US2923350A - Venetian blind construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1960 W. BROWN VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION Filed 001;. 30, 1958 INVENTOR Mum/W BR BY i ATTORNEY5 United States Patent VENETIAN BLIND CONSTRUCTION William Brown, Livingston, NJ.

Application October 30, 1958, Serial No. 770,629

4 Claims. (Cl. 160-166) My invention relates to a Venetian-blind construction,

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide an improved Venetian blind wherein selective vertical adjustment of the window opening may be achieved with structure of utmost simplicity.

It is a further object to provide an improved Venetian blind wherein no elevating mechanism is required for adjustably retaining various selected openings of the blind.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will become apparent or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a Venetian blind incorporating features of the invention and shown mounted in a window frame;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the retaining mechanism at corresponding ends of the slats in the blind of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective to illustrate a detail of the retaining mechanism; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating a modification.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates a Venetianblind construction in which no cord or other elevating mechanism is employed for adjustably retaining a selected opening of the blind that is, for adjustably elevating the lower bar or slat of the blind. The slats of the blind are retained in vertically aligned relation by means of tongue projections formed at the end of each slat and engaged in a guide trough fixedly mounted with respect to the lateral sides of the window opening. Corresponding retaininglug means are formed at various elevations in the troughs of the respective channel guides, and the lowest or bottom slat is provided with tongue projections of sufiicient additional length to engage and thus vertically locate upon selected of the retaining-lug means in the two channels. Two alternative constructions are set forth.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, my invention is shown in application to a Venetian-blind construction applied to a window frame having an upper frame member and a side frame member 11. The blind comprises a series of vertically spaced slat members 12 flexibly connected and spaced by conventional means 13, and shown suspended from a relatively rigid top bar 14 having an adjustably pivoted relation with a suitable bearing or bracket 15 on the side frames 11. Detent means (not shown) may coact between the top bar 14 and a frame-based reference to retain an adjusted angular positioning of the slats 12.

In accordance with the invention, means are provided whereby the lowermost or bottom slat 16 may be readily adjustably retained at a selected height, whereby the window opening may be adjusted, all without resort to the use of cords or other elevating mechanism. In the form shown, a pair of opposed, vertically oriented, elongated guide channels 17-18 is fixedly mounted to the lateral sides of the window opening, as, for example, by means of mounting screws 19 to secure the channel 17. The troughs of the channels are oriented to face each other and to receive reduced ends or tongue projections 20 of the ends of all slats 12. The bottom slat 16 is provided with tongue projections 21 longer than the projections 20 on the other slats 12, for a purpose which will be clear.

In order to retain an adjusted height of the bottom slat 16 and thus of the window opening, each of the guide channels 17-18 is provided with elevation-retaining lug means, as, for example, vertically spaced lugs 22-22, 23-23 struck out of the bottom of the respective channels 17-18 at corresponding elevations. The overall length of the bottom slat 16, including the projection 21 thereof, should be in excess of the horizontal clearance or spacing between lugs 22-22, 23-23 so as to permit vertical location of the bottom slat 16 as shown in Fig. 2. On the other hand, the other slats 12 should be of overall length, including the tongue projections 20 thereof, such as to be less than such horizontal clearance between corresponding lug means 22-22, 23-23. The shoulders 20 defined at the base or root of each projection 20 or 21 are appropriately spaced on each slat, for horizontal location by the side walls of channels 17-18, as will be understood.

With the arrangement described, the vertical adjustment is achieved by grasping the bottom slat 16 and raising the same past one or more of the retaining lugs 22-22, 23-23 until the adjusted height is achieved. If the slats 12-16 are of the flexible variety, then the flexibility will permit an escapement action as each succeeding lug elevation is passed. If, on the other hand, the bottom slat or bar 16 is relatively rigid, then elevation is adjusted by tilting the bottom slat 16, as at the angle suggested by phantom outline 16 in Fig. 2, to permit the lug projection 21 to clear successive corresponding retaining lugs 22-22, 23-23. Upon achievement of the desired elevation, the bottom slat need only be restored to its horizontal position and left to hang up or retain itself on the selected corresponding lug elevation.

In the arrangement of Fig. 5, I show a refinement in which the lug means for at least one of the sides of the guide structure is resiliently mounted so as to permit an escapement action upon a vertical adjustment of the bot tom slat 16 without necessitating tilt thereof, even if the bottom slat 16 is of relatively rigid construction. In the form shown in Fig. 5, this resilient suspension is achieved by resiliently mounting the entire lug and guide structure 17 with respect to the frame member 11. As shown, elongated screws 25-26 anchor the guide member 17 in spaced relation to the frame member 11, and spring means 27 located by each of said screws 25-26, resiliently holds the guide means 17 in spaced relation from the frame 11. Only when a vertical adjustment is being made in the bottom slat position will the escapement action of tongue projections 21 on retaining lugs (as at 22) cause resilient depression of the guide means 17. Of course, to lower the adjustment, the bottom slat 16 need only be grasped and tilted to avoid interference with corresponding retaining lugs 22-23; alternatively, a manual depression of the guide means 17 against the resilient means 27 will automatically release the vertically retained position.

It will be seen that I have described a relatively simple structure permitting easy selective vertical adjustment of the opening in a Venetian blind. This is achieved Without resort to the usual elevating mechanisms, and therefore cords can be completely eliminated. Furthermore, the

fact that all slats have tongue projections guided by the guide means 17-18 assures retention of the blind in proper place, regardless of drafts through open sash frames.

While I have described the invention in detail for th preferred forms illustrated, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a Venetian blind, a window frame, a pair of vertically oriented elongated guide channels fixed with respect to said frame on opposite sides of the window opening with the troughs of said channels facing each other, a series of slats and means flexibly interconnecting the same in horizontally oriented vertically spaced relation and suspended from the upper part of said frame, each of said slats being of width exceeding the effective trough width of said channels and including an integral guide-tongue projection at each end extendinginto and located by a channel trough, and elevation-retaining lug means at corresponding vertical elevations in the trough of each channel and terminating short of the mouth of each channel, the overall length of the bottom slat including the tongue projections thereof exceeding the horizontal clearance between corresponding of said lugs, whereby said bottom slat may be selectively positioned in and out of located relation with corresponding of said lugs to retain an adjusted vertical opening of said blind, the guide-tongue projections on upper slats being shorter than for said bottom slat so that the overall horizontal extent of said upper slats is less than the horizontal clearance between corresponding of said lugs, whereby only the bottom slat is engageable with said lugs to retain an adjusted vertical opening of said blind.

2. The blind of claim 1, wherein for each of said channels said retaining-lug means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced lugs struck out from the bottom of the channel.

3. In a Venetian blind, a window frame, a pair of vertically oriented elongated guide channels fixed with respect to said frame on opposite sides of the window opening with the troughs of said channels facing each other, a series of slats and means flexibly interconnecting the same in horizontally oriented vertically spaced relation and suspended from the upper part of said frame, each of said slats being of width exceeding the effective trough width of said channels and including a guide-tongue projection at each end extending into and located by a channel trough, and elevation-retaining lug means at corresponding vertical elevations in the trough of each channel and terminating short of the mouth of each channel, the overall length of the bottom slat including the tongue projec tions thereof exceeding the horizontal clearance between I corresponding of said lugs, whereby said bottom slat may be selectively positioned in and out of located relation with corresponding of said lugs to retain an adjusted vertical opening of said blind, said retaining-lug means for at least one of said channels being laterally resiliently suspended with respect to said frame, whereby in the raising of said bottom slat one of the projecting tongues thereof may resiliently escape past successive lugs.

4. In a Venetian blind, a window frame, a pair of vertically oriented elongated guide channels fixed with respect to said frame on opposite sides of the window opening with the troughs of said channels facing each other, a series of slats and means flexibly interconnecting the same in horizontally oriented vertically spaced relationiand suspended from the upper part of said frame, each of said slats being of width exceeding the elfective trough width of said channels and including a guidetongue projection at each end extending into and located by a channel trough, and elevation-retaining lug means at corresponding vertical elevations in the trough of each channel and terminating short of the mouth of each channel, the overall length of the bottom slat including the" tongue projections thereof exceeding the horizontal clearance between corresponding of said lugs, whereby said bottom slat may be selectively positioned in and out of located relation with corresponding of said lugs to retain an adjusted vertical opening of said blind, one of said channels being integrally formed with spaced retaining-lug means and being laterally resiliently suspended with respect to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,805,238 Duncanson May 12, 1931 2,061,373 Brent et al Nov. 17, 1936 2,069,084 Brent et al. Jan. 26, 1937 2,184,098 Lemp et al. Dec. 19, 1939

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