US2716448A - Slat mounting for venetian blinds - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 30, 1955 D. F. LANDESS sLAT MOUNTING FOR vVENETIAN BLINDS Filed June 5, 1952 INVENToR. DELBERT F. LANoEss muy-#COM United States Patent() SLAT MOUNTING FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Delbert F. Landess, Berkeley, Mo.

Application June 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,904

11 Claims. (Cl. 160-173) This invention relates to slat mounting for Venetian blinds, and more particularly to an improved Venetian blind assembly of such a nature that the individual slats thereof may be removed and replaced without disturbing others of the assembly, and without in any way interfering with the tilting tapes, lift cords or rail assemblies. The present invention further includes, as parts of an improved assembly, certain novel slat-supporting fittings, and certain features of novelty of tilting tapes and other elements of the blind.

This applicant is aware of certain attempts heretofore made toward the design of Venetian blind assemblies of such nature that the slats thereof are individually removable and replaceable. However, each of such designs which have thus far been noted, fails in some commercially vital respect, as by reason of high initial cost due to high cost of production and fabrication, or in some cases due to the degree of time and skill required to remove the slats and replace thern in assembly incident to cleaning, refinishing or other operations. In certain prior structures the arrangements proposed require an extremely awkward and difhcult approach to the problem of separate removal and replacement of the blind slats. It is accordingly a principal and major objective to obviate each of the shortcomings heretofore mentioned, and to realize an assembly of the character noted which can be produced and sold at a moderate cost, may be easily and quickly installed, the parts of which may be compactly stored and shipped, and which in ultimate assembly, will exhibit a clean, attractive, finished appearance.

More particularly stated in reference to individual features of improvement, the present development h as as an important object of the provision of a quickly made and severed snap connection between the ends of the blind slats and end attachments thereon, employing only such hardware items as may be readily produced of available materials, economically die-formed and quickly assembled.

Yet another object of the invention is realized in a simpliiied, long life construction of tilting tapes for Venetian blinds, particularly but not exclusively adapted to blinds of removable slat type, the improved tapes being of a single rather than a doubled character, and avoiding the provision of fabric slat-supporting ladder elements as commonly used, whereby the tape may be more easily manufactured and distributed in stock lengths, such as rolls.

More particularly expressed in connection with the preferred embodmient herein described, there is objectively attained an arrangement such that rigid 'end attachments on the individual slats, provide the structure bridging opposite parallel lengths of tilting tape in avoidance of the usual fabric ladder elements, with the slat-carried attachments providing a quick detachable connection between the slats and the tapes.

The foregoing and numerous other objectsv and advantages will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a presently preferredembodiment of the 2,716,448 Patented Aug. 30, 1.955

invention, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of a Venetian blind assembly as same would appear when embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a considerably enlarged fragmentary View in a horizontal plane, with certain parts shown in section, Fig. 2 being located by line 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view in a vertical plane, as taken' along line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in the nature of a fragmentary section greatly enlarged, and located by line 4 4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section through a snap pin and socket therefor in the region of a slat-supporting clip and the adjacent slat end, Fig. 5 being located by line 5 5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig.2, being a plan View in a horizontal plane, partly in section, of a double arrangement of slat supporting clip, as may be employed intermediate the ends of blind assemblies in which the slats are required to be of substantial length;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View as taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an elevation in perspective of a preferred form of slat-end supporting clip, and j Fig. 9 is an elevational View of afragmentary portion of the inside face of a length of the novel tilting tape, showing a pair of the anchorage loops thereon `for engagement by end hooks on the supporting clips, one such clip being shown by Fig. 8.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, the assembly as exemplified by Fig. l may include the usual tiltable head rail, facia and head lift cord assembly, all generally indicatedat HA, and since these elements are or may be conventional, they are not illustrated in detail. From this assembly, somewhat in keeping with conventional practice, may extend the lifting cords LC and the tilting cords TC. The assembly also includes a series of vertically spaced, superposed slat member 10 and Vtilting tapes 11, the latter by preference being located at or closeto the extreme ends of the series of slats. The lifting cords extend downwardly endwise of the slats proper as will appear, and engage a bottom rail BR to which is also secured the lower ends of the tilting tapes 11, these latter serving the usual purpose of the conventional ladder tapes but consisting of single rather than double elements, as will be described.

