US2315605A - Venetian blind structure - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1943- H. J. EHRENFELD 2,315,605 y VENETIAN BLIND STRUCTURE Filed June 29, 1942 Patented Apr. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES lPATENT oFFlcE vaNa'rmN BLIND s'rBUc'rUnE Hugo J. Ehrenfeld, New York, N. Y.

Application June 29, 1942, serial No. 44si925 (ci. 1eo114) 4 Claims.

The present invention is directed to window shades, more particularly to those of the Venetian blind type. v -2 Venetian blinds as heretofore constructed consisted of a series of slats hung upon ladder web and so arranged that the same could be lowered to cover thewindow. If it was desired to shut out light, the slats were tilted, but in such tilting ventilation was cut oil, which was highly undesirable. Also, because the ladder web had a tendency to stretch due to the weight of the slats, in a relatively short time the tilting of the slats did not close out the light, even though it rather effectively shut of! ventilation. 'I'herefore, such Venetian blinds were disadvantageous in such respects.

The present invention is intended and adapted to overcome such disadvantages and to provide a window shade of the Venetian blind type which may be placed in such a position as to shut off substantially all light' while atithe same time allowing free access of air and a full measure of ventilation.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a structure which, in a novel manner, allows light to passthrough the same when desired, the blind at the same time being capable of being placed in such a position as to still allow the ventilation while shutting oil? the light. i

In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a Venetian blind made in accordance with the present invention, some parts being broken away for clearness;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 showing the Venetian blind in another position, wherein light is allowed t-o pass through;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken along the line 4-4 oi' Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the means for holding the slats in relative sence oi' the present invention that the inner or concave side of each slat be coated with a material which will absorb light. In one embodiment of the invention a black lacquer having a matte finish is sprayed or brushed onto the inside of each slat. In accordance with the present invention there are other features which differ from the prior art. The blind is capable of being placed in several positions, in one of which it is completely raised as heretofore. In another position, it is completely open, whereby light may pass through the same. In still a third position, which may be termed an intermediate position, the spacing of the slats is such that no light passes through the same, but there is sufficient open space between adjacent slats so that air will freely circulate therethrough.

With reference to the drawings, vthere is shown a window frame I having a Venetian blind of the present invention hung therein. Facings 3 are provided at the sides of the blind in order to prevent light from filtering past the ends thereof. The side of the facings adjacent the blind may be painted with matte black.

Each of the slats 4 is parabolic in cross-section and has a lining 5 of light-absorbent material of any desired type or kind. It may be a coating placed thereon, or it may be formed as part of the slat itself, or it may be a suitable fabric or other material cemented or otherwise secured thereto. The slats are placed in such a position that the apex of each slat points upwardly.

The lowest slat 6 has a block 'I tted therein to act as a weight, and cords 8 are secured at 9 in block 1. Said cords pass upwardly through circular openings I0 which are slightly larger than the diameter of the cords. The upper ends II of said cords pass through a recess in upper block I2 of the Venetian blind and are adapted to be manipulated in a well known manner to raise the slats into nesting position. Tapes I3 and Il, usually of narrow woven fabric, are secured to the sides of block I2 and are secured to each of the slats in any suitable manner, as by staples I5.

One of the topmost slats I6 has secured thereto cords Il which pass into the recess of block I2 and then outwardly to one of the sides oi' the blind to be manipulated as described below.

A ilat spring I8 having a`shoulder I9 at the upper end and a laterally extending' portion therefrom is secured at 20 along the side of each of the slats at the apex thereof.

Assuming that the blind is in the uppermost,

position, with all of the slats nested at the top of the window, with cord I'I in its uppermost position, all of the slats are nested together. If it is desired to fully open the blind so as to allow both light and air to enter, cords 8 are loosened and the weight of block 'I pulls the entire structure downwardly until it assumes the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be noted that the topmost slats I6 are still nested, so that at 2I the tapes are in folds. The apex 22 of each slat is below the lower edge 23 of the next higher slat. Thereby, a clear space is provided so that rays of light, indicated by arrows 24 and 25, pass through the blind freely, thus providing light. The spacing between adjacent slats is extremely large so that there is practically no obstruction to thevpassage of air through the same and thus perfect ventilation may be obtained.

If it is desired to shut out all of the light, but still allow ventilation through the Venetian blind, the latter is manipulated into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This is accomplished by releasing cords I1, allowing slats I8 to separate, and the folds 2l to flatten out. Each of the lower slats 4 comes in contact with shoulder I9 of spring I8 and is held in such position. As .shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the apex 22 of the slat is above the lower edge 23 of the next higher slat. 'I'his effectively cuts off all light as seen from the arrows 21, 28 and 28 representing rays of light entering the blind at various angles. No matter what the angle is, the light, whether direct or reflected, contacts with the light-absorbent surface of the slats and is completely absorbed. The lower part of tapes I3 and llbecomes somewhat folded, as shown at 26, in this operation. With particular reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that while there is some interference with the flow of air, in the main, the distance between the slats is still maintained and free ventilation is effected. When the Venetian blind is again raised to its uppermost positions, the force applied to cords 8 will, because of the form of spring I8 as shown in Fig. 5, cause the latter to be forced out laterally and thus there is no interference with the nesting of the slats.

From the above, it will be seen that my invention provides a Venetian blind which operates quite diierently from the prior art structures, even though resembling the same at first glance. There is no longer the disadvantage of shutting off ventilation when one attempts to shut on. light and light may be shut oir perfectly, something which could not be accomplished by prior structures.

This type of construction is particularly advantageous where blackouts are in force. The blinds may be closed so completely that no light from a room will pass outwardly, while at the same time giving all the ventilation which is desired. In such blackouts, or more particularly, during air raids, it is desirable that the Windows be open. Even if open, the Venetian blind may be held firmly in place by means of facings 3 and hook 38 on the block 'I which cooperates with eye 3| on window frame I. There are further advantages in 4that it is now no longer necessary to tilt the blind in order to shut ofi' light and the manipulation required for operating the present blind in all of its positions is extremely simple. 'I'he mounting of the Venetian blind is simpler than th'ose of the prior art and less hardware is required for the various cords used. Whereas in prior structures each of the slats had to have a 'I6 slot of considerable width which tended to allow light to come in. in the present invention because there is no tilting, only a circular opening is necessary, which is in such a position that it does not allow light to pass through. The curved convex surfaces of the slats causes the light that impinges thereon to be dispersed and thereby reduces the amount of light falling on a unit area of the light-absorbent surface thereof and renders the absorption of light more effective. The term "parabolic as used in the claims includes curvatures similar thereto, such as hyperbolic.

Although I have described my invention.,Y setting forth a single embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the details of construction may be made. For instance, instead of a surface coating 5 such as is described above, coatings of various other materials and types may be used to accomplish the present result. Springs I8 may be replaced by equivalent mechanical devices or, in some cases, may be omitted, particularly if the blind is to be used only for blackout purposes. These and other changes may be made in the details of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A Venetian blind comprising a series of parallel slats, each of said slats being parabolic in cross-section, the concave side of each slat having a light-absorbent surface so that light from the outside and reflected from a slat is absorbed, the apex of each slat being uppermost, tapes secured to said slats for holding the same in relative alinement, and a cord passing through said slats for drawing said slats together to raise said blind, the spacing of said slats being such that in closed position they nest and in an open position the apex of one slat is within the parabolai of the adjacent slat, means for holding said 4 slats in said open position, means attached to the uppermost slats only for drawing the latter into nested position and for further separating the rest of said slats so that the apex of each is below the parabola of the next higher slat.

2. A Venetian blind comprising a series of parallel slats, each of said slats being parabolic in cross-section, the concave side ofv each slat having a light-absorbent surface so that light from the outside and reected from a slat is absorbed, the apex of each slat being uppermost, tapes secured to said slats for holding the same in relative alinement, and a cord passing through said slats for drawing said slats together to raise said blind, the spacing of said slats being such that in closed position they nest and in an open position the apex of one slat is within the parabola of the adjacent slat, and in a further open position said apex is below said parabola, means for holding said slats in said open position, means attached to the uppermost slats only for drawing the latter into nested position and for further separating the rest of said slats so that the apex olf Sach is below the parabola of the next higher s a 3. A Venetian blind comprising a series of parallel slats, each of said slats being parabolic in cross-section, the concave side of each slat having a light-absorbent surface so that light from the outside and reflected from a slat is absorbed, the apex of each slat being uppermost, tapes secured to said slats for holding the same in relative alinement, and a cord passing through said slats for drawing said slats together to raise said blind, the spacing of said slats being such that in closed position they nest and in an open position the apex of one slat is within the parab- 'ola of the adjacent slat, and in a further open position said apex is below said parabola, spring means for holding said slats in said first open position.

absorbed, the apex of each slat being uppermost,

tapes secured to said slats for holding the same in relative alinement, and a cord passing through said slats for drawing said slats together to raise said blind, the spacing of said slats being such that in closed position they nest and in an open position the apex of one slat is within the parabola of the adjacent slat, and in a further open position said apex is below said parabola, spring means for holding said slats in said first open position comprising a spring attached to the end of each slat and adapted to contact the adjacent slat.

HUGO J. EHRENFELD.

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