US2485217A

US2485217A - Bottom rail for venetian blinds

Info

Publication number: US2485217A
Application number: US659902A
Authority: US
Inventors: Semilof Alex
Original assignee: REVERSO PRODUCTS CO
Current assignee: REVERSO PRODUCTS CO
Priority date: 1946-04-05
Filing date: 1946-04-05
Publication date: 1949-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 1966-10-18

Description

Oct. 18, 1949. A. 'SEMILOF 2,485,217

BOTTOM RAIL FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed April 5, 1946 INVENTQR ALEX SEM/LOF B Y (l/alfer' ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1949 BOTTOM RAIL FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Alex Semiloi', Brooklyn, N. Y., asslgnor, by memo assignments, to Reverso Products 00., Brooklyn, N. Y., a copartnership composed of Blanche G. Jablon and Irving Jablin Application April 5,1948, Serial No. 659,902

14 Claims The invention relates to a bottom rail for Venetian blinds and other window shades or curtains that require more or less added weight asan aid in lowering them and for holding them under requisite tension to prevent billowing and flapping from being windblown.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the rail and the attaching means for anchoring the slat-supporting tapes and the raising and lowering cords of the blind, to the same. The tapes and cords are secured to the rail in a manner to conceal the attaching means from view and thereby enable the rail to be given an attractive finished appearance.

The important structural features of the invention will be brought to attention inthe' detail description that follows.

A construction suitable for carrying my invention into effect, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but, it will be understood, that no limitations are intended by this showing, other than are imposed by the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a view in perspective, showing the lower portion of a Venetian blind, with the improved bottom rail attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a, bottom plan view of the rail.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, with the tapes in elevation, showing one of the resilient clamp members in position, reversely bowed across the rail, ready-to be pressed and sprung into the concavity thereof. The parts in this figure and Fig. 4, are shown somewhat loosely assembled, for clearness of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a similar view, on the line s --s of Fig. 2, showing the resilient clamp member sprung into the concavity of the rail and secured, and

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of one of the resilient clamp members.

Referring now to the drawings I, I, indicate several of the slats that form the lower portion of a Venetian blind; 2, 2, are the usual tapes that support the slats and 3, 3, are the cords for raising and lowering the blind.

The bottom rail, indicated at 4, is formed of a straight strip of sheet metal, ordinarily of heavy gage, to give it the required weight and, in cross section, isconcavo-convex, with its convex side uppermost in use. Opposite edges of the rail are bent over and inturned to form flanges 5, 5, which, for purposes of appearance and tinish, extend throughout the length thereof.

At points where the tapes 2 meet the rail, slotlike apertures are formed, as indicated at 6. 6,

to receive and position the ends )1 the tapes, which project'through the apertures and are secured in the flanged edges of the rail by resilient clamp members I, I.

The clamp members I are preferably formed of spring strip metal and extend across the rail from flange to flange, being toothed at the ends, as indicated at B, to engage the ends of the tapes. Normally, the clamp members 1 are bowed, in reverse curvature to the concavity in the rail, as shown in Fig. 3, and are designed and adapted, as shown in the drawing, to be sprung, by upward pressure, into the concavity of the rail, to the curvature of which they then conform, as in Fig. 4.

In being sprung into the concavity of the rail, the ends of the clamp members are forced outwardly in opposite directions, driving the end portions of thetapes well into the recesses formed by the flanged edges of the rail flanges and securely clamping them there, with the teeth firmly embedded in the tapes.

To prevent the clamp members from being accidentally sprung out of the concavity in the rail, headed bolts 9 are passed through registering openings of the clamp and rail and secured by nuts III, as best shown in Fig. 4.

The bolts 9 are tubular to provide passage through the same for the ends of the raising and lowering cords of the blind, which are knotted below the bolts, as indicated at II and both the knots and the nuts on the-bolts are enclosed by rubber caps I2. In addition to giving a finished appearance, the rubber caps act effectively as bumpers and prevent the window sills from being scarred by the heavy bottom rail being carelessly dropped on it from time to time.

As the construction, operation and many important advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing, it will not be necessary to further describe the same.

I claim:

1. A Venetian blind rail construction in which the rail is formed of a strip of material having opposite bent over edges that provide inwardly projecting flanges spaced apart from the body of the strip and from each other to form inwardly opening edge channels extending in opposing relation lengthwise of the rail, a cross member of greater length than the opening between the inwardly projecting flanges and bridging the same with its ends extending into the opposing rail channels, and ladder tapes secured to the rail by having end portions thereof interposed and held undercompression between the 3 inner wall of the channels and the ends of the cross member, the cross member being entered and positioned in the rail channels by being sprung bodily through the opening between the channel flanges.

2. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is entered and held under compression in the rail channels on being sprung bodily through the opening between the channel flanges.

.3. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which a looped end formation of a ladder tape is forced and held clamped in each edge channel of the rail by the engaging end of the cross member.

4. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of sheet material.

5. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of sheet material toothed at its ends.

6. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of resilient sheet material.

7. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a flat strip of resilient material.

8. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of resilient sheet material permitting it to be bowed for entry when sprung bodily through the opening between the inwardly projecting flanges of the rail.

9. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of resilient sheet material permitting it to be bowed for entry when sprung bodily through the opening between the inwardly projecting flanges of the rail and to thereafter react and under applied pressure have its curvature reversed to secure it under compression to the rail.

10. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of resilient sheet material permitting it to be bowed for entry when sprung bodily through the opening between the inwardly projecting flanges of the rail and to thereafter react and under applied pressure have its curvature reversed, and means for securing the member with its curvature thus reversed in nonyielding relation to the rail.

11. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of resilient sheet material permitting it to be bowed for entry when sprung bodily through the opening between the inwardly projecting flanges of the rail and to thereafter react and under applied pressure have its curvature reversed, and fastening means in the form of a bolt for securing the member with its curvature thus reversed in non-yielding relation to the rail.

12. A Venetian blind rail construction, as defined in claim 1, in which the cross member is in the form of a strip of resilient sheet material permitting it to be bowed for entry when sprung bodily through the opening between the inwardly projecting flanges of the rail and to thereafter react and under applied pressure have its curvature reversed, and fastening means in the form of a bolt for securing the member with its curvature thus reversed in non-yielding relation to the rail, the said bolt being tubular for the passage of the raising and lowering cord of the blind which is knotted below the bolt and the knot enclosed in a covering of cushioning material.

13. In a Venetian blind, a channeled rail having the lateral edges bent over to form inturned opposing flanges lengthwise thereof and being apertured where the ladder tapes meet the rail for passage of the tapes therethrough, resilient members oi greater length than the opening between the opposing flanges extending across the rail with the ends thereof engaging the ends of the tapes projecting through the apertures, the said members being adapted to be sprung into the concavity of the rail to force and clamp th tape ends under the flanged edges thereof, and means for securing the resilient members to the rail after being sprung into the same.

14. A Venetian blind structure as defined in claim 13, in which each of the resilient members is apertured centrally and a bolt is passed through the aperture and through a registering opening of the rail and suitably secured, the bolt being tubular for the passage of a cord by which the blind is raised and lowered and a knot is formed in the cord below the bolt and provided with an enclosing cover of suitable material.

ALEX SEMILOF.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS