US2623581A - Venetian blind bar organization - Google Patents

Description

30, 1952 H. NELSON 2,623,531

' VENETIAN BLIND 1m ORGANIZATION Filed Aug. 30, 1948 2 S!-lEETS--Sl-1EET 1 INVENTOR mwey NflSO/V 30, 1952 NELSON 2,623,581

VENETIAN BLIND BAR ORGANIZATION Filed Aug. '30, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 FIGJT I INVENTOR HARRY lVfZSO/V H [S ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITEb STATES PATENT OFFICE Lorentzen Hardware Mfg., Corp, New York,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 30, 1948, Serial No. 46,737

Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds. The invention includes a new and improved form of bar for such blinds, as Well as a bar organization and parts therefor. The bar, with little or no change, is usable as a bottom bar, head bar or tilt bar.

Venetian blinds are customarily provided with a bottom bar extending for the width of the blind and to which the lower ends of the ladder tapes, and usually the lift cords, are attached. This bar is usually thicker and heavier than the intermediate blind slats, and in the past has, in most instances, been made of wood even though the intermediate slats have often been made of metal.

In the form shown of the presentinvention, the bottom bar of the blind is formed of an assembly of rolled and stamped sheet metal parts consisting principally of a channel-shaped body and a resilient transversely-arched sheet metal cover for the open side of the body. Preferably, the intermediate slats of the blind are made of metal and the lowermost slat constitutes the cover for the bottom bar. The assembly is also useful as a metal tilt bar or head bar. This invention is in some respects an improvement over that shown in my copending application Serial No. 780,653, filed October 18,1947.

Various fittings, such as fittings for closing the ends of the channel-shaped body and anchors for securing the ends of the ladder tapes and lift cords of the blind to the bottom bar, complete the bottom bar assembly. The component parts of the bar are held in assembled relation by the interfitting of the parts, separate fastening devices or welding of the parts of the assembly being unnecessary.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved rigid, durable, easily-assembled bottom bar for a Venetian blind.

Another object is to provide a Venetian blind bar that may be fabricated economically of rolled and stamped sheet metal parts.

A further object is to provide an improved channel-shaped body suitable for use in a Venetian blind bottom bar, head bar or tilt bar.

A further object is to provide improved end fittings and ladder tape fittings for Venetian blind bars.

A still further object is to generally improve Venetian blind bars.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies of construction and assembly will more definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the apvention.

pended claims. Where parts are, for clarity and convenience, referred to on the basis of their oriented position shown in the accompanying drawing, no limitation as to positioning of the structure is to be implied, since it will be understood that the structure may be inverted. Also in both the description and the claims, parts at times may be identified by specific names for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of a Venetian blind embodying the present invention, the adjacent portion of the window casing also being shown.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom bar assembly of a first form oi the invention, an end fitting being shown in exploded relation, portions of the bottom bar being cut away and portions of the ladder tape and lift cord being indicated diagrammatically.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a lift cord and ladder tape anchor for the assembly shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the anchor shown in Fig. 3 with lift cord and ladder tape attached, this organization being shown in inverted position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the bottom bar assembly taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 the lift cord and ladder tape being indicated in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a pulley fitting for incorporation in a second form of the in vention for use in four-lift cord blinds.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 3, of a ladder tape anchor for use in a third form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 5 of the bottom bar according to the second form of the in- Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative form of lift cord anchor for use in any of the forms of the invention and having specially shapedresilient fingers.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the alternative form of ladder tape anchor, taken on the line i l-45 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom bar and end fitting assembly shown in Fig. 2, certain parts being shown in exploded relation and a rubber bumper having been added to the assembly.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the structure shown in Fig. 11 with the parts in assembled re lation, taken on the line l2-I 2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the rubber bumper shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bottom bar equipped with an alternative end fitting which may be used to replace the end fitting shown in Figs. 2 and 11.

Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken on the line 15-45 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an end view of the bottom bar and end fitting shown in Figs. 14 and 15.

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective view of the end fitting shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 16.

