IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RETAINING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Patrick Kelly, of Mount Brandon, near
-
Graigue, in the county of Carlow, Ireland, Lieutenant in the Reserve of
Officers for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR RETAINING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Patrick Kelly at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1883.
WILLIAM PATRICK KELLY, of Mount Brandon, near Graigue, in the county
"IMPROVEMENTS
of Carlow, Ireland, Lieutenant in the Reserve of Officers
CORDS
AND RELEASING WINDOW-BLIND
IN APPARATUS FOR RETAINING
THE LIKE
AND
This invention relates to the construction of a simple, cheap and efficient
apparatus or fitting to be used in place of the ordinary blind-cord pulley or other
apparatus employed for raising and lowering window blinds and the like, the
apparatus being also applicable for raising and lowering venetian blinds.
In carrying out the invention I employ a small box or hollow block of suitablo
material which is attached to the side of the window frame at a convenient
height. Two holes or slots are formed in the upper side of the box and two
Corresponding slots in the lower side thereof, the blind-cord passing through the
slots as hereinafter described. The hollow portion of the box is fitted with a
friction block which is formed in two parts in such a manner that one part is
wedge shaped and fits into a similarly shaped recess in the other part, the two
parts of the friction block being kept together by a suitable spring or springs.
In some cases each part of the block is additionally divided in a vertical and
longitudinal direction. The blind cord passes up through one pair of the holes or.
slots in the box and passes through the wedge shaped recess in the friction block,
then round the usual pulley on the end of the blind roller and down through the
other pair of slots, passing again through the recess in the wooden block; the
ends hang down a convenient length and are spliced to form an endless cord.

page_text: The action of the spring or springs keeps or keep the cord taut by pressing
it between the two parts of the block. By pulling on the one cord the blind
will be raised and by pulling on the other cord the blind will be lowered.
For Venetian blinds I sometimes provide the apparatus with a cord attached to
the outer portion of the friction block, that is to say, the part next to the spring,. i
and this cord is brought out through the end of the box; by pulling on this cord
the spring will be released and the blind will descend,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Patrick Kelly in tho Patent Office on the 10th May
1884.
WILLIAM PATRICK KELLY, of Mount Brandon, near Graigue, in the county
of Carlow, Ireland, Lieutenant in the Reserve of officers "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR RETAINING AND RELEASING WINDOW-BLIND CORDS AND
THE LIKE
This invention relates to the construction of a simple, cheap and efficient
apparatus or fitting to be used in place of the ordinary blind-cord pulley or other
apparatus employed for raising and lowering window blinds and the like, the
apparatus being also applicable for raising and lowering Venetian blinds.
In carrying out the invention I employ a small box or hollow block of suitable
material which is attached to the side of the window frame at a' convenient
height. Two holes or slots are formed in the upper side of the box and two
corresponding slots in the lower side thereof, the blind-cord passing through the
slots as hereinafter described. The hollow portion of the box is fitted with a
friction block which is formed in two parts in such a manner that one part is
wedge shaped and fits into a similarly shaped recess in the other part, the two!
parts of the friction block being kept together by a suitable spring or springs.
In some cases each part of the block is additionally divided in a vertical and
longitudinal direction."
For Venetian blinds I sometimes provide the apparatus with a cord attached
to the outer portion of the friction block, that is to say, the part next to the
spiral spring, and this cord is brought out through the end of the box; by pulling
on this cord the spring will be released and the blind will descend.
In order to enable my improvements to be fully understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, is
a front elevation and figure 2, a plan of an -apparatus for retaining and releasing
window blind cords and the like constructed according to my invention and
applicable for use with a double or endless cord passing over the pulley of the
blind roller the friction block being cylindrical in form and divided; figure 3, is a
vertical section of the same on line A B of figure 2; figures 4, and 5, are a front

page_text: elevation and a plan respectively shewing my improved apparatus as applicable
for use with a single cord one end of which is wound round the blind roller the
other end being attached to the end of the blind; figure 6, is a vertical section on
liné CD of figure 5; in these figures the friction block is not divided; figures 7,
and 8, are à front elevation and a plan respectively shewing my improved
apparatus as applicable for use with Venetian blinds and in which the blind is
caused to descend by pulling a cord or wire attached to the front part of the
friction block; figure 9, is a vertical section on line EF of figure 8; figure 10, is a
vertical section of an apparatus for use with Venetian blinds and in which the blind
is caused to descend by pushing a button or knob connected with the back part of
the friction block. All the figures are drawn about full size and similar letters in
all the figures represent similar or corresponding parts.
I will first describe my invention by reference to figures 1, 2 and 3.
a, is the box or hollow block of suitable material which is suitably attached such
as by means of screws introduced through the screw holes a¹, to the side of the
window frame at a convenient height; 6, and c, are the two holes or slots formed
in the upper side of the box a, two corresponding holes or slots being formed in
the lower side of the box, one only of which latter holes or slots is shewn in the
drawing at 6; d, and d', are the two parts of the friction block fitted in the
hollow portion of the box a, the part d, being wedge shaped and fitting as shewn
into a correspondingly shaped recess in the part d',; e, is the spring (or more than
one spring may be employed) serving to keep the two parts of the friction block
together.
To make use of an apparatus of this construction the part d, of the friction
block being in position in the box a, the blind cord f, is passed through one of the
holes or slots (say b¹) in the box and is carried over the wedge shaped part d, of
the friction block and then through the hole or slot b; it is then passed round the
usual pulley on the end of the blind roller and down through the hole or slot c
again over the part d, of the friction block and through the remaining hole or slot
(not shewn in the drawing); the ends of the cord f, left hanging to a convenient
length are then spliced to form an endless cord; the part d', of the friction block
and the spring e, are next placed in position in the box a, and the apparatus is
screwed or otherwise suitably fixed to the side of the window frame as herein-
before described; the spring e, will thereby be compressed and its action will tend
to keep the cord taut by pressing it between the two parts d, and d', of the friction
block. By pulling one of the cords f, below the box a, the blind will be raised
and by pulling the other cord the blind will be lowered. By the employment of
an apparatus of this construction a single pulley only is required on the end of the
blind roller, there is no strain on the end of the blind which strain often tends to
tear it when the blind has to be drawn down by a cord attached to its end; there
is very little wear and tear of the blind cord, the cord is almost always taut and if
it should become slack through expansion it can be at once tightened by a slight
pull upon the lower part of the cord the apparatus can be used with existing forms
of blind rollers, and for such purposes as drawing aside hangings, curtains and the
like; as it is not affected by vibration it will be found very suitable for use in
railway carriages for operating the.blinds and curtains.
In cases where the friction block is not divided the spring e, presses the friction
block against one of the inner sides of the box a, and the cord or cords passes or.
pass down between. them as shewn in figures 4, 5, and 6, which represent my
improved apparatus constructed for use where one end of the blind cord f, is
attached to the blind roller and the other end to the blind in which case it is
obvious that only one pair of holes or slots b, b', is required; the upper end of the
cord passes round the blind roller and the other end is attached to the blind. By
pulling the cord on one side the blind is drawn up and it is drawn down by pulling
the other side of the cord the end of which is attached to the blind. By fixing
this apparatus within reach of the hand on the side of the window. frame it will be

page_text: self guiding and will keep the cord always taut and at the same time the cord will
be prevented from riding over the flange of the pulley when the blind is drawn
down as frequently happens with many of the apparatuses at present in use. This
arrangement also allows of the blind being. lowered by pulling the cord above the
box a, thus obviating any strain on the bottom of the blind which strain tends to
tear the same.
"
The apparatus which I employ for use with the Venetian blinds is similar in
construction to those hereinbefore described. The blind is raised by pulling below
the box a; the double cord of the blind which is passed through the apparatus as
hereinbefore described; the blind is lowered by pulling the cord above the box a,
that is to say by easing it off.
In some cases I place the spiral spring e, on the front side of the friction block
that is to say on the side farthest from the window frame as shewn in figures 7, 8
and 9, and I connect by means of a wire g, the front portion of the friction block
to a bell crank lever h, attached to the outside of the box a,; to this lever h, is
attached a cordi, by pulling which the spring e, is compressed by the part d, of the
friction block being drawn forward and pressure being relieved from the cord f
the blind will descend; the blind is raised by pulling the cord below the box a.
Instead of the bell crank lever. h, I may employ a simple loop of cord or a
metallic ring or button attached outside the box a, to the wire g.
I. sometimes place the spring at the back of the friction block d, d', as shewn in
figure 10, and attach a rod g,.to the back part d', of the friction block, the said
rod g, passing freely through the other part d, fixed in the box a, and out at the
front of the box where it is provided with a knob or button i, or the like by
pressing which the two parts of the friction block are forced apart thus lowering
the blind; it is raised in a similar manner to that hereinbefore described when
referring to figurės 7, 8 and 9.
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
Firstly. An apparatus for retaining and releasing window blind cords and the
like consisting of a box of suitable material adapted to be fixed to a window frame
the said cords passing through holes or slots in the said box and through or
against a friction block contained in the said box and kept pressed against the said
cords by a suitable spring substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Secondly. The employment of friction blocks divided in a manner to increase the
friction of a cord or cords passing through them, that is to say, by forming the
blocks in two parts, one part being wedge shaped and fitting into a correspondingly
shaped recess in the other part the edge of the wedge part being horizontal and
the parts of the block being pressed together by a spring as herein before described
and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Thirdly. The improved apparatus for retaining and releasing window blind
cords and the like substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in
figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.
Fourthly. The apparatus shewn in figures 4, 5, and 6, applicable for use for
operating blinds having a single cord substantially as hereinbefore described and
represented.
Fifthly. The method of drawing apart the two portions of a friction block by
means of a wire or its equivalent connected at one end to one portion of the
friction block and at the other end to a bell crank lever outside a box as
herein before described and shewn in figures 7, 8 and 9, or to a button or metallic
or other loop as herein before described so as to allow of lowering window blinds.
Sixthly. The method herein described of forcing apart from one another the two
parts of a friction block by means of a rod attached at one end to one portion of
the friction block and passing through the other portion of the block to the

page_text: outside of the box containing the same and provided with a knob or button or its
equivalent substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented
in figure 10 of the accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said William Patrick Kelly have hereto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four