Improvements in Devices for Holding Window Blinds.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Holding Window Blinds.
We, EDWARD Everett Piper, Bookkeeper, and GEORGE HENRY DAVIS
Clerk, both of No. 79, Free Street in the City of Portland and State of Maine,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to window blind sticks or curtain holders of that class
wherein the window blind stick contains a clamping device by which the window
blind is held in position against the tension of the spring.
In the window blind sticks of this class hitherto in use the ends of the stick were
provided with rubber tips which ran up and down in grooves in the sides of the
window casing, being pressed against the casing by means of a spring.
The difficulty with these window blind sticks was that the rubber tips were very
liable to stick in the grooves and so cause one side to bind. In this way the
rubber tips were liable to be withdrawn from the groove and the window blind
disarranged.
The object of our invention is to substitute for the rubber tip a friction wheel
which will travel in the groove and which, while holding the window blind with
great firmness will allow it to run freely up and down.
on
We illustrate our invention by means of the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a part elevation and part section, of our improved window blind stick
of Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 is a view of one end taken transversely to that of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section on r of Fig. 1.
We prefer to construct our window blind stick of two hollow tubes A joined
together end wise by means of the open center piece B.
At the outer end of each of the tubes A we journal a truck or wheel D in
bearings which will permit of a limited amount of longitudinal motion. The wheels
as herein; shown are not journalled direct to the tubes A but to tubes C which are
adapted to fit in the ends of the tubes A.
Either construction may be used but we prefer that here given because it enables
us to remove the wheel when necessary.
The wheel is journalled between two ears c which are constructed on the end of
the tube C. The holes c' in which the wheels are journalled are here shown as
made oblong so that the wheel may have a limited motion as already stated
although this is not necessary. drepresents one of the journals of the wheel.
A spindle G extends through the tube C from the wheel into the center piece B,
its outer end being connected with a brake F which is adapted to press against the
wheel.
Within the tube C there is a spiral spring H which surrounds the spindle and
which acts to press the spindle outward and consequently to force the brake against
the wheel. Means are provided for retracting the wheels from the center of the
window blind stick as here shown.
The inner end of each of the spindles G is provided with a stirrup-shaped
extension I and pivoted within the center piece B is a cam or button J.
It is
The cam Jis pivoted in such a way as to pass through both of the extensions I
so that when it is turned in either direction both spindles will be retracted.
provided with a knob handle J¹ by which it is turned.
b is the web on the back side of the center piece B to which the cam J is
pivoted.
The wheel D may, if desired be made toothed or corrugated but we prefer to
PD .

page_text: construct it with a rubber tire d as herein shown this being less likely to slip than
any other construction that would be practical.
Other means may also be employed to retract the wheels.
The operation of our window blind stick is obvious from its construction.
The spring H presses the brake normally against the wheel and so keeps the
wheel D from slipping and the window blind which is represented in dotted lines,
from rolling up.
When the knob or handle J is turned, the brake is withdrawn and the wheels are
then free to revolve so that the window blind moves easily up and down without
danger of catching.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1-A window blind stick for retaining window shades in place, having journalled
on the end thereof a truck or wheel, said truck or wheel being pressed normally
against the window casing, a brake pressed normally against said truck or wheel
and means for releasing said brake, substantially as described.
2-A window blind stick for retaining window shades in position, having a truck
or wheel journalled in bearings in the end thereof, said bearings being adapted to
allow of a limited motion at right angles to the casing, a spring actuated brake for
checking the rotation of said wheel and at the same time forcing it against the
casing, substantially as described.
3-A window blind stick composed of two hollow tubes connected by an open
center piece, a truck or wheel journalled in bearings in the outer end of said tubes,
said bearings being adapted to allow of a limited motion at right angles to the
casing, a spindle extending through each of said tubes into said center piece the
outer end of each spindle being provided with a brake adapted to bear against one
of said wheels, a spring for forcing each spindle outward, and a cam or button
pivoted in said center piece so arranged as to retract the said spindles when turned,
substantially as described.
Dated this Ninth day of February 1893.
EDWARD EVERETT PIPER.
GEORGE HENRY DAVIS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.