Improvements in Raising and Supporting Venetian Blinds and other similarly Accumulating Weights.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 15th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Raising and Supporting Venetian Blinds and other
similarly Accumulating Weights.
1,JOSEPH SAMUEL ORTON of 16 Edgbaston Road corner of Priory Road, Balsall Heath
Birmingham, mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In raising the adjustable parts of venetian blinds by the means usually employed
considerable physical exertion is necessary to overcome the accumulative strain on the
actuating cords caused by the continued collection of the said parts in being raised to
certain positions and especially when their total accumulation is nearly complete.
The object of this invention is to obviate or remove this objectionable feature in the
use of venetian blinds, and to dispense with the employment of cleats, hooks or studs
to retain them in position. According to this invention the varying weight or strain
on the lifting cords of a venetian blind or of any other arrangement of suspended parts
where weight similarly accumulates in being raised, may he constantly sustained,
both in being raised and lowered, and retained when at rest either in a state of
equilibrium, virtually or approximately, with another or a counteracting power or
force, as, for instance, the resisting force of a spring; or, as may be preferred, the
said counteracting power or force may preponderate in an even, or in an approximately
even and proportionate degree over the said varying strain of variable weight on the
said.cords in any position and thus constantly tend to cause it to ascend ;-in this
latter case the blind may be drawn down to any desired position by a cord.and there
retained by the action of any known centrifugal or other check, such as may be used
for ordinary spring roller blinds.
The chief feature of this invention consists in the employment of truncated conles or
frustums of cones, or of truncated conoids or frustums of conoids (hereinafter designated
and referred to as cones and conoids) employed in a train or series,-each cone being
connected with another cone or with a roller by a cord, and each conoid with a roller,
-as intermediaries for the the transmission of motion, and the variation of leverage
and consequent equalization of the effective, or resultant power exerted by the one
upon the other, of the resisting force of a spring and the power or force of a
varying weight as herein referred to. Cones may be substituted for conoids and
vice versa, without departing from the nature of this invention but I prefer to
employ them as herein stated. One arrangement of parts constuting this invention
may be described as follows:-the cords by which the laths of a venetian blind, (or the
cords by which any similarly accumulating weight) is raised may be suspended direct
from a roller pivoted and rotating in bearings fixed to a suitable board which is sup-
ported at each end upon rollers rolling between it and the fixed board-which is here
used similarly to the top board of an ordinary venetian blind;-by this arrangement
the roller and its supporting board has an easy longitudinal movement to and fro,
and the action and purpose of these parts is equivalent to those of similar parts
described in the specification of an invention for which Letters Patent have been
granted to me, viz. No. 14433 dated the 25th of Novr. 1885. At a part near one
end of the roller-herein after called the main roller-to which the lifting cords of the
blind are secured and by the rotation of which they are raised or lowered by being
coiled or uncoiled thereon or therefrom, is securely fastened one end of another cord,
uncoiling from the said main roller while the lifting cords are coiling upon it and
coiting upon it while they are uncoiling from it, and of a length about equal to them.
The other end of this cord is securely fastened at a part at the base of a cone which
has in its surface a spiral groove extending from the said part to the smaller end of
the cone, and of a length not less than the length of the portion of this cord which
coils upon the said main-wolle

page_text: The cone just described may be either constructed in one with, or made separately
and securely united to a second cone constructed with ends of the same dimensions as
those of the former or first cone, and by preference, both cones are formed or placed
base to base, in the same axial line and their smaller ends pivoted and rotating in
bearings fixed on the board having the longitudinal movement herein before described.
In the surface of the second cone a spiral groove extends from its base with a gradual
quickening of pitch toward the smaller end of this cone, at the base of which at the
extremity of the said groove is securely fastened one end of a cord equal in length to
that of the cord connecting the main roller and the first cone. When the cord
attached to the second cone is coiled within and fills the entire length of the groove
therein it extends from the smaller end of this cone to a part at the base of a third
cone, with a spiral groove in its surface similar to that of the second conc opposite to
it but each inversely to the other with respect to the dimensions of its ends. This
third cone forms part of a second united pair of cones, viz. the third and fourth cones
on the same axis and pivoted in bearings on the same board with other aforesaid
bearings. More united pairs of cones may be employed in a similar series, but the
last cone or that which terminates the series of cones, is connected by a cord-one
end of which is securely fastened at the base of the said last cone in a manner similar
to that described with respect to the main roller and the first cone in this series,―
with a short spring-roller rotating axially with, and actuated in one direction by, the
moving end of a spiral spring attached to it, and pivoted in bearings on the same
board with the other aforesaid bearings, and to which board the other or stationary
end of the said spring is secured.
In a combination of part of mechanism in which conoids are employed in accordance
with this invention, the main roller from which the lifting cords of the venetian blind
are suspended is pivoted in bearing fixed on a board having a longitudinal movement
as herein before described, but I prefer, in this combination, that a conoid be a portion
of, or a part united with, this main roller, or united with other parts which with
itself may constitute the main roller. At a part at the base of this first conoid is
securely fastened one end of a cord, and when there are at least as many coils of this
cord round the conoid as the maximum number of revolutions arranged to be made in
one direction continuously by the main roller, it extends in a line to a short roller
opposite on another axis parallel to that of the conoid and the other end of this said
cord is securely fastened to the said short roller. With its base constructed in one
with, or made separately and firmly united with this short roller is a second conoid in
this series, with the outer ends of the two combined pivoted in bearings on the same
board as the main-roller bearings. At the base of the second conoid is securely
fastened one end of another cord, and when there are as many coils of this cord round
its conoid as the maximum number of revolutions arranged to be made in one direction
continuously by the first short roller, forming part of the united conoid and roller, it
extends in a line to a second short roller, which may be united with a third conoid and
pivoted and supported similarly to other similar parts-and the series of united conoids
and rollers may in like manner be continued. But whatever be the number of parts thus
united and employed in a similar series, the last conoid in the series is connected in
a manner similar to that described herein with respect to the first conoid and first
short roller, by a cord-one end of which is securely fastened to the last conoid in a
series with a single short spring roller rotating axially with, and actuated in one
direction, by the moving end of a spiral spring attached to it, and pivoted in
bearings on the same board with other bearings in this combination; and to which
board the other, or stationary end of the said spring is secured. If, in this arrange-
ment or combination of parts, the spring be made to preponderate over the weight of
the blind so as to constantly tend to cause the latter to ascend, it may be drawn
down by a cord to any position required, and there retained by the action of any
known suitable check, as herein before referred to. In the former arrangement, or
the arrangement of united pairs of cones herein described the maximum degree of
resisting force exerted by the spring at one time may be equivalent to the accumulated
weight of all the adjustable parts of the venetian blind when collected at their highest

page_text: position at another time. In the latter arrangement or combination in a series of
united conoids and rollers, the resisting force of the spring may be equal at the same
time with the total accumulated weight of the adjustable parts of the blind when collected
at their highest position, and therefore increases in intensity as the said parts are drawn
down the diminishing weight on the lifting cords in descending being compensated
for by the gain of leverage in its favor in its counteraction with the increase in the
intensity or force of the spring.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Raising and Supporting Venetian Blinds and other
similarly Accumulating Weights.
1,JOSEPH SAMUEL ORTON of 16 Edgbaston Road, corner of Priory Road, Balsall Heath
Birmingham mechanician, 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 :-
In raising the adjustable parts of venetian blinds by the means usually employed
considerable physical exertion is necessary to overcome the accumulative strain, on the
actuating cords, by the continued collection of the said parts in being raised to certain
positions,--and especially when their total accumulation is nearly complete. The
object of this invention is to obviate or remove this objectionable feature in the use of
venetian blinds and to dispense with the employment of cleats, hooks or studs to retain
them in position.
According to this invention the varying weight or strain on the lifting cords of a
venetian blind or of any other arrangement of suspended parts wherein weight similarly
accumulates in being raised may be constantly sustained both in being raised and
lowered and retained when at rest, either in a state of equilibrium virtually or approxi-
mately with another power or force in counteraction, as the resisting force of a
roller-spring, or, if preferred the said counteracting power or force may preponderate
in an even, or approximately even and proportionate degree over the varying weight
on the lifting cords in any position, and thus constantly tend to. cause it to ascend.
In this latter case the blind may be drawn down to any required position by a cord
and there retained by the action of any known semi-automatic, centrifugal or other
suitable check such as may be used for ordinary spring-roller blinds.
The chief feature of this invention consists in the employment of truncated cones or
of truncated conoids or of frustums of cones or conoids,-which for convenience of
description will be hereinafter designated and referred to as cones and conoids,-
which may be employed in a series as intermediaries for the transmission of motion
and variation of transmitted power, so as to wholly or partially equalize the real
effective power exerted by the resisting force of a spring giving rotary motion, and
the power or force of a varying weight. Cones may be substituted for conoids and
vice-versa without departing from the nature of this invention, but I prefer to employ
them as herein stated.
In sheet 1. Figure 1 represents in plan, Figure 2 in front elevation and Figure 3
in end elevation an arrangement or combination of cones, in accordance with this
invention, in which are instances of a cone actuated by a cone, and by which arrange-
went the adjustable parts of venetian blinds may be supported in any position in a
state of equilibrium with the counteracting power or the resisting force of a spring.
In this arrangement the maximum degree of resisting force required to be exerted by
the spring may, with a properly proportioned train of cones be equal to the accumu-
lated weight of all the adjustable parts of the blind (Figs. 2 and 3) when collected at
the highest position to which they may be raised, and the intensity of the resisting
force of the spring increases while the strain on the lifting cords of the blind decreases
and vice-versa, each in an inverse ratio to the other, yet by this arrangement of cones

page_text: the rear resultant effect of each towards the other may be constantly equal and
balanced.
