Improvements in Holding Mechanism for Spring Blinds.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 4th Nov., 189
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Holding Mechanism for Spring Blinds.
I, EDWARD THOMAS BURROWES, of 70 Free Street, in the City of Portland,
County of Cumberland and State of Maine, United States of America, Window
Screen and Shade Manufacturer, 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:-
The most essential features of the invention are certain novel mechanisms
operating to release the frictional holding device, and a novel feature connected
with the friction tip or head, all of which will be fully set forth in the following
Specification and claims, and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings
forming a part of the same, of which―
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing my improved releasing mechanism for
the frictional shade holding mechanism,
Fig. 2 being a broken elevation of a portion of a shade stick containing my
improvements, and showing one of the friction tips or heads, and the actuating
knob for releasing the friction tips from contact with a window frame.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing a portion of a shade stick, a portion of a
spring actuated rod, the main actuating spring, my improved auxiliary spring, and
the friction tip as when ready for use.
Fig. 4 represents the actuating knob as when detached.
Similar letters denote corresponding parts.
aB at
C,
Referring to the details of the drawings by letter, A, denotes a shade stick, and,
B, is a friction tip whose especial novelty consists in the manner in which it is
mounted upon the spring actuated rod C, to wit: the oblong tip or head B, is
rigidly secured to a piston or stem b, to avoid the liability of the head becoming
lost out of the end of the stick in case of its becoming loosened from the window
frame. The stem is perforated at , so as to loosely fit the rod C, which extends
through said stem and is mounted rotatively therein, and also longitudinally to a
limited extent, i.e., the said rod C is slightly expanded or headed at its outer end
and said enlarged portion is made an easy fit for the main portion of the
perforation 6, of said stem b, which has at its inner end a shoulder, fitting more
closely the main portion of said rod C, and preventing its removal therefrom, and
its movement in the opposite direction is limited by contact with an enlarged or
expanded portion c¹, of said rod C. The ordinary helical spring D, is
mounted on the rod, expanding its force between the collar c³, of said rod and a
suitable stop or washer a, secured on the shade stick A, for forcing said rod
normally outward, and an auxiliary spring D¹, operated between a stop or collar c³,
secured to said rod C, and my improved swivel friction tip or head B. This
auxiliary spring D', is not intended to add to the frictional power of the head B,
against the window frame, the longitudinal movement of said head upon the spring
actuated rod C, being provided merely to prevent the accidental displacement of
said head from a window frame, while the pressure of said rod is withdrawn, and
the said spring D¹, is designed to exert only sufficient force upon said head B, to
insure its contact with a window frame at all times. The opposite or inuer end of
either spring actuated rod C, is loosely attached to a rack E, having spur teeth e,
which mesh with the spur teeth f, of a pinion F, mounted on a shaft G, to the
outer end of which is attached an actuating knob H. By rotating this knob, the
spring actuated rods are easily drawn inward or toward the center of a shade stick
and thus the pressure of a shoulder or expanded portion c', of the rod C is removed
from the stem b, of the tip or head B, permitting the ready adjustment of a shade

page_text: while the said friction head B, still has the appearance of holding the shade, by
reason of the auxiliary spring D'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the said is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,―
1. The combination with the spring actuated rods of the longitudinally and
rotatively movable friction heads permanently secured thereto, and auxiliary
springs for holding said heads normally extended upon said rods.
2. The combination, with a shade stick, the outer end of which is hollow and
provided with a stop, of a longitudinally movable rod in the stick, the outer end of
which is provided with a head longitudinally movable thereon, and the inner end
is provided with means for moving the rod longitudinally, a stop on the rod
between the stop in the stick and the head on the rod, a spring on the rod between
the two stops and an auxiliary spring on the rod between the stop on the rod and
the head.
3. The combination with a shade stick, the outer end of which is provided with a
longitudinally movable hollow stem, the bottom or inner end of which is perforated
and the outer end is provided with a friction head, of a longitudinally movable rod
within the stick, the outer end of which is passed through the perforation in the
stem and enlarged and fitted in the hollow of the stem, a stop on the rod to limit
the inward movement of the head, and a spring on the rod adapted to engage
with the bottom of the stem and force it outward, and means for moving the rod
within the stick.
4. The combination with a shade stick, each end of which is provided with a
friction head, rods in the stick, the outer end of which each engages loosely with
the head at that end, said head being longitudinally movable relatively to the rod,
a stop on each rod, a spring on each rod, one end of which engages with the
stop and the other end engages with the head, and means for moving the rods.
Dated this 21st day of July 1893.