IMPROVEMENTS IN VENETIAN BLINDS AND BLIND FITTINGS, AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY MAY BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Ambrose, of Holloway, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENETIAN
BLINDS AND BLIND FITTINGS, AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING THE SAME, PARTS
OF WHICH MACHINERY MAY BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st December 1866, and dated the 27th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Ambrose at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
June 1866.
I, EDWARD AMBROSE, of Holloway, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VENETIAN BLINDS AND BLIND FITTINGS, AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING THE SAME
PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY MAY BE USED FCR OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates in the first place to Venetian blinds, and has for its
object increased convenience in the use of such blinds and economy in their
manufacture by means of the machinery herein-after described. Instead of
suspending the blinds as usual from a fixed cross bar of wood, the top lath is
made stronger than the others, and is mounted on pivots, one at each end,
supported in brackets fixed at the sides of the window.
runners for the lifting cords will be fixed in the top of one
Price 8d1
The sheaves or
of the brackets,

page_text: and to the top of the window frame as required, instead of in the fixed top
bar as usual. In order to remove the unsightliness and inconvenience of an
accumulation of cord at the side of the window, more especially when the
blind is raised, a pulley block is employed through which the cords are
passed, which are also passed over the runners as many times as required;
to the block is fixed an ornamental piece of leather or other suitable materiāl
with holes in it to slip on to a fixed peg for the purpose of holding the blind
at any required elevation. The cord for opening and shutting the blind may
be fixed to two arms or projections on one of the pivots of the top lath, or
may be otherwise connected therewith. If preferred the top lath may be
suspended and pivoted in metal bearings fixed to the ordinary top bar or the
window frame. The tapes instead of being nailed to the upper side of the
top lath as usual are inserted in eye bolts or rings fixed to the lower side of
the same for the purpose of regulating the tension of the tapes as required
when the top lath is turned on its pivot or pivots, or the same effect may be
produced by nailing the tapes to the said lath in the usual way and passing
them round a metal band fixed on the under side of the lath.
My Invention relates in the second place to rollers for blinds, and consists
in making the roller so that the blind can be securely fixed to it without
nailing or sewing. For this purpose one plan is to form a groove in the
roller extending its whole length, and to insert the end of the blind in the
groove, then to fix the blind by means of a thin bar of zinc or other suitable
material, such bar being secured at both ends. Another plan is to make the
roller in two parts of nearly equal thickness, and fixing pins or spikes in the
thicker part, and forming corresponding holes in the other part. The end
of the blind is then placed between the two parts of the roller, which are
bound or clamped together, and the blind is held by the pins or spikes passing
through the cloth into the holes opposite to them.
My Invention consists in the third place in the adaptation and application
to ordinary blind rollers of a winding-up apparatus, composed of a cog wheel
mounted at the top of the window working into a pinion with a square axis
inserted in a socket in the end of the roller, such cog wheel having connected
with it a spring which is put in tension by the turning of the roller in lowering
the blind, but which on being released gives motion to the wheel and pinion
and raises the blind.
My Invention consists in the fourth place of an elastic holder for the shade
cord of Venetian blinds, composed of a piece of india-rubber connected at one
end to the window and at the other end to the cord. The machinery for making
Venetian blinds relates in the first place to mechanism for planing the two

