US2547305A - Bottom rail for venetian blinds - Google Patents

Description

April 3, 1951 F. J. BURNS BOTTOM RAIL FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Nov. 22, 1947 (F5 M j,/&

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ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1951 BOTTOM RAILFOR VENETIAN BLINDS Fred J. Burns, Saginaw, Mich., assignor to The Columbia Mills, Inc., New York, N. ,Y.

- ApplicationNovember 22, 1947,.S8tidlNQ/78'li555 1 Claim. (Cl. 160-478) This invention relates to Venetian blinds,-and

more specifically to the bottom rail construction wherein the railis hollow and formed ofmetal .to harmonize with the metal slats of the blind.

.One' of the prime objects of the invention is to provide a rigid, neat-appearing metal bottom rail, which harmonizes with the blind slats, and to which the conventional lift cords, ladder tapes and sway stops can be very easily and quickly attached and detached.

Another object is to design a bottom rail that can be readily and economically manufactured and assembled, which can be formed to any desired commercial length, and then cut to fit the specified length of the Venetian blind desired, and the cut ends then plugged with close fitting members on which the sway stops or other hardware may be mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide "a hollow bottom rail in which cord pulleys (when used) may be mounted and concealed from view, and to which the lift cords may be releasably connected.

Still a further object is to provide means for clipping the ladder tape to the side walls of the bottom rail so that the tape will closely hug the side walls and eliminate any unsightly gape when the blind is swung to tilted position.

A further object still is to design a bottom rail which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and in which the lift cord attaching means and ladder tape securing means are formed integral with said rail.

The above and other objects will appear as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals indicate like parts through the several views thereof.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, front-elevational view of the lower end of a Venetian blind showing my bottom rail associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, plan view of one of the slats.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, edge-elevational view showing the manne of clipping the ladder tape to theside walls of the bottom, rail.

Fig. 4 is an end-elevational view of the bottom rail showing the plugged end.

Fig. 5 is a transverse-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an isometric view illustrating the manner of anchoring the lift cord to the bottom rail.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which I have shown the preferred embodi- :ment of my invention- ZI'he blind comprises spaced-apart ladder ,tapes I0 which include a number of vertically spaced cross webs (not shown) upon which the slats ll rest, and which can be formed of wood or metal as desired, and .a bottom rail B forms the lower end of the blind, and to which the ends of the ladder tape H! are releasably secured in any desired manner.

This bottom rail is formed of relatively light gauge metal, the lower section l2 being substantially U-shaped in cross section, the upper edges of which are turned as shown to form flanges I4, and a top plate 15 is fitted over the open upper end of the U-shaped section, the edges I6 being turned and pressed into interlocking engagement with the flange sections M of the bottom member I2 to form a rigid construction, and these members can be formed in any desired commercial length and are then cut to length to suit the blind desired.

Relatively short plugs I1 are pressed into the end sections of the rail and serve to reinforce and form a smooth end and also provide a convenient mounting for other hardware (not shown).

No means is shown for anchoring the ladder tape to the bottom rail, as this forms the subject matter of a separate application.

Longitudinally disposed spaced-apart clips I8 are pressed and formed from the side walls of the bottom rail, these clips being located directly adjacent the upper edge of the structure, and the edges of the tape l0 are inserted beneath said clips, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, so that as the blind is tilted, the tapes will be held tightly against the side wall, and not gape as would occur if no retaining means were provided.

The lift cords [9 are of the conventional type, and extend throughv suitable openings (not shown) in the blind slats, an opening 20 being provided in the upper plate l5 of the bottom rail B, said opening communicating with a relatively smaller opening 2|, with a restricted neck passage 22 connecting the openings, so that when the knot 23 is tied on the end of the lift cord and inserted through the opening 20, the cord can then be shifted horizontally through the passage 22 and into the small opening 2| from which it cannot be accidentally displaced, as the diameter of said opening is substantially the same as the cord; consequently, the knotcannot be pulled through, but longitudinal shifting of the cord permits easy and quick attachment or removal when desired.

The turning of the edges of the upper plate produces a thin projecting edge that blends and harmonizes with the metal slats either in open or bundled position.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that I have provided a very simple, and rigid bottom rail structure which can be readily and economically manufactured of metal, the ends of which can beclosed and finished by plugs pressed in place, the hollow body providing space for anchoring and concealing the ends of the lift cords, tapes, pulleys, etc., as well as providing space for ready mounting of conventional brackets or sway stops (not shown) when desired.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive, and any changes coming Within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claim are intended to be embraced therein.

What I claim is: In a bottom rail assembly for Venetian blinds,

'a metal bottom rail, substantially U-shaped in cross section, and formed with outwardly projecting flanges on the upper ends of the side Walls, a top strip forming a closure for the open top of the bottom rail with its edges turned in interlocking engagement with said flanges to form a thin, laterally projecting rib simulating the edge of a Venetian blind slat, opposed clips pressed in the side walls of the bottom rail for engaging and holding the blind ladder tape against said walls, and plugs pressed into and flush with the ends of the rail to reinforce said bottom rail and form a mounting surface for conventional hardware.

FRED J. BURNS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent! UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 776,556 Sibley et al. Dec. 6, 1904 2,260,726 Rosenbaum Oct. 28, 1941 2,421,505 Hunter June 3, 1947 26 2,502,028 Rosenbaum Mar. 28, 1950

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