US3050284A - Hoist for cleaning venetian blinds - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent() 3,050,284 HOIST FOR CLEANING VENETIAN BLINDS Morris K. Lerner, Flushing, N.Y. (Z3-55 Bell Blvd., Bayside 60, NY.) Filed July 24, 1959, Ser. No. 829,439 2 Claims. (Cl. 254--139) This invention relates to a cleaning device and more particularly, to a method and a means for cleaning Venetian blinds.

The periodic cleaning of Venetian blinds is a tedious operation for the housewife because she must actually contact, either with a brush or a rag, each surface of the closely spaced blind slats. This is made even more dilicult by reason of the height of the upper portion of the blind and the presence of blind straps which shield a portion of each slat from easy access. Because of the above, Venetian blinds are seldom thoroughly cleaned.

It is therefore amongst the primary objects of the present invention to provide a means and a method for the cleaning of Venetian blinds which permits the blinds to be thoroughly and completely cleaned with very little effort on the part of the housewife.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a device wherein the blinds themselves are utilized to agitate a cleaning solution to effect the cleaning of the blinds.

Briefly stated, a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention comprises a roller rotatably mounted on a support, straps on said roller arranged to hold a blind at both ends thereof with the portion of the blind intermediate its ends hanging suspended from said straps, said straps being adapted to be Wound and unwound by said roller and arranged so that one end of the blind is raised and the other end of the blind is lowered when the roller is rotated in one direction, the action being reversed with a reversal in the rotation of the roller.

A fuller understanding of the invention and the manner in which its objectives and advantages may be realized will become apparent from the Vfollowing detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. l, in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational end view of a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention with the blind mounted thereon for washing.

Referring now to the drawing, a cleaning device in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. l consisting of a roller 1l) rotatably mounted between the cross pieces of a pair of spaced apart U-shaped supports 12 and 14. The threaded ends of upper and lower bracing members 18 and 20, respectively, extend through aligned openings in the tubular legs of supports 12 aud 14. The assemblage is held tightly in position by clamping nuts 22. Braces 18 and 20 impart rigidity to the structure so that the same is self-supporting. A washer 24 helps to clamp the assemblage in position.

Roller is removably mounted upon its supporting structure, its axle 26 being readily removable from :the journals 28 therefor, as may yreadly be seen in the drawing. A crank 30 aiiixed to axle 26 permits roller 10 to be readily rotated by hand for reasons hereinafter appearing. As may be seen, roller 10 may be rotated in either direction by crank 30. The supporting structure for the roller may readily be disassembled by the removal of wing nuts 22.

Aixed to and wound about the roller are straps 32 adapted to be wound and unwound on said roller. Three "ice straps are provided in the particular embodiment of the invention shown herein. The number of straps, however, may be varied. If the roller is of wood, the straps may be tacked or stapled thereto. The straps are each provided at their ends with a hook 34 and a catch 36 for said hook. By reason of this hooking arrangement, a loop may be formed at the end of each strap.

In accordance with the invention, the straps may be so arranged that when roller 10 is rotated in a clockwise direction, for example, the two outer straps will unwind and thereby be lowered, while the centrally positioned strap will be raised upwardly as it is wound about the roller.

Conversely, when the roller is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the action will reverse itself and the centrally positioned strap will then be lowered while the other two straps will be raised. In this particular instance, the straps are of a woven composition, but may be of plastic or other rollable or windable composition.

In practice, the cleaning device of the present invention lis positioned in a tub, such as bath tub 38 shown in FIG. 3. It will be noted that the legs of supports 12 and 14 are provided with non-skid caps at the ends thereof to grip the porcelain of the tub which is exceeding slippery when wet. Such caps are indicated by numeral 40.

As shown in FIG. 3, a Venetian blind is mounted on the cleaning device by looping the straps 32 about the end members of the blind. In this particular instance, the centrally positioned strap is looped about one end of the blind while the other two straps are looped about the other end of the blind. This particular arrangement gives the blind a very satisfactory balance. It may be seen that the blind now hangs freely suspended from the straps.

Tub 38 is then filled with Water and a detergent added thereto. When the roller is rotated, it will be seen that one end of the blind will be raised and the other end lowered, -by reason of the arrangement of straps 32 on the roller. A reversal in the direction of the movement of the roller will result in a reversal of the movement of the blind. It may be thus seen that the slats of the blind will thoroughly agitate the cleaning solution in tub 38 when the blind is moved as aforesaid. This agitation makes for a very thorough cleaning of the blind. It will be realized that by reason of the above described arrangement, all portions of the blind may be thoroughly immersed in the bath and cleaned.

When the device is no longer needed, it may be diS- assembled and stored for use at a future time.

Tubular supports 1'2 and 14 should be of an aluminum composition so as to be resistant to rust and other corrosive forces.

It may be seen that by reason of the present invention a means and a method for the cleaning of Venetian blinds has been provided which permits the blind to be thoroughly and completely cleaned with very little elort on the part of the housewife. Further, the device of the present invention utilizes the agitation principle for cleaning and the blind itself serves as the agitator in the device. Additionally, the device of the present invention may be completely disassembled for reason of shipping, storage and repair, and readily assembled without difficulty.

Although the invention has been described in detail with respect to one preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, that Various changes and modifications may .be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A cleaning device for a Venetian blind, comprising a roller rotatably mounted on a supporting frame, said 3 roller having crank means yfor manually rotating the same in either angular direction, a pair of straps secured to said roller at opposite ends thereof and wound thereon in clockwise direction, said `straps -being provided with supporting means engageable with one end of a Venetian blind, an additional strap secured to said roller and being wound thereon in counter-clockwise direction, said additional strap being provided withV supporting means engageable with the opposite end of said Venetian blind, whereby said Venetian blind is supported at both ends with its intermediate portion hanging downwardly in the form of a loop and whereby rotation of said roller in one angular direction causes said pair of straps to be Wound further on said roller and said additional strap to be unwound therefrom and thereby causing the rst mentioned end of the Venetian blind to be raised and the second mentioned end to be lowered, and whereby rotation of said roller in the opposite angular direction causes said pair of straps to be unwound therefrom and said additional strap to be vfurther wound thereon, and causing said second mentioned end of the Venetian blind to be raised and said Iirst mentioned end to be lowered.

2. A cleaning device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the supporting frame is provided with four legs spaced apart a distance smaller than the inside dimensions of a conventional bathtub to permit of standing Said supporting irame in such bathtub and thereby suspending therein the intermediate portion of the Venetian blind.

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