page_text: faces and the two edges of a lath at one operation.
The machine for this
purpose consists of a frame or bench on which are mounted two planes or
cutters of the width of the lath arranged so as to be capable of operating on
the two opposite faces of the lath, and also two planes or cutters of a width
corresponding with the edges of the lath arranged so as to be capable of
acting on the said edges. Both pairs of planes or cutters are adjustable in
position in order to suit the thickness and width of the lath. The number of
sets of planes or cutters may be increased according to the number of shavings
required to be taken off; the laths are successively introduced endwise between
a pair of fluted or otherwise roughened rollers, by the action of which they
are forced through the machine between the stationary planes or cutters, being
received by another pair of smooth drawing rollers after leaving the planes or
cutters, and being thus conveyed out of the machine when planed.
The machinery above described may be adapted for shaping and planing
blind rollers at one operation; for this purpose the square or angular piece of
wood to form the roller is forced by the action of the rollers through a set of
stationary cutters in order to take off the corners and bring the wood to the
required section, and also through a second set or seis of stationary cutters in
order to plane the eight or other number of sides as required.
The machinery for making Venetian blinds, relates also to the operation of
painting the laths, and consists in the use of a box containing paint, into
which box the lath is introduced through a valve, and after passing along an
incline through the body of paint is passed through a pair of fixed guides or
scrapers, and also through a pair or pairs of fixed brushes, and is ultimately
withdrawn from the box at the top of the incline, this painting apparatus may
be applied to other uses besides that of Venetian blinds.
Another part of the machinery for making Venetian blinds relates to
apparatus for cutting the short. cross tapes on which the laths rest, and
consists of a pair of feeding rollers combined with a vertically reciprocating
cutter by which means tape as it is fed through the rollers is cut into the
required lengths; this cutting apparatus may also be applied to other
uses.
Another part of the said machinery relates to apparatus for marking the
broader vertical tapes to which the cross tapes above referred to are fastened,
so as to indicate the parts of the broad tape to which the ends of the cross
tapes are to be fastened. The apparatus for this purpose consists of a pair
of feeding rollers with marking pegs on the ends of the under roller, such pegs
being placed at such distance apart as is requisite for marking the tape at
the required points as it is carried forward through the rollers,

page_text: Another part of the said machinery relates to apparatus for punching holes
in the several laths for the passage of the lifting cords, and consists in the
use of punches fixed at the requisite distance apart in a bar which is
connected by means of a rod to a treadle fixed underneath the bench on which
the laths are successively placed, a spring or springs being fixed under the
punch bar in order to lift the punches as required. By this arrangement the
laths are placed in succession underneath the punch bar, which is brought
down by means of the treadle on to the lath, and is raised again by the spring
or springs after the operation of punching.
Another mode of punching the laths consists in the use of a punching lever
working on a fulcrum fixed to a horizontal bed on which the lath is supported.
For this purpose a piece of iron forming the bed is fixed to the bench, on
this bed are two fixed cheeks between which the lath is passed, and there is
an adjustable stop for regulating the distance the lath is to be passed beyond
the cheeks. When the lath is in its required position the lever is brought
down so as to force the punch through it at or near the position of the said
cheeks.
'
And, lastly, instead of scraping the laths by hand in the usual way when
required to be repainted they are passed between stationary adjustable
scrapers inserted in a bed on which the lath is supported during the operation
of scraping.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Ambrose in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
AMBROSE, of Holloway, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward Ambrose, Her special licence that I, the said Edward Ambrose,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Edward Ambrose, my 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 "IMPROVE

page_text: MENTS IN VENETIAN BLINDS AND BLIND FITTINGS. AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH MACHINERY MAY BE USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Ambrose, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, 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 I, the said Edward Ambrose, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the some is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Venetian Blinds and Blind Fittings, and
in Machinery for Making the same, Parts of which Machinery may be used for
other Purposes," relates in the first place to Venetian blinds, and has for its
object increased convenience in the use of such blinds and economy in their
manufacture by means of the machinery herein-after described. Instead of
suspending the blinds as usual from a fixed cross bar of wood, the top lath is
made stronger than the others, and is mounted on pivots, one at each end,
supported in brackets or sockets fixed at the sides of the window. The sheaves
or runners for the lifting cords will be fixed in the top of one of the brackets
or other bearings and to the top of the window frame as required, instead of
in the fixed top bar as usual. In order to remove the unsightliness and
inconvenience of an accumulation of cord at the side of the window, more
especially when the blind is raised, a pulley block is employed through which
the cords are passed, which are also passed over the runners as many times
as required. To the block is fixed an ornamental piece of leather or other
suitable material with holes in it to slip on to a fixed peg for the purpose of
holding the blind at any required elevation. The cord for opening and
shutting the blind may be fixed to two arms or projections on one of the
pivots of the top lath, or may be otherwise connected therewith. If preferred
the top lath may be suspended and pivotted in metal bearings fixed to the
ordinary top bar or the window frame. The tapes instead of being nailed to
the upper side of the top lath as usual are or may be inserted in eye bolts or
rings fixed to the lower side of the same for the purpose of regulating the
tension of the tapes as required when the top lath is turned on its pivot or
pivots, or the same effect may be produced by nailing the tapes to the said

page_text: lath in the usual way and passing them round a metal band fixed on the under
side of the lath.
My Invention relates, in the second place, to rollers for blinds, and consists
in making the roller so that the blind can be securely fixed to it without
nailing or sewing. For this purpose one plan is to form a groove in the
roller extending its whole length, and to insert the end of the blind in the
groove, then to fix the blind by means of a thin bar of zinc or other suitable
material, such bar being secured at both ends. Another plan is to make the
roller in two parts of nearly equal thickness, and fix pins or spikes in the
thicker part, and form corresponding holes in the other part. The end
of the blind is then placed between the two parts of the roller, which are
bound or clamped together, and the blind is held by the pins or spikes passing
through the cloth into the holes opposite to them.
My Invention consists, in the third place, in the adaptation and application
to ordinary blind rollers of a winding-up apparatus, composed of a cog wheel
mounted at the top of the window working into a pinion with a square axis
inserted in a socket in the end of the roller, such cog wheel having connected
with it a spring which is put in tension by the turning of the roller in lowering
the blind, but which on being released gives motion to the wheel and pinion
and raises the blind.
My Invention consists, in the fourth place, of an elastic holder for the shade
cord of Venetian blinds, composed of a piece of india-rubber connected at onc
end to the window and at the other end to the cord. The machinery for making
Venetian blinds relates, in the first place, to mechanism for planing either one
face or the two faces and the two edges of a lath at one operation. The
machine for this purpose consists of a frame or bench on which are mounted
either one or two planes or cutters of the width of the lath, arranged so as to
be capable of operating on either one face or the two opposite faces of the
lath, and also two planes or cutters adapted for planing the edges of the lath,
arranged so as to be capable of acting on the said edges. All the said planes
or cutters are adjustable in position in order to suit the thickness and width
of the lath. The number of sets of planes or cutters may be increased, or
the lath may be repeatedly passed through the machine according to the
number of shavings required to be taken off. The laths are successively
introduced endwise between a pair of fluted or otherwise roughened rollers,
by the action of which they are forced through the machine over or between
the stationary plane or planes or cutters, being received if required by another
pair of smooth drawing rollers after leaving the planes or cutters, and being
thus conveyed out of the machine when planed.

page_text: The machinery above described may be adapted for shaping and planing
blind rollers at one operation. For this purpose the square or angular piece of
wood to form the roller is forced by the action of the rollers through a set of
stationary cutters in order to take off the corners and bring the wood to the
required section, and also through a second set or sets of stationary cutters in
order to plane the eight or other number of sides as required.
The machinery for making Venetian blinds, relates also to the operation of
painting the laths, and consists in the use of a box containing paint, into
which box the lath is introduced through a valve, and after passing along an
incline through the body of paint is passed through a pair of fixed guides or
scrapers, and also through a pair or pairs of fixed brushes, and is ultimately
withdrawn from the box at the top of the incline. The mode of applying the
paint to the lath may be varied. This painting apparatus may be applied to
other uses besides that of Venetian blinds.
Another part of the machinery for making Venetian blinds relates to
apparatus for cutting the short cross tapes on which the laths rest, and
consists of a pair of feeding rollers combined with a vertically reciprocating
cutter, by which means tape as it is fed through the rollers is cut into the
required lengths.
Another part of the said machinery relates to apparatus for marking the
broader vertical tapes to which the cross tapes above referred to are fastened,
so as to indicate the parts of the broad tape to which the ends of the cross
tapes are to be fastened. The apparatus for this purpose consists of a pair
of feeding rollers with marking pegs on the ends of the under roller dipping
into a trough of ink or color, such pegs being placed at such distance apart as
is requisite for marking the tape at the required points as it is carried forward
through the rollers.
Another part of the said machinery relates to apparatus for punching holes
in the several laths for the passage of the lifting cords, and consists in the
use of a punch or punches fixed at the requisite distance apart in a bar which is
connected by means of a rod to a treadle fixed underneath the bench on which
the laths are successively placed, a spring or springs being fixed under the
punch bar in order to lift the punches as required. By this arrangement the
laths are placed in succession underneath the punch bar, which is brought
down by means of the treadle on to the lath, and is raised again by the spring
or springs after the operation of punching.
Another mode of punching the laths consists in the use of a punching lever
working on a fulcrum fixed to a horizontal bed on which the lath is supported.
For this purpose a piece of iron forming the bed is fixed to the bench, on

