Improvements in Window Blinds.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Window Blinds.
I JAMES EDWARD UMPLEBY of 6 Rifle Crescent, Aston, in the County of Warwick,
Ecclesiastical Furniture Maker 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and arrangement of
window blinds which are similar to what are known as Venetian blinds, and its object,
primarily, is to provide that such blinds shall be constructed and manipulated without
the use of tapes, which are apt to break and otherwise become troublesome both as to
their wear and their use; also to provide that the laths or strips forming such blinds
shall be carried in or upon metallic end caps or clips; also that these said lathis stall
be carried and manipulated by a continuous series of zig-zag or "lazy tong " levers;
also to provide in combination therewith a cord gripping device, all in the manner
hereinafter shown and described.
The accompanying drawings illustrate this my invention, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a front view of this my invention as carried out upon a wide blind.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1, showing the blind opened to its full extent.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the blind partly drawn up.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the blind completely drawn up.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged views of parts in detail.
Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged detached rear and side views respectively showing the
cord gripping device.
Fig. 10 is a front view of a modified or simpler form of this my invention.
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of Fig. 10, showing the blind opened to its full extent.
Fig. 12 shows the same blind partly drawn up.
Fig. 13 shows the same blind completely drawn up.
a, a, a &c. are the laths forming the blind and which are carried at their ends in
the metallic clips b, b, b &c. (sce detail Fig. 6).
b
This clip is formed out of sheet metal, (generally of steel, nickel plated or other-
wise coated) bent and shaped similarly as shown. At c, c, c &c. a fulcrum hole is made
which fits up on the part d of the fulcrum stud pin or rivet e, Fig. 7, and to which it
is rigidly rivetted. These clips are connected together by means of the connecting
levers (see Fig. 5) in which fulcrum holes g, g, gare made, which work on the part h
of the stud pin or rivet e, (Fig. 7), each lever f being connected at its ends to the end
or side of the clip b, while at its centre it is connected to the centre of one of the said
clips &; thus forming a series of equilateral levers, having fulcrum, or working, joints
at each end and also in their centre.
In order that the said joints shall work freely, I make the joint pins or rivets e,
with a shoulder h so that when the part dis rivetted firmly to the clips b the connecting
levers shall work freely upon the part .
The upper end of the blind, that is, the upper ends of the top levers are securely
fastened to the frame or bearer i.
Upon this bearer is also carried, at the one end, a pulley j over which the cord k
passes, its one end being attached to the bottom lath a'. This cord passes on over
the entire width of the blind and over the pulley 1. To the other end of the lath a',
a second cord k¹ is secured, which is carried upwards and over the pulley m, so that,
the cords and k may be drawn down simultaneously to raise the blind. At n, n,
guides are provided through which the cords pass, and by which they are kept neatly
in order.
Again. At the one end of the bearer i, I provide a device whereby the cords may be
automatically gripped, and thereby sustain the blind at any desired position. This

page_text: mechanism I have illustrated in enlarged detailed views, in Figs. 8 and 9, in which
the cords k, k¹, pass, respectively, over the pulleys and m. These pulleys are
carried upon the angle plate or frame o; and upon this frame is provided a fixed
centre block p. Upon fulcrum bearings at 7, 7' are carried weighted grip levers r, r¹.
having at their front ends eccentrical shaped surfaces, which, by reason of the weighted
part of the lever, always tends to grip or hold the cords, and thus automatically
prevent the dropping of the blind. Upon the front part of the lever however, at 5,
a releasing cord is attached, which extends to within easy reach of the operator, so
that at will the grip may be released, and the blind still further lowered. In order to
raise the blind, it is only necessary to pull the cords and 4, inasmuch as the down-
ward pull itself of these cords effect their release from the gripping levers.
$1
This gripping device may be also applied to the cords of Venetian and other similar
blinds of present make. In some cases, where very wide blinds are required in order
to prevent the swagging of the laths, short lengths of laths are used and connected up
to each other, as seen in Fig. 1, by means of the clips and connecting levers.
As before intimated, Figs. 10 to 13 illustrate this my invention in a simpler form,
that is, without the cord gripping device, and without the intermediate series of
levers and f¹.
The whole of the parts, together with their application and duties will be clearly
understood from the description already given for Figs. 1 to 9. In Figs. 10 to 13, so
far as applicable I have given to each part the same reference letter, as already given
to its corresponding part in Figs. 1 to 9.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performe.l, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with the laths a, of the metallic clips or ', such clips having
the studs or pins e rivetted thereto for the purposes specified.
2. The combination with the laths a, a &c., having the clips b, b' and studs e, of
the connecting levers, constructed and operating, substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. The combination with Venetian blind cords k, or their equivalents, of the
double gripping levers r, having the fixed block p, and releasing cords constructed,
applied, and operating substantially as shown and described.
4. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the window
blind, substantially as shown and described in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive.
5. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting the window blind
and cord gripping action, substantially as shown and described in Figs. 1 to 9
inclusive.
Dated this 14th day of November 1890
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.