US2305559A - Louver blind - Google Patents

Description

w. L. RY

LOUVER BLIND Dec. 15, 1942.

Filed Sept. 30, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Roy, y 6V MZQ W. L. ROY

LOUVER BLIND Filed Sept. 30, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 I Sb afa wieg-:Lao bf @i W. L.. ROY

LOUVER BLIND Filed Sept. 50, 1942 Dec. 15, *1942.

3 Sheets-She-et 3 'Eig.8.

`when raised` from eollapse'd'conditlon. The sev- Patented Dec. 15, 1942 UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE control Corporation, Boston,

-tion of Massachusetts Mass., a corpora- Application Sept'l'nbr 30, 194,2, Serial N0. 460.190

14 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian or louver blinds and Vmore particularly to an improved blind of this nature adapted to close a'windo'w opening or the like to reduce or shut off the passage of light and sound therethrough, and at 5 the saine time permit ample ventilation. While the invention especially concerns blinds for blackout purposes it is not limited thereto since it is frequently desired to diminish light rays and sound waves rather than to eliminate them entirely.

I am aware that ithas been heretofore suggested. as in U. S. Patent 2,059,134, to provide inverted -V-shaped Venetian blinds 1n nested relation to=trap light rays arid at the same time permit ventilation. The primary object of my invention is to produce a novel, relatively simpler and inexpensive `blind which will perform the deslied'functi'ons in greater degree and efficiency.

Preferably my improved blind is constructed of paper or like fabric folded to provide the desired .slats or louvers and so formed that the slots normally rest in flat collapsed relation at the bottom of the window and automatically as sume their nested V-shape relation when the 2'. blind is raised. The slats are connected ldirectly to each other in a manner permitting freeopening and closing thereof, the open relation being effected by raisins,r the blind by means of a 4cord or the like attached to the upper slat.

In the `'preferred construction, each slat or louver embodies a strip of suitable material creased longitudinally to form an axis aboutv which the slat can pivot to inverted V-.shape eral slats can be independent strips attached to' each other Vin the novel manner' hereinafter described or all the slats can be formed from a single stripfolded to producethe several slats integrally `connected to each other in a, relation '4l permitting full functioning of the blind. In either case intermediate portions of the slats are perforated to permit ventilation while the Vslats' so overlap as to trap light raysand' deaden sound .waves It'will be apparent that paper an'dlike -4-f,

fabric absorbs sound `waves in large degree and the colory of the'- paper can be such as substa'n'- tialiy to cut oil any passage of light or diffuse' the4 iig-ht in .the degrees desired. The productionof an` improved blind of. this nature com# prises' a further object of theinvention;

These and. other featuresof the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments' thereofselectedfor purposes `of illus-tration and 55 (Cl. 1GO-34) shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front-elevationof a 'window employing my improved blind,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2, but showing the blind in collapsed position,

Fig. 5 is a. similar vform of the invention.-

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a stripof material from Vwhich the blind is formed,

Fig. 'l is a view similar to FigpZ, but showing a modified construction, i Fig. 8- is a *view 'likellig r'7, but s'ho`wing the blind in collapsed position,

Fig. 9 is a` fragmentary View showingthe constructionV of the blind` illustrated in Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 illustrates a modified construction, and l' Fig. 11 is anend view showing the construction illustrated in Fig. 10.

While in the drawings I have illustrated my novel blind in association with a window 'it will be understood that rits use is not to be construed as thus limited. The' window frame illustrated comprises the usual sill ID, frame uprights I2 and top piece lll, and the blindis illustrated as' mounted therein.

' I shall rst refer to Figs. 1-4 and 6 ofl the' drawings wherein the 'plin'd is illustrated as"V formed` from a single strip of 'material I5. This' strip' I 6 can be of any suitable fabric, either paper' or treated cloth. I preferably employ paper oji The panels 22 are also perforated at 24 adjacent to the crease lin'es I9.

thecrea'se liliesv I8 and I9 in the' directionsjindi. cated at -the bottom" of Fig.' 6. The-nrs't two" panels 2li and 22 attire left and .at opposite sides of the perforations 24' are folded on the' line I9 to 'me bund is formed-by folding the 4strip" It on" the inverted V'shape-indi'cate`d. The adjacent' panels 2'2 and 20 'are' folded into face' to'face coritact in the same direction on' the line I8. The next adjacent panels Zlland 22 i3.re. .fo'ld'e dV-V shaped on' theline' I9. The next adjacent p'anels 22 and 20 are' foldedint'o indicated. This sequence of folding is followed' throughout;v th'e length of the' strip' and the' folds' about the lines IB are broughtto and adhesivly" view showing a modified face to' fa'ce' Contact as secured in face to face contact. The resulting product when thus folded is illustrated in Fig. 2.

The blind as thus constructed comprises a plurality of louvers or slats integrally connected together. Each slat comprises two side wall portions 25 hinged together along the crease line I9, one portion being double walled throughout from the axis I9 outwardly and narrower than the other portion which includes the panel portion perforated at 24 and connecting the two adjacent slats` When the blind is mounted in vertical position as illustrated in Figs. 1-4 the slats are adapted to collapse into substantially flat superposed relation with the two walls of each slat substantially in a common plane as in the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The bottom panel of the blind is secured to the window sill I0 as by nails 28, and the blind is adapted to be raised by a. cord 30 attached to the top slat and extending over a sheave 32.

It will be noted (Fig. 2) that the blind comprises two groups of slats with the slats of one group arranged alternately with respect to the slats of the other group, and with the slats of each group arranged in vertical alignment and spaced laterally of the other group which is also in vertical alignment. The pivot axes I9 (apexes 40) of one group are also in a vertical plane spaced laterally of a vertical plane containing the axes I9 of the other group. The ends of the slats are recessed at 34 between said planes and vertically extending elements 36, preferably made of paper' and impervious to light and attached to the window frame at 38, extend into the recesses 34. These elements serve both to guide the blind and close the ends against passage of light rays.

The slats stack automatically into iiat superposed relation when the blind is down and, when the blind is raised by the cord 3U to the position of Fig. 2, the slats pivot about their axes I9 into inverted V shape with the axis apex 4t. of each slat located within the re-entrant V recess of the slat thereabove. In such position the passage of light rays is excluded.

By reference to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the outside panel 22 of each side wall extends upwardly beyond the apex 4I) thereofA and is connected to the next adjacent wall thereabove, these connecting portions of the strip located between theapexes 40 being perforated at 24. The perforations permit Vample ventilation through the blind without permitting light rays to pass therethrough. It will be apparent that sound waves are also trapped and substantially dea-dened by the blind. A housing 42 open at its bottom portionfor receiving the blind in the raised position of Fig. 2 is securedto the top end of the frame, the housing serving to cut oli any light rays that might project over the top of the blind.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated use `of the blind in connection with an ordinary Venetian blind 44.

A housing 4B is provided for receiving the Venetian blind in its raised position and an extension l thereof is provided at 48 for receiving the top end Figs. 7 and 8. When it is desired to4 use the blackout blind, it is merely attached to the Venetian blind at 6U, whereupon raising of the Venetian i blind serves to raise. the blind 4S) toits functioning position. l

; tinuing on and supporting the panel 55.

It is appreciated that my improved blind can be constructed in numerous ways. For example, strips can be folded to form the double V slats 52, two of which are illustrated in Fig. 9. Each of these slats-` comprises a double wall 53 together with two single side walls 54 and 55. The double Wall comprises one panel in adhesive face to face contact with a portion of an adjacent and wider panel. The latter has a perforated portion con- The panels 54 are wider than the panels 55 and are in face to face adhesive contact therewith at 56 as illustrated in Fig. 9. The slats 52 are assembled by stacking them flatly in superposed relation, the

. top faces oi. the panels 55 being adhesively coated whereby to connect the slats together. The blind 5B, illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, is constructed in this manner.

I also preferably provide a container 6U supported on the window sill for receiving and housing the blind in the collapsed position illustrated in Fig. 8. The container is secured adhesively to the sill and the bottom end of the blind is secured adhesively to the container at 62. The top slat B4 is also provided with two side wings 5G fitting within the housing 68 when the blind is up (Fig. 7) and serving together with the top slat as a tight cover for the container when the blind is down (Fig. 8). The housing and other parts can be conveniently secured in place by adhesive tape (i5. This blind otherwise functions in the same manner as the blind illustrated in Figs. 1-4.

`In Figs. l0 and ll I have illustratedv another method of constructing-the blind in the form of single V slats. Strips are folded to provide two panels 10 and 'I2 joined along a creased apex axis 14, the panel 1U being wider and including a portion perforated-at 18. lThe strips are assembled in flat relation as illustrated in Fig. 11. The narrower panels of the strips are coated adhesively at 'I5 and the panels are then stacked into the alternately and reversely arranged relation illustrated in Fig. 11. The several slats are thereupon secured together' at their adhering faces and in a manner producing the blindv illustrated in Fig. 1U.

