US2059134A - Window shade - Google Patents

Description

1 27, 1936. H METCALF 2,05,]13

WINDOW SHADE Filed July 8, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 gig a @Ch 27, 1936 I H. w. METCALF 9 WINDOW SHADE Filed July 8, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ct. 2 1936. H, w METCALF 2059,14

WINDOW SHADE Filed July 8, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 x. M+%M 27, 1936.. H W, M T 2,059,134

WINDOW SHADE Filed July 8, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 6 6? MV W.

Patented Oct. 21, '1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE Henry W. Metcalf, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii Application 11111.8, 1935, Serial No. 30,365

17 Claims. (CL 156-17) The present invention relates to improvements in window shades, and more especially to those of the class embodying horizontally arranged vertically superposed slats of the general class .5 employed in Venetian blinds.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a novel and improved window shade of this general class which is capable of being readily adjusted to admit air and light between the 10 slats or to admit air freely between them but effectively intercept vision between the slats or through the shade.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved shade of this class which is adjustable as just described and in which, in addition, the slats of the shade are tiltable to completely close the shade and thus exclude air and light and also render the shade weatherproof against winddriven rain and the like.

Another object is to provide a shade of this class the slats and cooperative elements of which are constructed as a unit and mounted movably in the window casing so that the slats may be easily and quickly removed and washed or otherwise cleaned or disinfected, and then replaced in the window frame.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a window shade of this class having operating means for collapsibly raising the slats and lower- 3 ing them to open or close the window opening, for relatively adjusting the slats of the series to either permit or intercept vision through the shade, and for tilting the slats to completely close the shade, which operating means is so 35 constructed and operative as to always eifectively perform its intended functions, it overcoming the faults found to exist in window shades of this class as heretofore constructed or proposed.

To these and other ends the invention consists 40 in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the features of novelty being pointed out more particularly in the claims at the end of this specification.

45 In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window casing equipped with, a window shade constructedin accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the 50 window casing and shade, taken on the line 2-4 in Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken vertically through the window casing and shade, on the line 3 4 in Fig. 1, the shade being in its lowered condition 55 but with the slats thereof adjusted for the passage of air and light and permitting vision through the shade, this figure also showing by the dotted lines the movable mounting 'of the shade unit in the window casing;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing 6 the slats of the shade adjusted to permit passage of air through the shade but intercept vision therethrough;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken through the lower portion of the window casing and shade, 1 showing the shade in a partly raised or opened position;

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the window casing and the shade, showing the slats of the shade tilted about their respective axes to close them and thus render the shade weatherproof:

Figure '1 is a detail view in front elevation of the upper portion of the window shade and the adjacent portion of the window casing, showing part of the means for relatively adjusting the slats and for removably mounting them in their guides;

Figure 8 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7;

.' Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 1;

Figure 10 is a perspective-view of the cable for raising and lowering the shade;

Figure ii is a detail perspective view of one end of the bottom rail of the shade; Figure 12 is a detail vertical section taken through an end of the bottom rail and the adjacent portion of its guide, showing means for operatively connecting the bottom rail to the operating cable;

Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of portions of a group of the slats, showing the lugs for connecting the chains thereto;

Figure 14 is a vertical section through a group of the slats, showing the chains connecting their inner and outer edges, the slats in this figure being all adjusted into their individually separated relation;

Figure 15 is a vertical section taken through a group of the slats, showing the same in collapsed or nested relation;

Figure 16 is a side elevation of a portion of several slats showing the chain in detail; and

Figure 17 is a perspective view showing the means for tilting the bottom rail.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the different figures. v

The present invention relates to a window shade of the same class as that disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,616,385 granted February 1, 1927, it being an improvement thereon. As shown in the present instance, I represents a window casing or frame which may be of any usual or preferred construction and ofany desired dimensions, into the opening of which the improved shade is fitted. The shade comprises a series of slats 2, and a cooperatingseries of slats 3, these slats being in superposed relation and the series of slats 3 alternating with the series of slats 2, the shade also having a bottom rail 5 at its lower end. The series of slats 2 and 3, which may be composed of sheet metal or other suitable material, are shaped so that they will nestor telescope one within the other when the bottom rail is raised. As shown, the slats each have the shape of an inverted trough of V-section, the apices being directed upwardly and the sides of the slats sloping downwardly at divergent angles. The series of slats 2 and 3 are guided for vertical movement by a pair of guides 6 between which the slats extend longitudinally. Preferably and as shown in the present instance, these guides are each composed of strips of metal or other suitable material of channeled form in cross-section, and each of these guides is provided with a longitudinal rail 1 which projects inwardly therefrom and is offset slightly from the center of the width of the guide. The ends of the slats 2 and 3 project into the channels of these guides and they are provided on their ends with notches 8 which are offset immediately. to one side of the apices of the respective slats, these notches in the slats receiving the inwardly projecting rails I in the channel-shaped guides and thereby guiding the slats for vertical movement between the guides and also permitting the slats to tilt or pivot about points adjacent to their apices as axes, as indicated in Fig. 6.

The guides 6 are adapted to be mounted in the window casing between the stiles thereof, either at the inner or outer side of the window,

they being shown in the present instance for example as mounted at the inner side of the window casing, and these guides are preferably mounted in the window casing so that they may be swung out of operative position therein, for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Accordingly, the upper ends of the guides are fixed to a cross member I!) which extends across the top of the window opening between the stiles of the window casing and is pivotally connected to the lintel of the window casing by a pair of hinges II. The guides 6 and cross member ID thus form substantially a frame in which the slats are mounted, and the lower end of this frame may be swung out of a position above the window sill, about the horizontal pivots of the hinges II as an axis, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3. Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the guides in their normal operative position within the window casing, a pair of buttons l2 being provided for this purpose in the present instance, they being pivoted to the window sill so that they may be swung upwardly therefrom and thus cooperate with the lower ends of the guides to retain them in operative position, or may be swung downwardly to permit the guides to swing out of perative position, these guides when in operative position abutting against the inner window stops M, as shown in Fig. 2.

Simple and improved means is provided for raising and lowering the bottom rail 5 of the shade whereby this bottom rail and the slats will be maintainedin horizontal position while being raised and lowered. As shown in the present instance such means comprises an endless cable i 5 of wire or other suitable flexible material having vertical loops therein which extend vertically in the respective guides and transverse connecting portions between the loops, as shown in Figure 10. For this purpose, a grooved pulley I6 is rotatably mounted at the inner side of each guide 6 near its lower end and around which the respective loop of the cable passes, and the cross member III has pairs of grooved pulleys ll rotatably mounted therein and around which the cable passes from the loop in one guide to the loop in the other guide, the loop connecting portions of the cable being crossed, as shown in Fig. 10. By .this arrangement of the cable, the portions of the cable at corresponding sides of the loops therein will travel in the same direction and through equal distances, and these portions of the cable have blocks I8 fixed thereto, these blocks being mounted to travel vertically in the guides 6 along the outer sides of the rails l therein. Each of these blocks has an aperture IS in its inner side and the bottom rail 5 of the shade has a pin 20 projecting from each end thereof at one side of the respective notch 5 therein through which the rail I passes, so that when these pins on the ends of the bottom rail 5 of the shade are engaged in the apertures in the blocks l8, travel of the cable, which causes the blocks to rise or descend in unison and through the same distance will cause the bottom rail of the shade to rise or descend. When the bottom rail is lifted by the cable, it will cause the slats to nest in telescoped relation thereon, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper side of the bottom rail being of inverted V-shape conforming with that of the slats. While the guides 6 are in operative position between the stiles of the window casing, the pins 20 on the bottom rail will be retained in engagement with the blocks I8, but when the lower ends of the guides are swung out of position between the stiles of the window casing, the lower ends of the guides, which are sufficiently resilient. may be sprung apart, thereby withdrawing the blocks l8 from engagement with the pins 20, thereby releasing the bottom rail 5, and since the swinging of the guides outwardly from the window casing uncovers or exposes the lower ends of the guides by displacing them from above the sill of the window casing, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, said bottom rail, together with the slats, may be removed from the guides for washing in a washing trough or the like or for disinfecting or other similar purposes, and after the slats and the bottom rail have been reinserted into the lower ends of the guides, the pins 20 projecting from the ends of the bottom rail are reinserted in the apertures in the blocks l8 while the lower ends of the guides are sprung apart after which the lower ends of the guides are swung toward one another and then returned to their normal operative position between the stiles of the window frame.

The means provided by the present invention for operating the cable l5 to raise and lower the shade comprises a drum 2| which is preferably grooved as shown, a portion of the cable being looped around this drum so that it will be frictionally engaged thereby. The drum is rotatably mounted in a casing .22 having an escutcheon plate 23 at its forward side, this'casing being secured to the outer side of the guide 6 at the respecti ve side of thewindow casing and the latter being suitably recessed as at 24 to accommodatethe casing, so that the casing together with the drum mounted therein will swing into and out of the window frame with the guide. The drum 2| is operated preferably by a gear 25 fixed thereto and cooperating with a pinion or smaller gear tion to lift or lower the bottom rail and the slats above it, and in order to support or look the bottom rail in its raised or lowered position or in any desired intermediate position, the crank is provided with a locking plunger 29 which is engageable in one or another of a circular series of apertures 30 in the escutcheon plate, the plunger having a'spring 3| which acts to engage and retain it in engagement with one of these apertures, according to the position into which the crank is brought, and the plunger is provided with a knob 32 which is mounted on the crank to reciprocate in the direction of the axis of the plunger so that by pulling this knob in a direction away from the escutcheon plate, the plunger can be disengaged therefrom. This knob serves also as the operating handle for the crank 28.

According to the present invention, the series of slats 2 are provided with means for supporting them at spaced distances vertically of the shade and the series of slats 3 are provided with means for supporting them so that they may either rest in telescoped or nestedrelationwith the slats 2 as shown in Fig. 3, in which adjustment the shutter will permit vision therethrough, or the slats 3 may be separated relatively to the slats 2, as shown in Fig. 4 in which adjustment vision through the shade will be intercepted. The supporting means for the series of slats 2 comprises pairs of chains 35 and 36 arranged respectively at the inner and outer sides of the shade. to the inner edges of the series of slats 2 and to the inner edge of the bottom rail 5, and the chains 36 are pivotally connected to the outer edges of the series of slats 2 and to the outer edge of the bottom rail 5, these chains thus collapsibly supporting the series of slats 2 and the bottom rail 5 at intervals which are spaced preferably equidistantly vertically of the shade and by this construction, tilting of the bottom rafl 5'ab out its pivotal bearings on the guide rails I will cause simultaneous tilting of all of the series of slats 2. The weight of the shutters thus suspended by the chains 35 and 36 is sustained by the uppermost slat 2 which is pivotally supported by the hinges 31 secured to the uppermost slat 2 and to a flange 4| on a stationary supporting plate 42, these hinges having removable hinge pintles 39 which when removed disconnect the uppermost slat 2 and the others below it from the supporting plate 42 and thus enable the slats to be withdrawn from the lower ends of the guides, as hereinbefore described. The hinge pintles 39 about which the uppermost slat 2 tilts are in alinernent with the guide rail 1 about which the rest (if the slats tilt, as shown in Figure 3. A weatherproof and vision proof closure between the uppermost slat 2 and' the cross member ID forming part of the frame of the shade is provided by the downwardly and outwardly inclined flange 4| on the plate 42.

The chains 35 are pivotally connected which overlies the outer side of the uppermost slat 2, the plate 42 being suitably fixed to the outer side of the cross member Ill and cooperates with an upturned flange on a plate 38 secured to the upper side of the uppermost slat 2.

The series of slats 3 are pivotally connected at their inner edges to a pair of chains 45 at intervals in the lengths thereof, 'and the outer edges of the series of slats 3 are pivotally connected to a pair of chains 46 at intervals in the lengths of said chains. is connected toward its ends to a pair of rods 41 which extend upwardly and are slidable vertically through the uppermost slat 2 and the plate 38. By this arrangement, when the uppermost slat 3 is in its lowered position so that it rests on the next lower slat 2, the rest of the slats 3 will rest on the corresponding slats 2, but when the rods 41 are drawn upwardly, the uppermost slat 3 and the rest of the slats of this series connected thereto by the chains 45 and 46 will be lifted or relatively separated from the respective series of slats 2. so that the slats of the series 3 will assume positions between the series of slats 2, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the apices of the slats of the two series occupying positions above the inner and outer edges of the slats immediately above them and thus intercepting vision through the shade, or if desired, the series of slats 3 may be adjusted into different positions intermediate the position shown in Fig. 3 and the position shown in Figs. 4 and 8. Different means may be employed for thus shifting the positions of the series of slats 3 between the series of slats 2. For example and as shown in the present instance, the upper ends of the rods 41 are connected to a pair of chains 48 and the upper ends of these chains are attached to pulleys or drums 49 fixed on a shaft 50, the latter being rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 5| on the cross-member I0 and having a pulley 52 fixed to one end thereof. A chain 53, which may extend vertically within the window casing as shown. is attached at its upper end to this pulley and this chain passes around guide pulleys 54, and the lower end of this chain extends through an aperture 55 in the escutcheon plate 23 and has a handle 56 thereon by means of which it may be pulled. By pulling the lower end of this chain, the rods 41 are lifted, thereby lifting the series of slats 3 into midway or intermediate positions between the series of slats 2,

, and a pin 51 may be fixed on the escutcheon plate to engage one or another of the links of this chain to lock it and thereby support the slats 3 in elevated positions above the slats 2.