page_text: this bed are two fixed cheeks, between which the lath is passed, and there is
also an adjustable stop for regulating the distance the lath is to be passed beyond
the cheeks. When the lath is in its required position the lever is brought
down so as force the punch through it at or near the position of the said
cheeks.
1
And, lastly, instead of scraping the laths by hand in the usual way when
required to be repainted they are passed between stationary adjustable
scrapers inserted in a bed on which the lath is supported during the operation
of scraping.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to
describe more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by
reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which are represented portions
of the blinds, blind fittings, and machinery above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents the mode of hanging Venetian blinds by supporting the
top lath on pivots inserted in brackets or bearings fixed at the top of the
window. a is the top lath, which is made stronger than usual, and is sup-
ported by pivots b, b, inserted in brackets c, c, fixed as shewn; d, d, are springs
fixed to the top lath to keep the pivots b, b, in their places as required; e, e,
are brackets or bearings in which the sheaves or runners for the lifting cords
are mounted. Fig. 2 is a cross section of a blind roller, shewing a groove in
the upper part of it with the end of the blind confined therein by means of a
bar of zinc or other suitable material inserted in the groove; Fig. 3 is a
similar section of a blind rollfer, shewing the same divided in the middle and
a ping (one of a series) in the lower half of the roller passed through the end
of the blind and into a hole (one of a series) in the upper half; this
Figure also shews that the two parts of the roller are bound or clamped
together by a jointed ring or clamp; the roller may be divided at or near the
centre. Both these modes of confining the end of the blind in the rollers
are in substitution for the ordinary modes of fastening by nailing or sewing.
Fig. 4 represents a winding-up apparatus, in which is a cog wheel working
into a pinion i having a square axis inserted in the socket j in the end of the
roller; k is a spring fixed at one end and connected at the other end to the
wheel; this spring is wound up and put in tension by the turning of the
roller on the lowering of the blind, and when liberated causes the roller to
turn in the opposite direction and raise the blind. The required liberation
of the spring is effected by pulling a cord and lifting the retaining pallout
of contact with the ratchet connected with the cog wheel h. Fig. 5 represents

page_text: an elastic holder for the shade cord of Venetian blinds; it consists of a piece
of india-rubber m connected at the upper end to the cord and at the lower
end to the side of the window. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 7
a plan or horizontal view of part of a machine for planing one of the faces and
the two edges of a lath for a Venetian blind at one operation; m* is a bench
or frame of the machine, on which are mounted two rollers n, n, the upper
one of which is set in motion by means of a wheel worked by hand or by
mechanical power, and thereby imparts motion to the lower roller, each roller
being furnished with a toothed rim; these rollers are covered with carpet or
other suitable material for giving the required friction and hold upon the
lath n as it is passed between them. The upper roller is adjustable and is
mounted so as to yield to any increased thickness of lath; o is a plane fixed
behind the rollers for planing the under edge of the lath as the latter is drawn
over it; p is a roller for pressing the lath down upon the plane o; this roller
is also mounted so as to adapt itself to the varying thicknesses of the laths;
q, q, are two planes fixed so as to plane the edges of the lath n as it is
drawn between them; they are united at the outer end by an elastic band so as
to accommodate their action to the laths; these are fed into the machine
between horizontal guides r, r, and through a mouth s, whence they are drawn
through the rollers n, n, over the plane o, whereby the under side of the lath
is planed, and between the planes q, q, whereby the edges of the same are
planed, thence passing out of the machine. In the Drawing is represented
the simplest form of machine in which the one side only and the two edges
are planed at one operation, but planes may be arranged for planing both
sides, and additional sets of planes may be arranged to operate at the same
time.
Fig. 8 shews a cross section of a cutter which is intended to be fixed in
a machine similar to that above described, and to cut off the corners and plane
one side of a square piece of wood drawn against it, a similar cutter being
fixed in an inverted position, so as to operate in like manner on the opposite
side of the wood, and thereby form it into an octagonal roller for blinds. Or
the wood after being operated upon on one side may be turned over and passed
through the machine again, so as to be cut and planed on the opposite side as
required.
Fig. 9 is a plan or horizontal view, and Fig. 10 an elevation of a portion
of an apparatus for painting laths; Fig. 11 is a cross section on an enlarged
scale of the lath shewing the scrapers; is a portion of a box or trough con-
taining paint, into which box the laths may be separately introduced through
a valve, or they may be dipped in the paint; u is a kind of elastic mouth

