US2168046A - Awning blind - Google Patents

Description

H. RUSCHER AWNING BLIND Original Filed Deb. 4, 1935 s Sheets$heet 1 lullllllilllllllnllulllu llllllllllllllllllllIllnu BY I ATTDRNEY Aug. '1, 1939.

H. RUSC HER 2,168,046 AWNING BLIND- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 4, 1935 I XBY (c v 'ATTORNEY Aug. .1, 1939. H. RUSCHER I AWNING BLIND Original Filed Dec. 4, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I i; BY %IVENTOR ATTORN Y more or less parallel transverse disposition, and

Patented Aug, 1, 1939 UN STATES AWNING nu'nn Harold Ruscher, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application December 4, 1935, Serial No. 52,745 Renewed December 28, 1938 20 Claims. (01. 189-55) This invention relates to devices ,of the nature of blinds and shutters, especially to blinds and the like characterized by a multileaf structure,

and more particularly to a blind of the general- .type commonly known as a Venetian blind, in

which the leaves are supported in spaced relation upon flexible cables or tapes and may be tilted from a closed position, in whichtheir margins overlap tightly, to any of several positions in which the leaves may be selectively arranged in thereforeare less obstructive to light and air, in proportion to their approach to a spaced parallel plane relation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a blind structure comprising a set of tilting leaves or slats made wholly or in part of metal or other non-inflammable material, as for example Bakelite, Formica, shatter-proof glass, etc.', the leaves having their longitudinal margins adapted to interlock when overlapped,

so that the faces of the blind may be respectively continuous from top to bottom when in the ex tended position of the device.

Another object of the invention is to'provide' which region the blind is maintained at a distance from the window sill, so that the device will serve as an awning possessing v-unusual strength and fireproof characteristics, by reason of its component material.

A cognate object of the invention is to provide flexible connecting and operating cables by which the metal leaves of which the awning is constituted may be raised to a collapsed overhead position by simple draft upon the appropriate cables, and will be nested there under a suitable canopy, without requiring for the operation a degree of skill or training other than that which may be reasonably expected froma shop assistant or household servant of average perience.

A further object is to so organize the interlocking leaves and their supporting cables that the simple release of the appropriate cables is followed by theautomatic descent of the leaves and their supporting frame, (which may be of substantially conventional awning-frame struc-.

ture) to an extended position in which the adjoining margins of the leaf components assume self-engaged interlocking positions without directive effort on the part of the operator.

Still another object is to provide such an arrangement of the leaves and their supporting mentality and exand actuating cables that when the blind components have thus descended into their interengaged assembled position, the entire assembly may be swung bodily around its support to bring the free end inward against an.

upright wall. or other structural abutment, and means are provided to secure thedevice there, in position to act as a fireproof metal shutter or closure for the window, door or other opening, being also substantially weatherproof, verminproof, windproof and preventing unauthorized access to the building so protected.

Among other objects is the provision of a novel combination of locking and unlocking cables, these being of such structure, and equipped with such attachments, that when the leaves of the structure are in their interlocking awning position an operator can by simple draft upon the appropriate cables unlock-the leaf margins, and then tilt all of the leaves simultaneously, and in a unitary'operation, to relatively open positions in which access will be given to desirable circulation of air, and to entry of light, as for example to light a store window, or a dwelling room or oflice, while the device excludes unduly strong currents of air or undesirable heat rays, etc.

It is also an object of the invention to form the component elements of the entire improved,

blind or shutter out of non-inflammable material,

including not only the slats and their framework,

but also the operating cables, so that there is a. complete elimination of fire-hazard, and more particularly of that form of fire risk due to the practice of throwing unextinguished matches, lighted butts of cigarettes, etc. out. of windows,

which is a frequent source of fires and has led to condemnation by the fire-underwriters of awnings made of inflammable m'aterials.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description of the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention pro-' gresses, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail and the particular physical embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings and the several views thereon, in which like characters of reference in course of operation; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but showing leaf components unlocked and tilted to relative positions in which they occupy-spaced, approximately parallel planes and afford spaces for the passage of light and air to the protected building aperture; Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section, taken on the medial, vertical plane of Fig. 2, but showing the components of the device retracted to a position above the window and coveredby the protective canopy there componentleaves; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail view in vertical section, taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 6, the-arrows'at the ends of the line indicating the direction in which the view is taken.

In the now-preferred embodiment of the invention selected for illustration and description, the elements designated respectively by the reference characters ll, l2, I3, I4 and it are leaf components of a blind or shutter structure, and while five are-shown, any other suitable number either more or less, may be organized to operate in. the embodiment of the idea of means herein disclosed. and the size and relative proportions of these leaf components are also susceptible of considerable variation, as well as their structural details.

In pursuance of the invention; these leaves are designed to be assembled with their contiguous transverse flanged edges l6, l1 arranged in interlocking engagement at times, and are so mable sheet material, each of the leaves illus-- illustrated in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while Fig. 8 shows, on a larger scale, a particular physical embodiment of the means by which the interlocking action may desirably be carried into effect. The leaf component selected as typical is that numbered l2, and it may be regarded as representing exactly the structure of any of the leaves in this, or any similar embodiment of the invention, other than the end leaf to be described hereinafter.

In accordance with one of the most important objects of the'invention, I prefer to provide, as

already mentioned, an all-metal structure or a structure made entirely of non-inflammable material for the sake of insuring a completely flreproof characteristic for this device, and this may be most conveniently realized in the multileaf structure by making each leaf out of sheet metal, for example sheet steel, or other non-inflamtrated being made from an integral blank of that material in the instance shown, for convenience and economy in fabrication as well as for strength.

For a similar reason and to promote standardization of these important parts, each leaf what may be termed an upper flange IS, and

a lower flange l1, bent symmetrically in oppo-. sitedirections from the body l2 of the leaf, with respect to the plane of which body the flanges stand respectively at an angle of somewhat less than 90 degrees, say from parallel relation to 80 degrees, the purpose of this inclination being. .to cause a' flrmly retentive hooking effect all along the contiguous edges of adjoining leaf components, while permitting some variation in the catenary curve of the awning from the rather 'flat catenary arc shown in Fig. 1.

has

This figure represents" the-normal effect of gravity when several leaves are hooked together and supported at two remotely spaced.,flxed points,as at the points l9, each of which designates a region of swinging support of the upper-.

most leaf II from eyes 36, 3 9, 41 in'the lintel of a window frame F of conventional structure, the means for said swinging support to be described later in this specification, and at 'a lower region I where the deviceincludes-an awning frame member or members 2|, which are of conventional form, in theinstance illustrated, being held'away from the wall W by awning frame members or upon upright metal guide rods 24 attached by screws to the window frame F. The awning frame thus constituted, with its cross-piece 2|,

struts 22 and the lowermost leaf component IS,

in anchored by guys or hold-down cables 26.

Such is the retentive character of the inter engaged flanges 16, ll, that the leaf structure.

already described, with its uppermost leaf I l supported swingingly as at l 9, and with its lowermost leaf component l5 connected at its lateral margins to struts 22, as at 2|, would quite possibly serve as-a self -contained, self-supporting unitary awning structure even in the absence of the fur- -more detailed features of the invention.

It may be noted at this stage of my present disclosure that, without any addition of means to effect manipulation of the awning already dearound its upper edge, as at l9, into an upright position flat against the windowlframe F, and will then act as an all-metal shutter to completely close the wall opening surrounded by window frame F; in which position the hook-joints I6, I! are equally as effective, if not more so, than when acting in the catenary curve relationship destruts 22 of known structure. These are of metal and are carried pivotally by slides 23 fltted loosely scribed, the multileaf structure may be swung scribed with reference to the structure of Figs. 1,

2, etc.

Such a vertical shutter position is illustrated clearly in Figs. 6 and 7, and is made the subject of specific'claims, as well as being covered generally. Theupwardly sliding action of the slides 23 in bringing about such an action is of known character, and does not require labored exposltion.

The shutter may be fastened in this position by firmly tying thestay rope 26 through an eye, such as the eye 51 mentioned below, on-the sill, or if desired, anadditional means for locking the shutter in this position may be provided, as for example, a locking means which takes the form of a padlock 54 having a ball 55 engaged with suitable eyes 56, 51, as shown in Fig. 9, the eye 51 being set in the window sill S, and the eye 55 being mounted on oneof the leaves, as for example the leaf l5.

In further pursuance of the invention, provision is made of means adapted to operate or cooperate for disengaging the interengaged leaves, and for re-engaging them, also means for raising the assembled multileaf structure to a col-'- lapsed position, retracted above the window and ferred means for this purpose comprises a series of flexible wires, strands or cables, in duplicate sets, of which one set is provided at or near each end of the leaves, and each comprises a cable designed primarily for maintaining the leaf components' in their general assembled relationship at all times, and which also acts positively, when drawn upon, to raise the leaves to nested position, this retractive action beginning with the opening 33 in leaf l3, opening 34 in leaf l2, and

opening 35 in leaf N, from which latter the cable extends through an eye 36 attached to the wall W as shown in Fig. 4, and downward along the frame of window F to acleat 31, upon which its free end may be made fast and its slack accumulated, as indicated in the drawings.

In further pursuance of the invention, a flexible cable is provided for effecting the unlocking of the interlocking margins I6, I! of the leaves when it is desired to tilt them to such an open position, for example, as that shown in Fig. 4. For this purpose sets of cables 40 are provided, one preferably near each margin of the leaves, the reference character 40 designating these sets of cables generally, and each set comprising a lower stretch 4|, the upper part of which is knotted, as

in leaf M.

at, in a lug 49, one at each upper corner of the leaf I, while an upper stretch 43, in continuation integrally of the stretch 4|, forms a bight or loop 3, the cable extending through an orifice 44 in the leading margin 45 of the leaf H: (see Fig. 2) so that the leaves l2, l3 and i4 move upward when draft is exerted upon an extension 46 of the stretch 43 (see Fig. 4). This extension passes through an eye 47 fixed in the window frame F, and a cleat 48 is provided to receive the free end of the extension 46.

As shown clearly in Fig. 4, the cable stretch 4| A greater detail in Fig. 8, adjacent to theorifice 34 This leaf, and each of the other leaves, is provided also with an apertured lug 50,

and through this series of lugs is threaded the stretch 43 of the cable 43. I

The stretches 4| and 43 have been devised by me to cooperate in exerting first an unlocking action and then a tilting action upon the leaves, progressively, beginning with the lowermost leaf |5, and this combined and progressive series of actions is accomplished by novel means comprising a series of enlargements 5| to 53 inclusive, such as the shot'like elements illustrated, which are fixed upon the stretch 43, each at a point where it is adapted to be engaged eventually with one of the lugs 50, in the manner best shown in Fig. 3, where the spacing of the shot is illustrated in detail.

In the last named figure, the parts are shown in the position which they assume relatively to each other just after the operator has begun to pull down upon the cable extension 46 for the purpose of tilting-the leaves from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4. In the Fig. 1 position, it will be noted that shot 5| is at a slight distance from its neighboring lug 50 on leaf it, while shot 52 is at a greater distance from its neighboring lug 50 on'leaf l3 and shot is at a still greater distance from its neighboring lug 50 on leaf ii.

In the Fig. 3 position, the pull by the operator uponthe cable stretch 43 has first drawn its bight B through orifice 44, thus tilting the leaf l5, and unhooking the flange" It at the upper margin ofieaf l5 from the contiguous flange II at the lower margin of the adjoining leaf l4.

Thereafter, the leaf l4, being thus freed at its lower end, is-advanced upwardly by the action of shot 5| upon its lug 50, so that the articulation, I! between leaves H and I3 is broken.

as indicated in Fig. 3, and bya slight furtherdraft upon stretch 43 from the position shown in Fig. 3, the articulation l6, between leaves l3 and I2 will be similarly broken, by action of shot 52' upon the lug 50 of leaf l3, and in due course the shot 53- will engage lug 50 upon leaf l2 and break its articulation with leaf l. Finally, the operator, by suitable drawing upon extension 46,

can tilt the leaves simultaneously to any suitable position of substantial parallelism in spaced planes, as in Fig. 4, andby making fast the extensions 46 and 45a upon cleat 48, can insure the maintenance of the parts in selected adjustive position.

Conversely, upon exerting draft on the extension 46a of cable 40, the partswill be returned to the Fig. 1 position, which is the normal awning position, this return being assisted by gravity, and at any time the parts can be retracted from this position.to theoverhead position of Fig. 5 by simply loosening the hold-down stay 26, pulling down the cables 30 to raise the leaves, and making fast upon the cleat 31 the raising cables, of which there are preferably two, one at each side of the structure, the reference character 38 in Fig. 7

indicating the usual cross-over position of one of the raising cables 3Q, after it has passed through the eye 39 on its way to eye 38. By manipulation of the cables 4|, 43, the leavesmay be adjusted to any desired angular position, from the uniplanar relation to that of complete paral- Neither in this position nor in the normal awning position of Fig. l,- nor in the upright shutter position of Fig. 7, is undue strain placed upon the cables 36, as in both of the lowered positions the articulations l6, l1 between the successive leaves sustain the weight of the structure in a manner for. which the metal hook-joint formation qualifies them amply; and even during the operation of lifting the leaves to the nested position it will be noted that they are initially sup ported partially by the struts 22. The diminishing angle of displacement of these struts from the vertical as the weight supported thereby increases, provides for a compensatory. modification of the moment of lifting force demanded of the cable 30, until the retraction reaches a point where the slides 23 of the struts are drawn up-' ward from the position shown in Fig. 5. I

