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A window blind is a type of window covering.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Window blind )〕 There are many different kinds of window blinds which use a variety of control systems. A typical window blind is made up of several long horizontal or vertical slats of various types of hard material, including wood, plastic or metal which are held together by cords that run through the blind slats. Window blinds can be adjusted by rotating them from an open position to a closed position with either a manual or remote control which allows the slats to overlap and block out most of the light. There are also several types of window coverings, called shades, that use a single piece of soft material instead of slats. The term window blinds can also be used to describe window coverings generically—in this context window blinds include almost every type of window covering, i.e. shutters, roller blinds, cellular shades (also called honeycomb shades), wood blinds, roman blinds and of course, standard vertical and horizontal blinds. In the United Kingdom, awnings are sometimes called blinds or shades. ==Overview of different blind types== The two overall types of window blinds are ready-made blinds and made to measure. Made-to-measure blinds are made to fit a given or measured window size. Ready made blinds are manufactured in set sizes that can be cut down to fit any window. These blinds can be classified broadly into 5 different categories, the Venetian blinds, the Roller blinds, the Roman blinds, the Pleated blinds and the Vertical blinds. Many window blinds are made with slats of fabric, wood, plastic, or metal that adjust by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slats to overlap. A roller blind does not have slats but consists of a single piece of material. Metal window blinds are often used outside of the home or business to protect against theft, temperature, vision, bad weather, and fire (in fire-prone areas). Often these blinds are machine-operated, rather than hand-operated. The horizontal version uses a thin woven corded "ladder" system to suspend the slats and enable slats to be closed via a rotating drum to which each upper end of the woven ladder is wrapped and attached. A lift cord allows the blind to be pulled up and stack tightly to top of the window when desired. One of the earliest patents for a window shade was in 1888 by George L. Castner.〔(Window Shade ), G. L. Castner, issued 31 July 1888 (retrieved 31 January 2012 from Google Patents)〕 The vertical version uses a generally wider slat and has the added feature of being able to pull a cord to stack the slats together either to one side or to separate in the centre and stack on each end. This vertical blind allows rotation of slats by a rotating shaft in the upper head rail housing which runs through independent geared carriers that will convert twisting of tilt rail to a rotation of each individual slat in synchrony. The original vertical blinds were invented in Kansas City, Missouri by Edward Bopp and Fredrick Bopp who held the original patent. The company name at the time was Sun Vertical. In the 1960s, the patent and company was sold. The term window blinds is also sometimes used, somewhat inaccurately, to describe window coverings generically—in this context window blinds include almost every type of window covering including both curtains and blinds for homes, offices and commercial premises such as shops, pubs and bars, e.g. Plantation Shutters/Jigsaw Shutters, roller blinds, Roman blinds and of course, vertical and horizontal blinds. In Britain, awnings and window shutters are often categorised under blinds. A blind limits observation and thus “blinds” the observer to the view. The main types are ''slat blinds'' which can be opened in two ways and ''solid blinds''. Solid blinds can only be raised or lowered and are sometimes called shades. There are types of blinds, such as Holland blinds and woven-wood blinds, where there are small spaces between the slats. In others such as pleated shades there are no spaces because the slats are sewn inside fabric. Window blinds reduce the heat from sunlight. Ancient Egyptian pharaohs had blinds made of reeds. The most inexpensive blinds in the 19th century were home-made roller blinds, made of cloth. Window blinds can be manually drawn using a cord, or automated through motorization. Controls for motorized blinds can be from a wall switch or keypad, remote control, or a personal computer, eliminating the need for cords and allowing control of otherwise inaccessible windows. A number of homes are integrating blind control with central C-Bus solutions. This control provides ease-of-use, but is also effective to control blind operation to reduce heat loss during winter or heat effects during summer. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Window blind」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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