Patent ID: 7168475

Claim:
A covering for an architectural opening comprising: one or more mounting brackets for attachment to the framework of the architectural opening; a horizontal hollow headrail, the headrail having left and right ends, the left and right ends being pivotally attached to the one or more mounting brackets, wherein the headrail is pivotable between an open and a closed position about a longitudinal axis of the headrail; and a plurality of horizontally orientated slats suspended from the headrail by ladders, a plurality of lift cords passing longitudinally within the hollow head rail, each slat being (i) vertically spaced from an adjacent slat, (ii) pivotable between an open position and a closed position about a longitudinal axis of the slat by pivotal movement of said head rail, and (iii) vertically movable between a first position when the covering is extended and a second position when the covering is retracted by said lift cords, the open position permitting a substantial majority of light incident on the architectural opening to pass directly therethrough, the closed position blocking a substantial majority of the incident light from passing directly therethrough.