US2788066A

US2788066A - Center support hangers for window blinds

Info

Publication number: US2788066A
Application number: US466008A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew J Toti; Allen E Latham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-11-01
Filing date: 1954-11-01
Publication date: 1957-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-09

Description

April 1957 A. J. TOTI EFAL 2,788,066

CENTER SUPPORT HANGERS FOR WINDOW BLINDS Filed Nov. 1. 1954 AM ,i/ /4 1 United States Patent CENTER SUPPORT HANGERS FOR WINDOW BLINDS Andrew J. Toti, Modesto, and Allen E. Latham, Walnut Creek, Calif.

Application November 1, 1954, Serial No. 466,008

2 Claims. (Cl. 160-177) This invention relates generally to hangers and more particularly to center support hangers for window blinds of the vertical slat type wherein a traverse track is rotated about a horizontal axis.

Conventionally, the traverse tracks utilized in window blinds of the vertical slat type are supported at the opposite ends only. Where it is desirable to use this type of blind with larger windows, it has been found that the conventional traverse rods are not of sufiicient strength to adequately support the vertical slats. To increase the strength of the traverse track itself would unduly increase the cost of the traverse track and therefore it is desirable to provide some means of supporting the traverse track from the window frame intermediate the ends of the track. In addition to providing support, such a device must permit the rotation of the traverse track about its horizontal axis.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a center support hanger for Window blinds of the vertical slat type wherein the traverse track is rotatable about a horizontal axis which will provide support to the traverse track at various angular positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a center support hanger of the above type which can be easily attached to the window frame and the traverse track.

A further object of the invention is to provide a center support hanger of the above type which presents a minimum of friction to rotational movement of the traverse track.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the center support hanger together with portions of the associated window blind assembly.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the center support hanger as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an elevational view similar to Figure 2 except that the traverse track is shown rotated to its extreme clockwise position.

In general, the present invention consists of a stationary hanger part adapted to be attached to a fixed support, a movable hanger part attached to the traverse track and an arcuate guideway means serving to connect the hanger parts to permit the traverse track to be rotated about a fixed horizontal axis.

The window blind assembly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing in connection with my center support hanger is substantially conventional and consists of a horizontal traverse track 11, substantially semi-circular in-crosssection, rotatably mounted between end brackets 12 and 13 which are carried by the window frame 14. A gear Patented Apr. 9, 1957 train 16 is adapted to be operated by the tilt cord 17 and is fixed to the bracket 13 in such a manner that when the tilt cord 17 is operated, the traverse track 11 will be rotated about the horizontal axis of the traverse track. The traverse track 11 is provided with an elongated slot 18 extending along the entire length of the traverse track.

Vertical blind slats 21 are connected to a plurality of slides 22 by means of ring 23. The slides 22 are slidably mounted within the elongated slot 18 of the traverse track 11 and are adapted to be moved along said slot by means of the traverse cord 24. Stabilizing means 26 are provided at the bottom of the slats 21 to prevent the hanging slats from blowing against each other without interfering with the rotation of the slats or the drawing of the blind assembly as it is opened or closed.

Byloperating the tilt cord 17, the blind slats 21 can be rotated to adjust for any desired degree of lighting and by operating the traverse cord 24, the blind slats 21 can be drawn open or closed.

The center support hanger 29 consists of a stationary hanger part 31 and a pair of movable hanger parts 32. The stationary hanger part 31 is slidably mounted in a bracket 33 which can be attached to a fixed support such as the window frame 14 by any suitable means such as screws 34. The movable hanger parts can be attached to the traverse track '11 by any suitable means such as screws 35.

Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the movable hanger parts 32 to thestationary hanger part 31 to permit rotation of movable hanger parts about an axis which is coincident with the axis of the traverse track 11. One means found to be suitable consists of providing the stationary hanger part with an arcuate guideway 36 having a uniform radius, the center being coincident with the axis of rotation of the traverse track 11. The movable hanger parts 32 are provided with arcuate guideways 37 contiguous to the arcuate guideway 36, the arcuate guideways 37 having a uniform radius, the center being coincident with the axis of rotation of the traverse track 11.

A carriage 39 is rotatably mounted in the

arcuate guideways

36 and 37. The carriage 39 consists of a frame 41 comprised of two bars 42 and 43 which may be mounted in a spaced relationship by any suitable means such as by

shafts

44 and 46. A pair of rollers 47 are rotatably mounted in said frame 41 on said

shafts

44 and 46. Each of the rollers 47 is provided with sections 47a, 47b and 470 of different diameters, sections 47a and 47c being adapted to cooperate with arcuate guideways 37, and section 47b being adapted to cooperate with arcuate guideway 36.

It is apparent that the dimensions of the

arcuate guideways

36 and 37 and the roller sections 47a, 47b and 470 can be changed to determine the rates of travel of the movable hanger parts and carriage 39. For example, in one instance the traverse track and movable hanger parts were made to travel while the carriage only travelled 72. This was accomplished by making the diameter of the roller sections 47a and 470 three-fifths of the diameter of the roller section 47b. The arcuate guideway 36 was approximately 240 in length and the arcuate guideways 37 were approximately in length. The rollers 41 were separated by approximately 60.

Operation of the center support hanger may be briefly described as follows: Let it be assumed that the center support hanger is in the position shown in Figure 2 with the vertical slats in an open position and that it is desired to move the slats to a closed position. To close the vertical blind slats 21, the traverse track 11 must be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2.

To accomplish this, the tilt cord 17 is operated to cause the gear train 16 to rotate the traverse track in a clockwise direction. Rotation of the traverse track in a clockwise direction causes clockwise movement of. the movable hanger parts 32 which are fixedthereto. Movement of the movable hanger parts causes the rollers 41 to move relative to the stationary hanger part 31 but at a rate of speed that is less than the rate of movement between the movable. hangerv parts32 and the stationary hanger part 31, the rates of movement being determined by the ratio. of the diameter of roller section47b to the diameters of roller sections 47a and 470.

As the traverse track is rotated in a clockwise direction, the'carriage 39 also moves in aclockwise. direction to provide continuous support to the movablehanger parts. Since the motion is of the. continuous rolling type, very little friction is encountered in rotating. the traverse track.

It is. apparent that the. blind. slats-may be closed or opened to any desired angle merely by rotating the traverse track 11 to the proper position. When it is desired to completely close. the blinds, the: traverse track 11 is rotated in the same directionuntil it comes directly into contact with the blind slats 21 to press them into a completely closedposition as shown in Figure 5. In this position, the movable hanger parts 32 have been moved approximately 120 fromthe position shown in Figure 2 and the carriage 39 has been moved approximately 72 from the position shown in Figure 2. In this position, the carriage still provides support for the movable hanger parts 32.

It will be apparent from the. foregoing that we have provided a center. support hanger for window blinds ofthe vertical slat type wherein the traverse track is continuously. supported froma fixed support by arcuate guideway means to permit the traverse track to be rotated about a fixed horizontal axis. Because of theroll' ing action of the rollers 41, a minimum of friction is encountered when rotating the traverse track.

We claim:

1. In a blind construction having vertical slats suspended from a traverse track in which the rotation of the traverse track. about a fixed horizontal axis effects turning of the slats angularly between open and closed positions through rotation of the traverse track about approximately 240 degrees, support means intermediate the ends of the traverse track, said support means comprising a stationary hanger part adapted to be attached to a fixedsupport, a movable hanger part attached to the traversetrack, an arcuate guideway, and means serving to. connect the hanger parts to permit the traverse track to be rotated through approximately 240 degrees about said fixed horizontal axis.

2. In a blind construction having vertical slats suspended from a traverse. trackwhich is. rotatable through about 240. degrees about a fixed horizontal. axis to, turn theslats angularly between open and closed positions, support means intermediatethe ends of the traverse track, saidsupport means comprising a stationary hanger part adapted to be. attached to a fixed support, an arcuate guideway in said stationary hanger part, a movable hanger part contiguous to said stationary hanger part and attached to the traverse track, an arcuate guideway in said movable hanger part, and means connecting said arcuate guideway to said track whereby said track can be rotated through an angle of approximately 24-0 degrees which is substantially greater than the angular. length of said arcuate guideway and said stationary hanger part.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,216,678 Stuber Oct. 1, 1940 2,278,341 Whaley Mar. 31, 1942