US1355246A - myvalt and a - Google Patents

Description

J. MYVALT AND A. S. ELIASON.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14,1920.

INVENTORS Axe 5.

Sig-EL A TTORNE Y J. MYVALT AND A. S. ELIASON.

AUTOMATIC WINDOW GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14,1990.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

,IIIIIIIIIIIIII lllllrll! I Sig-Ti Parent orrics.

JOSEPH MYVALT AND AXEL S. ELIASGN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

e AUTOMATIC WINDOW GUARD.

1 355 246 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented O t 12 192() Application filed April 14, 1-920. Serial No. 373,941.

To all iii/10m it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH Mrvanr and Axon lihiinstm, residing at the borough of Eaanhattan, in the county, city, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Automatic Window-Guard, oi which the iollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for automatically protecting the interior of a room from damage by the entrance of rain, snow, sleet and hail, etc, through windows and the like, when left open for purposes oi: venti iation the mechanism being put into oper ation almost instantaneously upon the precipitation on"? a very minute quantity of hydrous matter.

The main objects of the invention are broadly, to provide a combined, light and rain excluding guard adapted to be located adjacent to a window or other wall opening, so that in operative position it will be capable oi? acting as a screen to prevent the entrance through such opening of rain or other hydrous precipitation, the guard normally occupying non-protecting position in order to leave the window or other opening tree and unobstructed for the admission of air as well as light. T he invention further comprises mechanism automatically set into operation by contact with certain portions thereof, by a minute quantity of hydrous matter, which will cause such light and rain guard to assume a closing or shielding position. i i leans are included in the invention for locking the automatic guard closing mechanism against actuation, and also for moving the guard manually, either partially or entirely, into open or closed posit on.

Another object is the production of a device of the character described, which will remain unaffected when the rain, snow, sleet or hail, etc, falls substantially perpendicularly, but will become operative it the hydrous precipitation is drifting or falling slantwise.

A further object is the provision of a device of the nature set forth, readily attached to or removed from the exterior of a window opening, and which can be placed in position without disfiguring the window or obstructing the vision therethrough.

Still another object is to procure a device of the kind referred to, which shall be of a simple and durable construction, not liable to get out of order, besides being noiseless and positive in its action. N

A still further object is to produce a deice of the type specified, the automatic operation whereof depends upon the fracture oi a frangible material renewable at low.

its manual and automatic mechanism applied thereto, the guard being indicated in its rolled up or non-shielding position;

Fig. 11 is broken side view of the construction and mechanism represented in the foregoing view, the window proper being in section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, looking toward the left in the direction pointed out by the arrows pertaining to the said line; i

Fig. 111 is a broken horizontal cross-section taken on the line 111111 of the next preceding figure, looking downwardly in the direction of the arrows appertaining to the last named line, parts being omitted;

l ig, 1V is an enlarged sectional side view of hydrously operated automatic tripping mechanism included in the preceding ures, the section running irregularly on the line 11 11 of Fig. V, looking toward the right in the direction pointed out by the arrows pertaining to the last mentioned line; e I

Fig. V is a side view oi the mechanism shown in liig. 1V, looking toward the loft thereof;

Fig. V1 is a right hand side view of an element appearing in Fig. IV, detached therefrom Fig. VII is a horizontal section extending irregularly along the line VII-VII looking down in direction of the arrows thereto appertaining;

Fig. V111 is a broken, enlarged front view of a guard and its inclosure appearing in the upper portion of 1, parts thereof being in section taken on the line Vlll- VIII of Fig. IX looking in the direction pointed out by the arrows pertaining to the line last named; and

Fig. IX isa sectional end view of the last preceding figure, the section being taken on the line IX-IX thereof, in the direction of the arrows thereto appertaining.

