US1327365A - Jointed metallic tape - Google Patents

Description

P. H. WILSON AND 0. H. SAPPER,

JOINTED METALLIC TAPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, I918. RENEWED NOV. 18, 1919.

1,827,865, Patented Jan. 6,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET P. H. WILSON AND C. H. SAPPER. JOINTED METALLIC TAP E.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, I9IB- RENEWED NOV. I8, I919. 1,327,365, Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

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(7 /MW Q/vi'l'ncnn M v f Chimneys ans PERCY H. WILSON AND CHARLES H. SAPPER, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

JOINTED METALLIC TAPE.

Application filed May 1, 1918, Serial No. 231,955.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PERCY H. WILsON and CHARLES H. Snrrnn, citizens of the United States, and residing at Norfolk, Norfolk county, State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jointed Metallic Tapes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to louvre blinds and more particularly to jointed metallic tapes for such blinds.

The objects of the invention are to provide a tape which is unafiected by weather, has considerable stiffness in the direction of the width of the blind; occupies no more space in the direction of the width of the blind when collapsed than when extended; and may be manufactured of links stamped out of sheet material at a low cost. Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the description taken in con nection with he drawings, in which Figure is an inside elevation of a frame having a louvre blind employing tapes cons'ructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the top portion of the blind and frame;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the collapsible metal tape which is employed to set tie slats and hold them in parallel spaced relation;

Fig. i is an edge elevation of the tape shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a link of the tape;

6 is anedge view of the link; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of a portion of a strip of sheet material illustrating how the links may be cut with a minimum loss of material.

neferring to the drawings the blind is illustrated in the usual frame 10 of the window, although it is to be understood that the use of the blind is not limited to windows, but may be employed in other locations and f0- other purposes. As showma top support 11 is provided and this support has the spaced depending angle brackets 12 in which the shaft 13 is rotatively mounted. The ends of the shaft project outside said brackets 12, and carry the sprocket wheels 13, which are arranged within the partial housings l4 and have the chains 15 and 16 passing over the same, these chains being provided for the purpose of collapsing the blind. The brackets 12 in addition to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

'for' this purpose a toothed segment 18 is secured to the slat and meshes with a worm 19 rotatively supported in the brackets 20- fastened to the'top support 11. The axis of the worm extends transversely of the slat and the worm is rotatively comiectedwith a sprocket 21, arranged so that a chain 22 passing over the same may hang without interfering with the slat. Thus as the chain 22 is pulled, the top slat 17 will be rocked on its pivots. For the purpose of holding the slats parallel and in spaced relation when the blind is extended and also permit the progressive collapsing of the slats, a novel tape of jointed metal links is pro vided. Preferably there are two pairs of these tapes, one tape of each pair being at the front of the blind and the other at the rear. At their upper ends these tapes are pivotally connected as at 34c to the top slat 17. Thus as the top slat is rocked for example to the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the right hand tape of this figure is raised, while the left hand tape is lowered thereby tilting each of the slats about an axis parallel to the axis of the top slat. p

The metal tape which constitutes the subject matter of the present invention comprises a series of rigid links 23 pivotally connected at their ends. For this purpose, the end of one link is slightly offset as at 24: and the adjacent end of the adjoining link is olfset in the opposite direction as shown at $35, and these two offset portions are pivotally connected as by means of a pin 26. As shown in Fig. l this construction permits'the links to be arranged so that when viewed on edge they are substantially in a vertical plane; Furthermore the ends of adjacent links, such as shown at 27 and 28 abut, thereby constituting stops to limit the angles to which the links may open. As shown in 3, these ends are arranged so that the angles to which the links may open are limited to less than 180. In this manner all dead points ae eliminated, so that when an upward: force is applied at one of the pivots, it will cause the link above the same to be n'ioved angularly in a closing direction. The links are formed with similarly located central apertures 29 for pivot pins 30. As shown at Fig. 2, these pins have a head at one side of the link and extend slightly from the other side Where they are formed with an eye, clips C being pivotally supported on these pins, the clips in turn carrying the slats S. The present invention is not limited to any particular clip for carrying the slat, but preferably we use a clip of the type described and claimed in our application Serial No. 231,954, filed May 1, 1918.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the rigid links which form the tape consist of quadrangular strips, a pair of the diagonally opposite corners having the offset portions or disks 24: and 25, these disks being pressed out of the plane of the main portion of the link an amount substantially equal to one-half of the thickness of the strip. These links may be economically cut from a strip of sheet material in the manner indicated in dotted lines in Fig. loss of material. from cutting out the links, the offset end portions have the notches 40 which permit a single out to separate one link from the next, as shown in Fig. 7.

