Improvements in Apparatus for Raising and Lowering Ourtains, Window Blinds, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Raising and Lowering Ourtains,
Window Blinds, and the like.
1, JOHANN HERMANN NITZSCHE, of 40 Garstnerstrasse, Garsten, Upper
Austria, in the Empire of Austria, Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of this
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 relates to apparatus for raising and lowering curtains, window
blinds, and the like which differs from the apparatus heretofore employed for the
same purpose chiefly in that, apart from its simpler construction, it is not fixed to a
special frame arranged above the window, but to the wall of the room, and that
it furnishes at the same time a support for the curtain rod, thus dispensing
with hooks. Moreover I provide for the adjustability of the curtain holders
to different widths of windows, and for fixing the curtain holder to any height.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a top view of an improved apparatus constructed according
to my aforesaid invention;
Figure 2 is a view of this apparatus as seen from the room;
Figure 3 represents the main portion on the left hand side with the ratchet
mechanism;
Figure 4 shows the main portion on the right hand side;
Figure 5 sbows a simplified form of these side portions;
Figure 6 represents the ratchet mechanism on a larger scale.
Fig. 7 shows in section the curtain rod bracket and the adjustable projection by
which it is supported.
The curtain holder proper a (Figure 2,) which is adapted to be displaced and
fixed in its longitudinal direction in the well-known manner, presents on the metallic
rods arranged at its under surface either fixed or sliding hooks or clamps for fixing
the curtains or the like. To the top of the curtain holder are attached two bands
or cords bb1 which pass round the rollers cc 1, on spindles d d 1 adapted to be
driven into the wall, and pass on to the raising roller e proper where they are fixed.
Each of the axes of the rollers c c 1 and e (Figures 1, 3, and 4) forms first a flange
for confining such rollers and behind this flange a wedge shaped nail which is
driven into the wall.
1 secure the roller e (Figure 3) to a roller of larger diameter, round which the
raising band or a cord g passes, one end of the same being attached to the roller f.
Owing to the larger diameter of the roller the raising operation will be
facilitated.
Both spindles d d and el carry bow or retaining pieces for preventing the
rollers from slipping off, and the bands or cords from passing over the lateral
flanges. These bow or retaining pieces are provided upon the rollers e and c in the
well known manner with adjustable projectious over which the holder pieces or
brackets of the curtain rods are slipped.
On the other side of the roller I fix a ratchet wheel i (Figures 3 and 6) with
which engages the pawl k pressed down by the spring 1. To the pawl is hinged a
double-armed lever m which has it fulcrum n upon the same plate as the spring and
the pawl. From the end of the longer lever arm depends a cord o, the lower end
of which, when the lever is pulled to release the ratchet wheel, is passed upon a
D

page_text: hook driven into the wall. By means of one of its ends the ratchet lever can
engage directly with the ratchet wheel in which case the pawl is altogether
dispensed with, the stop spring pressing upon the corresponding end of the ratchet
lever.
If it is desired to have the simplest arrangement, that represented in Figure 5
may be employed. In lieu of the special raising device with a ratchet mechanism,
only one roller is placed on each side of the window and serves at the same time as
a curtain rod retainer.
The apparatus operates in such a manner that if the curtain be in its raised
position it will be lowered together with the curtain holder by reason of its own
weight on the disengagement of the ratchet mechanism, the band or the cord g being
designed for regulating the movement and being wound upon the roller f whilst the
bands bb1 are unwound from the roller e over the rollers ccl. As soon as the
cord o is released, the raising device is stopped, so that the curtain holder a may be:
fixed at any time and at any desired height. When the said holder occupies its "
lowest position and has to be raised again it is only necessary to pull the band g
which is then unwound from the roller whilst the bands b b 1 are at the same time
wound upon the roller e.
Any desired number of bands may be employed.
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.―
1. An apparatus designed for raising and lowering curtains, blinds and the like,
and adapted to be adjusted to any width of window; wherein raising and guide
rollers for the bands or cords attached to the curtain holder proper run upon axes
driven with their nail shaped end into the wall, while a bow or retaining piece
arranged over each axis prevents the slipping of the rollers, or of the bands from
the latter and carries at its upper face a projection similar to the well known
adjustable curtain rod hooks, so that the bow or retaining piece of the raising
device may at the same time serve for fixing the curtain rods, substantially as set
forth.
2. An apparatus designed for raising and lowering curtains, blinds and the like,
wherein the bands or cords of the curtain holder, which are passed round guide
rollers e clare wound upon a roller e furnished with lateral flanges whilst the
raising band g proper is at the same time wound from the larger raising
roller firmly connected with the said roller e and vice versa, substantially as set
forth.
3. In apparatus for raising and lowering curtains blinds and the like, an
adjustable ratchet mechanism for enabling the curtain holder to be fixed at any
desired height either oue end of the ratchet lever m or a pawl & hinged to the same
being pressed down by a spring to engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheel i fixed to
the raising roller f, whilst the disengagement takes place by means of the cord o
provided at the other end of the ratchet lever substantially as set forth.
Dated this 30th day of January 1896.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.