US1708636A

US1708636A - Blind

Info

Publication number: US1708636A
Authority: US
Priority date: 1926-07-02
Filing date: 1926-07-02
Publication date: 1929-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1946-04-09

Description

April 9, 1929. H K 1,708,636

v BLIND Filed July 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I f f/ L. G. SHOOK April 9, 1929.

BLIND Filed July 2, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

' LAWRENCE G. SHOOK, 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BLIND.

Application filed July 2,

This invention relates to improvements in blinds and particularly to that class commonblind,

ly known as Venetian blinds.

A primary object ofthis invention is to provide an improved'blind consisting of aplurality-of flat slats adapted to be raised and lowered and which is so constructed that it may be nicely embodied upon the door or adjacent the window of a vehicle.

Another object of this inventionis to provide a blind consisting of a plurality of flat slats adapted to be raised and lowered and to provide a construction which will simultaneously move all of the slats from a collapsed position in which the slats are adjacent each other to the expanded position in which all of the slats are equally spaced from each other and assume parallel positions.

A further object of this invention is to providc a blind construction and to provide an improved mechanism wherein all of the fiat slats forming the blind may be simultaneously tiltedinto any desired inclined position, and at the same time permitting some of the slats to be turned independently of-others so that they may assume positions wherein their planes are not parallel to the other slats.

. A stillfurther object of this invention is to provide a blind construction adapted to be incorporated in the body construction of a vehicle, which will not rattle, which is neat in appearance, occupying a minimum amount of space, and which when in collapsed position will form a part of the window sill.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifest in the fol- Figure'l is a partial perspective view of the interior of the vehicle illustrating the improved blind in applied position therein,

Fig.2 is a Fig. 3 is a partial vertical section through V the blind to illustrate certain details of'con struction,

- Fig.4 is an outside elevation 'ofthe blind, the outside covering being shown as having been removed, I

Fig. 5 is an end elevation taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 5 upon Fig. 4,

horizontal section through the- 1926. Serial No. 120,101.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 88 ofv Fig. 4, v

Fig. 9 is a vertical section similarto Fig. 8 illustrating the blind in collapsed position, an

Fig. 10 is a sectional View which may be considered as having been taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, but showing a slightlymodified form of construction.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the improved blind is shown as consisting of a housing, which may be formed of sheet metal providing a bottom 10, two upstanding sides 11 and 12 and a top 13. Adjacent the sides 11 and 12 and slightly spaced inwardly therefrom thereare two

guides

14 and 15 which have vertical slots 16 formed therein. These guides have their top and bottom ends fastened to the top 13 and the bottom 10 respectively of the housing. Adjacent the top of the housing there is a horizontal shaft 17 which extends through the

guides

14 and 15 and has its ends rotatable in the sides 11 and 12 of the housing. A similar shaft 18 is arranged hear the bottom of the housing and has its ends extending through the

guides

14 and 15 and rotatably mounted in the sides ofthe housing. The shaft 18 has one end extending through the side 12 of the housing and provided with a worm wheel 19 adapted to be driven by a worm 20 rotatable in a bracket 21 mounted on the side 12 of the housing and which'is adapted to be rotated by the crank 22, so that on rotation of the crank the shaft 18 can be rotated.

On the

shafts

17 and 18 between the

guides

14 and 15 and their respective side walls 11 and 12 there are rigidly mounted sprockets 23. Each of these sprockets is of the same size and each sprocket is disposed very close to its most

adjacent guide

14 or 15. Endless chains 24 are trained over the sprockets so that these chains will be arranged adjacent the outer face of the guides 14' and 15. Suitable coil springs 25 are inserted into the chains and cause a tension to be continually applied to the chains so that the chains will always be tight and will not tend to vibrate sufiiciently to produce rattling.

