IM-: PROVEMENTS IN SHADES OR BLINDS FOR WINDOWS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Peattie, of the City and County` of'
Edinburgh, North Britain, Dentist, for the Invention of "IM-:
PROVEMENTS IN SHADES OR BLINDS FOR WINDOWS."
Sealed the 17th October 1872, and dated the 6th July 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Peattie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th July 1872.
I, DAVID PEATTIE, of the City and County of Edinburgh, North
Britain, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention.
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHADES' OR BLINDS FOR WINDOWS," to be as follows,,
that is to say :—
This said Invention substantially consists in forming the thin, narrow,
and angled louvre bars or lathes for shading or intercepting the light.
in or of window blinds of the Venitian and louvre class (whether they:
are movable or fixed in their frames, or hung and actuated by bands,.
cords, or chains, or otherwise as those constructed heretofore of wood,.
metal, or other material) wholly or mainly of glass.

page_text: And further, in so making the said bars or strips in a new or
improved manner, all as follows, so as to fulfil the purposes of such
window blinds in a more pleasing, serviceable, and better manner than
has heretofore been the case :—
First. In making the said glass bars of ordinary sheet clear or
coloured glass, either ground, "frosted," or etched plain over the
surface, or in figured or pattern devices, as at present made and used
for obscured window plate glass, or it may be of the ornamental,
stained, or coloured glass, or glass ornamented and coloured with
pigments, paints, or ornamental figured papers...
And further, and secondly, these glass bars may be formed, made,
or cut out of the said plain sheet glass of a uniform parallel thickness,
or rectangular in, cross section with the edges ground or rounded off
smooth; or otherwise. of a slightly lozenged or other equivalent shape
to make them thicker and stronger longitudinally in the centre,
especially when of the longer broader class without frames to carry
them at their ends. Or otherwise they may be formed with a longi-
tudinal strengthening rib on one or both sides, or have a hole or tube
up the middle part, or be made corrugated for the like reason of giving
them strength longitudinally without adding much to their weight,
and when made with the holes or tubes, bright hard drawn or rolled
metal wire, or other equivalent strengthening and elastic substance
may be passed through the holes to strengthen these glass bars.
When these glass bars are made to swivel in their frames on end
fulcrums or pivot pins, these may be either formed of glass on them,
or of glass, metal, or other equivalent, and inserted into holes bored
or otherwise formed in their ends which may be strengthened for the
purpose; or these swivelling pins may be formed or fixed on small
metallic clips or shields secured on checked or dovetailed parts at
their ends by cement, pins, or other equivalent, or these end moving
pins or shields may be formed or fixed on the rods passed through
the tubes in the glass bands, when these rods are used as described,
or in some cases these pins or pivots may be formed on their frames,
and moving, rods, and work in holes in the ends of the glass bars.
..When the new or improved bands or bars are very long, as for broad,
windows (to be hung by bands and cords to be actuated and raised
and lowered as ordinary Venitian blinds are), they may be made shorter

page_text: shape to make them thicker and stronger longitudinally in the centre,
especially when of the longer, broader class, without frames to carry
them at their ends; or, otherwise they may be formed with a longi-
tudinal strengthening rib on one or both sides, or have a hole or tube up
the middle part, or be made corrugated for the like reason of giving them
strength longitudinally, without adding much to their weight, and when
made with the holes or tubes, bright hard drawn or rolled. metal wire or
other equivalent strengthening and elastic substance may be passed
through the holes to strengthen these glass bars.
When these glass bars are made to swivel in their frames on end
fulcrums or pivot pins, these may be either formed of glass on them, or
of glass, metal, or other equivalent, and inserted into holes bored or
otherwise formed in their ends, which may be strengthened for the purpose,
or these swivelling pins may be formed or fixed on small metallic clips
or shields secured on checked or dovetailed parts at their ends by
cement, or other equivalent, or these end moving pins or shields
may
be formed or fixed on the rods passed through the tubes in the
glass bands when these rods are used as described; or in some cases
these pins or pivots may be fixed on their frames and moving rods, and
work in holes in the ends of the glass bars..
When the new or improved bands or bars are very long, as for broad
windows (to be hung by bands and cords to be actuated and raised and
lowered as ordinary Venetian blinds are), they may be made shorter, or
less than the whole width of the window or length of the bar, and only
form the central part of these and the blinds between the hanging cords,
where the flood of light mainly enters, and be attached to the end parts,
which may be formed of thin bars of wood or metal of the ordinary con-
struction, and made to hang the whole as usual by their cords and bands,
and the ends of the central glass parts may be fixed to their hanging
end parts by light metal clasps, or socket pieces secured by small screw
or clip pins passed through holes with a thickness or washer of india-
rubber or other soft substance interposed between the glass and the
metal or clip pins to prevent their breaking by their working and use.
In some cases it might also be advisable to roll up the Venetian blinds
so made (having the shade bars wholly or partially of glass) by their
hanging cords, bands, or chains passed over a roller, which would raise,
guide, and deposit them smoothly into a box or recess for their reception;

page_text: and lift and lower them therefrom, also without the possibility of their
whole weight being let go at once to jerk and break them, the actuating
roller being only able to turn when the catch was released, or when
turned by a swift screw and cord pulley motion, or other equivalent
mechanism.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I shall now
proceed more fully to describe the manner of performing the same by
reference to the several Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings,
which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing what I at
present believe to be the best modes and means or modifications and
arrangements for carrying it into effect or practice, the same reference
letters and numerals indicating the same or like parts in all the
Figures.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a front elevation and a horizontal
section of an ordinary two sash house window Z, shown as fitted with
two modifications or constructions and arrangements of my said
Invention or improvements. The first showing the new or improved
glass shade, leaves, or bars A applied to the ordinary folding sash, shade,
frames, and fittings a to ď¹ for the lower part of windows as Z, all as seen
particularly in the full size detailed views.
Figures 3 to 7, also of the acting parts, showing the modes and means
of fitting and working them and the new glass shade bars A.
While the second modification is shown as applied to shutter frames
atz, a, hinged vertically at z¹, so as to open into recesses on each side
of the window Zas ordinary shutters are, having the same letters of
reference to the working parts a to d¹, although the improved shade
bars A are in this case ranged and worked horizontally, all as further and
particularly shown in full size detailed views, Figures 8 to 11, and
additional letters d³, d¹¹, d³,
Figures 12 and 13 are an inside front elevation and horizontal section
of another ordinary house window fitted with an improved arrangement
of side shade shutters-22, 2", a, having the new or improved glass shade;
leaves, or bars A ranged and worked vertically, but otherwise con-
structed, actuated, and lettered as shown at z, z¹, a, Figures 1, 2, and 8
to 10; and also shown as fitted with another modification and appli-
cation of my said improvements with new glass shade bars A to Venetian
blinds X for such windows Z, Figure 14 being an edge view of the

