Abstract:
The method of cutting a pleated shade to selected length, said shade having pleats retained in pleated condition between longitudinally elongated first and second retainers, that includes the steps providing a blade having a cutting edge, orienting the blade to extend laterally relative to the retainers and/or pleats, with the blade edge presented toward the first retainer at an angle to that retainer, and urging the blade in a first direction toward the first retainer so that the blade edge cuts through the first retainer progressively in a lateral and second direction, and progressively laterally through the pleats and lower retainer, the pleats and/or retainers being adjustably laterally confined, and the first retainer and pleats being clamped in said first direction at the locus of cutting, by force transmission from the blade.

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 10/306,607, filed Nov. 27, 2002, which is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/283,636, filed Oct. 29, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to provision of pleated shades to selected length, and more particularly to cutting such shades to required width, for example to conform to width of a window or window frame. 
   In the past, window shades have been marketed with predetermined width. There was no easy way to conform the widths of such shades to windows or window frames of different sizes at the time of shade installation. This problem has become particularly acute for pleated shades characterized by expansible pleats retained between upper and lower shade slats. Lateral movement of such pleats, in an unstable stack of such pleats, during cutting, complicates the cutting task, particularly for an unskilled person or customer, who attempts to cut through shade slats and pleats. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is a major object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus meeting the above need. The basic method of the invention for cutting a pleated shade to selected width, as at the time of installation, when a window or frame size is determined, includes the steps a) providing a blade having a cutting edge,
         b) orienting the blade to extend laterally relative to the slats and pleats, with the blade edge presented with predetermined angularity toward the first slat,   c) and urging the blade in a first direction toward the first slat so that the blade edge cuts through the first slat progressively in a lateral and second direction, and progressively laterally through the pleats and lower slat, the pleats and slats being laterally confined, and the first slat and pleats being clamped in said first direction at the locus of cutting, by force transmission from the blade.       

   Typically, the first slat and pleats are locally displaced in said first direction at the locus of cutting. Also other slats and pleats are typically held in fixed position longitudinally or widthwise, during said cutting, to assure precision of cutting. 
   A further object includes effecting such retention by providing two guides extending in generally parallel relation to the first direction, inserting the blade slats and pleats into cutting position between said guides and in close relation thereto, and holding the projecting extent of the assembly in that position during cutting. In this regard, the guides are advantageously also used to guide blade travel in that first direction, and during cutting, to maintain blade predetermined angularity. 
   An added object is to provide a cross-member extending between the guides to be guided in said first direction to travel therealong, and supporting the blade to project from said cross member toward the first slat, the blade having edge portions guided by the two guides. A pusher is typically connected to the cross-member to urge the cross-member and blade toward the first slat. 
   For superior results, the blade edge is typically provided with angularity maintained relative to the first slat, and at an angle between 100 and 300. 
   Further, and in accordance with apparatus of the invention, such apparatus typically includes a) a blade having a cutting edge,
         b) means for orienting the blade to extend laterally relative to the slats and pleats, with the blade edge presented toward the first slat at a predetermined angle to that slat,   c) and means for urging the blade in a first direction toward the first slat so that the blade edge cuts through the first slat progressively in a lateral and second direction, and progressively laterally through the pleats and second slat, with the pleats laterally confined, and the first slat and pleats being clamped in said first direction at the locus of cutting by force transmission from the blade.       

   Another object is to provide a clamping member located between uprights guides, there being a clamping force transmitting screw extending through one of the guides and acting to transmit clamping force to said member. 
   A further object is to provide a removable support platform in position between the guides to support the pleats and/or slats. 
   A yet further object is to provide a base supporting the guides and the platform, there being a groove associated with the base to interfit and guide a downward projection associated with the support platform, whereby the platform can be accurately positioned relative to and beneath the blade. 
   As will be seen, a slot may be provided in the base in registration with the blade to pass the blade for removal and replacement. 
   The slot is typically in registration with the blade, to pass the blade for removal, said slot intersecting said groove. 
   An added object is to provide a cross member extending between upright guides to be guided for travel in a downward direction, and removably supporting the blade to project from cross member toward the slat and or pleats to be cut. 
   As will be seen, threaded fasteners connect the blade and cross member, enabling downward removal of the blade. 
   These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which: 

   
     DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a shade having slats and pleats; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged end view of the  FIG. 1  shade; 
       FIG. 3  is an elevation showing shade confining and cutting apparatus; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a section taken on lines  3   a — 3   a  of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged fragmentary view showing shade slats and pleats laterally confined by the apparatus of  FIG. 3 , and positioned for cutting; 
       FIG. 5  is a view of modified shade assembly cutting apparatus; 
       FIG. 6  is a view showing confinement and positioning of a modified shade assembly, by the  FIG. 5  apparatus; 
       FIG. 7  is a section taken on lines  7 — 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a modification; 
       FIGS. 9–11  are further perspective views of the  FIG. 8  device, and 
       FIGS. 12–14  are end views of various forms of shades to be cut by the  FIG. 8  device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   In the drawings, a typical window shade longitudinally i.e. widthwise extending assembly is shown at  10 , and includes a shade  11  in the form of pleats in a stack  12 , and retained vertically between upper and lower slats  12   a  and  12   b . See  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It is desired to cut the assembly, as for example at a selected mark point  13 , in a plane  13   a  normal to the assembly axis  14 , corresponding to desired width L of the shade. (Shade “width” is in the elongation direction of the shade). The shade folded pleats may consist of plastic (synthetic resinous) material or paper, and the slats may consist of wood, plastic or metal. 
   In accordance with the invention, preferred apparatus  16  is provided for severing to selected width the assembly  10 . That apparatus as seen in  FIG. 3  includes a holder, as for example the holder seen at  18 , for supporting the shade assembly during progressive cutting, to be described. Holder  18  defines U-shaped channel  18   a  with lower corners  18   b , to receive the shade. Corners  18   b  may extend at or approximately  900 . Channel  18   a  may be slightly larger in width D 3  than the lateral dimensions D 1  of the slats and D 2  of the pleats, so as not to interfere with insertion of the assembly  10  through the channel, to a position for severing or cutting in plane  13   a . See  FIG. 4 , showing the assembly  10  inserted through the channel into cutting position. Note that holder uprights  19  and  20  are spaced apart to closely retain the shade assembly so as to block sideward slippage of the slats and pleats out of position, as during forcible cutting. The uprights are rigidly mounted on a base  21 , and define laterally spaced vertical guide slots  22  and  23  for guiding edges of a cutting blade  24  that moves vertically to cut through the assembly  10 . 
   The blade is oriented to extend laterally relative to the slats and pleats in the assembly  10 , with blades edge  24   a  presented toward the first slat  12   a  at an angle α relative to that slat, where a is between 10° and 30°, for best results. 
   Means is provided for urging the blade in a direction toward the first slat so that the blade edge cuts through the first slat progressively in a lateral and second direction, and progressively laterally through the pleats and lower slat, the pleats and slats being laterally confined, and the first slat and pleats being clamped in said first direction at the locus of cutting, by force transmission from the blade. Such means may advantageously include a cross member  28  extending between uprights  19  and  20  acting as guides, whereby the cross member is guided in said first direction  26  and carries or supports the blade to project from the cross-member downwardly toward the first slat. The member  28  is urged downwardly, with mechanical advantage, by a manually rotated screw  29  thread connected at  31  to a fixed cross-piece  32  extending between the uprights  19  and  20 . A handle  33  on the screw is manually rotated to rotate the screw for driving or pushing the cross-member  28  and blade downwardly, to cleanly cut through the slats and pleats. In this process, the first slat  12   a  and the pleats  12  are locally displaced i.e. compressed in direction  26 , at the locus  13   a  of lateral and downward cutting; also the slats and pleats at that locus are retained in fixed position, laterally, i.e. in the second direction  38 , as by one or both uprights  19  and  20 , and are also retained in fixed position longitudinally by the operator&#39;s gripping of the assembly  10  proximate the holder  18  and base  21 . The base and the projecting extent of the assembly  10  are typically supported on a surface  35  during such cutting. Accordingly, the guides  19  and  20  serve to guide both the cross-member  28  and the blade  24 , they serve to retain the assembly  10  in laterally oriented and stacked relation during compressive cutting acting to urge the slats and pleats downwardly and laterally, and they support the cross-piece  32  and screw (i.e. pusher)  29  during screw rotation and downward pushing of the cutting blade. Also, the blade is confined between the uprights in such a way as to minimize the danger of cutting the fingers of the user. Blade  24  is easily retracted upwardly, as by reverse rotation of the screw after the cutting completion. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show similar apparatus, with corresponding parts bearing the same numerals. In addition, longitudinal guide elements, as at  40 ,  41 ,  42  and  43  are provided to project longitudinally (normal to the plane of  FIG. 5 ) into the U-shaped channel  18   a  at upper and lower locations as shown. Elements  40  and  41  project laterally oppositely, and elements  42  and  43  project downwardly in parallel, laterally spaced relation. Elements  40  and  41  are carried by supports  40   a  and  41   a  attached to the uprights, and elements  42  and  43  are carried by a support  44  attached to the base  21 . 