The blind proper consists of a plurality of flat slats 26 which may be formed of wood,

.pressed fiber, or any other desirable main the

guides

14 and 15. On the inner sides of the sides 11 and 12 of the housing, there are mounted lazy tongs constructions, each of which has its lower end fastened to the sides 11 and v12 of the housing. near the bottom ofthe sides. I The lazy tongs constructions may be briefly described as follows:

They consist of a plurality of metallic links- 30 which are of equal length and which cross each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, the ends of the links being pivotally connected together such as by rivets 31. The'pins 28 and 28 have shoulders 32 formed thereon which bear against the sides of the links 30 where the links cross each other, and the

pins

28, and 28 also extend through the apertures formed. in the links where they cross each other, so that in this manner the

pins

28 and 28 form a pivotal connection at the intersections of the links 20 and also serve to pivotally mount the flat slats upon the lazy tongs. The ends of the

pins

28 and 28" are riveted over, as indicated at 33, so

\that they cannot be withdrawn from the apertures in the intersecting links 30. The upper ends of each of the lazy tongs are fastened to the chains 24, as indicated.at 34, so that upon rotation of the crank 22, the shaft 18 will be rotated, thus operating the endless chains 24 and causing the lazy tongs construction to be raised or lowered, as the case may be.

Ifthe tongs are being raised by the chains,

the flat slats 26 will also be lifted thereby and from the operation of the lazy tongs, it'- will be readily understood that all of the slats will be lifted simultaneously,the upper slats moving much faster than the lower slats, so that the slats will simultaneously be moved from collapsed position, as shown in Fig. 9, wherein they are side by side, to an expanded position in which the slats are equally spaced and parallel to each other. It will be readily appreciated that if the blind is only half raised, all of the slats will be spaced from each other an equal distance, which is about half of the distance between the slats when the blind is fully raised.

In this way the improved blind differs greatly from the conventional Venetian blind wherein the blind is half raised or lowered, as the case may be, part ofthe slats are fully-spaced from each, other while the remaining slats remain in fully collapsed are compressed between these washers and neou sly tilting all of the slats laterally so that the slats can assume positions in'which all of their planes are parallel to each other and horizontal, or parallel to each other and downwardly and inwardly inclined, or parallel to each other and downwardly and out wardly inclined. This consists of two

links

35 and 36 which are pivoted directly above and below the slot 16 in one of the guides,

and may be on either side. 'On the drawing this guide is shown as being the guide 14. The

links

35 and 36 are of equal length and an actuating guide 37 is pivotally connected to their free ends. In this actuating guide there is formed a longitudinal groove 38 in which small guide pins 39 fit. The guide 'pins 39 have shoulders 40 thereonwhich bear against the actuating guide 37, andthe pins are fastened to the slats 26 adjacent their side edges. pins 28 that they bear against that side of the groove 38 which is most adjacent the pins, thus establishing a frictional contact with the side of the groove. The pins 28 which are disposed on the opposite ends of the slats 26 from the actuating guide 37 have washers 41 disposed thereabout which bear against the inside face of the guide 15. Coil springs 42 are disposed about the pins 28 and are compressed between the washers 41 and the ends of the slats 26, so that they urge the slats toward that side of the housing on which the actuating. guide 37 is mounted. This provides a construction which will not rattle and urges the shoulders 40 on the pins 39 into engagement with the face of the actuating guide, and in this way there will be a considerable frictional contact between the shoulders on the pins 39 and the face of the actuating guide as well as the frictional contact between the sides of the pins 39 and the side of the groove 38.

About alternate pins 28*? and 28 a sleeve or, ferrule 43 is disposed which fits between They are so .spaced'from the the guide 15 and the shoulder 32. These fer- I rules keep the lazy tongs construction properly spaced from the guide 15 and also preactuating guide the pins 39 fitting within the grooves 38 will cause the slats 26 to be swung from downwardly and inwardly inclined parallel position into a horizontal and parallel position. On further raising the actuating guide 37 all of the slatsgwill be carried above-the horizontal position and will.

be-caused'to assume a downwardly and outwardly inclined position. The slats will be carried through the. horizontal position because of the frictional contact between the pins 39 and the sideof the groove 38 and also because of the frictional contact between theshoulders 40 and ."the face of the actuating guide 37 this way all of the slats 26 can be simultaneously tilted together.

