US2605825A - Window blind - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 5, 1952 T. ARMSTRONG WINDOW BLIND 4 Sheets-Sheef. 1

Original Filed June 24, 1950 I INVENTOiQ TIMMa s' AImSZMIIg ATTQ R N EY Aug. 5, 1952 'r. ARMSTRONG 2,605,825

' WINDOW BLIND Original Filed June 24, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EY Aug. 5 1952 T. ARMSTRONG WINDOW BLIND 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 24, 1950 INVENTOR Thomas Armstrong ATTORNEY T. ARMSTRONG Aug. 5, 1952 WINDOW BLIND 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 24, 1950 INVENTOR ATTORNEY m m A 5 m H Tv Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE WINDOW BLIND Thomas Armstrong, Oakville, Ontario, Canada,

assignor, to Ruth Armstrong Application June 24, 1950, Serial No. 170,064

. 13 Claims.

. 1 This invention relates to light controlling screens of the window blind type, particularly to such screens havingvertically arrangedlouvers or shutters, and is a continuation-in-part of my oopending application Serial No. 159,696, filed May 3, 1950,-to which' reference is herein made for many common novelfeatures.

An object of the invention is the provision of a novel, eificient and highly attractive screen construction of the foregoing type which may be conveniently disposed to variably intercept a window opening.

A further object is the provision of an improved window blind whose individual louvers are made up of lengths of fabric so suspended in guideways that they'can be made to swing more or less freely for movement across the window opening, to thereby collapse the blind, or held taut to control the light and air without removing them from their position intercepting the window opening.

Briefly, the window blind of the invention comprisesa series of vertically arranged louvers sup-' ported between upper and, lower horizontally is provided with an actuator gear.

tilting or pivotal rotational movement of the louvers on their vertical axes. Each louver has individual thereto a cup-like container enclosing a slotted or channeled pivotable cap. Associated with each louver there is also provided an actuator or tilter element. The actuator or tilter element is provided at the lower end with a turn key which is adapted to rest in the slot of the pivotable cap, but in slidable relation thereto. The upper end of the actuator or tilter element The actuator gear is responsive to movement of a common actuator rack (common to all actuator gears) for pivotally moving the actuator or tilter element. In order to link the upper end of the louver to the actuator or tilter element, there is provided a grip spindle having fixedly attached to the lower end a tab for coupling to the louver and at the upper end a roller bearing construction mounted within the cup but integral with the pivotable cap. At one end of the upper guideway assembly, there are provided three interlinking gears one of I which is directly controlled by a lever located positioned channeled guideway assemblies. Each louver may consist of a length of cloth attached the'cloth. The louvers are pivotable by individual "gears mounted at the upper end. These gears are simultaneously controlled by a horizontally movable rack mounted in the upper guideway assembly and engaging all the'aforesaid gears. Each louver is rotatably'mounted in the lower guideway assembly bymeans of a bearing construction. An adjustable lift rack in association with the lower guideway assembly in one position enables the louvers to be maintained taut, thereby permitting simultaneous tilting or pivotal movement of the louvers on their respective vertical axes, while in another positionthe lift rack enables the louvers to be suspended more or less freely, thereby permitting collapse of the blind, at the option'of the operator. A bead chain passing through guide .tubesfand' looped over pulleys, wheels or rollers positioned at both ends ofthe upper guideway assembly and fas tened to the two centrally positioned louvers con-j trols the collapse of the blind to both sides'of the window; Half the number of louvers on one side of blind arelink. together at one end through collapsing links, while-the otherhalf of-the' louvers. on the other side of the blind'are also linked together through collapsinglinks.

Aj featureof the invention 'is theupper guideway. assembly. constructionjwhich controls the near the lower guideway assembly through the intermediary of a vertically positioned rod. The teeth of the common actuator rack engage one of these-inte'rlinking gears, as a result of which the common actuator rack moves longitudinally of the window blind in response to movement of this lever.

Another feature of the invention is the lower channeled guideway assembly which has a zigzag shaped centering or locating channel therein for properly centering the louvers when it is desired to simultaneously tilt the same on 'their respective vertical axes. This lower guideway assembly is movable in a vertical direction by alift rack. A downward movement of the lower guideway assembly will center the louvers and main:

tain them taut, thereby permitting tiltingof the louvers, provided the blind is not collapsed, while an upward movement of the lower guideway assembly will release the louvers from the taut condition and enable theblind to be collapsed.

