Take a pull-down shade of plastic-reinforced fabric. Partially cut out slats on its surface, and add a central, vertical, elastic cord that is fused at each slat’s upper edge. Roll down the shade to the desired height and then pull the cord so that the exposed slats are twisted at their ends to afford the proper amount of light and viewing angle.

The end of the cord would have beads at intervals, to adjust and lock to the shade’s crossbar. The elasticity of the cord would have to be carefully selected to match the stiffness of the shade fabric, the slat profile’s twistability and the roll resistance of the shade cylinder.

Tulip! The simplicity of a window shade’s construction, installation and use is combined with the utility and flexibility of a venetian blind.
-- FarmerJohn, Aug 19 2003

Fabric-covered blinds http://www.arcaid.c...p?Barcode=5153-70-1
[phoenix, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Interesting. I think only the part of the cord above the top slat should be elastic.
-- half, Aug 19 2003


[half] I figured that any slat could be the top slat, depending on how far the shade's pulled down, and the rolled-in slats above can't open.

[phoenix] I think you realize that those links show conventional venetian blinds with fabric slats/vanes, not what I've described.
-- FarmerJohn, Aug 19 2003


Ah. I wondered about that. But I figured if the shade wasn't pulled down completely then you wouldn't need to use the slats. Silly me.
-- half, Aug 19 2003


a possibly unnecessary enhancement
-- FarmerJohn, Aug 19 2003


Since the slats don't overlap would there be some light leakage through the slits between them? In fully closed mode would each slat sag from its own weight down the center allowing a small amount of light to enter?
-- wombat, Aug 19 2003


most certainly
-- FarmerJohn, Aug 19 2003



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