IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS, AND OTHER WINDOW BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE SAME
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Saunders and John Henry Miles, both of
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Brass Founders, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS, AND
OTHER WINDOW BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE
SAME."
Sealed the 29th August 1862, and dated the 28th May 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Saunders and John.
Henry Miles at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 28th May 1862.
We, HENRY SAUNDERS and JOHN HENRY MILES, both of Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Brass Founders, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS,
AND OTHER WINDOW BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE
SAME," to be as follows:-
Our Invention has for its object in the first place, the construction of the
blind, and the combination therewith of apparatus for raising and lowering the
same in such a manner as to admit of the several laths thereof being packed
together at the top instead of at the bottom as usual, thereby obviating the
inconvenience arising from the blocking out of light by the laths which have
been brought together at the bottom of the blind. For this purpose the

page_text: several laths are respectively connected to a chain at each end, such chains
being adapted to work in gear with a pair of corresponding toothed wheels by
the revolution of which the several links of the chains are in raising the blind
successively carried forward and packed together in an open box at each side
of the window, being guided into their respective places by means of fixed
guides. The said open boxes are suspended from fixed centres so as to admit
of their moving to the extent required to pack the chains, and we prefer to
move them by means of cams or tappets acting on tail pieces fixed thereto, and
to use counteracting springs, but this arrangement may be varied. The several
links of the chains are kept packed closely together, if required, by means of
small weights resting on the upper links. By thus packing the chains, the
laths connected thereto will become packed likewise. In lowering the blind
the several links of the chains are successively brought out of the boxes by the
revolution of the wheels in the contrary direction to that in which they were
turned for raising the blind. The laths of the blind are kept at any desired
'angle so as to admit more or less light by means of spring barrels with cords
fixed to tapes on each side of the blind, such cords being wound on to the
barrels on lowering the blind, and off them on raising the same. By this
means the several laths are kept in corresponding positions during the raising
or lowering of the blind.
In some cases and more particularly for outside and, heavy blinds, worms
and screws may be used for giving the required motions to the chains instead
of the ordinary cords, and the laths are set and maintained at any required
angle by means of a vertical screw working through a nut connected thereto.
Also in some cases, the required motions may be given to the chains by
means of vertical screws working through suitably, formed eyes in pieces con-
nected to the several laths.
Our Invention consists in the second place, in adapting and applying to
venetian blinds apparatus known by the name of "lazy-tongs," for the purpose
of causing the laths to approach nearer together gradually throughout the
blind when it is raised, instead of bringing the laths at the bottom of the blind
close together as usual.
And our Invention consists, in the last place, in fixing the raising and
lowering cord of venetian or other blinds, so as to run on a spindle inside a
tube on the end of the ordinary roller, for the purpose of allowing the blind to
extend to or nearly to the whole width of the window, instead of leaving the
usual space between the end of the blind, and the side of the window.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Saunders and John Henry Miles in the Great Seal
'Patent Office on the 27th November 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
SAUNDERS and JOHN HENRY MILES, both of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Brass Founders, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and graut unto us, the
said Henry Saunders and John Henry Miles, Her special license that we, the
said Henry Saunders and John Henry Miles, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry Saunders and John Henry
Miles, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS, AND OTHER WINDOW BLINDS, AND IN APPARATUS
FOR RAISING AND LOWERING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said Henry Saunders and John Henry Miles, by an instrument in
writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Henry Saunders and John Henry
Miles, 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, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say)-
Our Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Venetian Blinds,
and other Window Blinds, and in Apparatus for Raising and Lowering the
same," has for its object, in the first place, the construction of the blinds, and
the combination therewith of apparatus for raising and lowering the same in
such a manner as to admit of the several laths thereof being packed together

page_text: at the top instead of at the bottom as usual, thereby obviating the incon-
venience arising from the blocking out of light, by the laths which have been
brought together at the bottom of the blind. For this purpose the several
laths are respectively connected to a chain at each end, such chains being
adapted to work in gear with a pair of corresponding toothed wheels by the
revolution of which the several links of the chains in raising the blind, are
successively carried forward, and packed together in a suitable receptacle at
each side of the window, being guided into their respective places by means of
<guides which are in some cases fixed, and in others moveable on centres. By
thus packing the chains the laths will become packed likewise. In lowering
the blinds, the several links of the chains are successively brought out
of their receptacles, by the revolution of the wheels in the direction
contrary to that in which they were turned for raising the blind. The
-laths of the blind are kept at any desired angle, so as to admit more or
less light by means of spring barrels with cords fixed to tapes on each side of
the blind, such cords being wound on to the barrels on lowering the blinds,
and off them on raising the same. By this means the several laths are kept
in corresponding positions during the raising or lowering of the blind.
In some cases, and more particularly for outside and heavy blinds, worms
and screws may be used for giving the required motions to the chains insteail
of the ordinary cords, and the laths are set and maintained at any required
angle by means of a vertical screw working through a nut connected thereto.
Also in some cases the required motions may be given to the chains by
means of vertical screws working through suitably formed eyes in pieces fixed
or connected to the several laths.
Our Invention consists, in the second place, in adapting and applying to
venetian blinds, apparatus known by the name of "lazy tongs," for the purpose
of causing the laths to approach nearer together gradually throughout the
blind when it is raised, instead of bringing the laths at the bottom of the blind
close together as usual.
And our Invention consists in the last place in fixing the raising and
lowering cord of venetian or other blinds, so as to run on a spindle inside a
tube on the end of the ordinary roller for the purpose of allowing the blind to
extend to, or nearly to the whole width of the window, instead of leaving the
usual space between the end of the blind and the side of the window.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, we will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed, by
the aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the blinds
and apparatus for raising and lowering the same above referred to.

page_text: . Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a venetian blind with the raising and lower-
ing apparatus applied thereto. A, A, are the several laths, which may be
made of wood or other suitable material; B is a toothed chain fixed to each
end of the laths by being rivetted at L to a small plate or shoe Q, (shewn in
the detached Fig. 2), thereby connecting the several laths together; C is a
toothed wheel corresponding with the toothed chain B so as to gear therewith,
and there is another similar wheel on the reverse end of the spindle I, which
is intended to gear with the other chain B; D is a fixed guide for the chain
when working into the toothed wheel C; E, E, are brackets for supporting
the blind and apparatus; F, F, is a groove to guide and contain the chain B
when wound up by the wheel C; G is a pulley on the spindle I, and K is
another pulley at the bottom, round which pulleys the driving cord H is
passed, this cord is also passed through the end of the catch M, which fits into
the teeth of the ratchet wheel O on the end of the spindle I (shewn in dotted
lines), and kept in contact therewith by the spring N; S is a cornice polė
supported by the brackets E, E; J is a chain connected to each lath on the
outside close to the end, a hole being formed in the plate or shoe Q for the
purpose, as shewn at P, Fig. 2. This chain has fastened to it a cord, which
is passed round the roller K fixed to the pulley K. Fig. 2 shews a portion
of a lath full size, with two links of the chain B rivetted thereto. Fig.. 3.
shews the said links also full size.
The mode of raising the blind is as follows:-By pulling the driving cord H
the catch M is pulled out of contact with the ratchet wheel, and at the same
time the pulley G and toothed wheels C, C, are turned, thereby causing the
chains B, B, to rise and fold in the grooves F, F, and the laths A, A, to be
successively packed at the upper part of the window, the laths being kept at
any desired angle by means of the pulley and roller herein-after described with
reference to Figs. 8 and 9. In order to lower the blind, the cord H is moved
wheels C, C, are thereby caused to turn in the
the reverse way, and the
reverse direction.
:
Fig. 4 represents a blind similar to that in Fig. 1, except that in this case
the folding of the chains B, B, is effected by the wheels C, C, winding up the
chains to the suspended catches V, which yielding to the pressure of the
chains B, B, allow them to pass one link at a time, the catch being brought
back by the spring N directly the link has passed, in order to support the
chain as it is folded in the groove F, the chain then assuming the position
shewn by dotted lines. This blind, or any other of those herein described, may

page_text: be drawn up by one cord, which would wind round the pulley G by the blind
running down by its own weight, the bling being retained at any required
In all cases
beight by means of the ratchet catch M as in the former case.
too the pulley and roller at the lower part of the window may be dispensed
with, the cord being wound round a hook T in order to keep the laths A, A,
at any required angle.
Fig. 5 represents another arrangement of the apparatus. A, A, are the
laths as before; B is a link chain connected to each link by means of a pin J
passing through it, and the swivel-nut F at each end of the laths; C is a
screw passing through these swivel nuts, and held in its place by the frame I.
On the ends of the laths D is a fixed guide for the chain B to insure the
swivel.nut F being in the proper position to be acted upon by the screw C, so
as to draw up the laths in succession, and pack them as at X; E, E, are the
brackets to support the screws C, C; G, G, are two pulleys of the same size,
round which the cord L is passed. By means of these pulleys and cord, the
screws C, C, are turned, and the laths are raised and lowered as required.
The laths are kept at any required elevation by the apparatus herein-after
described with reference to Figs. 8 and 9.
In Fig. 6 is represented another mode of raising and lowering the laths.
herein-before referred to under the second head of our Invention, and con-
sisting of an adaptation and application to venetian blinds of the apparatus
known by the name of "lazy-tongs" shewn at B in the Figure. These "lazy-
tongs" are fitted at each side of the blind, and the several laths are connected
together by means of the small swivels G (shewn detached), which are passed
through the joints of the "lazy-tongs," and hooked into the laths at the
holes J, J. The blind is kept at any required height by pulling the cord
which passes through the laths at I, and gradually brings the laths together
until they arrive at the upper part of the window, when they are closed
together. The laths are raised by turning the top lath to the angle required,
which lath is supported by the tape F suspended from the roller E.
Fig. 7 represents another mode of raising and lowering the laths, being
similar to that represented in Fig. 1, except as regards the folding of the chain,
which in this instance is effected by means of tappets H, H, working against
the lever G, connected to the guide box F, and passing through the brackets E.
The guide box F being suspended from a pivot at M in the manner shewn,
allows the lever G to be worked to and fro in the slot N, thereby folding a
link of the toothed chain B at every motion of the lever, the links being kept
up as required by the fixed supports D and O. For heavy or outside blinds
we propose to use a screw K working into a tangent wheel J.
On the screw

