US548485A - Curtain or blind fixture - Google Patents

Description

T. U. WALTER. CURTAIN 0R BLIND FIXTURE.

Patented Oct. 22,1895.

{No Model.)

nmmmm INVENTOH.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrics.

THOMAS U. WALTER, OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA.

CURTAIN OR BLIND FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,485, dated October 22, 1895. Application filed March 11, 18 95. Serial No. 541,318- (No model.)

2" 0 all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, THOMAS U. WALTER, residing at Huntington, in the county of Oabell and State of l/Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ourtain or Blind Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in curtain-fixtures and inside blinds; and it primarily has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive arrangement of parts, which can easily be manipulated and which will effectively serve for their intended purposes.

My invention also has for its object to provide devices of the character stated so arranged that the curtain or blind can be easily adjusted and securely held at any point desired without the use of the coil-spring and spring-com pressing devices usually em ployed and in which but a slight pressure on the rod or bar at the lower end of the curtain will serve to release the catch member and free the curtain or blind to permit a free movement thereof.

With other minor objects in view, which hereinafter will be referred to, my invention consists in such novel features of construction and peculiar combination of parts as will be first described in detail, and thenbe specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-window, showing my improved curtain-fixture applied thereto. Fig.2 is a detail perspective view of the spring-catch devices. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional elevation taken practically on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a car-window having an inside blind with my improvements applied. Fig. 6 is a detail view illustrating my improvements applied to a curtain arranged to pull upward, and Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the several parts of the spring-catch detached. Fig. 8 illustrates a modified form hereinafter referred to.

In the practical application of my invention the same is adapted for use in connection with spring-controlled curtains arranged to pull downward or upward and inside blinds adapted to lower by gravity, such application of my invention being illustrated in the drawings. I desire it understood, however, that my improved lock devices may be used in connection with car or other window sashes without requiring modification of the parts of such devices.

Heretot'ore it has been common practice to provide the curtains for cars or other windows with finger-actuated releasing devices, which must be manipulated to release the spring-catches and which must be held compressed during the raising or lowering movement of the curtain. In otherinstances supplemental catch -releasing devices are procial means for setting or releasing the same is provided or necessary further than the ordinary pressure or pull which is exerted on any curtain or blind to raise or lower the same, even where no spring-catch devices are used in connection therewith.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A indicates the window-sash, which has the usual curtain or blind grooves.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 I have shown the curtain devices, and in such views the grooves a have at one side toothed faces B, which may be formed of metal or hard rubber, the teeth of which incline downward, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, such faces being fit- ;ted in the grooves a. in any desired manner.

0 indicates the curtain, which is of the spring-roller kind, the lower or pull rod 0 of which is, however, preferably formed tubular and provided with internal threads 0' at the ends fora purpose presently explained. This rod carries at each end a spring-actuated catch or detent mechanism which when the curtain is grasped by the fingers to raise or lower it, automatically in a sense, becomes released from the rack-face and'moves freely in the groove a. This detent mechanism, which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 7, comprises a cast plate D, formed with a central hub d, which is externally threaded to fit into the threaded end of the tubular rod 0 and with a projecting tooth or lug d, which is adapted to engage the rack-teeth of the member 13, such lug d being normally held in engagement with the rack by spring-pressure, preferably by means of a Hat bent spring E, which has its member e riveted to the plate D, while its member e forms a bearing-shoe, which engages and travels on the smooth face of the groove a as shown most clearly in Fig. 3.

I find it necessary when using a fiat sprin like E to connect the member 6 with the sashframe to prevent the detent mechanism from turning or becoming disengaged. For this purpose I groove the face a of the groove a, as shown at a over which is fitted a slotted plate F, through the slotf of which passes a headed guide-studj secured to the member 6' of the spring, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

So far as described it will be readily seen that as the pressure on the rod naturally is in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, whenever a person grasps the curtain the spring E will be compressed sufficiently to free the lug d from the rack member and thereby allow for a free movement of the curtain and the detent mechanism, it being obvious that so soon as the pressure or pull on the curtain is released the lug d will instantly engage the rack member and lock the curtain from further upward movement. It will thus be manifest that that no unusual or special manipulation of the curtain is required to release the detent devices, making it possible for any one, adult or child, to adjust the curtain.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my improved devices employed as a blind-holder. In this case the rack-teeth are reversed and the pawl or lug (I held to travel freely upward, but to engage the rack and hold the blind elevated when it (the blind) drops back by gravity. The same arrangement of the rack and detent devices is provided when connected with a spring-roller curtain held to pull upward, as shown in Fig. 6.

It is manifest that the detail arrangement of parts of my invention may be modified without departing from the broad idea of my invention. For instance, a double pawl D may be pivotally connected to each end of the rod 0, having one end or toe d held to engage the rack while the other end or heel d is held to engage the smooth face of the groove, such toe and heel portions being so arranged that a pressure rearward on the curtain-rod will cause the double pawl to rock to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the said pawl being held to a normal or locked position by the spiral spring 00.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

1. As an improvement in curtain or blind fixtures, the combination, with the window casing, having guide-ways, a blind bar projecting at its ends into and movable within said guide-ways, detents, and compressible devices for holding such detents normally engaged with the guide-ways, the blind bar carrying such detents and devices, and bell bodily movable, horizontally, whereby to compress said devices and release the detents, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the sash frame having its guide groovesa formed with a rack member B, of the spring returned curtain having its pull rod provided with detent devices, having a pawl adapted to engage the rack, aspring member having a bearing portion held to travel on the smooth edge of the groove and connected with the pawl to hold it normally in engagement with the rack face, said pawl adapted to be released from the rack as the lower end of the curtain is pressed inward, all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

3. The combination with the sash frame having its grooves a formed with a rack face, of the curtain, having a pull rod 0 at the lower end, pawls detachably connected to the ends thereof, and spring members for holding said pawls in engagement normally with the aforesaid rack face, and provided with hearing portions adapted to engage the smooth edge of the grooves a all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

4. In a curtain or blind fixture as described the combination with the grooves at having rack portions B, and the blind or curtain member, of pawls secured to the edges thereof, having lugs to engage the rack portion, and spring members secured to the pawls and having guide and fastening devices for holding them from displacement in the grooves a all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

5. The combination of the sash having its guide grooves formed with a rack face at one edge and a slot way at the other and the curtain rod 0, the detents D detachably connected to the ends thereof, the springs E secured to the detents havinga bearing portion to engage the smooth face of the grooves a and having a catch member fitting the slot way therein all arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

THOMAS U. WALTER. Witnesses:

FRED G. DIETRIcH, SoLoN C. KEMON.

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