Black-out device

Feb. 16, 1943.

2,311,348

R. C. PETERS ETAL

BLACK-OUT DEVICE

Filed Jan. 7, 1942

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Patented Feb. 16, 1943

2,311,348

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,311,348

BLACK-OUT DEVICE

Raphael C. Peters, New York, and Renato Santone, Lar chmont, N. Y.

Application January 7, 1942, Serial No. 425,876

Claims. (Cl. 160—239)

This invention relates to black-out devices, the object of the invention being to provide a simple and inexpensive portable frame construction of light-weight opaque material which may be quickly placed in position within the frame of a window or door and is effective to prevent the passage of light, but which, without removal from the window or door frame, may be instantaneously operated to permit the passage of light during such periods when the necessity for black-out has passed.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying this specification,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a black-out device constructed in accordance with the present invention, the dotted lines indicating the open position of the side and end flanges;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the structure before the flanges are folded for insertion into the window frame; and

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 3—3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates a frame which may be made of cardboard or other suitable light-weight material, said frame being provided with top and bottom flanges 6 and 7 respectively and side flanges 8, all of said flanges being foldable at right angles to the frame whereby the frame may be placed within the opening of a window or door frame and secured in position by tacking or cementing said flanges to the window frame. The opening 9 formed between the frame members 5 is approximately of the same dimensions as the light-opening of the window or door in which it is to be installed.

The frame members 5 are formed of two layers of material, and, as shown in Fig. 3, one layer is offset or separated from the other for a part of its width as shown at 15, to provide a channel or guideway for receiving and guiding the edges of a curtain or shade 10 adapted to be moved vertically therein so as to close the opening between the frame members and prevent light from passing through the window or door opening. The frame may be made up of a strip of material of twice the required width folded over upon itself, a narrow dividing strip being Placed between the folded layers adjacent to the outer edge of the frame thereby to maintain the layers a sufficient distance apart to form a guideway for the shade as above stated, it being understood that the edges of the shade must extend sufficiently far between the strips of the frame to ensure that no light will pass.

As shown herein the shade 10 is mounted on a spring roller such as is commonly used in connection with ordinary window shades, the trunnions 11 of said roller being mounted for rotation in perforated end brackets 12 secured on the top flange 6 of the frame. A slit 13 is cut in the top cross member of the frame, said slit communicating with the end guideway or channel formed between the frame-forming strips, and the leading end of the shade is directed through said slit and channel with its side edges disposed in the channels formed between the side strips of the frame. By means of a pull cord 14 passing through an eyelet 16 in the lower cross member of the frame and attached at one end to the leading end of the shade the latter may be pulled down until its leading edge is sufficiently far within the cross channel between the lower end frame strips to prevent passage of light. The shade may be let up by giving the cord a quick short pull whereupon the spring roller will raise the shade in the well known manner.

In a simpler form of the device the shade roller may be omitted and cords attached at both ends of the shade for pulling it either up or down.

The operation of the device will be obvious from the foregoing description, it being understood that with a complete device such as that described installed in every window and door frame in a building the latter may be completely blacked out in the short space of time required for pulling all of the shades into position to cover the light-openings of the windows and doors. On the other hand, when the .-necessity for black-out has passed the shades can be moved out of the way in a few moments, leaving the light openings entirely unobstructed.

It is of course necessary that the device be snugly fitted within the permanent window and door frames. For that reason, while the device may be made up in all the standard sizes, it is proposed also to market the frame members in knock-down form, the frame-forming strips varying in length so that they may be cut to fit any special window or door opening, it being a very simple matter to cut the ends of the side and end members of the frame so as to provide overlapping portions which may be cemented together.