, From the foregoing disclosure it will be apparcut that the novel shutter blind structure illustrated and described constitutes a complete m1- ization of the first stated objects of the invention, being simple and sturdy in construction, easily fabricated, installed and operated; of low maintenance expense, noteasily injured or put out of order; completely fireproof, weatherproof andverminproof; readily. packed for transportation; useful in any climate; adjustable for control of light and ventilation; capable of receiving advertising media in many forms; readily repaired; and adapted to be made largely of parts already stocked by manufacturers anddealers.

If the leaves be fabricated with transparent panels, as for example of shatter-proof glass, the

structure may be utilized to great advantage as a storm window. It may also be used with suitable inclusions of glass prisms to reflect light into interiors from an exterior light-source.

. stood that the forms selected are merely illuset'rative, but do not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of the idea of means underlying my invention.

What I claim as new anddesire to secure Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A leaf structure of the nature of a Venetian blind, comprising leaf components connected together by flexible. elements and characterized by marginal flanges adapted to constitute complemental interlocking means when brought into contiguous relation along adjoining edges of said leaves in a joint disposed transversely of the blind in its extended position, and ,means adapted respectively to move said leaves to unlock said adjoining flanges and to tilt said leaves to noncontiguous positions with spaces therebetween.

2. A multileaf structure, comprising leaf components and flexible connecting elements combined and cooperating as set forth in claim 1,

' and further characterized by having each of said ments and characterized by marginal flanges adapted to constitute complemental interlocking means when brought into contiguous relation along adjoining edges of said leaves in a joint disposed transversely of the blind in its extended position, and further characterized by having said leaf components and flexible elements formed of metal throughout said multileaf structure; and means adapted to unlock said flanges and tilt said leaves to said open positions. v

-4. A multileaf structure of the nature of a Venetian blind, characterizedby having a series of tiltable leaves, and flexible suspenders therefor, said leaves being each provided with at least 76 one marginal hook-flange which is adapted to be articulated with a similar, complemental, contiguous hook-flange on an adjoining leaf component when said hook-flanges are tilted or moved to adjoining positions, and said hookjoints, when so completed, serving as a supporting means throughout the assembly of leaf components so interjoined, for all positions of said multileaf structure in which the force of gravity and/or applied force is effective to maintain said conjoined relationship of said leaves, and means to move said leaves respectively to unhooked po-' sltions, and to tilt them to form spaces therebetween,'

5. A multileaf structure of the class described, comprising leaf components and flexible supporting cables or tapes therefor, upon which, and

by manipulation of which, said leaf components may be tilted relatively to each other through a range of positions, from an end-ofthe-range position in which the leaves all lie in substantially the same plane or selectively in the same extended curved surface, forming a catenary curve to'an end-of-the-range position in which each of said leaves lies in an individual plane substantially parallel with, and spaced from, the plane of every other leaf, forming selectively a straight in which the leaves all lie in substantially the same plane or relatively in the same extended curved-surface, to an end-of-the-range position in which each of said leaves lies in an individual plane substantially parallel with, and spaced from, the plane of every other leaf, said leaves being further characterized by having means for the articulation of said leaves in edge-.to-edg'e relation when occupying said uniplanar position, and also'being characterized by means for disjointing said assembly of leavesand for tilting the leaf components respectively, at will.

.7. A multileaf structure comprising leaf components and flexible connecting elements combined and cooperating as set forth in claim 1, and further characterized by having said leaves arranged to be unlocked and held in an elevated, nested position, from which said leaves, when released, descend into a self-interlocking relationship.

8. A transversely flexible multileafstructure of the class mcribed, comprising Ieafcomponents having interlocking joints along adjoining edges disposed horizontally whereby said conjunctive assembly is maintained by gravity when said conjoined leaves are suspended in closed relationship in a perpendicular position and selectively in any catenary curve.