My improved blind is preferably made of paper or like soft and inexpensive material which can be conveniently produced in desirable color and texture and readily cut and folded to the blind forming shape. Such material furthermore has the quality of absorbing light rays and sound waves. While the blind is especially adapted to serve blackout purposes with great eiiicency 'its use is by no meanslimited .to military periods but is likewise very adaptable to peace times. For blackout purposes the 'blinds will ordinarily be black or of a dark color, whereas, for some peacetime uses its color will vary. For example, the

invention can be constructed to serve as a partition or screen, either dark or of a color hue, photographic dark room screens 4in `dark or red hue.- and in fact in any location where a screen or comprising two side walls hinged together onan axis extending longitudinally of the slats and the slats being adapted to collapse into substantiallynat superposed relation with the two Walls of'v each slat substantially in a common plane. and' means-connecting each slat adjacent to and along its said axis to one wall of a slat thereabove along a line parallel with and spaced from its said axis, the slats being adapted each to assume an inverted V-shape with the hinge axis apex of each slat located within the re-entrant V recess of the slat thereabove when the blind is lifted by the top slat.

2. The blind dened in claim l in which the apex of each slat is connected to one wall of the slat thereabove along a line parallel with and spaced from the apex of the latter.

3. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the slats comprise ,two groups with the slats of one group arranged alternately with respect to the slats in the other group and with the hinge axes of the two groups respectively located in two relatively spaced vertical planes.

4. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the slats have vertically aligned slots extending thereinto at their ends, and fixed vertically extending element impervious to light extending into the vslots at the two ends of the blind.

5. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the slats comprise two groups with the slats of one group arranged alternately with respect to the slats in the other group and with the hinge axes of the two groups respectively located in two relatively spaced vertical planes, and iixed vertically extending elements impervious to light extending into the slatsbetween said two planes at the two ends of the blind.

6. The blind defined in claim 1 in which the two walls of each slat are integrally connected along a scored line at said axis.

7. A blind, comprising a pluralityof slats of paper or the like in superposed relation vertically, each slat comprising a strip scored longitudinally and dividing the slat into two parts relatively movable about the scored axis, the slats comprising two groups with the slats of one group arranged'alternately with respect to the slats of the other group, means so connecting the slats that the scored axes of each group remain in a vertical plane spaced from a vertical plane in which the scored `axes of the other group are 1ocated, and means attached to the top slat for lifting the blind to anopen position in which the slats assume an inverted V-shape and are relatively cupped in spacedrelation and for lowering the blind into a collapsed positionA in which the slats rest on each other.

8. The blind defined in claim '7 in which a portion of one part of each slat adjacent to its scoring connects thatslat with the s la-t therebeneath.

9. The blind dened in claim 7 in which the slats area continuous strip of paper or the like folded toproduce the slats in integrally connected relation.

10. A blind, comprising a plurality of slats of paper or the like in superposedrelation vertically, each Slat comprising a strip scored longitudinally and dividing the slat into two parts relatively movable about the scored axis, the slats comprising two groups with the slats of one group arranged alternately with respect to the slats of the other group, the `slats of-each group .beingin vertical alignment and spaced laterally of the other group, and' one part of'each slat from its said axis outwardly being wider than the other part and supporting the next adjacent slat therebeneath in face to face contact therewith.

11. Thev blind deiined in claim 10 in which said next adjacent slat is in face to face contact with` the slat therea'bove to a position short of the said axis thereof and in which the portion of said slat thereabove between its said axis and the contacted portion is perforated to permit ventilation.

12, A blind comprising a plurality of elongated slats in superposed relation vertically, a container at the bottom of the blind for receiving the slats in collapsed position thereinto, means for raising the blind to open position from the container, the top' slat being adapted to rest on and cover the container when the blind is collapsed thereinto, and side wings carried by the top slat and adapted to nt over and extend downwardly `along the. side walls of the container.

portion, the first remaining end portions beyond Yits crease line being wider than the second remaining end portion beyond its4 crease line, and the said remaining end portions of each strip lbeing adhesively attached in face to face contact with like portions of adjacent strips whereby providing a. blind comprising a plurality of said folded and creased strips.

14. A b1ind.c omprising a plurality of strips of Vpaper or the like each creased thereacross on a straight line providing two panels atopposite sides of the line, one panel being Wider than the other panel, said strips being stacked' in superposed relation with;the narrower panels located alternately at opposite sides of the stack, and means securing the narrower panels in face to face contact with the free outer portions of th wider panels.

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