IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS, AND IN ADAPTING THEM FOR USE AS SUN BLINDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Rawlings, of East Knoyle, in the County of Wilts,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS, AND IN
ADAPTING THEM FOR USE AS SUN BLINDS."
=
Sealed the 25th January 1878, and dated the 31st July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Rawlings at the
Office of the Commissioners of. Patents on the 31st July 1877.
"
CHARLES RAWLINGS, of East Knoyle, in the County of Wilts. IMPROVEMENTS
IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS, AND IN ADAPTING THEM FOR USE AS SUN BLINDS."
My Invention of improvements in revolving shutters consists, first, in making
revolving shutters self-balancing, and dispensing with the usual counterweights,
springs, or gearing, whereby the cost of the shutters is reduced, they are rendered
less liable to get out of order, and less power is required to raise and lower them
than hitherto. To accomplish this the shaft on which the shutter is coiled is
supported in such manner that the said shaft and the portion of the shutter coiled
thereon, will counterbalance the portion of the shutter that hangs in the grooves
both when in the open and closed, and all intermediate positions. The shaft is not
supported in bearings as usual, but has pinions keyed on it one at each end,
which gear each with a fixed internal quadrant-shaped rack, rising from a
horizontal position at the lower end to a vertical position at the upper end, and
the ends of the shaft are received in slots curved to correspond to the curvature of
the rack in order to keep the pinions in gear with the racks as they roll up and
down them in uncoiling and coiling up the shutter, the arrangement being such that
the shutter is let down in the grooves the pinions, and consequently the shaft
and the portion of the shutter coiled thereon, roll up to the highest or vertical part
of the rack, the reverse movement taking place when the shutter is raised in
the grooves;
the pinions, shaft, and shutter coiled thereon then rolling down to the
lower or horizontal part of the racks.

page_text: The shutter which is attached to and coiled upon discs keyed on the shaft is
lowered by means of a web that coils up with the shutter, and passes round a
pulley fixed in any convenient position. By pulling this web the shutter is caused
to uncoil and slide down the grooves.
The shutter is raised by means of a cord attached to the lower lath of the shutter
and passing over a pulley at the top part of the sash, or in other convenient
position.
My Invention consists, secondly, in covering the laths of wood shutters with
steel or iron plates either inside or outside, whereby they are rendered practically
thief proof, since they cannot be forced without being entirely destroyed. I prefer
to plate the lathis on the inside, as the wood affords a better surface for painting
upon, and is not liable to corrode. The plates are secured by bending them over
the edges of the laths, and fixing by means of screws or other fastenings at the
edges.
The laths are connected by one continued hinge, the joints or knuckles being
located in the joints of the shutters, so as not to interfere with the coiling up
of the shutters, the plates of the hinges being screwed to the edges of the laths,
which admit of longer screws being used than when they pass from back to front as
usual.
My Invention consists, thirdly, in adapting revolving shutters to be used as sun
blinds by providing openings near the top of the grooves, and curved or inclined
arms, supported by brackets or frames, fixed to the shop front or other place to
which the shutter is applied, so that the shutter, instead of being let down the
grooves, may be drawn out through the openings above mentioned, and along
the arms or supports, so as to serve in lieu of the ordinary roller sun blind or
awnings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Rawlings in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 31st
January 1878.
CHARLES RAWLINGS, of East Knoyle, in the County of Wilts.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN REVOLVING SHUTTERS, AND IN ADAPTING THEM FOR USE AS SUN BLINDS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in revolving shutters, and in
adapting them for use as sun blinds, and relates, firstly, to rendering such shutters
self-balancing, thereby dispensing with the usual counterweights, springs, and other
apparatus ordinarily required, and so greatly reducing the cost of the shutter at the
same time; that shutters constructed upon my improved principles are less liable to
get out of order, and require considerably less power to raise and lower them than
those hitherto in use.
My Invention relates, secondly, to imparting increased strength and security to
the shutter by covering the wooden laths thereof, either internally or externally,
with plates of iron, steel, or other suitable metal, thus rendering the shutter
practically burglar proof.
And, thirdly, my Invention relates to adapting my improved revolving shutters
to be used as sun blinds or awnings, in the manner hereafter described.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings, proceed
more particularly to describe and ascertain the nature thereof, and the means of
carrying the same into effect.
Figure 1 of such Drawings shews a view of a revolving shutter constructed on
my improved principles, both as it appears when let down in the grooves, when
opened, and when coiled on the automatic wheel, hereafter described, when
raised.
Figure 2 shews a portion of one of my improved hinges as it appears when fixed
to the shutter.
Figure 3 is another view of such hinge, shewing the formation of the two halves
thereof; and Figure 4 is an end view, shewing the same as they appear when united
together.
Figure 5 shews a view of the metal lining of one of the laths in full size, and
my improved method of affixing the same thereto by inserting the screws in the
edges of the laths, as hereafter described.
Figure 6 is a view in section, shewing the improved shape which I prefer to
employ for the laths of the shutter, as hereafter mentioned, together with the screws
inserted therein for the purpose of holding the same together; and Figure 7 shews
the manner of fitting the knuckles or joints of my improved hinge, as hereafter
described.
To carry out the first part of my Invention I proceed as follows:-I employ a
self-turning or self-acting wheel a, so weighted as to counterbalance the weight of
the shutter itself either when opened, or closed, or when suspended in any inter-
mediate position. The wheel a on which the shutter is coiled is so supported that
both the wheel and the portion of the shutter coiled thereon will counterbalance
that portion thereof which remains suspended. This automatic wheel is not
supported in bearings as ordinarily, but has pinions or cog wheels 6 keyed on the
shaft, one at each end, and which each gear with, hang on, and is turned by a fixed
internal quadrant-shaped rack c, which coils and uncoils the shutter as it ascends
or descends, causing it to rise from a horizontal position at the lower end to a
vertical position at the upper end of the rack. The ends of the shaft are received
in slots & curved to correspond, and running parallel with the curvature of the racks
c in order to keep the pinions in gear with the racks as they roll up and down them
in coiling and uncoiling the shutter, the arrangement being such that as the shutter

page_text: is let down in the grooves, the pinions, and consequently the wheel and the portion of
the shutter coiled thereon, roll up to the highest or vertical part of the racks c ; the
reverse movement taking place when the shutter is raised in the grooves, as the
wheel and the shutter coiled thereon then roll down to the lower or horizontal part
of the racks c.
The shutter is attached by means of a suitable arm to discs keyed on the shaft,
upon which discs it is coiled. Such discs and shaft together form the wheel,
whereby the shutter is lowered or raised.
The shutter is lowered by means of a web, one end of which is fastened to a
third disc keyed on the centre of the shaft, so as to coil up with the shutter, whilst
the other end of the web has a suitable ring or holdfast attached thereto, and
passes over a pulley fixed in any convenient position. By taking hold of the
ring or holdfast, and pulling the web, the shutter is caused to uncoil and slide
down the grooves when required.
5
The shutter is raised by means of a cord attached to the lowest lath of the 1
shutter, which cord passes up inside, and thence over a pulley fixed at the top part
of the sash, and thence over a second pulley fixed in any convenient position in the
shop or room where the shutter is fitted in a similar manner, as already
described with reference to the lowering web.
To carry out the second portion of my Invention, videlicet, imparting increased 2
strength and security to the shutter, I cover the wooden laths with plates of steel,
iron, or other suitable metal fixed either on the inside or outside of each lath,
whereby the shutter is rendered practically burglar proof, since it cannot be forced
without being entirely destroyed. I prefer to place such metal plates on the inside
of the laths, leaving the external wooden surface exposed, and thus affording a 2
better medium for receiving paint, which is not so liable to corrode thereon as when
applied to metal. I secure such metal plates by bending them over the edges
of the laths, and fixing them thereto by means of screws or other suitable fastenings,
which are inserted in the edges of each of the laths, as shewn in Figure 3 of the
accompanying Drawings. I place such screws or fastenings in the joints of the 3
shutter, where they are invisible, and whence they cannot be removed when the
shutter is closed.
The laths are connected together by two or more continuous hinges made of steel
or other suitable metal, the joints or knuckles of which are located in the joints of
the shutter, so as not to interfere with the coiling up of the same when it is raised, 3
the plates of these hinges being screwed to the edges of the laths instead of the
screws passings from back to front in the ordinary manner. This imparts a greater
degree of strength and security to the shutter, as it admits of longer screws being
employed, and a firmer hold being obtained. The number of these continuous
hinges is regulated according to the width of the shutter, so as to prevent all risk 4
of the laths springing from want of being properly tied together.
In order to adapt my improved revolving shutters to be used as sun blinds, I
provide openings near the top of the grooves, and suitably shaped, curved, or
inclined arms supported by brackets or frames fixed to the shop front or other place
to which the shutter is applied, so that the shutter, instead of being let down the 4
grooves, may be drawn out through the before-mentioned openings and along the
arms or supports, and thus serve in lieu of the ordinary sun blind or awning.
I am aware that it has been proposed before to adapt revolving shutters as sun
blinds or awnings, but the peculiar lightness and flexibility of my revolving
shutter owing to its improved construction and the great facility with which it is 5
raised, and lowered, or extended, particularly adapts it for such purpose.
I place suitable metal stops at the bottom of the shutter so as to prevent its
being overdrawn when being coiled up and in order to improve the external
appearance of the same when down I prefer to make the laths thereof in the shape
shewn in section at Figure 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
'
5

page_text: Invention and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would have it under-
stood that I claim,―
Firstly, The improved motor arrangement for raising and lowering the shutter,
as herein-before described, and illustrated at Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The improved method of connecting the laths of the shutter together
by two or more continuous hinges made of steel or other suitable metal, in the
manner herein-before described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The improved method of lining the laths of the shutter with plates of
iron, steel, or other suitable metal, and of securing such plates to the edges of the
laths by means of screws or otherwise, as herein-before described, and illustrated at
Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. I claim the adaptation of my improved revolving shutters as a sun
blind or awning, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Rawlings, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
ELT & Co.,
British and Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
London, W.C.
CHARLES RAWLINGS. (LS.)