US3279529A - Window shade roller with extensible gudgeon pin - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1966 R. J. SMITH ETAL WINDOW SHADE ROLLER WITH EXTENSIBLE GUDGEON PIN Filed June 26, 1964 INVENTORS ROBERT .1. 5M/ TH Al. FRED a. s wuv y WA YNE M 1. OWE

ATTO NEYS United States Patent 3,279,529 WINDOW SHADE ROLLER WITH EXTENSIBLE GUDGEON PIN Robert J. Smith, 1008 Pickering St.; Alfred G. Gwin, 320 Albany Ave.; and Wayne M. Lowe, 500 Franklin St., all of Ogdensburg, N .Y.

Filed June 26, 1964, Ser. No. 378,236 2 Claims. (Cl. 160323)' fixed gudgeon pin assembly. By providing an extensibleretractable gudgeon pin assembly, it is possible to construct the rollers of various standard lengths such that the adjustment capability of the extensible-retractable gudgeon pin assemblies will accommodate for variations of required length between the standard sizes and thus enable the shade to be assembled between brackets having widely varying spacings therebetween, all without requiring the cutting of the rollers and replacement of the gudgeon pin assemblies as set forth above.

It is of primary concern in connection with the present invention to provide an extensible-retractable gudgeon pin assembly which is characterized by economy of construction and which is, in general, of great simplicity while yet being of foolproof and effective nature.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a gudgeon pin assembly as aforesaid wherein a bearing sleeve member mounts the gudgeon pin for extension and retraction relative to the roller and wherein relatively simple end cap means is employed to retain the bearing sleeve properly in position relative to the roller.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the description hereinbelow and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view partially in section illustrating one end of a roller employing the principles of construction according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 3-3 in FIG. 1 and showing the manner in which the retaining means is fixed to the roller; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 44 in FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly at this time to FIG. 1, an end portion of a window shade roller 10 is illustrated therein which, as can be seen, is provided with an axially extending recess 12 projecting inwardly from the end face 14, the recess being blind, as shown, providing the inner end wall portion 16 substantially as is shown. Fitted within the recess 12 is a bearing sleeve member 18 which is preferably formed of synthetic material such as Teflon or the like and which is so positioned as to place its end face 20 flush or substantially flush with the end face 14 of the roller 10. The inner end 22 provides a shoulder effective as a stop against which the head 24 of the gudgeon pin 28 is adapted to engage and thereby limit the amount of axial extension of the gudgeon pin 28 relative to the roller 10. In order to accommodate for the varying widths between mounting brackets, one of which is indicated by reference character 30 in FIG. 1, the main body portion 32 of the gudgeon 28 is of sufficient length to accommodate for the desired range of adjustment of the assemblage. As is conventional, the gudgeon pin is provided with a reduced end portion 34 for reception within the conventional opening in the outstanding leg of the bracket 30, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art.

Disposed within the recess 12, and seated respectively against the end wall 16 of the recess and against the inner faceof the head 24 of the gudgeon pin 28, is a compression spring 36 which normally urges the head 24 of the gudgeon pin 28 into contact with the inner face 22 of the bearing sleeve 18. Thus, when the assemblage is not in use, and the spring 36 is thus indirectly bearing against the sleeve 18, there will be a tendency'to project or expel the sleeve from the end of the roller 10. Although this expulsion of the bearing sleeve 18 can be overcome by such means as providing the sleeve 18 with a tight fit within'the recess 12, or by other suitable means, such means in general tend to increase the cost of manufacture of the device. For example, if the sleeve 18 is forcefully fitted within the recess 12, there will be a tendency to dis tort the bearing sleeve 18 which might cause binding on the main body portion 32 of the gudgeon pin 28. Thus, it is more economical, aside from the problem of expulsion, to provide the bearing sleeve 18 with a relatively light fit within the recess 12. According to this invention, such a relationship is made possible while still effectively and positively preventing expulsion of the bearing sleeve 18 as aforesaid.

The manner in which the above is accomplished is by utilization of a retainer means indicated generally by the reference character 38 and which is in the form of a cup or cap member having a fiat bottom wall portion 40 bearing against the end face 14 of the roller and having a central opening 42 clearing the main body portion 32 of the gudgeon pin 28 but overlapping the end face 20 on the sleeve 18, substantially as is shown in FIG. 1. The retainer means 38 also includes a cylindrical side wall 44 which embraces the peripheral end surface of the roller 10 and which is provided with a series of deformed portions 46, which are embedded within and project into the body of the roller 10 as is shown most clearly in FIG. 3. Conveniently, these deformed portions 46 can be provided for as by prick punching orthe like and forming, in any event, a positive and effective means for preventing withdrawal of the retainer means 38 from the end of the roller 10, which prevents expulsion of the bearing sleeve 18 as aforesaid.

From the above, it will be readily apparent that the mechanism involved is relatively simple and yet is wholly effective for the reason that the component parts thereof accomplish multiple or compound functions for effecting the desired end result. For example, it will be noted that the bearing sleeve 18 provides not only a means for slidably mounting the gudgeon pin 28, but also provides a stop 22 at its inner face while its outer face 20 cooperates intimately with the retainer means 38 for preventing expulsion of the bearing sleeve 18 as has been set forth hereinab ove.

It will also be noted that the bearing sleeve 18 is of an axial length substantially less than the axial extent of the recess 12. Specifically, the difference between the axial extent of the bearing sleeve 18 and the recess 12 is equal to the length of the compression spring 36 when in the fully compressed position plus the desired amount of adjustment which is required to be accommodated for by the extensible-retractable gudgeon pin 28. Thus, as aforesaid, although the component parts of the assemblage are of relatively simple construction, it will at once be appreciated that the elements thereof cooperate in eflicient and fully efiective manner to accomplish the end desired results in the most economical and satisfactory fashion.

It is to be understood that certain changes and modifications as illustrated and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims;

We claim:

In a window shade assembly, in combination:

a cylindrical roller having an axial recess extending inwardly from one end thereof,

bearing sleeve received in said recess, said bearing sleeve being of substantially less axial extent than said recess and having its outer end substantially flush with the end face of said one end of the roller 10 to thereby present an inwardlyfacing shoulder at its inner end which is substantially spaced from the inner end of said recess,

a gudgeon pin having an elongate body portion slidably a compression spring acting between said inner end of received in said bearing sleeve and having an enlarged head at its inner end for bearing against said shoulder to limit axial displacement between said pin and said roller,

said recess and said head of the gudgeon pin,

and a bearing sleeve retainer for preventing expulsion ofsaid bearing sleeve from said roller, said retainer being of cup-like form having a bottom wall engag- 2. The assembly .as definedin claim 1 wherein said means comprises portions of said side wall embedded in the body of said roller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 12,524 3/1855 Urann 16%326 X 294,316 2/1884 Graves et a1. 160-306 1,688,563 10/1928 Tomlinson l60301 FOREIGN PATENTS 12,100 5/1903 Great, Britain.

:HARRISON R. MOSELEY,'Primary Examiner. P. M. CAUN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A WINDOW SHADE ASSEMBLY, IN COMBINATION: A CYLINDRICAL ROLLER HAVING AN AXIAL RECESS EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM ONE END THEREOF, A BEARING SLEEVE RECEIVED IN SAID RECESS, SAID BEARING SLEEVE BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY LESS AXIAL EXTENT THAN SAID RECESS AND HAVING ITS OUTER END SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE END FACE OF SAID ONE END OF THE ROLLER TO THEREBY PRESENT AN INWARDLY FACING SHOULDER AT ITS INNER END WHICH IS SUBSTANIALLY SPACED FROM THE INNER END OF SAID RECESS, A GUDGEON PIN HAVING AN ELONGATE BODY PORTION SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN SAID BEARING SLEEVE AND HAVING AN ENLARGED HEAD AT ITS INNER END FOR BEARING AGAINST SAID SHOULDER TO LIMIT AXIAL DISPLACEMENT BETWEEN SAID PIN AND SAID ROLLER, A COMPRESSION SPRING ACTING BETWEEN SAID INNER END OF SAID RECESS AND SAID HEAD OF THE GUDGEON PIN, AND A BEARING SLEEVE RETAINER FOR PREVENTING EXPULSION OF SAID BEARING SLEEVE FROM SAID ROLLER, SAID RETAINER BEING OF CUP-LIKE FORM HAVING A BOTTOM WALL ENGAGING SAID END FACE OF THE ROLLER AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING CLEARING SAID BODY PORTION OF THE GUDGEON PIN BUT OVERLAPPING SAID OUTER END OF THE BEARING SLEEVE, SAID RETAINER ALSO HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL EMBRACING THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID ONE END OF THE ROLLER, AND MEANS FIXING SAID SIDE WALL TO SAID ROLLER.

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