Improved Means for Holding and Releasing Spring-actuated Roller Blinds
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Holding and Releasing Spring-actuated Roller
Blinds
I, GEORGES CARÉNOU, of 43, Rue du Faubourg Saint Martin, Paris, in the
Republic of France, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improved means for holding and releasing spring-actuated
blinds, which, when released, are drawn up by the action of springs connected to the
rollers on which the blinds are mounted.
The accompanying diagram is a perspective view serving to illustrate, by way of
example, one way of carrying out my invention. The left-hand side of the blind,
being similar to the right-hand side, is omitted.
The part b of the window or other frame B supports the axle a¹ of the roller a
on which the blind is coiled; the roller being actuated by a spiral spring in the
ordinary way, that is, the spring has one of its extremities secured to the roller and
the other to the axle a' on which the roller turns. When compressed, the spring
tends to cause the roller to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow a³, and
consequently to stretch the blind, and to keep it stretched or either partially or
wholly rolled. The axle a' may work in two supporting blocks, such as a³, near
the part 6 on the uprights (one of which is shewn) pertaining to the frame B.
On the axle a', are fastened, by means of pins (or in any other suitable way), two
levers, such as a', each having a lateral knob or button a. With these knobs or
buttons, the heads and stems of which are rounded, twisted eyelet-holes belonging
to the right and left vertical cords (a) engage. These cords pass over two knobs
or buttons (a), also having rounded heads and stems. fixed in projections on the
supporting blocks (a); the extremities of the cords being passed through transverse
holes in two screws, such as a8. The rotation of these screws in either direction
allows the length of the cords to be easily regulated. As regards tension, this is
conveyed to the cords from the spring through the levers (a). The extremities of
the axle a are free to turn in the supporting blocks (a³); the axle, under the
action of the spring, having a tendency to turn in the direction of the arrow a°, that
is, in a direction opposite to that in which the spring tends to turn the roller.
Consequently, the levers (a), being fixed on the axle a', have a tendency to rise
in the direction of the arrow a. Owing to the vertical cords (a) being connected
to the levers (a), the axle a' is held stationary while the blind is being lowered;
the spring becoming more and more compressed. The horizontal rod a¹º, round
which the lower end of the blind A is secured, is bevelled at its extremities, and is
furnished at each extremity with a hinge, such as a", carrying a cleat, such as a¹³,
also bevelled at one end; the other end being pierced with a vertical hole for the
cord (a). It is obvious that the cleats ("), which, for the sake of clearness in the
drawing, are shown as being fully visible, may be more or less concealed by the fold
of the blind which surrounds the rod a0; also the levers (a) need not be detached
from the adjacent parts.

page_text: The action is as follows:-The blind A is represented as having been partially
lowered. By reason of the tension produced by the spiral spring on the blind A,
and, consequently, on the rod a¹, a kinking of the cords (a) by the cleats (a)
ensues; the cords, notwithstanding their tension, being no longer kept straight by
the spring. If, by means of the tassel a¹³, the blind be drawn further down, the
hole in each cleat is brought into a vertical position (this being ensured by the
construction of the hinge), so that the cleats (a¹³) can descend freely along
the cords (a). But, so soon as the tassel a¹³ is again set free, the spring is again
free to act and the kinking of the cords by the cleats a" repeated, causing the
blind to remain tightly stretched under the action of the spring in nearly the same
position as that to which it was lowered. If the free end of one of the levers (a*)
be pressed downwards (for the blind may be regulated by either of them, or by
both at once), the tension of the cords is diminished, thus lessening the friction
produced by the kinking of the cords by the cleats, and the blind is raised by the
spring partially or completely, according to how long the pressure of the hand is
continued in an opposite direction to that of the arrow a³. If the levers (a) are
not easily accessible to the hand, connecting cords of the desired length can be passed
through holes (such as a") in their free ends. The cord of the tassel a¹ would be
also suitably lengthened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved means for holding and releasing spring-actuated roller blinds,
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. A blind mounted on a roller connected to a movable axle by a spring, the
lower end of the blind being secured to a rod carrying at each extremity a hinged
cleat having its free end traversed by a vertical cord, the upper ends of the vertical
cords being connected to levers or arms on the axle; so that, when the axle is
partially rotated against the pressure of the spring, the tension of the spring is
taken off the vertical cords, thus allowing the cleats to slide upon the latter and
permitting the spring to operate the blind-roller.
Dated the 26th day of April 1892.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.