page_text: improved Venetian blind X detached, and Figures 15 and. 16 are side
and edge views (to half full size with parts in the middle broken away),
of one of the glass shade leaves or bars A detached of the Venetian
blind X.
Figures 17 and 18 are a side view and an, end section respectively of
a single shade bar A, A', (detached with parts as broken away) for
Venetian blinds X, with only the central part A made of glass, and the
two end parts A' made of wood as usual.
Referring to the application of these improvements to sash frames a, a,
Figures 1 to 7, cach leaf a, a¹, of the frame a is hinged to a short
portable piece of wood at a¹ screwed to the "batten "Z' or side of the
main frame, in which the lower sash Z" of the window slides, having ·
the new glass shade bars A inserted and worked (all much as wood ones.
have been) vertically within the open spaces between the upper and
lower rails a", a², as seen in the transverse section, Figure 3, on the
swivel centre pivot pin b on their lower end B in a pivot hole in the
lower rail a² (with removable laths a³ at one side for their insertion and
removal, as seen also in Figure 4), and by the acting pins c on their top
'ends B¹ working in holes in the two thin oscillating laths a, ali
reciprocated on the lower or inner face of the rails a" by the action of
the thumb turn spindle d, and its turning boss d' at the point sunk in
the rail a¹¹ having two holes c", into which two long pins c³ in the upper
end B₁ of the centre bar at A' enter after passing through the laths a",
all so as to pass through both, and actuate the whole row of bars A, as.
shown in the side section and under face view of the top rail a", Figures 6
and 7, while two of the bars A, near each side at the top, in the-centre
between their pins c, have a long pin c¹ working in a hole in the centre
of the lower face of the rail a" (Figures 1 and 3), which keep the laths a¹¹¹
and the bars A all working in a vertical and parallel position.
The bars A are shown of a rectangular shape with the sharp-edges
ground off, as seen in end section Figure 5, and they have the light cap-
shaped shields or hollow ends B, B', made out of thin sheet brass or
other metal, forced tightly on to the lower and upper ends of the glass
bars A, having their swivelling and oscillating pins b, c, c, c¹¹, soldered
to the outer ends of these caps, as seen in Figures 3 and 5; but these
might be made slightly dovetailed and tightly pressed or cemented on
with a thin layer of india-rubber or shellac, or other cement, as shown in-

page_text: 1
,
edge and horizontal sections, Figure 5A. These ends; B, B', might be
rivetted or compressed on to the dovetailed ends after being slipped on,
as seen at B2, B", in Figures 3 and 5^; or the caps B, B₁, may be
dispensed with, and have holes with slight enlargements A² in the ends,
or along the whole length of the glass bars A, as seen in Figure 4ª,
either for the pins b, c, c', c¹¹, to be cemented into or for them to work
into when they were fixed in the rails a², a", and a as they might be;
or when the bars A are made with a central hole through them A" (as
shown in the section Figure A'), a metallic or other rod could be fixed
through it and form the lower pivot b, and have the pins c, c', formed on
a T head at the top, as seen in Figure 5³. The glass bars A, as shown in
these Figures 1 to 7, of the said sash shade frames a, a, are made of
plain ordinary colored sheet glass, blue and red alternately, and work
vertically; those of the shutter shade frames z, a, at the top of Figure 1,
are shown as made of the same plain flat colored glass, but of threc
colors, red, blue, and yellow; while those of the lower shutters are not
colored to represent them as made of plain; clear, sheet glass, ground or
otherwise dimmed on one side to obscure the light.
•
.
In Figure 1, these shutter bars A are shown as worked horizontally,
and in Figure 12, vertically, all substantially as described in reference to
Figures 3 to 7, except that a tilting lever d' is employed instead of the
turning thumb spindle d, all as seen, particularly in Figures 9, 10, and 11,
the lever d³ being formed in one with the turning boss d¹ working in the
slotted brass case d³, sunk from the back and screwed into the inner face
of the rail a of the shutter frame z, a, z, a, all so that when the knob
of the lever d³ is turned up or into the recess d" for it at one end and
back of the case d², it shuts up the bars A, and shades the light, as scen
in Figure 9; and to open them and let the light straight in or angled
downwards, the lever d³ is turned straight out or down towards the
notch d, respectively as seen in Figure 10.
Another mode and means of inserting and fixing the lower pivot pin b
of the bars A, is shown at Figure 8, consists of an eyelet 6" soldered to
the side of the brass cap B, so that the long portable pivot pin b' is
inserted through the eye 6", into a hole in the solid rail a², after each
bar A is put in position with its upper pins c, c², in their working holes,
when the head of the pin b' can be clasped round the eye b", with a pair
of pliers, and firmly secure the whole in their working position without
the necessity for the loose lath a³, herein-before referred to..

