Improvements in and appertaining to Window Blind Rollers, and in Operating and Controlling Appliances therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Appro
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Window Blind Rollers, and
in Operating and Controlling Appliances therefor.
We, HENRY LOMAX of Railway Road, Darwen, in the county of Lancaster, Engineer,
and LOMAX LIMITED of Imperial Works, Northgate, Blackburn, in the said County,
Manufacturers of Doors and Window Blind Fittings, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to new and improved means of operating and controlling
window blind rollers, so that the blind may be noiselessly raised or lowered by pulling
the blind cord, which, when relieved, allows the retaining catch to fall instantaneously
and without rattle into the teeth of the ratchet wheel attached to the blind roller, so
as to retain the blind in any desired position in a novel and unique manner.
The invention also relates to improved construction of the supporting brackets for
such rollers in order that they may suit all positions, in which they may be put.
In previous arrangements of this nature it has been found difficult to provide a
suitable catch, which would not be materially affected by the slightest addition to its
weight in the shape of the blind cord or the like, and it has been found in practice,
that this sensitiveness of the catch is a great drawback to self retaining window blind
attachments, because it almost always interferes to some extent with the free
movements of the roller, or otherwise renders the arrangement useless for the purpose
intended. To get rid of the disadvantage, window blind cord has had to be
employed, of only such length and weight as not to overcome the delicate balance of
retaining or controlling catch.
In the present invention, the controlling catch is so mounted and suspended that
its equilibrium will not be disturbed by any reasonable addition of weight to it.
The bracket, which supports the shaft of the window blind roller, is forined at one
or more of its extremities, or has fixed to it, a hook, or hooks, and upon one of these
hooks the controlling catch is mounted. The catch is lengthened somewhat in the
form of a tailpiece, and is provided with an elongated slot, by which it is slipped or
hung on the hook formed on to the supporting bracket. The catch is not half so
sensitive when mounted and formed in this way, as when it is pivotted in the usual
manner.
One end of the window blind cord is attached to the ratchet wheel, while the other
extremity is passed through a hole at the tail end of the catch and knotted. The
cord is wound on the shaft of the roller between the collar and the ratchet wheel by
the weight of the window blind. Instead of an endless cord being employed as above
described, a single one may be used. It is first attached to the ratchet wheel, and is
then passed through the hole in the tail of the retaining catch. The passage of the
cord through this hole, in raising and lowering the blind, does not interfere with the
free action of the catch.
As we have previously stated, our improved supporting brackets for supporting
the blind roller are as novel as they are universal in their application. We will first
proceed to describe the bracket, which carries the controlling catch. The bracket is

page_text: formed L shaped with a side lug for carrying the blind roller. A particular feature
of this bracket is that each L leg is formed into a hook, so that the bracket may have
the catch mounted for right or left hand. The novel method of constructing the
bracket L shaped with a side lug permits of its being adapted to screw to the face,
to the ceiling, and to the side of the window, and either right or left hand. The off-
hand bracket will also screw three different ways in like manner. This bracket is
formed with two curved slots branching in different directions. In one of these
slots the roller is mounted according to whether it is right or left hand. The base of
this bracket is formed with three open side slots for fixing. A screw is first inserted
in the open slot at one end of the base of the bracket, so as to temporarily fix it. A
screw in the centre open slot of the bracket is now left slightly loose so as to permit
the bracket (when the window blind roller has been got nicely into position) to
swivel on the end screw, and afterwards be brought home, when the second or middle
screw is then tightened. By these means the roller is fixed quite safe, and it is
absolutely impossible for it to leave its place on the bracket.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1896.
F. RICHMOND,
12 Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in and appertaining to Window Blind Rollers, and
in Operating and Controlling Appliances therefor.
We HENRY LOMAX of Railway Road Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer,
and LOMAX LIMITED of Imperial Works, Northgate, Blackburn, in the said County,
Manufacturers of Door and Window Blind Fittings, 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:-
This invention relates to new and improved means of operating and controlling
window blind rollers, so that the blind may be raised or lowered by pulling the blind
cord, which, when relieved, allows the retaining catch to fall instantaneously into the
teeth of the ratchet wheel attached to the blind roller, so as to retain the blind in any
desired position in a novel and unique manner. The invention also relates to
improved construction of the supporting brackets for such rollers in order that they
may suit all positions, in which they may be put.
In previous arrangements of this nature, it has been found difficult to provide a
suitable catch, which would not be materially affected by the slightest addition to its
weight in the shape of the blind cord or the like, and it has been found in practice,
that this sensitiveness of the catch is a great drawback to self retaining window blind
attachments, because it almost always interferes to some extent with the free
movements of the roller or otherwise renders the arrangement useless for the purpose
intended. To get rid of the disadvantage, window blind cord has had to be employed,
of only such length and weight as not to overcome the delicate balance of the
retaining or controlling catch.
In the present invention, the controlling catch is so mounted and suspended
that its equilibrium will not be disturbed by any reasonable addition of weight
to it.
The bracket which supports the shaft of the window blind roller, is formed at one
or other of its extremities, or has fixed to it, a hook or hooks, and upon one of these
hooks the controlling catch is mounted. The catch is lengthened somewhat in the
form of a tailpiece, and is provided with an elongated slot, by which it is slipped or

