Patent ID: 7438113

Claim:
A window covering comprising: a headrail; a plurality of lift cords extending from the headrail; a plurality of shade elements positioned sequentially below the headrail, the lift cords connected to at least one of the shade elements, each shade element having an upper edge and a lower edge which edges are substantially parallel to one another and oriented transverse to the lift cords; wherein the shade elements are positioned so that when the shade elements are in a closed position the lower edge of at least one shade element abuts the upper edge of an adjacent shade element and when the shade elements are in an open position, the lower edge of the at least one shade element is spaced apart from the upper edge of an adjacent shade element; a first cord attached to the upper edge of each shade element and extending from the headrail; a second cord extending from the headrail and attached to the lower edge of each shade element, such that when the shade elements are in the closed position, a plane passing through the first cord and the second cord is substantially parallel to the shade elements, wherein no rungs are connected between the first cord and the second cord below a shade element; a control mechanism connected to the headrail and connected to at least one of the first cord and the second cord; and wherein the plurality of shade elements each have a first side extending between the upper edge and the lower edge and the first side completely facing a first direction and a second side extending between the upper edge and the lower edge and the second side completely facing a second direction opposite the first direction, the shade elements, first cord and second cord being sized and positioned so that at least one of the first cord and second cord can be moved to cause the plurality of shade elements to flip to a flipped position so that when each shade element is in the flipped position the first side of each shade element completely faces the second direction and the second side of each shade element completely faces the first direction.