US2776461A - Venetian blind - Google Patents

Description

R. F. ANDERSON VENETIAN BLIND Jan. 8, 1957 Filed Sept. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l ROBERT FANDERSON ATTORNEYS R. F. ANDERSON Jan. s, 1957 VENETIAN BLIND Filed Sept. 26, 1955 2 Sheets-Shc-zerI 2 INVENTOR ROBERTl F. ANDERSON ied States Patent O VENETIAN BLIND Robert F. Anderson, Racine, Wis.

Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,336

Claims. (Cl. 2062) 'Ihis invention appertains to Venetian blinds of the type adapted to be more or less permanently installed in awindow frame and is an improvement on my Patent No. 2,693,010, issued to me on November 2, 1954.

One of the primary objects of my present invention is to generally improve the construction of the window blind shown in my above-mentioned patent, whereby the appearance of the blind will be enhanced and the installation thereof will be facilitated and the overall cost will be materially lessened.A

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of novel window frame plates for removably supporting an ornamental head strip and for adjustably supporting for vertical movement, the rocking brackets for the top of the blind proper, whereby the blind can be initially adjusted within certain limitations to accurately lit various heights of window frame casings.

A further object of my invention is to provide means lor connecting the top rocking brackets together by a top cross-piece and whereby the brackets can initially be adjusted in said cross-piece to suit windows of slightly different widths.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel means associated with the vertical guide rails of the blind for removably and rockably supporting the blind slats, whereby to facilitate the quick assembly of said means with the guide rails.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more speciiically described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my improved Venetian blind showing the same incorporated with a window frame, parts of the figure being shown broken away and in section to illustrate structural detail;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the Venetian blind and window frame taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the novel means employed for removably and rockably supporting the blind slats in particular;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the novel connection between one of the novel frame plates and the rocking top bracket;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the novel con nection between one of the window frame plates, a rocking bracket and the connecting top cross-piece for the brackets;

Figure 5 is a detail transverse sectional view through the top cross-piece and one rocking bracket;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the window frame plates;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective View of one of the slat supporting lingers or brackets.

2,776,461 Patented Jan. 8, 1957 ICC Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter B generally indicates my novel Venetian blind and F a window frame with which the blind can be associated.

The window trarne F can be considered of the type generally found in buildings and the frame itself forms no part of my present invention, and will not be described in detail; however, it is to be noted that the same includes the side stiles 10, a lintle 11 and a sill 12. Finishing frame pieces 13 can surround the stiles 10, lintle 11 and sill 12.

My improved Venetian blind B includes a pair of companion novel window frame plates or xtures 14, which are so-formed as to permit the securing thereof to the exposed faces of the stiles 10 at the top of the window frame, so that the blind can be placed directly within the frame.

Each of the companion frame plates 14 comprises a at base or body portion 15 having openings 16 formed therein for the reception of fastening elements so as to permit the easy securing of the frame plates to the stiles. Intermediate the vertical edges of the body or base portions 15 of the frame plates is formed a vertically extending channel shaped guide track 17 having a narrow slot 18 opening out of the front of the guideway or track. The purpose of this guideway or track will later appear. Also formed on the base or body portions 15 Iat the front thereof is a pair of spaced vertically extending and inwardly directed llanges 19 defining a guideway 20 therebetween and the purpose of this guideway 20 will also later appear.

The Venetian blind per se, includes pairs of vertically extending guide rails 21. The guide rails 21 form an important part of the present invention and are preferably constructed from sheet metal rolled, or extruded, as preferred. Each vertical guide rail 21 is of a substantially U-shape in cross-section and includes spaced parallelside guide lianges 22 and 23, and a connecting outer wall 24. The outer llange 22 of each guide rail is of a materially greater width than the inner llange 23 and each of the flanges 22 and 23 adjacent to the outer connecting wall 24 is formed to provide in conjunction with the outer wall vertically extending seats or tracks 25. The provision of the vertically extending seats or guide tracks 25 forms an important part of the present invention and delines means for detachably receiving and supporting a series of equidistantly spaced Venetian blind slat supporting lingers or brackets 26. These slat supporting fingers or brackets can be formed from sheet metal or any other desired material, and each includes a flat elongated shank 27 of a predetermined width and formed on the lower end of each shank is an outwardly extending upturned hook 28. The hook is of less width than the shank. The formation of these slat supporting lingers or brackets 26 and the guide tracks 25 is such that the Shanks can be readily slid into the tracks 25 of the guide rails and be frictionally held therein against accidental displacement. As brought out above, the Shanks 27 are all of the same exact length so that when the brackets or lingers 26 are slid into their tracks with one bracket or linger abutting the next bracket or linger, all of the hooks 2S will be equidistantly spaced. By providing this arrangement, the hooks or lingers 26 can be easily assembled with their guide tracks. While the friction t is ample to hold the lingers or brackets in place, the lowermost lingers or brackets can be rigidly held in place by the use of a screw or the like, if so desired.

As the guide rails 2l are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the window frame the same can freely receive therebetween flexible slats 29 and these slats can be formed of any desired light material, such as wood, thermoplastic, metal or the like, and all of the slats are treated so as to present a pleasing decorative appearance. The ends of the slats extend between the pairs of rails 21 and the flanges 23 of the rails which are of a less width than the liange 2.2 permit the insertion of the ends of the slats into the rails, as best shown in Figure 3 and the terminals of the slats rest on the hooks or 'seats 2d. When the rails of the pairs of rails are moved relative to one another, so as to bring about the tilting of the slats to a desired angle, as is clearly brought out in my patented device, the longitudinal edges cf the slats fall into the hooks 2S and thus the slats are always adequately supported irrespective of their position relative to the vertical or horizontal.

To bring about the adjustment of the rails up down relative to one another, the lower ends of the rails of each pair are connected together by roc'k arms 3u and the outer ends of the arms are pivotally secured by pivot pins or screws Sill to the ilanges 22 of the rails. The rock arms at a point equidistant their ends are pivotally supported on pivot arms or screws 3l carried by angle brackets 32 and these angle brackets can be rigidly secured to the window sill l2, by means of fastening elements 33. The upper ends of the rails of each pair of rails are operatively connected together by similar rock arms 34 and these rock arms are pivotally connected to the flanges 22 of the rails by pivot pins or screws 35. The upper rock arms 34 intermediate their ends are roelably mounted on headed pivot pins 36 and these pivot pins are carried by angle brackets 37. in order to prevent displacement of the rock arms 3d off of the pins 36, washers 35i or the like are placed on the pins and secured thereto against the outer faces of the rock arms. lt is to be also noted that the pins 36 extend outwardly beyond the rock arms 3ft and the angle brackets 37. Extending across the top of the Venetian blind per se is a channel shaped connecting rail 39 and the horizontal portions of the angle brackets 37 extend into the connecting rail 39 and are adjustably held therein by set screws 4t). Obviously, the angle brackets 37 can be adjusted in and out of the connecting rail 39 so as to permit the convenient installation of the blind in window frames of slightly different widths. The pivot pins 36 extend into the slots 18 of the guide tracks 17 formed on the supporting plates i4 and are rockably mounted in bearing openings formed in adjusting clamp plates fil slidably mounted in the guide tracks l?. The clamp plates dll are adjustably secured in place by means of headed set screws 42 which extend through the slots i8 and into the clamp plates fifi. By tightening the screws 42, the clamp plates can be brought into frictional gripping engagement with the outer walls of the tracks i7. By this arrangement, the clamp plates il and consequently, the upper end of the Venetian blind per se can be raised and lowered initially so as to facilitate the fitting of the Venetian blind into window casings of slightly varying types.

Great stress is laid on the arrangement of supporting the upper end of the Venetian blind per se in the window frame or casing and it can be seen that I have provided a very simple, but efficient means for facilitating the installation in window casings of slightly varying widths and heights.

In order to aid in the attractive appearance of the blind and the entire installation, I provide a top flat inishing strip 43, and this strip is slid into the guideways 2li defined by the ilanges 19 on the supporting plates 14. lf desired, the upper edge of the finishing strip 43 adjacent to its terminals can be provided with stop lingers 44 for abutting engagement with the upper edge of one of the langes 19. This strip 43 is preferably formed with an ornamental appearance and is painted, to suit the decor of a room.

By manipulating theV guide rails 21 up and down, the

l slats 29 can be tilted to any desired position and due to the connecting rail 39, movement of the guide rails on one side of the Venetian blind will be transmitted to the guide rails on the other side or" the blind.

As in my previous patent, the slats 29 are freely removable from the guide rails and their supporting lingers or brackets 26, and hence the slats can be conveniently washed and cleaned.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a permanent Venetian blind for window casings, corner guide rails of a substantially U-shape in crosssection, each including an outer wall and spaced parallel ilanges, and freely removable slat receiving brackets each including a vertical shank and an outwardly projecting hook of less width than the shank, the Shanks being fitted flat against the outer wall with their side edges in frictional contact with the flanges, and with the shank of one Slat supporting bracket engaging the shank of the next adjacent slat receiving bracket, all of said shanks being of an exact equal length whereby all of the hooks of the slat supporting brackets will be equidistantly spaced.

2. ln a permanent Venetian blind for window casings, corner guide rails of a substantially U-shape in crosssection each including an outer wall and inwardly directed spaced parallel flanges, said lianges adjacent to said outer wall having out-struck portions detining in conjunction with the outer wall vertical guide tracks, and freely removable slat receiving brackets, each including a dat vertical shank and an outwardly projecting hook of a less width than the shank, the Shanks of the brackets being slidable in said tracks and held in an adjusted position therein by frictional contact with the walls of the tracks, the tracks holding said brackets against lateral and outward movement, the hooks being adapted to detachably and rockably support longitudinal edges of slats, the Shanks being of an exact length with the shank of one bracket engaging the shank of an adjacent bracket whereby to equidistantly space the hooks throughout the length of the corner guide rails.

3. In a permanent Venetian blind for window casings, top supporting frame plates adapted to be secured to the outer faces of the Stiles of a window frame casing, each of said plates including vertically extending guide tracks having a vertical slot communicating therewith, corner guide rails, slat supporting seats in the guide rails, rock arms disposed at the upper ends of the guide rails and on each side of the blind havng their terminals pivotally connected to the adjacent upper ends of the corner guide rails, supporting angle brackets having depending vertical arms and inwardly extending horizontal arms, means pivotally securing the rock arms intermediate the ends of the vertical arms of the angle brackets, a top connecting rail receiving the horizontal arms of the angle brackets, means adjustably securing the horizontal arms to the top connecting rail, and a clamp plate rockably supporting the pivot pins adjustably mounted in the tracks of the frame plates with the pivot pins extending through the slots in the tracks.

4. In a permanent Venetian blind for window casings as defined in claim 3, and said clamp plates being slidable in the guide tracks, and headed set screws extending through the slots of the guide tracks and into said clamp plates for holding said clamp plates in tight contact with walls of the guide tracks upon the tightening of the set screws.

5. ln apermanent Venetian blind for window casings as defined in claim 3, and said frame plates adjacent to their forward ends havingV spaced parallel inwardly directed l'langes defining guide ways, and a finishing plate slidably mounted in said guide ways and disposed in front of the connecting rail.

No references cited.

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