal and external features which may be particular to the loading on process, the cutting process and the slidable adjustment process. 
   The cutting sleeve may include a slot or a series of apertures so that the user can verify that all of the slats are loaded fully into the cells so that any manual loading can occur without inadvertently under loading any given cell. One side of the cutting sleeve may have a brief taper to facilitate manual loading onto the ends of slats. The internals of the cells may have raised ribs to limit the frictional interaction between the cutting sleeve and the ends of the slats, to enable the cutting sleeve to move more easily along the grouped slats with no diminution in holding pressure. 
   The cutting sleeve can be made for end loading using channels having a completely cylindrically enclosed area, or which have one open side to form a comb topology which can be inserted into grouped slats laterally for speed of loading. The cutting sleeve can be made of a size to accommodate 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more slats in a group. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a plan view looking directly into the individual cells of a cutting sleeve and illustrating a pair of base slat flange portions extending to the right as seen in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the cutting sleeve seen in  FIG. 1  and illustrating some marking capabilities for the top and bottom surfaces of the cutting sleeve; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cutting sleeve seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a closeup sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and illustrates the inclusion of a friction reducing rib supported by a wall; 
       FIG. 5  is a closeup sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3  and illustrates the inclusion of angled or beveled entrance structures to facilitate manual loading of slats; 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of the left side of a window covering horizontal slat set with the cutting sleeve of the invention fitted into place and shown in a position to begin cutting; 
       FIG. 7  is a further embodiment of the cutting sleeve of the invention having a plurality of channels sized to fit one slat per channel; 
       FIG. 8  is a further embodiment of the cutting sleeve of the invention having a plurality of channels sized to fit two slats per channel; 
       FIG. 9  is a further embodiment of the cutting sleeve of the invention having a plurality of channels sized to fit three slats per channel; 
       FIG. 10  is a further embodiment of the cutting sleeve of the invention having a plurality of channels sized to fit five slats per channel; 
       FIG. 11  is a further embodiment of the cutting sleeve of the invention having a plurality of channels sized to fit six slats per channel; 
       FIG. 12  is an isolation of an embodiment similar to that seen in  FIG. 1 , but illustrating options including an abbreviated slat grouping separation walls, an enclosing end wall and viewing slots in upper or lower planar walls and in such enclosing end wall; and 
       FIG. 13  is a view, similar to that seen in  FIG. 1 , with the second planar wall removed, to form a comb shaped structure which facilitates loading onto and forming groupings of slats from the side edge of the slat rather than the end of the slat. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The description and operation of the cutting sleeve of the invention is best begun to be described with reference to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a plan view of a cutting sleeve  11  looking into the cells or chambers. A first planar wall  13  is seen opposite a second planar wall  15 , and connected by a series of walls  17  forming a series of chambers  19 . The walls  17  are arranged as connected walls extending between the first and second planar walls  13  and  15 . As shown, the walls  17  each form at least part of a chamber  19 , but this need not be the case. A connecting wall or walls or other structure can stabilize the first and second planar walls  13  and  15 , with other structures utilized to make the individual structures used for gathering and stabilizing any slats to be engaged by the cutting sleeve  17 . The first and second planar walls  15  and  17  extend beyond the rightmost wall to form a pair of base slat accommodation flanges  21 . 
   The extension of the first and second planar walls  15  and  17  beyond the rightmost wall to form a pair of base slat accommodation flanges  21  is an optional feature which enables several advantages. Since a base slat (not seen in  FIG. 1 ) will be the same width as the slats which will occupy the chambers  19 , the provision of base slat accommodation flanges  21  will enhance the stabilization of the base slat (not seen in  FIG. 1 ), as it is being cut. The slat accommodation flanges  21  and the adjacent walls  17  form a three sided accommodation space which helps to eliminate any need to compress the base slat with respect to a window covering set being cut, yet provide some stabilization for the relatively thicker base slat and help guard against any ripping of the base slat. 
   In one of the chambers  19  near the middle of the cutting sleeve  11  a series of four slats  23  are shown in their supported position. The slats  23  have main surfaces which oppose each other, with the two outside slats  23  abutting the walls  17 . As can be seen, the slats  23  are tightly packed within the chambers  19 . 