The structural novelty-of the present improvements will most readily be understood by initial reference to the provisions for support in assembly of the slats proper 10. For this purpose thereis provided at each end of each slat, an attachment referred to for convenience as a clip, and the overall features of which are perhaps best seen from Fig. 8. The clips may all be uniformly constructed, and each comprises a relatively llat body or plate portion 12. As shown and as preferred, partienlarly in a blind of metal slat construction, a distinct transverse curvature or camber is given the slats as is seen in the elements 10, particularly from Fig. 4. ln such case the body or plate part of each of the slat supporting clips, as indicated at 12, will be similarly curved, so as to provide a supporting seat closely underlying one extreme end portion of the slat to which the clip is attached. The opposite margins of the plate 12 are provided with a pair of inturned, L-shaped hook-forming elements 13 set somewhat inwardly of the extreme side margins of the clip. There is also formed just outside each hook 13, a shallow rectangular recess 14, the purpose of which is hereinafter noted. As will best appear from Fig. 2 and others of the figures of drawing, the overall width of the clip approximates the width of the slat supported by the clip, and the inside spacing of the tilting tapes 11 is such that each clip, generally designated at C, will substantially fully bridge the inside faces of the adjacent parallel tapes.

Extended transversely of the clip, i. e., in a direction widthwise of the slat, is an elongate slot 15 the ends of which are preferably rounded, 'this slot providing a cord route for lift cords such as LC extended therethrough (see Fig. 2), the length of the slot as will now be obvious, permitting tilting actuation of the clips and the slat supported thereby, without disturbing the vertical relation of the associated cord or cords.

Somewhat spaced from the cord route 15 are a pair of snap-fastener seats exemplied by apertures 16, a pair of which are shown, and the Slat-supporting surface of the clip C about the entrance end of each aperture 16, being provided with a distinct are, countersunk or funnel formation 17.

Beyond the plate portion 12 and extended distinctly away from the plate thereof, is a leverage tab or finger piece 20 (Figs. 4, 5 and 8). This provision facilitates a manual grasp of this end of the clip for the purpose of rocking same about either of a pair of fulcrum regions 21 and 22, according to the direction of actuation of the leverage tab, for the purpose of breaking the snap connection, later more fully described.

ln the embodiment of the present improvements it is desired to provide a connection of male and female type between each slat end and the adjacent clip, and further desired that such connection be of a type to be made and broken by a substantially vertical separation of the clip and the adjacent end region of the slat. Numerous experiments indicate that such a connection can be readily broken and as readily made by utilizing a spring prong or plurality thereof en either the clip or the slat end, and the provision of the companion element with a metal margin which in assembly, is overridden by the spring prong. The snap connection presently disclosed has been found admirably suited for this purpose, as including a snap pin consisting of a at pin head 23, and a spring shank consisting of two or by further preference three spring prongs 24. These prongs are separated by relatively wide slots (best shown by Fig. 4) so that the rounded outer end portions of the prongs constituting the pin shank, may be deflected toward each other, hence toward the axis of the pin, incident to insertion of the pins by snap action in the clip apertures. It will be readily appreciated from the description thus far given, that although the pins or male elements are shown as carried by the slat ends, the latter may be apertured similarly to the formations 16--17 of the'clip, and the pins carried by the clips C. It is a preference to employ two or more of the snap pins in each slat end connection.

While the pins may be kept in place in the pin apertures in the slats 1t? as by spot welding or other expedient,

it is preferred in order to assure permanent retention of w the pins in the ends of the slats, and to reenforce the slat ends against deformation incident to actuation of the slat connections, to provide a slat reenforcing cover 25 embracing the end region of the slat. This may consist of a folded piece of sheet metal, one fold of which overlies the heads of the slat pins, and the other of which being apertured to receive the shanks of the pins, underlies the slat end, both folds being cambered similarly to the slat. The heads of the snap pins are thus fully co-ncealed from top view, and there is provided a distinctly stiffened region of slat end overlying the adjacent clip C.

The dimensions of the clips C are such that, assuming the tilting tapes 11 to be of conventional width, the quick-detachable connection means afforded by the clips, spring pins, and covers 25 are for the most part located between the tapes 11 and thus are not, or at least need not be, exposed to view. It is, however, desirable so to `proportion the clips and adjacent parts that the leverage to the tilting tapes 11, the latter will first be described. The tapes 11 may be formed of a strip plastic material, for example, of a strip of certain of the vinyl products currently available, or alternately, may consist of a woven fabric material, preferably impregnated with a vinyl or other resin to render the tape relatively impervious incident to cleaning and, if of fabric, materially to strengthen same. It is to be noted that the tapes 11 are of single rather than the usual doubled aspect, the latter being necessary when the tapes are bridged by fabric ladder elements not desired nor necessary with the present arrangement. Thus the present tilting tapes 11 may be supplied from stock rolls as a commercial cornmodity to be cut to the desired lengths at the situs of assembly of the blinds.

