US2738005A - Venetian blind construction - Google Patents

Description

March 6 J. NISENSON VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 19, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

March 13, 1956 J. NISENSON VENEQTIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Jules Nisenson, Croton -on-fiudson, N. Y. Application October 19, 1951, Serial No. 252,032

1 Claim. (Cl. 160-170) This invention relates generally to the art of Venetian blinds, and more particularly to an improved means for raising and lowering the slats thereof.

The prior constructions of blinds of this type have been operated by means of two controls, one of the controls serving to tilt the individual slats without vertically displacing the same, while the other of the controls serves to raise the blind starting from the lowermost slat thereof in a direction toward the header of the blind. With regard to the latter control considerable difliculty has been encountered owing to the fact that the blinds are raised and lowered by pulling upon a pair of cords, each of which serves to elevate one end of the individual slats. In such construction, the cords travel over a plurality of pulleys which serve only to change the direction of the force applied upon the cords, without multiplying the said force. In the case of relatively large blinds this has called for considerable eifort on the part of the person adjusting the blind, and owing to the fact that the pulleys employed are often very small in diameter there has been a tendency for the cords to jam under load. Often this occurs in such a manner that it is necessary to dismantle part of the header in order to reach the portions of the cords which have become entangled.

Other difi'iculties have also accompanied prior structures of the type described hereinabove. The blind is maintained in any position above its lowermost position solely by the engagement of a dog or claw which engages the adjusting cords by digging into the same. The claw is not only subject to slipping, but any substantial amount of blind adjustment will shorten the life of the cord itself owing to the deleterious effect of the claw. Further, users have tended to pull the cords in such a manner that one side of the blind will be raised to a degree higher than the other. extent by connecting the several cords together at a given point, exact adjustment is diflicult, and owing to the fact that the cords stretch in unequal degrees during the life of the blind, relatively frequent adjustment is necessary.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide Venetian blind structure in which the above mentioned disadvantages and objections have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention herein lies in the provision of Venetian blind structure in which the raising and lowering of a blind of a given size will be easier for the user than in the .case when conventional blinds of a similar size and configuration are employed.

Another object of the invention herein lies in the provision of Venetian blind structure in which the likelihood of slippage from a given elevational adjustment has been substantially eliminated.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of Venetian blind structureof the class described in which lateral sides of the blind may be raised and lowered substantially equally, the possibility of a blind While this may be overcome to some becoming lopsided in appearance being materially reduced.

A further object of the invention herein lies in the provision of Venetian blind structure in which all cord pulleys disposed within the header bar have been eliminated, to be replaced by a simple winding mechanism in which the slats are raised by means of planar tapes.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of Venetian blind structure having the desired qualities in which the cost of fabrication may be of a relatively low order, with consequent wide distribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the use of flat tapes to raise and lower the blinds, allowing substantially smaller slots in which the individual blind slats are disposed in a direction parallel to the principal axis of the slats. This structure permits the slats to be tilted to a greater degree and to be far more etficient in the control of light passing through the blind, and also strengthens the slat to a larger extent.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that the locking or unlocking of a blind in any given adjustment is performed in a completely automatic manner, it being unnecessary to engage or disengage the operating cord with a claw, hook or other similar device.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will become more clearly apparent during the course of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

On the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged exploded view showing the engagement of the elevating tapes with a driven shaft which serves to elevate and lower the slats of the blind with respect to the header element, these parts comprising a portion of the embodiment.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in perspective showing part of the raising and lowering means.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary exploded view in perspective showing the lower portion of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view as seen from the plane 5-5 on Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 66 on Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an exploded view in perspective of certain parts from the assembled structure shown on Figure 6.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a header element 11, a blind element 12, a blind tilting means 13 and a raising and lowering means 14.

The header element 15 includes a supporting frame 15 preferably formed integrally from metallic planar stock. The frame includes a facia board member 16, a bottom member 17, and a rear member 18, the frame being reinforced by end braces 19 and 20. The frame 15 is also provided with means (not shown) for securing the same to a window frame in a well known manner.

The blind element 12 includes a plurality of forward tapes 25, corresponding rearward tapes 2a, the same being interconnected by a plurality of slat support members 27 spaced at uniform distances along the lengths of the tapes. The slats 28 may be formed from any desired material, although it has been found that thin extruded synthetic resin slats similar to the type shown on Figure 1 are useful. The lowermost slat 29 is of conventional form and is of heavier construction than the remaining slats 28 to provide sufiicient gravitational force to lower the blind when desired. A plurality of elevating tapes is disposed between the tapes 25 and 26, in a plane parallel to the principal axes of the slats 23, the same being preferably formed from thin flexible material which does not stretch excessively. The slots 31 in the slats 28 through which the tapes 35 pass are of elongated configuration, but are parallel to the axes of the slats, rather than at right angles thereto, as is normally found in the conventional type blind. This increases the strength of the slats.

The tilting element 13 includes a main shaft supported by angle brackets 4-1 which are mounted upon the upper surface of the bottom member 17. A plurality of drums 42 is provided for engagement with the tapes 25 and 26, and the shaft 46 is rotated by means of a worm gear drive 43 supported upon the upper surface of the bottom member 17 by means of a bracket 44. A pulley 45, the rotational axis of which is disposed at right angles to the shaft 40, is driven by a cord 46 which passes thereover. Movement of either end of the cord 46 will cause the shaft it) and drums 42 thereon to rotate in either direction to result in the tilting of the slats 28.

The raising and lowering means 14 is connected with the elevating tapes Si in the manner indicated on Figure 2 of the drawings. The uppermost terminal of the tape 30 is engaged by a circular metallic clip 50 which is slidably engageable within the slot 51 of the shaft 52. The shaft 52 is disposed parallel to the shaft 40 and is supported by the brackets 41 in a similar manner. There is also present on each side of each tape 3d a smaller angle bracket 53, each having flanges 54 which serve to align the tapes 4-0 as they are wound about the portions of the shaft 52.

The blind element 12 is raised or lowered by means of a continuous cord 57 which engages a pulley 58. Small aligning pulleys 55 and serve to position the cord 57 away from the window (not shown) to facilitate the grasp thereof by the user. The pulleys 59 and 6t] are disposed on pintles 62 and 63, in turn supported by the bracket 64, and are maintained thereupon by a small retaining clip 61 which engages both the pintle 62 and the pintle 63. Where desired, the structure 5963 may be eliminated with its accompanying loss of function.

Secured to the bracket 64 which is mounted upon the bottom member 17 of the header element 11 is a housing 65 which partially encases and supports the remaining parts of the element 14. The pulley 58 is mounted upon a pulley support '78, an extension 71 of which forms a bearing engaging a bracket extension 81. The extension 71 is provided with a cutout portion 72 (see Figure 7). A centrally disposed bore 73 extends through the entire length of the support 70. The spring engaging member 74 is provided with a shaft portion 75 which extends through the bore 73 to be secured by clip 69. A pin 76 extends partially into the cutout portion 72, and as may be seen on Figure 6, the pin 76 does not extend radially to the diameter of the extension 71. There is thus provided a clearance, the purpose of which will become apparent later in the disclosure. Owing to the engagement of the pin 76, the pulley support 70, and the spring engaging member 74, they are in efiect keyed together, there being possible a small amount of play between 15 and 20 through which the pulley support may be rotated without disturbing the spring engaging member 74-. The main portion 77 of the member '74 is provided with an elongated slot 78, the plane of which extends through the principal axis of the same. A bearing surface 79 is engageable with a bearing 8b which supports the member 74 over a relatively small area thereof. The bracket extension 81, as has been mentioned, provides a bearing for the pulley support extension 71 and extends so as to partially surround the spring engaging member 74 and supports the bearing fill. The locking spring 32 is disposed within the annular cavity formed therebetween, the same being of a coil type having an inner terminal disposed radially within the slot 78 and an outer terminal 84 disposed parallel to the principal axis. As may be seen on Figure 6, the terminal 84 extends into the cutout portion 72 and clears the pin 76 at all times. The spring 82 is of such configuration as to normally grip the outer surface of the portion 77 when otherwise unstressed.

The spring engaging member 74 is provided with a socket portion 35 in which the socket engaging portion 36 of the threaded governing member 87 is positionable. Engaged with the threads of the member 87 and the inner surfaces of the housing 65 is a sliding nut member 85, which has a path of travel coextensive with the length of the threads upon the member 87. Thus when the blind is in its lowermost position the member 88 will be disposed with one surface thereof contacting the inner surface 89 of the housing, and when the blind is in a fully raised condition the opposite surface of the nut member 83 will contact the surface 99 of the spring engaging member 74.

The innermost terminal of the governing member 87 is provided with a socket 91, in which the outer end of the shaft 52 is positionable, the same being locked therein by means of a pin 92.

In raising or lowering the blind element 12 by the raising and lowering means 14, the endless cord 57 is pulled in either direction. This motion is transmitted to result in the rotation of the shaft 52 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction as seen on Figure 1, to result in the lowering or raising, respectively of the tapes 30. When the blind is adjusted at any position other than its lowermost position there will be a tendency for the same to wind down further under the action of gravity. This motion is transmitted through the shaft 52, the member 87, and the member 74. As these members turn for a short distance the outer terminal 84 of the locking spring 32 moves in a clockwise direction as seen on Figure 7 until the same strikes the right hand surface of the cutout portion 72. Further rotation then causes the spring 82 acting like a brake shoe to expand radially so that the outwardmost surface of the convolutions thereof contact the inwardly disposed surfaces of the bracket extension 81, acting as a stationary brake drum. The friction created thereby arrests further rotation, and the blind position is now locked with respect to the window. If from this position it is desired to further lower the blind, the pulley 58 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as seen on Figure 3, which results in the shifting of the position of the cutout portion 72 in a clockwise direction as seen on Figure 7. This motion serves to move the rightward radially disposed surface of the cutout portion '72 away from the outer terminal 84, thus permitting the spring 82 to contract, whereby the outer surfaces of the convolutions come away from brake drum 81 and then lose contact with the inner surface of the bracket extension 81. This permits the blind to be lowered, the spring 82 relocking upon the cessation of rotation of the pulley 58.

When it is desired to raise the blind element, the pulley 58 is rotated in a clockwise direction as seen on Figure 3. In this case the pulley support extension 71 will rotate in a counterclockwise direction as seen on Figure 7 and the spring will be expanded so that the outer surfaces thereof contact the inner surfaces of the bracket extension 81. The friction encountered under these circumstances is overcome by the positive driving force applied to the pulley 58, which through the pin 76 transmits the motion to the shaft 52. When the blind has been elevated to the desired position the friction caused by the spring 32 retains the'same in this position.

It may be noted that the shaft 52 is positively driven from the pulley 58 irrespective of the direction of travel of the tape 30. When it is desired to lower the blind, for example, should the spring 82 become jammed in its locked position for any reason, the left hand surface of the cutout portion 72 (see Figure 7) will strike the terminal 84, thereby returning the spring 82 to its reIatively unstressed condition.

It may thus be seen that I have invented novel and highly useful improvements in Venetian blind construction, in which there is provided an improved means for raising and lowering the blind portion of the device. By means of my structure, all internal cord linkages are omitted, to be replaced by a thoroughly reliable rotational linkage oflering increased ease in raising and lowering the blind portion. Provision is incorporated for limiting the degree to which the blind element may be raised or lowered, thus preventing any undue damage in the hands of an inexperienced user and preventing improper winding of the elevating tapes. The device may be fabricated using parts which may be stamped or formed on automatic machines, it being unnecessary to employ castings or other expensive machining. Where necessary, the device may be completely disassembled for the replacement of parts, and the device is so constructed as to require a minimum of servicing during its relatively long useful life. Owing to the fact that planar tapes rather than cords are employed to elevate the blind element, the slots in the individual blind slats may be of small dimensions, and may have axes parallel to the principal axis of each slat, thereby assuring maximum efficiency in light control and maximum strength of thin slats.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the exact details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains.

I claim:

Venetian blind structure comprising: a header element, a blind element and raising and lowering means; said blind element including a plurality of elongated slats; said raising and lowering means including a rotatably mounted shaft disposed within said header element, a

plurality of tapes connected to said shaft and extending through slots disposed in each of said blind slats; means to rotate said shaft whereby said tapes may be wound upon the same and a locking mechanism for frictionally fixing the position of said shaft upon its axis, said mechanism including a bracket extension in the form of an outer cylindrical member secured to said header element, a cylindrically shaped pulley support, a reduced extension of which forms a bearing engaging and disposed within said bracket extension, said pulley support at the extension thereof having a cut out portion, and having a centrally disposed bore extending through the length thereof, a cylindrically shaped spring engaging member provided with a slot and a reduced shaft portion which is rotatably disposed within said bore, and extending outwardly thereof to form a free terminal; a pin radially extending from said shaft portion and disposed within said out out portion, the effective circumferential width of said cut out portion being substantially greater than the diameter of said pin to afford slack rotational travel for said shaft portion, a coil spring disposed between the bracket extension and the spring support member, said spring having an inner terminal disposed radially within said slot and an outer terminal arranged parallel to the principal axis of said spring and located within said out out portion, said spring being of a configuration to normally grip the outer surface of the spring supporting member when unstressed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,143 Wicks Jan. 28, 1936 2,149,481 Van Bosch et al Mar. 7, 1939 2,229,221 Pratt Jan. 21, 1941 2,231,778 Swanson Feb. 11, 1941 2,523,003 Donop Sept. 19, 1950 2,579,144 Griesser Dec. 18, 1951

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