   If the cutting sleeve  11  is employed in working position, all of the chambers  19  would be filled with snugly supported slats  23 , and a base slat (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) would be accommodated within the space created by optional base slat accommodation flanges  21  and the adjacent walls  17 . The loading process, if done manually, would involve a worker lying the cutting sleeve  11  next to a window covering horizontal slat sets (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) in a compressed condition. Whether at the factory or the retail store, the worker grasps sets of four slats and begins to fill the chambers  19 . 
   The slats  23  in a window covering horizontal slat set can generally be moved freely about, both laterally and longitudinally. It is therefore an easy matter for a worker to grasp the ends of four slats  23 , push them partially within the first of the chambers  19 , then grasp the next four adjacent slats  23  and begin feeding them into the next chamber  19  of the rigid cutting sleeve  11 . The cutting sleeve  11  may terminate at the end of the wall  17  adjacent the slat accommodation flanges  21 , thus eliminating the slat accommodation flanges  21 . 
   In the alternative, a completely rectangular cutting sleeve  11  can be provided in any width, taken with respect to  FIG. 1 , with the user having the capability of cutting the first and second planar walls  13  and  15  just to the left of any wall  17  to turn the short lengths of the first and second planar walls  13  and  15  into optional slat accommodation flanges  21 . This feature will serve the need for cutting optional length window covering horizontal slat sets which are typically provided to enable the user or seller to remove the ladder cords from the base slat, remove or remove the attachment of the lift cord to the base slat and then remove slats necessary to shorten the window covering horizontal slat set to the proper length. The base slat is then re-attached. Any chambers not  1005  filled can be filled with short lengths of slats which were removed during the shortening of the adjustable length window covering horizontal slat set (not shown). 
   The first and second planar walls  13  and  15 , and the walls  17  have a real width which is both necessary to interrupt the effect of the horizontal ladder cord strings extending between the louvers  23 , and as are necessary to provide firm support of the first and second planar walls  13  and  15  with respect to each other. 
   In the case of two inch wide louvers  23  of a width of about three millimeters and where groupings of slat  23  is about four per chamber  19 , the wall thickness of the first and second planar walls  13  and  15 , and the walls  17  is about two millimeters. The height of the chambers  19  for accommodating a two inch wide slat  23  is about 2.03 inches in order that the slat  23  groupings of four can be more easily inserted into the chambers  19 . In this manner, the person loading the chambers  19  will not have to be unduly concerned that the slats  23  are completely aligned, beyond the alignment achievable manually. 
   The depth of the chambers  21  will be the depth of the cutting sleeve  11 , and may be about two inches. In the cutting sleeve  11  shown in which nine chambers  21  are shown, along with the pair of base slat accommodation flanges  21 , a set of chambers length from the leftmost wall  17  to the rightmost wall  17  dimension is about 175 millimeters. The distance which the pair of base slat accommodation flanges  21  extend beyond the rightmost wall  17  may be about twenty five millimeters. 
   Another popular size would be a cutting sleeve  11  which can be sized to accommodate one inch slats, or three, four or five inch wide slats. Further, as will be shown, there are embodiments which allow the walls  17  to be shortened and non-connected, or which are overly long (with the elimination of one of the first and second planar walls  13  and  15  to form a comb topology in which the walls can be made over-long. 
   Now it is understood that the slats  23  tend to spread slightly just beyond the confines of the chamber  19 . The wall thickness of the walls  17  provide additional space beyond each set of four grouped slats  23  to “break up” the curved spreading into even packets, one per each of the chambers  19 . As a result, any effects from having four closely grouped slats  23  will be slight and will not extend over the  36  slats which would otherwise be stacked in a clump. Such a  36  slat clump, if the user tried to compress it at the ends at one time, would create the most severe curvature for the end slats and thus (by the geometry of formation of the “S” curvature), cause them to have a shorter length within the total grouping to be cut. The result would be that the top and bottom slat  36  would be longer than slats  23  at the center of the stack whose ends were compressed into one restriction. 
