IMPROVEMENTS IN BLIND ROLLERS AND THEIR FURNITURE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hughes, of the City and County of San Francisco,
and State of California, in the United States of America, at present of No.
53, Arundel Square, in the County of Middlesex, Merchant, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLIND ROLLERS AND THEIR FURNITURE."
Sealed the 22nd September 1877, and dated the 16th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hughes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th July 1877.
HENRY HUGHES, of the City and County of San Francisco, and State of Cali-
fornia, in the United States of America, at present of No. 53, Arundel Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLIND ROLLERS
AND THEIR FURNITURE"
My Invention relates, firstly, to spring blind rollers, and consists of various arrange-
ments for regulating the ascent and descent of the blind, and for retaining the blind
at the required height.
According to one arrangement I form the spring shaft of wood, and I drive into
one end of it a metal pin (which I term the centre pin), the other end of which is
made triangular in section, so that when it is inserted in a correspondingly formed
hole in one of the brackets which support the blind, the said shaft and pin will be
stationary, the blind roller and the mechanism herein-after described being caused
to revolve (when free to do so) by the spring which is coiled around the spring
shaft, and is secured at one end to the pin aforesaid, and at the other end to the
inside of the hollow roller which encloses the said shaft. On one end of the roller
a box is secured, through holes in which the centre pin passes the triangular part
projecting. On the centre pin at that part which lies within the box I form an
excentric lug or tooth, which, when the blind roller revolves too rapidly, engages
with one or other of two projections or teeth formed in a cam plate, which is so
mounted in the aforesaid box as to be capable of a reciprocatory sliding motion at
right angles to the axis of the roller, the motion of which is thus arrested. When
however the blind roller revolves slowly the cam plate descends, so that its projec-

page_text: tions or teeth clear the tooth on the centre pin, and consequently offer no obstruction
to the revolution of the said roller.
In order to prevent as far as possible noise and wear of the parts, I prefer to form
the cam plate of two metal plates with a layer of india-rubber between them, the
parts being held together by pins on which are india-rubber washers.
According to another arrangement I fit on the end of the wooden roller a metal
head formed with a boss, through which passes the end of the spring shaft. The
said boss is provided with a friction collar of felt or other suitable material, and is
formed with ratchet teeth. Surrounding the boss and snugly fitting the friction
collar is a ring provided with ears, between which a notch or slot is formed. A
shoulder is formed on the spring shaft, and to the said shoulder a pawl having a
stud at its free end is pivotted, which stud rests on the ring herein-before referred
to, and between the ears thereof.
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-When the blind is drawn down
the ring turns with the roller and metal head until the pawl or the stud thereof
meets one of the ears on the said ring, which then ceases to revolve, but while the
downward motion of the blind is continued the boss and friction collar turn within
the ring. The blind is locked by first drawing it down slowly, and then allowing
it to ascend slowly for a short distance, when the stud on the pawl drops into the
slot in the ring, and engages with one of the ratchet teeth.
According to another arrangement I form on or affix to the spring shaft a collar
or a lug, to which is jointed a pawl which engages with ratchet teeth formed on a
flanged collar which fits loosely on the spring shaft, the flange of the said collar
being pressed by a spring against a ring affixed or secured to the inside of the box
enclosing the mechanism at the end of the roller, by means of which spring the
ratchet teeth are kept in gear with the pawl. The blind affixed to this roller is
weighted at the lower part. This arrangement of pawl and ratchet prevents the
rotation of the roller or spring shaft when the blind is removed from the brackets,
and the friction caused by the spring prevents the blind from ascending except
when the weight carried by it is lifted.
My Invention relates, further, to blind rollers on which the blinds which are
weighted are, when it is wished to raise them, wound or rolled by pulling a weighted
cord which is coiled around a drum or pully on one end of the roller, the blind
descending by gravity when the roller is free to move.
According to this part of my Invention I affix to one end of the roller a flanged
collar, to which the cord is affixed, and around which it is wound. I then place on
the said collar a flat spring, which engages therewith by means of lugs so as to be
incapable of independent revolution, and on the spring I place a metal washer,
to the outer face of which a pawl with a curved slot formed therein is jointed.
When the blind descends rapidly the end of this pawl engages with a lug formed on
one of the brackets which support the roller. After placing the parts as described
I drive into the end of the roller a pin on which is formed a shoulder, which pin
passes through the slot in the aforesaid pawl (the motion of which is thus limited)
and through the washer and the flanged collar, the pin being driven in until the
shoulder bears against the said pawl so as to cause the washer to bear on and com-
press the spring, the projecting end of the pin forming one of the pivots on which
the roller works. There is thus formed on the end of the roller a flanged drun, one
of the flanges of which is loose on the centre pin, and is capable of independent
revolution and of being locked, so that the centre pin carrying the roller may turn
in the said loose flange without carrying it round the spring carried by the flanged
collar or barrel, part of the drum then rubbing upon the inner face of the loose
flange so as to cause the roller to turn stiffly.
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-When it is wished to lower the
blind the cord attached thereto is pulled so as to turn the blind roller sufficiently to
disengage the aforesaid pawl from the lug on the bracket. If the blind is then
allowed to descend slowly the said pawl passes the said lug without engaging there-
with; but if the blind is allowed to descend rapidly, the said pawl is caused by

page_text: centrifugal force to strike against the lug, and thereby stop the motion of the roller.
The blind may however be further lowered if desired without disengaging the said
pawl from the said lug if the blind be pulled with sufficient force to overcome the
friction between the spring and washer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th January
1878.
HENRY HUGHES, of the City and County of San Francisco, and State of Cali-
fornia, in the United States of America, at present of No. 53, Arundel Square,
in the County of Middlesex, Merchant. IMPROVEMENTS IN BLIND ROLLERS
AND THEIR FURNITURE."
"
My Invention relates, firstly, to spring blind rollers, and consists of an improved
arrangement for regulating the ascent and descent of the blind, and for retaining it
at the required height.
According to this part of my Invention I form the spring shaft (i. e., the shaft
around which the spring is coiled) of wood, and I drive into one end of it a metal
pin (which I term the fixed centre pin), the other end of which is made triangular
or of other suitable form in cross section, so that when it is inserted in a corre-
spondingly formed hole in one of the brackets which support the blind, the said
shaft and pin will be stationary, the blind roller and the mechanism herein-after
described being caused to revolve (when free to do so) by the spring which is coiled
around the spring shaft, and is secured at one end to the fixed centre pin or to the
spring shaft aforesaid, and at the other end to the inside of a longitudinal recesss or
cavity in the roller, in which recess or cavity the spring and spring shaft are con-
tained. The mouth of the said recess or cavity is closed by a box or cap, through a
hole in which the centre pin passes, the triangular part projecting. On the centre pin
at that part which lies within the box or cap I form a flange or lug, to which is
jointed a pawl which engages with ratchet teeth formed on a flanged collar which
fits loosely on the spring shaft, the flange of the said collar being pressed by a
spring (which I will herein-after term the friction spring) against the flange of an
internally flanged ring contained within the box or cap at the end of the roller, by
means of which spring the ratchet teeth are kept in gear with the pawl, and
sufficient friction is caused to prevent the blind from descending, except when
drawn down by hand. On the inuer side of the internally flanged ring a projection
or several projections is, or are, or may be formed for the purpose herein-after
explained, and on one edge of the said ring studs or spikes are formed, which enter
the end of the wooden roller when the ring is in place, and cause it to turn with the
said roller. The blind affixed to this roller is weighted at the lower part. When
the blind is removed from the brackets the pawl is caused by centrifugal force to
engage with the inside of the flanged collar, or with the stud or one of the studs
formed thereon, whereby the unwinding of the coiled spring is prevented.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an elevation (partly in longitudinal
section) of a blind roller constructed as herein-before described, the said roller being
shown supported by brackets and with a blind affixed thereto.

