US3092174A - Roller blind for curved windows and the like - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1963 Filed Feb. 3, 1960 s. P. WINN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE! LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 4, 1963 s. P. WINN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 3, 1960 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 4, 1963 s. P. WlNN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 3, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J1me 1963 s. P. WlNN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 5, 1960 5 SheetsSheet 4 E j I! \x June 4, 1963 Filed Feb. 5, 1960 s. P. WINN 3,092,174

ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I United States Patent 3,092,174 ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Stanley Pearson Winn, Torrens Park, South Australia, Australia Filed Feb. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 6,539 Claims priority, application Australia Feb. 6, 1959 Claims. (Cl. 160-262) This invention relates to a roller blind for curved windows and the like and in particular it relates to a roller blind of a type which would be suitable for shading the upper portion of a curved wind-shield of a motor vehicle.

It is known to prevent .glare in motor vehicles by the use of accessories which are commonly known as sun vizors, these being fitted to the outer portion of a vehicle above the windshield. However, these are usually of a fixed nature and are not adaptable to the varying conditions under which the vehicle is driven. They interfere with the streamlining of a vehicle, and sometimes give rise to wind noise.

It is the main object of this invention to disclose a means whereby a roller blind may be used for the purpose of shading around a curved windshield, and if desired for some distance back at both ends of the windshield. One of the major problems associated with attempting to operate a roller blind around a curve is that there tends to be excessive lost motion between one end of the operating roller and the other, whether the operating roller is made from a plurality of contiguous parts or a single flexible member. It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a means whereby operation at one end of the roller of a curved blind will cause a similar operation at the other end without the lost motion being so great that the blind hangs in an unsightly fashion with one end noticeably lower than the other. A further object of this invention is to provide a means whereby a flexible blind is prevented from sideways or front and rear swaying to an excessive degree.

In its simplest form, a roller blind according to this invention comprises a curved shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported end to end on said shaft a parallel tongue on each roller slidably and tiltably engaging a wedge-shaped slot in an adjacent roller with an interference fit a blind of flexible sheet material engaging said rollers and means to rotate said rollers whereby said bland may alternatively be raised or lowered.

For the invention to be more clearly understood, it will be described in some detail with reference to an embodiment which is illustrated in the accompany drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a sectioned perspective view showing a blind in the partly drawn position,

FIG. '2 is a perspective view of a flexible sheet material after sewing,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of interconnected rollers,

FIG. 4 shows an alternative to the rollers described in the embodiment,

FIG. 5 is a partly sectioned view of one end of the blind,

'FIG. 6 shows an alternative elevating device, and

FIG. 7 shows a further alternative elevating device.

According to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5, a shaft 1 of about one-quarter 3,092,174 Patented June 4, 1963 inch diameter steel is shaped to the shape of the blind and set into a position from which the blind may be suspended. The material 2 for the blind 3 is of a flexible nature, and I have found that a. very suitable material is a pre-shrunk knit nylon coated with polyvinyl chloride, such a material possessing the desired life characteristics and the desired flexibility. Alternatively, terylene polyester fibre material may be substituted for the nylon material, and similarly coated with polyvinyl chloride.

A series of rollers is fed on to the curved shaft 1, the ends of each of the rollers 5 being shaped so that they interlock directly with the adjacent rollers. These rollers 5 are arranged with a central hole 6 somewhat larger in diameter than the shaft 1 to accommodate any curvature in the shaft 1. One end of each roller 5 has walls which, as shown in FIGURE 3, are symmetrical about a diametral plane but converge toward the end of the roller 5 to thereby define a radially extending slot 7 with a narrow mouth 8, but widening towards the base 9 of the slot 7, while the other end of the roller 5 is provided with a parallel sided tongue 10, the width of which is slightly greater than the width of the mouth 8 of the slot 7 so that when one roller is placed into engagement with an adjacent roller, there is aninterference fit which is accommodated by the resilience of walls of the roller itself, the roller being made from high density polyethylene or polystyrene. Since the fit is an interference fit, it will be seen that any movement at all which is imparted to one roller to cause it to rotate will correspondingly rotate the next adjacent roller, and since the outwardly projecting tongue has parallel sides, it will be seen that the rollers may rotate about intersecting axes by sliding of the tongue within the slot for relative displacement in one plane or by tilting of the tongue within the slot for relative displacement of tongue and groove in a second plane normal to the first. This arrangement enables the interlocked rollers to negotiate corners of short radii. An alternative arrangement is to produce the rollers 11 as shown in FIG. 4 with identical slots 12 at each end, each slot 12 being of cruciform shape, and providing an interlocking member 13 arranged to fit between adjacent rollers 11, the interlock ing member 13 having outwardly projecting pins adapted to engage in the slots of two adjacent rollers 11 at the one time, but this arrangement is much less useful since it allows lost motion between adjacent rollers.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sheet of material 2 for the blind 3 afiter sewing, and occupying the same shape as when fitted to the vehicle. The upper edge 15 of the material 2 is folded over and sewn along the seam 16, the shape of the seam 16 including a portion disposed close to the upper edge at the locality of the large radius portion of the curved shaft 1 and a portion disposed away from the upper edge at the localities of the short radii portions of the curved shaft 1, as shown in FIG. 2 to prevent uneven bunching as the blind is raised. The lower edge 17 is similarly folded and sewn along the seam 18. The upper edge 15 is fixed to the rollers 5 by means of cement, and is prevented from slipping intermediate its ends by means of the projections 20 on the rollers 5. The ends of the lower edge 17 engage over pins 21 on blocks 22, and eyelets 23 engage projections 24 to firmly secure the blind 3 (see FIG. 5).

Each of the two end rollers 5 interengages a cylindrical the spur wheels 42.

member 26 fitted with a steel tape 27 rolled around it, the'tapes 27 each being curved transversely, that is cambered, for the purpose of rigidity when extended, the free ends 28 of the steel tapes 27 being secured to the blocks 22.

These tapes greatly stabilise the blind against movement towards the drive or sideways movement as a vehicle travels round a corner. or lowered in any of a number of ways. According to this embodiment, a cord 30 is engaged around a drum 31, the drum 3-1 being provided with a series of notches (not shown) adapted to releasably engage a snubbing member 32 which is urged by means of a compression spring 33 into the notches. By operating either end of the cord 39 (which may be continuous or in two parts as shown in the drawings), the blind is alternatively raised or lowered.

A method alternative to the above embodiment which may be used to raise and lower the blind is shown in FIG. 6, where a handle 35 is coupled by a belt 36 to a bevel pinion 37 which engages a bevel gear 38, the arrangement otherwise being similar to that of FIG. 5. A still further variation is illustrated in FIG. 7, where a saddle 38 slides on runners 39 and 40, and in so sliding rotates the spiral shaft 41 which transmits a drive to rollers by 'No snubbing device is necessary when this arrangement is used.

Brackets 44 are adapted for securing to the roof rails of a vehicle, and these carry the ends of the shaft 1.

I claim:

1. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curved shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably supported end to end on said shaft, a tongue with parallel sides on one end of each roller and resilient Walls defining a slot in the other end of each roller, said resilient walls being disposed symmetrically about a diametral plane but converging toward the slot mouth whereby each said slot is tapered to be wider at the base than at the mouth, said tongues being engaged each within the mouth of the slot in an adjacent roller, each mouth being narrower in its unstressed condition than the tongue it receives, whereby each tongue will be disposed within its corresponding slot with an interference fit thereby deflecting said resilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base of each slot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged therein and the ends of adjacent rollers being spaced away from each other whereby the tongues are both slidable and tiltable Within their engaging slots, a blind of flexible sheet material engaging said rollers, and means to rotate said rollers whereby said blind may alternatively be raised or lowered.

2. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curved shaft, a pair of brackets supporting the ends of said curved shaft, a plurality of rollers interconnected end to end on said shaft, each said roller being rotatable on said shaft, each said roller being formed with an outstanding tongue with parallel sides on one end, resilient walls on the other end of each said roller defining a slot therein, the walls of said slot tapering from a narrow mouth to a wide base, each tongue being inserted in the slot of an adjacent roller, the mouth of each slot in its unstressed condition being narrower than the tongue it receives, whereby each tongue has an interference fit in a slot thereby deflecting said resilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base of each slot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged therein and the ends of adjacent rollers being spaced away from each other wherer by the tongues are both slidable and tiltable within their engaging. slots, a cylindrical member in each of said brackets, each cylindrical member being of larger diameter than the rollers and coupled to a roller for rotational drive, a pair of flexible steel tapes disposed on one each of said cylindrical members, a pair of blocks, each steel tape being of curved shape transversely of its length and en- The blind 3 may be raised 4 gaging a block at its free end, a blind of flexible sheet material secured at its upper end to at least some of said rollers and secured at its lower end to said blocks, and means to raise and lower said blind.

3. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curved shaft, means supporting said curved shaft, a plurality of rollers connected end to end on said shaft, each said roller being rotatable on said shaft, each said roller being formed with an outstanding tongue with parallel sides on one end, resilient walls defining a slot in the other end of each said roller, the walls of said slot tapering from a narrow mouth to a wide base, each tongue being inserted in the slot of an adjacent roller, the mouth of each slot in its unstressed condition being narrower than the tongue it receives, whereby each tongue has an interference fit in a slot thereby deflecting said resilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base of each slot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged therein and the ends of adjacent rollers being spaced away from each other whereby the tongues are both slidable and tiltable within their engaging slots, a blind of flexible sheet material. secured at its upper end to some at least of said rollers, a drum coupled to said rollers for rotational drive, and an operating cord wound on said drum whereby said drum may be rotated in both directions thereby transmitting drive to said interconnected rollers to raise or lower said blind alternatively.

4. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curved shaft, a pair of brackets supporting the ends of said curved shaft, a plurality of rollers interconnected end to end on'said shaft, each said roller'being rotatable on said shaft; each said roller being formed with an outstanding tongue with parallel sides on one end, resilient walls defining a slot in the other end of each roller, the walls of said slot tapering from a narrow mouth to a wide base, each tongue being inserted in the slot of an adjacent roller, the mouth of each slot in its unstressed condition being narrower than the tongue it receives, whereby each tongue has an interference fit in a slot thereby deflecting said resilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base of each slot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged therein and the ends of adjacent rollers being spaced away from each other whereby the tongues are both slidable and tiltable within their engaging slots, a cylindrical member on each of said brackets, each cylindrical member being of larger diameter than the rollers and coupled to a roller for rotational drive, a 'pair of flexible steel tapes disposed one on each of said cylindrical members, a pair of blocks, each tape being of curved shape transversely of its length and engaging a block at its free end, a blind of flexible sheet material secured at its upper end to some at least of said rollers and secured at its lower end to said blocks, a drum in one of said brackets coupled to one of said cylindrical members for rotational drive, and an operating cord.

wound on said drum whereby said drum may be rotated in both directions thereby transmitting drive to said interconnected rollers to raise or lower said blind alternatively.

5. A roller blind for curved windows and the like comprising a curved shaft, a plurality of rollers supported end to end on said shaft, a tongue on'one end of each roller, the longitudinally extending walls of the tongue being parallel to each other, resilient walls defining a slot in the other end of each roller, said resilient walls being disposed symmetrically about a diametrial plane but converging toward the slot mouth whereby each slot is tapered to be wider at the base than at the month, said tongues being engaged each within themouth of the slot in an adjacent roller, each mouth being narrower in its unstressed condition than the tongue it receives, whereby each tongue will be disposed within its corresponding slot with an interference fit thereby deflecting said-resilient walls outwardly at the mouth of the slot, the base of each slot being spaced away from the end of the tongue engaged therein and the ends of the adjacent rollers being spaced away from each other whereby the tongues are both slidable and tiltable within their engaging slots, a lind of flexible sheet material engaging said rollers, means to rotate said rollers whereby said blind may alter- 5 natively be raised or lowered, a cylindrical member coupled to said rollers, and flexible steel tapes each secured at its free end to one end of the lower edge of said blind and secured at its other end to the curved surface of said cylindrical member, the flexible steel tapes being of curved 1O shape transversely of their length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lauer Mar. 6, Burrours Feb. 11, Warner Mar. 13, Poetsch Nov. 30, Schmiedeskamp Oct. 18, Peteler Oct. 31,

FOREIGN PATENTS France Apr. 10,

Claims (1)

1. A ROLLER BLIND FOR CURVED WINDOWS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING A CURVED SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF ROLLERS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED END TO END ON SAID SHAFT, A TONGUE WITH PARALLEL SIDES ON ONE END OF EACH ROLLER AND RESILIENT WALLS DEFINING A SLOT IN THE OTHER END OF EACH ROLLER, SAID RESILIENT WALLS BEING DISPOSED SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT A DIAMETRAL PLANE BUT CONVERGING TOWARD THE SLOT MOUTH WHEREBY EACH SAID SLOT IS TAPERED TO BE WIDER AT THE BASE THAN AT THE MOUTH, SAID TONGUES BEING ENGAGED EACH WITHIN THE MOUTH OF THE SLOT IN AN ADJACENT ROLLER, EACH MOUTH BEING NARROWER IN ITS UNSTRESSED CONDITION THAN THE TONGUE IT RECEIVES, WHEREBY EACH TONGUE WILL BE DISPOSED WITHIN ITS CORRESPONDING SLOT WITH AN INTERFERENCE FIT THEREBY DEFLECTING SAID RESILIENT WALLS OUTWARDLY AT THE MOUTH OF THE SLOT, THE BASE OF EACH SLOT BEING SPACED AWAY FROM THE END OF THE TONGUE ENGAGED THEREIN AND THE ENDS OF ADJACENT ROLLERS BEING SPACED AWAY FROM EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE TONGUES ARE BOTH SLIDABLE AND TILTABLE WITHIN THEIR ENGAGING SLOTS, A BLIND OF FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL ENGAGING SAID ROLLERS, AND MEANS TO ROTATE SAID ROLLERS WHEREBY SAID BLIND MAY ALTERNATIVELY BE RAISED OR LOWERED.

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