Improvement in Brackets for Holding Rods for Window Blinds and the like, commonly known as "Muslin Rod Brackets."
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan, 1897
PROVE ONAL
ION
Improvement in Brackets for Holding Rods for Window Blinds and
the like, commonly known as "Muslin Rod Brackets."
FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER Mechanical Engineer 40 St. Paul's Square-
Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in cutting out a blank of metal, of the desired configuration,
and folding up the two sides, at right angles to the base, so as to form the bracket
to carry the flat rod, and also the round one upon which the muslin is drawn.
I next pierce two holes in, one on each side of this bracket, and pivot thereto a
front, or cover, which is also cut out of sheet-metal, with arms on for this purpose,
and bent to the required shape.
This cover is kept closed, by means of one side of the bracket which carries the
round rod, being bent slightly inwards, and engaging in a catch formed on the side
of the cover, forming thereby a spring catch, without the necessity of using extra
steel springs, operating on the base of the cover, as now in use, causing thereby a
The lower
great saving, and less risk of breakage, and getting out of order.
end of the cover is turned up, for the convenice of the finger, or thumb for
raising it.
Dated this 5th day of February 1896.
Improvement in Brackets for Holding Rods for Window Blinds and
the like, commonly known as "Muslin Rod Brackets."
I, FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER, of Hillside, Park Hill, Kenilworth, late of
40 St. Paul's Square, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in brackets for holding rods for
window blinds, and the like, commonly known as muslin rod brackets which I
make in a very simple, cheap and effective manner.
My invention consists of cutting out a blank of metal of the desired configuration
and folding up the two sides at right angles to the base so as to form the bracket
to carry the flat rod and also the round one upon which the muslin is drawn.
I next pierce two holes, one on each side of the bracket and pivot thereto a front or
cover which is also cut out of sheet metal with arms on for this purpose and bent
to the required shape.
This cover is kept closed by means of one side of the bracket which carries the
round rod being bent slightly inwards and engaging in a catch formed on the

page_text: side of the cover forming thereby a' spring catch without the necessity of using
extra steel springs, operating on the base of the cover as now in use, causing
thereby a great saving and less risk of breakage and getting out of order. The
lower end of the cover is turned up for the convenience of the finger or thumb for
raising it.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I
have given examples of the same sufficient to enable others to apply the same to
the various conditions met with in practice. It will however be understood that
the general formation may be somewhat varied without departing from the
principle.
Figure 1 shows a plate A of brass, iron, steel, or metal stamped or cut out to the
general configuration necessary to produce the bracket or the back portion.
Figure 2 shows a plate B stamped or cut out to general configuration to form
the front or cover as will be hereafter explained.
Figure 3 is a section through the window rod R and side elevation of the
bracket A and cover B embracing the said rod when in its normal position.
Figure 4 is a front view or elevation of the bracket A with its cover B screwed
to the window or other frame S.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modification of the said bracket also shown
fastened to the window or other frame.
In manufacturing my new bracket and front or cover I pivot, stainp, or press-
out the plate A with its hollow a¹ and its slots a', a and the screw holes a 10, alo
and as, as. I then bend up the parts a3 and a to form the sides of the bracket
but the projecting finger a of the side a' is bent inwards as shown distinctly at
Figure 4. To produce the front or cover B I cut or press out the blank B
Figure 2 with its projections 61 to form pivots and curved part 6 to leave
the shoulder 63 and the rounded end 6 to form a spur. This blank is then pressed
or formed into the shape shown at Figs. 3 and 4 and the pivots bare sprung
into the holes a, as when the bracket and cover are complete. The action is as
follows:-
To open the front or cover B the thumb is placed under the spur 6 with
some pressure when the finger a springs outwards and allows it to lift. When
the front B is closed the finger a locks it in the position shown by Figures 3, 4
and 5. The round rod R is thus locked in position or taken out with the greatest
simplicity. The flat rods or strips of blinds are placed in the slots a' as shown
at Figure 1 and 5 or the slot a may be much larger as seen at Figure 3. It
will thus, be seen that 'I manufacture my improved bracket and cover from two
plates of metal which are made to lock into each other without any separate springs
and in a very simple and inexpensive manner.
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 :-
The improvements in brackets for holding rods for window blinds and the like of
a plate cut out such as A and having the spring finger a and cover B and either
with or without the slot a all substantially such as herein set forth and as shown
upon the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of November 1986
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.