Abstract: The safety apparatus for locking slatted roller shutters is disposed in a channel-shaped shutter rail provided on the side of the roller shutter and comprises a locking device, which is connected to one end of a shutter slat and pivoted to the end of a lower slat. The locking device consists of a chain, which with its lower end is indirectly or directly secured to said lower shutter slat and which has flat links, which have sharp-edged and/or pointed ends and which are pivoted on axes which extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the roller slats. When an upward pushing force is exerted on the roller shutter from below, the chain will automatically wedge itself between the two mutually opposite legs of the shutter rail. No locking action will be exerted on the roller shutter.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for retaining pleats in hanging draperies including an elongated flexible cord having a plurality of elongated resilient members fixedly secured at spaced locations along the cord, each member including a first mating section interconnected by a fold portion to a second mating section and a pointed end extending from one of the mating sections. A pointed end receiver extends from the other of the mating sections in a direction opposite the pointed end whereby the two mating sections are releasably locked together with the pointed end entering the receiver clamping a portion of one of the pleats of the hanging drapery therebetween. In this manner, each resilient member is secured to a pleat thereby retaining the drapery in a hanging position spacing one pleat from another.

Abstract: A suspension system for a venetian blind assembly having a plurality of slats. The suspension system includes slat supporting means for tiltably supporting individual slats with a pivot member connected to the ends of each slat support means. The pivot members are pivotally connected to hanger means which are in turn connected to fixed frame members. The hangers may be pivotally connected to the fixed frame members and may include spring means for urging a pivot member towards a fixed frame member.

Abstract: An infant security door gate is adapted for releasable disposition between opposed sides of a doorway and comprises upper and lower expansible support bars which are telescopingly adjustable to conform to the space between the sides and at the same time are spring-loaded so as to yieldingly engage the sides under spring tension at any adjusted position, and a pair of complementary slidably interfitting panels are arranged for adjustable disposition on separate telescoping portions of the support bars so as to follow the expansion and contraction of the support bars to substantially close the opening between opposite sides. The panels are characterized by being of corresponding construction and having complementary slidably interconnecting portions for ease of adjustment, or expansion and contraction, in following the telescoping movement of the support bars.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shading system in which the shade cord and the winding coil spring are coaxially arranged along a winding shaft or hub for the shade cord. Additionally, the pair of end supports supporting the shade or shade roller or tube are provided with a series of horizontally-extending slots so that the shading device can be arranged to hang in directions other than just straight down from the mounting shade tube.

Abstract: A telescoping drapery traverse rod is provided with a motor drive without sacrificing any of the simple consumer installation and adjustment features of conventional draw-cord operated traverse rods. It employes a positive-drive perforated-plastic tape and sprocket combination with the tape being releasably secured to the master carriers in a manner analogous to that of the conventional draw cord arrangement.

Abstract: A display panel, connectors and display panel system are disclosed in which the individual panels are provided with peripheral slots or channels which have resilient or frictional walls which grasp connectors and serve to join two adjacent panels. The connectors are provided with slot penetrating ends and are dimensioned to be gripped within the slots.

Abstract: A cord lock for mounting in the headrail channel of a venetian blind including a hollow structure seated on the bottom wall of the channel and having a lower opening for communication through the channel bottom wall, front and back shoulders externally on the hollow structure engaging upper regions of the headrail channel to retain the hollow structure in position in the channel, a cord guide in the hollow of said structure, and a jamming element movable in the hollow structure upwardly toward and downwardly away from the cord guide for jamming and releasing a lift cord between said guide and jamming element.

Abstract: A torque-adjusting device for twisting and untwisting a spring-motor built in a roller assembly is equipped with an easily operatable handle ring. The device includes a brake drum secured to a mounting bracket, a coil spring fitted on the brake drum, an intermediate disk disposed between the coil spring and the handle ring. The intermediate disk is integrally coupled with a stator to which one end of the spring-motor is fixed. The handle ring has an inner tongue inserted between the opposite projecting ends of the coil spring in a slit in the periphery of the disk with the result that the coil spring permits a rotational transmission from the handle ring to the stator but suppresses the counter transmission.

Abstract: A roller apparatus is provided for a flexible web such as a map, chart, window shade or the like which is provided on at least one free margin thereof with an elongated holder element of predetermined cross-sectional dimensions which are substantially greater than the thickness of the flexible webbing material. The roller apparatus comprises a rigid, elongated tubular roll for internally receiving the holder element and including in a peripheral wall thereof a longitudinal through slot of a cross-sectional dimension smaller than that of the holder element and greater than the thickness of the web. An end cap is non-rotatably attached to either end of the tubular roll.

Abstract: A venetian blind with a very low head channel and narrow slats, having a lift cord lock, a tilter, and cradles, all of which can simply be snapped in place in the head channel. The cord lock has an integral, one-piece sheet metal housing. The tilter has a plastic housing open at the top through which the gear and worm shaft can be introduced before being closed with a cover. The blind has drums forming plastic sleeves split to fit over the tilt rod and with slits for receiving barbed end portions of ladders for suspending the slats. The lower ends of the ladders and of the lift cord are fastened to the bottom rail of the blind by button-like plastic caps.

Abstract: A venetian blind structure having a plurality of tiltable slats and slat support means including a top pivotal bearing structure remote from and above the top slat and a bottom pivotal bearing structure remote from and below the bottom slat. The slat support means extend between and are connected to the top and bottom pivotal bearing structure which in turn are adapted to be fixed to top and bottom frame members of a window opening.

Abstract: A tilting roll and tilting roll assembly for the ladder means of a venetian blind for the ladder cord or tape of a venetian blind in which the roll which is rotatable within a base about the longitudinal axis of the roll includes a first pair of opening portions which are circumferentially spaced from one another, one cord or tape of the ladder passing over the top of the roll into engagement with one of the opening portions and the other tape or cord passing over the top of the roll from the other side and engaging the other opening portion. A second pair of opening portions is provided axially spaced from the first to enable the ladder tape or cord to be mounted on the opposite side of a lift cord.

Abstract: An improved door elevating system for use with a door having a plurality of horizontal door panels hinged together at their horizontal edges and guided at their vertical edges between a pair of guide rails. The system comprises means to displace the door along the guide rails and having a door lifting cable secured at one end to a bottom portion of the door and extending along a vertical edge of the door. An opposed end of the cable is wound on a rotatable drum rotatably supported in alignment with the vertical edge. The drum has an outer cable receiving surface on which the cable can be wound. The drum further has a vertical bearing side face and a free side face. The free side face faces inwardly of the door and a cable passage is provided inside the drum and has an exit port in the free side face whereby the opposed end of the cable exits. An adjustable fastening means is provided to secure the cable in the passage.

Abstract: In a ceiling grating of carrier girders two carrier girders are closely arranged next to one another so that a line channel is formed in between them. These two carrier girders are interconnected by means of runner-shaped coupling elements formed as plates having between their limbs a line channel.

Abstract: A device is provided for applying tensile forces to a flexible cord to draw the cord toward the device. The device has a base, a drive wheel rotatably mounted to the base and a pair of traction rollers within the plane of the drive wheel. The cord circumferentially engages the drive wheel and is urged against it in secure frictional engagement by the rollers. In a preferred embodiment, the rollers are carried at opposite ends of a connector link which is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the base. The cord extends around the drive wheel as a loop and two leads of the loop are guided outwardly from the wheel by the rollers. The rollers and the connecting link are arranged such that tensioning one lead of the rope by rotation of the drive wheel causes the corresponding roller to move away from the drive wheel, forcing the other roller and the other lead against the drive wheel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a security cover for an automobile storage compartment. The security cover includes a pair of longitudinally extending track members disposed along opposite sides and between opposite ends of the compartment to be covered. An elongated roller member extends between the track members. Means associated with the ends of the roller member effect a sliding engagement with a respective one of the track members. Flexible sheet material of generally rectangular outline is provided, such sheet material having a width substantially coextensive with the width of the compartment to be covered. Means are provided for connecting the sheet material to the roller member intermediate the opposite ends of the sheet material. A spring means causes rotation of the roller member to effect a rolling of the sheet material concentrically about the roller member. Means are provided for selectively maintaining the opposite ends of the sheet material near the opposite ends of the compartment.

Abstract: An insulation assembly comprising a retractable flexible panel member mounted on a roller element affixed within a conventional portal frame structure including a closure such as a window or door, a pair of side track elements and a lower track element disposed to selectively engage the peripheral edges of the flexible panel member when in the extended position so as to substantially seal the space between the flexible panel member and the closure from the interior of the enclosure.

Abstract: A magnetic actuating mechanism for a pivotal venetian blind assembly. The mechanism includes a linear movable operating element in the form of a split housing operatively connected by connection means to a hanger pivot member supporting a plurality of slats. The split housing forms two housing sections each having a magnet therein. The hanger pivot member has a body portion the length of which is equal to a slat width and a bearing section spaced from an end slat.