US2625220A

US2625220A - Venetian blind

Info

Publication number: US2625220A
Application number: US250349A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ferreira Charles William
Original assignee: EDWARD L DENISON
Current assignee: EDWARD L DENISON
Priority date: 1951-10-08
Filing date: 1951-10-08
Publication date: 1953-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 1970-01-13

Description

1953 c. w. FERREIRA VENETIAN BLIND 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1951 INVENTOR. CHARLESWFERRHRA,

Jan. 13, 1953 c. w. FERREIRA VENETIAN BLIND 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1951 INVENTOR.

E3 Fias.

CHARLES W. FERRElRA, BY 6. gawk 05A.

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Patented Jan. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENETIAN BLIND Charles William Ferreira, Miami, .Fla., assignor to Edward L. Denison, Miami, Fla.

Application October 8, 1951, Serial No. 250,349

4 Claims. I

This invention relates to improvements in closure devices and has particular reference to that type of closure device generally recognized as Venetian blinds.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a Venetian blind that is operatively assembled in a rigid frame of predetermined dimensions for detachable mounting within an opening to be covered, with the blind comprising a group of parallel slats that are simultaneously angularly tiltable to varying degrees and with the group of slats being shiftable to parallel nested position for exposing the major opening of the frame without the use of the conventional tapes and cords as commonly employed in the well known Venetian blind assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closure device of the Venetian blind type, having a rigid square or rectangular frame of predetermined size in which is adjustably supported groups of parallel slats, either of metal or wood and either fiat or convex and which may be arranged on a horizontal axis or a vertical axis to be simultaneously tilted without the use of cords common to the well known Venetian blinds, with each group being shiftable to nested parallel position or the several groups being shiftable to a nested position at the top of the frame or to one end of the frame, depending on the mounting arrangement.

The invention contemplates novel means within the frame for retaining the several slats in properly spaced relation for tilting movement in unison, such novel means being of a flexible nature that permits the bodily shifting of the several slats of the groups and the several groups to a position of nesting engagement at one extremity of the frame to be held against accidental shifting.

The invention further contemplates novel connecting means between the several slats, whereby a tilting of one slat will cause a corresponding and identical tilting to all the slats.

A further and important object of the invention resides in the novel frame construction that is easily and cheaply constructed, provides a simple and easily detachable cover for the operating mechanism of the slats, with the cover constructed in such manner as to have interengagement with a cover of an adjacent closure device when two or more such devices are arranged in end to end relation, thus providing in efiect an uninterrupted mullion type frame having individually operable blinds.

other novel features of construction and operation will be readily apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and where like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a closure device constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of the device, illustrating a detachable cover plate in dotted lines,

Figure 3 is an end view of the device, with the cover plate removed and showing the mechanism in tilted position,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view of the upper end of the device, showing the mechanism in tilted position to fully closed engagement,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the several slat operating means shifted to nested position,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 1-1 of Figure 1 and,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of one slat.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates a rigid frame as a whole, embodying a channel header 6 and a channel sill l. The

channels

6 and 1 are rigidly held in spaced parallel relation by jamb plates 8, riveted or otherwise connected to the header and sill, as indicated at 9. The plates 8 are coextensive in width to the

channels

6 and 1 and have their vertical edges l0 angularly bent inwardly for the full length of the plates. The plates and operating mechanisms to be later described, are identical at both ends of the frame 5. Cover plates of stepped cross-sectional area, indicated at ll, are co-extensive in length with the plates 8. The covers have their vertical edges outwardly flared on an angle corresponding to the angle of the edges Ill and, at assembly, the sides of the covers are pressed inwardly to permit the flared edges to grip behind the edges Ill, where they will be firmly held against displacement accidentally. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the covers are reversible so as to have an interfitting engagement with the cover plates of an adjacent closure device, providing in effect, a mullion type closure.

Each plate 8 is vertically and centrally slotted at 12, for the rocking and vertical shifting movepermost trunnion 3 to serve as a bearing to a positively retain the uppermost slat against shifting vertically within the slot. All of the other trunnions and their supported slats are vertically shiftable in the slot in a manner be presently described.

Means are provided to simultaneously-rock the several trunnions and their supported slats to varying degrees of angularity, consisting of flexible cables 18, carrying identically spaced rings I9 that engage over the cranks l6, as clearly shown. The cranks may be struck with a suitable tool to provide lugs upon each side of the several rings to prevent disengagement. Since the uppermost trunnion is held against vertical shifting movement, the identical spacing of the several rings will accurately support the several slats in properly spaced parallel position for tilting movement. Certain of the slats are provided with preferably serrated thumb pieces 20 to facilitate the angular rocking motion of the slats. Since no cords or tapes are employed for the control of the slats, as is common in the conventional Venetian blinds, it follows, that the operator must adjust the slats through the medium of the thumb pieces 20. It will therefore be apparent, that rocking of any slat will impart an identical motion to all the slats, through the medium of the cranks and cables l6 and 18, with one cable moving downwardly and the other moving upwardly, depending on the motion of the slat. Thus, it will be seen, that the blind slats l are capable of pivotal movement to any desired angle to a full contacting closure or may be bodily shifted vertically to control of the opening.

It becomes necessary to provide a means for retaining the blinds in elevated position in the absence of the conventional cords and, to accomplish this, a flexible metallic wire has been anchored upon the end plates 8, this wire being indicated as a whole by the numeral 21. The wire is formed to provide definite sockets 22, equidistantly spaced at the identical spacing of the trunnions l3. Each socket 22 overlies the slot 12, as indicated in Figure 3 and the several trunnions having snapping engagement therein when in the fully extended position. Thus, the sockets provide an additional bearing for the trunnions and serve to more evenly support the slats against any tendency to twist when being tilted to an angular position. From socket to socket, the wire is formed in a wide circular form, as at 23 and intermediate each socket 22, the curved portions 23 of the wire are anchored upon the plate 8, by tabs 24, struck from the plate and bent to engaging position over the wire. The terminalends of the wire 2| are bent at a right angle and engage behind the angle edges of the plate 8. With the wire 2| being formed of spring material, it will be apparent that the several trunnions will be releasably held in the sockets 22 with sufiicient pressure to overcome the tendency of the slat to twist when operated at one end only.

With the flexible spring sockets 22, the operator may, by grasping the opposite ends of the lowermost slat, elevate as many slats as may be found desirable, lifting them upwardly with sufiicient force as to cause their trunnions 13 to disengage therefrom. The slats that are elevated, will naturally pile together in parallel engagement and, when a sufficient number of slats have been elevated, they may be released and the lowermost trunnions will be supported either in the sockets 22 or upon the outer extremety of the socket, thus supporting the above nested slats. As the slats are elevated, the cables 18 will naturally become slack and loop outwardly, in themanner illustrated in Figure 5. For a complete elevation of all the slats, the lowermost slat is grasped and the entire group of slats elevated to the position shown in Figure 5, thus exposing the major opening of the frame 5.

As before pointed out, the operating mechanism, including the trunnions, l3, cranks l6, cables and rings [8 and I9 and wire 2! are identical at both ends of the frame and are supported upon the plates 8 in an identical manner.

While the device here illustrated has been shown with the slats mounted upon a horizontal axis, it will be apparent, that the device may be arranged with the slats operating on a vertical axis, in which case, the operating mechanism as previoush described upon the plates 8, will be carried in a very similar manner upon the header and sill. Vertically mounted slats are very desirable under certain conditions and it is intended that this application shall include such an arrangement.

In the assembly of the device, the tongue l"! is bent at a right angle from the plate 8 at each end of the frame and the several cranks and trunnions inserted through the slots 12. The uppermost slat is shifted upwardly to the limit of the slot I2 and the tongues I'I bent inwardly therebeneath, thus definitely establishing the position of the slat. After the other cranks and trunnions have been engaged through the slots l2 and positioned in the sockets 22,

I the several cables I 8 are installed and their rings fixed against displacement. The cover plates H are then snapped into position and the blind is ready for installation in a window or other opening, either as a unit or in multiple and detachably locked in position. The thumb pieces 20 may be of any desired configuration and are preferably secured to a particular slat or slats by the same rivets It as are employed to secure the trunnions. Thus, rocking of the slats through the medium of the thumb pieces, will exert no unnecessary twisting action upon the slats, since the force will be transmitted directly to the trunnions. This is particularly desirable when employing slats formed of light gauge metal.

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that an extremely simple and highly practicable Venetian blind structure has been provided. The device embodies all of the desirable features of the conventional Venetian blind, yet avoids the use of the ,for the control of light and air or they may be progressively lifted to a position of nesting enagement. The device is extremely cheap to manufacture and requires a minimum of equipment for forming and assembling. The device is strong, durable and highly efiective for the purposes noted.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the precise structure and arrangement, but that various changes in the shape, size and number of units employed may be resorted to as clearly fall within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A slatted closure device including an open rigid frame consisting of a channel header and a channel sill, end panels rigidly connected to the header and sill, the end panels being centrally and vertically slotted and their vertical edges angled inwardly, a plurality of slats arranged in the frame in parallel overlapping relation for horizontal tilting and vertical shifting motion, trunnions riveted to the opposite ends of each slat and projecting through the panel slots, crank arms formed on the outer ends of each trunnion, common flexible connectors between each set of cranks whereby a tilting of one slat will impart an identical tilting to all the slats, means formed on the end panels for axially pivotally positioning the uppermost slat and its trunnions against shifting movement, a yieldable member having identically spaced sockets that is supported upon the outer face of each end panel. the spacing of the sockets corresponding to the spacing of the slats when in fully extended covering position in the frame, thumb pieces carried by certain of the slats to impart tilting motion, the several slats being progressively shiftable upwardly for exposing the opening of the frame, the slats when shifted upwardly lying in parallel nesting engagement with uppermost slat with the lowermost slat and its trunnions having yieldable resting support upon the yieldable member and a cover device co-extensive with the end panels and having detachable connection with the angled edges of the end panels.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the yieldable support is formed of a section of spring wire bent to form spaced notched sockets for the rotative reception of the trunnions, the several sockets overlying the slots of the end panels and yieldable to permit the shifting of the trunnions to and from engagement in the sockets, the wire being supported upon the end panels at spaced points throughout its length.

3. A slatted closure device that includes an open frame embodying a channel header and a channel sill and connected end panels, the end panels being centrally and vertically slotted, the vertical edges of the panels being angled inwardly,

a plurality of slats arranged in the frame in parallel equidistantly spaced relation to partake of axial horizontal tilting motion simultaneously, trunnions fixed upon the opposite ends of each slat and projecting through the slots of the end panels, each trunnion provided with a pair of spaced crank arms outwardly of the end panels, flexible cables connected to each group of corresponding crank arms, the cables in fully extended position serving to accurately space the slats when the slats are in the fully extended covering position in the frame opening, the uppermost slat and its trunnions and cranks being held against movement vertically in the slot by a tongue struck from the panel and bent to a position beneath the trunnions, a yieldable device that consists of a length of spring wire bent to form notched sockets that are spaced corresponding to the spacing of the trunnions when the slats are fully extended, the sockets overlying the panel slots and serving to yieldably receive the trunnions for rotative support thereof, the wire being curved from socket to socket with each curved section being anchored by tabs to the end panels, certain of the slats provided with serrated thumb pieces anchored thereto at the point of connection of the trunnions, a tilting of one slat imparting an identical tilting of all the slats through the medium of the flexible cables, the slats being progressively shiftable upwardly with the trunnions progressively snapping past the yieldable sockets and yieldably supported in adjusted position upon a selected socket, the slats being shiftable to a position of parallel nested engagement with the uppermost slatj for exposing the major opening of the frame with the trunnions of the lowermost slat being yieldably supported upon the uppermost socket, cover devices for the end panels that are coextensive therewith, the cover devices being stepped in horizontal cross-section with its vertical edges flared outwardly, the cover being flexible for snapping engagement of the flared edges behind the angled edges of the end panels.

4. The structure as recited in claim 3, wherein the several cables are of identical length and provided at their ends and at equldistantly spaced points with rings that engage over the crank arms and means formed on the crank arms to prevent disengagement of the rings.

CHARLES WILLIAM FERREIRA.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,112,262 Barlow et a1 Mar. 29, 1938 2,167,840 Hepworth Aug. 1, 1939 2,207,605 Wolfe July 9, 1940 2,324,536 Pratt July 20, 1943