IMPROVE- MENTS IN VENETIAN AND OTHER SUSPENDED BLINDS, AND IN THE METHOD OF HANGING AND WORKING THEM
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Jenkins Cole at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th February
1859.
I, JOHN JENKINS COLE, of No. 24, Essex Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VENETIAN AND OTHER SUSPENDED BLINDS, AND IN THE METHOD OF
HANGING AND WORKING THEM," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to raise and lower Venetian and other sus-
pended blinds, either wholly or partially, with more ease that by the methods
in common use.
My Invention consists in having a balance weight so made and hung as to
counterpoise or partially counterpoise the weight of the blind to which it is
attached, and in fixing or hanging the said weight to the lines which pass in
the ordinary way over pulleys and through the laths of a Venetian blind, or
through the rings, loops, or eyes of a blind of flexible material. In some
cases I attach the balance weight to one or more lines passing over pulleys
and through the laths of a Venetian blind, or through the rings, loops, or eyes.
of a blind of flexible materials, independently of the line or other ordinary
means of suspension and working.
Both the ways herein-before described are applicable to existing blinds
either with or without a boxing, but I would prefer, when the blind is between
linings that the balance weight be hung behind one of the linings by lines and
pulleys conducted from the bottom part of the blind, and that an additional

page_text: line be attached to the weight and brought over a pulley; by pulling this line
the weight will be relieved, and the blind lowered.
When the blind is hung on the inner face of a wall or in such like
situation, I would extend the hanging lath, and place the additional pulleys in
such extension, so that the weights may hang clear of the architraves.
When the blind is hung between the pulley stiles of the lower sash of a
window, I would use a horizontal pulley or pulleys to turn the new working
lines in a direction inwards, to clear the window frame.
In preparing or fitting a blind in a newly formed situation, I would have a
wood frame or lining made for the blind, with a boxing on one side of the
balance weight; I would then carry the two lines that usually pass upwards
through the blind over pulleys fixed in the stile of the blind frame to the
balance weight in the boxing; I would then attach another line to the weight
and bring it over a pulley, so as to draw up the weight when required.
I would also attach another line to the middle of the bottom lath or wire
stretcher, and carry it up through the laths of a Venetian blind, or through the
rings, loops, or eyes of a blind of flexible materials, over pulleys and down one
side of the blind opposite to the boxing for the balance weight.
The mode of working all or either of the blinds herein-before described is
as follows:-When I wish to lower the blind, I pull the line that is attached to
the weight and draw it up; this operation relieves the blind of its counterpoise
or partial counterpose, and allows it to fall by its own gravity; and upon
releasing the line, the blind will be again balanced and remain at the required
height. When I desire to raise the blind, I pull the line attached to the
middle of the lath or wire stretcher at the bottom of the blind, as herein-before
described, and draw up the blind to any height at pleasure.
In some cases I would have two weights or two boxings instead of one
weight and one boxing, in which case I would carry the two lines over the
pulleys seperately, attaching one line to each weight.
In some cases I would have the line that raises the weight and the line that
raises the blind brought over both on one side of the frame, but I do not
restrict myself to any particular place or direction for the different lines or
weights.