IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VENETIAN BLINDS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Leader Seymour, of Claremont Cottage, (166) Malpas
Road, New Cross, in the County of Kent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VENETIAN BLINDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Leader Seymour at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1881.
"
JOHN LEADER SEYMOUR, of Claremont Cottage, (166) Malpas Road, New Cross,
in the County of Kent. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VENETIAN
BLINDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of venetian
blinds.
As these blinds are at present constructed it is usual to nail the tapes to the top
bar and to the bottom rail, consequently it is not easy to take the blind to pieces
when the laths require cleaning, or when the tapes require renewal.
To avoid these inconveniences I provide fixings, by preference of metal, which I
secure to the top bar and to the bottom rail of the blind.
The top bar is provided with one of these metal fixings for each of the ladder
tapes, and also with one at either end for the roller tapes or bands from which the
blind hangs suspended from the head rail.
Each of the fixings for the ladder tapes consists of an ornamental plate, by
preference of brass, of a length equal to the width of the top bar, and it is fixed to
the top bar upon its upper side. There are slits or holes formed through these
fixings, one slit or hole at either end of the plate. The upper ends of the ladder
tapes are secured by passing them through the slits or holes, doubling over the
end of the tape, and then sewing it down upon itself.
These plates which form the attachments for the ladder tapes also have holes
through them in the centre for the passage of the cords by which the blind is
drawn up and down.

page_text: The fixings or plates to which the roller tapes are made fast are similar, but they
are attached to the underside of the top bar and nearer to its ends; no opening in
the centre is required.
In order to secure the ladder tapes to the bottom rail of the blind I provide
other fixings consisting of ornamental covering plates of metal which cover the
tapes where they pass beneath the bottom rail. These plates are fastened in their
places by means of eye bolts passed through them and through the rail of the
blind from the upper side of the rail.
The eye bolts receive ornamental heads or nuts on the under side of the rail,
and the eyes of these bolts serve for the attachment of the cords by which the
blind is worked. All these fixings are easily removed when required either to
clean the blind or renew the tapes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Leader Seymour in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th December 1881.
JOHN LEADER SEYMOUR, of Claremont Cottage, (166) Malpas Road, New Cross,
in the County of Kent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VENETIAN
BLINDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of venetian
blinds.
As these blinds are at present constructed it is usual to nail the tapes to the top
bar and to the bottom rail, consequently it is not easy to take the blind to pieces
when the lathes require cleaning or when the tapes require renewal.
To avoid these inconveniences I provide fixings, by preference of metal, which I
secure to the top bar and to the bottom rail of the blind.
The top bar is provided with one of these metal fixings for each of the ladder
tapes, and also with one at either end for the roller tapes or bands from which the
blind hangs suspended from the head rail.
Each of the fixings for the ladder tapes consists of an ornamental plate, by
preference of brass, of a length equal to the width of the top bar, and it is fixed
to the top bar upon its upper side. There are slits or holes formed through these
fixings, one slit or hole at either end of the plate. The upper ends of the ladder
tapes are secured by passing them through the slits or holes, doubling over the end
of the tape, and then sewing it down upon itself; or it may be fixed in another way
which I shall presently describe.
These plates which form the attachments for the ladder tapes also have holes
through them in the centre for the passage of the cords by which the blind is
drawn up and down.
The fixings or plates to which the roller tapes are made fast are similar, but
they are attached to the under side of the top bar and nearer to its ends; no
opening in the centre is required.
In order to secure the ladder tapes to the bottom rail of the blind I provide other
fixings consisting of ornamental covering plates of metal which cover the tapes
where they pass beneath the bottom rail. These plates are fastened in their places
by means of eye bolts passed through them and through the rail of the blind from
the upper side of the rail.
The eye bolts receive ornamental heads or nuts on the under side of the rail, and
the eyes of these bolts serve for the attachment of the cords by which the blind is
worked. All these fixings are easily removed when required either to clean the
blind or renew the tapes.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: ff, are holes to receive small screws, by which the fixing is attached to the
bar is a central oval hole, by which the blind cord passes through the fixing;
fs, f³, are slits for the passage of the ladder tapes; the tapes may be passed
through these slits and attached by sewing, but I prefer to attach them by passing
the tape double through the slit and then threading a wire pin through the loop of
the tape in the manner indicated at Figure 4.
bar a.
g is the fixing for the roller tape; it is similar to the fixing f, except that the
central hole f is not required; it is applied upon the opposite side of the top
The tapes are attached in the manner shewn in Figure 4. This method of
attaching the tapes admits of their easy removal for repairs and cleaning, no
nailing or unnailing or sewing being required. Also in mounting the blind the
adjustment of the tapes is effected much more readily than when the tapes are
nailed.
One of the fixings for attaching the tapes and the cords to the bottom rail is
shown separately by the Figures 5. It consists of three parts; a cover plate h, an
eye bolt h¹, and an ornamental head or nut h² screwing on to the stem or worm of
the eye bolt.
In attaching these parts the cord is passed through the top eye in the bolt h¹
and is brought out at the side; the end of the cord is then frayed out and a knot
is tied in it of a size which will enter within the head of the bolt, but will not
draw through the top eye. It is necessary to fray out the cord before tying the
knot, or the knot will be too large to enter the head of the bolt and make neat
work. The cord having been attached to the eye bolt the cover plate his applied
in its place on the underside of the bottom rail b, covering the ladder tape where
it passes beneath the rail. The stem of the eye bolt is then passed from the upper
side down through the rail b, through the tape, and through the central hole * in
the cover plate, and the head or nut 2 is screwed on on the under side. These
parts are shown in transverse section at Figure 6.
I call my improved venetian blind "The Venetio."
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim my improvements
in the construction of venetian blinds, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Leader Seymour, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN LEADER SEYMOUR, (L.S.)