Improvements in Window Blinds, Part of which is Applicable to the Raising and Lowering of Windows. WITH FLAT HELICAL-SPRINGS LODGED IN THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE TUBE AND WITH FRICTION BOTTOM-RODS ON METALLIC GUIDES STOPPING THE BLIND AT ANY POSITION APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES., TRAM CARS ETC.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr.. 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Window Blinds, Part of which is Applicable to the
Raising and Lowering of Windows.
I JEAN BAPTISTE FONDU, manufacturer of Vilvorde (Belgium) and 34 Church Road,
Islington, London N. do hereby declare the nature of my invention for NEW SYSTEMS
OF RAISING THE BLINDS WITH FLAT HELICAL-SPRINGS LODGED IN THE WHOLE LENGTH
OF THE TUBE AND WITH FRICTION BOTTOM-RODS ON METALLIC GUIDES STOPPING
THE BLIND AT ANY POSITION APPLICABLE TO RAILWAY CARRIAGES., TRAM CARS ETC.
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The drawing shows the construction of this system at a natural scale.
The bracket 1 is fastened to the upper cross-bar of the frame and bears an end 2
to 2 in which a spindle 3 is introduced, the end of which is of conical shape in
order to guide the spring 4 in its torsion.
The end of this spring is fastened to the copper or other tube 2 by means of a
screw wich screw goes also in the piece of wood fixed in this tube. Upon the
latter freely turns a ring with a flange 5 on which the tube 6 is braized or soldered.
To the latter the upper part of the blind is fastened.
On the other end of this tube 6 is a ring with a flange 7 to which the other ond of
the flat spring 4" is fastened. This ring is fastened to the tube 6 by a "slot" 8 and
bears at its extremity a pivot 9 which turns in the bracket 10 attached to the upper part
of the frame.
It is easy to understand that in causing the tube 6 and the ring 7 to turn to which
the end of the spring 4" is fastened to the latter, this spring gives very easily as it has
all its liberty of torsion in the length of the tube, which allows a considerable unfold-
ing of the blind without wearing the spring.
This spring being enclosed hermetically in the tube braized or soldered to the rings,
is also sheltered froin corrosion and does not oxidize, contrary to what happens with all
the old systems.
The lower part of the blind is fastened to an oval tube 11 and is kept in its place by
threads stitched through the holes 12.
In this metallic tube is placed a wooden blind-rod 13 in order to give it the required
rigidity. This wooden rod 13 leaves at each end of the tube an empty space to
receive the spring 15 of the rubbing rod 14 and has a hole at its two extremities in
order to guide the "ends" of the rod 14' on which are placed spiral metallic springs 15
stopping on one side against the end of the wooden rod 13 and on the other side
against the rubbing-rod 14.
The result is that these two rods produce a steady pressure on the metallic guides 16
17 and thus offer a resistance to the raising-spring 4 so that the blind remains where
it is placed.
In the middle of the rod is a ring or piece of leather for lowering or raising the
blind.
Only a light pressure of the hand is consequently required to alter the position of
the blind.
The rods 16 & 17 are engaged in the brackets 17¹ and screwed in the brackets 1
10.
The guide sockets 18 & 19 braized or soldered to the tube 11 serve to maintain the
atter in a horizontal plane. If a softer working is desired we can apply to the ends
f these conductors right and left small rollers rolling against the rod and if a firmer
topping is desired small grooves 20 may be made in the rods, but it is not necessary,
ecause the friction is sufficient and it may still be increased, according to the strength
f the spiral metallic spring 15.

page_text: This system has immense advantages over everything invented up till now, seeing
that the lower part of the blind is guided by the rods, which also prevents the gusts of
wind from projecting it against the glass and breaking it.
Still more, this system avoids the employement of a rachet whith which the springs
are soonly deteriorated when the stop lever is rapidly lifted and the blind bluntly 5
raised up.
'
The blinds by counterweight have equally the inconvenience of mounting
or descending during the progress of the carriage.
Instead of placing the spring inside the tube 11, it might be put in the middle of
the guide 22 such as is described in Figure A. The spring 15 exerts pressure against
the end of the cover 23 screwed at the end of the tube 22.
Fig. B shows another kind of friction by means of an india rubber ring 24 instead of
the spiral metallic spring 15. The guide 18 would be cut out at the outside part in
order to allow the introduction of the ring 24 and of the friction rod 14. This
disposition can be applied to all the systems described.
Fig. C shows simply an india rubber ring 25 placed inside the guide 26.
Fig. D shows another guide 29 in the inside of wich are springs 30 & 31 which
effect their friction upon the rod 16.
All these systems have for principle the production of pressure on a guide rod round,
polygon or other form in section.
Fig. E shows the friction might be obtained by twisted rods 22.
The guide sockets 27 will therefore be made or cast according to the worm of the
rods 32 so as when the blind is raised or lowered they turn in the supports 28 & 281
and thus produce a pressure against one or the other of the shoulders, the friction
being regulated at liberty either by means of the springs 33 or nuts-screws regulators 34.
The two twisted rods might be united by a transverse axle, placed at their
lower or upper part and working by means of gear which control the raising or
the lowering of the rod 11 consequently of the blind.
This system of friction might be utilised advantageously for the stopping of the
glass frames of railway-carriages windows etc.
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 I
claim is :
1° My system of friction on metallic rods or others on the lower part of the
blind; whatever the kind of friction may be, considering that those I have explained
serves only as pattern.
For instance, instead of placing the spring inside the tube 11, it might be put in
the middle of the guide 22 such as is described in figure A. The spring 15 exerts
pressure against the end of the cover 23 screwed on the end of the tube 22.
Fig. B shows another kind of friction by means of an india rubber ring 24
instead of the spiral metallic spring 15. The guide 18 would be cut out at the
outside part in order to allow the introduction of the ring 24 and of the friction-
rod 14. This disposition can be applied to all the systems described.
•
Fig. shows simply an india-rubber ring 25 placed inside the guide 26.
Fig. D shows another conductor 29 in the inside of which are springs 30 & 31
which effect this friction upon the rod 16.
All these systems have for principle the production of pressure on a guide rod
square, round, hexagonal or any other form in section.
In complicating these systems the friction might be given by twisted rods 22
fig. E.
The guide sockets 27 will therefore be made or cast according to the worm of the
rods 32 so as when the blind is raised or lowered they turn in the supports 28 & 28
and thus produce a pressure against one or the other of the shoulders the friction
being regulated at liberty either by means of the springs 33 or nuts-screws
regulators 34.

page_text: These two twisted rods might be united by a transverse axle, placed at their lower or
upper part and working by means of gear which control the raising or the lowering of
the rod 11 consequently of the blind.
As I have said previously these plans serve only as patterns reserving to myself as
exclusive property every movement of friction upon or by vertical rods serving as guides
to the lower part of the blind as well as the flat spiral-spring, allowing an unfolding
which has not been obtained up till now.
This system of friction might be utilised advantageously for the stopping of the
glass-frames of railway-carriages windows etc.
The shapes and dimensions may vary at pleasure.
D1
11