   The width of the walls  17  are more than wide enough to accommodate the relatively thin thickness of the horizontal ladder cord connection members. Now with the dimensioning set forth in mind, it can be seen that it would be a relatively slight change for the cutting sleeve to have its nine chambers holding four slats  23  for a total of 36 slats, changed to six chambers  19  having six slats each. Further, nothing is to prevent chambers from being non-uniform to accommodate window covering horizontal slat sets having odd numbers of slats. The chambers  19  could be sized so that each adjacent chamber  19  has a width for differing numbers of louvers. 
   Using  FIG. 1  as an example, the chambers  19  could be sized, instead of nine chambers with a width size sufficient for four slats each, to have alternating widths of four-three-four-three-four-three-four-three-four to accept twenty-nine slats  23 . This same technique can be used to provide one or two abbreviated width chambers  19  necessary to produce a cutting sleeve  11  capable of handling odd numbers of slats  23 . 
   This illustrates, for example, that if the cutting sleeve  11  of  FIG. 1  were to be produced for use with thirty eight slats  23  (two over the thirty six slat  23  capacity seen in  FIG. 1 ), it would not necessarily be required to add a whole chamber  19  of the standard four slat  23  width with instructions to stuff two lengths of scrap slat material into the last whole chamber  19  to get a tight fit. Two of the chambers could be sized to accept five slats  23 . In the alternative, an additional chamber  19  could be added having a capacity of three slats  23  while one of the other nine chambers  19  could be sized to accept three slats  23 . 
   In terms of materials, the cutting sleeve  11  could be advantageously injection molded or extruded. Where the cutting sleeve  11  is extruded, it can be formed with any depth of the chamber  19 . A longer depth of cutting sleeve  11  can be provided for successive cutting and re-attachment to new window covering horizontal slat sets, especially at a retail store. It is expected that any cutting sleeve  11  attached to window covering horizontal slat sets to be packed and shipped will be of a width or chamber  19  depth sufficient to enable the window covering horizontal slat sets to be adequately cut during the customization cutting, either at the location of sale or at home. 
   Where the cutting sleeve  11  is designed to be cut in half and both halves discarded, it would be highly desirable to construct the cutting sleeve  11  of material which is as inexpensive as possible and which is preferably bio-degradable. Cellulose and homologous corn based materials can be molded to meet this need. Further, it may be preferable to supply enough of a cutting width, corresponding to the depth of chamber  19 , to make two cuts, in case there is an error in the first cut where not enough material is taken. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , a top view illustrates the walls  17  shown in dashed line format. On the top surface of the first planar wall  13  a series of optional cutting lines  25  are seen. The cutting lines  25  shown are three in number and divide the lateral cutting distances into fourths. Any number and spacing of cutting lines  25  can be utilized, as well as uneven lines or a scale. It is possible to state the dimensions between the cutting lines  23  and between the cutting lines  25  and the outer edge of the cutting sleeve  11 . For example, where the width, corresponding to the depths of the chambers  19 , is about two inches and where the cutting lines  25  are evenly spaced, there will be one half inch between the cutting lines. 
   Further, the view of  FIG. 2  illustrates a top view, which is identical to the bottom view and the first planar wall  13  is shown as the top surface. However because the cutting sleeve  11  can be rotated one hundred eighty degrees, to give the same view as seen in  FIG. 2 , it is clear that an identical or different set of cutting lines  25  on the second planar wall  15  also. In the case where the cutting lines  25  are of different type, the window covering horizontal slat set (not shown) can be reversed in a cutting machine to see the other sides of the cutting sleeves  11 , or they can be removed from the window covering horizontal slat set and reversed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a perspective view of the cutting sleeve seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrates a more easily perceptible spatial view. As can be seen, the elimination of the extent of the first and second planar walls  13  and  15  extending beyond the rightmost wall  17  to eliminate the pair of base slat accommodation flanges  21  would yield a rectangular structure. Such elimination may be preferable, especially where a base slat is expected not to need significant rip protection. Further, where the cutting sleeve  11  is extruded, the elimination of the base slat accommodation flanges  21  might make cutting sleeve  11  easier to extrude. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a sectional view looking down into the second planar wall  15  seen adjacent a pair of walls  17  shown in section, illustrates that the terminal edges of the material of the walls  17 , and possibly the first and second planar walls  13  and  15 , might terminate in a shape which assists admitting of the ends of slats  23  into the cutting sleeve  11 . A rounded edge  27  is seen on the material of the walls  17 , and second planar wall  15 . In a mass production environment, the rounded edges  27  can be formed by momentary force contact with either a vibrating sanding template, or by pressing into a curved line form if the material is still warm, to forcibly shape it. 
