US1943896A

US1943896A - Window shade slat

Info

Publication number: US1943896A
Application number: US630161A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl E Kopfstein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-08-24
Filing date: 1932-08-24
Publication date: 1934-01-16
Anticipated expiration: 1951-01-16

Description

Jan. 16, 1934. c KOPFSTElN 1,943,896

WINDOW SHADE SLAT Filed Aug. 24, 1932 Patented Jan. 16, 1934 UNITED. STATES PATENT- OFFICE 1,943,896 WINDOW sHA'DE SLAT Carl E. Kopfstein, Pittsburgh, Pa. Application August 24, 1932. Serial No. 630,161

4 Claims." (01. 156-31)- My invention relates to certainnew-and useful improvements in slats, and while primarily intended for window shades, it will be obvious that the device may be successfully employed for binding, reinforcing, and for maintaining the alignment of any other objects wherein it is found to be applicable, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Important objects of the invention are to provide a window shade slat of the character described, which may be readily attached to the lower end of a window shade without-necessitating the usual stitched hem in the latter, which may be employed in connection with any type of window shade, which may be secured or removed Without damage to the window shade, even by unskilled persons, and whereby the reversal of a window shade may be conveniently effected.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable and efficient in its use, attractive in appearance, positive in its action, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and install.

1 With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in-the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein speciflcally described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is to be understood that the latter is merely illustrative of an embodiment of the invention, and that the actual needs of manufacture and practice may necessitate certain mechanical variations. It is therefore, not intended to limit the invention to the disclosure thereof herein illustrated, but rather to define such limitations in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:-

Figure 1 is a front view of a window shade provided with a slat constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 45 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view of the device.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front view illustrating the manner of connecting the window shade with my improved slat.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged end views of modified forms of the window slats.

Figure '7 is a transverse sectional view of a window shade roller embodying the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 represents a window shade of any conventional type and construction, and provided with a bottom bar or slat constructed in accordance with the present invention. The slat comprises a hollow body portion 2 which may be constructed or shaped from any suitable sheet material, preferably an integral strip of fairly rigid sheet metal. The body portion 2 is formed to provide a pair of opposed side walls, respectively indicated at 3 and 4, which are joined by an interposed, rounded bottom 5. The

upper portions

6 and 7, of

respective side walls

3 and 4 extend vertically, and are disposed parallel and adjacent to but spaced from each other, while the

side walls

3 and 4 extend at angles relatively thereto. The top of the upper portion '7 carries a depending flange 8 having a width approximating the width of and being disposed between the upper portions 6 and '7. The flange 8 extends parallel to the upper portion 6 in close proximity to the latter. The lower edge margin of the flange 8 is curved toward the upper portion '7 forming a lip 9.

The formation of the upper portion 7 with its flange 8 and lip 9, in the manner stated, provides 30 a pocket 10, oblong in transverse cross section,

and adapted for receiving and securing the lower end of the window shade 1. To connect my improved slat to the window shade 1, the lower end portion of the latter is first folded upon itself a plurality of times to provide a roll 11 consisting of several plies of material as shown in Figure 2. The roll 11 is likewise made oblong in transverse cross section to conform to the contour of the pocket 10. After forming the roll 11, the latter is pushed, in a longitudinal direction, into the pocket 10, as clearly illustrated in Figure 4, while the window shade 1 passes upwardly between the flange 8 and the upper portion 6.

It will here be noted that, the connection of the window shade 1 with my improved slat, in the manner stated, may be accomplished with the utmost ease, even by an unskilled person, and in like manner, the disconnection of the slat from the window shade may be readily effected.

In lowering or raising a Window shade, equipped with my improved slat, by a pull on the latter in the usual manner, the roll 11 within the pocket 10 will be drawn to a congested or jammed position, whereby the connection of the roll 11 105 within the pocket 10 is positively maintained. The roll 11 can only be released by drawing same in a longitudinal direction from the pocket 10.

A pull member 12, of any suitable construction, may be provided for facilitating the adjustment 0 of the window shade in the usual manner. As shown in Figure 1 the pull member 12 may include a substantially U-shaped clip 13 engaging respective angularly disposed

side walls

3 and 4 and normally tending to force the latter toward each other when a pull is exerted on the member 12. Further, the ends of the body portion 2 may be covered with any suitable type of end caps adaptable thereto.

The modified form of the device, illustrated in Figure 5, diifers from the preferred form herein described, only in that flange 14 is substantially U-shaped providing a pocket 15 in itself for receiving and securing the shade roll 11.

Figure 6 illustrates a slat differing from the preferred form in that the upper portion 16 carries a curved flange 1'7, which is rounded and has its free edge disposed toward said upper portion 16. In connecting the window shade to this type of slat the lower end thereof may be rolled into a round roll 18 and inserted longitudinally into the pocket 19 formed by the flange 1'7. A rod 20 may also be inserted in the roll 18 to facilitate the insertion of the latter into the pocket 19, and further to aid in preventing the disconnection of the roll 18 from the pocket 19, except in the manner set forth relatively to the preferred form.

The modification, illustrated in Figure '7, provides a cylindrical body portion 21 having an opening 22, which extends throughout its length. One of the edges of the body portion 21 carries a flange 23, which is bent or turned to the side wall of the body portion 21 to provide a pocket 24 adapted for receiving and securing the window shade roll 11 in the manner identical to that set forth with respect to the preferred form. The cylindrical form of the device may be employed as a bottom bar for the window shade or may be adapted and utilized as a window shade roller in the usual manner well known in the art.

It is evident that the arrangement and exact shapes of the flanges may be widely varied to best meet conditions found in practice, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

The present invention provides a most efficient device of its kind, which embodies the superficial configuration of the conventional window shade slat, which may be plated or otherwise finished in any colors harmonizing with associated window hangings, and which may be readily secured in position or removed therefrom in the manner set forth.

What I claim is:

1. A window shade attachment of the character described comprising a hollow body portion provided with a flange forming a longitudinally extending pocket adapted for receiving and engaging the folded end of the window shade, said folded end of the shade being longitudinally shiftable in said pocket.

2. A window shade slat of the character described, comprising a hollow body portion constructed from an integral strip of sheet metal, said body portion including a pair of side walls, one of said pair of side walls carrying a flange forming a pocket adapted for receiving and engaging the folded end of the window shade, said folded end of the shade being longitudinally shiftable in said pocket.

3. A window shade slat of the character described, comprising a hollow body portion constructed from an integral strip of sheet metal, said body portion including a pair of side walls, the upper portions of said side walls being disposed vertically and parallel with respect to each other, one of said upper portions carrying a depending flange forming a pocket for receiving and engaging the folded end of the window shade, said folded end of the shade being longitudinally shiftable in said pocket.

4. A window shade slat of the character dellu