Soft vertical packaging/installation apparatus

摘要

The present invention relates generally to the packaging and installation of a soft vertical blind incorporating a plurality of elongated vertical louvers and an integral, sheer curtain face. The packaging system facilitates the process of securely shipping a soft vertical blind in a box, while preventing damage to the curtain fabric that is connected to the louvers. Injection-molded plastic installation clips are configured to nest inside each other and to clip into apertures provided adjacent to the top ends of each louver. When coupled to a threaded shipping rod, the installation clips act as a clamp to secure the louvers of the soft vertical blind. Polyethylene packaging spacers with slots configured to hold individual louvers are placed periodically along the length of the blind to further secure the louvers during shipping. Select components of the packaging system are also used as components in a hanger assembly to facilitate the installation of the soft vertical blind to a mounted headrail. Steel-stamped installation hangers are used to suspend the blind from the hanger assembly at a predetermined, spaced distance in front of the mounted headrail. Each louver is then successively released from the hanger assembly and transferred to a corresponding carrier truck on the headrail to complete the installation of the soft vertical blind.