Improvements in Domestic Blinds, Screens, and Curtains.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Domestic Blinds, Screens, and Curtains.
I SAMUEL TOWNSEND of No. 7 Mercers Road Holloway in the County of
Middlesex Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to that character of blinds or screens which
are commonly known as "dwarf" window blinds or screens (that is such as the short
blinds or screens used at the lower parts of windows) and to other blinds screens and
curtains for doors windows etc. and my said invention is designed to produce an artistic
as well as a novel blind screen or curtain for such. purposes..
My present invention consists in constructing and arranging such blinds screens or
curtains in the following or the like manners:-
A series of metal strips or laths (advantageously steel) are horizontally linked or
Cotherwise suitably secured together having alternate spaces open for the light and
ornamented or decorated in any desired manner and several of such series of strips
are suspended side by side from a rod or bar provided for that purpose.
Solid metal plates or pierced discs of metal (ornamented in any suitable manner)
may be introduced amongst these strips to add to their ornamental effectiveness and
bends metal fringes tassels or the like may be added as further embellishment.
A very novel and highly ornamental effect can be produced by mounting side by
side a number of endless bands formed of such strips-ornamented or decorated on
both sides on rollers so that the backs of the strips on one side will be seen through
the spaces or openings on the other side and thus by moving the band round a kind of
kaleidoscopic effect will be produced.
In place of mounting thic strips horizontally as herein before described they may
be suspended vortically in a single row and one piece attached below another or in
one single strip.
Also such vertically suspended strips may be arranged in double rows (ie. one row
behind the other) one row being mounted on a slide in the suspending cross bar so
that the strips of both rows coincide with one another and thus leaving alternate
spaces clear for light to pass through while by laterally moving the said slide and row
of strips attached thereto the latter will close the otherwise open spaces between the
other row of strips.
In the case of the endless band arrangement a framework is required to carry the
rollers etc. and cross bars and uprights or other form of lattice work may be added
to aid the ornamental effect as desired.
Also lattice work or gratings or the like may be used as desired in front or
behind of any of the blinds screens or curtains made in accordance with my present
invention.
The methods of arranging mounting painting ornamenting or otherwise decorating
the said metal strips or plates whether horizontally or vertically suspended inay be
considerably varied without departing from the nature of my invention.
Dated this 20th day of September 1880

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Domestic Blinds, Screens, and Curtains.
I SAMUEL TOWNSEND of No. 7 Mercers Road Holloway in the County of
Middlesex Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be perforined to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates more particularly to that character of blinds or screens
which are commonly known as dwarf" window blinds or screens (that is such as
the short blinds or screens used at tlie lower parts of windows) and to other blinds
screens and curtains for doors windows etcetera and my said invention is designed
to produce an artistic as well as a novel blind screen or curtain for such purposes.
My present invention consists in constructing and arranging such blinds screens or
curtains in the following or the like manners.
And in order that my invention uiay be clearly understood and readily carried into
practice I will proceed to describe the same reference being made to the drawings
lierelo annexed and to the figures and letters marked thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a front view and Figure 2 a vertical section of a dwarf window
blind or screen arranged and constructed in accordance with my invention.
a a are a series of metal strips or laths (advantageously steel) horizontally linked
or otherwise suitably secured together leaving alternate spaces open for the light and
ornamented or decorated on one or both sides in any desired manner-and several of
such series of strips a are suspended side by side from a rod or barb provided for that
purpose and secured by a meial lath and links to a bottom bar 6 of the rectangular
frame in which the laths a are mounted. Tightening screws on the frame bar
are connected to the links and lath 6 to stretch the series of laths a between the top
and bottom. bars band b².
Solid metal plates or pierced discs c of metal (ornamented in any suitable manner)
are or may be introduced amongst the strips a to adil to their ornamental effectiveness
as represented in the drawings and beads metal fringes tassels or the like may be
added or substituted as further embellishment.
Figure 3 shows part of a side view and Figure 4 shows a section of a similar blind
or screen constructed in accordance with my invention in which a very novel and
highly ornamental effect is produced by mounting side by side a number of endless
bands formed of metal strips a a ornamented or decorated on both sides and mounted
on rollers d d so that the backs of the strips a on one side will be seen through the
spaces or openings on the other side and thus by moving the endless band round a
kind of kaleidoscopic effect will be produced.
In place of mounting the strips horizontally as herein before described they may be
suspended vertically in a single row and one piece attached below another or in one
single strip.
Also such vertically suspended strips may be arranged in double rows (i.e. one row
behind the other) one row being mounted on a slide in a suspending cross bar so that
the strips of both rows coincide with one another thus leaving alternate spaces clear
for light to pass through while by laterally moving the said slide and row of strips
attached thereto the latter will close the otherwise open spaces between the other row
of strips.
In the case of the endless band arrangement a framework ee is required to carry
the rollers etcetera and cross bars and uprights for other form of lattice work may
be added to aid the ornamental effect as desired.
Also lattice work or gratings or the like may be used as desired in front or
behind of any of the blinds screens or curtains made in accordance with my present
invention.

page_text: The methods of arranging mounting painting ornamenting or otherwise decorating
the said metal strips or plates whether horizontally or vertically suspended may be
considerably varied without departing from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved method or means employed for constructing and arranging
domestic. blinds screens and curtains by combining and mounting a series of ornamental
metal strips laths squares and other parts or shapes of sheet metal linked and combined
together and mounted in suitable frames substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein before described and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
2. The improved arrangement and construction of domestic blinds screens and
curtains substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this 30th of T1900
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.