The general organization of a Venetian blind is shown in Fig. 1. The window frame 4 is of a usual type and the Venetian blind is mounted therein, only a'lowe r corner of, the blind being shown; The blind comprises'a series of intermediate slats 5 supported in the customary manner by two 'or more ladder tapes 6 (one'shown). A bottom bar I is secured to the lower end of the ladder tapes 6, as is usual.

Referring to Fig. 2, the bottom bar organization'there shown includes a channel-shaped sheet metalbody designated as a whole by II. This body is formed of relatively rigid sheet metal and may conveniently beformed by rolling. The body II has a uniform cross section throughout its length, the cross-sectional shape being seen in Figs. 2 and 5. 'Thebottomwall I2 of the body I I is generally fiat exceptforjtwo spaced rounded corrugations I' i -I4jextending'for the length of the body, which project vertically. upward as shown; The corrugations l4'-I4 are open, being formed with spaced vertical walls; and the corrugations are located symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center li'neof the body Ii so asto' leave a central passage l5 extending for the length ofthe'body.

The sides IIi'-I6 .of'.th e body I Iextend vertically upward for" at short. distance and at their tops are'provided with: outwardly-projecting beads ll- -l'l from which edges IQ, I9 extend inwardly. The corrugations I4l4 extend upwardly slightly higher than the inturned edges |9'-I'9 of'the body.

The edges IIl' l9 of the body 5 I may be turned downwardly in addition to extending inwardly to partially'conceal the extreme terminal portions of the edges. This configuration is shown in Figs. 2 and 5. This configuration is particularly desirable if the body I I is formed of strip metal which is painted when in fiat form prior to rolling into the shape shown, since in the rolling process some of the paint may be scraped from theextreme terminal edge portions.

A cover strip 20 is provided for closing the open side of the channel-shaped body. This cover strip is formed of resilient sheet material such as metal and is preferably formed of a resilient transversely-arched intermediate slat of the blind having an opening 2| formed for the passage of each lift cord. The cover strip 20 may be and desirably is in all respects similar to the other intermediate blind slats.

The body II and cover strip 20 are so proportioned that the cover strip may be telescoped or otherwise fitted into the body, the lateral edges of the cover stripbeing received within the inside of the beads l1-'-I'| and immediately below the inturnededg'es l9l9. In order' to prevent fortuitous movement of the cover strip 20 rela= tive to the body II, the corrugations IlI I are formed suificiently high so that as the cover strip 2-3 is placed within the body, it is necessary to slightly increase the transverse arch of the cover strip, the resilience of the cover strip biasing its lateral edges into frictional engagement with the undersides of the'inturned edges of the body and also biasing its central portion into frictional engagement with the tops of the corrugations I I-I l.

The cover strip 20 may be assembled with the body II by forcibly arching the cover strip upwardly until both edges thereof may be entered into the beads I'l-I'I at some point along the length of the strip. Then, by running a suitable :tool, such as a knife, along the remainder of the strip, the strip may be sprung into engagement with the body, the cover strip 29 assuming the same position as it would if telescoped endwise into the body I I.

Each open end of the channel-shaped body II may be closed by an'end fitting 22, this fitting being somewhat similar to the end fitting, disclosed in my above-mentioned copending application Serial No. 780,653, In the, fitting shown herein, the end plate 2A of. the end fitting 22 extends outwardlyto cover the end. of the body I I at the beads I 1ll. Also, a curved top flange 25 overlies the end of the cover stripzt, the end fittings further serving to prevent fortuitousdisplacement of the cover strip.

The base portion of the end fitting 22 (Fig. 2) includes a pair of spaced flanges 23, 23 generally L-shaped in cross section and telescoped within the body II between thesides Iii-Itand the corrugations I I-I4 to' frictionally engage the body II and hold the fitting against displacement. The upperjedge of each flange 23 preferably is. provided with an outwardly-directed flange 28for engaging a' side I6 of the body II, and the inner edge of each flange 23 is preferably provided with a terminal inwardly-directed lug 33 for engaging a side of one of the corrugations I4--I4.

