US2598152A - Venetian blind rail connector - Google Patents

Description

May 27, 1952 R. H. WRIGHT ETAL VENETIAN BLIND RAIL CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 18, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 27, 1952 VENETIAN BLIND RAIL CONNECTOR Richard H. Wright, Bratenahl, and Anthony Zay,

Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Guarantee Specialty Manufacturing Company, Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation Application September 18, 1950, Serial No. 185,447

9 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds, and more particularly to Venetian blinds constructed of metal or similar material, as contrasted with blinds which use wooden parts entirely. More particularly, this invention relates to certain parts which may be availed of for use in connection with metal tilt rails and bottom rails of Venetian blinds, whether used with wooden slats or othertypes of slats. In Venetian blinds which use such metal tilt rails and bottom rails as above mentioned, it is desirable to provide the same with simple means for connecting such rails to the tilting device and for supporting the tilt rail in the blind and,therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to provide means suitable for carrying out such purpose.

It is an object of this invention to provide simple connecting means for the respective ends of a metal Venetian blind tilt rail whereby the same may be supported in the Venetian blind assembly.

It is a further object of this invention to provide devices whereby the tilt rail of a Venetian blind may be supported, which devices are easily affixed to a metal tilt rail without the use of separate parts therefor.

' It is a further object of this invention to provide connecting means so formed as to be readily fastened at opposite ends of a metal tilt rail, for example, which includes provisions for attaching the same by the use of simple tools and without requiring any great skill on the part of the person using the same.

It is a further object of this invention to provide devices for the purposes described, which may be made of metal stampings or the like, which devices may be produced in great quantities, inexpensively, and which in general have the same configuration whether used at one end of the tilt rail or the other, for supporting the same in a Venetian blind assembly.

I With the above and other objects to be hereinafter/set forth in mind, in the specification we ,illustrate the preferred form of our devices in the necting device when formed for use so as to be inserted in a suitable opening in a tilting unit whereby the angular relationship of the tiltrail 1 and slats of the Venetian blind may be adjusted.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of what is known as a pin end connector, showing the rolled-up form of the device at its end, for insertion in a suitable bracket depending from the head bar of a Venetian blind.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken about on the line 55 of Figure 2, showing one form of metal tilt rail or tilt bar, with a connector of our invention in place thereon.

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be noted at the supporting connecting members, namely the tilt end connector designated I, and the pin end connector designated 2, are shown in their respective positions fixed at opposite ends of a tilt bar or rail generally designated 3. While the construction of the tilt rail or bar may be of different form from that illustrated, a preferred form of tilt rail with which the supporting connecting members of our invention are adapted for use, is more clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The tilt rail generally designated 3 is comprised of a concave body portion 4, of suitable width for the purposes of use in a Venetian blind or the like, having formed integrally therewith the hollow longitudinally extending flange portions 5 and 6. These flange portions, as will be seen upon a consideration of the Figure 5 being referred to, are provided to effect structural rigidity in the tilt rail itself, and the tilt rail is so formed as to have a longitudinally extending flattened portion ,1 (see Figure 1), between the hollow flange portions 5 and 6.

It will be clear that this'flattened portion may be of any width, as is also true of the hollow flanged portions 5 and 6, consistent with the use of the tilt bar or rail. This tilt bar or rail construction illustrated is supplied to a manufacturer or the like in various lengths and, of course, may be cut oil to the proper length for-use in a Venetian blind.

In order to support the tilt rail or bar 3 in a Venetian blind, the said tilt bar being used to in turn support ladder tapes or the like for the slats of the Venetian blind, the supporting connectors of our invention are particularly suitable. As will be seen upon a consideration of Figures 3 and 4, the connector I is formed so as to include a main flat body portion 8, relatively long and narrow, including an ofiset section I integral with the said body portion 8, the said ofiset section 9 in turn being integrally connected to a tilt member or unit engaging portion Hi.

The portion H) is formed so as to have its surface lie in the same plane as the surface of the body portion 8', the offset section 9 being in a different plane but parallel thereto. The body portion 8 is formed at one end with an ofistanding lug H, integral therewith, the same being formed out of the material'which comprises the said body portion 8. This offset lug H includes a stop section (2, the surface of the said stop section l2 lying in the same plane as the surface of the offset section 9 previously referred to, as will be more particularly disclosed in conjunction with a description of the devices shown in place as in Figure 2. The body portion 8, as seen in Figure 3, further includes an ear l3, pierced from the said body portion 8, and initially formed therewith so as to stand in perpendicular relation thereto. It will be clear from the previous description that the supporting connector just described includes the portion lil adapted to be en a edwith a co-mating member, usually provided in Venetian blind tilting devices or units. In order to support the tilt rail 3 at the end opposite the tilt device or unit, the Venetian blindjis usually provided with a bracket, fixed to the'headbar, and depending therefrom, the said bracket having a; suitable opening therein adapted toreceive what is known as a pin endconnector. As will be seen upon a consideration of Figure 4, we proyide sucha connector formed substantially as is the connector of Figure 3, for the tilt or tilting device unit endof the tiltrail, the said pin end; connector designated 2 including a body portion l4 corresponding to the body portionfl previously. referredto, an offset section [5; anda bracket engaging portion it. It will be noted-Zthatin thisparticular form of connector the portionjlfi. is rolled'up, and formed so as to proyide a substantially round bearing surface adaptedgto be interengagedwith the bracket provide-din the Venetian blindgas above referred to.

'I'fiisportion .isthe only partlof the device being described which difiersfrom the tilt or tilting unitfconnector' previously described in relation tojigure 3', the. offset lug-ll being denoted IT in thislform and having a stop section 13 there- An;earl9', correspondingto the ear [3 previously mentioned; is likewise provided in this formofthe connector'member. It is believed clear that the supporting connector members disclosed inFigures 3 and 4, are most suitably jformed from metal stampings or the like, so as to provide the respectivemembers and portions referred to in their various relationship. It

should be noted that by reason of the provision of the offstanding lugs H and ll of the respective connector members, a space is provided between the-stop sections l2 and I8 respectively, and the body portions 8 and Hi thereof, whereby the'said stop sections may be engaged with the lower surface of a metal portion or the like in conjunction with the lower surfaces of the metal remaining, adjacent the sides of the said lugs for purposes to'be more fully hereinafter set forth.

It should alsobeclear that the offset section '9 is offset sufificiently, so as to accommodate a metal section upon the upper surface thereof, whereby the connector as a Whole when in place, will remain in a substantially level position with respect to the body portion sand the portion ill thereof. This is also true of the connector member illustrated in-Figure e, the only difference residing inthe form of the rolled-up end It thereon. Referring now'-to Figure 2, the devices or connectors of our invention are shown positioned in the tilt rail 3. It will be noted upon a consideration of this figure and also of Figure 1, that these devices are adapted to be emplaced upon the tilt rail by means of the provision of the removal of a rectangular section from the flat portion l, as indicated at 20. It will, of course, be clear that this rectangular opening is spaced from the end of the tilt rail 3, a suificient distance to accommodate the device or connector, so that the same will remain in a substantially parallel position with regard to the flattened portion 1 of the'tilt rail. The rectangular opening 20 is of such a size as to further accommodate and receive therein the body portion 8 or I l, as the case may be, and the lug I l in conjunction with the metal portion adjacent thereto, of therbody B, is adapted to interengage with the end 2! of the flattened section 1. When the device or connector shown in Figure 3 is emplaced in the tilt rail as shown in Figure 2, it will be noted that the ear i3 is initially in upstanding position so as to permit the connector I to be placed in the rectangular opening 20, as illustrated in dotted lines in the said figure, and by reason of subsequent'bending of the ear l3 into the'full line position of the said Figure 2, the said connecting device will be firmly afiixed to the end of the tilt rail or bar- 3 by reason of the engagement of the ear in its flattened condition with the portion 22 of the tilt rail, which lies between the portion Ill and the body portion 8.

It will be clear that the 'pinend connector 2 may be emplaced upon the opposite end of'the tilt rail 3, by provisions similar to those referred to in reference to the connector 9, the lug i1 and ear I!) engaging similar portions of the said tilt rail, as is true of the connector i at the opposite end of the tilt rail.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be seen we have described the supporting connector members of 'our invention, the same beingof substantially similar form, however, provided with the necessary shapes at their tilt and pinend bracket engaging portions was to support the tilt rail in the Venetian blind. It is to be understood that the particular form of tiltrail is not intended tube a limiting factor in our invention, since it is apparentthat the connectors disclosed and described'may be used with various kinds of tilt rails, and are particularly suited to tilt rails constructed of metal or the like. It'is also to be understood that these connectors may be availed of in conjunction with a bottom rail of'a- Venetian blind, particularly thelform disclosed in Figure 4 and denoted as being the pin end connector, when used with what is known aslhold down brackets, to maintain the Venetian blind as a whole in a position in a window or thelike.

It is further noted that the connector of Figure 4' may likewise be availed'of'andtused at both ends of the bottom rail, when the blind is emplaced in a window, and suitable guide meansare provided, adapted to receive therein the rolled-up portion. iii of the connector Zfor maintaining the blind in its vertical relationship during raising and lowering operation of theslats thereof.

In the Venetian blind with .which the devices of the invention aroused, the tilting dGViCBjCBI-J ried by one end of thexhead rail for; cooperation with the section H3 or" member 3, and the bracket carried by .the otherend of the head rail for 00-- operation-with the section. iii of, memberz2,.rconistitute supports for the tilt rail for detachable association of the tilt rail with the blind. The sections I0 and I6 of members 3 and 2 thus constitute support engaging sections of these members.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A Venetian blind rail of the class described, comprising a body portion, an opening in said body portion and a connector member seated in said opening, extensions at one end of said connector member, said member including lug means having a portion spaced from said extensions, said extensions and lug means engaging the body portion at one end of the opening, and an ear adapted to engage said body portion at the other end of said opening, and a bracket engaging portion formed with said member.

2. A Venetian blind rail of the class described, comprising a flattened section, rectangular openings at opposite ends of said section, a tilt end connector having a body portion seated in one of said openings, a pin end connector having a body portion seated in another of said openings, each of said connectors including 2, lug having a portion spaced from extensions at one end of the body portion of each said connector engaging the flattened section at one end of each said opening, and an ear member at the other end of each said body portion adapted to engage the other end of each said opening, said tilt end connector being provided with a flattened portion adapted to engage a tilting device, and said pin end connector being provided with a rolled portion for engagement with a pin end bracket.

3. A rail as claimed in claim- 2, wherein the ear members of each of said connectors are so constructed and arranged whereby the same may be bent into engagement with the flattened section.

4. An article of manufacture comprising a Venetian blind rail connector including a body portion, an oifset lug at one end of said portion, said body portion having an extension at each side of said lug and spaced from a portion thereof, an

ofiset section integral with the other end of said body portion, an upstanding ear formed with said portion at the end opposite said lug and extensions, and a support engaging portion integral with said offset section.

5. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the support engaging portion is rolled so as to form a substantially tubular bearing portion.

6. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper surfaces of the offset lug and offset portion lie in substantially the same plane.

7. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein the upper surfaces of the offset lug and ofiset portion lie in substantially the same plane and the upper surfaces of the body portion and support engaging portion lie in substantially the same plane, said first named plane being different from that last named.

8. An article of manufacture comprising a Venetian blind rail connector formed by metal stamping, including a body portion, a downwardly offset lug formed at one end thereof, said body portion having extensions spaced from said lug at said one end, an upstanding ear pierced from said body adjacent the other end thereof, a fiat offset section formed integrally and below said body portion and a flat portion integral with said offset portion, said fiat portion having its upper surface in the same plane as the upper sur face of the body portion aforesaid.

9. An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fiat portion is rolled up at its side edges so as to constitute a bearing member.

RICHARD WRIGHT ANTHONY ZAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,110,710 Lorentzen Mar. 8, 1938 2,225,062 Lorentzen Dec. 17, 1940 2,497,523 Warkentin Feb. 14, 1950

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