Ordinary venetian blinds are humdrum. Venetian blinds with rolling, falling balls will lend an exciting dimension to your home or office. Our blind with horizontal slats use balls like ping-pong balls but half the size. The slats have concave upper sides and are not completely level, allowing each ball to zigzag roll down the blind. At different places on different slats, “trapdoors” allow the balls to fall to the next slat.
A small fan shoots balls back up via an enclosed, collapsible channel along the side of the blind. The blind should be rotated almost open before flipping the switch to watch the translucent orbs dance in your motion picture window.
We also have vertical slat venetian blinds with balls that are blown upwards between slats 1 and 2, to then fall down between slats 2 and 3, to be elevated between slats 3 and 4 and so on, before being returned by a bottom channel. And yes, a venetian blind clock with ball second counters is in the works.-- FarmerJohn, Dec 16 2003 yes, Honda advert. perhaps someone can find a clip of it for lint. http://www.guardian...2977,946531,00.html [po, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004] here it is but it will not play for me! http://www.beam.tv/...amreel.php?dzjgijxl[po]Try this one [po] http://www.videocli...m/akamai/h-l/honda/ [po, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 06 2004] Try this one [po] http://www.videocli...m/akamai/h-l/honda/ [Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004] <oblig>I thought this was about being brave enough to navigate the canals without sight. </oblig> Nice idea [FarmerJohn]-- Fishrat, Dec 16 2003 How would you shut the blinds without your balls getting trapped? No, that's phrased wrongly...-- PeterSilly, Dec 16 2003 My cats are sharpening their claws and hyper sensitizing their reflexes ready for their new game of "destroy master's expensive new Venetian blinds". I do love the idea though.-- dobtabulous, Dec 16 2003 [PeterSilly] After turning it off, before tilting or compressing the blind, the 4-5 balls would collect in the lower area of the collapsible channel.-- FarmerJohn, Dec 16 2003 ... and are the balls wrinkly or smooth? No, wait...-- PeterSilly, Dec 16 2003 I need a picture... please... (or did they remove your drawing hand, too?)-- k_sra, Dec 16 2003 ____________________ ............O --> ____________________ <-- O...................... ____________________
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How's this for starters?-- FarmerJohn, Dec 16 2003 so this blind venetian, does he I mean it need a penny in the slot at all?-- po, Dec 16 2003 Not if he has any cents.-- FarmerJohn, Dec 16 2003 I'm worried that the fan that blows the balls back up will also disturb the blinds.-- phundug, Dec 16 2003 It would be kitty-cat anarchy!-- Letsbuildafort, Dec 16 2003 Adaptation: Snakes and Ladders version for kiddies' bedrooms.-- egbert, Dec 16 2003 Wow, [FJ]. That's brilliant.
(Could you complexify one for me so it's more of a cause-and-effect toy, like that guy made on the X-files?)-- lintkeeper2, Dec 16 2003 there was a car advert that you would enjoy, lint but I forget the make. was it Honda?-- po, Dec 16 2003 thanks world, it did eventually play. its more breathtaking every time I see it :)-- po, Dec 16 2003 Thanks, [FJ]. +-- k_sra, Dec 16 2003 As I realized what this was, I knew it would be an [FJ}. To darken this blind one would just need to increase the rate of ball delivery to the top. A solid line of rolling balls would be the darkest.
This thing would cast excellent shadows. One could have balls with opaque designs for extra fun.-- bungston, Dec 16 2003 Had not seen that before, world and po. Quite spectacular, and mind-boggling that someone could come up with all that and make it work. And get paid.-- lintkeeper2, Dec 17 2003 I look at this title and I keep thinking, "At least he still has balls."
I know that wasn't constructive ... I'm sorry.-- k_sra, Dec 17 2003 Yaaaaaaaay! + 2.5 croissant special coming up.
Constructive? Blurf? The halfbakery is the twilight zone of constructive. It's not in the realm of destructive or constructive, it's off by itself in a little place we like to call...oh wait I already said that.-- sartep, Dec 17 2003 I could play this all night.-- The Kat, Dec 17 2003 random, halfbakery