Improved Window Blind Roller.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Window Blind Roller.
WILLIAM SWARBRICK, 4, Matlock Avenue, Aintree, Liverpool, Stationers'
Assistant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To consist of a groove running from end to end on the outer surface of the
roller to permit of the insertion of a loose rod. The roller at one end is bored to
allow of a spiral spring being inserted & secured to the roller. This combining
a groove method of attaching blind material-without the aid of tacks-to roller
with the spring action or method of winding.
Dated this 19th day of July 1898
I, WILLIAM SWARBRICK, 4, Matlock Avenue, Aintree, Liverpool, Stationers'
Assistant, 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 invention relates to spring rollers for window blinds of the kind which
comprise a central spindle around which is coiled a spiral spring, said spindle
being fixedly attached to the window frame by means of brackets at each end;
and
an external roller journalled at each end upon said spindle and free to revolve
thereon. One end of the spiral spring is attached to the spindle and the other to
the roller.
The blind is rolled around the roller and when it is pulled down by hand it
causes said roller to rotate upon the spindle, thus putting tension on the spring.
On the blind being released the expansion of the spring causes a rotation of the
roller in the opposite direction.
At one end of the spindle is arranged a concentric race or track having at its
top a sunk notch, and adjacent to said race the roller carries one or more. pawls
which ride over it and are adapted to fall by gravity into engaging position
with said notch and thus to hold the roller when desired against the influence
of the spring. When the motion of the roller is quick the pawls skip over the
notch.
It is usual to provide two notches, either of which is placed uppermost
and therefore operative when the spindle is primarily fixed in its supporting
brackets.
The devices and arrangements above described of themselves form no part of
my invention which has for its object to improve their construction so as to
produce a more durable and convenient combination, as hereafter pointed out
and claimed

page_text: In the drawing,
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of such portions of a spring roller as are necessary
to show my improvements. It is taken as on line of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1, the cap 17 being removed.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the inside of the cap 17. It also shows the race 7
in position.
The pawls 18 are omitted from Fig. 1 for the sake of clearness.
Like numerals indicate corresponding parts..
The stationary parts of my spring roller comprise the central spindle I preferably
of wood. At one end is a central projecting stud, not shown, as usually provided
to support that end of the roller, and at the other end the spindle is continued in
the form of a stud 2 of lessened diameter. This stud 2 has a spike 3 which
enters the spindle 1, a hole 4 in said spike being provided, and through which a
nail or pin is driven to keep stud 2 in place. A metal thimble 5 is driven over
the end of spindle 1 to prevent splitting. The outer end of stud 2 carries a flatted
projection 6, by means of which this end of the spindle is held in the usual bracket.
The track or race 7 is formed or cast in one piece with stud 2 and has notches 8.
A portion of the spiral spring 9 is shown in Fig. 1, and its left hand end is secured
to the spindle 1 in known manner.
The revolvable parts of my spring roller comprise the outer roller 10 preferably
of wood. Its left hand end is journalled on the spindle 1 in known manner,
while the right hand end carries a casting or stamping 11 having two opposite
arms 12 which are countersunk in the end of roller 10. One of the arms 12 is
channelled on its exposed surface as at 13, and this channel receives the bent-over
top 14 of a pin or brad 15 which is driven into the end of roller 10, and whereby
casting 11 is held in place. The other arm 12 is bored through as at 16 and the end
of spring 9 is affixed to the roller 10 by being passed therethrough and bent or
twisted upon itself. (See 9, Fig. 1.) A metal cap 17 encloses the race 7 and acts
as a check to prevent lateral movement of the parts. It also carries the pawls 18
whose action has already been mentioned. A great advantage of this construction
lies in the fact that the pawls and adjacent parts are covered and thus protected
from dust and fumes which tend to clog or corrode them. The position of the pawls
18 is clearly shown in Fig. 4.
An undercut groove 19 is provided in the roller 10 and this serves as a ready
means for attaching the blind thereto, which is done by having a hem made along
its upper edge and a slight rod or cane inserted therein. The edge thus thickened
is slid longitudinally into the groove 19, and a true hang of the blind assured.
For the sake of clearly illustrating the invention the notches & as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2 occupy a horizontal line. They do in practice rest vertically as
shown in Fig. 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A window blind roller comprising a roller proper of wood, supported and
rotatable on a fixed spindle and means for retaining their relative positions, in
combination with an undercut groove in said roller for the purpose of attaching the
blind, substantially as described.
2. The improved window blind roller taken as a whole, substantially as described
and for the purposes set forth.
Dat 41 0041 1
1000
CHARLES
COVENTRY,
Patent Expert, Agent for the Applicant.