page_text: K is fixed an arm L connected with the elevating chain on which the several
Jaths are fixed as in Fig. 1. When the screw K is turned round, the arm L
is caused to work up and down, and to carry with it the several laths which
are always kept at the required elevation. Fig. 8 is a section, and Fig. 9 a
side view of the apparatus herein-before referred to for retaining the laths at
any required angle, while the blinds are being raised or lowered. P is a box
with a toothed rack in it, screwed to the lower part of the window frame, in
which box is inserted a spindle L, which is widened at the inner end, and has
teeth formed thereon fitting those in the rack, the spring O serving to keep
them in gear. When the driving cord requires tightening it is necessary to
press the spindle L towards the rack P, by which means they will be forced
out of gear, and the spindle may be drawn down until the cord is of the re-
quired tightness, the spring O bringing the parts again into gear when the
pressure is withdrawn from the spindle. K is a pulley on the spindle L, with
a boss extending to nearly the whole length of the spindle, and carrying on its
end a plate N, in which are inserted two pins Q, Q, which fit into a series of
holes formed in the hollow roller M, on which is fixed the cord connected to
the laths. By this means a connection is formed between the pulley K and
the roller M, so that they will revolve together, and at the same speed. The
roller M is kept close up to the plate N by means of the spiral spring shewn
in Fig. 8. When the angle of the laths is required to be changed in order to
allow more or less light to enter the room, the roller M is pressed down the
boss, of the pulley K until the roller is released from the pins Q.. Q, when it
may be turned in either direction as required so as to tighten, or loosen
the, cord connected to the laths, and passed round the roller M, thereby
bringing the several laths to the angle required, the pulley K remaining in
the same position as before. On the pressure being withdrawn from the
roller M, the spring inside the same brings it again in contact with the
pins Q, Q, allowing the roller M and pulley K to revolve together as before,
the raising and lowering cord winding off and on to the roller M as the blinds
are respectively raised or lowered.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent the mode of fixing the raising and lowering cord
herein-before referred to under the last head of our Invention. Bis a roller
of wood or other suitable material, having on its end a socket C, with a
pivot D fixed in the bracket E. The pivot has a flange F connected to it for
the purpose of guiding the cord. On one end of the socket C is a flange H,
on the outer edge of which is formed ratchet teeth, and G is the ratchet
catch for retaining the blind at any required elevation. On pulling out the
raising and lowering cord A, the catch G is liberated from the ratchet

page_text: wheel H, thereby allowing the blind to fall, and at the same time wind the
cord on to the pivot D. The cord A also passing through the bracket E, is
.guided as required by the flange F, and is concealed in the inside by the
socket C, thereby losing none of the length of the roller, but allowing the
blind to be the whole width, or nearly the whole width of the window, and
forming a more complete screen from the sun light. The socket C is shewn
partly in section in order to exhibit the manner in which the cord is packed
therein.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
.manner the same is to be performed, we hereby declare that what we claim as
of our Invention is,―
First, the construction of blinds, and combination therewith of apparatus
for raising and lowering the same in such a manner as to admit of the several
laths being packed together at the top, instead of as usual at the bottom, as
herein-before described.
1 Secondly, the adaptation and application of the apparatus called "lazy-
tongs" to venetian blinds for the purpose described.
And, lastly, the application to blinds of apparatus, by means of which
the blinds may be nearly the whole width of the window as herein-before
described..
In witness whereof we, the said Henry Saunders and John Henry
Miles, have hereunto set our bands and seals, the Twenty-second day
of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-two.
Witness,
JOSHUA STUBBS,
17, Cardigan Street,
Metal Dealer.
HENRY SAUNDERS.
(L.S.)
JOHN HENRY MILES. (L.S.)