Vertical louver blind having clutched operating mechanism

Abstract

A venetian blind of the vertical louver type includes an elongated guide track and a plurality of louver carriers supported by the guide track for traverse between open blind and closed blind conditions. Each of the louver carriers supports a louver in generally vertical orientation for traverse with the carrier and for rotation about its longitudinal axis between open and closed louver positions. A louver operating mechanism is supported on one end of the guide track and is operative to rotate the louvers to open louver positions prior to traverse along the guide track from a closed blind condition to an open blind condition. A rotation rod extends longitudinally of the guide track in cooperative relation with the louver carriers and supports a rotation pulley actuated by a beaded chain to rotate the rotation rod and effect rotation of the louvers. A pullcord is operative to traverse the louvers along the guide track and cooperates with a spool member which is connected to the rotation pulley through a clutch arrangement such that actuation of the pullcord to traverse the louvers to an open blind condition first rotates the louvers to open louver positions. The clutch arrangement enables rotation of the rotation pulley so as to selectively rotate the louvers without actuating the spool member.