IMPROVEMENTS FOR SUSPENDING AND WORKING WINDOW HANGINGS AND OTHER DRAPERY CURTAINS
Year: 1857

page_text: Sealed the 23rd April 1858, and dated the 26th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Fairclough, John
Fairclough, and Joseph Cowan at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 26th October 1857.
We, JAMES FAIRCLOUGH, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Cabinet
Manufacturer and Upholsterer, and JOHN FAIRCLOUGH, of Liverpool aforesaid,
Cabinet Manufacturer and Upholsterer, and JOSEPH COWAN, of Liverpool
aforesaid, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS FOR SUSPENDING AND WORKING WINDOW HANGINGS AND OTHER
DRAPERY CURTAINS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of a series of cross levers jointed
together, and arranged on the well-known principle of the lazy-tongs, to which
the curtains are attached. By expanding and contracting the levers, the
curtains which are suspended thereby are drawn backwards and forwards to

page_text: any distance (within the expanding capacity of the levers) that may be
required, every portion of the curtains retaining an equal fullness. The cross
levers it is proposed to work from any convenient situation by cords and
pullies, and may be supported and work on grooved laths or on rods with
rings.
SPECIFICATION-in-pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Fairclough, John Fairclough, and Joseph Cowan in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
FAIRCLOUGHI, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Cabinet Manufacturer
and Upholsterer, and JOHN FAIRCLOUGH, of Liverpool aforesaid, Cabinet
Manufacturer and Upholsterer, and JOSEPH COWAN, of Liverpool aforesaid,
Cabinet Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto-
us; the said James Fairclough, and John Fairclough, and Joseph Cowan, Her
special licence, 'that we, the said James Fairclough, and John Fairclough,
and Joseph Cowan, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said James, Fairclough, and John Fairclough, and Joseph Cowan,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS FOR SUSPENDING AND WORKING WINDOW
HANGINGS AND OTHER DRAPERY CURTAINS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said James Fairclough, and John Fairclough, and Joseph Cowan,
or our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Fairclough, and John
Fairclough, and Joseph Cowan, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be parti-

page_text: cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the accompanying Drawings, and the letters and figures.marked
thereon (that is to say):
:-
"
This our said Invention for improvements in suspending and working
window curtains and other like draperies consists in the application and use
of a series of cross levers, jointed together and arranged on the well-known
principle of the lazy-tongs, and which are mounted on laths, tubes, poles, or
other suitable supporters; and in most cases we prefer to apply the cross levers
so as to work through a longitudinally slot or groove formed in the lath or
other support. These cross levers may be worked by cords and pullies, or in
any other convenient manner. The window curtains or other draperies are
suspended to or connected with the cross levers in such a way, that by-the
expanding and contracting action of the levers the draperies are drawn back-
wards and forwards to any distance that may be required (within the expand-
ing and contracting capacity' of. the cross levers), every portion of the curtains
retaining an equal fullness, in consequence of each fold thereof being opened
out or drawn in alike.
That this our said Invention 'may be the more readily seen and understood,
we have hereunto annexed Drawings in partial illustration of several modifica-
tions of its practical application. 'Like' letters and figures marked thereon
having reference to simular parts.
Figure 1 is a side view of one of our improved, window curtain expanders
and contracters for the curtains to be attached to the lower ends of the cross
levers; and which cross levers are fitted to a flat longitudinally-grooved or
slotted lath through which they work, and are actuated by means of a cord
and pullies; one half of the grooved lath being removed to exhibit the levers
to view. The upper end of the extreme lever of each set of levers is provided-
with a pair of small antifriction rollers, which travel on the upper' surface of
the lath, and prevent the levers deflecting downwards; and Figure 2 is a top
view or plan of the grooved lath, showing the cord and pullies and antifriction
rollers by which the cross levers are worked.
Figure 3 is another modification of the same, constructed for the curtains.
to be attached to the lower ends of the pendent pieces (C).. By this arrange-
ment the curtains are drawn out and in, in a line parallel with the supporting.
lath..
Figure 4 is another modification of the same, working on antifriction
rollers placed on the centre pins or axis of the cross levers, and which have
pendent straps for attaching the curtains to, and which are jointed to the
centre pins of the cross levers.

page_text: Figure 5 is another modification of our Invention, in which holes are formed
through the pins of the lower joints of the cross levers for hooking the curtains
thereto.
Figure 6 exhibits portions of two pairs of cross-levers, having double joints,
so that the levers can be carried round a curved or polygonal-sided window,
or other like situation.
Figure 7 exhibits a method of constructing a loose joint, suitable for
connecting the cross levers when they are required to work in a curved
or oblique direction; Figure 8 is a cross section of a circular metal tube, with
a longitudinal slot formed in its lower portion, through which the heads of the
levers work, and in which the supporting antifriction rollers travel.
Figure 9 is the cross section of a wooden rod, formed in two parts and
grooved or hollowed out to receive the heads of the cross levers and the anti-
friction supporting rollers.
A, a series of cross levers, which are jointed together in pairs at their
centres, and which pairs are again jointed to each other at their ends; a,
centre joints of the cross levers; b, joints by which the ends of the pairs of
cross levers are attached to each other; B is a longitudinally grooved or
slotted supporting lath (shown at Figures 1, 3, & 4, in longitudinal section,
and at Figure 2, in Plan); c, pairs of antifriction supporting rollers; d,
pulles, over which work e, the regulating cord; f, the points from which the
curtains are suspended; C (Figure 3), are pendent straps, which are attached
to the pins of the upper joints of the cross levers, and which are slotted to
admit studs formed on the ends of the axles of the lower joint of the cross
levers to work therein; D, are pendent straps attached to the centre.axis of
the cross levers, and are provided with a loop or eyelet at their lower ends for.
connecting the curtains thereto; E, hinge joints which work laterally to admit
the cross levers being carred in a curved or indirect line; F, a vertical rod, to
the lower end of which the curtains may be suspended; G, a collar, which
works up and down the vertical rod (F); H, a boss or stud piece, placed on
the axis of the lower joints, to form a loose joint to allow the cross levers to
play, so as to work in a curved or other indirect direction; I, a hollow brass
or other metal rod, suitable for mounting the cross levers upon; K a wooden
rod, formed in two parts for a like purpose; L, a fixed axis, to which each
set of levers are attached, and from which points they expand and contract
towards.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, and how the same may be performed, we wish it to be understood,
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein-before described;

page_text: out what we do claim, is the use and application of cross levers, and the
ongitudinal grooved laths, rods, or other like supports, as herein-before
lescribed, or any mear modification of the same, for the purpose of suspending
nd working window hangings and other draperies:
In witness whereof, we, the said James Fairclough, and John Fairclough,
and Joseph Cowan, have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals,
this Twenty-fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-eight.
JAMES
(L.S.) FAIRCLOUGH.
JOHN
(L.S.) FAIRCLOUGH.
Witness,
WM WALKER,
of 44, Castle Street.
Liverpool.
JOSEPH (L.S.) COWAN.