US2611426A - Venetian blind, including vertical tapes and means for twisting the upper and lower ends of tapes independently - Google Patents

Description

P 1952 E. E. RANDALL VENETIAN BLIND, INCLUDING VERTICAL TAFES AND MEANS FOR TWISTING THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS 0F TAPES INDEPENDENTLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 30', 1950 Fig. I;

Fig. 1/.

R. W NE W 3 m R E n, .m w m E w 5 m M F p T Sept. 23, 1952 RANDALL 2,611,426

VENETIAN BLIND, INCLUDING VERTICAL TAPES AND MEANS FOR TWISTING THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS 0F TAPES INDEPENDENTLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 30, 1950 Elm?) E. Randall INVENTOR. Q0132.

Sept. 23, 1952 E. E. RANDALL VENETIAN BLIND, INCLUDING VERTICAL TAPES AND MEANS FOR .TWISTING THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF TAPES INDEPENDENTLY Filed Jan. 30, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Elwin E. Randall IN VEN TOR.

Q BY Patented Sept. 23, 1952 VENETIAN BLIND, INCLUDING VERTICAL TAPES AND MEANS FOR TWISTING THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS OF TAPES IN- DEPENDENTLY Elwin E. Randall, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Servall' Products, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.,

a corporation of Michigan Application January 30, 1950, Serial No. 141,198

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvementsin Venetian blinds and more particularly a blind havingvertically disposed slats or tapes.

The primary feature of the present invention is to provide a Venetian blind including a group of vertically ,disposed tapes together with independently operated means for twisting the upper ends of the tapes and the lower ends of the tapes so that light. may pass between'the upper ends of adjacent tapes, the lower ends of adjacent tapes, the central portions of adjacent tapes, adjacent tapes throughout the length of adjacent'tapes or so *that light willlbeirestricted from passing between adjacent tapes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a blind" composed of vertical tapes which may be twisted and turned to various positions to thereby increase to a maximum the alternative arrangement of the tapes and to regulate the light admitting opening between adjacent tapes.

Another object of the present invention is the provision: of a blind of the type having vertical tapes or closure strips embodying a novel and improved anchoring means for quickly and readily attaching the blind to or for removing the blind from a supporting structure,-such as a window frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a blind including upper and lower supporting members for enclosingtape holders therein and which members are so constructed as to facilitate a reduction in length thereof in a convenient manner to reduce to a minimum theexpense of producing a blind adaptable for windows of various widths.

Another featureof the present invention is to provide a blind wherein the tapes are individually removable for replacement, inspection or repair.

Another feature of the present inventionis to provide a Venetian type blind wherein the parts are quickly and readily-assembled or disassembled in a convenient manner for storage or shipment thereof.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a Venetian blind including a novel and improved tapeoperating mechanism that is manually actuated-toeffect a twisting or turning and compact in structure, extremely. neat and attractive in appearance, efiicientzand durable in operation, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise Well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the blind construction and showing the slats spaced-parallel and in their completely open position;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the blind construction and showing the slats in overlapped relationship and in their completely closedv position; l V

Figure'3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the lower ends of the slats twisted to provide light admitting openings at the lower end of the blind construction; a v I M Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the upper ends of the slats twistedto provide light admitting-openings at the upper end of the blind construction; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing both the central portions of the slats twisted to provide light admitting openings at thecentral portion of the'blind'construction; 1 Figurefi is an enlarged'fragmentary plan view taken substantially on the plane ofsection line fi 6 of Figure '1; g 1 Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing the tape holders rotated;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially-on the plane of section line 8-8 of Figure l Figure -9, is atransverse vertical sectional view taken. substantiallyon the plane of section line I 9+9 ofFigure 6; I

Figure 10 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially'on the'plane ofgsection line |0-l0ofFigure6; a

Figure 11 is a perspective view of one of the operating arms used in the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is "disclosed a preferred embodiment ofthe present rinvention, the numeral It represents an upper supporting and operating mechanism generally, including an elongated channel-shaped supporting member having spaced parallel forward and rear side flanges or leg portions l2 and Mthat are joined'by a web portion l6.

