US2087865A - Locking mechanism for venetian blinds - Google Patents

Description

July 20, 1937. c. D. WALKER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Dec. 19', 1935 +4 M Rw m w w mm W J M A m fili w ID. 4 A .51:2. V. w Y H M W c A,

Patented July 20, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOCKING FQR VENETIAN Charles D. Walker, New York, N. Y., assignor to John M. Nordstrom, New York. N. Y.

Application December 19, 1935, Serial No. 55,182

4 Claims. (01., 156-17) My invention relates to the control of window shades or curtains of the Venetian blind type.

and particularly to the cord locking means able parts, and which will be long-lived in ac-.

In the ordinary'devices of this character, the surfaces between which the gripping and holding actions are effected are usually metallic, and

are grooved, scored, corrugated, or otherwise treated, to catch and lock the cords therebetween.

- Constant friction frays, cuts and otherwise so jured, even after extraordinary use 1 It is a furtherobiect ofmy invention to provide a device of the character described the parts of which may be. easily, quickly and inexpensively replaced when occasion demands.

Other objects will in part be pointed out hereinbelow, and in part be apparent from the following drawing and description of an illustrative embodiment, in which drawing Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a conventional Venetian blind" provided with one form of device constructed according to and embodying my said invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device substantially as same is shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; 8nd 5 2 I Figmi is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Broadly, my invention consists of passing the cords (shade actuating-means) between relatively movable blocks faced with a resilient material, whereby as the blocks move along a determined path, the cords are quickly gripped and firmly held therebetween.

The blind III is actuated by a pair of cords l2, connected at one end II to the blind" Ill itself, and free at the other end 16 for manual actuation. Cords l2 pass through holder 18 wherein they are held or released, as desired.

The casing 20 of holder l8, within which the movable blocks are contained, is otherwise hollow, and comprises a pair of sheets of light gauge metal, stamped or bent to form roughly a foursided oblique truncated pyramid; one wall 22 of which is straight and is provided with an end portion 24 atan angle therefrom and an extension whereby the holder is attached to the blind." The wall 26, opposite wall 22, is the base part of a U-shaped clip which is spot welded, or otherwise secured to wall 22, to complete the casin and this U-shaped member is so shaped that wall 26 is inclined with respect to said wall 22. The

. pyramid is composed of two sheets, one of which forms three sides thereof, and the other the fourtli side and means to attach said casing to the blind.

A solid rectangular block 23, of resilient material, preferably hard rubber, is fastened within a U-shaped shoe 30, of light gauge metal. This shoe 3!], with block 23 therein, is fitted within casing 2'1 and secured to wall 22 thereof by means of threaded screws 32. Block 28 is so fastened within shoe 30, and shoe 36 so secured within casing 20, as to leave one face 33 of block 23 completely uncovered and open. Another block 34, of similar material to block 28, is fastened within another U-shaped metal shoe 36, and also fitted withincasing20.

Block 34, while solid, is shaped like an oblique and truncated four-sided pyramid. Face 38 thereof, opposed to face 33 of block 28, is perfectlystraight, but the face ll! thereof, abutting against shoe 36, is angled with respect thereto,

I just as casing wall 26 is angled with respect to wall 22.

Wall 26 is provided with a longitudinal slot 42 in the center thereof, and block 34, unlike block as, which is fixed within the casing, is slidable up and down along the, track formed in downwardpull will be opposed only by the weight of the "blind", since the clearance between the blocks is enough to keep the cords out of contact blindin any desired position to which it has been -raised, cord's I! are pulled to one side to engage face 30 of the movable block. Keeping the cords in the pulled over and block engaging position, as shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2, the weight of the -blind" is allowed to pull the cords upwardly, carrying with them block 34. As block 34, within shoe I8, rides .up the track formed by slot 42 within wall 28, opposed block faces 33' arid ii are brought nearer and nearer to each other, decreasing the normal clearance until cords I! are firmly and securely griped and held therebetween. The dotted line outline of Fig. 2 shows how short is the distance block 34 must ride up within the casing before the cordsare locked, and how quickly this is accomplished. 'I'heresilient nature of the blocks and the firm grip of the cords insure the positiveness of the holding and locking action, and prevent any sliding or slipping. The weight of the "blind gravity-impelled, slides to the bottom of the slot,

bolt 4| serving as a stop means. Normal clearance being re-established, cords l2 will pass between the opposed'blocks freely and as quickly as may be desired, in either. direction, arid the shade may be lowered Jr raised, etc.

