Improvements in and relating to Brackets for Supporting Window- blind Rollers and Curtain Poles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Dite of Application, 24th May, 1893-Accepted, 8th July. 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Brackets for Supporting Window-
blind Rollers and Curtain Poles.
We, NORMAN WHITNEY STEARNS, Patent Attorney, of Main Street and
GEORGE ELLIOT BONNEY, Mechanic, of Main Street, both of Middleboro,
Plymouth County, State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America,
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 :-
Figure represents a blank to be punched out of sheet metal at one operation
and to be bent on the dotted lines.
Figure 2 a bracket-supporting plate formed by bending the blank of Fig. 1 on
the dotted lines.
Figure 3 a curtain-pole bracket.
Figures 4 and 5 a pair of blind-roll brackets.
Figure 6 a section representing one of our bracket-supporting plates secured
directly to a window casing.
Figures 7 and 8 represent two pairs of bracket-supporting plates of different
construction, and with an interposed screw connection between each pair, for
application to casings at opposite sides of a window.
Figure 9 horizontal section through one end of the device shown in Fig. 7.
Figure 10 a form of a sheet metal blank, which on being bent on the dotted lines
produces the combined blind-roll and curtain-pole brackets aud support, shown in
pairs in Fig. 8.
Figures 11, 13 and 15 combined curtain-pole brackets and their supports, adapted
for receiving blind-roll brackets adjustable thereon and intended to be clamped
directly to a window casing.
Figures 12, 14 and 16 sheet metal blanks from which the devices seen in Figs. 11,
13 and 15 are produced by bending on the dotted lines.
Figures 17 and 18 blind-roll brackets and the blanks from which they are
produced.
This invention has for its object the application of curtain fixtures of varying
lengths to window casings of different widths, and consists in certain devices or
means for conveniently and instantly making said application without the exercise
of skill or of changing the length of the blind-roll which may be at hand, and
without the employment of a hammer or screw-driver, while the marring of the
finish incident to the use of screws and nails as heretofore, is entirely avoided; the
principal features of our present invention being a pair of bracket-supporting
plates, each having a pair of sockets-one for the reception of the curtain-pole
bracket and the other for the blind-roll bracket which may be adjusted in its socket
independently of the stationary curtain-pole bracket-said supporting plates being
attached directly to, and to remain permanently on the window casing, or applied
to the opposite ends of an interposed screw connection; this invention also
consisting in a pair of devices, each composed of a curtain-pole bracket and blind-
roll bracket combined preferably in one piece- -or of two devices, each consisting
of a combined curtain-pole bracket and a support adapted for the reception of
blind-roll brackets, capable of adjustment thereon independently of the stationary
curtain-pole bracket; the former devices being used in pairs in combination with
the aforesaid interposed screw connection, and the latter pair of said devices being
intended to be clamped, independently of each other, directly to their respective
portions of the casing at opposite sides of the window.

page_text: In Fig. 2 of the said drawings A represents one of a pair of bracket-supporting
plates, having two sockets b, c, one socket b for the reception of a curtain-pole
bracket B Fig. 3, and the other c for the blind-roll bracket C or C¹ Figs. 4 and 5
capable of adjustment therein, independently of the curtain-pole bracket B (which
is stationary) and when the blind-roll bracket is moved into its proper position to
receive the contiguous pivotal end of the blind-roll, it is securely held by a
clamping screw a. The form of the socket c of each supporting-plate may be that
of dovetail or parallel ways Fig. 2, in cross section-that of the shade-roll bracket
conforming thereto. Each supporting-plate A may either be cast, or of sheet
metal from a blank, Fig. 1, bent on the dotted lines. These plates A may be
secured directly (so as to remain permanently) upon the opposite sides of the
window casing by screws 20 or nails Fig. 6; or a pair of bracket supports may be
united by an intermediate screw connection D Fig. 7, the extremities of which are
threaded in opposite directions-one having a right-hand and the other a left-hand
screw thereon, while the inner ends of the supports A terminate in extensions d, d,
provided with interior threads with which the contiguous threaded ends of the
screw connection D are caused to engage. At or near the center of the con-
nection D is an enlargement e of cylindrical or other form which may be
conveniently grasped and turned by hand to rotate the connection in the direction
of the arrow 21 or in the opposite direction either to draw together or separate the
bracket supports A to conform to the width or distance between the outer edges
of the casing at opposite sides of the window. The outer end of each support A
is provided at its side with a projection which forms such an angle therewith as
to enable it to extend over and properly fit against the contiguous edge of the
window casing G (near its upper corner G¹) which projects from the wall of the
apartment. From the foregoing it will be understood that the pair of supports A
may be adjusted and clamped in position upon the edges of window casings of
different widths. Still referring to Figs. 7 and 8, i is a projection extending from
the top of the outer end of each support-the pair of projections 1, i, being intended
to rest on the top and at the upper corner of the casing in order to more con-
veniently hold the device in a horizontal position when applying it to the casing;
furthermore these projections i, i, have a tendency to aid in the performance of the
functions of the side projections h, h. To utilize blind-rolls whose lengths vary
between the ordinary limits without the expenditure of time and labor in changing
their lengths, it is simply necessary to bring toward or separate from each other,
the two blind-roll brackets C, C¹, by moving them equal distances (relative with
the casing) so as to conform to the length of the blind-roll at hand, when after
being located, these brackets are held securely by clamping screws a passing
through their feet Fig. 9.
In Fig. 8 each of the pair of supports A¹, A', with its shade-roll bracket and
curtain-pole bracket B' is formed integrally of either cast or sheet metal at one
operation.
A very simple and inexpensive way of producing such supports and brackets, is
to stamp out a blank of the form seen in Fig. 10 from a plate of metal of sufficient
rigidity, which on being bent on the dotted lines produces a combined support,
blind-roll bracket and curtain-pole bracket, a pair of which are seen united by the
screw connection in said Fig. 8, but this construction will not permit the blind-roll
bracket to be adjusted independently of the curtain-pole bracket, therefore it would
sometimes happen that the blind-roll would be too long or too short after the
brackets had been located by the tightening of the screw connection. Perhaps
the simplest and most inexpensive form of bracket and support is shown in
Fig. 11, which is formed from a blank either cast in one piece or punched out of
sheet metal by a die-said blank of sheet metal being readily bent on the dotted
lines, forming a device consisting of a combined curtain-pole bracket, a support and
two projections 1, 1,-one I resting on the upper edge of the cap of the casing, and
'the other extending under the lower edge of the casing and having a hole m for
the passage of a thumb screw n, the end of which may be provided with an elastic

page_text: cushion for preventing the marring of the finish when the screw is clamped-the
distance between the two projections 1, 1, and the length of the clamping screw
being sufficient to enable the device to be applied to the caps of casings of different
widths.
The device Fig. 13 consisting of the combined curtain-pole bracket and the
support produced by bending the sheet metal blank, Fig. 14, on the dotted lines, is
provided with three holding projections 1, 11, 111, and a clamping screw n,-the
projection resting on the cap, and those 11, 11, abutting respectively against the
outside and the inside of the vertical portion of the casing;-the device being
clamped by turning the screw n against the inside of said vertical portion. The
device shown in Fig. 15 is produced by bending the blank Fig. 16 on the dotted
lines, and has three projections 1, 111, 11,-one resting on the cap,-one on the
outside of the vertical portion of the casing, and the other (at the end of a diagonal
arm) at the junction of the underside of the cap with the top of the inside of the
vertical portion of the casing, at which point the clamping screw is located.
Each blank and consequently each device produced therefrom has a series of
holes 25 for the end of the screw a which clamps the blind-roll bracket when
adjusted.
The pair of blind-roll brackets C", C, shown in Fig. 17 are formed by
bending the blanks H, H', Fig. 18 on the dotted lines, and are each provided with
a longitudinal slot k in its foot through which the clamping screw a passes before
entering the holes 25 in the foot of the combined curtain-pole bracket and its
support, whereby the blind-roll bracket may have sufficient range of adjustment to
accommodate blind rolls of considerable lengths.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
As an improvement in brackets for supporting window-blind rollers and curtain
poles.
1. A bracket-supporting plate A having sockets b, c, in combination with a
blind-roll bracket capable of adjustment within the socket c, a means of clamping
the same therein and a curtain-pole bracket fitting into the socket b, as described.
2. The combination of a pair of bracket supports A, A, having sockets b, b, c, c,
a pair of curtain-pole brackets B, B, located in the sockets b, b,-a pair of blind-
roll brackets C, C, capable of adjustment and of being clamped within the
sockets c, c, a means of holding the bracket supports against the edges of the
casing and a screw connection interposed between them, as set forth.
3. A pair of bracket supports, each with its bracket or brackets made separately
or integrally and having a projection adapted to fit over the side of the casing and
a projection for resting on the top of the same, in combination with an intermediate
adjustable screw connection D for locating and clamping the pair in position, as
specified.
4. Blanks of substantially the forms shown in Figs. 12-14-18, capable of being
made at one operation and convertible by bending them, into brackets or combined
bracket supports and brackets, as described.
5. A bracket support and a blind-roll bracket, or a support and a curtain-pole
bracket, or both brackets and their support formed integrally, in combination with
and secured permanently to and directly upon a window casing, as set forth.
-8
6. A device consisting of a curtain-pole bracket and its support formed integrally
and having projections adapted to engage with the edges of the window casing,-
clamping screw passing through one of said projections, and the base of the support
having a series of holes 25, in combination with a blind-roll bracket having a slotted
foot and a clamping screw for holding said bracket when adjusted, the said device
being applied independently of a similar device secured to the casing at the opposite
5 side of the window, substantially as specified.
7. A blank of a form similar to that shown in Fig. 12, which when bent will

page_text: produce a combined bracket and bracket support, in combination with a clamping
screw for holding it upon a window casing, as set forth.
Dated this 11th day of May 1893, at Middleboro, Mass.
Witnesses:
WALLACE C. COLLINS.
ANNIE F. STEARNS.
NORMAN WHITNEY STEARNS.
GEORGE ELLIOT BONNEY.