US2158454A - Venetian blind structure - Google Patents

Description

Filed Feb 12, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i L w IN V EN TOR.

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May l6, 1939. c. c. ZUBIRIA VENETI'AN BLIND STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 12, 1938 a w s Zab P INVENTOR.

' Canlos' hcwez ATTORNEYS.

y 1939- C. c. ZUBIRIA VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE- Filed Feb. 12, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet a Cafllos Zub IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

May 1-6, 1939. ac. ZUBIRIA Q VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 12, 1938 v4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Carlos Chavez IN V EN TOR. I

' ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 16, 1939 vmmn sum) smuc'runa Carlos Chavez Znbiria, Mexico, 1). a, Mexico Application February 12, 1938, Serial No. 190,283 In Mexico October 15, 19d! 3 Claims.

This invention relates to window shades or blinds, and more particularly to that type known as Venetian blinds.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blind structure which operates or slides in a horizontal plane, the guides in which the shaft of the slats operate being constructed in such a way that they may be built into a wall structure, or applied-as an attachment, to meet various requirements of use.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a Venetian blind structure which may be operated by a remote control mechanism, thereby providing a device which may be embedded in the wall structure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a Venetian blind wherein the slats are mounted in such a way that the slats will be positive in operation, and may be adjusted to positions facilitating the ventilating of the room equipped with blinds of this character.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a window casing illustrating a Venetian blind structure constructed in accordance with the invention, as positioned therein.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the slats of a Venetian blind structure, the slats being shown in their folded or inactive positions.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the cable employed in moving the slats of the Venetian blind, to their closed positions.

Figure 6 is a fragmental elevational view disclosing the slats as moved to close the opening of the window sash with which the Venetian blind 'is used.

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the upper guide members of the Venetian blind structure.

Figure 8 is a sectional view illustrating the lower ends of the shafts of the slats.

Figure 9 is 'a'fragmental perspective view illustrating the guide members over which the rollers at the ends of the slat shafts operate.

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a modifled form of slat.

Figure 11 is an elevational view disclosing a modified form of slat connecting means, together with the mechanism for controlling the opera tion of the slats.

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken 'on line 10 l2 l2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is an elevational view of one of the slats used in the modified form of the invention as shown by Figure 11. v

Figure 14 is a perspective view disclosing one of the guide blocks to which the pivoted slats are connected.

Figure 15 is a fragmental elevational view illustrating a further modified form of slat.

Figure 16 is an elevational view illustrating a modified form of operating cable.

Figure 17 is an elevational view of one of the modified slats, illustrating the guides at the up- I per and lower ends of the slats.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates guide bars arranged in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other along the upper edge of a window or door opening with which the Venetian blind is to be used.

The reference character 6 designates similar guide bars arranged along the lower edge of the window or door closure.

The slats indicated by the reference character I, are supported on the shafts 8 which have their upper and lower ends extended through the spaces between the upper guide bars 5 and lower guide bars 6, there being provided bearing members 9 in the form of balls formed integral with the shafts 8, which bearings rest against the guide bars. supporting the slats.

Formed at the ends of the shafts 8 of the slats I, are arms I!) formed with laterally extended pins H which accommodate the rings I! to which the flexible links l3 are connected, the pins ll being formed with heads to insure against the rings l2 becoming displaced. Collars ll are provided on the ends-of the shafts 8 adjacent to the arms 9 and provide stops for the rings iii to which the upper and lower chains iii are connected. The slats"! at one end of the Venetian blind structure is provided with a handle l8 by means of which the slats may be moved longitudinally of their guide bars, to open or close the slats.

At one end of the frame'in which the Venetian blind operates, is a vertical tubular member II in which the weight l8 operates, the

weight being provided with a pulley l8 over which the cable 28 operates, the cable 20 also operating over the pulley 2| disposed at the upper end of the tubular member II. This cable 20 also operates over pulley 22 disposed adjacent to thelower guide members 8, from where the cable extends to' the ring member 23, where it is connected with the ring member 23; As shown, the cable 28 extends to a point intermediate the end wall 21 of the frame or housing in which the Venetian blind moves, where it is supplied with a ring 28 that extends through an opening in the end wall so that it may be pulled by the operator. This cable 20 passes downwardly over the pulley l9, which is of the double grooved type, and extends upwardly through the tubular member l1, from where it passes over the pulley 25 disposed near the upper end of the wall 21. The cable now passes forwardly and connects with the shaft 8 of the slat 1 at this end of the blind structure, through the medium of the ring 25. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the operator may pull the cable 20, when the slats have been moved to their open positions, at one end of the frame, with the result that the slats will move to close or partially close the opening in which they are supported.

Secured within the opposite end of the frame in which the Venetian blind operates, is a vertical tubular member 29 in which the weight 30 operates, the weight being connected with one end of the cable 3| which moves over the pulley 32 and has connection with the arm I 0 of the shaft 8 at one end of the Venetian blind structure.

The arm ill of the shaft 8 at the opposite end of the Venetian blind structure is connected with the cable 33, through the medium of the ring i 2 positioned on the pin of the arm ID.

This cable 33 moves over the pulley 34, and passes downwardly over the spring drum 35, which spring drum is held in various positions of adjustment by means of the pawl 36. A control rod 31 connects with the pawl 36, and may be operated to'move the pawl 36 to release the spring drum and allow the drum to wind the cable 33 thereon. It will of course be understood that the weight 30 is of such a construction that the combined force of the weight 30 and spring drum 35 will offset the force directed to the cables 20 and 24, through the medium of the weight l8, to the end that the Venetian blinds will be held in various positions of adjustment.

Latches 38 are provided on the slat 1 at one end of the Venetian blind, which latches move into openings of the end wall 21 of the casing, securing the Venetian blind in its extended or closed position.

At the upper and lower ends of the Venetian blind structure, are bars 39, which bars are formed with openings extending inwardly from one of the respective side edges thereof, which openings permit the bars to move so that the shafts 8 which support the slats, may be held therein. Elongated openings 40 are formed adjacent to the ends of these bars, and accommodate the pins 4l, whereby these bars may be operated as described. Thus it will be seen that due to'this construction, when these bars have been moved to embrace portions of the shafts 8, the shafts 8 will be held against movement longitudinally of their guide bars, and the slats of the Venetian. opening.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figure 6 of the drawings, the shafts 42 on which the slats 43 are mounted, are provided with pulleys 44 that contact with the guide members 45, the pulleys 44 being disposed between the adjacent edges of the guide members 45, as shown by Figure 8 of the drawings.

The pulleys at the upper and lower ends of the shaft 42 of one of the end slats, are formed with extensions 48 that have elongated openings 41 providing keepers for the latch members 48 that are pivotally supported at one end of the blind structure. The reference character 48 designates a cable that has its ends connected to these latch members", the intermediate portion of the cable 48 being connected to the ring 58, which extends through an opening in the end wall 5| of the Venetian blind frame. Thus it will be seen that when this ring member 50 is pulled, the latch members 48 will be moved to disengage the extensions 46, releasing the Venetian blind to permit the Venetian blind to be moved to the opposite end of the frame in which it is positioned, thereby opening the blind.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, the slats of the Venetian blind may be moved to their open or closed positions by operating the cable 33. Should it be desired to slide the slats to either end of the frame in which they are positioned, to open or close the opening, this movement may be accomplished by gripping the handle l6 and sliding the slats to the desired position.

As shown by sheet 3 of the drawings, spaced blind structure locked time guide members 5i are arranged adjacent to the ings, one of the guide bars is curved upwardly as at 56 so that it is separated from the ad- J'acent guide bar at one end of the frame of the Venetian blind structure, to the end that the link members 54 may swing upwardly as indicated in Figure 11 of the drawings. course be understood that the pin which is indicated by the reference character 51, and which connects the adjacent ends of these links 54, are of lengths to extend beyond the links 54 and move in the channels 58 formed in the guide bars, so that when the slats of the Venetian blind structure, and which are indicated by the reference character 59 are moved to their spaced positions, they will be held in such spaced positions, against movement, until the slats have been moved to one end of the frame in which they are mounted.

