Year: 1885

page_text: We, WILLIAM CHARLES MORTON of Coleshill and AUSTIN CHARLES HARDY of
Southam near Rugby both in the County of Warwick and both Officers Inland
Revenue do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in window blinds and has special
reference to those blinds known as "Venetian Blinds" and is intended to supersede
or to partly supersede the use of the broad tapes now in use and at the same
time to give greater facility for manipulating the blinds either as a whole or in
certain sections or parts and this without creating much noise.
The blinds may also be arranged for rapid removal from the window without
complication so that the greatest command is obtained of the window to either
admit a maximum or minimum or any interinediate shade of light.
Instead of using tapes upon which the laths are suspended we hang each lath
upon a centre or pivot which is attached to each end of each lath and which is
formed from sheet metal so as to readily fixed to wooden laths by two projecting
prongs which drive through the lath and clinch on the back side, two wings left at
the end are turned up to form a tube. This tube is formed around a pin having
an enlargement at its inner end to prevent it drawing outwards yet it will turn
freely and the outer end of the pin is formed at last into a bow by which the laths
are guided and controlled by the cords. These laths are carried by side metal or
other lattice folding frames or joints pivoted together in such a manner as to move
freely and arranged across each others centre and joining at the ends into alternate
metals. The blinds may be hung in sections or groups of say six or eight more or
less these sections being joined together by a separate or extra, outside frame the
centre pivots at the bottom and top of each section being long enough to go
through the extra frame thus joining the several sections and yet leaving perfect
freedom of action to each so that the several sections may be closed either inde-
pendently or conjointly and by this means the top section may be closed and the
under ones left open or the centre sections may be open and the top and bottom
closed thus avoiding unnecessary obstruction to the light. The edges of the laths
may be joined by narrow strips of tape or silk or other cord so as to make all the
laths move in certain inclinations together or stiffer connections may be used such
as lattice work or other jointed or flexible connections. The laths are thus hung
upon the end frames which may be of diamond or other shape and the pins finish

page_text: with loops or bows through which the cord or cords pass to control their action
but otherwise the laths are free to work upon the pins though they cannot draw
out because of the enlargement aforesaid. We can draw up and lower these blinds
in several ways which would be used according to the position size and quality of
the blinds. In case of three sections or groups of laths we could use three sets of
cords of different colors or terminations passing over three rows of pulleys at the
top. For instance the top section might be a white cord the second a red cord and
the bottom section a blue cord. We should join the cords from either side at the
point when the blind was fully lowered so that there would only be a single cord
to handle for each section.
Our pulleys may be placed above each section and the cord for the far side would
be carried across through a groove or tube in connection with or a part of cach
lath the ends of such tube may be made the carrying point thereof. Of course this
lath would be the bottom one of the section so that when the section above was
drawn up the cords for this would be hanging as though for another blind. We
have a means of clutching the cord at the bottom of each section by forming pro-
jections on the intermediate frames joining each section so that the cord is bent in
its course downwards and clutched by contact therewith. The cord is thus held
firmly by this clutch being held down by the simple weight of the blind and is
released when the pull comes directly on the section next below but as long as the
cords gives above which is the case until the upper sections are closed the lower
one remains open so that in this latter course the top sections are closed first and
the lower one last.
that
Phosphur, Bronze, Steel, Iron or other metal may be most conveniently pressed
or rolled into suitable sections for these laths and the pivots might be formed out
of the solid metal. The laths may be fluted at each edge or intermediately so.
when turned vertically the top and bottom flute of each lath would lock together
and then by turning over each end a pivoted or other locking bar the window
would be rendered thief proof or at any rate such metallic blinds would present n
formidable impediment to entrance as they could not be cut. Such laths are free
from the liability to bend and break at the holes which we do not require on account
of the pivoted ends.
These blinds may be hung upon upper brackets or frame with a slot at each end
of the said brackets or frame of such a length and height that when the blind has
been drawn up to the top of the window by still continuing to draw the winding
cord the whole of the blind is still lifted in the said grooves above the window and
quite away from obstructing the light. This part of our invention may be applied
to blinds of the present construction by a rearrangement of the top frame.
Dated this 14th day of October 1885