page_text: hung on the hook formed on the supporting brackets. The catch is not half so
sensitive when mounted and formed in this way, as when it is pivotted in the usual
manner.
One end of the window blind cord is attached to the ratchet wheel, while
its other extremity is passed through a hole at the tail end of the catch and knotted.
The cord is wound on the shaft of the roller between the collar and the ratchet wheel
by the weight of the window blind. Instead of an endless cord being employed as
above described, a single one may be used. It is first attached to the ratchet wheel
and is then passed through the hole in the tail of the retaining catch. The passage
of the cord through this hole, in raising and lowering the blind does not interfere
with the free action of the catch.
As we have previously stated our improved supporting brackets for supporting the
blind roller are as novel as they are universal in their application. We will first
proceed to describe the bracket, which carries the controlling catch. The bracket is
forined L shaped with a side lug for carrying the blind roller. A particular feature of
this bracket may have the catch mounted for right or left hand. The novel method
of constructing the bracket L shaped with a side lug permits of its being adapted to
screw to the face, to the ceiling, and to the side of the windows and either right or
left hand. The off hand bracket will also screw three different ways in like manner.
This bracket is formed with two curved slots branching in different directions. In
one of these slots the roller is mounted according to whether it is right or left hand.
The base of this bracket is formed with three open side slots for fixing. A screw is
first inserted in the open slot at the one end of the base of the bracket so as to
temporarily fix it. A screw in the centre open slot of the bracket is now left slightly
loose, so as to permit the bracket (when the window blind roller has got nicely into
position) to swivel on the end screw, and afterwards be brought home, when the
second or middle screw is then tightened. By these means the roller is fixed quite
safe, and it is absolutely impossible for it to leave its place on the bracket.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a window blind
roller and brackets, and our improved operating and controlling appliances therefor.
A is the window blind, B the blind roller, C the off-end bracket for supporting the
roller, and D the retaining bracket, or that which carries the retaining catch and
ratchet wheel.
Both brackets Cand D are universal in their application. As will be seen in Fig. 3,
the off-end bracket C is capable of being fixed either to the face or to the side of the
window casing, and will answer for either right or left hand, the blind roller B fitting
into either the grooved slot E or F as the case may be, whether right or left hand.
The base of the off-end bracket C is formed with three open side slots G G¹ and G².
These are intended to facilitate the introduction or removal of the blind roller.
A screw is first tightened in the top side slot G; another screw in the central
slot G is left alightly loose, so as to permit the bracket (when the window blind
roller has been got into position) to swivel on the end screw in the slot G, and the
second or middle screw is tightened when the bracket has been got home.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the bracket carrying the retaining catch. This
bracket is formed somewhat L shaped, having a hook H and J at each projecting
extremity, and in addition is formed with a side lug K. These hooks are designed
for holding the retaining catch L whether the bracket be adapted to right or left-
hand, in which case the position is of course reversed.
This bracket is adapted to be screwed to the face or side of the window casing or to
the ceiling, and for this purpose is provided with screw holes M N O P Q and the
slot R which extends along both the top and bottom of the bracket.
In Fig. 1 is represented a double cord attachment, i.e., one end of the cord is
attached to the ratchet wheel S, is lapped round the shaft of the roller, and is then
attached at its other end to the tail of the catch or pawl T.
The handle V carries a pulley W, which slides on the double cord attachment, and by
this means the blind is raised and lowered, but in the drawings the blind cord should
have been illustrated considerably longer but want of space prevents us from shewing

page_text: it thus, for obviously the blind cord must be unwound when the blind is wound up,
and vice versa. The catch or pawl T is formed with a tail X and an elongated slot, by
which it is readily hooked on and off the hook end of the supporting bracket.
In Fig. 2, the single cord arrangement is illustrated, and the exact shape of the
catch Y fully shewn. The extended slot Z permits of it being readily mounted on
hooks J or H as the case may be. When a single cord is used, after attachment to
the ratchet wheel, and wnding on the shaft of the blind roller as aforesaid, its end is
passed through the slot U, which permits freedom of movement to the cord, and then
taken through a wood handle and knotted. The method of attaching and mounting
the blind cord both single and double is old.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is :
1. The improved construction of supporting brackets for window blind rollers, so
that they are universal in their application, and fit to the face, to the side or to the
ceiling, and be adaptable to either right or left hand, substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improved arrangement and combination of parts for supporting window
blind rollers, and operating and controlling appliances therefor, substantially as shewn
and described.
3. The open side slots G G¹ and G2 in supporting brackets for window blind rollers
to enable the roller to be readily introduced or removed without reinoving the screws,
substantially as described and shewn in Fig. 3.
of Tul 807
RICHMOND & Co.,
12, Standish Street, Burnley, Agents for the Applicants.