Each of the chains 35 and 36 and 45 and 46 is preferably of such a construction that these chains will bend in an outward direction only in relation to the slats when the slats are in nested relation, as when the series of slats 3 are resting on the series of slats 2 as shown in Fig. 3 or the bottom rail is lifted to open the shade, as shown in Fig. 5, and means is provided for preventing bending of the links inwardly and thus prevent lodging of the chains between adjacent slats and preclude close nesting thereof. Each of these chains, as shown in Figs. 14 to 16 inclusive, comprises a pair of links 6|! which are pivotally connected to theedges of the respective slats, and a pair of intermediate relatively shorter links 6| which are pivotally connected to one another and to the other ends of the links 60 so that the links 6| may fold between the links 6|] while the latter are folded substantially flat- The uppermost slat 3 wise against one another, thus enabling the slats to nest directly upon one another, or substantially so, and a tongue or extension 62 is carried by one of the links 63 and tongues 63 are carried by the links 6i, these tongues being so positioned that they will limit the swinging of the links so that their pivots will not come into alinement and they will prevent swinging of the links 60 inwardly between adjacent slats, so that the chains would always bend or fold outwardly from the edges of the slats and thus prevent lodging of the chains between the slats. By connecting immediately adjacent slats of each series by four links of the chains, two of the links will fold between the other two links, as shown in Fig. 15, thereby minimizing the distance the chains project from the slats when the slats are nested, and by making the two intermediate links of the chain shorter than the other two links, the knuckle, of the middle pivot of each section of the chain will be oifset from the knuckles of the chain( links 60 which connect them to the respective slats.

The tilting of the slats to cause overlapping thereof and thus provide a waterproof closure for the shade is accomplished by completely lowering the bottom rail 5, as shown in Fig. 4, and then tilting the bottom rail 5. Preferably and as shown in the present instance, a flange ID is secured to the window sill to project upwardly therefrom and extend across the width of the window opening, and the lower side of the bottom rail is formed with a shoulder II which extends throughout the length thereof and is adapted to abut against the inner side of the flange 10 when the bottom rail is fully lowered and form a weather and vision proof closure therewith, the underside of the bottom rail at the outer side of the flange occupying a plane above the top edge of said flange. The flange is provided at a point between its ends, preferably at the middle thereof, with a gap or interruption in which a slide 12 is movable transversely, this slide resting for example on the upper side of the window sill and having elongated slots 13 therein in which screws 14 engage for guiding it, the slide having a short flange or lug 15 pro jecting upwardly therefrom which in one position of the slide will aline with the flange 10 but project upwardly beyond it. The bottom rail 5 is provided with a slot 16 in its underside into which the flange 15 on the slide will enter when the bottom rail is lowered. The inner end of the slide, is provided with a finger hole 11 or other handle, and after the bottom rail has been fully lowered as described, and while the series of slats 3 are adjusted so that they are spaced midway between the series of slats 2, said bottom rail may be tilted by pulling the slide inwardly, the upwardly projecting lug thereon then acting to swing or tilt the bottom rail into the position shown in Fig. 6, and since the slats are connected at their inner and outer edges to the corresponding edges of the bottom by the chains 35 and 36 and 45 and 46, the slats will all be tilted simultaneously to bring their outer sides into overlapping engagement, thereby rendering the shade weatherproof and intercepting vision through the shade. Return of the slats to their normal level or non-tilted position is accomplished by returning the slide 12 to its normal position with the flange 75 thereon in alinement with the flange 10, the flange on the slide then acting on the edge 18 of the bottom rail to rock it back to its level or non-tilted position. When the bottom rail is tilted into closed position, a flange I9 extending along its outer edge engages the outer side of the flange Ill as shown in Fig. 6, thereby providing a weatherproof and vision proof closure between the bottom rail and the window sill.