   Also shown is an optional low height rib  29  extending from one of the walls  17 . The use of a rib  29 , particularly one which begins slightly inside the chambers  19 , will not cause an obstruction to entry of the group of slats  23 , but will help mitigate the area-friction effect as the slats  23  are fed into the chambers  19 . When a close fit is achieved, entry of a group of slats  23  which have a main dimension of two inches, increase the frictional area by four square inches for each inch the slats  23  are advanced (two square inches per linear entry inch for each side). The use of ribs can provide additional holding pressure with reduced surface area contact. The ribs  29  need not be very high in order to reduce the friction effect mentioned. 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , a sectional view looking down into a second embodiment with respect to that shown in  FIG. 4  illustrates a beveled arrangement. The second planar wall  15  and adjacent a pair of walls  17  have beveled surfaces  31 . This is an added feature which can assist the user in gathering the slats  23  in groups and advancing each group slightly within the cutting sleeve  11  before collecting all of the groupings such that the cutting sleeve  11  can be advanced onto all of the grouped slats  23 . 
   Other techniques may be utilized, such as wrapping each group of slats  23  in a re-usable tape or other collection structure before advancing the cutting sleeve  11 . Because of the regularity of the production process, a machine can also be used to insert fingers into slats to group them together to enable cutting sleeve  11  to be more easily inserted, either manually or by machine. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , a view looking down onto a window covering horizontal slat set  35  is shown as having a cutting sleeve  11  in place. For convenience, only the left side of the window covering horizontal slat set  35  is shown, a second cutting sleeve  11  being located on the opposite end in a bilaterally symmetrical position. The window covering horizontal slat set  35  includes head rail  37 , slats  23  which are grouped into groups of four by the cutting sleeve  11 . As can be seen, the slats  23 , as they emerge from the cutting sleeve  11  are initially in groups of four, but as they extend away from the cutting sleeve  11 , begin to lose their grouped nature. 
   As a result, the cutting sleeve  11  can be seen to organize the slats  23  from the center of the window covering horizontal slat set  35  into parallel groupings of four. The cutting sleeve  11  can be seen as covering a base slat  39 . To the right of the cutting sleeve  11  and just to the left of a jagged cutaway line a vertical ladder cord  41  is seen as being snaked about a section of the slats  23  through which a lift cord (not shown) will extend. From the snaked vertical ladder cord  41 , a horizontal ladder cord (not seen) extends between each of the slats  23  tending to separate slats  23  and inhibit the tight overall grouping of the slats  23 , especially immediately adjacent the vertical ladder cord  41 . The view of  FIG. 6  illustrates how effectively the cutting sleeve  11  can overcome the tendency of the horizontal ladder cords to separate the slats  23 . The action of the cutting sleeve  11  can be seen as both (1) separating the slats  23  into groups of four, and (2) pressing the slats into a parallel position within each of the chambers  19 . Because the slats  23  are forced into a parallel position they can be evenly cut. However, it should be noted that if the chambers  19  gather too many slats  23 , the “S” shaped travel path into the cutting sleeve  11  of the most oppositely located slats  23  within the stack may cause them to be shorter within the cutting sleeve  11 . 