- The above described construction, however,

does notprevent certain of the slats from being'tilted into a position which is .not'parallel to the remaining slats. For example, if

all of the slats are m a parallel positionin which they are downwardly and inwardly inclined, one of the slats can be grasped and forcibly turned, so that it will assume a downwardly and outwardly inclined position. Thiscan be done by springingthe actuating guide 37 very slightly, and .is also accomplished by reason of the fact thatthepins 39 are alittle loose in the groove Y38, and they bear against the side of .the groove which is most ad acent the pins 28. It will thus be appreciated that under certain-circumstances when it is" desired to have some ofthe slats downwardly and inwardly inclined and other slats downwardly and outwardly in- L clined, the slats can bepositioned as desired.

. In using the device it will be found that if some of the slats have been manually turned,

so that they will not be parallel to the remain; ing slats on springing the actuating guide .37 those slats which have been turnedwill be automatically picked up again, that is,-'if some of the slats have been turned into a v downwardly and outwardly inclined position, on moving the actuating guide to cause allof the slats to assume a downwardly and outwardly inclined position, it will be found that-on again swinging the actuating guide 37' to move the slats into a downwardly and inwardly'in'clined position; all of. the slats will be caused to, assume this position. It will be readily'understoo'd that the friction between the actuating guide and the guide 14 is normally sufficient to hold this guide in any adjusted position thus-causing' all of the slats to remain inthe-same position, either downwardly and inwardly mchned, or downwardly and outwardly inclined. l-lowever,

' edge of the an'additional construction may be provided tor holding the actuating guide 37 in any that it will be even with the top most slat,

when the blind. is in'its fully collapsed position and when the slats are horizontal so that whenall of the slats are collapsed and are automatically caused to assume a horizontal position, the top slat cooperates with the top panel l7 to form a smooth even window sill.

blind may be very advantageously incorporated in the body construction of a vehicleof the closed car type. Furthermore, if the blind is fairly narrow, it will in no way interfere with a window pane in the body of the As clearly shown in'Fig. 1, the improved vehicle which may be either stationary or one which can be-raised or lowered.

. The improved blind has all of the advantages of the conventional Venetian blind. in that it may prevent sunlight from directly entering the vehicle and cause it to be reflected toward the top of the vehicle and also providing what is commonly known as aoneway vision, wherein persons inside of the vehicle on proper adjustment of the blind can see objects on the outside, but persons on the outside of the vehicle cannot ordinarily see objects on the inside of the vehicle. proved .blind also provides for a ready and easy ingress and egress of air and at the same time jean prevent the direct rays of sunlight froin entering. g

5 .By the arrangement where the endless chains 24am disposed between the lazy tongs constructions 'and the

guides

14 and 15, these chains straddle or pass about the pins 28% and v 28 thus providing a construction which while the drawing illustratesthe blind as being collapsed at the bottom, by a slight change in construction the blihd may be collapsed at the top and lowered into expanded position. A further modification is shown m Fig. 10, wherein there may be twolazy tongs constructions at-each side of the housing.

to its sideof the housing near the top or bottom thereof respectively, as indicated at 48.

Each lazy tongs construction has its freecnd fastened to its respectivechain'24, the upper.

The im-."

2 Each lazy tongs'has its remote end fastened lazy tongs being fastened to one side of the chain 24 and the, lower lazy tongs being fastened to the other side, so that as the endless chain is driven, both lazy tongs may be expanded or collapsed simultaneously. In such a construction, the blind which will be in two sections has both of its sections assume a collapsed position near the top and bottom of the housing respectively, instead of being at the bottom as shown in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 inc., or at the top of the housing, as suggested.

From the above described construction it will be readily appreciated that the improved blind has many advantages and may be employed Wherever there is a window opening or the like, which may be on a vehicle or in a dwelling house or elsewhere.

It will be understood that various changes in the detail of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A blind comprising-a plurality of parallel flat slats, means for moving the slats into a collapsed position in which the slats are side by side or into an expanded position in which the slats are spaced from each other and parallel, said slats being mounted for rotation about the longitudinal axis, and means connected to each slat for tilting the salts, said means permitting some of the slats to be tilted in adirection opposite from the remaining slats.

2. A blind comprlslng a plurality of parallel flat slats pivotally mounted at their ends and arranged one above the other, links pivotally mounted for movement about an axis in the plane containing the axes of rotation of the slats, an actuating member having a groove therein pivoted to the links, pins carried by the slats extending into the groove the guides, pins carried by the slats extend-' whereby when the actuating member is moved, the slats may be tilted simultaneously thereby, said slats being mounted for endwise movement, and spring means urging the slats toward the actuating member as and for the purpose described. 1

3. A blind comprising a housing, a pair of slotted parallel guides in the housing, a pluralitypf parallel fiat slats disposed between ing through the slots in the guides, lazy tongs between the guides and the housing, said pins being connected to the lazy tongs, shafts rotatably mounted in the housing adjacent the top and bottolnthereof, sprockets on the shafts, endless chains passed over the sprockets and disposed between the guides and the housing, each of, the lazy tongs having one end secured to the housing and the other secured to its respective chain, and means for rotating one of the shafts so as to move the chains and thus movethe lazy tongs into colthrough the slots'in the guides, lazy tongsbetween the guides and the housing, said pins being connected to the lazy tongs, shafts rotatably mounted in the housing adjacent the top and bottom thereof, sprockets on the shafts, endless chains passed over the sprockets and disposed between the guides and the housing, each of the lazy tongs having one end secured to the housing and the other secured to its respective chain, means for rotating one of the shafts so as to move the chains and thus move the lazy tongs into collapsed or expanded position so as to raise or lower the slats, links pivoted upon one of the 'uides, an actuating member pivoted to the links, pins mounted upon the slats adjacent their side edges, said pins extending into a groove on the actuating member, and means for moving the actuating member so as to produce tilting of the slats.

5. A blind comprising a housing, a pair of slotted parallel guides in the housing, a plurality of parallel flat slats disposed between the guides, pins carried by the slats extending through the slots in the guides, lazy tongs between the guides and the housing, said pins ,slats toward one of the guides'so as to reduce rattling.

6.- A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats, and means for raising and lowering the slats, saidmeans being so constructed as to cause the ends of each slat to be raised and lowered together in unison so that-there will be no endwise tilting of the slats, each slat being pivotedfor rotational movement about its longitudinal 'axis independently of each other slat,

7. A blind comprising a plurality of fiat slats and means for moving each slat simultaneously from a collapsedposition wherein the slats are side by side into an expanded position wherein the slats are spaced and parallel, each slat being pivoted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis independently of the others.

8. A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats,'and means for moving each slat simultaneously from collapsed position wherein the slats are side by side into an expanded pendently for. rotation about a longitudinal axis. v

9. A blind comprising a plurality of flat I slats, a lazy tongs, means connecting the slats pivotallyto the lazy tongs whereby the slats may be moved into collapsed positions adjacent each other or into spaced positions by the lazy tongs and the slats may be adjustably tilted while in their spaced positions.

10. A blind comprising a plurality of flat .slats, a lazytongs, means connecting 'thefslats to the-lazy tongs pivotally whereby the'slats may be moved into collapsed position adjacent each other. oriin'to spaced position by the lazy tongs and the slatsimay be adjustably tilted while in their spaced. positions, and means for extending and collapsing'the lazy tongs.

, 11. A blind comprising two spaced lazy tongs, a plurality of flat slats disposed between the lazy. tongs having their ends pivotally fastened at different points along the lazy tongs and being adapted to rotate about tongs each slat being pivotedso as to rotate longitudinal axes independently of each other whereby. the slats may be moved from collapsed positions adjacent .each other "into spaced and parallel positions by the lazy to 12..A blind comprising two spaced lazy tongs, aplurality of flat slats disposed be tween the lazy tongs having their ends fastened at different points along the lazy independently about v its longitudinal axis whereby the 'slats may be moved from" a collapsed position adjacent each other into spaced and parallel positions by the lazy tongs and may be adjustably tilted while in their spaced parallel positions, and means for moving the lazy tongs from collapsed positionsinto extended positions or vice versa.

'13. A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats, means for raising and lowering the slats, said means being so constructed as to cause the ends of each slat to be raised and lowered together so that there will be no endwise. tilting of the slats, anda second means adapted to tiltsaid slats about their, longitudinal axes in unison.

14. A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats, means for moving each slat simultaneously from a collapsed position wherein the slats are side by side into an expandedposition wherein the slats are spaced and parallel,

and means for tilting the slats about their longitudinalaxes in' unison relatively to the first mentioned means.

15. A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats, a lazy tongs, means connecting the slats to the lazy tongs whereby the slats may be moved into collapsed positions adjacent each other or into spaced positions by the lazy tongs, and means fortilting the slatsabout their longitudinal axes in unison relatively to the. lazy tongs. 1

16. A blind comprising two-lazy tongs, a plurality of flat slats disposed between the lazy tongs having their ends fastened at different points along the lazy tongs whereb the slats may be moved from collapsed pos1- tions adjacent each other into spaced and parallel positions by the lazy tongs, means or moving the lazy tongs from collapsed position into extended position or vice versa, and additional means for tilting the slats about their longitudinal axes in unison;

' 17 A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats, means for raising and lowering the slats, said means being so constructed as to cause the ends of each slat to be raised and lowered together in unison so that there will be no endwise tilting of the slats, each slat being'pivoted for rotational movement about' its longitudinal axis independently of each other slat, andadditional means for tilting the slats about their .longitudinal axes in unlson.

18. A blind comprising a plurality of flat -slats, means for moving each slat simultaneously from a collapsed position wherein the allel, 'each slat being pivoted independently for rotation about a longitudinal axis, and

additional means for tilting the slats about their longitudinal axes in unison.

20. A blind comprising a plurality of fiat slats, a lazy tongs, means connecting the slats pivotally to the lazy tongs whereby the slats may be'moved into collapsed positions adjacent each other or into spaced positions by the lazy tongs, and additional means for tilting the slats about their longitudinal axes in unison.

'21. A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats, a lazy tongs, means connecting the slats to the lazy tongs pivotally whereby the slats maybe moved into collapsed position adjacent each other or into spaced positionby the lazy tongs, means for extendin ing the lazy tongs, and additional means for tilting the slats about their longitudinal axes in unison.

22. A blind comprising two spaced lazy tongs, a. plurality of flat slats disposed between thelazy tongs having their ends pivotand collapsally fastened at different points along the tened at different points along the lazy tongs,

each slat being pivoted so as to rotate independently about its longitudinal axis whereby the'slats may be moved from a collapsed position adjacent each. other into spaced and parallel positions by the lazy tongs, means for moving the lazy tongs from collapsed positions into extended positions or vice versa, and means for tilting the slats about their longitudinal axes in unison.

24. A blind comprising four sprockets, two of which are arranged vertically above the others, endless chains passed over the sprockets, a plurality of flat slats disposed be tween the chains and connected thereto so as to becapable of being raised and lowered 25. A blind comprising four sprockets, two

of which are arranged vertically above the others, endless chains passed over the sprockets, a plurality of flat slats disposed between the chains and connected thereto so as to be capable of being raised and lowered thereby, said chains being provided with elastic parts, said raising and lowering being conducted in simple geometrical progression. 26. A blind comprising a plurality of flatslats, means for moving each slat simultaneously from a collapsed position wherein the slats are side by side into an expanded position wherein the slats are spaced and parallel, said means comprising a lazy tongs wherein the slats are pivoted to points on the lazy tongs throughout its length, and an endless chain operating said lazy tongs.

27. A blind comprising a plurality of flat slats, a lazy tongs, means connecting the slats to the lazy tongs whereby the slats may be other or into spaced position by the lazy tongs, meansfor extending or collapsing the lazy tongs, means whereby said slats may be tilted in unison, and means comprising a plurality of sprockets and endless chains passed over the sprockets for operating said lazy tongs to collapse said slats.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

- L. G. SHOCK.

' moved into collapsed position adjacenteach i