9. A,multileaf flexible structure of the class described, comprising leaf components having interlocking joints along adjoining edges, and man- ,ually operable flexible connections whereby said joints may be unlocked at will and said leaves may be tilted relatively to each other and relocked at will. 7

10. A multileaf structure comprising the leaf components and flexible elements combined and cooperating as set forth in claim 9 and further characterized by having said leaves provided with to be connected pivotally to said building, said a,1es,o4e

ing element. a multileaf awning having a leaf orifices and one of said flexible connections threaded through said oriflces for holding .said

leaves in an extended uniplanar assembly, also for holding said leaves ina retracted, ne'stedassembly, and selectively in various intermediate positions wherein said leaves occupy diflerent angular positions relatively to each other; other of said flexible elements being effective at will- 4 to unlock, tilt, and relock said leaves.

a pair of apertured lugs spaced apart at its rearward edge, and a pair of slots spaced apart at the end margins of said leaf, said leaf components being threaded upon a system of flexible suspenders passing through said apertured. lugs and slots, and adapted for attachment to a building element, and an awning frame connected pivotally to a lower leaf of said series, and adapted awning rame after such installation, being movable by action oi' said flexible suspenders to pick up said leaves successively upon said lower leaf while swinging the same through an arcuate path,

and being tiltable to spaced-apart positions by cooperative action of said flexible suspenders at any portion of said arcuate path.

12. A multileaf awning structure comprising several leaf components respectively provided sition or'usetesn overhead position-oidisuse,

havingmeanstomountthessme with interlocking flanges along adjoining edges, and a flexible connecting cable formed with stretches united by a loop, in a 'bight of which loop the lowermost leaf isincluded for the purpose of unlocking one of said edge Joints, one of said cable stretches being provided with means to unlock others of said joints thereby'to permit a tilting movement of said leaves relatively to each other induced by relative movement of said cable stretches in opposite directions.

I 13. A multileaf awning structure as in claim 9, and. further characterized by having certain of said leaves provided with lugs, and one of said.

cable stretches provided with enlargements, such as shot, said lugs and enlargements cooperating to constitute said unlocking and tilting means. 7 14. A muitileaf awning structure as in claim 9, and further characterized by having certain of said leaves provided with 11188. and once! said csblestretches provided with enlargements, said lugs and enlargements cooperating to constitute said unlockingsnd tilting means, said-"enlargements uponssid cable asto act .progressivelytounlocksaid Joints. 15. An awning comprising an awning-frame. having mesm tomolmt thessmeuponabuilding element,,-n multileaf awning having ,a lest component mounted upon the iree'end of said awning frame,- and adapted to swing through an are from a normally extended po said awning incmding also aleries'of complemental leaves each having interlocking flanges along their contiguous edge 1 11113; and adapted to serve ooniointlywith said flat-named leaf to iorms'sidawningwhenextenMs-hdmesnsto arrange ssidcomplementsl leaves in horisontallystacked, nested position upon saidflrst named leafwheninss'idpositionofdisuse.

16in owning comprising an awning frame uponabuildtherebetween.

its open positions.

component mounted upon the free end of said awning frame, and adapted to swing therewith 7 awning leaves, said canopy having a contour adapted to ill; snugly upon said assembled leaves,

and thus to afford an abutment against which they may be held free from vibration.

17. A leaf component for 'multiiear' structures of the class described, said leaf component comprising a broad, elongated slat-like body portion formed of sheet material and havinga marginal hook-flange along at least one longitudinal edge adapted to conicin with a similar contiguous hook flangeupon an adjoining leaf component of said multileaf structure, said leaffbeing further characterized by having a pair of spaced apertured lugsfadiacent tothe respective ends of each of said flanges, and a pairof slots in spaced positions each adjacent bean and margin of said leaf, whereby said-leaf is adapted to be fltted with a system of complemental flexible sus-, ponders including a set-of such suspenders at each end of said leaf, operating in non-interfering relation with each other.

18. A leaf structureoi the natureof a Venetian blind comprising lea! components connected to- .gether loosely, permitting limited relative movement therebetween, and having marginal flanges adapted to constitute complements! interlocking means when brought into contiguous relation along adjoining edges of said. leaves in a joint leaves into their interlocked relation, and means adapted to move said leaves relatively to each other to unlock said adjoining flanges and to tilt said leaves to non-contiguous positions with space 19. A multiieaf structure constitute complemental flame excluding joints extending transversely of in its extended position; supporting means of non-inflammable material sdapted to support the leaves in relatively open and relatively closed positions; 5 and operating means comprised of non-inflammable materials, whereby said leaves bean open position to s flame. excluding interlocked posiflmrsaid-multileaf structure being so; constitutednon-inflammable uni structure for intended use. v

20.'Amultiieafstructureoftheclassdescribed:

to erect interlocking en a ement of said leaves in their closed positions; said flanges being formed with an adequate projection from the plsneofitsleaftorenderthessmesubstsntially comprising leaf-com .ponents or non-inflammable materials charac- ,terised by having marginal flanges. adaptedjto

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