Generally described, the invention consists of a roller shade mounted under a hood at the exterior upper portion of a window openin The free edge of this shade is weighted so as to have an inherent tendency to unwind and descend in front of the window opening, being suitably guided so as to steadily follow the course arranged therefor. :l re-setting means disposed at one side of the window i provided for winding up the shade on its roller to raise the same from lowered position. Retaining mechanism located at the other side of the window engages with the roller to keep the shade in wholly or partly raised condition. A releasing device normally held inactive by a frangible member is adapted upon fracture of the latter by a tion of hydrous precipitation thereon, to automatically disengage the retaining mechanism and thereby liberate tile shade which then descends in front of the open window, excluding therefrom 2th, snow, sleet and hail, etc. The frangi ole member is contained within a magazine wherefroin it may be withdrawn to expose certain portion thereof to the releasing device, as required. The latter may be locked inoperative to permit independent manua actuation of the retaining mechanism in car junction with the resetting means.

The advantages of the invention as here out ined best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in the one and same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, upon beromii conversant with the details thereof, that the same may be inco 'oorated in sever l different constructions. The companying drawings. therefore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred er:- emplification of the invention.

Referring o the several views aforesaid,

the reference let er A, B designate the sides of the window frame, and C, D the top and bottom pieces thereof, which are secured to gether and positioned in too house wall as shown. Slidingly mounted in a well-known manner in this window frame, are the upper and lower sashes E and F. i -ill of these parts may be of any suitable construction as well as operation, and form no part of the present invention.

Secured preferably to the exterior top portion of the window frame, is a hood-like structure G, comprising a straight rear piece 1, a top 2 extending at right angles to the latter and ending in a downwardly curved front or apron 3, these parts being joined by end walls 4L, 5. Screws 6 passing through ears 7 constituting prolongations of the rear-piece 1, serve to fasten the hood in place directly beneath an overhanging ledge H of the building wall, whereby it is lirmly retained in its assigned position.

'l runnions 10, 11 pertaining to a shade roller 18, are journaled in the end walls 4: and 5 respectively. To the roller 13 is attached a wat r-proof guard-curtain 14, wound up thereon as indicated in Figs. I and II. This curtain may be made of opaque, translucent or transparent material. so as to either exclude, partially let pass, or admit the light through the same.

Rigidly secured to one extremity of the said shade roller is a sheave 17 having double grooves 18, 19. lVinding one to the left, the other right hand, and securely fixed endwise, one in each of said grooves, ar two branches 20, 21 of an operating cord 23. The continuous lower end of this cord is looped around a tension pulley 24 that carries a yoke 25 (Figs. 1 and ill). A spring 26 attached at one end to the latter has its other extremity anchored to one of a pair of brackets 27, 28, secured for example to the bottom piece C of the window frame, which spring serves to keep the said cord 23 taut irrespective of atmospheric conditions.

By the before recited construction and arrangement it will be understood, that when mostly all of the cord branch 20 is wound up in the groove 18. the guard curtain 14 vill be rolled up on its 1 ller within the hood G and the entire window is then uncovered. Vice verse, when the cord branch .91 reversely, is wound up in the grooves 19, practically all of the guard curtain will be unrolied from the roll r 13 so as to cover r shield the w ndow front, in its entirety. Thus, it will be seen that no rain or other hydrous precipitation can entrance through the window, even though be partially open at both top and bottom. The cord constitutes the resetting means for the curtain 14, and by manipulation of its branches 2G, 21, the same can be operated Cir to either window guarding or uncovering position.

Extending between the lower edges of the hoods end walls 51-, 5, and the before mentioned brackets 27, 28 along the ogposite sides of the window frame, are curtain guides 31, 32 composed of wires or other suitable means. To the outer or freev edge of the guard curtain is secured in any preferred manner, a gravity bar 33, usually of heavy metal, made weather proof. T he projecting extremities 3 1 of this bar are each provided with a suitable aperture adapted to receive therein the said guide wires 31, 32 and thereby lead the guard curtain along its assigned path without interfering with the adjacent parts of the window, during the raising and lowering process But, in any event the said bar 33 is suliiciently heavy to instantaneously gravitate the free lower edge of the said guard curtain 14: down in front of the window, whereby the former may unroll for its full length and descend into window shielding and guarding position. At 35 is shown a stop for limiting the descent of the guard curtain. This step may be made of resilient mate 'ial so as to rlampingly engage one of the guide wires 31, 32, and also admit of adjustment thereon in order to predetermine the point at which it is desired to arrest the downward travel of the said curtain. r

The descending movement just described, can only occur when mechanism K, which normally retains the guard curtain against rotation, is-released. Such mechanism is preferably in the form of a roller braking device and comprises a brake drum 3? fixed to the end of the curtain roller 13 opposite to the double grooved sheave l7. Adjacent to the said drum and usually below the same is oscillatably mounted a brake-lever 38 upon the shank of a screw or stud 39 supported in any suitable manner from the proximate end wall a of the hood G. Pivotally carried by the lever 38 is a bralre-shoe 4L0, the upper curved working face whereof is main tained in operative contact with the periphery of the drum 37 by a weight il or its equivalent, which exerts a downward pull on the inner end of the said lever, suflicient to keep the drum and the therewith connected roller from being rotated by the gravity ba 33 acting tangentially thereon through the medium of the guard curtain 14-. In order to release the said brake shoe 4L0 from ementwith the drum, a cord or wire L2 depending from the outer free end of the lever 38 is given pull in a downward direction.

indicated in assembled form, Figs. 1 Tl, and in detail, Figs. IV to VII in elusive, an automatic hydro-actuated guard rurtain releasing device L, is generally secured in position exterior-1y to the window on the right hand side looking in, short distance below the middle thereof. The said device L comprises a-housing including chambers 44, as, and an arm at all prefer-- ably formed integral with a bracket 47, and adapted for attachment, as for instance by lag screws 48, to the side B of the window frame externally thereon, being rendered non-corroding in any approved manner.

Located within the chamber 4%- is a trip element 52 which may be in the nature 0% a weight that has rising therefrom. a standard 53 provided at top with a supporting hook 54 having cars 55 through which is passed the lower end of the cord 42, previously described as being connected up with the or "e carrying lever 38. The arrangement is such that when released, the said element 52 overbalances the counterweight n at the inner end of the lever 38, thereby pulling down the outer end of the latter and withdrawing the shoe 40 from contact with the bralre-drnin 37, so that the guard curtain is free to descend, as before pointed out. The said standard 53 may beheld at the foot thereof.

to the weight 52 as by means of a screw 56 and have its straight middle portionslidable through an opening provided therefor in the top of the inclosing housing wall. A plate 59 covering the open faces of the chambers 44, 45 may be reinovably secured in place as by screws 60 entered into suit ably tapped openings provided therefor in ears 61 projecting from the walls of the housing. Pivotally mountednpon the lat ter is a latch 62 capable of having its free swinging end engage with a notch 63 formed in the standard 53 and thereby loclr the same and the thereto attached element 52 from gravitational movement in the chamber 44:. The said locking latch 62 constitutes the means for rendering the releasing device in operative when it is desired tomanually operate the resetting and retaining mechanisms.

Bevolubly carried by the cover plate 59 is a'spindle 66 having its overhanging end 8? which is shouldered, journaled in an opening provided therefor in the rear wall of the housing pertaining to the chamber 45. f2. spool 68 upon which is wound one end of a frangible member 69 that may be in the nature of a bibulous or water absorbin tape of paper or other material, is secured as by pinning it to the spindle 66 within the chamber 45, the latter serving as a .inagazine wherein the said tape maybe stored. The instrumentality for operating the said spindle incidentally to advancing or retracting this tape, is here shown as consisting of a knurled knob 70 fastened to the near end of the spindle 66 adjacent to the cover 59 on the outside thereof. I i

Mounted also in a rotatable manner in the upper portion of the said chamber 45 is a passes through the said shield 88.

the housing apuertaining to the chamber as,

which opening is protected by a against the entrance of or the precipitation theretln'ough.

is shown, a friction s rin; one end to the housing or magazine bears wi extremity upon the port' o tape running eve the guid serves to keep the 1 ter a securing u outer terminal is i i securing device nay be iorinet hereinljre'tore desc in its top face into which the t by a jection incorporateo wi of a resilient finger 8 preferably ember ie s tened with its tai means of a sore q a +1. or tne riaogiole the contact 9 with the ro l Q1 1 so firmly held thereo turned nose portion raising the linger in or" the tape bet jaws 79 an d The horizon t L tain the bet re nientio 54 pertaining to the weigh-1 52, without slipping. when the exposed portionor the ta sorbed sutlicient moisture sleet or hail, locging l abled or b comes so wealre let tures whereby the we: by gravity to the both at which moment th- K,

closing the releasino' shield 88, preierabl c (T and 1V .l in Mt falling .VQLGL such as 1 lsuai y it c d,- d

dow shi c or the l' I inward so as to =l re en to wet the ii A of a room. is indicated an alj'iljt-il 'e where the brake lever operating cord e21, Any

water finding ts way by this aperture will follow the ord 19 down to the top of tie supporting hool' 55, where flows oil the same without r aching the tripping portion 69 oi the fra, gible member.

The ope ation o tAiS improve: automatic hydrously actuated window guaro is tolit being fully wound roller into non-shielding or osition shown in Figs. i and I1; and element 52w1t orting work ng ti no w lo 7 l 1 i otc even though the sad tape 1 a the trip weight will not drop i 116 this position; the guard curtain may il e e raised or lowered by pro cord oranches 2i), 2

:utention being paid to the engagee shoe with t ie brake oruin 21-? s cer to resist the gravitational z 2 ti oar 58 on the said guard curtain.

-atic ac ua' 'rion the locl ia 'eo from the supporting standarc th trip weight will then be h upon the working stretch tape; and it rain or other hy =1 tioi is driven by wind or othe the rain hield 88 upon the s no '9 ":me will almost eously beweakened by the absorption of the tape in two; thus drawing the cord which is connected up rake cUrying lever 38 and reroller 13; whereupon the gravi ty our 03 l at once oend along its guides, pulling t 1e guard on tain 1% down with it; until the said bar encounters the stop at any point compatible which may be set with the complete covering and shielding of that portion of the window which has been left open.

0 reset the device after an automatic actuation, it is nly necessa y to roll up the uard cu tain by manipulation of the cord Q1 20; throw the latch 62 into the notch in the supporting standard 52 so as to lock the same and the trip weight in the raised position shown in Fig. IV; rotate the knob 70 so tl t the spool 68 may be easily revelvet drawing on the taoe and catching hold of 1e same at its uoper broken end; pull the tape end tirougli the weight supporting hook raise the weight securing spring finger 81 from the head 78; remove the other broken tape end from the latter; insert the new end of he t pe etween said head ant. finger; and allow said finger to snap back- 1nt0 pos1t1on; when the locklng latch is next withdrawn from the supporting standard, the trip weight with its hook will again be sustained by the working portion 69 of the tape, ready for another hydrous actuation, as hereinheiore described.

il hile a certain preferred embodiment of this device has been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the term, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described our invention what we desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim, 18

l. A device oi the class described, compriing in combination, guard adapted to be moved into shielding position, means for normally retaining said guard in non-shielding; condition, and a member mutable by contact oi hydrous matter therewith for releasing said means to enable the guard to move into said position.

A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guard adapted to be moved into shielding position, means normally retaining said guard in non-shielding condition, and a tripping memher disabled upon contact of hydrous matter therewith, for releasing said means so as to permit the guard to gravitate into said position.

A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guard adapted to he moved into shielding position, means normally retaining'said guard in non-shielding condition, and positively acting mechanical means automatically operating upon contact of hydrous matter therewith, to trip said means so as to release the guard and permit the same to move by gravity into shielding position.

4. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guard capable of being manually moved into and out of shieldingposition, and also automatically into the latter condition, means for normally retaining said guard in non-shielding position, a trip element adapted to release said means, a member capable while in an anhydrous state of holding said element inactive, but rendering the element active when fractured through weakening by hydrous matter.

5. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guard capable of being automatically moved into shielding position, means for retaining said guard in non-shielding position, an element adapted to release said means, a member normally holding said element inactive, but rendering the latter operative when weakened through wetting, and means for protecting said member from vertically falling hydrous matter.