   Just to illustrate that the cutting sleeve  11  can have any number and width of chambers  21 , a series of optional examples are shown. Referring to  FIG. 7 , a cutting sleeve  51  is seen as having a series of individual chambers  19  with each chamber  19  containing one slat  23 . The broken away view of  FIG. 7  is for convenience as is the broken away portions of  FIGS. 8-11 . In practice, the cutting sleeve  51  would continue to the right with a repeating series of chambers  19 . Likewise, and referring to  FIG. 8 , a cutting sleeve  53  is seen as having a series of individual chambers  19  with each chamber  19  containing two slats  23 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 9 , a cutting sleeve  55  is seen as having a series of individual chambers  19  with each chamber  19  containing three slats  23 . Referring to  FIG. 10 , a cutting sleeve  57  is seen as having a series of individual chambers  19  with each chamber  19  containing five slats  23 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , a cutting sleeve  59  is seen as having a series of individual chambers  19  with each chamber  19  containing six slats  23 . Other possibilities contemplate cutting sleeves having chambers  19  of a width to contain groupings of seven or more slats  23 . Further, slats  23  may be of any thickness or width and the chambers  19  of any of the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57  or  59  will be adjusted to provide adequate compaction and linearization of the slats  23 . Further, the thickness of either the walls  17  or the first and second planar walls  13  and  15  may also depend upon the material chosen for the construction of the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57  or  59 . Further, the need to specify the separation between the slats  23  may also dictate the material chosen for the construction of the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57  or  59  in combination with the numbers of slats  23  to be supported. 
   Referring to  FIG. 12  a variation is shown on cutting sleeve  11 , as an example, as a cutting sleeve  61 . Cutting sleeve  61  illustrates the use of abbreviated wall structures, such as abbreviated walls  63 . The walls  63  are opposing, abbreviated, non-connecting, short and long enough that a corresponding set of slats  23  can be stably supported between each set of abbreviated walls  63 . 
   Further, it is contemplated that in some instances the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  may be made of thinner materials such that it would be helpful to provide additional structural support. A wall  65  is seen as extending between the end wall  17 , first planar wall  13 , and second planar wall  15 . This structural addition essentially forms an end cap to the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61 . This end cap will only partially limit the positioning of the cutting lines  25 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , the cutting line  25  can be positioned by measuring from the sides of the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  from either side. In  FIG. 6  it is noted that the extending of the ends of the slats  23  outside one end of the cutting sleeve  11  enables a user to measure distance to be cut by measuring from the ends of the slats  23  to the cutting line  25 . 
   If a wall  65  is applied over the ends of the channels  19  to essentially form an end wall, the lengths of the channels  19  will be expected to be more than two or three inches, long enough that the cutting line can be properly positioned. In  FIG. 6 , it may be preferable to provide a cutting sleeve  11  which is three to four times as wide to insure that the cutting sleeve  11 , or cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  can be moved outward to position the cutting line  25 . 
   Further, the use of a close ended cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  will provide additional protection when shipped. Where the provision of an additional wall  65  will add additional structural integrity, it will also reduce the ability to see the positioning of the ends of the slats  23  with respect to the cutting lines  25 . To mitigate this effect, and to give the user the ability to more rapidly assess the distance of the cutting line or lines  25  from the ends of the slats  23 , one or more slots may be employed. A slot  67  is shown as existing within wall  65 . A slot  69  is seen within the first planar wall  13 . Slot  67  helps the user to see the existence and uniformity of the slats  23  when the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  are fit completely onto the slats  23 , such as initial loading or attachment of the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  before shipping. 
   At the time of cutting, when the cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  are backed off to move the cutting line  25  a given distance from the ends of the slats  23 , the slot  69  enables a good visual verification of the distance from the ends of the slats  23  to the cutting line  23 . The use of cutting sleeves  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  with the wall  65  is helped by insuring that the slats are aligned. The use of a much wider cutting sleeve  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  might also be combined with the use of a single cutting sleeve designed to be used twice. Such a sleeve could be mounted on one side of the window covering horizontal slat set, while the opposite side is aligned. The window covering horizontal slat set  35  has its much wider cutting sleeve  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  withdrawn to a first cutting line  25 , and then cutting operation occurs, with the remaining portion of the much wider cutting sleeve  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  containing the wall  65  emptied of any slat  23  portions and fitted onto the other end. It is more preferable to be able to visually inspect to slats  23  to insure that they are even and aligned when cut, but the embodiment of  FIG. 12  is propounded to illustrate (1) that additional structural elements can be had, (2) the structural elements can be abbreviated, shortened or disconnected, and (3) that visual windows and openings can be added. 
   It may be preferable to provide the much wider cutting sleeve  11 ,  51 ,  53 ,  55 ,  57 ,  59  or  61  with a clear or semi-clear material so that any additional obstructions or structural reinforcements will not unduly prevent adequate visual inspection. 
   Another example of eliminating and changing the character of structures is seen in a cutting sleeve  71  which, compared to the view of  FIG. 1  has common structures and can be explained more adequately with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 . There are two or three possible changes. The first planar wall  13  may be made thicker to give better support of the walls  17 . The second planar wall  15  is removed to make the four sided channels  19  seen in  FIGS. 1-3  into three sided channels  19  open at their bottom end. The walls  17  may have angled edges  73  to facilitate the loading of the cutting sleeve  71  onto slats  23  laterally utilizing the angled edges  73 . In the alternative, the walls  71  can be urged between the slats  23  at the facing edges which can be seen looking into the view of  FIG. 13 . 
   The orientation of the cutting sleeve  71  takes advantage of the fact that many window covering horizontal slat set  35  are cut on a table which is well supported from the bottom. As a result of such support, and in view of the even level of the underside surface of the first planar wall  13 , a window covering horizontal slat set  35  which is oriented for cutting as seen in  FIG. 6 , can have the cutting sleeve  71  quickly inserted by downward motion to achieve the same view seen in  FIG. 6 . The cutting sleeve  11  seen in  FIG. 6  would appear exactly like the cutting sleeve  71  seen in  FIG. 13 . 
   For cutting sleeve  71 , the lateral forces of collecting and holding the slats  23  would have to be borne solely by the connection between the walls  17  and the first planar wall  13 . The other advantage of the cutting sleeve  71  is that the length of the walls  17  would not be strictly limited by the width of the slats  23 . Where the cutting table provided no under support for the slats  23  at the area of cutting, satisfactory results could still be obtained even if the walls  17  did not extend beyond the width of the slats. Ripping could occur if the walls  17  fell short, but the design of cutting sleeve  71  is such that the walls  17  could be four or five inches in distance extending from the first planar wall  13 , and thus extend significantly beyond the extend of the slats. 
   Therefore, a cutting sleeve  71  with long walls  17  could be utilized in two ways. First, if the vertical table supporting the window covering horizontal slat set  35  does not extend to a point near the area of cutting, say with respect to  FIG. 6  all the way to the extent of the beginning of the cutting sleeve  11  seen in  FIG. 6 , then cutting sleeve  71  can be used with walls  17  extending downwardly even beyond the slats  23  (which are generally initially supported by the bulk extent of the window covering horizontal slat set  35 . 
   Where an underlying table is present, the cutting sleeve  71  can be inserted from the bottom with the over dimension length of the walls  17  extending upward, and with cutting proceeding in the usual way. For installation of the cutting sleeve  71 , particularly if the angled edges  73  are present, the user need only rack the slats together and, while angling the cutting sleeve  71  slightly, begin to finger the walls  17  into the appropriately sized groupings for which the cutting sleeve  71  is set. Where a user has some manual dexterity buildup from using the cutting sleeve  71  a few times, it may be possible to load the cutting sleeve  71  onto the slat  23  groupings very quickly, in perhaps a second or two. The width of the walls  17 , and the effective depth of the channels  19  can be greater or lesser than the corresponding extent of the first planar wall  13 . The top of the first planar wall  13  can also be shaped for stability and alignment of the saw in cutting along the proper line. 
   While the present invention has been described in terms of a system and method for forming stable groupings of slats of various construction for the purpose of stably cutting them, and especially if the cutting sleeve is cut along with the slats, one skilled in the art will realize that the structure and techniques of the present invention can be applied to many structures, including any structure or technique where balanced joinder of collected materials in which both sides continue to be supported during cutting. 
   Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.