IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE WINDOW BLINDS OR SHADES
Year: 1885

page_text: Improv
кцацов.
I JOHN EDWARD WALSH of Waterhouse Chambers, Crossley Street, Halifax in
the county of York, Patent Agent and Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE WINDOW
BLINDS OR SHADES," to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a blind, or shade, for windows, so that it can be open
under the blind, by pulling it up; and by letting it down at the top it is open
both above and below, so that only the middle portion can be shut, or any part of
the window can be shaded or shut as required.
The blind is fastened to two rotating rods, one of which carries another rod on
the inside of it, two racks (preferably made of corrugated metal) are fixed on each
side of the window, vertically or horizontally in which work two cog wheels, which
are mounted on the rods, the wheels so as to be noiseless are made of buffalo hide,
or other suitable material, the rod carrying the third rod, rest in collars, the collars
encircle, or part encircle the racks, a cord is attached to the collars, and passes over
a pulley above; when pulled it raises the rods and blind, a cord is also attached to
the collar of the other rod, and through a guide or clamp, on collar of the upper
rod; a spring is placed upon the inner rod, arranged so that it keeps a tension on
the blind, and when the bottom roller is brought nearer the top roller, the spring
takes up the slack of the blind on to the roller, for larger blinds a weight and cord
is used, to take up the slack of the blind, and give the necessary tension, on pulling
the cord attached to the upper roller, both rollers and the blind are raised, on
releasing the cord they are lowered; on pulling the cord attached to the lower
roller, the lower roller is raised, and the slack of the blind taken up, by the action
of the spring on the top rollers.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Window Blinds or Shades.
I, JOHN EDWARD WALSH, of Waterhouse Chambers, Crossley Street, Halifax,
Yorkshire, Patent Agent & Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention a communication to me from abroad by Martin Georg Mitter,
engineer, of Stralsunder Strasse, Berlin, and Robert Ehlert, merchant, of Prenz-
lauer Strasse, Berlin, in the German Empire, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The adjustable blinds or shades for windows, described hereafter, can be used in
different ways i.e. they may be drawn up like an ordinary blind to any height as
shewn in Fig. 1, but at the same time they can be lowered from the top to any
extent, keeping the blinds at the lower part of the window, and at the same time
lowered from the upper part, covering under such circumstances only the middle
part of the window.
This construction therefore has the advantage over other blinds, that window
can be protected against the sunbeams at one part without being obliged to cover
the whole window by the blind; thus in its various alterations preventing any
entrance of sunbeams or exposure to unpleasantness of being observed by neigh-
bours, without interfering at the same time with the free entrance of light and air
at other parts of the window.
This is effected by fastening the blind-material to two rollers (rotating rods), one
of which (either the upper or lower as convenient) is formed as a hollow cylinder
and carries in its interior another roller-this latter really supporting the outside
roller. They are therefore really three rollers needed for the action of this blind-
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
In "a a" two racks are shewn, which may be fastened to a window either
vertically, horizontally or otherwise. The teeth of those racks can be manufactured
from wood, iron or any other material. The racks may be fitted in a wooden or
metal. On these racks "a a" the rollers "C C₁," provided at their extremities
with the cog-wheels "bb" move up and down. The cog-wheels may be made from
metal, wood or any other hard material, for instance from buffalo-hide, which
although very hard, possesses a certain oily property which contributes to an easy
and quick action and prevents wear and tear. One of the rollers (in the drawing
the upper one) is provided with the third interior roller d which carries the cog
wheels. This combined roller and also the lower roller are suspended on bearings
"k" the ends of which being bent to an angle, overlap the racks αα and are
securely guided by the same. On small blinds the pulling-cord "I" is fastened to
the bearing "k," passing over the roller "h," and, when the cord is drawn, lift the
"
"

page_text: "
blind-roller "c d." The lower roller "C" is regulated by the cord II, the guiding
clamp of which "i" is fastened to the bearing, in which the rollers "cd" rest.
By this arrangement the rollers cd" move as soon as the cord I is pulled or
slackened; the lower blind-roller and the upper one move independently of each
other.
The lower part of the blind does not hang down loose and free as usually is the
case, but is fastened at both ends to the rollers "c c¹." The outside roller of the
double roller, which is here shown as the upper one, has for its purpose to regulate
the length of the blind on the roller "C" the length of which increases or decreases
as the blind is rolled up or let down.
With small blinds the inner roller "d" is connected with the roller "c" by a
spiral spring (see Fig. 1); on large blinds a counter-weight or spring contrivance
is used; in this case the roller "c" is provided with a cord-wheel "f" from which
as much cord can be unwound as is necessary for compensation. Without com-
pensation to the rollers provided with cog-wheels, a complete opening of the blind
would not be possible, for the diameter of the roller, which receives the blind,
when it is drawn up, grows larger in the extent in proportion to the thickness of
the material of which the blind is made, and the diameter of the roller, from
which the blind-material is rolled off, diminishes in the same proportion as the
receiving-roller increases in size; consequently the two rollers are at such a distance
apart, or the window is covered by the blind; for as soon as one roller is clear
of the material, it can no longer revolve and therefore must stand still in the
cog-wheels. Now the blind is quite stretched, whereas, if unwound, it would hang
loosely.
The contrivanco g shown in Fig. 1 and 2 at the cord I consists of a guiding &
holding clamp. By means of which the cord is held tight and prevents the blind
from moving.
Near the pulley i is introduced a guiding clamp serving to hold the cord II and.
fix the same, this clamp may have any construction suitable for the purpose, for
instance, a pawl z as in Fig. 4 pressed down by a spring y may be allowed to lie
on the cord, so that when the same is drawn back by the weight of the lower
roller the cord may become jammed between the pawl and the pulley and held
thereby until the pawl is raised which may be done through a second cord III.
The lower roller can by this means be raised to any desired point when the pawl
will instantly arrest its backward motion. On pulling the second or pawl cord III
the lower roller may be allowed to fall to any desired point, where, on again
releasing the pawl, it can be fixed.
The fastening of the blind-material on both rollers "CC" is done in such a way,
that the same can be changed at will in a few moments. For this purpose the
rollers "cc" are provided with a groove or clipping piece "," Fig. V, in which
the end of the material can be introduced and fastened by means of small wooden
wedges or otherwise.
The collar-bearings "kk" and "kk¹," described in the preceding part of this
specification, will be usually employed when blinds are fixed inside the window,
but when outside-instead of such collar-bearings-the guide-rails, herein after-
wards described, can be used.
A guide-rail "x," Fig. VI, VII, VIII, of wood or metal, is placed on both sides
of the racks. The parts "m," at the end of the rollers, smaller in diameter than
the roller itself, which are extended beyond the cog-wheels "b" Fig. VI and VIII
are placed in the guide-rails "x" and are guided by them in ascending and
descending.
By this means the material of the blind can be fixed closer to the racks and
hereby the covering of the entire width of the window becomes possible.
Again by the guide-rails the blind receives an easier notion, as the friction
of the bearing in sliding in the grooves, and also of the pegs in the bearings in

page_text: altering the position of the blind-is avoided, which is an advantage, because the
blind is exposed to the influence of the weather.
Furthermore a contrivance is represented in Fig. VI to XI, which is purposed to
fix the blind, when arranged out of doors in rough and stormy weather and to
prevent the falling of the rollers, in case the cord should break.
"
Two of these "storm-contrivances are used to which the cords I and II are
fastened respectively.
t
"
Each consists essentially of the plate B to which the cord is attached. This
plate "B" has a slit "o," in which the narrower part of the roller m of the
upper and lower roller is placed respectively, so that it can revolve, moreover the
plate "B" bas over the periphery of the cog-wheels "b" a peg "n," which, when
desirable, enters between two teeth of the cog-wheel lying under it.
n
"
If this contrivance is to be put in action, the cords I and II are loosened
respectively; the plate "B" will by its own weight fall so far that the peg
comes in close contact with the cog-wheels concerned and in this way will hold
fast the roller "c."
"
If now the cord is drawn, the plate "B" moves on peg m "in slit "o" and
peg "n" is free from the influence of the cog-wheel.
Another kind of the "storm-contrivance "just described is found in the drawing
Fig. XI.
The plate "B" Fig. XI has, riveted to its back, a bearing "g," in which the
rail "p" provided with an eye, can be pushed up and down. The spring, surround-
ing the latter, always presses the rail "p" downwards, so that the peg "n," riveted
to "p," always enters between two teeth of the cog-wheel "b," lying under it.
The peg
"n" is only removed from the influence of the wheel, when the blind,
by drawing the cords I and II respectively, which are fastened in the eye of the
rail "p," is to be brought into another position.
By drawing the cord the pressure of the spring">
"is removed, the consequence
of which is, that the peg "n" releases the cog-wheel "b" and that the blind can
be brought into another position. But when the tension is released to such extent,
the spring "r comes again into action, peg "n" will again enter in connection
with the cog-wheel.
"
This "storm-contrivance," as is clear from the preceding, will fix the blind in
any position, without it being necessary to fasten the cord concerned in any way
whatever.
The above described " storm-contrivances" also act, if accidentally a cord should
break, and so the falling of the roller is prevented.
In order to fix both rollers "c," a "storm-contrivance" is attached to each, to
the upper one on the right and to the lower one on the left. Both "storm-
contrivances can also be attached to one and the same side.
"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
I. The use of two blind-rollers provided with cog-wheels of which one roller
carries surrounding it a third roller or casing not provided with cog-wheels, these
rollers ascending and descending by means of bearings and cog-wheels, at the same
time but independently of one another, and so keeping the blind stretched at any
height; in combination with
II. the use of a compensation-balance by means of counter weights or spiral
springs inside or outside of the rollers; in combination with
III. the use of guide-clamps for the cords and grooves for fixing the blinds on
the rollers; in combination with
IV. the use of guide-rails on both sides of the racks, in which the projecting
ends of the roller, which are extended beyond the cog-wheels of the rollers, are
guided in ascending and descending, whereby the space, gained by not using the

page_text: collar-bearings, is utilized for the widening of the blind-material; in combination
with
V. the use of a contrivance, consisting of a plate, which rests round the narrow
projecting part of the roller, and either carries a riveted or a moveable peg, which
by its own weight or by a spring—in loosening the cord-falls into the cog-wheel
and thus fixes the same, whereby the blind can neither be moved by the wind in
any way, nor the roller fall down, but which is removed from the influence of the
wheel in drawing the cord of the blind.