: The web portion I6 is pressed .upwardly'ro'ri turned upwardly during manufacture"thereoftto 22 is provided in the web portion [6 including: a.

central opening 24. Each of these openings 22,

24 receives the shank portion 26 of atape holder or hook 28 and since the central. ofv these tape holders, that is received in the central opening 24, has a dual function it will be referred to by the numeral 30.

receiving the shank portions. otthetapeholders.

Laterally projecting abutments or wire members 36 are detachably carried by the shank portions of the tape holders 28, 30 and washers 38 received on theshank portions of the tape holders 28', 30' rest. upon the arms; 32;. Coil. springs 46 embrace the shank portions ofv the tape holders 28; 301 and. are biased. between the. abutments 35 and. the washers 311' to yieldingly urge the arms 32 against: the web portion 3' for. retaining the tape holders in a selected. rotated position.

A common connecting and actuating bar 42' is provided for the arms 32". This bar 42 is pivoted, as at 42a, to each of the armsSZ and the bar 42 is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced recesses 44 so that when the bar. is moved laterally toward the shank portions 26 the said shank portions can enter the recesses 44 to. permit all the pivots 42a and the tape holders 2'8, 30 to lie in a single vertical plane (see Figure 7) Means is provided for moving the bar 42 in order to simultaneously rotate thetape holders 2!, 30. This means includes a rotary member or disk 46 having an upper flange or plate 48 whose central portion is depressed to form a circular hub-G that rests against a lower flange or disk 52.

An operating cord 54 embraces the hub 50 and is held tightly against the hub 58 by a rivet 55 joining the upper and lower flanges 48 and 52. Through this construction, the cord 54 is held against slippage relative to the rotary member 46.

A boss 58 at the center of the hub 50 is provided with a diametrical slot that receives the shank portion of the central tape holder 30 and this holder (30) constitutes the pivot for the rotary member 45. The spring 40 on the shank portion of the boss 58 and the abutment'36 of the central tape holder to yieldingly retain the member 4B- in a selected rotated position (see Figure 8) A support platform 60 is suitably attached to the web portion l6 (see Figure 9') 'and constitutes the support for the member 46 This platform 60 is provided with a central-opening for the shank'portion of the central tape holder 30 and with a curved slot 62a for receiving the pivot 42b joining the operating arm of the central tape holder'to-the bar'42 and the operating arm for the central tape holder to the member 46.

Detents 64 are provided on the platform 69 for contacting the plate 52 and thereby reduce the friction between the member 46 and the platform 60 during rotation of the latter.

Theoperating cord 54' extends through guides 66 and 68 mounted on the side flanges I2. and I4 respectively and coil springs 10. and 12 terminally secured to the guides 66, 68 and theicord 54'm ain tain. thebar 42, normally, perpendicular to the arms 32 as shown in Figure 6.

An operating: arm or. link: 32 is associated with each of the tape holders 2B, 3B- and these arms include longitudinal slots 34 for It should be noted that the pivot 42b secures the member 46 eccentrically to the bar 42 as shown in Figures 6 and 7 and this is essential in order to effect the proper movement of the bar 42. during. rotation of thezmember. 4.5., Also, the plate 52 is. depressed to form a recess 52a for the head of the rivet 56 (see Figure 8) so that the rivet 56 will not ride upon the platform 60.

The lower operating and supporting mechanism I4 is constructed to include the same arrangement of: parts as the upper operating and supporting. mechanism l0, however, the lower operating and supporting mechanism is inverted to. place the same in proper relationship to the upper mechanism Ill and so that the operating cords for both the upper and lower mechanisms will. extend from the same side of the blind.

Obviously, the lower mechanism 14 could also beturned 180 in order to place th operating cord of the lower mechanism at the opposite side of. theblindfromthe operating cordof the upper mechanism U);

A plurality of vertically-disposed tapes or slats T6 of any suitable flexible material, such as plastic, rayon, cloth or the like forms. part of the blind construction. The upper. and lower ends 18 and 89 of. the tapes (6. are. folded upon and secured to themselves to provide casingsin which there is mounted reinforcing strips 82' supporting laterally projecting eyes. 84 that receive the holders of the upper and lower mechanisms .10 and".

The springs. 49 permit the-tape hangers to be moved toward each other during attachment'of the hooks 28, 30 to the eyes and: thesprings 49 also urge the enlarged lower portions 28a of the holders 28', 30. against the web portions 16 of the upper and lower mechanisms l0 and 14;

The tape holders, the operating bars, the eyes 84, the operating cords and'the springs 40; 10 and 12 of both mechanisms I 0 and M are concealed in the upper and lower channel members of the mechanisms Hi1 and 14 so that only the channel members: and' the tapes willfbe exposed.

Means are provided forattaching the upper and lower mechanisms to a supporting structure, such as a window frame, and this means consists of upper and lower groups 01' attaching brackets 86 having upper channels 88 for receiving the strips i 4a and lower channels 90 for receiving the channels 20 (see- Figure 10). The channels 90 include curved flanges 9011 so that the strips [4a can he slipped upwardly into the channels 88 and so that the channels 20 can ride against the flanges 90a to enter the channels 90. The brackets 86 supporting the lower mechanism 14 are turned from the brackets 86 supporting'the upper mechanism I0 and all brackets 86 receive fasteners 92"for securing the brackets to a supporting'structural element.

End plates 94 are provided-for closing the ends. of the upper and lower channel members.

The end plates 94" include side flanges 96 and 98 that lie against the outer faces of the walls l2. and. i 4. Theupperi and lower edges of -the flanges 9 5 and 98 are bent to form channel's I00 and T02 that'receive'the strips 12a, Ho and the channels i8, 20 to permit sliding of the end plates on". the'channel members of the uppen and lower mechanisms 10 and 14;

The overall. lengthiot the mechanisms) and '14. can be quickly and readily reducedi bycutting off the ends of. the channel members and the bars 42 for use of the blind on windows of vari- 5 cos widths. Also the end plates can be applied to or removed from the channel members after the proper length of the channel members has been accomplished.

In practical use of the present invention, the upper and lower members 46 are independently rotated so that the slats or tapes 16 can assume the various positions shown in Figures 1-5 inclusive.

When the tapes are moved to their closed position as shown in Figure 2, the side edges of adjacent tapes overlap to prevent the passage of light therebetween.

Due to the highly attractive construction of the blind, the same can be used to replace ourtains, draperies or the like. The tapes may be individually serviced and may be of any suitable colors or contrasting colors.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. For use with a vertical blind, an operating mechanism comprising a supporting member including a flat horizontal wall having a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures therein, a plurality of longitudinally spaced tape holders having upper resilient looped portions journaled for rotation in the apertures, actuating arms having inner ends formed with apertures yieldingly receiving said looped portions, abutments carried by said looped portions, washers received on said looped portions underlying the arms and resting upon said Wall, coil springs embracing said looped portions and biased between said abutments and said arms and yieldingly urging said Washers against said well to retain the holders in a selected rotated position, a common operating bar for each of the holders and pivoted to each arm, and a disk centrally pivoted to the member for rotation and eccentrically pivoted to the bar.

2. For use with a vertical blind, an operating mechanism comprising a supporting member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced tape holders journaled for rotation on the supporting member, actuating arms carried by and projecting laterally from the holders, a common operating bar for each of the holders, said bar being pivoted to each of the arms, a platform attached to the supporting member and having a curved slot and upstanding detents, a rotary member including upperand lower flanges, said lower flange resting on said detents for rotation, an operating cord, fastening means securing said flanges together and the cord between the flanges, and a pivot received in the slot and extending eccentrioally through the flanges and securing the rotary member to the bar, said rotary member being centrally pivoted to the supporting member.

ELWIN E. RANDALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,965 Norton -1 Jan. 3, 1939 2,173,275 Houmere Sept. 19, 1939 2,520,272 Bopp et al Aug. 29, 1950 2,520,273 Bopp et a1 Aug. 29, 1950 2,524,372 Bopp et al Oct. 3, 1950

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