' I have referred to the curtain actuating means as cords", and same may be either of fibrous material, as hemp, flax, etc. ormetallic, as a link chain, both being suitable for use with my locking device. i

.I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, showing one block stationary and the other block movable. How-, ever,-I can make bothblocksmovable within the casing by providing'blockxlfl with a headed bolt similar to bolt 44, passing through a slot in wall 22 just as block 34 rides up and down wall 26. Just as easily, the walls may each be inclined with respect to the other, and the blocks, of course, correspondingly shaped. All these, and other modifications may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of my invention, the gist and heart of which is the use of blocks of resilient material to effect the locking action. It will be seen that my invention is quick, silent and positive in action, will not injure the cords in any manner whatsoever, can be taken downand new parts replaced very easfly and quickly, and will be long lived in action, with very few parts a capable of getting out of order.

It is adaptable for use not only to blinds per se but to ordinary window curtainsor shades,

and the use of the term shade in my claims is not to be construed as any limitation of the uses to which my device may be put.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In combination, a blind, cords to raise and walls, said blocks being normally gravity maintained in the lowermost position sutiiciently apart to allow free passage of the cords therebetween, and means to cause one of said blocks to ride up its walls to decrease the normal distance betweenthe blocks to grip and lock the cordstherebetween as same approach each other, said means comprising an engagement between the cord and said block whereby the weight of the blind will come into play to raise said block.

2. In combination, a blind, cords to raise and lower same, and a device for locking the cords whereby to secure the blind at any position, said device comprising a hollow casing having a pair of opposite walls upwardly inclined to each other, a pair of blocks of resilient material disposed within said casing, one of which is slidable up and down along one of said walls, and'the other of which-is the sdme height as the opposite wall and immovably secured thereto, said blocks being normally gravity maintained sufficiently apart to allow free passage of the cords therebetween when the movable block thereof is in the down position, and gripping and locking the cords therebetween upon movement of said movable block up its inclined wall whereby the distance between the blocks is decreased.

3. A device of-the character described com- "prising a hollow casing,.one plane wall of which is straight and an opposite wall of which is upwardly. inclined with respect thereto, a pair of shoes dis osed within the casing, each of which shoes has a block of resilient material mounted therein, one of said blocks being substantially rectangular and disposed within one shoe against having one straight face and an opposite iae inclined thereto similarly to the casing walls,

said other block being disposed within its shoe so that the straight face is presented toward the first described block, with the inclined face of said other block disposed within its shoe against and movable therewith up and down the inclined wall, said shoes and blocks being normally gravity spaced apart a distance to allow passage of shade actuating means therebetween, and being relatively movable to decrease the space therebetween to grip and lock said actuating means therebetween.

.4. A device of the character described coinprlsing a hollow casing, one plane wall of which is straight'and an opposite wall of which is upwardly inclined with respect thereto, a slotted opening in said inclined wall, a pair of shoes disposed within the casing, one of which shoes is fixed within the casing, and the other of which is movable relative thereto, each of which shoes has a block of resilient material mounted therein and the movable shoe has a headed pin extending through the slot in the casing, the block in the one of said shoes being substantially rectangular and disposed within the shoe against the straight wall, and the blockin the other of said shoes having one straight face and an opposite face inclined thereto similarly to the easing walls, said other block being disposed within the shoe so that the straight face is presented toward the first described block and the inclined face of said other blocks abuts against and is movable with its shoeup and down the inclined wall along the slotted track, said shoes and blocks being normally gravity spaced apart a distance to allow passage of shade actuating means therebetween, and being relatively movable to decrease the space therebetween to grip and lock the actuating means therebetween.

CHARLES D. WALKIR.

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