US2209234A - Venetian blind - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1940e M. J. NARDULLI VENETIAN BLIND Filed March 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l Rue/@for Mza/mei cf/Vardull July 23, 1940.

Filed March 20, 1939 M. J. NARDULLI VENETIAN BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented July'23, 1940 UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND Michael J. Nardulli, Chicago, lll. Application .March 20, 1939, Serial No. 262,872

12 Claims.

The invention relates generally to Venetian blinds.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved Venetian blind 5.. wherein both the tilting and raising and lowering functions are performed by a single self-locking gearing device which serves in addition as one of the supporting members for the blind,

which blind is readily removable from its supportlo ing means for cleaning purposes and the like,

and which is so constructed that the various parts are of a simple and inexpensive character.

Another object is to pr'ovide such a new and -improved Venetian blind wherein the single ac- 15 tuatngmeans for attaining the tilting and raising and lowering functions is of such a character as to provide for easy and nely graduated adjustment of the blind both as to elevation and tilted position, as well as quiet and uniform action of zo the blind at all times.

A further object is to provide such a blind which is so constructed as to prevent undue wear upon the elevating cords as Well as the Slat-supporting tapes. f

-mother object is to provide a new and improved mounting for supporting the ladder-tapes upon the transverse upper member of the blind.

' Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, taken in 30` connection with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is an inside elevational view of a Venetian blind embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along 35 the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

y Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view showing the manner in which the ladder tapes are associated with the supporting and actuating means.

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig.

1 showing the slats in the outwardly facing rela-- tion assumed during lowering of the blind.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the slats tilted to their horizontal or fully open positions.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 and showing the slats in the substantially inwardly facing relation assumed during elevation of the blind.

For purposes of disclosure I have illustrated in the drawing, and will hereinafter describe in del tail the preferred embodiment of the invention,

with the understanding that I do not intend to limit my invention to the particular construction and arrangement shown, it being contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the form chosen for disclosure herein, the invention is embodied in 'a Venetian blind III 54 (Fig. 1) operatively mounted in a window frame II having side frame members I2 and I3, a top frame member I4 and a sill I5. The blind I0, in the form illustrated, comprises a plurality of elongated thin slats I6 which may be of conven- 10 tional width, thickness, material and finish, normally suspended in vertically spaced, parallel relation to each other by means sof conventional ladder-tapes I1 which are spaced laterally from each other and are operatively associated at their l5 upper ends with a tiltable operatingl yor supporting means 20.

At their -lower ends, the tapes I1 are conventionally xed as by tacks 2I (Fig. 5) to a relatively heavy toe rail 22.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to V'7, each ladder-tape Il is made from flexible woven fabric, and cornprises an inner band Il' and an outer band Il." connected by ladder cross rung elements 23. and

23" formed from fabric and adapted to support 2,5.

the slats I6 in the desired spaced relation. 'Ihe ladder cross rungs 23' and 23" are relatively narrow, as shown in Fig. 4, and are arranged so that all of 'the cross rungs 23' are located adjacent to the left hand side of the tape I'I, and alternate 30 with the cross rungs 23" which are located adjacent to the right hand edge of the tape. Thus there is provided within the tapes II a vertical passage through which elevating cords 25 may pass from the toe rail 22 to the supporting mem- 35 ber 20, there being suitable slots 26 formed in the slats I6 within the tapes to provide a clear passage for the elevating cords 25. v A

In a blind of this character it is desirable to provide for tilting the'slats in either direction from 40 the horizontal or fully open position of Figs. 1

and 6, such tilting being to and in some instances past the outwardly facing position of Fig. 5, or to and beyond theinwardly facing position of Fig. 7.

In addition, it lis desirable that provision be made for raising and lowering the blind, and in accordance with the present invention, both the tilting and raising and lowering functions are accomplished through manipulation of the supporting means 2l). In attaining such functioning of the' supporting means 20 the present invention provides for finely graduated adjustment of the l tilted positions of the slats, as well as vthe elevation of the blind, and such .adjustment is attained 55 by means which is simple in structure and positive, smooth, and quiet in its action.

In the present instance both of the cords 25 are formed integrally so as to extend along the bottom of the toe rail 22 as at 25', and upwardly through relatively large holes 21 (Fig. 5) in the toe rail into the space between the cross rings 23 and 23". 'I'he cords pass through the slots 26 in the slats I6 to the supporting member 20.

It will be noted that by forming the two elevating cords 25 integrally and passing the cord loosely'along the bottom of the toe rail and through the holes 21, the toe rail is readily adjustable to the desired horizontal position.

In accordance with the present invention the supporting means is in the form of a cylindrically shaped roller or rod which has axial supporting pins 30 and 3| projecting from its opposite ends and adapted to engage mounting brackets 32 and 33'secured to the window frame The pin 30 as herein shown ,is iixed non-rotatably in thel roller 20 and is cylindrical inform so as j to be rotatable in its bracket 32. The pinl3| is also non-rotatably secured to the roller'20, as by means of a nail portion 3| (Fig. 3) driven axially into the roller, and, if desired, a suitable decorative collar 3|" may be added about the pin 3| so as to assist the nail portion 3 in maintainingthe desired non-rotative relation between the roller 2|) and the pin 3|. 'I'his projecting pin 3|, however, has a non-circular form, such as the -square cross section herein shown, so as to engage a suitable complemental opening in an operating element of its bracket 33, thereby to function in a manner tov beI hereinafter explained in attaining the desired rotative or rocking movement of the roller 20.

The elevating cords 25 are secured at their upper ends to the roller 20 as by staples 34 so that in rotation of the roller 20 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 4), the two cords will be wound simultaneously about the roller 20 so as to correspondingly elevate the blind.

To support the tapes in the desired operative relation to the roller 20 so as to permit the necessary rotation of the roller in the blind-elevating or blind-lowering operation, the tapes are arranged to extend or loop over the top of the roller; and in attaining this end the present invention provides a novel mounting which prevents undue wear on the tapes |1 as well as upon the cords 25. Thus the cross rung 23a which is next above the cross rung supporting the uppermost slat |8 is placed or looped over the top of the roller 20'as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and .4', and this bearing tape or cross rung 23a serves to support the tape I1 upon the roller 20. Since the roller 20 must rotate with respect to the bear- 'ing cross rungs 23a, the present invention provides bearing means of simple construction between the cross rungs 23a. and the roller. As herein shown, this-'bearing means for each cross rung', comprises a cylindrical metal ring 40 of slightly greater vdiameter 'than the roller 20, surrounding the roller 20 and having means such as outwardly sloping ears 4| serving to position the-cross rung 23a laterally thereon. By means such as a wire 43 ywound about the ears 4| overv the cross rung 23a', the cross rung is held inplace onthe bearing ring. 'I'he bearing ring 4B preferably has a width only slightly greater 'than one-half of the. width of the tape |1 so that the cord 2S may be wound on the roller 20 prin-A cipally beneath the other half of the tape. This wound portion of the elevating cord is con- `pulley 41. like actuator such as a bead-chain 48 is posicealed at least in part by the upper ends of the inner and outer bands I1' and I1" of the tapes, which bands are joined together at |1'a (Fig. 2) over the top of the roller, as bymeans of sewing the ends of the bands together. Preferably the joined upper endsof the bands are proportioned so as to extend loosely over the top of the roller, the weight of the blind, insofar as it is supported by the tapes l1, being carried by the supporting cross rungs 23a. Thus the cords 25 may wind beneath the connected upper ends` 1a of the tapes, so that the connected ends may serve as a concealing meanswithout causing undue wear upon either the tapes or the cords.

In accordance with the present invention the blind is actuated by means embodied in its entirety and forming ya part of the bracket 33,

l and in the form illustrated comprisesa Worm and worm wheel gearing in which the worm wheel 45 is operatively associated with the non-circular stud or pin 3| of the roller 20, while the worm 46 has its shaft 46 projecting horizontallyoutwardly from the'bracket 33 to receive an actuating V- Over the pulley 41 an endless belttioned so as to depend from the pulley 41 to a level within convenient reach of a person. l A retaining* means such as a-yoke 49 may be provided, if desired, to prevent displacement of the bead chain.

The worm and worm wheel bracket 33 may be of many types, but, in accordance with the present invention, is of such a. construction that the pin 3| may be operatively associated therewith by a simple endwise insertion intova corresponding shaped driving aperture such as the squared central opening 50 formed in the exposed central portion of the worm wheel 45. It will be understood that the worm wheel 45 is rotatably supported Within the bracket 33 so that the central portion of its side surfaces are exposed through openings 50' in the bracket 33. Various gear ratios may also be employed in the worm' and worm wheel, the ratio of speed reduction between the-worm and the worm Wheel preferably being as small as possible while maintaining a self-locking action suflicient to support or maintainghe" in the worm and worm wheel gearing will pro-- duce satisfactory operation and is especially advantageous insofar as smoothness and accuracy of the tilting operation is concerned. If it is desired to reduce the relative amount of actua- `tion required for the actuating chain 48, the reduction ratio of the worm and worm wheel gearing may -be made smaller, so long as the requisite self locking characteristic is maintained, 0r a speed multiplying gearing may be inserted in the drive path between the actuatorpulley 41 and the worm 46.l

In the use of the present construction it will be noted that any actuating movement of the actuating chain 48 `is transmitted vimmediately to the tapes |1 to produce the desiredadjusting or tilting movement of the slats I6, despite the fact that the ladder tapes have but a friction engagement with theroller 20; and that the tiltedjadjustment may be `varied in minute increments without unnecessary reversal or of movement of the actuating chain. Since. the actuation of the roller 20 may be relatively slow, there is no tendency o1' the roller to slip within the frictionally related supporting cross 23a, and

Because of the fact that the depending actuaring element vis ofthe single endless belt type,

and since it is associated withjzhe permanently mounted bracket 33, the removal of the blind for cleaning purposes or the like is rendered relatively simple.A Thus, such' removal is accomplished by lifting the 'end pin 3l from its supporting bracket, after which the released o r right hand end of the roller is moved outwardly tov a slight extent so that`the roller may be shifted endwise away from the bracket 33 to disengage the drive pin 3| from the worm wheel I5. In replacing or originally mounting the blind, this easy and convenient operation is reversed.

Inorder that the wear upon the elevating cords may be minimized, and the range of tilting movement of the slats increased, the present invention provides slots 2li in the slats IG which extend relatively close to the edges of the slats. Thus the length of the slots 26 transversely of the slat 'is substantially more than one-half the slat width. Hence the elevating cords-25 extending downwardly from the outer edge of the roller ldo not interfere with the tilting movement of the slats in the objectionable manner which would be encountered if the conventional short slots were employed. As a result, this novel slot formation and the unitary tilting and elevating mechanism of the present invention cooperate in producing a blind which is` economical in construction, simple and convenient in operation,

and capable of tilting movement to the desired fully closed positions.

In the use' of the present blind the slat tilting Y operation as Well as the raising and lowering of the blind are accomplished by Vactuation of the single actuating loop member I8 which is suspended along one Y end portion of the blind.

When the slats are to be tilted, the achlating loop is pulled downwardly on one side 'of its loop or the other so as to' rotate the supporting member in one direction or the other in accordance with the desired direction of tilting movement of the slats.

When the blind is to be raised or lowered, the actuating loop is similarly operated to rotate the supporting member in such a direction as t0 wind the supporting cords on the supporting member in the event that the blind is toV be raised, or to unwind the cords if the blind is to be lowered. When the desired position of the lower edge of the blind is attained, the desired tilted angle of the slats is attained by appropriate manipulation of the actuating loop as hereinabove described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination, a worm and worm wheelbracket adapted to be mounted at'one side of awindow frame, a second supporting bracketv adapted to be mounted at the'other side of such a frame, a supporting rod having one end adapted to ibe removably associated with said worm wheel to be supported and rotatably actuated thereby, meansv at the other end of the rod adapted to support said other end rotatably on said second bracket, means foractuating said worm and worm wheel to rotate said rod, and a blind structure comprising slats; supporting ladder-tapes, a toe rail and elevating cords, said blind structure having its ladder-tapes looped over and frictionally associated with said rod to support said Yblind structure and to -tilt said slats in response to rocking movement of said rod, and having its elevating cords attached to said rod to wind about said rod in rotation thereof and thereby elevate said blind.

2. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of slats having` supporting ladder-tapes associated therewith, said slats having transverse slots therein locatedat points within said ladder tapes. a toe rail associated withc said .tapes at their'lowevr ends, elevating cords operatively associated with said toe rail and extending upwardly through said-slots and within said ladder-tapes, a singleroller element to which the upper ends of said cords are attached to elevate said blind when said roller is rotated and over 'which upper portions of said tapes are4 looped in frictional relation to support said tapes for tilting said slats whenI the roller is rotated while permitting rotation of said roller for raising and lowering vof the blind, and nl eans for rotatably supporting said roller including a bracket adapted to be mounted at one side of avwindow frameto rotatably support one end of the roller, an endless belt-like actuator suspended from said bracket, and means operatively associating said actuator with said roller to rotate said roller when said actuator has a belt-like actuating movement manually imparted thereto, and operable in the absence of such manual actuation of said actuator to lock said roller against movement by the ing upwardly through said slots andwithin said ladder-tapes, a. single roller element to which the upper ends of said cords are attached to elevate said blind when said roller is rotated and over which upper portions of said tapes are looped in frictional relation to support said tapes for tilting said slats when the roller is rotatedwhile permitting rotation of said roller for raising and lowering of the blind, and means for supporting said roller and actuating said blind comprising a trunnion projecting axially from one end of the roller, a non-circular connecting element at the other end of said roller, a bracket member adapted to be mounted adjacent one side of a window frame and having a self-locking gearing including a driving member driving a driven rotatable member adapted to be engaged by said noncircular element in an axial approaching movement of said roller so as to support and rotate the adacent end of said roller* a second bracket adapted to receive and rotatably support said trunnion after the mounting of the roller in s aid first bracket, and means for actuating said driv-- ing member.

