Improvements in or connected with Venetian Blinds and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 15th Feb.,
1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Venetian Blinds and the like.
I LEONARD GUNN 4 Southampton Row Holborn W.C. 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 :-
My invention consists in an improved method of decorating, and fastening the
ends of the tapes or webbing employed for supporting the laths of Venetian and
other blinds of similar construction. To this end the tape or webbing may be
woven in material such as cotton, linen, silk, or the like or it may be formed from
paper, or paper backed with linen or canvas. In either case I prefer to weave,
stamp, print, emboss, stencil, or otherwise form therein or thereon plain, or fancy
coloured art patterns or other devices, or they may be merely outlined so as to be
subsequently embroidered by hand or other means. A special feature of my
invention consists in coating the linen, cotton, paper, or other material employed
for forming the tape or webbing with varnish, paint, pigment, or like dressing,
impervious to damp so as to form a smooth surface on which the design employed
may be printed or otherwise impressed or painted. In order to shorten the
labour of cutting tapes to length and fixing I prefer to prepare an employ
decorated ladder tapes of lengths suited to the various sizes of blinds in ordin try
use, these lengths may be cut from a roll of tape; the ends of each length after
doubling in the case of a tape in which the ladders are not woven, being butt
jointed and sewn over or otherwise closely drawn together by the employment of
what is known as the button hole stitch or by similar incans for rendering them
flush and even; or short aud suitable lengths for the various sizes of Venetian
blinds may be woven on the tape loom, the two ends being left free and open so as
to be readily united by the means just described or by a tongue and buckle, clip,
or equivalent device, having a similar effect. It is sometimes convenient to
connect the upper ends of the tapes with the blind head or supporting bracket
by means of a short connecting piece, in this case I fit these short pieces or
connectors whether made of paper cotton linen or other material with a buckle,
special clip, or the like as may be most convenient. When paper only is
employed I prefer to use the very tough variety known as Japanese or parchment
paper, or a similar type, the tape ladders in such case being gummed, glued, or
secured by a rivet or eyelet of metal.
My invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the drawing in
which :-
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a decorated tape, butt jointed as described.
Fig. 2, is a perspective view of a tape fitted with a tongue and buckle.
Fig. 3, is a perspective view of a connector and clip.
Fig. 4, is a perspective view of a tape formed of paper and mounted on canvas.
Fig. 5, is a side view of clip.
In the drawing 1, Fig. 1, shews a decorated ladder tape formed of cotton, linen,
silk, or like suitable material and having only one butt joint 3' formed by bringing
the two ends together and sewing them over so as to make them as nearly as
possible flush, the upper part 2, is passed direct over the suspension lath, or roller
replacing it, a lath is secured preferably to the lower part 3, by tacks or the like
in the well known manner, this form of tape or webbing may also be made of
paper or of paper mounted on canvas as shewn in Fig 4, but in either case
I weave in the loon, stamp, emboss, stencil, or otherwise form plain or coloured
CD 017

page_text: art patterns or devices as at. 4, or these may be faintly woven stencilled or
otherwise outlined as at 5, so as to be subsequently embroidered by hand or
machine.
In Fig. 2 have shewn a form of webbing or blind tape which is by preference
woven in definite lengths to suit the various sizes of blinds in common use.
A buckle 6, through which passes the tongue of webbing 6', is mounted on one
or other side of the upper part of tape 2. The bottom lath S, see Fig. 3, then
rests either in the loop formed by doubling the tape, being secured thereto by
tacks or equivalent means, or the ends may if more convenient be divided and
separately fastened to it by tacks 7, as shewn. The loop in the upper part of the
tape 2, is passed over the suspension roller in the blind head, or equivalent device
replacing it, and to enable the laths 8 to be tilted, I insert metallic eyelets 9, in
the tape near the top lath 8 which may be secured by tacks 7, or equivalent
suitable means to the webbing.
Two cords 10, 10' the ends of which are secured by knotting 91 or like means
pass over guide rollers 11, and 11', the latter 11' being mounted on the side
frame of the window; by pulling the cords the blind laths may be tilted in either
direction.
In Fig. 3, I have shewn my improved form of tapes fitted with a connector 12.
In this case toe or webbing 1, of any length may be cut from the roll, the upper
ends are then fitted by stitching, riveting or like means with a clip 13, formed of
thin metal which also firmly secures the top lath 8' in position see Fig. 5. Two
hooks 14, are formed on either side of the clip and these engage with corresponding
eyes 15, formed in a thin piece of metal 16. secured by stitching or riveting to
the connector 12. A pear shaped hole 17, is stamped out of each inetallic
piece 16, and in these holes are inserted and secured by knotting the tilting cords
similar to those shewn in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the connecting pieces 12,
enable the blind to be put up or taken down with the minimum amount of
trouble.
The ladders 19, of the decorated tapes or cotton, linen, or other tapes coated
with varnish or pigment may be inserted by stitching or other suitable means.
In Fig. 4, I have shewn iny improved inpe or webbing formed of the tough
paper known as Japanese, parchment, or similar variety, this is attached by
insolunble glue formed by adding a small quantity of bichromate of potass to
ordinary glue, to the canvas, linen, or other backing 18. The ladders 19, are
secured to the tape by a small rivet or eyelet 20, or equivalent means.
I do not confine my invention absolutely to the form of devices shewn in the
drawings, for instance I may join the connector to the webbing by means of a
buckle, the webbing being secured to the upperinost lath, by tacks or the like.
Again in the case of tapes made from paper alone or mounted upon canvas or the
like, the paper may be plain or coloured, decorated or not as may be desired
or paper webbing may be made by glueing the ends so as to be practically
continuous and merely incked or otherwise flexibly fastened to the top and bottom
lath,
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 use and employment in or with Venetian and similar blinds of the
improved form of tape or webbing woven in linen, cotton, silk, or the like, and
having art devices patterns or the like coloured or not, woven, stamped, printed,
impressed, stencilled, or embroidered or embossed, therein or thereon.
2. The combination use and employment in or with the tapes or webbing of
Venetian blinds and the like, of varnish, paint, or equivalent pigment impervions
to moisture upon which art devices or other figures or patterns are printed,
painted, embossed, stencilled, or otherwise formed in the way and manner and for
the purpose herein described.

page_text: 3. The combination with decorated tapes formed as described of a buckle for
joining said tapes in the manner set forth.
4. The combination use and employment in or with decorated or other tapes
constructed as described, of the independent connector attached thereto by the
clip device which supports the uppermost lath 81 and by means of the cords 10 10¹
passing through and held fast by the hole 17, enables the laths to be tilted in the
way and manner described.
5. The combination and use in or with tapes or webbing for Venetian and
similar blinds of paper only, of suitable strength, or of paper mounted upon
canvas, linen or the like, the ladder supports 19 being secured thereto by rivets,
eyelets, or equivalent.
Dated this 15th day of October 1895.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent.