US2454550A

US2454550A - Venetian blind head box

Info

Publication number: US2454550A
Application number: US610552A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred J Burns
Original assignee: COLUMBIA MILLS Inc
Current assignee: COLUMBIA MILLS Inc
Priority date: 1945-08-13
Filing date: 1945-08-13
Publication date: 1948-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 1965-11-23

Description

Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. BURNS I VENETIAN BLIND HEAD BOX p Filed Aug. 15, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

fired Patented Nov. 23, 1948 VENETIAN BLIND HEAD BOX Fred .1. Burns, Saginaw, Mich, assignor to The W Columbia Mills,Inc., New York, N. Y.

Application August 13, 1945, Serial No. 610,552

This invention relates generally to Venetian blinds and more specifically to the head box and bracket supporting means therefor.

This invention has for an object the provision of structure wherein the head box or casing may be readily inserted in its supporting brackets and held in set position against longitudinal shifting movement to suit window casements of Various widths.

Another object is to provide a head box and supporting brackets provided with interlocking means to hold the head box in set position and prevent longitudinal shifting usually caused by harsh operation of the blind, jerk on the operating cords, and vibration where installations are adjacent to heavy traffic highways.

A further object is to provide very simple, practical, and inexpensive means secured to or formed integral with the head box and the bracket, and by means of which the head box is held against longitudinal shifting movement with relation to said brackets.

Window openings which are supposedly exactly the same width, will vary anywhere from one-quarter inch to two inches or more, and this is particularly true in old houses, consequently, Venetian blinds made to fit one opening, do not readily fit another window opening of supposedly the same size, it being either too short or too long, so that should a Venetian blind head box of standard width be installed in a window opening that is slightly longer than the head box, the blind will be free to shift on its supporting brackets, leavin unsightly cracks or spaces, with a light streak or streaks at one end of the head box, and further providing uneven mounting and balance of the head box in the opening, and these objectionable features I have overcome in my new construction in which the head box and one supporting bracket are interlocked to prevent shifting when the head box is mounted; furthermore, my new construction permits a blind head box of certain predetermined length to be used in window openings varying up to two inches or more in width, with the same result in operation and appearance as if the window openings were exactly the proper dimensions.

These objects, further features, incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure, and as pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views in which:

3 claims. 01. 248-264) Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my new head box and supporting brackets, portions being broken away to more clearly show the construction and interlockin means.

Fig. 2 is. an enlarged, fragmentary, isometric view of the head box.

Fig. 3 is an edge-elevational View of one of the supporting brackets.

Fig. 4 is a sectional, front-elevational View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Inasmuch as the ends of the head box and the supporting brackets are similar in construction, excepting that the locking means is on one end only, it is believed that a description and illustration of that end of the head box and the supporting bracket with the locking means will be suflicient for anyone skilled in the art to understand the invention.

The head box 9 can be formed of any desired material, it is open at both ends, and all of the blind actuating hardware and parts (not shown) are mounted or housed therein to conceal them from view and present a neat appearance, and in the present instance I have shown the head box formed of sheet metal with a laterally projecting lip I0 secured to or formed integral with the one end of the head box and for a purpose to be presently described.

The supporting brackets II and I2 are of the universal type and are mounted on the side rails I3 by means of screws l9 as usual, and while in the present instance I have shown an inside mounting, it will be readily understood that it can be either inside, outside, or ceiling installation as desired.

The brackets II and [2 are formed as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, having top, bottom, side and back walls l4, IS, IS and I1 respectively. Openings I8 are provided in the side wall Hi to accommodate screws IE to facilitate mounting, and similar openings 20 are provided in the top and back walls for outside or ceiling installations.

The general shape of the bracket is of the usual design, the bottom Wall I5 being sufiiciently wide to provide ample bearing for the head box ends, and also permitting considerable longitudinal adjustment of the headbox thereon.

A plurality of inwardly projecting ribs 2| are pressed in the back wall of the locking bracket I2, and are suitably spaced to accommodate the lip l0 therebetween, these ribs being located and spaced for ready engagement by the lip, and it will be obvious that the head box can be mounted and evenly spaced in the window opening and that it will be held in set position.

A latch member 22 is provided on each supporting bracket, and is formed with a laterally projecting leg 23 which is pivotally connected to the side wall at the point 24, said latch serving, when swung up, to hold'the head box in set position and to conceal the ends of the head box from view, thusziprov-iding a verymeat,lpleasing,:and symmetrical-end construction." This latch can be made beaded or otherwise formed to harmonize with the head box, and is provided with a turned lip 25 to facilitate easy manipulation-thereof.

In the present instance, I have shown the lip l0 formed integral with tlie-headbox-blitit will be readily understood that this-*cawbeaseparat clip welded or otherwise securedv ineposition,-:.the same conditions would also apply in relationto the bracket as the ribs 2| could be formedon an individual strip whichwould then be spotted or secured in position.

The foregoing ldescription is to becregardedvas descriptive and illustrative :only, and not: awarestrictive or limitative of the-invention, of-which obviously an "embodimentamay be constructed including modifications withoutrdepartingz. from "the general scope 'herein' indicated and denoted ."brackets ionrzwhich -said...-headbox; iswmounted, a

4 plurality of horizontally spaced, projecting ribs provided on the back wall of one of said brackets and projecting inwardly towards the headbox, and a turned, laterally projecting lip on the back wall of said headbox and engageable between certain of said ribs for securing the headbox against longitudinal movement on said brackets.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 in which aihingecl.latchiplatelrcrms th'efront wall of said -=bracket ifor holding the headbox' in engagement with said ribs, 3. In a Venetian blind including a U-shaped headboxrapair of spaced-apart brackets on which the he'adbox is mounted, a plurality of horizontally*' spaced,' circular-shaped projecting ribs proxvidedon' tlieback wall of one of said brackets at 7. a, ,point..intermediate its height, an inwardly toprevent longitudinal movement of;.the;headbox on the brackets.

; LFRED. J BURNS.

. REEERENCES .CI'llED The following references are of record in: the

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS