IMPROVEMENTS IN VENETIAN-BLINDS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VENETIAN-BLINDS." A communication from Georg
Weckmann, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENETIAN BLINDS." A com-
munication from Georg Weckmann, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in Venetian blinds.
These improved blinds are constructed of rows of wooden frames covered with
cloth or other transparent material, which frames can be drawn upward or be
lowered, and which when being lowered automatically occupy the vertical position
in which the blinds are closed. When drawn up the different rows of frames are
in horizontal position and are placed one frame close underneath the other. Those
frames which have been lowered and which close directly after, as before mentioned,
can be opened partly or totally by a cord fastened to the front part of the rows of
frames.
The different rows of frames are at the ends, in front, and at the back connected
to each other by upright bands or straps containing eyelets in which axles of the
frames turn freely. The upper ends of the hinder straps are connected to a board
or other part of the structure to which the curtain or blind has to be attached.
The new and original part of this Invention is that according to the herein before
described construction, one row of frames after the other when lowering the
curtain directly assumes the closed position in which rays of the sun are kept out
from the room which has to be protected, whilst with former constructions of this
sort of blinds the lowering of the whole curtain was required before the frames
could be closed or turned. Another new feature is that with these blinds any
part of the curtain which has been lowered can be wholly or partly opened and be
secured in that position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd November 1880.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENETIAN BLINDS." A com-
munication from Georg Weckmann, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to certain improvements in Venetian blinds.
These improved blinds are constructed of rows of wooden frames covered with
cloth or other transparent material, which frames can be drawn upward or be
lowered, and which when being lowered automatically occupy the vertical position
in which the blinds are closed. When drawn up the different rows of frames are
in horizontal position and are placed one frame close underneath the other.
Those frames which have been lowered and which close directly after, as before
mentioned, can be opened partly or totally by a cord fastened to the front part of
the rows of frames.
The different rows of frames are at the ends, in front, and at the back, connnected
to each other by upright bands or straps containing eyelets in which axles of the
frames turn freely. The upper ends of the hinder straps are connected to a board
or other part of the structure to which the curtain or blind has to be attached.
The new and original part of this Invention is that according to the. bercin
before described construction, one row of frames after the other when lowering
the curtain directly assumes the closed position, in which rays of the sun are kept
out from the room which has to be protected, whilst with former constructions of
this sort of blinds the lowering of the whole curtain was required before the
frames could be closed or turned. Another new feature is that with these blinds
any part of the curtain which has been lowered can be wholly or partly opened
and be secured in that position.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents one mode of carrying out this
Invention. Fig. 1 is a front view of the fully lowered blind with the different
rows of covered frames partly closed; Fig. 2 is a corresponding side elevation; and
Fig. 3, a plan seen from top of the blind; m, n, o, p, are the rows of frames
horizontally placed one row underneath the other, which rows may according to the
width of the blind be composed of one or more covered frames attached to each
other by central pins or axles. In the Drawing three frames are used for each
row m, n, etc.; v is a cord for turning the rows for the purpose of closing the
blind more or less; 2, a cord for lifting and lowering the blind; R and H are the
upright bands connecting the frames, which latter turn by means of pins in eyelets
of the bands. The blind is carried by metal or other straps P fastened to a board
or otherwise to the upper part of the window frame, which straps P are in con-
nection with the upright bands H. The cord v for shifting the inclined position of
the rows of frames is with one end fastened to the upper part of band R, and
carries the front of the frames by passing through rollers or rings a or other
attachments of the upper supporting board or upper part of the window frame.
The cord for lifting and lowering the blind passes through metal rings or eyes
fastened to the centres of the ends of the different frames to the bottom frames of
which one end is fastened.
When pulling cord v the blind opens more or less whilst it is closes as soon as
this cord is left free. The blind may by cord z be lowered as far as required, and
after being stopped the different rows of frames may be opened by cord v more or
less as required.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in such
wise that the same may be readily carried into practical effect, I claim,—
The combination of rows of frames covered with cloth or other material, which

page_text: frames are hinged and supported at the hinder ends by straps H attached to a
board or upper part of the window frame, whilst the fronts of the frames are
carried by bands or straps R, which latter straps can be turned by a cord or chain v,
substantially for the purpose and in the manner as herein described in reference
to and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
F. H. F. ENGEL. (L.S.)