Attached in vertically spaced relation to the body of the tape 11, this spacing corresponding to the normal spacing of the slats when horizontal, are a series of loops 26. Each of these loops is of a doubled or folded form, and consists of a short suspension tab, the overfolded portions of which provide an eye or loop, and the adjacent otherwise free ends of each tab or loop being attachcd to the body of the tape 11 preferably by invisible stitching located by the numeral 27. Thus the loops 25 are visible only on the inside surface of the tapes, and the outer surface which is normally exposed to view, is physically and visually uninterrupted. The loops or tabs 26 may for convenience be formed of a material which is thesarne as that selected for the tapes.

In assembly, the clips C are detachably mounted between spaced lengths of the tapes 11 by passing the innermost leg of each of the loops 25 into the hook recess, as through the loop route 28 adjacent each hook 13. lt will now have become evident that the provision of the recess 14 outside of each hook formation 13, permits that portion of each loo-p 26 nearest the body of the tape to be received snugly in the adjacent recess 14 and thereby position the clip horizontally with respect to the tape. it is here noted as quite feasible, except for a slightly greater time requirement, to provide for removal of the individual slats with clips attached, by separation of the loops 426 from hooks 13.

Clips C which are or may be uniform with those appearing in Fig. 8 for use as end clips on the slats, may be utilized in pairs for assembly of standard or other lengths of slats 10 to form thereof the longer slats required in exceptionally wide windows. In such case a pair of the clips C are brought into overlying endwise reversed relation with their cord routes 15 in register, and the adjacent Slat ends provided with snap pins are inserted in the openings 16. For this manner of usage, it will be noted that a given pair of the tape loops 26 serve the four hooks of the paired clips when utilized in the manner stated and as shown by Figs. 6 and 7, for slat extension purposes.

Referring now to the manner of initial assembly of the blind, although the order of such events may have become evident from the foregoing description, it has been found practical to select the requisite length of tilting tape 11,

the hook formations 13, each clip bridges a pair of the loops 26 on the opposite parallel tapes in each end region of the blind. The attachment of the upper tape ends to the tilt rail and the threading of the lifting cord in the head assembly may be in keeping with conventional assembly of these parts.

With the head rail horizontal and with the several clips C then substantially horizontally bridging the tilting tapes, the slats, each end of each of which is provided with the paired snap pins, is tted into place, and through a moderate downward pressure on the cover 25' over the heads of the pins, same may be easily snapped into a securely seated connection with the female portions 16 of the connectors. Relative location of the parts to facilitate completion of such snap connection is materially aided by the provision of the countersunk or funnel formations 17. As each snap pin is forced downwardly into a rmly seated engagement upon the adjacent clip, the spring prongs 24 will rst be deflected inwardly to permit the pin shank to pass to the desired extent through the aperture 16, whereupon the enlarged head portions of the pins are again expanded, as shown by Fig. 4, and will then serve to keep the parts tightly in assembly. The arrangement described has been found to prevent unwanted rattling, vibration, or other objectionable looseness even when the blind is subjected to considerable currents of wind.

The present improvements are of particular value at the situs of usage of the blinds, in facilitating cleaning, polishing, refinishing or other desired individual treatment of the slats. When assembled as before described, it is easily possible to separate the individual complete slat assembly merely by slightly turning each adjacent tilting tape 11 to bring the bight of each loop 26 out of the hook formations 13. However, a saving of time is effected by normally utilizing only the snap connections heretofore described. When slat removal is thus eifected,

it is necessary only to grasp the leverage tab 20 or alternately, to grasp such tab and the adjacent slat end, whereupon, with a slight squeezing action, the clip is rocked about the fulcrum 22 with the effect of withdrawing the adjacent snap pins from the apertures 16. This operation is used first at one end of a given slat, then at the opposite end, and the individual slat removed, no more than a second or two of time being required for each operation. The slats may then be immersed or otherwise cleaned individually or as a group, as desired, individual replacement of the separate slats being assocplished as above briey referred to, merely by pressing the slat end downwardly into firmly seated position upon the adjacent clip, at each end of the slat.