page_text: formed by two fixed pieces of india-rubber through which the lath n* is passed
after being dipped in the paint, whereby some of the excess of paint is scraped
off the sides of the lath; v, v, Fig. 11 are two pieces of india-rubber fixed into
adjustable blocks, as shown; these elastic scrapers have each a cavity through
which the edge of the lath passes, and has the excess of paint scraped off;
, w, are brushes fixed point to point, through which brushes the lath n* is
drawn, whereby the excess of paint is cleared from the sides thereof, and the
painting is smoothened and completed as required. This apparatus may also
be used for painting laths and similar articles for similar purposes.
Figures 12 and 13 represent an apparatus for marking the broad vertical
tapes to which the short cross tapes are fastened. and y are a pair of feed
the same axis with the
rollers, through which the tapes are passed; on
rollery and on each side are rollers furnished with pins or markers set at
the required distances apart, which, as the rollers revolve dip into troughs z, z,
containing ink or coloring matter. A similar pair of feeding rollers are com-
bined with a reciprocating knife or cutter, having a fixed fulcrum and worked
up and down by a crank on the axle of the upper roller for the purpose of
cutting the narrower tape into the required lengths for cross tapes.
Fig. 14 represents a vertical punch for punching the holes in the laths for
the lifting cords to pass through. A is the punch fixed in a frame B, which
is worked up and down along fixed guides C, C, by means of a treadle;
D, D, are two springs which as the punch is brought down press on the
lath n and hold it firmly against the plate E on which the lath is placed, and
obviate its liability to be split by the blow of the punch; there is an aperture
in the plate corresponding with the form of the punch, an underneath plan of
which is shewn at Fig. 15. A similarly formed punch may be worked by a
lever, as herein-before referred to, but this will be readily understood from the
description without a Drawing.
Fig. 16 shews a pair of scrapers F, F, fixed at an angle, through which the
lath n is drawn for the purpose of scraping the lath to prepare it for re-
painting.
;
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my
Invention is,
First, the suspension of Venetian blinds by the top lath being hung
on pivots in fixed brackets or supports instead of in the usual manner.
Secondly, the two modes described of fixing the ends of blinds to their
rollers so as to dispense with nailing and sewing.
Thirdly, the arrangement of winding apparatus herein-before described.

page_text: Fourthly, the elastic holder for the shade cord of Venetian blinds.
Fifthly, the mechanism described for planing the two sides and edges of the
laths by fixed planes, as herein-before described.
Sixthly, the arrangement of planes and cutters for planing and cutting
blind rollers, as herein-before described.
Seventhly, the apparatus herein-before described for painting laths of
Venetian blinds and similar articles by first passing such laths or other
articles through paint, or dipping them in paint and afterwards scraping
and finishing them by means of fixed elastic scrapers and brushes, as
described.
Eighthly, the apparatus described for cutting the short narrow tapes and
marking the broad vertical tapes of Venetian blinds.
Ninthly, the apparatus described for punching the holes in the laths of
Venetian blinds, whether the punch for the purpose be worked by a treadle or
by a lever.
And, lastly, the arrangement of fixed scrapers for scraping laths required to
be repainted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Ambrose, have hereunto set
their hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane. W.C.
EDWARD AMBRUSE. (L.S.)