Improvements in Cord Racks for Window Blinds.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cord Racks for Window Blinds.
We LEONARD WILKINSON SUTCLIFFE of No. 5 Market Street Manchester in
the County of Lancaster Engineer and SAMUEL MARTIN GULLY of Rumwell
Hall Taunton in the County of Somerset, retired Major, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our said invention relates to an improved self-acting compensating device to be
used in connection with the bottom pulley of the appliance commonly known as
blind cord rack and used for the purpose of rotating a window blind roller in order
to raise or lower the blind.
As at present commonly constructed the bottom pulley of the said appliance is
mounted in bearings capable of vertical adjustment and provided with means for
securing the pulley within certain limits at any desired height and by such means
to increase or diminish the tension in the cord which connects the bottom pulley
with the blind roller.
The object of our said invention is to provide means for automatically regulating
the tension in the cord so as to take up any slack due to the stretching of the cord
and also to allow the pulley to yield when the cord contracts or to allow a knot or
thickened joint therein to readily pass round the pulley.
According to our said invention we connect the bottom pulley to one end of a
chain or cord which passes round a drum free to rotate on a fixed pin or shaft.
Inside the drum is a coiled spring one end of which is secured to the said fixed pin
or shaft while the other end is secured to the drun. The spring the drum and the
chain or cord are so set as to pull the bottom pulley downwards and stretch the
cord to a suitable degree. If the cord contracts or if a knot passes the bottom
pulley the spring will yield and allow the bottom pulley to rise. The resilience
of the coiled spring will however continually tend to draw the pulley downwards
and automatically take up any slack which may arise after the passage of
the knot.
In lieu of using a drum as hereinbefore described we may attach the bottom
pulley to the end of the coiled spring either directly or by means of a cord or
chain.
In some cases we provide, means for winding the spring so as to increase the
pull and provide means such as for example pins or clicks for preventing the spring
slipping back after being wound.
Dated this Thirty-first day of January 1891.
EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW,
70, Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cord Racks for Window Blinds.
We LEONARD WILKINSON SUTCLIFFE of No. 5 Market Street, Manchester:
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and SAMUEL MARTIN GULLY of Rumwell
Hall, Taunton, in the County of Somerset, retired Major 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 said invention relates to an improved self-acting compensating device to be
used in connection with the bottom pulley of the appliance commonly known as

page_text: a blind cord rack and used for the purpose of rotating a window blind roller by
mcns of an endless connecting cord for the purpose of raising or lowering the
blind.
As usually constructed the bottom pulley of such appliances is mounted in
bearings capable of vertical adjustment and provided with means for securing the
pulley within certain limits at any desired distance from the top pulley and by
such means the tension on the connecting cord is regulated.
The object of our said invention is to provide means for automatically regulating
the tension in the cord so as to take up any slack due to the stretching of the cord
and also to allow the pulley to yield when the cord contracts or to allow a knot
or thickened joint in the cord to pass easily round the pulley.
In order that our said invention may be more readily described and understood
we have appended hereunto a drawing representing an appliance made in accordance
with our said invention.
"
A is the framework or support of the appliance which may be secured to the
window frame by means of screws passing through the holes a a. Secured to or
formed solid with the frame A is a stud to which is secured one end of a coiled
spring c.
d is a drum which rotates on the central stud . The outer end of the
spring is secured to the drum. A stop e against which bears a lug or projection d
on the drum d prevents the drum turning backwards and uncoiling the spring.
A flexible chain or cord is secured to and partly surrounds the drum d. The
other end of the chain has attached to it a pulley under which is passed the
cord connected with the blind roller. The length of this cord is so arranged that
when stretched over the top and bottom cord pullies the drum d will be pulled
partly round in the direction shown by the arrow in which position the resilience
of the coiled spring will tend to pull the cord tight. If the cord contracts the
drum will simply be pulled further round and if the cord expands the spring will
take up the slack and thus maintain sufficient tension in the cord to allow of the
blind being manipulated.
A covering plate preferably screwing on to the stud and projecting inwards
so as to form a bearing for the drum to rest on is provided. In some cases an
outer casing may be provided covering the drum and chain and provided with an
opening for the passage of the chain.
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-
The use combination and arrangement of a rotating drum, a coiled spring, and a
chain or cord, the whole constituting a device for automatically stretching a window
blind cord substantially as herein before described and shown.
Dated this Thirty-first day of October 1891.
EDWARD TURNER WHITELOW,
70, Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.