Improvements in Rollers for Window-blinds and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rollers for Window-blinds and the like.
I, EDMUND FISHER HARTSHORN, of Newark, County of Essex, State of New Jersey,
United States of America, 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:-
My improvement relates to metal rollers on which window blinds or similar
articles are mounted, and refers to those rollers having a longitudinal groove within
which the blind or similar article is attached to the roller; and consists of a novel
construction of the roller-tube.
In such rollers the usual method of construction has been. to roll the tube with
the groove from a single sheet of metal and unite the edges by soldering, the
joint generally being at one edge of the groove. In my improvement I form the
groove separate from the tube and connect it to the open edges of the latter.
In the accompanying drawing illustrating my improvement, Fig. 1 is a trans-
verse sectional view of the complete roller; Fig. 2 is a view of the open tube
before the groove is attached; Fig. 3. is a view of the groove; Fig. 4 is a view of
the roller with the groove in place; Fig. 5 is a locking or holding device; Fig. 6
is an enlarged view of the complete roller; and Fig. 7 is a modification.
In my improved construction, I form the tube in the usual manner but instead
of forming the groove with the tube and joining the edges of the tube together,
I leave the tube A open and fold-over both edges of the tube inward and back-
ward as shown at a à Fig. 2, and to this open tube attach the separate groove.
The tube should be so constructed that the space between the folded edges at the
surface of the tube will be the correct width to form the neck of the groove when
the parts are put together and the roller completed.
The bottom part of the groove B is made separate from the tube and of a size
and shape to form with the folded edges a a of the tube the complete groove of
the contour desired.
As shown in Fig 3 the edges 6 6 of the groove-piece are bent inward at an angle
to correspond with that of the folded edges a a of the tube, so that when the
groove is in place on the roller the edges of the tube and sides of the groove will
fit and hug closely together, as is seen in Fig. 5. To attach the groove B to the
roller it is slid on from one end of the tube with the edges a a within the sides bb
of the groove. The tendency of the tube to spread apart by reason of the spring
of the metal causes the edges a a to press against the sides of the groove; the
groove is thus not only held in place in the roller but the open edges of the tube
are joined and secured to form the complete roller.
To secure the groove to the roller and thus fasten the edges of the tube, and at
the same time prevent the tube being compressed, or the sides pressed together, I
prefer the fastening device shown in Fig. 4. As there shown this consists of a
strip of metal C with folded edges c c of a size and shape to fit within the folded
edges of a a of the tube as is seen in Figs. 1 and 6. The edges c c press firmly against
the edges a a of the tube, and the latter are thus locked between the edges of the
strip C and of the groove B. The tube cannot spring apart by reason of the

page_text: sides of the groove B and cannot be compressed as its edges are held apart by the
edges of the fastener C. The edges of the tube are thus securely locked and secured.
The fastening device C need not extend the full length of the roller but may
consist of several short strips placed along the groove.
i
In place of the separate fastening device C I may use the modified construction
in Fig. 7. As there shown one of the edges a of the tube is extended across the
groove until it meets and rests against the opposite edge of the tube. When the
groove-piece B is connected with the tube, as before described, the meeting edges of
the tube are pressed together and thus securely joined, and the edge of the tube
locked and fastened as in the former construction with the separate centre-piece.
In this modified construction the extended edge of the tube is virtually the
fastening piece C of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the fastening-piece
instead of being separate, forming part of one of the edges of the tube.
Instead of the fastening device C, I may use other means for attaching the
groove B and securing the edges of the tube, as for instance, a little solder may
be used at points along the roller where the edges of the groove and tube over-lap,
or other means may be employed as may be found desirable.
'
The groove thus formed in the roller may be of any shape desired, and I do not
wish to confine myself to the shape shown in the drawing.
With my improvement I can readily and cheaply form a groove of any desired
form, and where it is desired can readily join the edges of the tube without' the
use of solder; and moreover ensure both edges of the groove being smooth, and
rounded.
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. A blind roller having the edges of the tube joined by a separate,, detached
groove-piece. secured to the tube, substantially as described.
2. In a blind roller having a horizontal groove, a separate groove-piece arranged
and adapted to be secured to the edges of the tube, and effectually join the edges of
the same, substantially as described.
3. In a blind. roller having a horizontal groove, a separate, detached groove-
piece adapted to be attached to the edges of the tube; and means whereby the
edges of the tube and of the groove are joined and secured, substantially as
described.
4. In a blind roller having a horizontal groove, the combination with the tube
of a separate groove-piece, arranged and adapted to be attached to the tube and to
join the edges of the tube together, substantially as described.
5. In a blind roller having a horizontal groove, in combination, a tube; a
separate groove-piece adapted to be attached to the tube; and means whereby
the edges of the tube and of the groove are secured together to form the roller,
substantially as described.
6. In a blind roller having a horizontal groove, in combination the tube A
detached groove B and fastener C, substantially as described.
7. In a blind roller having an open horizontal groove for securing the blind to
the roller, a tube, a separate, detached groove-piece adapted to be attached to the
edges of the tube; and means whereby the edges of the tube and open groove
are joined and secured, substantially as described.
༢:
8. In a blind roller having an open horizontal groove for securing the blind to
the roller, the combination with the tube of a separate groove-piece, arranged
and adapted to be attached to the tube and form the open groove, substantially
as described.
9. In a blind roller having an open horizontal groove for securing the blind to the
roller, in combination, the tube A; detached groove-piece B; and means whereby
the groove-piece is attached to the edges of the tube to form the open groove,
substantially as described.

page_text: 10. In a blind roller having an open horizontal groove for securing the blind
to the roller, in combination, the tube A; detached groove-piece B; and fastener C,
whereby the groove-piece is attached to the tube and held open, substantially as
described.
ril 1898.
EDMUND FISHER HARTSHORN,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.