Improvements in Venetian Blinds, and in the Means employed for Operating and Adjusting the Slats of the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec, 1894--Accepted, 13th July, 1895
COMFIETE SIMOTIVATION.
Improvements in Venetian Blinds, and in the Means employed for
Operating and Adjusting the Slats of the same.
We, CARL CADERBERG, of Hans Street, Granville, in the Colony of New
South Wales, Australia, Painter and HENRY SHUTE, of Cecil Street, Ashfield, in
the Colony of New South Wales, Australia, Surveyor, 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. :-
Our invention has for its object the improved construction of venetian blinds, so
as to render them more durable, and of casier adjustment. For this purpose we
dispense with what are known as ladder tapes, which are used to keep the slats
equi-distant, and which also serve to retain them in their true lateral position, and
mn lien thereof, we provide a peculiarly constructed linked suspender made of any
suitable metal. It consists of a series of loops, which while they are joined to each
other by bands yet are capable of being folded the one on to the other without
proving an obstruction to the slats when it is desired to change their position. The
aforesaid bands connecting the loops are so shaped, that the folding movement is
carried out alternately throughout the entire length of the blind, commencing at
the lowest part where the first pair of slats are drawn together, and continuing
upwards according to the height to which it is desired to raise the blind, and the
folding may (according to the relative position occupied by the bands) be performed
either between the slats or outside of them.
These bands are applied to each pair of loops, and a trefoil hinge is used to
connect them, two of the joints in the hinge being used for the loops and the third
Joint for connecting the slat supports, which are also composed of metal
A further improvement consists in the use of loop suspenders, which we attach
to the headpiece of the blind crying the cord rollers. These suspenders are
made of sufficient length to admit of a 11sing movement being imparted to that
portion of our blind which we call the link carrier, which is provided at each end
with a grooved bearing plate which fits in the aforesaid loop-suspenders and 18
capable of being oscillated so as to change the slant of the slats, as may be desired.
The grooved bearing plates can be made (at the will of the person operating the
blind) to ise until they come in contact with the head piece of the blind, but this
only takes place when the whole of the slats are drawn tightly together by means
of the lifting cords,
A further improvement consists in the use of a cord holder which we attach to
the head piece of our blind, in such a position that it will come into contact with
the lifting cords which are used for inising, or lowering the slate, and also for
operating the link suspenders. This cord holder consists of a combined chair, the
foot piece of which is also formed into a chock, and serves as an adjunct to the
gripping device, which is supported in the aforesaid chan. This gripping device
consists of a pivoted plate, one end of which is roughened, or serrated, grooved or
chambered so as to give the necessary holding power when brought to contact
with the cords The other end of this gripping plate is provided with a fork which
passes over the lifting cords, when the plate is operated and offers no obstruction to
the rising movements of the cords, when they are operated in the releasing direction
This for Led end is made preferably curved inwards, and-canes an extended bar
for the operatig cord, and also has a spring pressure plate for a spring lever
attachment which is secured to the aforesaid chaii. This spring serves to keep the

page_text: pivoted plate in such a position that when the attendant releases the lifting cords
of the blind the blind cannot of its own accord descend, but if the attendant should
pull the cord which we attach to the aforesaid extended arm against which the
spring lever is pressing, the lifting cords will be released from the gripper and the
blind may be allowed to descend to its full length. Immediately the cord attached
to the extended arm is 1eleased the gripper is again put into action by the spring
lever, and although in its normal position the gripping device is always ready to
act upon the lifting cords, yet if the lifting cords are diawn so as to raise the blind,
om gripping des ice will offer no obstinction to the cords. With these various
improvements, we construct a complete and novel venetian blind, having all the
necessary using, falling, slanting, and folding movements, and also the necessary
check action to retain the blind at any desired height.
By dispensing with the wooden slats, surh as venetian blinds are usually composed
of and substituting metal, we are able by reason of our peculiarly constructed link
suspenders, which are also of metal, and also by providing we cords or chams, to
construct a blind suitable for fire-proof purposes, and which will answer the same
purposes as metal sliding doo18, such as are now m genoral use.
If our blind is
used as a substitute for such doors, the advantage we claim for it is, that it may be
put into a limited space, such as a cavity, or recess, when it is desired to provide
ingiess or egress through the doorway. In order to secme the slats in a folded
position, so that one will over-lap against the other we provide a locking bar, or a
series of locking bars, suitably attached to any desired number of the slats, and the
head piece.
Our invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which similar parts
throughout the different figures are lettered sumilaily for identification.
Figure 1 is a sile view of a venetian blind fitted with our improvements
Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1 taken at the end where the lifting cords are
operated.
Figure 3 is a detail of the linked suspender with the parts opened out.
Figure is a perspective view of om cord holder attached to head-piece-also
link cac and loop suspenders.
Figure 5 is a detail of loup suspender.
Figure 6 is a further detail of Figure 3 shewing the folding movement of the
linked suspender
Figure 7 is a side view of a fire proof blind shewing method of securing the slats
an a slanting position
Figure 8 e a detail of the locking ba.
Figure 9 e another view of our cord holder shewn in Figure 4, with chair
removed to shew position of chock
The head piece A may be supported in any convenient manner according to the
position where it is desned to place the blind, it contains the usual cord rollers B,
for the lifung cords C, which pass down through the slats D, and are secured to the
bottom portion E. The leading roller Fare used for separating the cords C, so
that they pass under the pivoted plate G, which serves the purpose of a cord holder
by using the bottom end H as a gripping surface
The forked end I of G 19 80 constructed as to provide clearance for the travelling
cords C, when the position of G is altered by the person operating the blind. G 18
supported in the combined chair J by means of pivots K, the chock 1 being placed
in the position shewn, between J J. so as to cause a kink to be formed in the
coids when II 15 brought in contact with them The extended har M may form
an integral part of G, and to it the operating cord N is secured
The pressure
spring O, one end of which is brought in contact with M serves to keep G always
in its operating position.
The top movable portion of the blind which we term the link cartier P, serves as
a support for the mechanism used for carrying and operating the slats. To the ends,
of P, we attach the grooved bearing plates Q, which are supported and will
oscillate in the loop suspenders R which are supported to the under side, in any

page_text: convenient way, of A The bent portion of R forms a seating or bearing for Q, so.
as to admit of P being placed in a slanting position The upper portions of Rare
parallel and are of sufficient length to admit of the same lifting movement being
imparted to D and E by the lifting cords C. This rising movement is shewn in
dotted lines in Figure 5
The mechanism forming the link suspendos consists of the hinged plate S,
seemed to P and the bottom to E, one of the connecting loops T is inserted the em
and also in the folding band U. This folding band is provided with shoulder
pieces which serve to keep T in their right position and to ensure their folding
in the desired direction when the slats are being drawn together. The trefoil
hinge W also receives the connecting loops T as shewn in Figure 3 and also the slat
Supports
The plates S, the folding bands U having the shouldor pieces V, and the trefoil
hinges W, ao constructed of sheet metal, but they may be cast if desire't
When constructed of sheet metal, they are folded, as in the case of the lunged
plate S, so as to provide a tube or channel for the insertion of the connecting
loops T, which move ficely in the said channel The folding band U 18 also made
with a channel in which are enclosed the ends of two of the connecting loops T, the
shoulders V, being provided to serve as a stop to the connecting loops T, such
shoulder piece serving to offer resistance when the said loops move in one direction,
but admit of a folding movement when moved in the contrary direction, as shown m
Figure 6. The trefoil hinge W, is provided with thice tubes or channels, for the
insertion of the connecting loops T and the slot supports X. The whole of these
parts when combined and associated, form a substitute for "ladder tape" such as
is now in use, the construction being similar to that shewn in perspective view,
Figure 3
When the lifting movement is oparted to the slats the various parts of the
mechanism will fold together in the manner shewn in Figure 6 and will occupy n
position between the slats D. By reversing the folding bands U so that the
shoulder pieces are outside instead of inside as shown in Figure 3 then the folding
movement imparted by them to the connecting loops T will cause them to assume a
projecting position outside the slats instead of between them, this movement forms
part of our invention, but we do not consider it to be so useful as the folding
movement between the slats. When constructing a fire proof blind according to
this invention the slats D are composed of metal as are also the other parts
accessible to heat or flame. The mechanism in all its particulate will be similar to
that described for an ordinary blind, but proportionately stronger and to give
gicater security to the blind. When the slats ate placed in a slanting position we
use the locking bais Y shown in Figures 7 and 8 these are secured to A. by inserting
the upper end in the metal pocket Z and the lower end in the foot piece A' which
may be either attached to E, or to permanent portion of the structure. The contact
plates B are projections formed upon the inside of Y and are made to press against
the slats so as to prevent their forcible dis-arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
Lion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim 1s-
1. An improved venetian blind having a link carrier, such as P, combined with
a head piece, having the usual cord rollers and lifting cords. The said link cartier
being attached to such head piece by means of loop suspenders, such as R, and
grooved bearing plate such as Q, and having imparted thereto a limited rising and
falling movement by means of lifting cords, and also an oscillating movement ag
described and shown and for the purposes set forth.
2. A venetian blind whose slats are supported and operated by means of the
metal folding mechanism consisting of the combination of trefoil hinges having slat
supports and connecting loops association with folding bands provided with
shoulder pieces for operating the said connecting loops. Such mechanism being

page_text: operated by means of lifting cords as described and shewn and for the purposes set
forth.
3. A metal ladder applicable to the construction of venetian blinds the folding
parts of which may he either folded between the slats or outside of them, as
described and shewn and for the purposes set forth
4. In the formation of the metal ladder the tiefoil hinges combined with the
metal slat supports for supporting the slats of venetian blinds as described and
shewn and for the purposes set forth.
5. The combined folding bands U having aboulder pieces V for operating the
connecting loops T as described and shewn and for the purposes set forth.
6. A cord holder applicable to venetian blinds. consisting of a pivoted plate
forked at one end and having the foot piece H acting in combination with the
chock L the said pivoted plate which is supported in the chair J having an extended
arm in combination with the spring O, and operated by the cord N as described
and shewn and for the purposes set forth.
7. The combination and arrangement of the parts herein described forming a
venetian blind to which the necessary rising, falling, slanting and folding move-
ments may be imparted, and whose falling movement may be checked, all as
described and shewn and for the purposes set forth
8. A metal venetian blind, of the form described herein in combination with
locking bars as described and shewn, and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of October 1894.
CARL CEDERBERG,
Inventor.
HENRY SHUTE,
Assignee.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C, Agents for the Applicants.