     FIG. 6  shows elements  40  and  41  slidably longitudinally engaging the under surfaces  50   a  of an upper slat  50 , which may be of plastic or metallic and channel shaped, and elements  42  and  43  guidably longitudinally received in longitudinally extending recesses  51   a  and  51   b  defined by a lower slat  51 , which may also be of plastic or metallic and channel shaped. Pleats  51  extend between the upper and lower slats  50  and  52 , and are suitably connected to those slats as at  50   c  and  51   c . The pleats may consist of thin plastic or paper sheet material, with folds at laterally spaced locations. Slat  51  has flanges  51   a  and  51   b  supporting the pleats. 
   The vertical grooves  53  and  54  in the upright guides are extended into the elements  40 ,  41 ,  42 ,  43 , as in plane  13   a , to pass the blade during cutting. A similar groove  56  is provided in support  44 . See  FIG. 7 . 
   Referring now to the sturdy preferred device of  FIGS. 8–11 , it is typically metallic, and includes a holder  118  for supporting the shade assembly for cutting. Holder includes upright guides  119  and  120  rigidly mounted on a base  121 . This assembly provides a channel  118   a  for endwise reception of a shade assembly to be cut or severed. 
   Upright guides  119  and  120  are laterally spaced apart as shown, and means is provided for laterally clamping the pleats and/or slats received or positioned between the guides. For this purpose, a clamping member  160  is located between the guides, and a lateral screw  161  is carried by guide  120  for transmitting clamping force laterally to the member  160 , which may advantageously have a plate form to engage the side of the shade assembly. Screw  161  has a handle  161   a , and may have threaded interfit with guide  120 . In this way various width shade assemblies may be firmly clamped between the guides, for precision cutting. 
   A removable support platform may be provided, as shown at  163 , to extend between the guides to support a shade assembly for clamping. That platform is typically slidably and forwardly mounted into position on the base  121 , as via a guide groove  164  sunk in the base for purposes as will appear. The platform may have a depending tongue  165  with T-shape for interfit at  166  in the groove, to guide forward and rearward travel of the platform, relative to the base. For shade assemblies of greater vertical dimension (see d 1  in  FIG. 12 ), the platform may be removed. The platform width w 1  is reduced at the side adjacent the clamping plate  160 , to obviate interference with that plate during lateral travel of plate  160 . 
   A vertical and laterally extending slot  170  is provided in the base in registration with blade  191 , to downwardly pass the blade, for removal and/or replacement. At that time, the platform  163  is retracted, as referred to above, to expose the slot  170  to pass the blade. See  FIG. 10 . Slot  170  may intersect the groove  164 , as shown, for compactness of the assembly. 
   The opposite edges  121   a  and  121   b  of the blade are slidable in grooves  150  in the uprights or guides  119  and  120 , as the blade  191  is forced downwardly to cut the shade assembly. A cross member or cradle  175  extends laterally between the guides and is connected to the blade as by two threaded fasteners such as screws,  176  and  177 . See  FIG. 9 . This allows blade disconnection for downward removal, as referred to above, for replacement. The edges of the cross member may also be slidable in the grooves in the uprights.  FIG. 11  shows installation of a new blade upwardly through the slot  170 . 
   A pusher  178  is operatively connected to the cross member to urge the cross member and blade toward the top of the shade assembly. 
   Preferably, the pusher is provided in the form of a screw  181  threadably carried at  182  by a lateral support  180  that interconnects the tops of the guides  119  and  120 . As the screw  181  is turned by handle  183 , the blade is displaced downwardly to cut or sever the shade assembly. Note angled blade lower edge  121   c . A stop ring  184  is provided on the screw to limit downward displacement of the screw and blade. For this purpose, a hub  183   a  on the handle, fastened to the screw, engages ring  184  and presses it downwardly on support  180  to stop screw and blade travel. 
     FIGS. 12–14  show three different forms of collapsed shade assemblies that can be quickly severed by the  FIG. 8  apparatus. Note pleats  170  in each, top and bottom retainers such as slats  191  and  192  in  FIG. 12 ; bottom slat  193  and top sticker  194  in  FIG. 13 ; and top and bottom retainers such as housings  195  and  196  in  FIG. 14 . 
   The slats are typically wooden, and the housings  195  and  196  are of molded plastic.