The end fitting 22 is adapted forreceptionof a hollow tube or pin 38,wl' en the bar is to be used as a bottom bar in conjunction with holddown bracketssuch as shownifor example) in my U. S.,Patent 2,402,769, issuedJune 25, 1946, or when the bar is. used as a tilt bar as shown (for example) in my aboverreferred-to application Serial No. 780,653.' The vertical plate portion isprovided with a centrally located round hole 54 for reception of the pin 3t.v

Beneath the hole 54, a central base flange 55 projects inwardly from the lower edgeof the end plate 24 between the flanges '23, 23. The flange 55 is turnedupwardlyat its free end to provide a vertical portion spaced from and parallel to the plate 24. Theinteg'ral gussets 56, 55 may be turned up from, the flange 55 (Fig. 2) to reinforce the flange against bending. A prong 57 is struck fromtheiIang'eBS to extend from a point near the free end of the flange towards the hole 54, the proportions ofthe prong being such that it win/enter tightly within the pin 35 so as to hold the inner end of the. pinin alignment and frictionallyengagethe pin to retain it against fortuitousdisplacement.

In conjunction with the; end fitting 22, a bumper 59 .(Figs. 1143), maybe'usedto prevent marring the window 'sillby theend of the bottom,

bar I. The bumper 59 may be molded. or .other. Wi e rmed pe bbe tri a i dies i o a' ej able material such as artificial rubber and plastic. This bumper has a plurality of thin flanges, 60-60 and BI proportioned to lie on the inside bottom wall of the body II between and on each side of the corrugations I4-I4. The bumper also has n exterior flange 62 extending parallel to and slightly spaced from flanges 50-60 and BI to extend along the bottom outer surface of the bar II fora short distance. The bumper 59 furnishes an elastic yielding end portion for the body II and, in addition, the flange 62 covers the end of the bottom I2 of the body II (the only portion of the end of body II not covered by the fitting 22); and the flanges 606II and GI form a yieldable packing between the body I I and the flanges 2323 and 55 of the end fitting to-aid in retaining it within the body.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show the ladder tape anchor 25 'used in the first form of the invention. This ladder tape anchor is preferably formed of resilient sheet metal and has two marginalbands 21-2'I, one at each end of the anchor and shaped to conform closely with the cover strip 20. Resilient fingers 29, one at each end of each of the bands 2'I--2'I serve as extensions of the bands and conform to the contour of the beads II--I'I of the body II.

The central portion 30 of the anchor 26, lying between the bands 2'|--2'I, is correspondingly curved to conform with the top surface of the bottom bar 1, including the cover strip and the inturned edges I9-I9 of the body I I. The entire central portion 30 is displaced upwardly slightly from the bands 21-21 to provide a space between the central portion of the anchor 25 and the top surface of the cover strip 20 for reception of the tape branches of ladder tape 6, as shown in Fig. 4. A series of prongs 3| projecting inwardly generally parallel to the under surface of the central portion are struck downwardly therefrom and serve to impale the ends of the ladder tape branches as shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the prongs 3I may be flattened or clinched toward the under surface of the central portion 30 after the ladder tape branches have been impaled thereon.

The central portion 30 of each ladder tape anchor 26 is provided with a centrally-located hole 32 which is preferably rectangular in outline. The hole 32 is formed to receive a lift cord of the blind, the lift cord in the first form of the invention then being knotted in a simple overhand knot as shown in Fig. 4 in order to prevent withdrawal of the lift cord from the anchor. The metal struck from the central portion 30 of the anchor 2-5 in forming the hole 32 in this form of the invention is preferably left as a downwardly-projecting tab 34, the purpose of this tab being hereinafter explained.

In the assembling of the bottom bar embodying the first form of the present invention, the body I I and cover strip 20 may first be assembled and the end fittings 22 inserted at that time or at any later time. The lower ends of the two branches of each ladder tape 6 are secured to a ladder tape anchor 25 as above described and an end of a lift cord is threaded through the hole 32 of the anchor, the lift cord having already been reeved through the rest of the blind. The lift cord 35 is then knotted as described to retain the cord within the anchor 26. It will be understood that the separate anchors 2B are used for the several ladder tapes of the blind.

The anchor 23 may thenlbe attached to the rest of the bottom bar assembly by placing the anchor on the top surface of the assembly and! pressing downwardly on the central portion of attaching the anchor 26, the knot in the end of the lift cord 35 is first pressed through theopening 2| in the cover strip 2|] and then, as-

the anchor is pressed into position, the tab 34 of the anchor is engaged within the opening 2I of the cover strip as indicated in Figs. 2 and 5. The opening 2I serves the dual purpose of initial- 1y locating the anchor 26 in proper position and thereafter preventing fortuitous displacementof the anchor 26 along the bottom bar.

The ladder tape anchor 35 of the second form. of my invention is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. This anchor is the same as the anchor 26 previously described except that in forming the hole 31 for the lift cord the metal is entirely removed rather than being struck down to form a downwardly-projecting tab such as tab 34 of the anchor 25.

For the second form of the invention, which is employed for four-lift cord blinds, the cord is reeved in the usual way for such blinds, passing downwardly through the slats of the blind adjacent to one of the ladder tapes, along the bottom bar of the blind and upwardly through the slats of the blind adjacent another ladder tape. Such a construction requires a pulley or other friction-reducing cord guide on the bottom bar adjacent to each ladder tape.

In the form of the invention shown, a cord guide assembly 39 is provided which is best shown in Figs. 6 and 8. This cord guide assembly consists of a U-shaped metal body 40 adapted to fit within the central passage I5 of the body I I of the bottom bar. A roller or sheave 4| is pivotally mounted within the body 40 by a rivet 42 passing through the body, the roller reducing the friction upon operation of the lift cord. The base of the U-shaped formation comprising the body 40 may be cut away beneath the roller 4| to provide additional clearance for the lift cord.

The body 40 of the cord guide assembly 33 is provided with a pair of upwardly-projecting diverging ears 44 which serves as bearing surfaces to prevent fraying of the lift cord. As shown in the assembly of Fig. 8, these cars also project upwardly through the opening 2| of the cover strip 20 and the hole 31 of the ladder tape anchor 35, thereby serving to prevent movement of both the pulley assembly 39 and the ladder tape anchor 35 longitudinally of the bottom bar. The end of the body 40 adjacent to the roller 4| is also provided with slightly diverging flanges 45 to prevent fraying of the lift cord.

In the assembly of this second form of the invention, the lift cord is preferably reeved through the blind, including the cover strip 20, the cord guide assembly 39. and the ladder tape anchor 33, before the body II is engaged with the cover strip. After the lift cord has been so reeved, the body I I may be engaged with the cover strip 28, the cord guide assemblies 39 being inserted within the-passage I5 in thebody at this time. After assembly of these parts, the ladder tape anchors 36, to which the ladder tape branches have been already attached, may be clipped on to the bottom bar as described above, one anchor being used for each ladder tape. The

end fittings 22 may of course, be insertedinthe ends'of the body H at any time after the body and cover strip are assembled.

The ladder tape anchors 26 and 36 may each be provided with resilient fingers of the form shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The anchor 46 shown in part in these figures is similar to the anchors above described except that the resilient fingers 47 pro- ,ject vertically downward at their midportion 49 so as to provide an opening 59 between the finger and the outer surface of the body I I after assembly. This opening facilitates the insertion of the blade of a screw driver or any other hand tool for prying the ladder tape anchor from the body II, for disassembling "the bottom bar for any reason. It is contemplated that the resilient fingers 61' might be provided on one side only of the ladder tape anchor to aid in disengaging that side, the other side being provided with resilient fingers 29.

A second form of end fitting 64. is shown in Figs. 14 to 17 which may be utilized in any of the above-described assemblies to replace the end fitting 22. The end fitting 64 comprises a drawn sheet metal stamping having a generally flat end wall 65 the outline of which conforms generally with the cross section of the bottom bar 1. Feripheral flanges 6666 and 61-67, which may be unitary and extend continuously about the end wall 65, overlie the sides of the bottom bar 1 to retain the fitting 64 in telescoped position over an end of the bottom bar. The flanges 66-456 and 6l-61 may be given the outline shown for appearance and ease of manufacture.

The end fitting 64 may be positively retained on the bottom bar I by a snap-in button 69 of conventional design. The button 69 is retained within aligned holes 76 and 77 in the bottom flange 67 of the end fitting and the bottom wall of the body H by diverging resilient legs 79-49. The head H of the button may be covered with a rubber pad 72 to serve as a bumper and prevent marring of the window sill by the bottom bar 7.

The end fitting 64 may be adapted for use with a hold-down bracket of the type in which the bracket has a horizontally-projecting pin that engages the bottom bar. To this end, the wall 65 is provided with an outwardly-pressed central portion 73 of generally conical form provided with a round central hole 14 and. slot ifiopening upwardly from the hole through the portion '13 to permit introduction of the in of the holddown bracket.

If desired, the end fitting 64 may be'molded to shape and formed of rubber or preferably soft rubberlike plastic, in which case the button 69 may be eliminated.

This second form of end fitting completely covers the ends of the body and cover slat of the bottom bar 1, thus concealing any rough or unpainted ends resulting from the cutting to proper length of the bottom bar body stock and slat stock.

I claim:

1. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bar suitable for a bottom bar or tilt bar, said bar comprising a generally rectangular hollow sheet metal body having an outwardly-projecting longitudinal bead formed on each lateral side adjacent the top face of the bar, and anchors for attaching ladder tape ends to the bar, each of said anchors comprising a resilient sheet metal stamping adapted to overlie the top face of the bar and having resilient fingers shaped to extend about the longitudinal beads to retain the anchor in position, said anchors having means to engage the ends of the ladder tape branches.

'2. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bar suitable for a bottom bar or tilt bar, said bar comprising a generally rectangular hollow sheet metal body having an outwardly-projecting longitudinal bead formed on each lateral side adjacent the top face of the bar, and anchors for attaching ladder tape ends to the bar, each of said anchors comprising a resilient sheet metal stamping adapted to overlie the top face of the bar and having terminal pairs of spaced resilient fingers shaped to extend about the longitudinal beads to retain the anchor in position, each anchor having a central portion provided on its underface with inwardly-projecting deformable prongs adapted to pierce and retain the ends of ladder tape branches. 7

3. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bottom bar having a transversely-arched upper face and a ladder tape anchor for said bar, said ladder tape anchor comprising a resilient transverselyarched sheet metal stamping adapted to overlie th upper face of the bar and having downwardly projecting resilient fingers adapted to engage the sides of the bar, the upper face of the bar being provided with an opening and the ladder tape anchor having a downwardly-direc ted projection adapted to be received within said opening.

4. In the art of Venetian blinds, a bottom bar having a transversely-arched upper face and a ladder tape anchor for said bar, said ladder tape anchor comprising a resilient transverselyarched sheet metal stamping adapted to overlie the upper face of the bar and having downwardly-projecting resilient fingers adapted to engage the sides of the bar, the upper face of the bar being provided with a central opening to receive a lift cord and the ladder tape anchor having a downwardly-directed projection adapted to be received within said opening.

5. A bottom bar for a Venetian blind comprising a channel-shaped body having an open side provided with a longitudinal groove, a cord guide assembly fitting within said groove, a cover for closing the open side of the body and covering the groove and a ladder tape anchor overlying the cover and resiliently engaging the sides of the bottom bar, the cord guide assembly being provided with a projection passing through aligned openings in the cover and ladder tape anchor.

HARRY NELSON.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 667,567 Page Feb. 5, 1901 749,391 Lutz Jan. 12, 1904 1,668,953 Erickson May 8, 1928 2,079,852 Grassby May 11, 1937 2,105,082 Johnson Jan. 11, 1938 2,111,980 Lawson Mar. 22, 1938 2,114,057 Lorentzen Apr. 12, 1938 2,123,366 Kehr et al. July 12, 1938 2,158,826 Lorentzen May 16, 1939 2,161,414 Hammer June 6, 1939 2,260,726 Rosenbaum Oct. 28, 1941 2,405,255 Horton Aug. 6, 1946 2,573,163 Thomson Oct. 30, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,109 Great Britain. 1898

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