IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REVOLVING SHUTTERS AND SUNBLINDS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Spink, of Manchester, and William Mallinson,
of Rochdale, both in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention. of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REVOLVING SHUTTERS AND SUNBLINDS."
Sealed the 9th August 1878, and dated the 13th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Spink and William
Mallinson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February
1878.
THOMAS SPINK, of Manchester, and WILLIAM MALLINSON, of Rochdale, both in
the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REVOLVING
SHUTTERS AND SUNBLINDS."
"
The object of this Invention is so to construct aud arrange the mountings of a
revolving shutter that it can be used either as a shutter or as a sunblind, as occasion
may require.
We make the revolving shutter of laths or slats connected together in the usual
manner so as to be flexible, and we cause it to revolve upon a roller, and fit it (by
preference) with counterbalance weights, but springs may be employed for this
purpose if required.
The roller is placed either in a box above the frieze or at the back of the frieze
board, and the front of the box or frieze board is made to open upon hinges to
allow of the shutter being drawn forwards and outwards when required to be. used
as a sunblind. The front part of the top of the side grooves is also cut away for
the same purpose.
At each side of the. window at the top is a bracket supporting a groove or slide
projecting forward at a suitable angle, and when the shutter is to be used as a
sunblind the frieze board or front of the box is opened, and the shutter is drawn
forward into these grooves, and projects forwards above the window. These side
brackets may be either permanently fixed, or they may be removable.

page_text: As it will be evident that the shutter when merely drawn forward as a sunblind
will not require so great a weight to counterbalance it as when it hangs per-
pendicularly as a shutter we make the weights in two or more portions, so that a
part can be readily detached when the shutter is to be used as a blind merely, and
replaced when it is to be used as a shutter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Spink and William Mallinson in the Great Seal Patent Office-
on the 13th August 1878.
}
THOMAS SPINK, of Manchester, and WILLIAM MALLINSON, of Rochdale, botlı in
the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REVOLVING
SHUTTERS AND SUNBLINDS."
The object of this Invention is so to construct and arrange the mountings of a
revolving shutter that it can be used either as a shutter or as a sunblind, as occasion
may require.
.
We make the revolving shutter of laths or slats connected together in the usual
manner so as to be flexible, and we cause it to revolve upon a roller, and fit it (by
preference) with counterbalance weights, but springs may be employed for this
purpose if required.
The roller is placed is placed either in a box above freize or at the back of the
frieze board, and the front of the box or frieze board is made to open upon hinges
to allow of the shutter being drawn forwards and outwards when required to be
used as a sunblind. The front part of the top of the side grooves is also cut away
for the same purpose.
At each side of the window at the top is a bracket supporting a groove or slide
projecting forward at a suitable angle, and when the shutter is to be used as a
sunblind the frieze board or front of the box is opened, and the shutter is drawn
forward into these grooves, and projects forwards above the window. These side
brackets may be either permanently fixed, or they may be removable.
As it will be evident that the shutter when nearly drawn forwards as a sunblind
will not require so great a weight to counterbalance it as when it hangs per-
pendicularly as a shutter we make the weights in two or more portions, so that a
part can be readily detached when the shutter is to be used as a blind merely, and
replaced when it is to be used as a shutter; or in some cases we attach a cord to
the weight, so that the latter can be raised by a winch before the shutter is drawn
forwards to act as a sunblind; so as to relieve the weight.
Such being the nature and object of our said Invention, we will now proceed
to describe more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be
performed or carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be
more clearly understood we have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative

page_text: thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference corre-
sponding with those in the following explanation thereof:-
In Sheet 1 of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a section showing the apparatus when
used as an ordinary shutter; and Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the same
arranged as a sunblind.
The revolving shutter a, a, is coiled upon a roller b, b, and runs up and down
in fixed perpendicular side grooves c, c, being counterbalanced by the weight d, d¹,
attached by the chain e, e, to the roller.
The weight d, d', is made in two pieces, connected together by a dovetail, and it
is so arranged that when the shutter is fully drawn up and the weight d, d, is at
its lowest point the latter rests on a smaller carriage f, f, (see also detached view,
Fig. 3), so that by drawing this carriage forwards, as shown in dotted lines, the
lower parts of the weight may be detached when required, and replaced at will by
pushing back the carriage.
An additional grooved slide g, g, is provided, which when not in use hangs
down in a perpendicular position, as shown at Fig. 1; but when it is required to
use the shutter as a sunblind it can be raised into a diagonal position and secured
by a bracket or strut h, h, (see Fig. 2). The lower half of the weight d' is then
detached, and the hinged part i, i, of the frieze board being opened the shutter a, a,
is drawn forwards into the grooves g, g, and acts as a sunblind.
•
Fig. 4 shows another way of attaching and detaching the two parts of the
weight d, d, by means of a pin k, k.
In Sheet 2 of the Drawings Fig. 5 is an elevation, and Fig. 6 a section showing
another way of relieving the counterbalance weight d, d, when the shutter is to be
used as a sunblind. In this case the weight d, d', is all in one piece, but, as well
as being connected to the roller b, b, by the chain e, e, as usual, it is also connected
by a strong cord or wire l, l, to a small winch m, m, by means of which it can be
wound up, and thus a portion of its weight relieved from the shutter a, a, when
the latter is to be drawn forwards and used as a sunblind. n, n, is a small counter-
balance weight and cord to keep the cord or wire l, l, tight when the shutter a, a,.
is drawn down and the weight d, d', rises, a ratchet wheel and pawl being employed
to keep the weight in position when raised.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our Invention, the
general construction and arrangement of the combined revolving shutter and sun-
blinds as herein-before described, and illustrated by the Drawings annexed, and
more especially we claim the means described (or other equivalent means) for
reducing or relieving the counterbalance weight when the shutter is to be drawn
forwards as a blind.
In witness whereof, J, the said William Mallinson (on behalf of myself and
the said Thomas Spink), have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth
day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
Manter night
WM. MALLINSON. (L.S.)