IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER BLINDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Blewett Winchester, of Barnes, in the
County of Surrey, and Henry Everest, of Westbourne Terrace Road, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER
BLINDS."
Sealed the 26th January 1877, and dated the 20th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Blewett
Winchester and Henry Everest at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 20th October 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY BLEWETT WINCHESTER, of Barnes, in the County of Surrey,
and HENRY EVEREST, of Westbourne Terrace Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER BLINDS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in roller blinds, and relates to
means to facilitate the retention of the blind at any required height without the
use of a pulley rack. For this purpose the roller axis is carried at one end by a
fixed bearing and at the other by a sliding bearing. On one end of the blind
roller we fix a pulley, provided with a V or other shaped groove, serrated or
roughened to afford a "bite" for the cord. Or the grooved pulley may be formed
with a square or other shaped groove, having smooth surfaces to receive a flat or
other shaped cord or band. In the groove of the pulley one or two pressure or
friction rollers, preferably of vulcanised india-rubber, are caused to bear. These
pressure or friction rollers are mounted in a fixed frame, provided with a tapped
projection to receive a screw, the end of which bears against the sliding bearing of
the blind roller, by which means friction is applied to the grooved pulley as also to
the cord or band to ensure the latter obtaining a proper "bite" and prevent it
slipping out of its groove, whilst the friction on the grooved pulley can be varied, as
may be required, to suit the weight of the blind.
If desired, the bearings for the blind roller axis may both be fixed, and the
pressure or friction roller or rollers may be mounted in a sliding bearing receiving
motion from a screw.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Blewett Winchester and Henry Everest in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 19th April 1877.
WILLIAM HENRY BLEWETT WINCHESTER, of Barnes, in the County of Surrey,
and HENRY EVEREST, of Westbourne Terrace Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER BLINDS."
The Invention has for its object improvements in roller blinds, and relates to
means to facilitate the retention of the blind at any required height without the
use of a pulley rack. For this purpose the roller axis is carried at one end by a
fixed bearing and at the other by a sliding bearing. On one end of the blind roller
we fix a pulley, provided with a V or other shaped groove, serrated or roughened
to afford a "bite" for the cord; or the grooved pulley may be formed with a square
or other shaped groove, having smooth surfaces to receive a flat or other shaped
cord or band. In the groove of the pulley one or two pressure or friction rollers,
which may be of vulcanised india-rubber, are caused to bear. These pressure or
friction rollers are mounted in a fixed frame, provided with a tapped projection to
receive a screw, the end of which bears against the sliding bearing of the blind
roller, by which means friction is applied to the grooved pulley as also to the cord
or band to ensure the latter obtaining a proper "bite" and prevent it slipping out
of its groove, whilst the friction on the grooved pulley can be varied, as may be
required to suit the weight of the blind.
If desired, the bearings for the blind roller axis may both be fixed, and the
pressure or friction roller or rollers may be mounted in a sliding bearing receiving
motion from a screw.
And in order that our said Invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying Drawings, more fully
Figure 1 is a front view of parts of a blind roller having our improvements
applied thereto; Figure 2 is a sectional end view thereof; and Figures 3, 4, and 5
are respectively a side view, a front view, and under side view of our improved
fittings separately.
Figure 6 is a sectional end view of a blind roller, showing our Invention applied
thereto in a slightly modified form; Figure 7 is a side view; Figure 8 is a back
view and Figure 9 is an under side view of our improved fittings separately.
In all the Figures like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
a represents a blind roller, one end of which is provided with a metal cap or
socket b, into which the end of the roller a is received so as to leave the surface of
the roller flush close up to the flange b¹, and therefore offer no impediment to the
proper rolling of the blind around the roller. The stud or axis a¹ is carried by a
bracket c which is formed holes c², c², to enable it to be screwed to the top or to
either side of a window frame, as may be required. The other end of the roller a
is provided with a grooved pulley d, which is formed with a socket into which the
end of the roller a is received. The grooved pulley d is provided with a stud or
axis projecting therefrom, which is carried by a block or bearing e, mounted with
capability of sliding in sockets or guides e¹, carried by or formed in a bracket e²,
which is provided with holes e, e, to enable it to be screwed to the top or to either
side of a window frame, as may be required. The grooved pulley & may be formed
with a Vor other shaped groove, serrated or roughened, to afford a "bite" for the
cord f, or it may be formed with a square or other shaped groove having smooth
surfaces to receive a flat or other shaped cord or band.
The arrangement we have found to answer well is that shown in the Drawings,
in which the grooved pulley d is shown with a square groove which has an india-

page_text: rubber ring around the same. In the groove of the pulley d are caused to bear
one or two pressure or friction rollers g, which in some cases may be of vulcanized
india-rubber, or when the groove of the pulley d is lined with india-rubber the
pressure or friction rollers may be formed of metal, wood, or vulcanite. These
rollers g are mounted in bearings e carried by the bracket e², and such bracket is
provided with a tapped projection e to receive a screw h, the end of which bears
against the sliding bearing e of the blind roller, by which means friction is applied
to the grooved pulley d, as also to the cord or band f, to ensure the latter obtaining
a proper "bite "and prevent it slipping out of its groove, whilst the friction on the
grooved pulley d can be varied as may be required to suit the weight of the blind.
At Figures 10 and 11 we have represented two views of an adjustable bearing
for the stud or axis a¹, which bearing is provided with slots to enable that end of
the blind roller to be adjusted to a correct level with the other. If desired,
however, the bearings for the blind roller axes may both be fixed, and the pressure
or friction roller or rollers g may be mounted in bearings e, carried by a sliding bar
or frame e', receiving motion from a screw h, as shown at Figures 12 and 13.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the mode in which
we carry the same into effect, we would have it understood, that what we claim is
the mode, substantially as herein shown and described, of applying friction to a cord
or band of a roller blind so as to facilitate the raising and lowering of a roller blind,
and the retention thereof at any required height without the use of a pulley rack.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Henry Blewett Winchester and
Henry Everest, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighteenth day
of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven
W. H. B. WINCHESTER. (L.S.)
HENRY EVEREST.
(L.S.)