6. A device of the class described, coinprising in combination, a guard capable of being automatically moved into shleldlng posit on, means ior retaining said guard in non-shielding position, an element adapted to release said means,v and a member of thin strip :torm normally holding said element inactive, but rendering the same operative when weakened by hydrous matter.

7,. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a guard curtain mounted at or near the upper part of a window opening and arrangedto gravitationally descend in shielding relation thereto, means for re-setting said curtain after descent, merhanism for retaining the latter in non-shielding relation to said opening, an element in actuating connection with said mechanism adapted to release the same, and a normally anhydrous. member capable of holding said element inactive, but rendering it operative when affected by wetting.

8, A device of the class described, comprising in combination, guard curtain mounted at or near the upper part of a window opening and arranged to gravitationally descend in shielding relation. thereto, means for resetting said curtain after descent, mechanism for retaining the latter in non shielding relation to said opening, an element in actuating connection with said mechanism adapted to release the some, an anhydrous member normally holding said element inactive, but rendering it operative when affected by wetting, and means for locking the element against actuation irrespective oi the condition of said member.

9. A. device of the class described, comprising in combination, a covered guardcurtain mounted for rotation at or near the upper part oi? a window opening, a guided gravity bar acting to lower the tree portion of said curtain in shielding relation to said opening, means "for resetting the curtain after its descent capable also of being used for manual descension thereot, mechanism for retaining the latter in non-shielding position, a stop serving to limit the descent of the curtain, an element connected up with said mechanism adapted to trip the same, and member capable while in dry state of normally holding said element inactive, hut rendering it operative when afiected by wetting, whereby the release of the retaining mechanism permits the curtain to descend.

10. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a roller mounted guard curtain rotatably supported at or near the upper part of a window opening: a guided gravity har tending to lower the tree portion of s d curtain in front of said opening-9:: double grooved sheave at one end of said roller; a looped cord for raising the curtain after actuation by said bar,

*apable also of manually lowering it, and including branches wound in opposite directions in said grooves, the arrangement being such that one branch winds up while the 5 other unwinds; a pulley carried by the looped end or said cord applying tension thereon; mechanism cooperating with the other end of the roller retaining the curtain in raised condition; and means tor controlling said mechanism, consisting of a trip element and a reel ber coacting there with, the latter being capable while in a d y state normally holding said element i ctire, but eii ecting release thereof when wetted.

ll. A device ot the class described, cornpi'sing in combination, a roller mounted grand-curtain rotatabiy supported at or near the upper part of a window pening, tn arrangement being such as to cause the ;ree portion of said curtain to descend in shielding relation to said opening; means for resetting the curtain after descent; mechanism for retaining the curtain in nonshielding position, including a brake carrying lever coacting with said roller; an element connected up with said lever; and a member capable while in a dry state of normally holding said element inactive but ren- 30 dering it operatis 'e when wetted, thereby effecting release of the brake lever and desrension of the curtain.

1:2. r1 device of the class described, comprising in combination, a roller mounted guard curtain. rotatably supported above a window opening and arranged to have its tree portion descend in front thereof; means for resetting said curtain after ClGSiiBllSlOIl; an instrumentality for retaining the latter in raised condition; and mechanism for releasing said instrumentality, consisting of a trip weight and a frangible member, said weight remaining normally inactive when supported by said member while in a dry state, but being rendered operative when the same fractures through wetting.

13. a device of the class described, comprising in combination, a roller mounted guard curtain rotatably supported above a window opening and adapted to have its tree portion descend in front thereof; means for resetting said curtain art-er descension; instrumentality for reta ning the latter in raised condition; and mechanism for releasing said instrumentality, including a frangible tape, a support for holding said tape in its assigned position, and a weight connected up with said instrumentality, said weight being inactive while sustained by the tape when in a dry state, but being rendered operative upon fracture of the tape through the action of moisture.

' JOSEPH MYVALT.

AXEL S. ELIASON.

Images