US2061548A - Venetian blind - Google Patents

Description

` `VENETIAN BLIND .Filed oon 51, 1934 2 sheetsfsheet 1 fm WMM/W,

Nov. 24, 1936.

W. P. CAMERON 2,061,548

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Oct. 5l, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 2.4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENTIo FICE ' 2,061,543 l VENETIAN BLIND Application October 31, 1934, Serial No. 750,897

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Venetian blinds, and the principal object of the invention is to provide for blinds of this character an improved and highly practicable form of articulated integrating tape.

The invention resides in certain novel structural features hereinafter described in detail, which features function in combination to afford a tape of the stated character that is readily and cheaply manufactured, is highly emcient in operation, and possesses the strength and ruggedness to withstand indefinitely the at times severe strains to which' in normal use they are subjected.

In the attached drawings:

Figure l is a sectional perspective View illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detached view in perspective showing the essential elements of the tape; I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary View in perspective illustrating one of the articulated joints of the tape;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating another of the articulated joints, this section being taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view illustrating a portion of a blind made in accordance with my invention in the retracted or collapsed position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the relation of certain elements of the tape in the folded relation;

Fig. 'l is a View in perspective of one of the elements of the tape illustrated in Figs. l and 5; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of a modiiied form of slat adapted for use with the tape illustrated in the other drawings.

With reference to the drawings, the tape as illustrated comprises a series of transverse elements I which support the individual slats 2 of the shade, the corresponding extremities of leach adjoining pair of the elements .I being united by means of links 3 and 4. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the transverse elements I are provided at each end with a pair of spaced extensions 5 forming sockets for reception of a pin' Ii. The link 3 has at its upper end a pair of spaced extensions I forming sockets which in assembly lie intermediate and adjacent to the sockets 5 of the transverse element and also embrace the pin 6; while the link 4 has at its lower end a single centrally positioned socket extension 3 which embraces the pin 6 intermediate the sockets I of the link 3. When, as in the illustrated embodiment, the parts are made of exible material such as metal,

is bent over the outer end of the associatedsocket to therebyretain the pin `6 in position. It will be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, the sockets 5 of the'elements I are offset upwardly from the major plane of theelement; and that both the sockets 1 of the link 3 and the socket 8 of the link 4 are similarly offset inwardly from the planes of the respective links.

The link 3 has at its lower end a central socket extension I I, which in assembly embraces a cross bar I2 adjacent the upper end of the associated link 4. The cross bar I2 defines the lower side of a slotted aperture I3 at the upper end of the link 4; and the cross bar similarly dennes the upper end of a second aperture I4. The latter aperture is formed by pressing out the material of the link, the pressed-out portion I5 forming a tongue extending diagonally from the inner face of the link, the function of which Iwill be hereinafter explained.

It will be noted that the socket II of fthe link 3 extends through the aperture I3 of the link 4 from the outer face of the latter link and extends outwardly through the aperture I4 so that the upper end of the link 4 overlaps the lower end of the link 3 on the inside of the latter. In the present instance, each of the links 3 and 4 is provided adjacent each longitudinal edge with d a stiffening rib, I6, I6 and Il', Il respectively, and when the links are extended as shown in Figs. l and 3, the convex sides of these ribs engage each other to thereby maintain the links in a predetermined position of angularity. When, however, the links are folded as shown in Fig. 6, the ribs Il of the link 4 mate with the concaved sides of the ribs I6 of the link 3 to permit said links to lie closely together. As a further reinforcing means, the socket extensions 8 and II of the links 4 and 3 respectively may be provided with pressed-out ribs I8 and I9 respectively, the link 3 being recessed at ZI between the extension l to accommodate the rib I8 ofr the link 4.

Each of the transverse elements I is provided adjacent each end with a pair of clip extensions 22, 22 adapted as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 to be pressed down against the upper surface of the associated slat 2 to thereby .grip the edges of the slat and to hold it securely in position upon the transverse elements. It will be noted that the form of the transverse elements I and of the links 3 and 4 is such that these parts may be readily stamped from sheet metal.

It is customary in Venetian blinds to form the upper and lower slats of the series, designated 2a and 2b in Fig. 1, of greater thickness than the others, and as a means for attaching the tape to these slats, I provide the transverse elements 23 illustrated in Fig. '7. These elements 23, which are adapted to lie against the under face of the upper slat 2a and the upper face of the lower slat 2b, as shown in Fig. l, is provided with apertures 24 for reception of screws 25 securing the elements to the slats. The ends of the element 23 are flanged, and these flanges 26 embrace the opposite sides of the slats and are secured to said slats by screws 2l. At the juncture between the body of the elements 23 and the flanges 26 thereof, said elements are formed with socket formations 28 for reception of pins 29, these pins being provided at one end with heads and being secured in the elements 23 by riveting or upsetting the opposite ends in obvious manner, or by other suitable means. The pins 29 of the elements 23 associated with the lower Slat 2b are embraced by the socket extensions 8 of the lowermost links 4 of the series, while the pins 29 of the elements 23 associated with the upper slats 2a are embraced by the socket extensions 1, 'I of the uppermost links 3.