page_text: We WILLIAM CHARLES MORTON of Coleshill, and AUSTIN CHARLES HARDY of
Southam near Rugby both in the County of Warwick and both Officers Inland
Revenue, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:—
This invention has for its object improvements in window blinds and has special
reference to those blinds known as "Venetian Blinds," and is intended to supersede
or to partly supersede the use of the broad tapes now in use and at the same time
to give greater facility for manipulating the blinds either as a whole or in certain
sections or parts and this without creating much noise. The blinds may also be
arranged för rapid removal from the window without complication so that the
greatest command is obtained of the window to either admit a maximum or
minimum or any intermediate shade of light. Instead of using tapes upon which
the laths are suspended we hang each lath upon a centre or pivot which is attached
to each end of each lath and which is formed from sheet metal so as to be readily
fixed to wooden laths by two projecting prongs which drive through the lath and
clinch on the back side, two wings left at the end are turned up to form a tube.
This tube is formed around a pin having an enlargement at its inner end to prevent
it drawing outwards yet it will turn freely and the outer end of the pin is formed
at last into a bow by which the laths are guided and controlled by the cords.
These laths are carried by side metal or other lattice folding frames or joints
pivoted together in such a manner as to move freely and arranged across each others
centre and joining at the ends into alternate metals. The blinds may be hung in
sections or groups of say six or eight more or less these sections being joined together
by a separate or extra outside frame the centre pivots at the bottom and top of
each section being long enough to go through the extra frame thus joining the
several sections and yet leaving perfect freedom of action to each so that the
several sections may be closed either independently or conjointly and by this means
the top section may be closed and the under ones left open or the centre sections
may be open and the top and bottom closed thus avoiding unnecessary obstruction
to the light. The edges of the laths may be joined by narrow strips of tape or
silk or other cord so as to make all the laths move into certain inclinations together
or stiffer connections may be used as lattice work or other jointed or flexible
connections. The laths are thus hung upon the end frames which may be of
diamond or other shape and the pins finished with loops or bows through which
the cord or cords pass to control their action but other-wise the laths are free to
work upon the pins though they cannot draw out because of the enlargement
aforesaid.
We can draw up and lower these blinds in several ways which would be used
according to the position, size and quality of the blinds. In case of three sections
or groups of laths we could use three sets of cord of different colors or terminations

page_text: passing over three rows of pulleys at the top. For instance the top section might
be a white cord the second a red cord and the bottom section a blue cord.
We should join the cords from either side at the point when the blind was fully
lowered so that there would only be a single cord to handle for each section.
Our pulleys may be placed above each section and the cord for the far side would
be carried across through a groove or tube in connection with or a part of each
lath, the ends of such tube may be made the carrying point thereof. Of course
this lath would be the bottom one of the section so that when the section above
was drawn up the cords for this would be hanging as though for another blind.
We have a means of clutching the cord at the bottom of each section by forming
projections on the intermediate frames joining each section so that the cord is bent
in its course downwards and clutched by contact therewith. The cord is thus held
firmly by this clutch being held down by the simple weight of the blind and is
released when the pull comes directly on the section next below but as long as the
cord gives above which is the case until the upper sections are closed the lower one
remains open so that in the latter course the top sections are closed first and the
lower one last.
Phosphor, Bronze, Steel, Iron or other metal may be most conveniently pressed
or rolled into suitable sections for these laths and the pivots might be formed out
of the solid metal.
The laths may be fluted at each edge or intermediately so that when turned
vertically the top and bottom flute of each lath would lock together and then by
turning over each, end a pivoted or other locking bar the window would be
rendered thief-proof or at any rate such metallic blinds would present a formidable
impediment to entrance as they could not be cut. Such laths are free from the
liability to bend and break at the holes which we do not require on account of the
pivoted ends.
These blinds may be hung upon upper brackets or frame with a slot at each end
of the said brackets or frame of such a length and height that when the blind has
been drawn up to the top of the window by still continuing to draw the winding
cord the whole of the blind is still lifted into the said grooves above the window
and quite away from obstructing the light. This part of our invention may be
applied to blinds of the present construction by a rearrangement of the top frame.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice we have appended hereunto two sheets of drawings upon which we
have illustrated examples of the application of our invention and by the help of
which it will be quite easy for other applications to be adapted to the various
requirements which may arise in practice.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a window fitted with our new blind and having
the arrangement also by which the blind is converted into a shutter but turned
back the blind being partly raised.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same blind lowered to the bottom and closed
up and the shutter bar arrangement fastened over which will be hereafter more
fully explained.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the top right hand portion on larger scale of
Figure 1 and shews the blind with the top section drawn up and the lower section
down.
Figure 4 is a section through 1, 2 and shows the bracket P with slot p² for
allowing the blind to be drawn up clear of the glass line of the window.
Figure 5 is a side view of a portion of each section of the blind with the metal
lattice work for connecting the laths and shows the arrangement of joint for
connecting the two sections.
Figure 6 is a front view of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a part adaption of this invention to classes of Venetian blinds now
in use and
Figure 8 is a side view of the come blind as shown her Fimine 7

