IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FITTINGS FOR ROLLER BLINDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SUSPENDING PICTURE FRAMES AND FOR COUPLING, JOINING, OR CONNECTING TOGETHER THE ENDS OF ROPES, CORDS, OR BANDS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bellamy Payne, of Chard, in the County
of Somerset, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
FITTINGS FOR ROLLER BLINDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR SUSPENDING PICTURE FRAMES AND FOR COUPLING, JOINING,
OR CONNECTING TOGETHER THE ENDS OF ROPES, CORDS, OR BANDS."
Sealed the 9th November 1869, and dated the 11th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bellamy Payne
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th May 1869.
I, JOHN BELLAMY PAYNE, of Chard, in the County of Somerset,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN THE FITTINGS FOR ROLLER BLINDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SOSPENDING PICTURE FRAMES, AND FOR COUPLING,
JOINING, OR CONNECTING TOGETHER THE ENDS OF ROPES, CORDS, OR BANDS," to be
as follows:-
The fittings for roller blinds which form the subject of the present
Invention comprise a novel mode of coupling, joining, or connecting
together the ends of the cord which passes round the pulley on the end
of the blind roller, and also the pulley attached to the rack or tension

page_text: slide below; the object, as regards roller blind cords being to dispense
with sewing or connecting the ends of the cord by means of thread as is
now the case. To this end I employ a fastening or coupling of peculiar
construction, which consists of a pair of spring clips connected together
by one, two, or more links, so as to form one coupling. The ends of the
cord are inserted into the spring clips, and in order to hold them
securely therein a short piece of tube is passed over the spring clips so
as to keep the jaws well closed on the ends of the cord, which is thereby
formed into an endless band. In order to give great strength to the
cord I make it in the form of a cable-laid cord instead of the ordinary
worsted covered blind cord. This cable-laid cord is much stronger and
more durable than the ordinary worsted covered blind cord, and as it is
not more expensive in manufacture will be found a great improvement
upon the old blind cord. In order to give the necessary amount of
elasticity to the cord and to take up any slack it is passed round a pulley
to which is attached an india-rubber spring, whereby it is held back and
puts the required amount of tension on the cord.
The improved coupling above described is also applicable for coupling,
joining, or connecting together the ends of ropes, cords, or bands for
other purposes, and, in fact, may be employed for temporarily coupling
or connecting the end of one rope to the end of another, so as to
lengthen the same without resorting to the tedious operation of splicing,
or the bungling and inconvenient device of tying a knot.
It is also particularly applicable for connecting the ends of driving
bands, whether made of hemp, flax, wool, gut, rubber, leather, or other
suitable material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Bellamy Payne in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BELLAMY PAYNE, of Chard, in the County of Somerset, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-second

page_text: year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Bellamy Payne, Her special licence,
that I, the said John Bellamy Payne, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Bellamy Payne, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,, use,.
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE FITTINGS FOR ROLLER BLINDS, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS
ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR SUSPENDING PICTURE FRAMES, AND FOR COUPLING,
JOINING, OR CONNECTING TOGETHER THE ENDS OF ROPES, CORDS, OR BANDS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Bellamy Payne,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and im-
mediately after the date of the said Letter Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Bellamy Payne, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto.
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to.
say) :-
The fittings for roller blinds which form the subject of the present
Invention comprise a novel mode of coupling, joining, or connecting
together the ends of the cord which passes round the pulley on the end
of the blind roller, and also the pulley attached to the rack or tension
slide below, the object as regards roller blind cords, the first part of the
Invention as adapted to roller blinds being to dispense with sewing or
connecting the ends of the cord by means of thread as is now the case.
The manner in which I effect this will be understood by referring to
the accompanying Drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents the two ends of
a blind cord connected together by my improved fastening or coupling;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same; and Figures 3 represent the part,
the parts of the coupling detached.
It will be seen that my improved fastening or coupling consists of a

page_text: pair of spring clips a, a, connected together by one, two, or more
links b, so as to form one coupling. The ends of the cords c, c, are
inserted into the spring clips, as shewn in Fig. 3; and in order to hold
them securely therein a short piece of slightly conical tube d, d, shewn
detached in Fig. 3, is passed over the spring clips a, so as to keep the
jaws well closed on the ends of the cord which is thereby formed into an
endless band. The end of the spring clip is made conical or bluntly
pointed so that the conical tube d may be more easily passed over it and
made to compress the jaws of the clip. This is important, as if these
parts are made cylindrical great difficulty will be experienced in placing
the several parts in their proper position. It will be seen that jagged
teeth projecting inwards are made in the sides of the spring clips in
order to enable them more securely to hold the ends of the cords. The
construction of these parts will be more clearly seen and understood by
referring to the enlarged views, Figures 4 and 5, which represent the
improved coupling adapted for joining the ends of ropes or cables either
permanently or temporarily without resorting to the tedious operation of
splicing or the bungling and inconvenient device of tying a knot.
Fig. 4 is a side view of a cable coupling, the conical tubes d, d, for
holding the jaws securely closed being shewn in section. Figures 5
represent all the parts separate. The upper view of Figures 5 is an end
view of the spring clip compressed; the view below it is vertical
section of the clip in its uncompressed state and ready to receive the end
of a cable or cord. It will be seen that not only is the end of the clip
armed with teeth 1, 1, but that the sides also are jagged as at 2, 2, for
more effectually nipping and holding the rope when the clip is com-
pressed thereon, as shewn at Fig. 4. The clip may be more completely
secured to the rope or cord by passing a pin through the clip and the
enclosed rope. The head of the pin is secured in a countersunk hole
made on one side of the clip and the opposite end is split and is pro-
vided with an annular groove, as shewn in the detached view, Fig. 4,
into which the opposite side of the clip is sprung. This temporary
fastening may be removed by collapsing the split end of the pin and
pushing it out, but if it be desired to make the pin a permanent fastening
may be rivetted or otherwise permanently secured. The other two
views of Figures 5 are sectional and end views of the conical clamping
tube a, in the end of which there is an oblong or rectangular hold for
the bowed end 3 of the spring clip to pass through, as shewn at Fig. 4.
The hook for connecting the two clips is passed through the bowed
it
a

page_text: ends 3, and thus forms the complete coupling, as shewn at Fig. 4. It
will be evident that when the clamping tube d is pushed over the clips
it will force the side and end tooth or jagged projection of the clips into
the rope, and will thus hold the latter firmly in the clip. Fig. 6 is a
cross section of one of the improved fastenings adapted to the lath of a
common roller blind to secure the cord and tassel to the lath. The
construction of this fastening is the same in principle as those above
described, but the loop b is made sufficiently large to embrace the lath
of the blind.
In order to give great strength to the cords used for roller blinds I
make them in the form of a cable-laid cord instead of the ordinary
worsted covered blind cord. This cable-laid cord is much stronger and
more durable than the ordinary worsted covered blind cord, and as it is
not more expensive in manufacture it will be found a great improvement
upon the old blind cord.
The improved coupling above described is also applicable, (when suit-
ably modified as to shape,) for connecting the ends of driving bands
whether made of hemp, flax, wool, gut, rubber, leather, or other suitable
material. Fig. 7 is a side view, and Fig. 8 an edge view of a band
coupling constructed according to my Invention. In this instance the
clip is made flat on both sides to fit the flat band c*, c*, and a hinge
joint h is made between the two clips, as shewn, so that it may freely
pass round pullies or driving drums.
Fig. 9 is an elevation, and Fig. 10, a partial section of a device for
giving the necessary amount of elasticity for taking up the slack of a
blind cord. To this end it is passed round a pulley p, to which is
attached an india-rubber spring r, whereby the pulley is drawn back and
The india-rubber
puts the required amount of tension on the cord.
spring is contained in a cylinder s made of metal, glass, carthenware, or
other suitable material, as shewn at Fig. 9, and this cylinder is secured
to the window frame by screws or otherwise in the ordinary manner.
Having now described my Invention of improvements in the fittings
for roller blinds, parts of which improvements are also applicable for
suspending picture frames and for coupling, joining, or connecting
together the ends of ropes, cords, or bands, and having explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim, as the Invention
secured to me by Letters Patent, as aforesaid, joining or connecting

page_text: together the ends of cords or ropes by means of conical clips provided
with internal teeth or jagged projections, and secured in place by means
of a conical tube, as herein set forth.
I also claim the device shewn at Figures 6 and 7 for joining or
connecting together flat driving bands.
Lastly. I claim making roller blind cords of cable-laid cord and
imparting thereto a suffioient amount of elasticity by the use of the
spring pullies shewn at Figures 8 and 9.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bellamy Payne have here-
unto set my hand and scal, the Tenth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
nine.