Year: 1885

page_text: similar Articles.
I WILLIAM HENRY BLEWETT WINCHESTER of 3 Castelnau Villas Barnes in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
The invention has for its object improvements in fittings for roller blinds, maps
and other similar articles worked by an endless or other cord whereby the blind,
map or other article can be retained in any desired position without the use of a
pulley rack or other means for holding the cord.
My invention is represented in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1
represents a sectional front view: Figure 2 a cross section on the line 1, 1, of
Figure 1 and Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 detail views of the arrangement I prefer to
adopt in carrying my invention into effect: Figure 7 is a front view: Figure 8 is
a sectional end view and Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail views showing a slight
modification.
a represents the blind or other roller, 6, 6¹ the pivots, c, c¹ the brackets support-
ing the roller a, d the plain flange and e the grooved pulley around which the
cord f is passed by which rotary motion is given to the roller a. In all the figures
like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
In carrying my invention into effect I dispense with a pulley rack for straining
the cord and I employ in lieu thereof an independent spring g which is made to
fit easily the groove of the pulley e within which it is applied so as to encircle the
same for the greater part of its circumference, it is curved slightly outward near
its ends so as to allow the free and unimpeded passage of the cord f beneath it
except so far as friction is applied to the cord by the spring g. The cord flying in
the groove of the pulley e is grasped by the spring g with sufficient force to prevent
the cord f from slipping around the pulley e. h are stops which act to limit the
motion of the spring g. In the arrangement shown at Figures 1 to 6 the spring g
is formed or fitted with eyes g' at its ends through which the cord f is passed,
thereby ensuring the cord f always retaining its proper position under the spring g,
but in the arrangement shown at Figures 7 to 11 the spring g is formed without
such eyes gl and in such case I form the stops h in the shape of hooks, staples or
other convenient form so as to control the position of the cord f and keep it under
the ends of the spring g or I connect such stops h together by a cross wire for the
same purpose.

page_text: The stops h while limiting the motion of the spring g allow it such freedom of
action as to permit the cord f to glide smoothly and evenly under it and thereby
carry the roller a with it and consequently anything that may be attached to the
roller.
The stops h may be of any convenient shape and they may be applied to the
bracket cas shown or they may be fixed to other descriptions of brackets or to
the framework carrying or adjacent to the roller a.
The spring g is made of shape and strength according to requirements and it can
be applied to any existing pulley either of wood or metal and formed with either a
plain or a serrated groove but I prefer to make the pulley e specially for use with
my invention.
The upper part, or side walls, of the groove of the pulley e whether of wood or
metal should be made true and parallel and the lower part, whether smooth or
serrated, should be of such depth as to allow the cord ƒ to stand slightly above it
so as to enable the spring g to act freely upon it.
When using the form of spring 7 shown at Figures 1. to 6 à length of cord is
passed round the pulley e under the spring g and through the eyes g¹ after which
the ends may be sewn or otherwise secured together but when using the form of
spring g shown in the arrangement represented at Figures 7 to 11 an endless cord
may be used.
..
In some cases I may form the eyes g¹ of soft metal such as brass or of spring
metal and rivet or otherwise attach them to the spring g such eyes being left open
or being opened for the insertion of the cord after which they may be closed. By
this construction of the eyes gl an endless band may be used with the form of
spring herein first described and shown at Figures 1 to 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The employment in combination with a pulley e, either of ordinary or of
special construction of an independent spring g between which and the groove of
the pulley e the cord f is held, substantially as herein shown and described, and for
the purpose stated.
2. The employment in combination with a pulley e of a spring g, formed with or
without eyes g' and stops h substantially as herein shown and described and for
the purpose stated.