iVhen the slats of the blind are tilted to close the spaces therebetween, the lower edge portion of one slat overlaps the upper edge portion of the next lower slat and these two overlapping portions are very nearly in contact, being separated only by the thickness of the slat clip. This close overlapping, )rovides a blind which is substantially wcathertight. Furthermore, as the tapes are constructed for collapsing movement only in a plane parallel to the longitudinal edges of the slats, and have considerable lateral rigidity, they act to prevent the whipping of the blind in heavy winds or storms. Because of this feature, it is not as imperative that the ends of the slats be held in guides, as in the types of blind heretofore used.

As shown in Fig. 1, the chains 15 and 16 which are used to raise and lower the blind are secured asat 35 to the bottom slat 36. The position of the sprockets 13 is such that the chains hang opposite the central portion of the ends of the slats. Thu these act to prevent longitudial displacement of the slats. One of the chains such as 16 has the free end 38 adapted to hang in a position so that it may be grasped and pulled to raise or collapse the blind.

From the foregoing description itwill be seen that an exceedingly simple, strong tape unaffected by weather is provided. Furthermore the links of the tape may be punched and stamped up with automatic machinery, so that the cost of manufacture is small.

Having thus described our invention What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a tape forlouvre blinds comprising a series of rigid flat links pivotally connected end to end 7. In order to minimize the with alternate links adapted to swing in the same and adjacent links in opposite directions and means to limit the angle to which adjacent links may open to less than 180.

2. As an article of manufacture, a collapsible tape for louvre blinds comprising a series of rigid fiat links, means for pivotally connecting the links end to end for swinging movement in a single plane, the pivot at one end of each link being on the opposite. side of the longitudinal center line of the link from the pivot at the other end.

3. As an article of manufacture, a collapsible tape for louvre blinds comprising a series of rigid flat links, each link having an offset portion and an abutment portion at each end thereof, the oflset portion at one end of a link pivotally connected to a portion of the next link ofi'set in the opposite direction whereby all the links swing in a single plane, the abutment portions of the links being arranged to limit the opening of adjacent links to less than 180.

4;. As an article of manufacture, a collapsible tape for louvreblinds comprising a series of rigid links pivotally connected together at their ends, each link including a substantially quadrangular strip of sheet material, each of a pair of dia onally opposite corners having a disk portion ofiset from the strip an amount substantially equal. to half the thickness of the strip.

5. As an article of manufacture, a tape for louvre blinds comprising a series of rigid links, and pivots for pivotally connecting said links end to end, said pivots being disposed in a line, adjacent pivots beingv at opposite corners of a link.-

6. As an article of manufacture, a tape for louvre blinds comprising a series of rigid links, and pivots for pivotally con necting said links end to end, adjacent pivots being at opposite corners of a link.

7. As an article of manufacture, a tape for louvre blinds comprising a series of rigid links, and pivots connecting said links end to end for swinging movement in a single plane, alternate links adapted to swing in the same and adjacent links in opposite directions.

8. As an article of manufacture, a collapsible tape for louvre blinds comprising a series of rigid links, each link having an offset portion at its ends, the offset portion at one end of the link pivotally connected to a portion of the next link offset in the opposite direction whereby all the links swing in a single plane and means to limit the opening of adjacent links to less than 180.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signa' tures. I

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