and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: and the like.
I THOMAS COATES of 33 New Walls Road, Totterdown in the city and county
of Bristol, Bookbinder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
or
This invention relates to certain improvements in blinds of the "Venetian
"Louvre" type and in means of operating same altogether or in part as required,
and has for its object to produce an inexpensive and efficient blind capable of being
wound up as an ordinary window blind when not required thereby dispensing with
"blinds and of being adjusted in
the hauling up apparatus of ordinary "Venetian
use to admit any desired amount of light.
The blind may be made of flexible fabric used for ordinary blinds divided.
transversely into strips of width required for any proposed situation. Each such
strip is seamed and into its top and bottom seam a rod of wood or metal wire
or tubing is inserted, and certain parts of the material cut away at suitable
intervals so as to leave parts of the said rods bare. Connecting strips of flexible
webbing are provided covering the parts cut away extending at back and front sides
for the vertical height of the whole number of transverse strips forming a completo
blind. The front webbing have loops through which the upper rod of each strip
is passed at the front side of the cut away parts thereby forming a hinge, and these
loops are spaced at suitable distance apart so that the strip may over lap each other
when hanging in normal position. The back webbing or webbings also has or have
similar loops engaging with the lower rods at the back side of the cut away parts.
All the transverse strips thus have a hinged attachment at their top and bottom
edges to the front and back vertical webbings respectively, and the top ends of all
the webbings are secured to an ordinary roller mounted in sockets, and provided
with any convenient means of rolling up the blind. A guide rod of suitable material
may be placed across the top of the blind aperture just below the roller and in front
of the blind, and the lower ends of the vertical webbings may carry hooks adapted
to catch on this rod and so prevent over winding.

page_text: To operate the blind or any part of it one or more spring or ordinary hooks having
their cords passed over pulleys to the usual fastening devices conveniently located may
be arranged permanently or suspended from the top of blind aperture. Thus a hook
being placed under any strip and its cord pulled, that strip and those below it will be
opened after the manner of "louvres" and may be set at any desired angle. The
strips may be stiffened if desired but such stiffening must not be sufficient to prevent
then rolling up properly.
000
J. C. CHAPMAN,
70, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Blinds for Windows, Doors,
and the like.
I THOMAS COATES, of 33 New Walls Road, Totterdown in the city and county of
Bristol, Bookbinder, 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:-
or
This invention relates to certain improvements in blinds of the "Venetian "
"Louvre" type and in means of operating same altogether or in part as required
and has for its object to produce an inexpensive and efficient blind capable of
being wound up as an ordinary window blind when not required, thereby dis-
pensing withthe hauling up apparatus of ordinary
Venetian blinds, and of being
adjusted in use to admit any desired amount of light.
I will describe my invention fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which similar letters are used to indicate similar parts.
"
In the figures the cords and other small arrangements are exaggerated to afford
greater distinctness.
The blind may be made of flexible fabric used for ordinary blinds such for example
as cloth, canvas, holland, silk, leather, thin oilcloth, card or paper.
2"
The construction is illustrated in figures 1, 2, and 3. The material to be used may
be made or divided transversely into strips a aa (hereinafter called "louvres ") of the
width required for any proposed situation. To each such louvre at its top and bottom
edge a stiffening rod of wood or metal wire or tubing is applied, preferably by
forming a seam or piping and inserting same, or by clamping a split rod on to the
material. The louvres are thus always maintained sufficiently straight and rigid in
the direction of their length though flexible in the direction of their height; they

page_text: may be stiffened if desired but such stiffening must not be sufficient to prevent them
rolling up properly. The louvres are connected together by a hinge attachment
which may be effected by vertical flexible webs, cords, wires, chains or the like
.connected to the said rods. In some cases it may be desirable to use for the purpose
a fabric of lace or other transparent medium but I prefer the method illustrated in
figures 1, 2, 3, and effected as follows:-Certain parts of the material of the louvre
as a' a¹ are cut away at suitable intervals so as to leave parts of the said rods » bare.
Connecting strips of flexible webbing are provided of such width as to cover the cut.
away parts a', and extending at back and front sides (that is the window or door side
and the room or passage side, the said back and front webbings being indicated by
the letters respectively) for the full vertical height of the whole number of
louvres a a forming a complete blind. As many such vertical connections or webs bƒ
may be used as are necessary to support the louvres, and thoy may be arranged
opposite to cach other as illustrated or not as most convenient. Both webbings b f
have loops upon them coinciding with the parts a cut away, and for the purpose
of our invention we make a special feature of weaving these loops in the substance of
the web as illustrated in figure 3, but they may be otherwise formed or fixed upon
the webbings. Through these loops the rods are passed so as to couple
together the louvres and webbings thereby forming a hinge. The loops are spaced at
suitable distance apart so that the louvres may overlap each other when hanging in
normal position. The loops bf¹ of the back or front webbing may be hinged to the
top or bottom rod of the louvre according as it is intended to incline the louvres-
towards the back or front when in normal position, and such position of the louvres
may be reversed if desired as hereinafter explained.
Blinds made as above described may be rolled up either from the top in the usual
manner or from the bottom as hereinafter described. An illustration of the former
method is shown in figures 4 to 7. The top ends of all the webbings bf, or that set of
webbings or from which the louvres are hung is or are secured to an ordinary.
blind roller R mounted in the usual manner in bearings and provided with a pulley
and lifting cord c, spring action or any convenient means of operating and securing
the blind when the blind is hanging in normal position the louvres are close together
and obstruct the light. A guide rod may advantageously be placed across the top of
the blind aperture just below the roller R and in front of the blind, and the lower
ends of the webbingsf may have hooks upon them adapted to catch on the said rod
and so prevent overwinding, and it is advantageous to weight lower parts of the
blind.
An arrangement for rolling the blinds up from the bottom is shown in figures 10
to 15. At the top all the webbings bf are fixed to the head piece h and at the bottom
to a roller R, or that set of webbings from which the louvres are hung may be attached
to the head piece and the other set to the bottom roller: By one arrangement the
roller is operated by cords cc having one end c¹ fixed to the head piece and descend-
and over suitable
ing round the bottom roller R over the webs or blind and thence up
single pulleys p p in the head piece h see figure 14. In order that one cord may
operate both cords c c, they are brought to the same end of the head piece and passed
over two single sheaves p¹ pl or one double sheave and joined together below the head
piece has in figure 14ª; or in order to save length of pull required they may be led
and fixed to a single large barrel p² figure 14 this being fast to a smaller barrel p³
and thus the motion may be multiplied in any desired degree; or any other suitable
speed multiplying gear may be applied. Or the same object may be effected by leading
a cord c wound upon a roller or pulley s fixed to the end or both ends of the bottom
roller R in the opposite direction to the roll of the blind up over a second pulley or
pulleys s at the head piece and thence to the operator. In either case the lower
roller R is rotated and raised or lowered simultaneously and the blind wound on or
unwound from it accordingly.
C
In order to adjust the louvres a a or any of them to the required angle for the
admission of light; in the case of blinds adapted to roll up from the top as described
in reference to figures 4 to 7, I apply such an arrangement as is best illustrated in

