US2428170A

US2428170A - Window blind lock

Info

Publication number: US2428170A
Application number: US635568A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles C Mcdonald
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-12-17
Filing date: 1945-12-17
Publication date: 1947-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1964-09-30

Description

Sept. 30, 1947. c. c. MCD NALD 2,428,170

wmnow BLIND L'o'cK Filed Dec. 17, 1945 Patented Sept. 30, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,428,170 WINDOW BLIND LOCK Charles C. McDonald, Houston, Tex.

Application December 17, 1945, Serial No. 635,568

4 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a window blind lock. An object of the invention is to provide means for retaining orlocking the lower end of a window blind, particularly a Venetian blind, at any point of adjustment of the blind sothat the blind will not be free to move laterally, that is outwardly, or inwardly, relative to the window casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a combination with a window casing, vertical tracks, or guides, with means carried by the lower end of the window blind and movable in said guides and operative to lock, or release, the blind so that it may be maintained in position or adjusted up or down.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a locking device of the character described which may be easily manipulated to locked, or released, position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a window casing, window and blind illustrating the locking device installed.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the locking element.

In the drawings the numerals l, I designate the side members of the window casing on the facing sides of which the

vertical channels

2, 2 are secured. These channels are preferably formed of sheet metal with the margins of their flanges over turned inwardly, as more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The numeral 3 designates a window blind, a conventional type of Venetian blind being shown which has the conventional bottom rail 4.

At each end the rail has a longitudinal bore 5 in which there is fitted a suitable metal bushing 6 to receive the balancing pins 1, 1 whose outer ends are formed with spherical heads, as 8.

Each head 8 is located in a cup-like socket member 9, as more clearly shown in Figure 2. The open ends of these socket members are directed outwardly toward the channels 2 and extend into said channels and are retained therein by means of ring nuts [0 which are screwed onto the ends thereof.

On the inner sides of the respective ring nuts It! and located within the corresponding channels and in contact with the inner sides of the over turned margins of the flanges of said channels and fitted around the socket members 9 are the annular slides ll whose free margins are curved outwardly, as also shown more clearly in Figure 2.

The numerals l2 designate substantially rectangular outer slides which surround the socket members 9 and which ride on the outer sides of the inwardly turned margins of the flanges of the channels 2 and these slides l2 have the inner longitudinal ribs l3 which fit between said over turned margins.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figure 2 the inner end of each socket member 9 has an external annular flange M and surrounding said socket member and bearing against the outer side of said flange there is an annular locking element l5 having the outwardly extended grip l6.

Between the outer slides l2 and the corresponding locking elements [5 and surrounding the socket members 9 there are the coil springs [1.

Each locking element [5 has the side cams 18, I8 which are over turned at substantially right angles to the plane of the body of said locking element and when the window blind lock is in released position these cams will embrace the corresponding slides 12 and the slides H and I2 will not grip the over turned margins of the flanges of the channels 2 so that the window blind may be readily moved up or down but when in this released position the blind will be maintained against lateral movement relative to the window casing so that should the window sash Ill be raised the window blind will not be substantially displaced by the wind.

Should it be desired to lock the blind in position the grips [6 may be used to turn the locking elements IS a quarter turn and the cams l8 will ride upon the corresponding ends of the slides l2 thus forcing the inner and outer slides II and i2 into gripping relation with the inwardly turned margins of the flanges of the channels 2.

Upon a quarter turn of the locking elements l5 back to original position the slides will release said inwardly turned margins thus allowing adjustment of the blind.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with vertical channels forming tracks and whose side flanges are turned inwardly toward each other, said tracks being adapted to be secured to the facing sides of a window casing, of a window blind having a lower end rail, means carried by the ends of the rail and connected to and slidable relative to the tracks, said means including slides on the inner and outer sides of said overturned margins, and cams operable to actuate the slides into clamping relation with said overturned margins.

2. The combination with vertical channels forming tracks and whose side flanges are turned inwardly toward each other, said tracks being adapted to be secured to the facing sides of a window casing, of a, window blind having a lower end rail, means carried by the ends of the rail and connected to, and slidable relative to, the tracks, said means including slides on the inner and outer sides of said overturned margins, and cams operable to actuate the slides into clamping relation with said overturned margins, or to release said slides from said margins.

3. The combination with vertical channels forming tracks, the margins of whose side flanges are inwardly turned, of a window blind, means on the blind in engagement with the tracks and slidable along the tracks and including clamps, and means to actuate the clamps into clamping relation with said inturned margins.

, 4. The combination with vertical channels the slides to clamp said margins and into another position to release said slides to allow the rail to move along said tracks.

CHARLES C. MCDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,723,095 Tate Aug. 6, 1929 Lidback Nov. 13, 1894