page_text: In the shutter shade frames z, a, in Figures 12 and 13, the new glass
shade bars A, are constructed, fitted, and arranged to work substantially
as those described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 9, 10, and 11, except that
they are ranged to work vertically the long way of the frames or:
leaves 2, a, A, and they are shown of plain, colored glass, red and blue:
alternately in the lower frames. When the new or improved glass
shade laths or bars A are required to be long, as for the shade lattice
shutters, a, shown in Figures 12 and 13, they might be made of any
of the shapes throughout their length, shown in cross section in Figures
A', A³, A³, A, A³, and A°, instead of being' made out of the flat sheet
glass, as shown and described in reference to Figures 1 to 11, which
would give them great longitudinal strength with the greatest possible
lightness; namely, as of flat plates bound at the edges, lozenge shape,
or having a rib or core in the centre, or corrugated, or curved; some of
which forms would also answer for the bars A of the Venetian class of
shade blinds (as shown at X, Figures 12, 13, and 14), as they would
lie into each other and take up little room, as indicated at Figures. A
and A'.
Referring to the application of my said improvements to the Venetian
class of shade blinds, and to the modification or arrangement shown at X,
in Figures 12, 13, and 14, the hanging frame h of the blind, and mode
of fixing it at top of window frame Z, as well as its three hanging bands i
and angle shifting cords i, and its lifting cords j and pulleys, are all
substantially fitted as usual, except that the angling cords may be fixed
by a simple friction or other catch, to hold them and the bars as set, and
for wide windows, as shown, I prefer to make the glass shade bars A in
two lengths of thin parallel slips of light flat or plate glass, bound and
strengthened all along and round the edges by a hollow bead or U shaped,
edging C of thin brass or other metal, soldered at the end corners, and
jointed by a hinge joint at the centre C', leaving an elongated transverse
slot in the middle between the hinges for the central lifting cord j to pass
up through, and at the two outer ends an elongated eyelet piece at C",
for the two lifting cords j at the ends to pass up through, all as shown
more particularly in the large details, Figures 15 and 16, and end section
Figure A'.
Instead of so jointing these long bars A, they may be made in. this
improved manner also with the central part A formied of glass, and the
ends of wood A' of the same thickness as the glass, and both bound along:

page_text: the edges and ends with sheet brass or other metal at C, this metal
binding or sheathing at the adjacent ends of both being soldered and
rivetted to make all into one rigid bar, with the holes in the wood part
near the metal joint for the two lifting cords j to pass through, all as
shown particularly in the detached Figures 17 and 18, but with a third
pair of tapes or cords in the centre, when preferred.
Although the new or improved glass shade laths, vancs, or bars A have
all been shown and described as for the movable leaves or bars of
hinged frames a, a, or shutters z, a, and for lifting Venetian blinds as X',
it is to be understood that they are also applicable for movable or
stationary frames with the shade bars set at a fixed angle in the same
manner that more common and cheap louvre or lattice barred windows
are, and although they have only been indicated as made of plain
dimmed or colored glass, it is to be understood that they may be
executed in every variety of colored and non-colored or etched orna-
mental designs used for other kinds of glass windows.
•
It is to be understood also that any of the improved arrangements or
applications of sashes, shutters, or blinds, with their new glass shade
bars A, herein described and shown, may be fitted. separately or jointly
in the same window, otherwise than as shown and described; that is, when
any one of the shutter arrangements is fitted to a window, it is not likely
that either the sash or the Venetian blind arrangement would also be
fitted to it, or vice versa, although in some cases persons might wish the
blind arrangement fitted to the same window with the sash arrangement,
although these are shown in different windows in the Drawings.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would now observe that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by, the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
.
First. The construction and use of window sashes, shutters, and blinds,
with glass leaves or bars for shading the light passing through these, all
substantially in the new or improved manner herein described and shown
in the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The application and use of plain and ornamental colored and
non-colored glass for the shade bars of window sashes, shutters, and

page_text: hanging blinds, whether movable or stationary, all substantially as herein
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Peattie, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two..
Witness,
JOHN THOMSON,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
DAVID PEATTIE.
(L.S.)