page_text: Figures 2 and 3 are transverse sections of the blind and blind roller taken on
the line 1, Figure 1, the pawl being shown in different positions, as herein-after
described.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the bracket which receives the fixed centre pin.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are separate views of the principal parts of the mechanism
herein-before described, and illustrated in Figure 1.
The same letters and figures of reference indicate the same parts in each of the
Figures of the Drawings herein-before and herein-after referred to.
A is the spring shaft; B is the hollow roller; b¹ is the blind affixed thereto; and
62 is the weighted lath; a¹ is the spring which actuates the roller, and is affixed at
one end to the shaft A at a², and at the other end to the hollow roller B. C is the
fixed centre pin, and c¹ is the angular end thereof, which engages in a correspondingly
formed hole in the bracket which supports it; c² is the flange formed on the said
pin, to which flange the pawl c³ is jointed by mean of the screw c¹, the said pawl
being capable of turning freely. Dis the flanged collar, d¹ being the flange and d²
the ratchet teeth formed on the said collar. E is the internally flanged ring, against
the flange e¹ of which the flange d¹ bears; e², e³, are projections on the inner side of
the said ring, and e³, e³, are spikes or studs on the edge thereof. F is the friction
spring, which is compressed between the flange d¹ and the head of the box or cap
enclosing the mechanism, which box or cap consists of a short tube G, one edge of
which is bent or turned inwards so as to form a rim g', against which rests a disc g²,
which forms the head of the box or cap; a hole g³ is formed in the centre of the
disc g², through which hole the pin C passes. When the parts of the mechanism are
placed in their proper relative positions, they are retained so by securing the box or
cap G to the roller B by punching or indenting that portion of the said box or cap
which surrounds the roller B so as to press a portion of the metal at that part into
the said roller. H is the bracket in which the end c¹ of the fixed centre pin C is
placed.
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-Before placing the roller B in the
brackets the blind b¹ is rolled or wound on the roller, so that when the said blind is
drawn down the requisite tension of the spring a¹ will be produced. When the
blind is drawn down the roller B carries round with it the cap or box G, the inter-
nally flanged ring E revolving with it, the spring shaft A and the pin C remaining
stationary owing to the engagement of the end c¹ of the latter with the hole in its
bracket, and the flanged collar D remaining stationary owing to the engagement of
the pawl c³ with one of the ratchet teeth d². The flanges d' and e¹ being pressed
together by the spring F, sufficient friction is caused to prevent the blind from
being drawn down by the mere weight of the lath b², but the friction is not sufficient
to prevent the blind from being easily lowered by a slight downward pull. On
releasing the blind it will remain in the position to which it has been brought, the
spring a not being strong enough to raise the weighted lath b, which is not heavy
enough to overcome the friction between the flanges d' and e¹. When however the
weighted lath b² is raised, the spring a¹ causes the roller to revolve, thereby raising
the blind, the flanged ring E, the spring F, and the collar D, revolving with the said
roller, the ratchet teeth d² of the said collar passing under the pawl c³. When the
roller B is removed from the brackets the coiled spring a', which actuates the roller,
is prevented from unwinding by the engagement of the pawl with the inner side
of the internally flanged ring E, or with one of the projections c³, e², thereon, the
said pawl (owing to centrifugal force) automatically taking the position necessary
for such engagement immediately the roller B is so far removed as to free the centre
pin C from the hole in its bracket H. The pawl is represented in this position in
Figure 2.
My Invention relates, further, to blind rollers on which the blinds which are
weighted are, when it is wished to raise them, wound or rolled by pulling a cord
which is coiled around a drum or pulley on one end of the roller, the blind descending
by gravity when the roller is free to move.
According to this part of my Invention I affix to one end of the roller a flanged

page_text: collar, to which the cord is affixed, and around which it is wound. I then place on
the said collar a flat spring, which engages therewith by means of lugs so as to be
incapable of independent revolution, and on the spring I place a metal washer,
to the outer face of which a pawl with a curved slot formed therein is jointed.
When the blind descends rapidly the free end of this pawl is caused to fly outwards
by centrifugal force, and engages with a lug formed on one of the brackets which
support the roller. After arranging the parts as described I drive into the end of
the roller a pin on which are formed two shoulders, which pin passes through the
slot in the aforesaid pawl, the motion of which is thus limited, and through the
washer and the flanged collar, the pin being driven in until the shoulder nearest
the point has passed through the slot in the pawl and bears against the said washer
so as to compress the spring. The projecting end of the pin forms one of the pivots
on which the roller works when in the brackets, and the second shoulder on the
said pin serves to keep the roller in its proper position relatively to the bracket at
that end. There is thus formed on the end of the roller a flanged drum, one of the
flanges of which is loose on the centre pin and is capable of independent revolution
and of being locked by the engagement of its pawl with the lug on the bracket so
that the said centre pin may turn in the said loose flange without carrying it round
the spring carried by the flanged collar or barrel, part of the drum then rubbing
on the inner face of the loose flange so as to cause the roller to turn stiffly.
Figure 10 of the accompanying Drawings is an elevation (partly in longitudinal
section) of a blind roller constructed according to this part of my Invention, the said
roller being shown supported in brackets and with a blind affixed thereto.
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the roller and blind in the brackets, part of one
of the latter being broken away in order to show clearly the engagement of the
pawl and lug.
Figures 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 are separate views of parts of the mechanism
herein-before referred to, and illustrated in Figure 10.
I is the roller, which is supported by brackets J, J', and to which the blind ¹ is
affixed. K is the flanged collar affixed to the roller I by screws k¹, k, which pass
through holes 2, 12, in the flange le into the said roller. L is the spring, in which
are a hole and notches 12, 12, which notches fit on lugs e, e, on the collar K when
the parts are put together. M is the metal washer, in which is a central hole m',
and to which a pawl m² is so jointed by means of a pin or rivet m³ as to be capable
of working freely; m is the curved slot formed in the said pawl, and m³ is the
tooth thereon. N is the centre pin, and n¹, n², are the shoulders formed on it.
The bracket J, which supports the pulley end of the roller, has formed on it a lug j¹,
with which the tooth m³ of the pawl engages, as herein-before described. O is the
cord by which the blind is raised, and which is secured to the flange 3 of the
flanged collar K by passing one end of it through a hole in the said collar, and
making a knot on the said end; o' is a tassel affixed to the free end of the said
cord.
The action of this arrangement is as follows:-The blind having been wound
round the roller and the latter placed in the brackets, the blind descends, the cord
at the same time being thus wound around the pulley. When the descent of the
blind has become sufficiently rapid for centrifugal force to act on the pawl m²,
the tooth m on it engages with the lug on the bracket J, and the motion of the
blind and roller I are thereby arrested. The blind may however, if desired, be
further lowered (without disengaging the said pawl and lug) by pulling the said
blind with sufficient force to overcome the friction between the spring L and the
washer M. Or instead of pulling the blind, the tooth m³ and the lug ¹ may be dis-
engaged by slightly pulling the cord O, and the blind may then be allowed to run
down, the cord being at the same time lightly held, so as to prevent the roller I
from moving fast enough to cause the re-engagement of the tooth and lug. The
blind is raised by simply pulling the cord O.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself

page_text: to the precise details herein-before described, as they may be varied without
departing from the nature of my said Invention, but I claim as my said
Invention,―
Firstly. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the
improved spring blind roller illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the
accompanying Drawings, essentially as herein-before described, and illustrated in
the said Figures.
Secondly. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the
improved blind roller and its furniture illustrated in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, and 17 of the accompanying Drawings, essentially as herein-before described, and
illustrated in the said Figures.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hughes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
H. H. MURDOCH,
Staple Inn,
London.
HENRY HUGHES. (L.S.)