US2191602A - Venetian blind - Google Patents

Description

H. W. WATTS VE'NETIAN BLIND Filed June 4, 1936 INVENTOR.

1 d. 002$; ,@1% We ATTORNEYS 1 l l I I 1 'l" Fgb. 27, 1940.

Patented Feb. 27, 1940 Edward J.

Hoff Company, Hamilton, corporation of Ohio Ohio, at

Application June 4, 1936, Serial No. 83,428

1 Claim.

The invention relates to Venetian blinds and more particularly to such blinds having fabric slats.

. As is Well known, Venetian blinds are composed of a plurality of long narrow slats sup- 7 ported on the cross-members of woven laddertapes and are raised and lowered by cords passing through elongated openings made transversely in the slats. Y

The present invention may be considered in relation to the invention disclosed and claimed in the patent to Harry G. Balthasar, 2,091,579, issued August 31, 1937. In the patent the Venetian blind slat is disclosed as fabricated of a relatively light thin material. The slat has been reinforced along its longitudinal edges by means of metallic strips engaged along these edges, or wire inserted in the hems. forcement has been provided constituted by grommet plates clinched to the side edge reinforcements. These grommet plates have surrounded the clearance apertures for the elevating cords.

It has been the object of the present inventor to provide lateral reinforcement meansvfor the slat adjacent the clearance openings, which reinforcement means not only preventsbuckling of the slat but also provides a marginal reinforcement for the clearance openings and additionally to provide that the reinforcement means are efficiently attached with respect to the longitudinal edge reinforcements without clinching of the transverse reinforcement elements themselves. The present invention therefore provides as a structural embodiment, transverse grommet plates clinched with respect to the clearance openings and in another aspect of the invention, grommet plates which are held in place by the longitudinal edge reinforcement means without clinching.

Other objects and further advantages of the invention will be more fully apparent from a description of the following drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of'a section of a blind showing the ladder-tape with slats supported by it;

Figs. 2 and 3 are top and bottom views respectively of a portion of one type of slat embodying the invention, Fig. 2 being taken on section 22 of Fig. 1. l c

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified detail of construction of the combined bracing member and grommet.

Figs. 6 and 7 are top and bottom views respec- Also transverse rein-- tively of another type of slat embodying the invention; and

Fig.8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. l, a laddertape in having the usual cross straps ll supports the slats 12 of the blind. The tape is fastened at the bottom to the rail M to which is secured the end of the lifting cord 15.

Referrings to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the body of the slat I2 is made of rather stiff textile fabric such as is commonly used for window shades, and has hems it along the longitudinal edges secured by stitching ll. To provide longitudinal rigidity, stiff spring wire I3 is inserted in the hems.

An elongated, opening 20 is provided in the slat, through which the cord I5. passes. As is customary, the cord runs through the slats between the tapes. If any lateral pressure is brought to bear on the slat, tending to buckle it, it occurs at the point of contact with the tapes. By reason of the presence of the cord slot 29, this is also the weakest point of the slat. In order to strengthen the slat and at the same time to provide a reinforcing margin for the slot 28 and smooth edges where the slat contacts the cord,

a sheet metal bracing member 2! is secured to the slat. This member is slightly wider than the slot 20 and long enough to be bent around the hems Hi to securely grip them and the wires It contained inthem. Through the member 2! an opening is made of the same size as the opening in the slat and the marginal metal is clinched as at 22 (Fig. 2) to form a grommet for the slot 20, protecting the fabric against raveling and further supporting the fabric.

In Fig. 5 a modified construction is shownin 35 which, instead of crimping the metal of the bracing member around the slot, the bracing member 2| has an opening cut in it the same size as the slot 20 in the fabric and a separate eyelet 23 is clinched around both the fabric member.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7and 8, an embodiment of the invention applicable to a different type of fabric slat is illustrated. -As best shown in Fig. 3, the longitudinal edges of the fabric 30 are made rigid by folding them into metal strips 3!, which are drawn disproportionately large for the sake of clarity. The combined bracing member and grommet 32 is. secured at its ends within the folds of thestrips 3| and is clinched around the fabric as at 33. v i 7 While the invention has been disclosed in detail in connection with specific examplesQit will be understood that these examples are to be con and the bracing strued as illustrative and not by way of limitation. Other modifications are contemplated as within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claim.

What is claimed is:

1 The combination with a fabric Venetian blind slat having stifiening means of folded metal along its longitudinal edges and provided with

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