IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND RELEASING CORDS FOR VENETIAN AND ROLLER BLINDS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES, AND IN ROLLER BLIND FURNITURE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Hudson of Bolton in the County of Lancaster
Joiner for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND
RELEASING CORDS FOR VENETIAN AND ROLLER BLINDS AND OTHER LIKE
PURPOSES, AND IN ROLLER BLIND FURNITURE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Hudson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th September 1882.
JAMES HUDSON of Bolton in the County of Lancaster, Joiner.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND RELEASING CORDS FOR VENETIAN AND ROLLER
BLINDS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES, AND IN ROLLER BLIND FURNITURE."
My invention is particularly applicable to holding and releasing the cords by
which Venetion and other blinds are raised and lowered, but it may be employed
for various other purposes.
Under the present system Venetian Blinds are raised and lowered by cords
passing through pullies fixed on the top board or shelf of the blind by which it is
secured to the brackets fastened to the window casing, the same being actuated by
weighted swivels, tumbler catches, and other like operations, such as friction catches,
and nipping tongues, which necessitate the application of a third cord for actuating
them.
By my improvements I dispense with these, the double cord usually employed
for raising and lowering only being necessary, which passes as usual over the
ordinary guide pullies on the top board, and down the side of the window, on
which casing or any other suitable position I fix a "Kedge" consisting of a metallic
cylindrical barrel or casing, provided with a securing plate, with screw holes for
securing it to the wood frame or elsewhere. This cylindrical barrel is provided
with two round holes, placed at suitable distances from each other on the top side,
with two corresponding holes in the bottom side, slightly larger than the diameter
of the raising and lowering cords. In the cylindrical barrel I place a metallic ram,

page_text: made to a true fit, which is also provided with two holes, corresponding to those in
the barrel, the outside end of the ram or presser being provided with a raised
knob to prevent its being pushed to far into the barrel, and which serves as a presser
knob for the fingers or thumb. Between the bottom end of the barrel and the end
of the ram, I place a suitable spring, either spiral or volute, or by preference a
buffer of India Rubber suitably long, so that when the ram is put in, the holes in
the barrel are covered by the body of the ram or nearly so. To prevent the ram
flying out by the pressure of the spring or buffer, a slot or slots is cut in the ram,
immediately opposite a small pin hole or holes in the barrel in which is fastened a
small pin or pins, extending into and through the slot or slots. After it is put together
the only thing that remains to be done is to press the ram inwardly by the action
of the finger or thumb, until the holes in the ram and barrel are opposite each
other, then pass the raising and lowering cords of the venetian blind through
them, which will be secured by releasing the ram from the pressure of the finger
or thumb, which having an outward movement by the pressure of the spring or
buffer, will press the cords against the sides of the top and bottom holes in the
barrel, thus locking them, and retaining the blind in any position required. When
the position of the blind is desired to be raised, the press knob on the end of the
ram, is pressed or pushed inwardly by the finger or thumb of one hand and the
cord pulled down by the other, in case the blind is to be lowered, the press knob
only requires to be operated upon, when the cords are immediately released
which may be arrested in any position by simply taking the inward pressure off
the ram.
By making the cylinder and ram large enough, so as to make room for several
holes a set of blinds may be operated upon at once, the cords being led to the
point of operation by suitable pullies, which can all be let down at once, or if any
individual blind is required to be let down, the cords belonging to the others only
require to be held in the hand, leaving the loose cord or cords to rise or slip through
their respective holes in the "kedge," as the blind falls.
By making the cylinder and ram of the "kedge" with one hole, it is suitable
for roller blinds, which is operated upon in the same way, by which all racks and
double cords are dispensed with.
If a number of roller blinds are required to be operated upon from one point of
operation, the cylinder and ram only requires to be enlarged as in the case of a set
of venetian blinds named above, the number of holes indicating the number of
blinds.
It is not necessary that the "kedge" be placed on the window frame, as in some
cases it is quite impossible to operate upon them, in such cases the cords from the
blinds are led over suitable pullies to a position, to enable them to be operated
upon conveniently.
There are many other purposes to which this "kedge" may be applied, such as
suspending Bird Cages in the centre of a room or any other position, the cord
being carried over small pullies to any convenient position for the "kedge” to be
fixed, it may also be used largely in shops for suspending such as Hams and Flitches
of Bacon from the ceiling, so as to be handy to cut without lifting them down, and
other articles for show or otherwise in shop windows and many others to numerous
to mention.
The second part of my invention relates to rollers employed in connection with
window blinds and consists principally in a novel way of forming and attaching
the cord pullies and centres from each end of the said window blind roller.
The rollers to which these improvements are applicable are made circular in
which case the metallic cord pulley is made with a circular rim having a dish on
the outside, the inside of which fits on the outside of the roller, the same being
screwed horizontally into the roller, thereby making the same very firm and more
durable than under the present system of screwing them transversely with the
length of the roller, which are by the sudden jerks to which they are sometimes
subjected, often torn out or broken, when the roller is rendered useless, or by

page_text: driving in the ordinary wire pins or centres, which are seldom true and often bend
and split the roller and come loose by the strain on them. On the circular disc
I cast a boss, sufficiently long and large in diameter, it being turned perfectly true
the outer end being turned less in diameter in two sizes, the middle part being
provided to admit of a guide rim or outer pulley side to prevent the cord from
coming off or getting entangled in the journal, the boss receiving the guide rim is
made slightly longer than the depth through its boss after it is put in position, the
extending portion is punched or rivetted down by a hollow punch or drift which
swells the centre out and fastens the guide rim in its place, after which the
remaining projection is turned down to form the pivot or journal, which revolves
in the ordinary brackets. To prevent the guide rim from "chafing" that part of
the centre boss which is rivetted over to fasten it, is slightly turned convex, thus
minimising the friction, which is necessary to enable the blind to fall down by its
own weight, when the cord is released from the "kedge" previously described.
The opposite end of the roller is provided with a small metallic disc or dish
which fits on the end of the roller, and is secured to the roller end in a similar
manner, to the cord pulley, the pivot being cast to and turned, having a narrow
projection to prevent it from "chafing" to reduce the friction as above.
In roller blinds where the periphery is throughout its length made with a groove
or recess open at one end, for inserting a rod with a blind on, I make the small
disc above refered to with a corresponding opening, whether round, square or of
any other suitable shape, which may be met with.
The disc of cord pulley is provided with a hole for inserting the winding cord
immediately opposite the slot for receiving the blind in the roller, thereby
dispensing with any tieing or knot on the cord barrel.
The novelty of this invention is its simplicity, by which it dispenses with many
cumbersome and intricate parts already in use for operating Venetian blinds, also
that a set of blinds can be operated upon at once or separately at will, without any
inconvenience.
Another feature is that it is easily applied to roller blinds, singly or in sets,
dispensing with double cords and racks, the cord pullies and centres being
stronger and firmer on the end of the roller and much more durable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Hudson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th March
1883.
JAMES HUDSON of Bolton in the County of Lancaster Joiner
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR HOLDING AND RELEASING CORDS FOR VENETIAN AND ROLLER
BLINDS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES AND IN ROLLER BLIND FURNITURE"
My invention is particularly applicable to holding and releasing the cords by
which Venetian and other blinds are raised and lowered but it may be employed
for various other purposes.
Under the present system venetian blinds are raised and lowered by cords
passing through pullies fixed on the top board or shelf of the blind by which it
is secured to the brackets fastened to the window casing the same being actuated
by weighted swivels tumbler catches and other like operations such as friction
catches and nipping tongues which necessitate the application of a third cord for
actuating them.
By the application of my improvements I dispense with these the double cord
usually employed for raising and lowering only being necessary which passes as
usual over the ordinary guide pullies on the top board and down the side of the
window on which casing or in any other suitable position I fix a "kedge'
consisting of a metallic cylindrical barrel or casing secured to a plate provided
with screw holes for securing it to the wood frame or elsewhere
"
This cylindrical barrel is provided with two round holes placed at suitable
distances from each other on the top side with two corresponding holes in the
bottom or opposite side slightly larger than the diameter of the raising and
lowering cords. In the cylindrical barrel I place a metallic ram made to a true
fit which is also provided with two holes corresponding to those in the barrel the
outside of the ram or presser being provided with a raised knob to prevent its
being pushed too far into the barrel and which serves as a presser knob for the
fingers or thumb. Between the bottom end of the barrel and the end of the ram
I place a suitable spring either spiral or volute or by preference a buffer of india
rubber suitably long so that when the ram is put in the holes in the barrel are
covered by the body of the ram or nearly so. To prevent the ram flying out by
the pressure of the spring or buffer a slot is cut in the ram immediately opposite
a small pin hole in the barrel in which is fastened a small pin extending into and
through the slot. After it is put together the only thing that remains to be done
is to press the ram inwardly by the action of the finger or thumb until the holes
in the ram and barrel are opposite each other then pass the raising and lowering
cords of the venetian blind through them which will be secured by releasing the
ram from the pressure of the finger or thumb which having an outward movement
by the pressure of the spring or buffer will press the cords against the sides of the
top and bottom holes in the barrel thus locking them and retaining the blind in
any position required. When the position of the blind is desired to be raised the
press knob on the end of the ram is pressed or pushed inwardly by the finger or
thumb of one hand and the cord pulled down by the other in case the blind
is to be lowered the presser knob only requires to be operated upon when the
cords are immediately released which may be arrested in any position by simply
taking the inward pressure off the ram.
By making the cylinder and ram large enough so as to make room for several
holes a set of blinds may be operated upon at once the cords being led to the
point of operation by suitable pullies which can all be let down at once or if

page_text: any individual blind is required to be let down the cords belonging to the others
only require to be held in the hand leaving the loose cord or cords to rise or slip
through their respective holes in the "kedge" as the blind falls.
By making the cylinder and ram of the "kedge" with one hole it is suitable
for roller blinds which is operated upon in the same way by which all racks and
double cords are dispensed with.
If a number of roller blinds are required to be operated upon from one point of
operation the cylinder and ram only require to be enlarged as in the case of a set
of venetian blinds named above the number of holes indicating the number of
blinds.
It is not necessary that the "kedge" be placed on the window frame as in
some cases it is quite impossible to operate upon them in such cases the cords
from the blinds are led over suitable pullies to a position to enable them to be
operated upon conveniently.
"
There are many other purposes to which this "kedge may be applied such as
suspending bird cages in the centre of a room or any other position the cord
being carried over small pullies to any convenient position for the kedge to be
fixed it may also be used largely in shops for suspending hams and flitches of
bacon from the ceiling so as to be handy to cut without lifting them down and
other articles for show or otherwise in shop windows and many others too
numerous to mention.
The second part of my invention relates to rollers employed in connection with
window blinds and consists principally in a novel way of forming and attaching
the cord pullies and centres for each end of the said window blind roller.
The rollers to which these improvements are applicable are made circular in
which case the metallic cord pulley is made with a circular rim having a disk on
the outside the inside of which fits on the outside of the roller the same being
screwed horizontally into the roller thereby making the same very firm and more
durable than under the present system of screwing them transversely with the
length of the roller which are by the sudden jerks to which they are sometimes
subjected often torn out or broken when the roller is rendered useless or by
driving in the ordinary wire pins or centres which are seldom true and often bend
and split the roller and come loose by the strain on them. On the circular disc I
cast a boss sufficiently long and large in diameter being turned perfectly true the
outer end being turned less in diameter in two sizes the middle part being
provided to admit of a guide rim or outer pulley side to prevent the cord from
coming off or becoming entangled in the journal the boss or centre receiving the
guide rim is made slightly longer than the depth through its boss after it is
placed in position the extending portion is punched or rivetted down by a hollow
punch or drift which swells the centre out and fastens the guide rim in its place
after which the remaining projection is turned down to form the pivot or journal
which revolves in the ordinary brackets. To prevent the guide rim from "chafing'
the part of the centre boss which is rivetted over to fasten it in position is slightly
turned convex thus minimising the friction which is necessary to enable the blind
to fall down by its own weight when the cord is released from the kedge previously
described.
The opposite end of the roller is provided with a small metallic disc or dish
which fits on the end of the roller and is secured to the latter in a similar manner
as the cord pulley the pivot being cast too and turned having a narrow
projection to prevent it from " chafing to reduce the friction as previously
mentioned.
"J
In roller blinds where the roller is throughout its length made with a groove or
recess open at one end for inserting a rod with a blind on I make the small disc
or dish with a corresponding opening whether round square taper or of any other
suitable shape which may be met with.
The disc of the cord pulley is provided with a hole for inserting the winding

page_text: cord immediately opposite the slot for receiving the blind in the roller thereby
dispensing with any tieing or knot on the cord barrel.
In order that the said invention may be more fully understood I will proceed to
describe the drawings upon the sheets hereunto annexed the same letters and figures
of reference being used throughout all the figures to indicate the same or corre-
sponding parts of my invention.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a venetian blind with my improved kedge A
applied for holding and releasing the cords by which the blind is raised and
lowered The cords B are as usual passing over the pullies C fixed on the top
board or shelf D by which the blind is secured in position and descending to
the kedge A the latter being secured as shewn or in any other convenient
position
Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged views of my improved kedge A and
consists of the metallic barrel or cylinder E with the securing plate F the latter
being provided with the screw holes 1 for securing it to the wood framing of the
window or elsewhere. In the barrel E I provide the holes G slightly larger than
the diameter of the cord B passing through them. In the barrel E I place the ram
or presser H with the cord holes I corresponding with those in the barrel E the
outside end of the ram being made slightly larger than the diameter of the ram
forming the knob K to prevent its being pressed too far into the barrel E when
the latter is operated upon by the finger or thumb.
To give elasticity to the ram H the bottom end of the barrel E is provided with
the india rubber buffer L of suitable length to give the required elasticity so that
when the ram H is placed in position the holes G in the barrel E are covered by
the body of the ram H or nearly so. After the ram H is placed in position I
provide the pin M which extends across the barrel E and through the slot N in
the ram H which can be placed in the centre as shewn in Figure 6 or on one side
as in Figure 2 to prevent the ram flying out by the pressure imparted to it by the
india rubber buffer L or other equivalents.
To place the cords in position through the kedge A it is performed by pressing
the ram H inwardly until the holes G and I are opposite each other as in Figure 5
after which they are nipped or arrested by the outward pressure of the ram when
it assumes the position shown in Figure 7 thus pressing the cords B against the
outward sides of the holes G in the barrel E and the inward sides of the
holes I in the ram H thus locking them and retaining the blind in any required
position.
In some cases I provide the barrel E with the spiral spring O instead of the
india-rubber buffer L as shewn in Figure 10 or the volute spring S as in
Figure 11.
In some cases the blind is too heavy to be raised with one hand. I provide the
kedge with the locking pin P which can be placed in position after the ram is
pressed until the cords are free when the blind can be raised with both hands and
locked by simply drawing out the locking pin P the same being secured to the
kedge by the cord or small chain R
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of my improved kedge A when used in
connection with roller blinds in which case it is only provided with one set of
holes for the cord B to pass through-Figure 9 is a plan of same showing pin M
and slot N on the side to prevent the ram H flying out. Figure 10 shows the
ram in position for raising or lowering the blind.
Figure 12 is an arrangement shewing how any number of blinds may be
operated upon at once from one point of operation in this case I show three
windows elevated to an unusual height above the floor line of the building. In
such case the kedge is enlarged as in Figure 11 and fixed in any convenient
position the cords B from the blinds being led over the pullies T to it. With
this arrangement any individual blind can be operated upon the cords belonging
to the blinds not to be disturbed being held in the hand while the ram is operated

page_text: upon when the loose cord or cords will slip through their respective holes in the
kedge as the blind or blinds fall.
The second part of my invention relates to an improved way of forming and
attaching the cord pullies and centres for each end of roller blinds.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of one of my improved cord pullies the
circular rim a is provided with the circular dish b which fits on the outside of the
blind roller c and is screwed horizontally into the latter by the screws c¹. On the
rim a is cast the boss or centre d made perfectly true the outer end e being turned
less in diameter in two sizes to admit of the guide rim f to prevent the cord B
from falling off or becoming entangled in the journal; the outer boss e, is made
slightly longer than the depth through the boss g, of the guide rim f, the extending
portion being punched, or rivetted down, by a suitable punch or drift, which swells
out the centre and fastens the guide rim f in its place; the projection h, forming
the pivot or journal which revolves in the ordinary brackets-Figure 14, is an end
view of cord pulley in Figure 13.
The opposite end of the roller is provided with the metallic disc or dish k as in
Figure 15 and is screwed horizontally to the end of the roller in a similar manner
to the cord pulley the pivot being cast too and turned perfectly round which
revolves also in the ordinary brackets. In roller blinds where the roller is
throughout its length made with a groove or recess open at one end for inserting
a rod with a blind on I provide a corresponding opening in the disc or dish k
as shown in Figure 16 or any other suitable shape which may be met with.
To prevent the guide rim f and the disc "chafing the centre boss of each
is turned convex on the outside thus minimising the friction and thus allowing
the blind to fall down by its own weight when the cord is released from the
kedge.
The disc or rim a is provided with the hole d, through which the winding
cord B is passed and then tied in a knot, the latter laying in the slot p, in the
roller, after which the cord is wound round the boss or centre d, and thence to
the kedge.
Figure 17 is another arrangement of cord pulley in which I make the centre
boss d, on the rim a, partly conical over which is placed the cord barrel g, and
rim To prevent the cord barrel slipping sideways, I provide the holes i, through
which the cord B, is secured and then wound round the barrel for the purpose of
raising and lowering the blind on the roller -To ensure the cord barrel g,
revolving with the roller I provide the rim a, with the holes or slots m, shewn
more fully in Figure 18; in these holes the projections or tongues n on the end
of the cord barrel g fit which will be better understood by referring to Figures
19 and 20.
In some cases I make the centre boss d, on the rim a, partly square, tapering
down towards the pivot end h, by this means I dispense with the projections or
tongues n, on the end of cord barrel g, which is provided in this case also with the
cord hole i, for the purpose before described and shewn fully in Figures 21 and 22.—
The rim a, in both these pullies are provided with the dish b, to receive the end of
the roller c, being secured by the screws c', the latter being screwed horizontally,
or with the length of the roller, thus ensuring strength and durability.-Au
important feature in these pullies is that great strength is obtained by making
the centre boss conical or taper from the rim a, thereby making the root of the
centre strong and less liable to fracture, than is usually the case. Another feature
is the simple way in which the cord pulley is supported and maintained in position
by the winding cord.
Figure 23 is a general arrangement of roller blind when provided with the
cord pulley as shewn in Figures 21 and 22 and the disc k as shewn in Figures.
15 and 16-the blind being held in position by the winding cord B, passing
through the kedge A, fixed in any convenient position on the window framing-
The blind is held in the ordinary brackets t, which are secured as usual. Figure 24
is a side elevation of Figure 23.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature of my invention and described the mode of
performing the same I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details given, as the same may be varied or modified without
departing from the principle of my invention;-but what I claim and desire to be
secured to me by Letters Patent is :-
First. The construction and use of the kedge A, for the purpose herein stated
and described
Second: The arrangement construction and use of the cord pulley with the
means for minimizing the friction from "chafing" substantially as described and
shewn on the drawings in Figures 13 and 14.
Third. The use of the disk / with the convex rim g for reducing the friction
from "chafing" as described and shewn on the drawings in Figures 15 and 16.
Fourth, The use and construction of the cord pullies with the means for securing
the same to the blind roller provided with the bosses or centres d, made either
conical taper round or square for receiving the winding cord barrel g, with the
means for securing the same to the boss or centre, the outer ends of the bosses or
centres forming the pivots h, for the blind rollers to revolve on, when placed in the
brackets for supporting the same, substantially as described and shewn on the
drawings in Figures 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22.
In witness whereof I the said James Hudson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this first day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
JAMES HUDSON
(L.S.)