Although the invention has been described by detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, the detail of description should be understood solely in an instructive rather than in any limiting sense, many variants being possible within the fair scope of the claims hereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a Venetian blind assembly having a plurality of vertically spaced slat elements, the combination of a slat element, a clip element located to extend endwise beyond the slat element, a spring prong carried by one of said elements, the other element having a metal margin adapted to be overridden by the spring prong to keep the elements in detachably assembled relation, and an actuating projection on one of said elements, said projection being rockably movable about a transverse fulcrum located at one side of said spring prong and coacting margin, said projection being adapted to facilitate release of the prong from the coacting metal margin, each of the clip elements being formed to provide for connection to adjacent Slat-tilting tapes.

2. In a Venetian blind assembly, a plurality of slats normally arranged in superposed spaced relation, tilting tapes in the extreme end regions of the series of slats, a clip located at each end of each slat, and adapted for Slat-supporting and -tilting connection with the adjacent tapes, a connection located endwise of each slat for detachable securement of same to the adjacent clip, said connection consisting of one or more snap pins carried by the slat end, and a corresponding number of snap pin sockets on the adjacent clip, a series of spaced tabs of suspension type carried yby saidtape, said tabs being of a folded form, the overfolded portions of which provide an eye, and the otherwise free ends of each tab being secured together and to said tape, the clip being formed to provide a hook element at each side, said hook elements being adapted to engage the eye of said tabs, the tabs and hook elements being related so asto permit rockablemovement of said clip upon detachment of said connection.

3. In a Venetian blind assembly, a series of vertically spaced slats, a pair of tapes at each extreme end of the series of slats for tiltably supporting same, each of the tapes being provided with a fabric loop extending inwardly of its inside face, the loops being spaced vertically along the tapes to correspond to the desired normalslat spacing,

" each of said loops being of folded form, the overfolded portions of which provide lan eye, and the adjacent other- Wise free ends of each loop being attached together to provide a laterally swingable suspension loop, a clip at each end of each ofthe slats, each said clip having at its opposite margins a pair of hooks, each of said hooks adapted detachably to engage one of the loops on the adjacent tape, the hooks .being located in said loops so as to permit rockable movement of said clip, the hooks on the clips being set somewhat inwardly of the tapes, and the clips extended outwardly beyond the hooks to an extent such that the clips may bridge and space thetapes when the slats are in a substantially horizontal position.

4. A Venetian blind slat mounting for use in an assembly including a pairof tapes at each end of a series of slats, including an end. clip for each slat, the clip and Slat end being formed for detachable engagement, laterally movable suspension'tabs carried by said tapes, each clip including inthe region of its opposite margins, an element for detachable engagement with opposed suspension tabs on the adjacent tape wherebythe clip may serve as a ladder element bridgingly Yconnected to oppositely disposed tilting tapes of the blind assembly, said elements coacting with said tabs to permit rockable movement of said clip, each said clip being further provided with a transversely elongate slot constituting a cord route adapted to receive therethrough'a lifting cord, said slot being l0- cated beyond the slat end.

5. In a Venetian blindl assembly in which individual slats of the blind may bel separately removed ,and reassembled, a Slat-supporting and -tilting member in the form of a clip for directly supporting a slat end, releasably interftting male and female portions on the slat end and clip, the clip being formed to provide a fulcrum located at one side of said male and female portions,- a projection on the clip below the level of the adjacent slat, said projection being extended downwardly from the fulcrum of said clip to provide a leverage tab through the manual actuation of which the clip may be rocked about the fulcrum to separate said male and female portions and thereby release the slat from the clip.

6. In a Venetian blind assembly including lift cords, the combination of a slat element and a clip element located to extend endwise'beyond the slat element, the portion of the clip element extending endwise beyond the slat element being provided with an elongate slot, said slot being adapted to receive said lift cord, a spring prong carried by one of said elements, the other element having a margin adapted to be overridden by the spring prong to keep the elements detachably related in assembly, and

a leverage tab constituting a projection of the clip element, said leverage tab providing a fulcrum immediately adjacent the spring prong and coacting margin, and adapted for actuation of the clip element by a rocking motion about said fulcrum, to separate the spring prong from the adjacent metal margin overridden thereby, and acting to release the slat and clip elements from each other.

7. In a Venetian blind assembly, a slat, a clip for tiltably supporting the slat, located one at each extreme end of the slat, elements of a snap connection carried respectively by the clip and the adjacent slat end, the clip being formed to provide a fulcrum in the region at one side of said snap connection, and the clip being extended outwardly and away from the produced plane of the slat, to constitute a leverage tab or linger piece, one end of the linger piece constituting a portion of the clip at said fulcrum, said finger piece being adapted upon digital actuation, to rock the clip about the region of its fulcrum, whereby to separate the snap connection elements to release the slat end from the clip.

8. As an article of manufacture, an end-supporting member for a Venetian blind slat in a blind of removable slat type, said member comprising a plate portion normally lying parallel and adjacent tothe slat end, a pair of hooks on opposite margins of the member adapted for engagement with opposite tilting and supporting tapes, an element of a snap fastener provided on the supporting member, a complemental snap fastener element provided on the adjacent slat end, and a le'ver extension on said supporting member, said lever extension being extended outwardly away from the slot, said supporting member having a transverse portion located on one side of the snap fastener and connected to said lever extension, said transverse portion constituting a fulcrum, said lever extension being adapted when the member is assembied to a slat end, to enable a rocking movement of said member for breaking the connection afforded by the said snap fastener and thereby releasing the slat end.

9. The combination and arrangement` of elements as recited by claim 8, but further characterized by the provision of an elongate cord route depthwise through the supporting member in a location displaced from the slat end, and adapted, when the member is in assembly, to receive a blind-lifting cord through the cord route.

10. In a Venetian blind assembly, a plurality of spaced slats, lift cords, a pair of tilting tapes located at each extreme end of the slat assembly, the slats each being provided at each its ends and just inwardly of its extreme end margins, with a pair of spring snap pins, a folded cover embracing the end of the Slat, one folded portion of which overlies the head of the slat pins, and the other of which being apertured to receive the shanks of the pins, underlies the slat end, a clip located at each extreme end of each slat, each said clip being formed of a metal plate shaped between its opposite side margins to correspond substantially to the transverse section of the slat, the clip being provided somewhat inwardly of each of its opposite ends with a hook portion, each of the adjacent tilting tapes being provided along its inner surface with a series of loops of suspension type spaced along the tape correspondingly to the normal spacing of the blind slats, the clip at each slat end having its hooks interengaging a pair of opposite loops of the tilting tapes, each of said clips further being provided with an elongate slot for the reception of a blind-lift cord, each clip being further provided with a pair of snap-pinrec'eiving apertures, a leverage tab on each clip, extended distinctly out of the plane of that portion of the clip on which the slat end is seated, the leverage tab adapted to be manually engaged to facilitate rocking of the clip about an axis transverse to the adjacent slat, said axis being defined by a transverse portion of the clip at one side of said apertures, said transverse portion realizes a fulcrum and bears against the folded cover of said Slat, for release of the snap pins from the said apertures therefor, with consequent release of the slat from the adjacent clip, tapes and cord.

11. In a Venetian blind assembly, a plurality of spaced slats, lift cords, a pair of tilting tapes located at each extreme end of the slat assembly, the slats each being formed of a thin sheet material and characterized by a substantial transverse curvature, each slat being provided at each of its ends and just inwardly of its extreme end margins, with a pair of spring snap pins, a Slat-reinforcing cover overlying the snap pins and embracing the end region of the slat, a clip located at each extreme end of each slat, each said clip being formed of a metal plate shaped between its opposite side margins to correspond substantially to the transverse section of the slat, the clip being provided somewhat inwardly of each of its opposite ends with a hook portion, each of the adjacent tilting tapes being provided along its inner surface with a series of loops spaced along the tape correspondingly to the normal spacing of the blind slats, each of said loops being of a folded form, the overfoldcd portions of which provides an eye, and the adjacent otherwise free end portions of each loop being secured together to the tape so as to constitute a suspension tab, the clip at each slat end having its hooks detachably interengaging a pair of opposite loops of the tilting tapes so as to permit free rockable movement of the clip, each of said clips further being provided in the region of its said hooks, but inwardly thereof, with an elongate slot for the reception of a blindlift cord, each clip being further provided with a pair of snap-pin-receiving apertures spaced from said cord slot in a direction endwise of the associated slat, and formed to provide a pin-guiding, funnel-like depression in the region of each of said apertures, a leverage tab on each clip, extended distinctly out of the plane of that portion of the clip on which the slat end is seated, the leverage tab adapted to be manually engaged to facilitate rocking of the clip about an axis transverse to the adjacent slat, said axis being defined by a portion of the clip located at one side of said apertures, for release of the snap pins from the said apertures therefor, with consequent release of the slat from the adjacent clip, tapes and cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,052,379 Brent Aug. 25, 1936 2,072,464 Nisenson Mar. 2, 1937 2,317,660 Williams Apr. 27, 1943 2,381,060 Kahn Aug. 7, 1945 2,387,419 Thexton Oct. 23, 1945 2,393,819 Smith Jan. 29, 1946 2,405,255 Horton Aug. 6, 1946 2,405,579 Hunter Aug. 13, 1946

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