In some installations, it is desirable that the shades be provided with vertical guides for the slats, and it is customary when guides are required to provide certain slats of the series with guide elements 3|, see Fig. 1, which are attached by suitable means to the opposite4 ends of the slats and which operate in vertical guideways secured to the ixed frame of the window. It is desirable that those of the slats which are provided with the guide elements 3| be of greater thickness than the other intermediate slats in order to withstand the relatively heavy strains sometimes imposed upon them through the guide means. Such a slat is indicated in Fig. 1 by the reference character 2c.

In order to compensate for this increased thickness of the slats 2c, I provide short intermediate links 32, the upper ends of which are formed to correspond with the upper ends of the links 3, being provided with two spaced socket extensions 'Ia adapted to embrace the opposite ends of short pins extending through the socket extensions 8 of the adjoining link 4. The lower ends of the links 32 are formed to correspond with the lower ends of the links 4, being provided with a single socket extension 8a which embraces the pin 6 associated with the underlying transverse element I and the adjoining link 3. In order to prevent axial displacement of the pin uniting the link 32 with the overlying adjoining link 4, the said links 32 are provided with projecting lugs or ears 9a corresponding to the lugs 9 of the transverse ele? ments I, which when folded down over the outer ends of the socket extensions la of the link 32, as shown in Fig. 1, retain the pin in position. The links 32 are of suficient length to exactly compensate for the increased thickness of the slats 2c with which they are associated.

Each of the slats and each of the transverse elements I and 23 are provided with registering slotted apertures for passage therethrough of the shade-supporting cords 33, and these slots are so dimensioned that when as shown in Fig. 5 the shade is drawn up, the inwardly folding portions of the links may find clearance within said apertures to permit the links and the slats to rest in closely nested` relation, as illustrated.

Where metallic slats are required instead of the wooden slats commonly employed, I prefer a slat construction of the character shown in Fig. 8.

As therein illustrated, the slats 34 are of fiat tubular construction and are compressed or recessed as at 35 within the area engaged by the transverse elements I of the metallic tape. The elements I seat in said recesses, and when secured to the slats by means of the clips 22 as previously described, are positively held in position with respect to the tape.

By the foregoing construction, I have provided by a simple inexpensive process of manufacture an extremely durable and efficient tape meeting all the requirements and affording the shades certain highly desirable characteristics. The tape for example is extremely compact and unobtrusive and permits the slats, when the shade is elevated, to lie relatively close together. By providing means for securing the individual slats in the tape structure, I effectively eliminate the undesirable noises and flapping tendencies of the known types of Venetian blind wherein the slats are heldin position only by the restraining action of the supporting cords 33. While the tape is an articulated structure composed of interconnected links, it is substantially free from unshielded apertures through which light may pass, the flange I5 for example functioning in this respect to effectively shield the opening I4. By articulating the links as described, I have effectively prevented any tendency of the links to bind when either folded or extended, so that the shade is extremely easy to adjust. 'I'he construction also facilitates the operation of assembling the slats with the tape, and of replacing slats that may be damaged in use. It will be noted further that the tape may be readily applied to shades of the present standard type employing cloth tapes by a simple replacement operation.

'Ihere may be considerable modification without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprising a plurality of transverse slet-supporting elements each connected to another at the opposite ends by folding pairs of pivotally connected links, said transverse elements being formed from sheet metal and each comprising a pair of longitudinal spaced side bars jointly constituting a seat for said slat, transverse bars extending between and connecting said side bars, the last-named bars being extended at each end beyond the transverse bars and said extensions being formed into pintle-receiving sockets, and a pair of flexible clips adjacent each end of the Slat-supporting element at the outer edges of the side bars respectively and integral with the latter and adapted to grip the edges of said slat to secure the latter to the element, and pintle pins mounted in said sockets and constituting the connecting means between the Slat-supporting elements and said links.

2. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprising a plurality of transverse slet-supporting elements each connected to another at the opposite ends by folding pairs of pivotally connected links, each of said transverse elements having spaced pintle-receiving sockets at each end thereof, the one link of a pair having spaced pintle sockets intermediate and respectively adjoining the sockets of the associated element, and the contiguous link of the next adjoining pair having a pintle socket intermediate the sockets of the Erst-named link, and a pintle extending through all of said sockets and pivotally uniting said transverse element and links.

3. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprising a plurality of transverse Slat-supporting elements, and means including a pair of pivotally connected links for uniting the ends of each of said elements to the corresponding ends of the adjoining higher element,vsaid links being adapted to fold inwardly between the slats upon each other when the slats are brought together, certain of said uniting means comprising also an extension link pivotally connectedl both to the lower one of said elements and to the adjoining link of said pair to thereby accommodate the said uniting means to slats of extra thickness permitting the said inward folding of said links as described.

4. In a Venetianblind, a ladder comprising a plurality of transverse Slat-supporting elements,

and means including a folding pair of pivotally connected links for uniting the ends of each of said elements to the corresponding ends of the adjoining elements, certain of said uniting means comprising also an extension link pivotally connected to the outerend of one of the links of said pair, said elements being severally adapted to support slats, the slats associated with the supporting elements to which are connected the said extension links being of greater thickness than the other slats.

' 5v. An articulated ladder for Venetian blinds, said ladder comprising a series of transverse slat .supporting elements each connected to another at opposite ends by folding pairs of pivotally connected links, a terminal transverse element of said series comprising angularly projecting slat retaining flanges adapted to embrace the side edges of the associated slat, and having sockets formed at the juncture between said transverse element and said angularly projecting flanges. WILLIAM P. CAMERON.

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