Improved Apparatus applicable to Blinds.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus applicable to Blinds.
I, LEONARD GUNN, 4 Southampton Row, Holborn London W.C. Engineer, 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:-
My invention consists in improved apparatus for controlling and securing the
cords employed for raising and lowering Venetian and other blinds, its con-
struction and operation will be readily understood by reference to the drawing in
which :-
Fig. 1, is a front elevation, the outside cover of case being removed.
Fig. 2, is a plan, the top cover of case being removed.
Fig. 3, is a side elevation shewing the complete apparatus in position.
Fig. 4, is a plan of gripping rollers.
Fig. 5, is a plan of gripping rollers, one being fitted with rubber, which is
shewn in section.
Fig. 6, is.a front elevation of outer shoe.
Fig. 7, is an elevation of modification.
Fig. 8, is the cover for above.
Fig. 9, is a front elevation of outer shoe which grips by top flange.
Fig. 10 is a front elevation of cord gripping device for light. blinds.
Fig. 11, is a section on line A B Fig. 10.
In the drawing 1, 1", are the blind cords which pass through holes 2, carefully
rounded upon the upper and under side so as to avoid cutting the cord or cords.
3, is a bracket or shoe this is preferably stamped to the required shape from brass
or other suitable metal the sides 4 of the bracket or shoe are slightly tapered in
the upward direction. Screws or nails 5, pass through holes 6, drilled or other-
wise formed in the lugs 7, into the wood work of the window frame 17 thereby
making fast the bracket or shoe thereto. Arms 8, maintained in their relative
position by tubular distance pieces 8' are secured by means of pins, screws, or the
like 10, to the front and back of case 9, 91 pins or screws 10, also pass through
holes 12, drilled in each pulley 11, and the opposite end of the arms so that each
pulley is supported by a pair of the arms 8. The pulleys may be formed of hard
wood, such as box, or the like, or they may be made of metal, they are slightly
rounded on the face as see 13, Fig. 4, and a slight flange 121 is by preference
formed upon one of them which as a consequence forms a guide for the other and
prevents the cord 1, from getting out of the groove. Sometimes as in Fig. 5, it
is more convenient and conduces to more satisfactory working, if the face of one
or both pulleys is coated or covered with a rubber ring 13, see Fig. 5. The cord
or cords as the case may be pass between the grooves or between the rubber 'face
and groove, or the two rubber faces. A spring in the case of a single pulley or
springs 14, are secured to the bars 15, and press lightly upon the arms 8, so that
there is always a slight gripping action upon the cords. The pulleys are so
designed as that their peripheries project slightly beyond the limits of the
sides of the inner case, when removed from the shoe 3.
open
This case is tapered in the upward direction in the same way as the sides of the
shoe or bracket 4. A hook or ring 16 forms part of or is mounted upon the part
of the cover of the inner case for the purpose of withdrawing it from the bracket
or shoe.

page_text: :-
The operation of this first form of my invention is as follows:-
The bracket or shoe 3, is screwed nailed or otherwise fastened to or upon the
front or sides of the window frame 17. The cord 1, in the case of a single
pulley, or cords 1, 1", are then threaded through the hole or holes, 2, and between
the rubber faced or rounded faced pulley or pulleys 11, they may then be fastened
together in any convenient manner or as shewn in Fig. 34, this device consists of
two pieces of tube 22, 23, the inner 23 being split as at 24, and filed out near the
top holes are then drilled as at 25, the cords 1, 1ª, passed through and knotted,
single cord 1 is then passed through the flanged bottom of inner case, and the
outer case 22, slipped over. To raise or lower the blind the inner case is with-
drawn by means of the hook or ring 16, and the cord lengthened or shortened by
allowing it to run through the gripping pulleys 11, until the desired position of
the blind is obtained; it is then reinserted in the bracket or shoe the tapering
sides 4, of which close upon the peripheries of the projecting pulleys 11, forcing
the grooves together and thereby holding the cords fast.
a
- Figs. 6, 7, 8, shew a slightly modified form of my invention which is very
useful for light blinds having only one or two cords. A bracket 3 having tapering
sides 4, is secured as before described by screws or the like to the window frame.
An inner case 9, has closed sides 4' and to one or other of these sides as may be
most convenient are pivoted by a pin 10, passing through them and the lugs 17.
The arms 8, between which is mounted upon the pin 10, the pulley 11, which may
have either a plain groove or is rubber faced. Upon the side of the case in the
position shewn is riveted or otherwise fastened the rubber or leather pad 13' a
small pin 15 confines the rocking of the arms within required limits; the cord, or
cords, when more than one pulley is mounted in the case, pass through the rounded
hole or holes, between the face of the pulley and pad, and out through a much
wider hole 21 in the base. To raise or lower the blind the inner case 9, is removed
from the shoe 3, by means of the ring, hook or equivalent device 16. By pulling
the cord towards the left hand the grip of the pulley 11, is released upon the
cord or cords, the blind is now lowered to the desired position by allowing the
cord to run through. The inner case is next inserted in the shoe or bracket
the cord being slowly raised until the pulley 11 grips it between the curved or
rubber covered face and the pad.
A further modification of my invention is shewn in Figs. 9, 10, 11, it is more
particularly suited for confined positions or for cases in which it is desirable to
keep the cord as close to the frame as possible. It consists of a shoe 3, preferably
stamped out of metal such as brass and afterwards flanged or bent over at the
top by a press tool to the shape shewn at 20 this is screwed to the front or side of
the window frame in the manner already described. A piece of thin metal 9' is
preferably cast or bent over at the upper end so as to form a tube 18, at the
points 19, 191 a piece is cut away and in this is mounted upon a pin passing
through the tube two small pulleys or rollers 20¹. Two sets of holes of oval
shape 2 the edges of which are carefully rounded are formed as shewn. The
lower end of the metal piece is turned round as shewn at 21, and thereby replaces
the hook, and the sides 4¹ are turned up so as to fit the particular taper of the top
flange 20 of the shoe 3, as shewn see Fig. 11. To alter the position of the blind
the part 91, is removed or withdrawn from the shoe 3, and the cord or cords
permitted to run through until the blind is at the desired height, the piece is then
reinserted the tapering flanges, of the shoe bent over at the top as shewn, force
the piece 91, and the cord or cords behind it into close contact with the rubber
faced or plain metal back of the shoe 3.
It will be understood that although I have shewn my improvements as fitted
with two blind cords I do not confine myself to such number. In the case of
heavy blinds, 3, 4, or more cords may be required, the interacting parts of the
varying forms of my invention being increased decreased, or otherwise modified
to meet such altered conditions.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what [
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for controlling and securing the cords employed for operating
Venetian and other blinds the combination and use with a removeable inner case
containing the adjusting and gripping mechanism of a fixed outer case or shoe
having tapering sides which cause said mechanism to grip and secure the cord or
cords in the way and manner described.
2. In apparatus for controlling and securing the cords employed for raising and
lowering Venetian and other blinds, the combination and use of gripping pulleys
having plain or rubber covered faces the peripheries of which are forced
together by the tapering sides of the fixed independent bracket or shoe secured
to the window frame substantially as described and in the way and manner
set forth.
3. In apparatus for controlling and securing the cords employed for operating
Venetian and other blinds the combination of a plain or rubber faced pulley or
pulleys so mounted as to force the said cord or cords against a rubber pad or
equivalent surface secured to the walls of the inner case with the shoe for
retaining the apparatus described in position.
4. In apparatus for adjusting and securing in any desired position Venetian and
other blinds the combination of a fixed outer shoe having a tapering top flange
which thereby grips the removeable inner case and secures the cords in the way
and manner described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1895.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.