, A-more detailed description of the invention 'i'ollows, in conjunction with a drawing, wherein:

Fi l is an elevation view of, the window blind of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an elevation view of the window blind with. the upper ,and lower face moldings, removed; This figure is also taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '3 is an end view of the right hand end of the blind shown in Fig. 2, with the outer portion of the channel removed; I

Fig. l is a view in section of the bottom portion of Fig. 3 taken along line 44;

Fig. 5 is a view of the upper guideway assembly looking down and taken along line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a View of the upper guideway assembly looking up and taken along line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the lower guideway assembly looking down and taken along line 7-2, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a View taken in section along the line 8-8 of Figs. 2 and 9 Fig. 9 is a section oi" Fig. 8 taken along line 99;

Fig. 10 is a section view taken along line ill-! 3 9f Fig. 2; and

Fig. 11 is a view looking down on two centrally located pivot cups in the upper guideway as sembly, and shows the manner of connection of the bead chain thereto.

Throughout the figures of the drawing, the same parts are represented by the same numerals.

Referring to'the drawings in more detail, the window blind of the invention comprises upper and lower horizontally positioned channeled guideway assemblies A and B respectively; concealed by face mouldings II and I2, for supportingand moving a series of vertically positioned louvers or shutters it.

The louvers, in the closed position of the blind, abut each other at their adjacent edges as shown in Figs l and 2. Each louver comprises a length of clotliand extends between a longitudinally shiftable cup-like carrier element 16 in the upper assembly and a pivotal grip spindle arrangewant 52 in the lower assembly. Thecloth louvers H) are each provided at opposite ends with hems 48 through which are inserted folded-over metallic inserts d3. 7 Note Fig. 9. These inserts 43 slide into the hems from the open ends thereof, and have holes 44 registering with correspondingly positioned holes in the heme. The upper end of the louver is supported from the shiftable cup-like carrier 16 by means of a tab 20 fastened to the pivotable grip spindle or shaft l8. The tab 20 projects into the hem and insert as shown in Figs. 2 and 9. The lower end of the associated means for enabling movement of the The shiftablecup-like carrierelements [6 are shown'in detail in Figs.'2, 8 and 9, and each comprises a' sliclable cup housing 15 mounted in the upper slottedchanneled g'uideway Hi. The housing E5 of the cup-like carrier [6 contains therein a pivotabl cap I! which is supported by bearing'22. j Integral with the pivotal cap I? is the grip spindle'l8 which terminates. in the tab or eye 29 for supporting a louver In. The bearing 22 is of a type well known in the art and includes'the usual pivot cap, pivot roller bearing balls and ball locator plates. 'Each pivotal'cap has integral therewith a channel or slot [9 in which the turn key 2| of the actuator or tilter elementis adapted to rest; When the blind. is being collapsed, longitudinal movement of the 4 carrier 16 causes the cap to travel off the turn key 2|. The carrier I6 is provided with a pair of hooks 25 at the bottom thereof to which are fastened collapsible or flexible links 26 for coupling to the adjacent carriers. In this way the carriers (and also the louvers) are successively linked one to another. The two centrally located carriers, however; are each provided with a collapsible link 26 on one side and a fixed link on the other side. The fixed links 65 couple the central two carriers to shiftable anchoring or locator blocks 32. Note Fig. 2. It will thus be seen that longitudinal movement of any one louver l0, such as the central louver, caused by movement of an anchoring element 32, will cause movement in the corresponding direction of the other louvers I0, provided of course, the cuplike carriers are properly positioned to enable them to travel off the turn keys 2 I and the lower ends of the louvers are free to move in the lower guideway assembly.

For transmitting longitudinal movement to the louvers [0, there is provided the beadior ball chain 24 which loops over the pulley wheels or rollers 28 and 30 at opposite ends of the slotted channel guideway l4 and also loops over the ball chain sprocket 21 at the right hand end of the window blind. Note Figs. 2 and 3. The bead chain at the right hand end of the window blind extends in a vertical direction and is normally concealed by a channel 29. The sprocket 21 is .driven by an operating crank or knurled knob,

of the bead chain is fastened to one shiftable anchoring or locating block 32, while the other l end of the bead chain is fastened to the other 1 shiftable anchoring or locating. block 32. The...

'manner of fastening the bead chains to the shift--.

able anchoring or locating blocks. is shown in; Fig. 11.

The turn key 2| which rests in the slot 1% of. eachpivot cap forms an integral part of an actuator or tilter element for pivotally moving a louver H). The actuator or tilter element (there is one for each louver) comprisesa shaft 33 one end of which is secured ,to anactuator gear 34 and the other end of which is integral with the turnkey 2!. 'The actuator gears 34 of all actuator or tilter elements engage a common actuator rack 35; in turn,.movable longitudinally in response. to movement of the gears 31, 38 and 39 positioned at. the right hand end of the window blind-.

Gears-31, 38 and 39 areof progressively in-- creasing diameter. 35 meshes solely with gear 31. Note Fig. 3. Gear- 39 is controlled by a shaft or rod 41 which, in turn, ,is controlled. by a tilter'lever 80. Thus movement of lever will simultaneously control movement of fall actuator or tilter elements; through the intermediary of. gears .39, .38, 31, common actuating rack 35 and the individual actuator gears- 34. Theactuator gears 34 con trolthe' tilting ior pivotal rotational movement of thel'ouvers won their vertical axes.

The 'lower'l guideway assembly 131 includes ahorizontally positioned guideway :50' having .19.. longitudinally"extending 'zig zag'shaped slctway- 6 l .Slotwayji;I of thelow'r. 'channeled gnideway 50 facesupwardl "Thebase'of the lower guide-l The common actuator rack:

. of the lower channeled guideway 50.

wayiio is solid, as at 5|. Note Figs. 2, 7, and lO. Thezig-zag shaped slotway 6| forms a centering or locating channel for the pivotal-grip spindle arrangement 52. There are as many grip spindles 52 as there are louvers l0, and each such grip spindle 52comprises a conical housing 53 through which passes a spindle IS. The spindle 18 terminates at one end in a tab 20 and at its other end in a bearing 22'. Tab 20 is angularly positioned relative to spindle l8, as shown, to obtain a wide range of tilting or pivotal movement'of the louver. A similar tab construction is preferably used for the tabs 20 in the .upper guideway assembly. The conical shape of'housing 53 enables the grip spindle 52 to slide along the tapering sides of the slideway for exact cen-, tering as shown in Figs. .Zand 7, whenever the blind is in the uncollapsed condition and it is desired to maintain the louvers taut fortilting thereof. In this taut condition, any desired tilting or pivotal movement (over a range of 180) can be fulfilled.

The louvers are enabled to collapse andmove to both sides of the window blind (in response to movement of the knurled knob 3|) only when the turn keys 2| of the actuator or tilter elements are parallel to the sides of the channels or slots l9 ofthe pivot cap ll. In this condition, the slots IQ of the different caps I! are aligned in a straight line. To achieve this condition of-collapsing the blind, the louvers l and also the lower grip spindle arrangements 52 must be free to move longitudinally in the slotway 6|. To enable the louvers to be held taut or freelymovable for collapsing, there is provided a lift pinion 12 under control of a torsion shaft M, in turn, controlled by movement of a lever 18. The two directions of rotational movement of the torsion shaft 14 are shown by the curved bidirectional arrow in Fig. 2. The liit pinion or gear 12 is mounted in a suitable housing 76 and engages 9, lift rack 13, in turn, secured to the bottom Note Figs. 2 and 10. Hence, any movement of lever l8will move the entire lower channeled guideway 50 together with its grip spindles 52 in a vertical direction, up or down as the case may be, at the option of the operator. 7

An-inspection of the right hand view of the window blind, Fig. 3, and the sectional view of Fig. 4, will reveal the presence of an adjusting bracket 83 having a plurality of teeth 84 for enabling the bead chain 24 to have the proper degree of tightness. A removable plug 85 which -fits into any desired tooth of the adjusting bracket 83 serves to hold the shaft 5| of, the ball chain sprocket 21 in the'desired position on the adjusting bracket. 'The window blind can be aifixed to a window frame at the top and bottom guideway assemblies bysuitable head end brackets such as shown in way assembly and on the various louvers It). The louvers will be held taut, and movement of the common actuator rack 35 via the lever 80 will provide any desired degree of tilt or pivotal movementfor all of the louvers, simultaneously, In

