US3703920A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Venetian blind and installation
Assignee: Levolor Corp
•
Filing: 1970-01-28
•
Granted: 1972-11-28
•
Expires: 1990-01-28
Abstract
Abstract The front and rear sidepieces of the ladders are connected to front and rear horizontal runs of a tilt cord at eyelets which are spaced along the horizontal runs. The tilt and lift cords are connected to individual spool members of a cord-operating unit. The blind is adapted to be combined with a window having metal framing and, where the window has spaced glazings, the ladderand-slat assembly is adapted to be located between the glazings. The spool members of the operating unit are adapted to be located in a channel of the window framing.
Inventors
- 👤 Victor Debs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:12
CPC Classifications
E; E06; E06B; E06B9/00; E06B9/24; E06B9/26; E06B9/28; E06B9/30; E06B9/32; E06B9/326; E06B9/264; E06B9/303; E06B9/322; E06B2009/2643
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
194 words
A venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support, having the ladders connected to a tilt cord which extends horizontally adjacent to the support and is shifted lengthwise of itself to tilt the slats, and having lift-cord means including lift cords which are shifted lengthwise of themselves to raise and lower the slats, the shifting of the tilt and lift cords being in response to rotation of tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members that are individual to the tilt and lift cords and to which the tilt and lift cords are operatively connected, and the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members being rotated by a common operator-wherein the improvement comprises: the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members having the tilt and lift cords fixedly attached thereto, the common operator being a hand-grasped rotatable-member that is in continuous torque-imparting relationship to both the tilt-cord spool-member and the lift-cord spool-member, the hand-grasped rotatable-member being continuously operable to afford full tilting of the slats, and a friction drive being operatively interposed between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member, the friction drive affording slippage between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member when the slats of the blind are fully tilted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
194 words
A venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support, having the ladders connected to a tilt cord which extends horizontally adjacent to the support and is shifted lengthwise of itself to tilt the slats, and having lift-cord means including lift cords which are shifted lengthwise of themselves to raise and lower the slats, the shifting of the tilt and lift cords being in response to rotation of tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members that are individual to the tilt and lift cords and to which the tilt and lift cords are operatively connected, and the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members being rotated by a common operator-wherein the improvement comprises: the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members having the tilt and lift cords fixedly attached thereto, the common operator being a hand-grasped rotatable-member that is in continuous torque-imparting relationship to both the tilt-cord spool-member and the lift-cord spool-member, the hand-grasped rotatable-member being continuously operable to afford full tilting of the slats, and a friction drive being operatively interposed between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member, the friction drive affording slippage between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member when the slats of the blind are fully tilted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A Venetian-blind as in claim 8 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: braking means which imposes a drag and obviates fortuitous lowering of the slats due to their weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
A Venetian-blind as in claim 8 wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the connection of the tilt cord to the tilt-cord spool-member being a connection in which a length of cord is secured to the spool member at an intermediate location along the functioning length of such cord, and the connection of the lift cords to the lift-cord spool-member being a connection in which a length of cord is secured to the spool member at the end of the functioning length of such cord.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A Venetian blind as in claim 1 in combination with a double-glazed window which has a framing channel that extends along an edge of the space between the glazings-wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the ladder-and-slat assembly is in the space between the glazings, and the two spool members are in the framing channel which extends along an edge of the space between the glazings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
A Venetian blind as in claim 1 in combination with a double-glazed window which has a framing channel that extends along an edge of the space between the glazings, the channel having a front wall which is generally parallel to the glazings-wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the ladder-and-slat assembly is in the space between the glazings, the two spool members are in the framing channel which extends along an edge of the space between the glazings, the two spool members are rotatable with a shaft which extends from in front wall of the framing channel, through the front wall of the framing channel, and to the spool members, and the common operator for the two spool members is attached to the portion of the shaft which is in front of the framing channel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination as in claim 5 in which the improvement additionally comprises: the two spool members are insertable through a hole in the front wall of the framing channel that extends along an edge of the space between the glazings, and the shaft is journalled in a block which is attached to the front wall of such framing channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
92 words
A Venetian blind as in claim 1 in combination with a double-glazed window which has a framing channel that extends along a vertical edge of the space between the glazings-wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the ladder-and-slat assembly is in the space between the glazings, there is braking means which imposes a drag upon the movement of the common operator and obviates fortuitous lowering of the slats due to their weight, and the two spool members are in the framing channel which extends along a vertical edge of the space between the glazings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
A Venetian blind as in claim 1 in combination with a double-glazed window which has a framing channel that extends along a vertical edge of the space between the glazings, the framing-channel having a front wall which is generally parallel to the glazings-wherein the improvement additionally comprises: the ladder-and-slat assembly is in the space between the glazings, there is braking means which imposes a drag upon the movement of the common operator and obviates fortuitous lowering of the slats due to their weight, the two spool members are in the framing channel which extends along a vertical edge of the space between the glazings, the two spool members are rotatable with a shaft which extends from in front of the framing channel, through the front wall of the framing channel, and to the spool members, and the common operator is on the portion of the shaft which is in front of the framing channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as in claim 8 in which the improvement additionally comprises: the two spool members are insertable through a hole in the front wall of the framing channel that extends along a vertical edge of the space between the glazings, and the shaft is journalled in a block which is attached to the front wall of such framing channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support, having the ladders connected to a horizontal tilt cord which is shifted lengthwise of itself to tilt the slats, and having lift-cord means including lift cords which are shifted lengthwise of themselves to raise and lower the slats, the shifting of the tilt and lift cords being in response to rotation of tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members that are individual to the tilt and lift cords and to which the tilt and lift cords are operatively connected, and the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members being rotated by a common operator-wherein the improvement comprises: the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members being in nonslip relationship to the tilt and lift cords, the common operator being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to both of the spool members, a friction drive being operatively interposed between the common operator and the tilt-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the common operator and the tilt-cord spool-member when the slats of the blind are fully tilted, and a second friction drive being operatively interposed between the common operator and both of the spool members to afford slippage between the common operator and the lift-cord spool-member when the slats of the blind have been fully raised.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support, having the ladders connected to a horizontal tilt cord which is shifted lengthwise of itself to tilt the slats, and having lift-cord means including lift cords which are shifted lengthwise of themselves to raise and lower the slats, the shifting of the tilt and lift cords being in response to rotation of tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members that are individual to the tilt and lift cords and to which the tilt and lift cords are operatively connected, and the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members being rotated by a common operator-wherein the improvement comprises: the tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members being in nonslip relationship to the tilt and lift cords, the common operator being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to both of the spool members, a friction drive being operatively interposed between the common operator and the tilt-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the common operator and the tilt-cord spool-member when the slats of the blind are fully tilted, and a second friction drive being operatively interposed between the common operator and both of the spool members to afford slippage between the common operator and the lift-cord spool-member when the slats of the blind have been fully raised.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
104 words
A Venetian blind having a self-contained operating-unit that is remote from the head of the blind, said self-contained unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to the tilt-cord spool-member for tilting the slats of the blind, and the shaft also being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to the lift-cord spool-member for raising and lowering the slats of the blind, and a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
A Venetian blind having a self-contained operating-unit that is remote from the head of the blind, said self-contained unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to the tilt-cord spool-member for tilting the slats of the blind, and the shaft also being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to the lift-cord spool-member for raising and lowering the slats of the blind, and a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A Venetian blind as in claim 11 in which the operating unit additionally comprises: a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A Venetian blind as in claim 12 in which the operating unit additionally comprises: an operator for rotating the shaft, and a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the operator and the shaft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A Venetian-blind as in claim 11 in which the opeRating unit additionally comprises: braking means which imposes a drag upon rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing block.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
A Venetian blind as in claim 11 in which the operating unit additionally comprises: a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member, and braking means which imposes a drag upon the rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing block.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool-members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, and a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
112 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool-members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, and a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
112 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool-members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, cheek surfaces at the opposite ends of the lift-cord spool-member, and a projection extending from each cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool-members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, cheek surfaces at the opposite ends of the lift-cord spool-member, and a projection extending from each cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface, and a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
128 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface, and a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
143 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface, a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member, and braking means which imposes a drag upon rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing block.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
143 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: tilt-cord and lift-cord spool-members, a shaft for rotating these two spool-members, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to each of these spool members, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface, a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member, and braking means which imposes a drag upon rotation of the shaft relative to the bearing block.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
139 words
A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support, and having ladders connected to a tilt cord which extends horizontally at the top of the blind and is shifted lengthwise of itself to tilt the slats, the shifting of the tilt cord being in response to rotation of a tilt-cord spool-member to which the tilt cord is operatively connected, aNd the tilt-cord spool-member being remote from the top of the blind and being rotated by a hand-grasped rotatable-member --wherein the improvement comprises: the tilt-cord spool-member being in nonslip relationship to the tilt cord, the hand-grasped rotatable-member being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to the tilt-cord spool-member, and a friction drive being operatively interposed between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member when the slats are fully tilted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
139 words
A Venetian blind having a ladder-and-slat assembly suspended beneath a support, and having ladders connected to a tilt cord which extends horizontally at the top of the blind and is shifted lengthwise of itself to tilt the slats, the shifting of the tilt cord being in response to rotation of a tilt-cord spool-member to which the tilt cord is operatively connected, aNd the tilt-cord spool-member being remote from the top of the blind and being rotated by a hand-grasped rotatable-member --wherein the improvement comprises: the tilt-cord spool-member being in nonslip relationship to the tilt cord, the hand-grasped rotatable-member being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to the tilt-cord spool-member, and a friction drive being operatively interposed between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the tilt-cord spool-member when the slats are fully tilted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
115 words
A Venetian blind having a head and an operating unit remote from the head, the operating unit comprising the following elements all of which are remote from the head: a tilt-cord spool-member, a shaft for rotating the tilt-cord spool-member, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to such spool-member, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, and a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member when normal rotation of the tilt-cord spool-member is prevented.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
115 words
A Venetian blind having a head and an operating unit remote from the head, the operating unit comprising the following elements all of which are remote from the head: a tilt-cord spool-member, a shaft for rotating the tilt-cord spool-member, the shaft being in continuous torque-imparting relationship to such spool-member, a bearing block in which the shaft is journalled, said bearing block being adapted to be mounted on framing of, or associated with, the window at which the Venetian blind is mounted, and a friction drive which is operatively interposed between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the shaft and the tilt-cord spool-member when normal rotation of the tilt-cord spool-member is prevented.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: a lift-cord spool-member, a hand-grasped rotatable-member for rotating the lift-cord spool-member, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, and a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the check surface.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit comprising: a lift-cord spool-member, a hand-grasped rotatable-member for rotating the lift-cord spool-member, a cheek surface at an end of the lift-cord spool-member, and a projection extending from the cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the check surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
65 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit as in claim 22 wherein: there are cheek surfaces at the opposite ends of the lift-cord spool-member, and there is a projection extending from each cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
A Venetian blind having an operating unit as in claim 22 wherein: a friction drive is operatively interposed between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the lift-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the lift-cord spool-member when normal rotation of the lift-cord spool-member is prevented.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
99 words
A venetian blind having an operating unit as in claim 22 wherein: there are cheek surfaces at the opposite ends of the lift-cord spool-member, there is a projection extending from each cheek surface to strike cord being wound on the spool member when the cord is closely adjacent to the cheek surface and thereby inhibit the cord from piling up against the cheek surface, and a friction drive is operatively interposed between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the lift-cord spool-member to afford slippage between the hand-grasped rotatable-member and the lift-cord spool-member when normal rotation of the lift-cord spool-member is prevented.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3443624A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-28 | 1976-05-29 | 1976-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-28 | 1980-05-29 | 1980-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-28 | 1984-05-29 | 1984-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |