Improvements in Window Blind Rollers and Appliances for Operating and Controlling same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1895-Accepted, 13th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Window Blind Rollers and Appliances for
Operating and Controlling same.
1, HENRY LOMAX of Railway Road, Darwen in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in window blind rollers and appliances
connected therewith for "winding up" or lowering the blinds, the object being to
so construct the rollers that they can readily be adjusted to different widths of
windows and the winding up and lowering mechanism is so constructed that the
blind can, with certainty, be rolled or wound up or down when desired and when
lowered, the blind can be automatically fixed or stopped at any desired point, also
to ensure the blind being readily and quickly wound or drawn up without over-
winding, and also lowered in either case there being little or no noise or rattle, and
the brackets and other fixings of the blind are simpler and less expensive than
heretofore..
According to this my invention the blind roller is made in two pieces, or lengths
of wood the inner ends of each lengths being telescopically received in a tube or
cylinder of metal which prevent the wood rollers warping and keep them perfectly
straight and by forcing the wood rollers further into the metal tube or drawing
them outwards the length of the roller can readily be adjusted to various widths of
windows.
"
66 saw
The inner ends of the lengths of the wood rollers are split or have " saw gates
formed in them and screw or wedges in the ends serve to open the splits or
gates "and as the rollers can be slightly expanded or contracted so as to tightly fit
the interior of the metal tube. When the roller is adjusted to the required length
small wedges of wood are inserted in the split portions of the wooden rollers to hold
them in position.
The blind is fixed to collars received in the blind roller so that by slightly
twisting, round one or more of the collars the blind can be adjusted or regulated so
The metal
as to wind up or down quite straight and even and without creases.
tube is preferably covered with paper, leather or other similar substances to
prevent corrosion, and render the rollers more durable.
The improved mechanism for winding up, or lowering the blind is constructed as
follows: At one end of the blind roller is a disc in the centre of which is cast a
pin having two or more vanes formed on it. The inner side of the disc is slightly
bevelled or formed with an inclined face, and when the pin is driven into the end of
the wooden blind roller the vanes prevent the disc from turning round, and the end
of the blind roller and the inclined face of the disc together form a V grooved
pulley.
On the outer side of the disc is a second pin which forms a pivot for the blind
roller. The periphery of the disc has nicks or teeth formed in it for purpose
hereinafter described. The blind roller is carried in brackets one at each end, such
brackets being fixed by and free.to turn on pivots fixed to the window frame. The
brackets are cranked or have short arms cast to them and at the lower end of each
of these arms is a small pin.
'
Each bracket may have a double curved recess with an opening or passage way
'between the two recesses which are formed in a lug or ear which is secured by

page_text: screws to the window frame and the holes in the second lug or ear for the passage
of the screws are made in the forms of long slots so that the bracket can be adjusted
to the width of the blind. The double curved recess prevents the pin at the end of
the blind roller from falling or jumping out of its bearing or support, and the lugs
being at an obtuse angle the bearing can be brought much nearer to the side of the
window frame than heretofore and consequently a longer roller and wider blind
employed.
Pivoted below the toothed or nicked disc is a catch which engages with the teeth
or nicks in the disc and a finger cast to such catch has an eye or loop at its
lower end.
An ordinary endless cord is employed such cord passing over the V grooved
pulley through the eye in the finger of the catch and around a grooved pulley fixed
to a small weight or spring so that a slight movement of tension on the cord is
maintained.
Each catch is made double acting so that it can be used for a right or left hand
blind. A pin may be passed through the blind roller and the pin or vane of the
disc to secure it in position.
In lieu of a pin cast to the V grooved pulley or disc and working the supporting
brackets, the pin may be cast to the bracket and be received in a hole formed in
the centre and end of the blind roller so that all rattle and noise is obviated, and in
this case we preferably insert in the ends of the roller a block or plug of lignum
vitæ or other hard wood.
The action is as follows:-To wind or roll up the blind one side of the endless
cord is pulled and the cord being gripped in the V grooved pulley the latter is
turned the tension on the cord acting on the eye in the finger of the catch or
eccentrically mounted brake or disc; and the latter is withdrawn from the teeth,
nicks or rubber in the disc and the blind continues to be rolled up so long as the
cord is pulled. When the cord is loosed the weight or springs takes up the slack
of the cord and maintains the tension thereon. To lower the blind the cord is
pulled so that the catch disc or brake is withdrawn from the teeth, or nicks of the
disc and the cord is then allowed to slip between the fingers, the catch brake or
disc being held out of the teeth or away from the rubber and the blind drops by
gravitation.
When the cord is released the weight of the blind and its roller moves the
supporting brackets or their pivots, the pin in the lower part of one of the arms of
the bracket will press on the catch, brake or disc running or moving on its pivot
and moving the catch brake or disc onto the teeth or nicks, or against the rubber,
so automatically stopping the blind with certainty as the. weight both of the blind
.and blind roller act on the catch brake or disc.
Only one V grooved pulley is employed with each blind roller one end of such
roller being provided with an ordinary pivot or pin.
In some cases to one end of the ordinary wooden rollers is fixed a disc or cap in
which is a stud or piu forming an axis, in the other end of the roller is driven a pin
cast to and forming part of a disc having a rough or corrugated periphery. A
cross pin driven through the roller and through a hole in the pin of the disc holds
the latter in the required position at some little distance from the end of the wood
roller so as to provide a pulley or recess for the operating cord. Brackets for
supporting each end of the roller are employed, the bracket for supporting the
pulley or cord end of the roller having two holes formed in it, and through one of
these holes the free end of the blind cord is passed behind the bracket and out by
way of the second hole, and the cord is then attached to a roller of wood which lies
between the bracket and the rough or corrugated disc, and above the centre of the
latter.
To draw up the blind it is only necessary to pull the cord which when released
will stop in the position to which it has been drawn because the wooden roller acts
as an anti friction brake and stops the rotation of the blind roller in the lowering
direction. To lower the blind the cord attached to the wooden roller is pulled so

page_text: that the roller is raised clear of the rough disc and the blind descends until the cord
is released and the roller falls by gravity into contact with the rough disc and again
acts as an anti friction brake and stops the further descent of the blind.
By attaching one end of a pendant finger,or strip of metal to the lower edge of
5. the blind the latter is drawn down when released by the cord and when drawn
..up the metal wedges against the window frame and blind roller and prevents
overwinding.
1
1004
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penuy Bank Chambers, Halifax.
Improvements in Window Blind Rollers and Appliances for
Operating and Controlling same.
I, HENRY LOMAX of Railway Road, Darwen in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, 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 improvements in window blind rollers and appliances
connected therewith, for the purpose of "winding up" or lowering the blinds, the
object being to so construct the rollers that they can readily be adjusted to different
widths of windows and the winding up and lowering mechanism is so constructed
that the blind can,.with certainty be rolled or wound up or down when desired.
When lowered the blind can be automatically fixed or stopped at any desired
point, the improvements also ensure the blind being readily and quickly, wound or
drawn up a device being provided to prevent overwinding and when raised or
lowered there is little or no noise or rattle and the brackets and other fixings of the
blind are simpler and less expensive than heretofore.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
in.which :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a blind roller adjustable lengthwise. according to
this invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the bracket for carrying one end of the blind
roller.
Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the bracket for carrying the opposite end of the
blind roller.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is an elevation of the disc and pin for one end of the blind roller.
Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is an end view of a modified shape of disc.
Fig. 10 is an end view of cap and pin for the opposite end of the blind.roller.
Fig. 11 is a sectional end view. of Fig. 10.
The remaining figs. on Sheet 2 are details.
Fig. 12 is a front elevation of a blind and roller according to this invention.
Fig. 13 is an end elevation, of Fig. 12.
Fig. 14 is a similar view to Fig. 13 but the blind is shewn as unfastened.ready
for lowering and the appliances for preventing overwinding is shewn in action.
Fig. 15 is an end view of a modification of Figs. 12, 13 and.14.
Fig. 16 is a front elevation of Fig. 15.
According to this my invention (and referring to Sheet 1) the blind roller is

page_text: made in two pieces, or lengths of wood 1. 1. the inner ends of each length being
telescopically received in a tube or cylinder of metal 2 which prevents the wood
rollers warping and keeps them perfectly straight and by forcing the wood
rollers 1. 1. further into the metal tube 2 ordrawing them outwards the length of
the roller can readily be adjusted to suit various widths of windows.
66
saw
The inner ends of the lengths 1. 1 of the wood rollers are split or have ";
gates" 3 formed in them and the screws or wedges 4. 4 in the ends serve to open
the splits or saw gates" 3. 3 and as the rollers 1. 1 can thus be slightly expanded
or contracted so as to tightly fit the interior of the metal tube 2. When the roller
is adjusted to the required length small wedges of wood 5. 5 are inserted in the
split portions 3-3 of the wooden rollers 1-1 to hold them in position. The blind is
fixed by. tacks or stitching to collars 6-6 received on the blind roller so that by
slightly twisting round one or more of the collars 6 the blind can be adjusted or
regulated so as to wind up or down quite straight and even and without creases.
The metal tube 2 is preferably covered with paper, leather, paint or other substance
to prevent corrosion and render the rollers more durable.
The improved mechanism for winding up or lowering the blind is constructed as
follows: At one end of the blind roller 1 is a disc 7 in the centre of which is cast
a pin 8 having two or more vanes 9 formed on it. The inner side of the disc 7 is
in some cases slightly bevelled or formed with an inclined face, and when the pin 8
is driven into the end of the wooden blind roller 1 the vanes 9 prevent the disc 7
from turning round, and the end of the blind roller 1 and the inclined face of the
disc 7 together form a V grooved pulley for the blind cord.
On the outer side of the disc 7 is a second pin 10 which forms a pivot for the
blind roller 1. The periphery of the disc 7 has nicks or teeth formed in it (see
Figs. 7 and 8) or is polygon (see Fig. 9) for purpose hereinafter described. The
blind roller 1 is carried in brackets 11. 11 one at each end such brackets being fixed
to the window frame 13. The brackets 11. 11 are cranked or have short arms 14
cast to them and at the lower end of each of these arms is a hole or slot 15 for the
small pins forming the axes of the roller 1.
'
Each bracket 11. 11 may have a double curved recess 15 (see Fig. 2) with an
opening or passage way 16 between the two recesses which are formed in a lug ear
or arm 14 which is secured by screws to the window frame 13 and the holes in the
second bracket lug or ear 11. 11 for the passage of the screws are made in the forms
of long slots 12 so that the bracket can be slightly adjusted to the width of the
blind. The double curved recess 15 prevents the pin 10 at the end of the blind
roller from falling or jumping out of its bearing or support, and the lugs or
brackets 11 being at an obtuse angle to the lugs or brackets 14 the bearing can be
brought much nearer to the side of the window frame than heretofore and conse-
quently a longer roller and wider blind employed. To one end of the ordinary
wooden roller is fixed a disc or cap 17 (see Figs. 10 and 11) in which is a stud or
pin 18 forming an axis and in the other end of the roller I is driven the pin 8 cast
to and forming part of the disc 7. A cross pin may be driven through the roller
and through a hole 18 in the pin 8 of the disc 7 and this holds the latter in the
required position at some little distance from the end of the wood roller 1 so as to
provide a pulley or recess for the operating cord when the disc shewn in Fig. 12 is
not used. The bracket 11 for supporting the pulley or cord end of the roller has
two holes 19. 19 formed in it and through one of these holes the free end of the
blind cord 20 is passed behind the bracket and out by way of the second hole 19
and the cord is then attached to a roller of wood 21 which lies between the
bracket 11 and the rough corrugated or polygon disc 7 and above the centre of the
latier.
One end of the blind cord 20 is fastened to the roller 21 and the other end after
passing through the handle 22 is fastened to and wound round the pulley of the.
blind roller.
The roller 21 may be suspended by the cord 20 so as to lie between the blind
itself and the window frame (see Sheet 3) in which case the disc 7 is unnecessary or

page_text: it may be suspended so as to lie between the periphery of the disc 7 and the
bracket 11 (see Sheet 4).
To draw up the blind the handle 22 is pulled, this pulls the cord 20 and the
latter lifts the roller 21 away from the blind itself (see Fig. 14) or from the disc 7
and the blind can be drawn up in the ordinary manner and when the handle 22 and
cord 20 are released the blind will stop in the position to which it has been drawn
because the wooden roller 21 at once falls into position (see Figs. 13 and 15) and
acts as an anti friction brake and stops the rotation of the blind roller in the lowering
direction. To lower the blind the handle 22 of cord 20 attached to the wooden
roller is pulled so that the roller 21 is raised clear of the rough or polygon disc 7
or of the blind and the blind descends until the cord 20 or handle 22 is released
and the roller 21 falls by gravity into contact with the rough or polygon disc 7
or blind and again acts as an antifriction brake and stops the further descent of the
blind.
By attaching one end of a pendant finger or strip of metal 24 to the lower edge
of the blind, the latter is drawn down when released by the cord and when drawn
up the metal 24 wedges against the window frame 13 and blind roller 1 and prevents
overwinding (see Fig. 14).
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. The improved blind roller consisting of two separate lengths held together by
means of a cylinder each roller having saw gates or long slots cut in it as and for
the purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by Sheet 1 of the
annexed drawings.
2. The improved blind roller made of two separate lengths united by means of a
cylinder together with the collars 6-6 all in combination and as and for the
purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by Sheet 1 of the annexed
drawings.
3. A bracket or support for a blind roller such bracket having a double curved
recess 15 and an opening or passage way 16 as and for the purpose herein described
and substantially as illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings.
4. The toothed roughed or polygon disc 7 pin 8 having two or more vanes 9
formed on it and the pin 10 all in combination as and for the purpose herein
described and as illustrated by Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the annexed drawings.
5. The general construction arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the improved appliances for operating and controlling window blinds as and for the
purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by Figs. 12 13 and 14 of
the accompanying drawings.
6. The general construction arrangement and combination of parts constituting
the improved appliances for operating and controlling window blinds as and for the
purpose herein described and substantially as illustrated by Figs. 15 and 16 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of
16
1st day of Ma
HENRY LOMAX,
By his Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.
HENRY LOMAX,
By his Agents, Brierley & Howard,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax.