US535871A - Blind-slat-holding device - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

. N. P. TAYLOR.

BLIND SLAT HOLDING DEVICE.

No. 535,871. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NATHAN P. TAYLOR, OF HENDERSON, KENTUCKY.

BLlND-SLAT-HOLDING DEVICE."

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,871, dated March 19, 1895. Application filed September 20, 1894. Serial No. 523,662. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NATHAN POWELL TAY- LOR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city of Henderson, county of Henderson, State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Device for Adjusting and Maintaining in Any Desired Position Movable Blind-slats, of which the following is a specification.

At present, blind slats are provided at. each end with a small round tenon, which fits rather loosely into a corresponding mortise in the frame of the blind. Each slat ina section is connected at one edge, midway its length, with a smallwooden rod,by the manipulation of which, each slat in that section may be simultaneously revolved upon its longitudinal axis, for the purpose of regulating the admission of light and air. After a few weeks use these tenons work so loosely and easily in their mortises, that it becomes impossible to maintain them in any desired position, since they revolve back and forth by their own weight, or upon the slightest disturbing cause, giving rise to much inconvenience and annoyance and rendering the blind almost useless for the purpose intended.

The object of my invention is to provide a small spring-steel strip, hereinafter described, for attachment to the end of any one slat in r a section, the flared end of which being in- 'serted into the corresponding mortise, induces sufficient friction to control the movements of all the slats in that section.

My device will not hinder the slats in a section, from being easily, and freely revolved, as at present, by means of the center rod, while its spring-end will furnish, by its friction against the sides of the containing mortise, sufficient resistance to maintain these slats exactly in whatever position they are left, and will add greatly to the comfort and usefulness of the blind, at a nominal cost.

This simple device may be incorporated in the structure of the blind during its manufacture, or may be easily inserted at any time while the blind is in use, as hereinafter described.

There may be used in connection with this device, a thin, inexpensive metal casing for the mortise in the frame of the blind, to prevent unnecessary wear upon the mortise.

This is only practicable to be done during the manufacture of the blinds.

The object of my invention I accomplish in the manner, and by the means, hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a detail plan view of the blank from which the small steel spring for my automatic blind-slat adjuster is formed. Fig. 2, is a plan view of a blank for a differently formed spring. The spring shown in Fig. 1 is to be used where the spring is incorporated during the process of manufacture. Fig. 2, shows a simpler form better adapted for application to blinds in use. Fig. 3, shows Fig. 1 completed. Fig. 4, is a skeleton view showing angle at which both forms of spring are intended to be bent. Fig. 5, is a perspective view of one end of a blind slat, S, showing my spring adjuster applied thereto. Fig. 6, shows a plan of the cylindrical metal casing suggested as a protection to mortise in the blind frame. The cul-de-sac, M, is inserted into the mortise and secured to the edges of the frame on each side by means of the perforated flaps -ff. Into this casing the flared ends of my spring are inserted.

In order to enable those skilled. in the art or manufacture to which my invention pertains, to make and use my device, I shall describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figs. 1 and 2 show the blanks for the two varieties of spring, which may be cut or stamped from a suitable piece of very thin spring steel. The angular neck A, is perforated for attachment to the end of the slat S, as shown in Fig. 5. The wide end B, is given a semi-cylindrical form by having its edges 0. 0., bent downward as in Fig. 3. Both Figs. 1 and2 are bent at E at an angle shownin Fig. 4.. The spring shown in Fig. 2 is only to be used for easy application to blindsin use. Fig. 1, is intended for use in the manufacture of the blind, and is the much more preferable form.

The spring shown in Fig. 3 is attached, one on each side of one end of any one slat in a section, as shown in Fig. 5. The flared semicylindrical ends being pressed together and inserted in the proper mortise in the frame, together, form a complete cylindrical casing around the tenon T, insuring perfect rotation, while their outward tendency produces su'fli oient friction to control the movements of all the slats in that section, through the connecting center rod.

The spring shown in Fig. 2, is very simple, and is intended for application to blinds in use, This is done by inserting the narrow neck B into the mortise alongside the tenon, (one on each side is preferable) and pressing the perforated end A, firmly down against the side of the slat, and securing it by means of suitable small screws or nails.

Heretofore sheet metal tenons have been provided, but my invention has no reference to tenons, either in its construction or, purpose, and such I do not claim.

Having described my invention, ,what I do claim, and ask to have secured by Letters- Ba'tent, isT

As a new article of manufacture, an automatic blind slat adjuster, consisting of a small steel spring, with a perforated neck A, for attachment to the end of the slat, and a portion B for insertion in the mortise, for ready attaohment to blinds in use, the latter portion being bent at an angle to the attaching part, and formed of a single piece of spring steel, substantially as set forth and described.

N. P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses: I

F. O. TAYLOR, T. W. BUCKNER.

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