order to collapse the window blind, the lever 18 6, is turned in a counter-clockwise direction, thereby causing the lift gear 12 to raise the lower guideway assembly and relieve all pressure on the grip spindles 52 and hence on the louvers. The pivot caps ofthe different carriers l6 may then slide off the turn keys 2| of the actuator or tilter elements of'the. upper guideway assembly provided the slots l9 are aligned in the same straight line. .Movement of the knurled knob 3| will impart. motion to the bead chain 24. The two central louvers, because of their coupling to the anchoring or locator blocks 32, will move in opposite directions and carry with them the other louvers. As previously mentioned, the locator blocks are connected to. the louver carriers |6 through the collapsible links 26. Movement of the knob 3| in one direction will collapse or open the blind, whilemovement of the knob 3| in, an opposite direction will close the blind.

Among the many advantages of the invention are: The louvers areeach individually and easily attached to the supporting and actuating mecha: nism by a simple movement, without interfering with the other louvers, thereby permitting individual exchange or. replacement thereof; the vertical pos tion of the louvers collects less dust then horizontally positioned louvers, and facilitates thorough cleansing when required; the use of actuators in the upper guideway assemblycontrolled by a lever near the lower guideway assem bly provides an improved construction; the angular position of the tab of the grip device enables a positive control of the louvers and a wide range of tilting or pivotal movement of thelouvers; and the window blind provides an extremely attractive appearance. Both sides of the, louvers can be differently colored, thereby providing a choice of colors on opposite sides of the blind.

What is claimed is:

1. A window blind comprising upper and lower horizontally positioned channeled guideways adapted to be mounted across a building opening to be served by the blind, said blind having verti cally arranged louvers positioned between said guideways and turnable about their verticalaxes, means in said upper channeled guideway for pivotally moving said louvers, saidineans including an actuating gear for each louver, a common longitudinally movablerack engaging the actuating gears of said louvers, and a pivotal cap between each actuating gear and its associated louver, each said cap having a horizontally positioned slot therein, each said gear having secured to its shaft a turn key adapted to rest in the slot of its associated pivotal cap, whereby alignment of said slots in saidpivotal caps enables movement over said turn keys and collapse of said blind.

2. A window blind comprising upper and lower horizontally pos tioned channeled guideways adapted to be mounted across a building opening to be served by the blind, said blind having vertically arranged louvers positioned between said guideways and turnable about their vertical axes,

means in said upper channeled guideway for pivotally moving said louvers, said means including a horizontally positioned actuating gear for each louver, a horizontally extending rack engaging all of said actuating gears, an actuator element individual to each louver and controlled by the associated actuating gear thereof, and a pivoting device linking the upper end of each louver with its associated actuator element, collapsible links between adjacent louvers, and an endless chain horizontally positioned within said upper guideway and secured to certain ones of said louvers 7 forcollapsin said vertical louvers in a horizontal direction across the width of said blind.'

3. A window blind comprising upper and lower horizontally positioned channeled guideways adapted to be mounted across a building opening to be served by the blind, said blind having ,vertically arranged louvers positioned between and turnable about their vertical axes, means in said upper channeled guideway for pivotally moving said louvers, said means including a horizontally positioned actuat ng gear for each louver, a horizontally extending rackengaging allof said actuating gears, an actuator element individual to each louver and controlled by the associated actuating gear thereof, a pivoting device linking the upper end of each louver with its associated actuator element,"said lower channeled guideway having a longitudinal slot therein along the length thereof across the width of said blind, a pivoting device individual to the lower end of each louver and passing through said slot, collapsible links between adjacent louvers, and movable means secured to said louvers for imparting horizontal motion to said louvers in the direction of the width of said blind, to thereby cause said louvers to travel along said longitudinal slot for collapsing or closing said blind.

'4. A window blind in accordance with claim 3, characterized in this, that said slot is zig-zag in shape, and the pivoting devices for the lower ends of said louvers have'conical housings, whereby said housings can rest in the'spaced wide portions of said slot.

5. A window blind as defined in claim 3, wherein said slot has converging and diverging sides, the pivoting device's'fo'r the lower ends of said louvers have conical housings, and a liitele'ment for raising or lowering said lower channeled guideway without raising or lowering said upper guideway, to thereby variably control the tension on said louvers as a single unit. a

6. A window blind comprising upper and lower horizontally positioned channeled guideways adapted to be mounted across a building opening to be served by the blind, said blind having vertically arranged louvers positioned between said guideways and turnable about their vertical axes, means in said upper channeled guideway for pivotally moving said louvers, said means including an actuating gear for each louver and and a common rack enaging the actuating gears of said louvers, and a lift gear engaging said lower channeled guideway for raising and lowering the same without raising or lowering the upper guideway, to thereby variably control the tension on said louvers as a single unit.

'7. A window blind comprising upper and lower horizontally positioned channeled guideways adapted to be mounted across a building opening to be served by the blind, said blind having vertically arranged louvers turnable about their vertical axes, means in said upper channeled guideway for pivotally moving said louvers, said means including an actuating'gear' for the upper end of each louver and a control element engaging all of said actuatinggears, a horizontally slidable carrier element between the upper end of each louverand its associated actuating gear, and means for pivotally mounting the other ends of said louvers in said lower channeled guideway,

collapsible links between adjacent louvers, and an endless chain secured to'certain ones of said louvers for collapsing said louvers across the Width of said blind.

8. A window blind comprising upper and lower horizontally positioned channeled guideways adapted to be mounted across a building opening to be served by the blind, said blind having vertically arranged louvers positioned between said guideways and turnable about their vertical axes,- means' in said upper channeled guideway for pivotally moving said louvers, said means including an actuating gear for the upper end of each louver anda control element engaging all of said actuating gears, and means for pivotally mounting the lower ends of said louvers in said lower channeled guideway, said last means including a thrust bearing for each'louver mounted in said lower channeled guideway, means 'for variably applying tension to all of said louvers as a single unit, and means linked to said louvers and efiective when said tension is released for collapsing said louvers across the width of said blind.

9. A window blind comprising upper, and lower horizontally positioned, channeled guideways adapted to be mounted across a building Opening to be served by the blind, said blind having vertically arranged louvers'positioned between said guideways and turnable about their vertical axes; means in said upper channeled guideway for pivotally moving said louvers, said. means including an actuating gear for the upper end of each louver and a control element engaging all or" said actuating gears, and a series of gears at one side of said upper channeled guideway for controlling the longitudinal movement of said control element, and means for pivotally mounting the lower ends of said louvers in said lower channeled guideway, said last means including a thrust bearing for each louver mounted in said lower channeled guideway, and a lift gear engaging solely the lower guideway for raising and lowering thesame without moving the upper guideway, thereby to variably control the tension on said louvers as a unit.

10. In a window blind having vertically arranged louvers which are pivotal about their vertical axes, means for pivoting said louvers, said means comprising an actuator element coupled to one end of eachr'louver through a linking device, said actuator element having a gear, a shaft therefor and a turn key at one end thereof, said linking device. being pivotal and having a channel for accommodating said turn key, said linking device being provided at itsrlower part with means for supportinga louver.

' either taut or'limp at the option of the operator,

said-means including. a channeled guideway having a zig-zag shaped slot extending longitudinally over the length of said guideway, individual pivoting devices having conical housings resting in said slot and linking. one end of said louvers to said guideway through said slot, said conical housings being larger than the transverse dimension of said slot, and means for raising or lowering said channeled guideway together with said conical housings whereby any desired degree of tension can be simultaneously applied to all of said louversp. V i v 12. In a window blind having, vertically'arranged louvers which are pivotal about; their vertical-axes, means for maintaining, said louvers either taut or limp at. the option of the operator, said means including a. channeled guideway having a longitudinally extending slot with regularly recurringi'diverging and converging sides,

'9 individual pivotal grip elements linking one end of said louvers to said guideway through said slot and resting therein, said grip elements each having a conical housing within and larger than the transverse dimension of said slot, and a lift' gear secured to said channeled guideway for raising and lowering the same together with said conical housings, whereby a desired degree of tension can be simultaneously applied to all of said 'louvers.

13. A window blind as defined in claim 9, including a torsion shaft on the same side of said blind as said series of gears for turning one of said gears.

THOMAS ARMSTRONG.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,030,234 Villalobos Feb. 11, 1930 2,158,454 Zubiria May 16, 1939 2,370,794 Houmere Mar. 6, 1945 2,386,695 Lister-Torsen Oct. 9, 1945 2,524,372 Bopp et a1. Oct. 3, 1950

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