Improvements in Window Blind Operating Mechanisms.
Year: 1895

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by WILLIAM HENRY ELWELL, of 901, Main Street,
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.A., Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Window Blind Operating Mechanisms.
I, HUGH DONALD FITZPATRICK, of 70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, Registered Patent Agent, 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 that class of sliding window blinds which may be swung
outwardly to form an awning.
The object of my invention is to provide strong, simple and efficient means for
actuating and controlling window-blinds of the class referred to.
To these ends, my invention consists of the parts and combinations of parts as
hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of
this Specification.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of a pair of blinds constructed according to my
invention, the location of the window opening being indicated by dotted lines,
Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 3 is a similar view, the parts being shown in a different relative position.
Window blinds which are constructed according to my invention are movably
mounted on an over-head track, and are actuated by means of a two-part
actuating mechanism as a rack and pinion, means being provided for disengaging
the rack and pinion whenever it is desired to swing the blinds outwardly to form
an awning.
Referring to the drawings and in detail, A and B designate a pair of window-
blinds having grooved rollers 10, which may move upon and turn about an over-
head track C.
The track C, which I preferably employ, is enclosed or extends inwardly, as
shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, and is provided with a guide-plate 11, which
will retain the rollers upon the track, and which is adjustably secured in place by
means of small bolts or screws 12.
Near its centre, each of the blinds A and B is provided with a pivoted
rack D.
The racks D are preferably constructed of sheet-metal, and are provided with
a body portion 13 and an over-hanging or rack portion 14, and, as thus con-
structed, each of the racks is mounted upon a central pivot or screw 15, and is
slotted near each end to engage small screws 16.
Meshing with each of the racks D, I provide an actuating pinion E, which is
secured to or fastened upon a suitable actuating shaft 17.
The shaft 17 extends through to the inside of the house, and is journalled in the
window-framing in any suitable manner, and is provided at its inner end with a
knob or handle 18.
It is obvious that small cranks may be substituted for the operating knobs or
handles, if preferred.
As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3, the gears or pinions E are each
provided with an extending flange or projection 19, which will normally engage
behind the over-hanging section of the rack D, and will retain the blind in a vertical
position, preventing it from being swung outwardly or turuing about the track C.
ED

page_text: Small coiled springs 20 are secured to the inner ends of the pivoted racks, and
normally hold them in a horizontal position.
When one of the blinds is in its closed position or opposite the window opening,
the inner end of the pivoted rack may be moved downwardly against the tension of
the coiled spring 20 by means of a small handle 21, thus throwing up the opposite
end of the rack, and disengaging the rack and gear, leaving the blind free to be
swung outwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 3.
22 designates a suitable brace or rod, which may be pivoted to the window
casing, and may engage a suitable screw-eye 23 to hold the blind in its outward
position, as illustrated in Fig. 3.
While I prefer to locate the pivoted rack near the centre of the blind, thus
bringing the operating handle into a convenient position, and dispensing with all
guides or fixtures at the bottom of the blind, it is obvious that the rack may be
located in any other desired position.
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 combination of a blind, a track or way upon which the blind may slide
and swing, an actuating mechanism for moving said blind, said actuating mechanism
being arranged so that the same may be disconnected and the blind swung outwardly
to form an awning, substantially as described.
2. The combination of a blind, a track or way upon which the blind may slide
and turn outwardly, a rack carried by said blind, and a gear engaging the rack,
said rack and gear arranged so that the same may be disconnected, and the blind
swung outwardly, substantially as described.
3. The combination of an over-head track, a blind mounted upon and adapted to
turn outwardly about said track, a pivoted rack carried by said blind, and an
actuating gear or pinion engaging said rack, substantially as described.
4. The combination of an over-head track, a blind having rollers adapted to
travel and turn about said track, an over-hanging rack carried by said blind, and
an actuating gear or pinion having a projecting flange which is adapted to engage
behind said rack, and normally hold said blind, said gear and rack being arranged
so that they may be disconnected, substantially as described.
5. The combination of a blind having grooved rollers 10 mounted upon an over-
head track C, a guide-plate 11 for holding the rollers upon the track, an over-
banging, pivoted rack D carried by said blind, and an actuating pinion E engaging
said rack, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of March 1895.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow.