US2317659A - Venetian blind - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1943. L. c. WILLIAMS 2,317,659

VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 25, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l x INVENTR. l'lfi C Mu. 07/78 Patented Apr. 27; 1943 VENETIAN BLIND Lisle C. Williams, Memphis, Tenn., assignor of twenty per cent to J.

Heiskell Weather-ford,

Tenn.

H. Weatherford and Jr., both of Memphis,

Application August 25, 1941, Serial No. 408,158

9' Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in slatted blinds of the so-called Venetian type, having the usual ladder tapes for supporting the slats, and provision for relatively shifting the tapes to vary the slat angles, and more particularly to means for detachably attaching the slats to the cross tapes of the ladder.

The primary object of the present invention is:

To provide simple and efficient means for detachably securing the slats against displacement in the direction of their length in the ladder tapes while allowing freedom against binding engagement with the cross tapes of the ladder during rotational shift of the slats.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects are accomplished and the method of their accomplishment will readily be understood from the following specification on reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation showing upper and lower portions of one side of a blind made and supported in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 2 a corresponding. fragmentary sectional plan taken on the line .IIII of Fig. 1, both figures showing the blind sunk into a window frame so that it lies between the side frames; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar fragmentary views of the opposite side of a window frame and of a blind which overlaps the frame.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a modification of the type of supporting bracket for use where the blind is disposed within the window frame as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan showing a modified type of the attaching bracket shown in Fig. 4 and adapted for use where the blind overlaps the window casing.

Fig. '7 is an additional fragmentary sectional plan showing a type of bracket adapted for use where the blind lies between the side frames of the window, but is only partially sunk in the frame. Y

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan on an enlarged scale taken as on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 3 showing the slat approximately full size.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation taken on the line X-X of Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional plan corresponding to Fig. 8 showing a modified type of the slat attaching means.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional elevation .taken on the line XII-XII of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 a fragmentary sectional side elevation taken on the line XIIIXIII of Figs. 11 and 12.

Fig. 14 is an inverted plan view showing a fragmentary portion of a wooden slat provided with attaching means similar to that shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13; and

Fig. 15 a'reinverted section XV-XV of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a slat on a much reduced scale indicating positioning of the holdtaken on the line ing tongues at differing distances'from the slat ends.

Fig. 17 is a perspective sketch showing a clip form of attaching means secured to the slat.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicated by numerals:

2| is one side frame of a window. casing, 23.

an opposite side frame, and 25 the window sill.

The blind comprises a top rail 21, a bottom rail 29, slats 3| and ladder tapes supporting these slats in uniformly spaced relation, the spacingv as usual being less than the slat widths so that the slats may be oscillatably shifted into overlapping relation and form a substantially complete closure.

The ladder tapes, as usual, include side tapes 33, 33-A and 35, 35-A, in pairs with cross tapes 39, for the support of the' slats, the side tapes extending over and under the top and bottom rails respectively and being firmly secured there- The top rail has pins 4| projecting from its opposite ends into engagement with suitably apertured brackets, as the bracket 43 of Fig. l, or the bracket 45 of Fig. 3. and the bottom rail, similar pins 41, in similar engagement as with corresponding brackets 49. of Fig. 1,.or 5| of Fig. 3, depending as the case may be, on whether the blind be of the sunken or overlapping type.

These brackets may be of heavy and rigid type and the pins retractable and spring u rged, as shown in my Patent No. 2,206,196, to permit engagement. or the pins may be rigidly mounted in the rail ends and the brackets be of resilient type and adapted for deflection to permit pin engagement as here intended to be indicated. Each bracket has a shank portion suitably apertured as for attaching screws as the screws 44 of Fig. 1, or screws 58 of Fig. ,5, and a tongue portion, apertured for reception of the pin4i, as the tongue portion, 42 of Fig. l, or the tongue portion 54 of Fig. 5. Preferably if resilient in each such engagement a Washer, as the washer 53, is inserted between t e rail end and the bracket. In Fig. 7 the bFacket 55 is similarly adapted, depending on whether it be rigid or resilient, for either spring urged pin engagement or the rigid type Pin and resilient bracket engagement, this type of bracket, depending on length of outward U-loop and inward distance therefrom of the pin receiving hole, providing for partially-casing-sunk blinds.

In Figs. and 6, brackets 51 and 59 are shown which differ from the preceding brackets in that i the U return loop of these brackets is omitted,

and no end thrust stop is provided for the pin, if it be spring urged. However, if the pin be shouldered to limit end thrust, this type bracket is adapted for use with either the spring urged or the rigid pin.

The slats 3|, as shown in enlarged detail in Figs. 8 to 13, inclusive, are preferably of thin metal and are arcuately curved as shown in the cross sections, Figs. 10 and 13, to give longitudinal stifl'ness, though they may be wooden slats 3l-A, shown in Fig. 14, in which case they are usually flat and of a thickness giving desired longitudinal stiffness.

In the form shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, oppositely facing tongues BI and Iii-A are punched out adjacent one edge of the slat leaving open ings 63 separated because of difllculty of manufacture by a narrow strip 65, the cross tape 39, in Fig. 8, being visible through these openings. These tongues, as most clearly shown in Fig. 9, are bent downward and thence toward each other so that the end portions of the tongues are adapt ed to underlie the cross tapes 39, the depression of the tongues being great enough toloosely receive the tape without binding.

. Opposite the tongues 6|, 6lA the edges 6! of the slats may be slightly curled to eifect stiffening of the slat and to reduce wear on the tapes.

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13 a modification is shown in which a separate tongue member or clip 69 is provided, this tongue member having its opposite ends H curled over the edges of the slat to effect its securement thereto. In Fig. 11 a portion of the slat is brokenaway to show the underlying clip. Tongues Bl-B, iii-C are punched out in this clip leaving openings 63- -B, 63-C through which the underlying cross tape 39 is visible in Fig. 11. Preferably the tongues are punched out in ofl-set relation, in such event it being possible to make the openings 63B; 63-0 overlap, and the tongues themselves long enough, as indicated in Fig. 12, to overlap. -The clip 69 is preferably fiat, that is, not bowed in conformity with t1: curvature of the slat, and the tongues projecting therefrom may be positioned centrally of the clip.

different distances from the opposite ends of the slats, as shown in Fig. 16, the tongues Sl-X at one end of the slat being a distance from that end of the slat differing from the distance ofv the tongues 6l-Y from the opposite end of the slat by an amount in conformity with the difference of cross tape positioning. Ordinarily tongue engagement with a cross tape is made with only one ladder, so that turning of alternate slats end for end will effect proper positionmg.

In all the view the slats are shown in horizontal position to simplify the showing of the parts.

In setting up the device for use upper brackets, as of the type 43, and lower brackets, as of the type 49, where the blind is to be sunk in the window frame, are respectively positioned and secured at levels which position the upper rail 21 at the desired upper level, and the lower rail V 29 at a correspondingly lower level adapted to hold the ladder tapes 33,,-33A; 35, 35A substantially taut, or if the blind is of the overlap- In Figs. 14 and 15 a member Bil-A, functioning as does the clip 69, as a tongue carrier, is

shown in the form of a disc secured to the under-.

side of the wooden slat 3 IA, this member having facing tongues 6 l--D, Gl-E which are shown alined as are the tongues 8|, 6l-A, but which preferably'are off-set as are the tongues Bl-B, GI'C.

Fig. 17 shows a simpler form of clip 69-B bent to provide tongues iii-F and Gil-G, and attached as by a rivet 13 to the slat 3l-B.

In the usual ladder tape now available in the market the cross tapes 39 are staggered, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, that is, they lie alternately toward the right and left sides of the tape and are therefore at different distances from the ends of the slats. If the slat ends are to be properly alined as they should be, this is preferping type brackets, as of the types 45 and 5|, are-similarly positioned.

The ladder tapes are secured to the opposite side tapes, as the tapes 33, 33A, on opposite sides of the top rail and securely fastened thereto and likewise on opposite sides of the bottom rails and securely fastened also thereto, the distances between the two ladder tapes and their positioning along the rail being obviously established to conform to the tongue spaces of the slats. In securing the side tapes they are preferably so positioned that the cross tapes which lie to the right of one ladder are level with the corresponding cross tapes lying to the right of the other ladder, the left tapes of necessity being similarly correspondingly leveled up.

The upper rail of the bracket is slipped into place with the pins 4| in holding engagement with .the brackets and the lower rail is pushed down to effect holding engagement of the pins 41 in the lower brackets.

The slats are now placed between the tapes, each slat being supported by a pair of cross tapes. If the supporting cross tapes are to the right that end of the slat which has the tongues nearest the slat end is placed to the right, the next overlying slat being turned end for end and the slats thereabove similarly alternated. Each slat as placed is connected to the supporting cross tape by slipping the cross tape in between the tongues lying below the slat and the slat to be secured against longitudinal displacement relatively to the supporting tape and ladder. 'I'he tongues on the opposite end of the slat may similarly be engaged with the related cross tapes, though if desired a single cross tape engagement will sufflce to prevent displacement, this latter fact being of greatest advantage where one supporting cross tape is to the right and th opposite one through inadvertence or otherwise is to the left of its ladder.

After the installation is complete the slats may be oscillated to open, intermediate or closed position by turning either the bottom or top rail as may be more convenient.

At any time after installation any one or all the slats may be removed for cleaning or washing by disengaging the cross tapes from the tongues. When shift of the slats is made they are so loosely held to the cross tapes by the tongues that they are free to adjust themselves along the cross tapes as conditions might require.

I claim:

including cross tapes, a slat adapted to rest on said cross tapes, said slat having a pair of tongues downwardly extending in spaced relation and inwardly bent each toward the other, to lie along the side edges of and to underlie the bottom of, said cross tape, the proximate end portions of said tongues being spaced to permit insertion or removal of the said cross tape fromTangagement by said tongues.

. 2. A slat in accordance with claim 1 in which said tongues are an integral part of said slat.

3. A slat in accordance with claim 1 in which said tongues are formed as an integral part of a separate member and said member is secured to said slat.

4. In a Venetian blind, having ladder tapes including staggered cross tapes, a slat adapted to rest on said cross tapes, said slat having pairs of tongues disposed respectively in opposite end portions of said slat, the respective distances of said tongue pairs from the related ends of said slats diiiering by the amount of the stagger dis placement of said cross tapes, the tongues of each said pair extending downwardly in spaced relation and being inwardly bent each toward the other, to lie along the side edges of and to underlie the bottom of, a said cross tape, the proximate end portions of said tongues being spaced to permit insertion or removal of the said cross tape from engagement by said tongues.

5. In a Venetian blind, having ladder tapes including cros tapes, a slat of sheet metal arcuately curved in cross section adapted to rest on said cross tapes, said slat having a pair of tongues downwardly struck therefrom in spaced relation and inwardly bent each toward the other, to lie along. the side edges of and to underlie the bottom of, a said cross tape, the proximate end portions of said tongues being spacedto permit insertion or removal of the said cross tape from engagement thereby.

6. In a Venetian blind, having ladder tapes including staggered cross tapes, a slat of sheet metal arcuately curved in cross section adapted to rest on said cross tapes, saidslat having pairs of tongues disposed respectively in opposite end portions of said slat, the respective distances of said tongue pairs from the related ends of said slats, differing by the amount of the stagger displacement of said cross tapes, the tongues of each said pair being downwardly struck from said slat, inwardly bent each toward the other, in spaced relation to lie along the side edges of and tounderlie the bottom of, a said cross tape,- the proximate end portions of said tongues being spaced to permit insertion or removal of the said cross tape from engagement thereby.

7. A Venetian blind in accordance with claim 6 in which said opposite end tongue pairs, respectively lie adjacent the opposite side edges of said slat. I

8. In a Venetian blind, having ladder tapes including cross tapes, a slat of sheet metal arcuately curved in cross section adapted to be supported by said cross tapes, a clip of sheet metal disposed transversely to said slat and secured thereto, said "clip having a pair of tongues downwardly struck therefrom and inwardly bent each toward the other, in relation spaced to lie along the side edges of and to underlie the bottom of, said cross tape, the proximate end portions of said tongues being spaced to permit insertion or removal of the said cross tape from engagement thereby.

9. A Venetian blind in accordance with claim 8 in which the clip tongues are displaced laterally with regard to the direction of tongue spacing to lie in side spaced relation.

LISLE c. WILLIAMS.

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