In this form of the invention, the slats 59 are connected at points intermediate their ends, by means of the cable 60, which has connection with each slat, through the medium of the fastener 6|. This cable Silextends around the slats, and has connection with opposite sides of the slats, so that when the cable is pulled in one direction, the slats will be tilted, and that when It will of arcane the cable is pulled in the opposite direction, the slats will be tilted in the opposite direction. The cable 60 has its ends connected with the arm 62 that is pivotally supported within the end slat 59, the arm being disposed horizontally and moves over the clutch face 63 of the member 64 that is also mounted within the end slat 59. The construction of the clutch is such that a pull on the cable 68 will overcome the resistance offered by the clutch face, to allow the arm 62 to pivot, to accomplish the purpose of the invention. It might be stated that the construction as shown by sheet 3 of the drawings, has been designed primarily for permanent installation in the wall structure of a building, and as shown, includes tubular housings 65 and 66 that have their upper ends curved towards the end wall 81 of the blind frame, where they extend through openings in the end wall 81. Cables 58 and 69 extend through the housing 65 and 68, where they are supplied with clips i0 that hook into eyes formed at the ends of the arm 62, connecting the cables to the arm. a

The opposite ends of the cables 68 and 69 are connected with the gear ii that is operated by means of the pinion I2 secured on the shaft 13 that in turn is operated by means of the crank handle 14 that extends through the wall of the casing. Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, should it be desired to tilt the slats 58, the handle 14 is operated to rotate the gear H in the desired direction.

Should it be desired to move the slats 59 to their open positions, or to positions at one end of the frame, the clips 18 are disconnected from the arm 62, and the handle 15 gripped by the operator, who slides the slats throughout the length of the frame, or to positions to provide the desired opening.

In Figure 15 I have illustrated a. modified form of slat, wherein the slat embodies wide sections 16 constructed of suitable translucent material, the opposite sides of the sections being reinforced by the plates 11.

In the form of the invention as illustrated in Sheet 4 of the drawings, the upper and lower spaced guide members are indicated by the reference character 18, between which guidemembers the guide blocks 18 operate. These guide blocks 18 are formed with openings to receive the stub shafts 88 that are secured to the ends of the slats 8| forming the main portion of the Venetian blind structure. The stub shafts 80 are of lengths to extend below the guide blocks 19, where they are connected by means of the chains 82 that are provided with rings 88 fitted over the extended ends'of the stub shafts.

These chains 82 also connect with the end slat 84 of the Venetian blind structure, and this end slat is provided with guide grooves 85 that receive the guide members 18. A handle 86 is provided on the slat 84 and aflords means whereby the ,slat 84 may be slid longitudinally of the guide members 18 in moving the slats of the blind structure, to their open or closed positions, at one end of the frame of the device.

Connected with the slats 8|, at points intermediate their ends, are the flexible members 81, the connection between the slats and members 81, being made near one of the respective edges of the slats, so that when the flexible member 1 87 is pulled, the slats will pivot on their stub shafts, to open or close the spaces between adjacent slats.

This flexible member 87 extends completely around the slats, and connect with the slats at the opposite sides thereof, and adjacent tothe opposite edges of the slats, the ends of the flexible member being connected with the pivoted arm 88 that moves over the clutch member 89 supported by the slat 84. Due to this construction, the arm 88 may be operated to move the slats to various positions with respect to each other, and held in such positions, under normal conditions.

It may be further stated that the slats are provided with recessed edges, so that when the 1. In a Venetian blind, upper and lower guide a members, slats, shafts to which the slats are secured, said shafts extending through the guide members, bearing members on the shafts and engaging the guide members, arms formed at the ends of the shafts, means connected with the arms for pivoting the arms to vary the spaces between adjacent slats, counterbalancing weights adapted to hold the slats in their positions of adjustment and means for connecting the slats whereby the slats may be moved longitudinally of the guide members and folded one upon another.

2. In a Venetian blind, upper and lower guides, vertical slats, a shaft secured to each slat along one of the longitudinal edges thereof, guide blocks on the shafts and operating within the guides, means for rotating the shafts varying the spaces between adjacent slats, and means for connecting the slats whereby the slats may be folded one upon another when the blind is moved to its open position.

3. In an adjustable blind, upper and lower horizontal guide members adapted to be embedded in a closure frame, a plurality of vertical pivoted slats mounted between the guide members, shafts on which the slats are mounted, said shafts operating through the guide members, links connecting the slats at the ends of the shafts, whereby the slats may fold one upon another, a cable connected with the slats, an arm to which the cable is connected, a clutch member engaging the arm and adapted to hold the arm in its positions of adjustment, and said cable adapted to operate to adjust the slats with respect to each other.

CARLOS CHAVEZ ZUBIRIA.

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