page_text: the same figures: 9. g. are catches upon a rod G placed on the louvre overlap side of
the blind and adapted to slide in grooves preferably of the form shown formed in
the side frames or return ends of head piece h, and also to be part rotated therein :
About the end of rod G a lever or crank is attached and from it the louvre operating
-cord is led over the head pulley to the operator-two such cranks gg may be
applied and connected as clearly illustrated in figures 4, 5, and in the head plan 5".
By pulling cord the louvre catches are thrown outwards and engage with the
lower edge of any one of the upper louvres a further pulling of cord gradually
raises the said louvre a until it is horizontal, that is, fully open: All the louvres being
attached as hereinbefore described, the motion of this one operates similarly all those
below it. The louvres are fixable in any position by securing this cord in any usual
way. If the pulling motion be continued the louvres again approach one another, and
are finally reversed as in figure 7. This change of position is clearly illustrated on an
enlarged scale in figure 8 where the reference letters indicate the various parts
described and the positions are indicated respectively by the numbers 1, 2, 3. To close
the louvres the action is reversed.
The opening and closing of the louvres may also be effected by causing the louvre
catches 99 to engage with any upper louvre as before described and then securing the
louvre cord l. On the blind being gradually lowered this louvre is held stationary,
but all those below it swivel over and reverse if necessary and the blind cord e is
secured when the required angularity of louvre is obtained. The louvres are closed
by raising the blind.
Such an arrangement is illustrated in figure 6" where the louvre catch rod G and
catches gg are arranged pivotted upon the spindle of the blind roller R and a lever g
is fixed at one end thereof, a small spring g³ acts upon this lever g2 normally holding
the louvre catches y up clear of the blind and the louvre cord depends from the
lever g². To operate the louvres the cord is pulled causing the louvre catelies g to
engage with the lower edge of the louvre then opposite and on lowering the blind any
required angularity of louvres is obtained.
For adjusting the degree of opening of the louvres of blinds adapted to be rolled up
on a bottom roller as described in reference to figures 10 to 15 I adopt the method
illustrated in the same figures. The louvre cords are or may be attached to the vertical
webbings on their overlapping side at any convenient point and led over guide
pulleys in the head piece to the operator; thus by pulling cord 7 the louvres will
all be operated; or instead of permanent attachments metal hooks catches or equivalent
devices may be fixed to the end of the louvre cords so as to he attached to the webs or
louvres at any required point and thus any portion of the blind may be operated
without affecting the part above it.
Figures 16, 17 and 18 illustrate alternative arrangements for operating and adjusting
the louvres. In figures 16 and 17 this is effected by fixing the top ends of the webs b
respectively to each side of a roller or flat bar Q placed in or below the head piece h,
adapted to be partly rotated in either direction by means of cords arranged as
shown or passing over end rollers, and in figure 18 a stiff lath is substituted
suspended from the roller Q and similarly operated. Thus any required angularity
may be obtained.
The blinds may be made to roll up on either side of their rollers in relation to the
window and door and the louvre catches y may also be on either side.
In some cases the louvres may be made of material rigid in the direction of the
length but always flexible in the vertical direction.
Blinds constructed as above set forth may be fixed and operated in any position
vertical, horizontal or otherwise, suitable guides and pulleys being applied where
necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
cion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A louvre blind'adapted to be rolled upon and unrolled from a roller

page_text: 2. A louvre blind adapted to be rolled upon and unrolled from a roller and con-
structed substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3. The use with louvre blinds constructed as hereinbefore specified of connecting
webbings having loops woven in them for the purposes set forth.
4. In a roll up louvre blind such as above described and claimed the method of
constructing and connecting the louvres set forth in reference to figures 1, 2, 3.
5. A louvre blind adapted to be rolled and unrolled by the rotation of a top roller
or of a bottom roller substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
6. In roll up louvre blinds adapted to be operated as specified and claimed above,
the methods set forth for operating and adjusting the angularity of the louvres whether
the blind be operated by a top or bottom roller.
7. The specific devices described and illustrated in figures 4 to 7 and in figure 6ª
for operating and for adjusting the angularity of louvres of blinds constructed as
hereinbofore described and claimed.
8. The alternative methods of adjusting the angularity of the louvres of roll up
louvre blinds described in reference to figures 16, 17, 18.
J. C. CHAPMAN, Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.