4. A Venetian blind comprising, in combinaing movement of said rod, and having its' elevating cords attached to said rod to wind about said rod in rotation thereof and thereby elevate said blind structure,'a pair of brackets lfor' supporting said Vrod,.and actuating means permanently 15 sociated therewith, said slats having transverse slots therein at points so spaced as to be located within said tapes, and said tapes having a toe rail operatively associated therewith at their lower ends, said tapes being constructed of fabric to embody inner and outer bands connected by ladder cross rungs positioned alternately adjacent opposite edges of the bands so as to provide a clear vertical passage therebetween elevating cords operatively associated with said toe rail and extending upwardly Vthroughsaid slotsA within said tapesand through said passages, and

a single roller member to which 'said cords are attached to wind about said roller when thel roller is rotated and thereby elevate said blind, and over which the ladder cross -rungs next above the uppermost slat are looped in frictional association so as to support saidtapes for tilting of the slats when the roller is rocked while permitting the requisite rotation of the roller for raising and lowering of the blind.

7. A Venetian blind as dened in claim 6 wherein the upper ends of said inner and outer v bands are joined so as to eirtend' loosely oversaid roller so as to permit free winding of said cords about the roller beneath and concealed by said jointed ends while avoiding the functioning of said joined ends .as a supporting means for said tapes.

` 8. In a Venetian blind, the combination o f a plurality of slats having supporting tapes associated therewith, said slats having transverse slots therein at points so spaced as to be located within said tapes, and said tapes having a toe rail secured to their lower ends, said tapes being constructed of fabric to embody inner and outer4 bands connected by ladder cross rungs positioned alternately adjacent opposite edges of the bands so as to denne a free and unobstructed vertical passage therebetween, elevating cords operatively associated with said toe rail and extending pwardly through said slots within said tapes and through said passages. and a single roller member towhich said cords are attached to wind about said roller when the roller is Vrotated and thereby elevate said blind, over which upper portions of said tapes are looped-in frictional association so as to support said tapes for tilting of the slats when the roller is rocked while permitting the requisite rotation of the roller for raising and lowering of the blind. said slots being of a Alength substantially greater than one half the transverse width of said slats whereby to provide a full range tilting of tilting movement for said 9. A Venetian 'blind comprising, in combination, a plurality ofslats yhaving supporting tapes associated therewith, said slats having transverse slots therein at points so spaced as to be located and means for actuating said roller.

within said tapes, and said tapes having a toe rail located at their lower ends, said tapes being constructed of fabric to embody inner and outer bands connected by ladder c ross rungs positioned alternately adjacent opposite edges of the bands so as to provide an upward passage there'be` tween, elevating cords operatively associated with said toe rail and extending upwardly through said slots within said tapes vand through said passages, a single roller member to which said cords are attached to wind about said roller when 1 the roller is rotated and thereby elevate said blind, and over which the ladder cross rungs next above the uppermost slat are looped in fric', tional association so as tov constitute bearing ladder cross rungs supporting said tapes for tilting of the slats when the roller is rocked while permitting the requisite rotation of the roller for raising and lowering of the blind, and a bearying member loosely surrounding and bearing upon said roller beneath said each of said bearing cross rungs and operatively secured to said bearing cross rungs to act as a wear-resistant motion-transmitting means between the roller and said bearing cross rungs. 10. As Venetian blind as dened in claim 9 wherein said bearing rungs are of a width substantially less than said tapes.

11. A Venetian blind comprising, in combination, a plurality of slats, ladder tapes associated with said slats to support the same, said slats having slots formed therein for the passage of elevating cords, a toe rail associated with the lower endsv of said tapes, a roller over which portions 'of the upper parts of said tapes are looped in frictional relation to the roller so as to tilt said slats when the roller is rocked, means supporting said roller for rotation, elevating cords associated at their upper ends with said roller so as to be wound around. the roller when said roller is rotated, said elevating tapes extending downwardly through said slots, the lower ends of said toe rail and being joined together beneath saidtoe rail so that the toe rail may be adjusted to a horizontal position without disturbing the connection between the cords and said roller,

12. A Venetian blind" comprising, in combination, a plurality of slats, ladder tapes associated with said slats to support the same, said slats having slots formed therein' :for the passage of elevating cords, a toe rail vassociated with the lower ends'of said tapes, a roller over which portions of Ythe upper parts of said tapes are looped in -i'rictional'relation to the roller so as to tilt said slats .when the roller is rocked, means supporting said roller 'for rotation, elevating cords associated at their upper endswith said roller so. as tobe wound around the roller when said roller is rotated, said elevating tapes extending downwardly through said slots, the lower ends oi.' `said cords being joined together; and means on said' toe rail forming openings through which said cords pass in av free slidable relation saidcords being passed through openings in-

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