page_text: The laths A A A Figures 3 and 4 have at each end the pivots C which are formed
of two pieces of sheet-metal so as to be readily attached to the laths by the
projecting prongs c which are fixed on each side of the lath the other ends being
bent over to form the pivot C on which are threaded the pieces of metal B and D
which are pivoted together at B¹ and D¹ and form a folding lattice frame upon
which is placed the metal band E and the pivot C split and turned over to
secure the whole and the metal band or bow E bent over to form a bow for the
purpose of guiding the cords which operate upon each section of the blind.
In Figures 5 and 6 the lattice work is shown with the top portion closed and
the lower portion partially so. A A are the laths, B. B. and D. D. are the strips of
metal pivoted at B¹ D¹ and c' and fixed by the metal bows E which also guide the
cord H for the bottom section and the cord J for the top section. The joint of
the lattice work between the two sections is formed by having the half strips b²
and at the top of the lower section and the half strips at the bottom of the
upper section and so allowing them to work independently of each other. The
frame is kept vertically true by placing an additional thickness of metal at b³ and
a washer at 6 thereby keeping the strips B and D of the top section exactly over
those of the lower section.
There are two halfstrips at the top of the blind which are hung on the horizontal
bar K Figure 3 which slides in the slot p³ in the bracket P which is arranged to
be clear of the architrave W thus allowing the blind to be drawn up clear of the
window but on lowering the bar falls to its proper level at the bottom of the
bracket.
The cords of each section run up at each side of the blind and travel over pulleys
the two cords H, H¹ and J and J¹ being joined by the rings L and M which are
fastened at L' and M as per Figure 1 when the blind is drawn up to its full
extent. These cords may be of different colors for instance one cord may be red
and the other white and each section is shaded separately by means of the tape R
and R¹ and may be any number of sections. In Figure 2 the Blind is down to its
full extent and the rods N and O which are pivoted to the bracket P and P¹ at
top and at n¹ and o' at the bottom are turned over to press against the laths and
the two being secured together by the bar Q which by the aid of the belt q¹
forms a good thief proof shutter more particularly if the laths are metallic.
In Figures 7 and 8 part of our invention is applied to the present tape blinds
and is divided into two sections by means of the dual cords, H, J and H J which
are connected to a link of a small plate which is fixed to the bottom lath of each
section the plate having a hole for the cords of the other sections to pass through
and the whole blind may be drawn up clear of the window by the head being
placed a sufficient distance above. The sections may be separated by leaving the
tape connecting the sections loose and the addition of a short length of tape T
which would slip backwards and forwards over the link t¹.
I may have one section of our blind hung without taking the cord up to the top
but simply fix a small pulley upon the top lath of that section and run the cord
for the reverse side along the lath thereby obtaining facility to draw up that
portion without interfering with the cords of the other portions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st The improvements in blinds by which a chain of lattice work is placed at
ends of the laths in such a manner as to operate without the help of springs or
weights substantially as herein set forth.
2nd The improvements in blinds in which lattice work is used instead of tapes
with the break or breaks in their continuous run so as to enable the shading to be
done in sections substantially as herein set forth.

page_text: 3rd The improvements in blinds having the special, bracket or other equivalent
by which the blind is operated clear of. the window so as not to obstruct the light
in any degree substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
4th The improvements in blinds having the hinged bars O and N for turning
over the blinds by which they are converted into thief proof shutters substantially
as herein set forth.
5th The application of the bracket P and P¹ or its equivalent to existing blinds
with the sectional shading thereof substantially. as herein set forth.