IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VENETIAN BLINDS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Julius Boult at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th October 1883. A communication
from Jean Baptiste Querre of Toulouse in the Republic of France
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO VENETIAN BLINDS [a commu-
nication from Jean Baptiste Querre of Toulouse in the Republic of France]
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby venetian blinds may
be more readily raised and lowered and adjusted than could heretofore be done.
On the top bar or lath of a venetian blind there are mounted two pullies
supported by suitable brackets. Two double brackets support each two other
pullies. At the ends of the double brackets there are fixed the spindles or axles
which carry the top lath. Each spindle is furnished with a ring or bearing fixed
in the wall or in the uprights of the window frame. One of the double brackets
slides in the top lath to facilitate the fixing of the whole; this bracket may be
fixed in place by a pin or bolt.
In each of the pulleys first hereinbefore mentioned runs a chain of which one end
is fixed in the bottom lath, the chains then pass through each of the lathe of which
the blind consists and after passing over the aforesaid pulleys pass over pulleys in
the double supports or brackets. Upon the free end of each chain a counterweight
is hung, the two weights together are somewhat heavier than the blind so that,
unless counteracted, these weights pull the blind up. To pull the blind down a
very slight exertion of power will suffice and this may be exerted by a third chain
and weight suitably attached to the blind. This chain also passes over pulleys on
the double brackets of the top lath; a fourth chain also passes over suitable
pulleys; the third and fourth chain are connected and held by a ring to prevent
their trailing, the said ring also carries a hook which supports the counterweights
in their raised position when the blind is down; to raise the blind this ring and
hook are released. All the pulley brackets are furnished with suitable devices to
prevent the chains slipping off their pulleys. The laths forming the blind are so
arranged as to be adjustable so that more or less light will be admitted between
them. To this end a toothed segment is fixed on the underside of the top lath and
into this segment gears a worm on a spindle rotated by a cord a band a chain or
otherwise.
Dating the conindle the loths may be more or less inclined

page_text: The counterweights above described may be hidden by the panels forming the
sides of the window embrasure.
To prevent the blind beating against the window, say in windy weather rods or
bars forming a parallellogram are mounted at the sides of the window embrasure,
the top and bottom bars swivel on pins or studs so that the whole can close upon
the blind to hold the same fast. The parallellogramm or frame may be set by
means of a rack and toothed segment.
Instead of this arrangement boards, hinged together may be used for a like
purpose.
By making suitable openings in the window frame and passing the chains over
rollers therein the blind may be worked without requiring the window to be opened
where double windows are used.