Themode of operation of a window shade or blind constructed as hereinbefore'described is as follows:

The shade is raised to partially or fully'open the window by operation of the crank 28 in a direction to cause the cable i5 to raise the bottom rail 5 the slats 2 and 3 nesting or telescoping above it, the bottom rail being locked in the desired raised position by allowing the plunger 29 to enter an appropriate aperture 30 in the escutcheon plate.

Lowering of the shade is accomplished by unlocking and rotating the crank 28 in the appropriate direction, the cable serving to maintain the bottom rail in a level position so that binding thercof in the vertical guides is avoided, and since the slats of both series are connected to the bottom rail near its ends, the slats also are maintained in a level position.

While the shade is lowered, the series of slats 3 may rest on the respective slats 2 of the cooperating series as shown in Fig. 3, the slats being brought into this relation by releasing the chain 53 and thus allowing the supporting rods 41 to descend by gravity, the spaces between the adjacent pairs of slats permitting free passage of air and vision through the shade, or the slats 3 may be lifted or otherwise spaced from the slats 2 as shown in Fig. 4, in which adjustment the apex of each slat intersects the plane passing horizontally through the lower edges of the slat immediately above it, thereby intercepting vision through the shade although permitting free passage of air, and the series of slats 3 are retained in such position, or if desired, in a position between that shown in Fig. 4 and that shown in Fig. 3, by locking the appropriate link of the chain 53 on the locking pin 51. During the adjustment just described, the bottom rail is locked in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and the slats are level transversely.

Closing of the shade to render it weatherproof is accomplished by completely lowering the bottom rail 5 under the action of the cable operated by the crank, and then pulling inwardly the slide 12, thereby tilting the bottom rail into the position shown in Fig. 6, and since the chains 35 and 36 and 45 and 46 connect the inner and outer edges of the bottom rail to the corresponding edges of the slats, the slats of both series will be tilted until the outer side of each slat overlaps that of the slat immediately below it, thus forming a weatherproof closure. Such closing of the shade is effected while the series of slats 3 are locked in their interspaced relation between the series of slats 2, thus insuring overlapping of all of the slats throughout the height of the shade.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A window shade comprising a plurality of series of nestable slats, and means supporting said series of slats in spaced relation with one series in nested relation with the other and for spacing one series relatively to the other series.

2. A window shade comprising a plurality of series of collapsible slats, and means supporting the slats in spaced relation with the slats of one series in telescoped relation with the slats of the other series, and for adjusting one series of slats into spaced relation to the other series thereof.

. aocaiss 8.'A window shade comprising a plurality of series oi. telescopic slats progressively interspaced, means for suspending each series of slats with the slats in each series in spaced relation, and means cooperative with the suspending means for one series of slats for adjusting the slats or such series into telescoped relation or into spaced relation with the slats of another series; v

4. A window shade comprising a plurality of series of slats, means .ior guiding them to tilt about their respective longitudinal axes, suspending means for tiltably supported each series of slats, and means cooperative with the suspending means for one series of slats for adjusting the slats or one series toward and from another series of slats.

5. A window shade comprising a plurality of inverted trough shaped telescopic slats progressively interspaced, means for suspending the respective series of slats, and means cooperative with the suspending means for one series of slats for adjusting the slats of said series into'telescoped relation with. those of another series and for relatively spacing said series of slats with the apex of one slat intersecting the plane passing through the lower edges of the slat immediately above it.

6. A window shade comprising a plurality of series of collapsible slats and a bottom rail, flexible means suspending the respective series of slats with the slats in each seriesin relatively spaced relation, means cooperative with the bottom rail for raising it to cause collapsing-and raising of the slats and for loweringit to cause the slats to be suspended by their respective suspending means, and means cooperative with the suspending means for one series of slats for adjusting said slats into collapsed or spaced rela tion with the slats of another series.

7. A window shade comprising a plurality of series of telescopic slats progressivelyinterspaced, flexible means connected to the opposite edges of the slate of the respective series and supporting the slats for tilting movement and also for movement of the slats .of one series relatively to those of another series, and means cooperative with the suspending means for the slats of one series for adjusting .them into telescoped relation with or into position spaced'between the slats of another series.

8. A window shale comprising a plurality of series of telescopic slats progressively interspaced and a bottom rail, means for guiding said slats and rail to tilt on their longitudinal axes, flexible means suspending the respective series of slats by their opposite edges, said suspending means being connected to opposite edges of the bottom rail whereby tilting thereof will tilt said series 0:! slats, and. means cooperative with the suspending means i'or one series of slats for adlusting the slats of said series into either telescoped or spaced relation with the slats of an-" other series.

9. A window shade comprising two series of slate and a vertically movable bottom rail for raising and collapsing or lowering and spacing "them, the slats of one series alternating with those of the other series, and chains operatively connected to the edges of the slats of the respec tiveseries, said chains for each series of slats having pairs of reversely foldable links 'spanning the intervening slats of the other series and provided with means to prevent folding inwardly of the links between adjacent slats. 1

. \v 5 slats and a vertically movable bottom rail, means guiding said lats and rail for vertical movement and also for ilting movement about their longitudinal axes, means connecting the slats and rail for tilting movements in unison, means for raising the bottom rail to collapse the slats and for lowering it to extend the slats in spaced relation, and means engageable with the bottom rail while in its lowered position and operative to tilt it and the slats.

11. 'A window shade comprising a series or slats and a vertically movable bottom'rail, means guiding said slats and rail for vertical movement and also for tilting movement about their longitudinal axes, means connecting the slate and rail for tilting movements in unison, means tor raising the bottom rail to collapse the slats and for lowering it to'extend the slats in spaced relation, a flange onto which the bottom rail is adapted to be lowered to form a weather and vision proot closure, and a member slidable transversely of said flange and having a portion extending up wardly therefrom and engageable with the bottom rail to tilt it and the slats connected thereto into closed overlapping relation when moved in one direction and for returning the bottom rail and slats to normal spaced relation when moved in the opposite direction.

12. A window shade comprising a series of slats and a vertically movable bottom rail for collapsing the slats and for extending them in spaced relation, a pair of' channel members cooperative with the ends of the slats and bottom rail for guiding them and having means ior pivotally supporting them at their upper ends to swing into and out of a" window frame, and means for raising and lowering the bottom rail comprising an endless cable having guiding means supported on the lower portions of the channel members and forming opposite loops in the cable which lie in the respective channel members, means connecting the ends oi the bottom rail to the respective sides of the cable loops which travel in the same direction in the respective channel members, and means carried by one 'of the channel members ior operating the cable.

13. A window shade comprising a series of slats and a vertically movable bottom rail for collapsing the slats and for extending them in spaced relation, a pair oi channel members cooperative with the ends of the slats and bottom rail for guiding them and having means for pivotally supporting them at their upper ends to swing into and out of a window frame, and means for raising and lowering the bottom rail com-- engaging in a loop in the cable in the associated channel member and said drum having means for rotating it to operate the cable.

14. A window shade comprising a series of slats and a vertically movable bottom rail for collapsing theslats and for extending them in spaced relation, a pair of oppositely positioned vertical channel members cooperative with the ends of the slats and bottom rail for guiding them, and means for raising, and lowering the 10,11 window shade comprising a series or bottom rail comprising an endless cable having 75 guiding means supported on said channel members and forming opposite loops in the cable located within the respective channel members, means connecting the ends of the bottom rail to the respective sides of the cable loops which travel in the same direction, a drum mounted on one of the channel members and cooperative with the cable for operating it, operating means for rotating the drum, and means for locking the drum to hold the cable in different adjusted positions.

15. A window shade comprising a series of slats having means for removably suspending them in spaced relation and for vertical movement, 9, pair of guides open at their lower ends and cooperative with the ends of the slats for guiding the slats and a cross member connecting the upper ends of said guides, and means for mounting said cross member pivotally in a window frame for movement of the guides into a position to expose the lower ends thereof for removal of the slats therefrom.

16. A window shade comprising a series of slats and a bottom rail having means for removably supporting them for vertical movement, a pair of upright channels cooperative with the ends of the slats and bottom rail for guiding them, means carried by said channels and detachably engaging the ends of thebottom rail for raising and lowering the bottom rail and slats, and means for pivotally supporting the upper ends of said channels in a window frame, the lower ends of the channels being open and swingable outwardly from said frame and relatively separable to detach the raising and lowering means from the bottom rail for removal of the bottom rail'and slats from the channels.

17. The combination of, a pair of vertical guide channels having means for pivotally connecting them at their upper ends to a window frame, the lower ends of said channels being open and swingable out of said frame and relatively movable toward and from one another, a series of window shade slats and a bottom rail mounted for vertical movement between said guide channels and removable from the open lower ends thereof when the guide channels are swung out of the window frame, and means movable vertically in said channels and engageable with and detachable from the respective ends of the bottom rail by relative movement of the lower ends of the channels toward and from one another, for raising and lowering said bottom rail.

' HENRY W. METCALF.

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