The window blinds that you find in a home or office generally all work in the same way. The window is covered by the blind by pulling a cord or the covering itself. Where the blind is operated by a cord, strings that connect to the bottom of the window covering pull the blind up as the cord is pulled down and moves lower when the cord is released. The window blind can then either fold, roll or collapse. For venetian blinds in particular the blinds must first be aligned so that they can be lifted. If this is not done then there is a chance that they could get damaged. There must also be some method for the cord to stay stationary once the window blinds have been raised or lowered into the desired position. With some sets of blinds the cord is wrapped around some kind of hook which has been fastened to the wall. Other types of blinds such as venetian blinds and roller shades off various other solutions to this particular problem. We will go on to discuss these solutions below.
Venetian Blinds
These kinds of window blinds contain many individual blinds which are always parallel with each other, called slats. The advantage of venetian blinds is that the slats can all be turned at the same time and in the same direction. When all of the slats are turned so that they are parallel to the window, most of the light from outside will not be able to pass through as all the blinds will be touching. The rotation of the slats is controlled by turning a rod that attaches to the blind in a similar way to the cord. With most sets of window blinds three sets of three strings run through each slat. The middle string will raise and lower the blinds, whilst the outer 2 strings form a ladder with a slat on each ru. Rotating the rod will tilt the slates.
In order to let the most amount of light through the window, the blinds need to be lifted and the slats must be rotated so they are perpendicular to the window. This will also allow the slats to collapse against each other when the window blind is opened. In order to keep the blinds in their lifted position at any given level, a cog with teeth sits inside the rail into which the lift cord runs. When the cord is pulled towards the cod (usually pulled to the right) the cog s teeth will catch on the cord. When it is released, the blinds fall due to gravity and the lift cord will retract. When the cog is caught on the lift cord (which then gets caught between the rail as well) it keeps the cord from being retracted any further and it will then hold the blinds in place.
Rolling Blinds
The other common form of blinds is the rolling shade/blind. In the case of roller blinds, a single sheet of fabric or other thin material is wrapped around a roll. When the roll is unwound, the fabric sheet covers the window. The inside of the roll contains a spring mechanism that creates tension and keeps the shades rolled up. The tension in this spring will increase as the shade is pulled further down. A ratchet and pin mechanism will then allow the shade to stay in this pulled down position, despite the tension in the spring mechanism. The pin is released by pulling the shade down as far as it will go. The tension in the spring is then released and the shade is retracted.
Author Resource:
Dave Matthews is writing on behalf of New Blinds (http://www.newblinds.co.uk ), a leading online retailer of window blinds.
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