In Figs. 2 and 3-sheet 1-of the accompanying drawings, a, a &c. indicates laths
of a venetian blind and b and 2 the ladder-shaped tapes by which, with the short
rolling board tapes c and c² all the laths of the blind when at their lowest positions, are
wholly sustained. In Figs. 12 and 3 on the same sheet d indicates the top stationary
board in which are mounted the supporting rollers 3 and 4 from which hang the
tapes of the blind.
e represents a board travelling longitudinally in either direction
to or fro, and, to reduce friction having on its underside near each end a part indicated
by e² travelling on the rollers es and et rolling on the board d. f indicates the main
roller pivotted in the bearings g and g² firmly fixed to the travelling board e, and upon
or from which said roller of the lifting cords h and h² of the blind are caused to coil
and uncoil in the manner of a screw by the travelling motion longitudinally to or fro
of the board e on the rollers and e. i, 22 and represent each a joint or joined
pair of spirally grooved cones in the same axial line, each pair either constructed
in one pieco or made separately and rigidly secured together, by preference, base
to base and pivotted at each smaller end. 1 and 2 constitute the first pair of
cones in a train of cones as here illustrated for transmitting motion from the
blind-roller to the rolling end of a roller-spring-the pivots of which pair rotate
in the bearings 93 and 94; 3 and 4 a second pair 22, the pivots of which rotate in
the bearings g and 9; and 5 and 6 a third pair the pivots of which rotate in
the bearings g and 97; all the said bearings being firmly fixed to the travelling
board e.
The main roller f is connected with the cone 1 by the cord j coiling and
and uncoiling upon or from the roller f from or upon the said cone 1,-one end
of this cord being firmly secured to a part of f near the bearing g² and its other
end being similarly secured to a point near the base of the cone 1. In a similar
manner and by similar means the cones 2 and 3-placed inversely each to the
other are connected by the cord 2, the cones 4 and 5 by the cord 13, and the
cone 6 and roller by the cord ; that is one end of each of the said cords is
attached at a point near the base of each conc. When two cones are connected
by a cord as just described a spiral groove is formed in the surface of each cone
varying from a comparatively quick pitch near the base to a slower degree of pitch
in nearing the smaller end of each cone, and when the cord lies in and fills the
whole extent of the groove in the one cone a portion of it extends from the smaller
end of this same cone ond is attached to a part at the base of the other cone, and
each of these two cones is placed inversely the one to the other with respect to
the diameters of their ends, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2-sheet 1. The slower
degree of pitch of the groove towards the smaller end of one cone is opposed to,
or placed opposite to the quicker degree of pitch of the groove towards the larger
end of the other opposite cone connected with it by the same cord, because when
this cord is drawn or uncoiled from the smaller end of the one cone and coiled
upon the larger end of the other, the former cone rotates more quickly on its axis
in giving out a certain length of cord than the latter in receiving and coiling an equal
length on its larger end.
The differentiating pitch of the grooves in the cones is therefore such that the line
of the portion of cord extending from one to another alway maintains the same
tangential direction from the groove in the one cone to the groove in the other. The
roller is pivotted at one end in the bearing 9 and at its other end a long rod lis
axially and firmly secured to it, rotating with it as a pivot in the bearing 9 and
extending to and through the bearing 9. Surrounding the rod 7, with one end firmly
fixed to the bearing 9, and the other to the rod / at is a spiral spring o.
board & has a part cut away at d² to give space for the action of the double cone
and the roller k. The longitudinal movement may be caused by the action of a screw
fixed to and in the same axial line with the roller as described for a like purpose
in the specification of an invention for which Letters Patent No. 14433 dated the
25th Novr. 1885 were granted.
The
The mechanical result or action of this arrangement of parts of mechanism may

page_text: now be demonstrated as follows: When the bottom lath of a
venetian blind to
which this invention is applied (Figs. 3 and 4-Sheet 1) is raised midway in its
ascent, half the total weight of the laths is sustained by the lifting cords / and h³,
half the coiling portion of these latter being then coiled upon the roller f. The
coiling portion of the cord j connecting the main roller f and the cone
half upon and half upon the cone 1.
is coiled
As the cone 2 forming with the cone 1 the double cone has made the. same
number of revolutions as the cone 1 it has taken up more cord on its larger end by the
raising of the blind than remains to be given out by the cone 3 which latter therefore
made more revolutions than the cones I and 2 or double cone i,-so also the cono 4
forming with the cone 3 the double cone has made the same number of revo-
lutions as the cone 3 and has taken up still more cord on its larger end than remains
to be given out by the cone 5,-and for reasons exactly similar to those just stated
the cone 6 has taken up more cord than remains to be given out by the roller k-
to which by means of the rod the spring o communicates motion in one direction-
and therefore k has made more revolutions than the cones or the roller, and the
spring o bas attained a greater degree of resistance than would with equal leverage
balance or neutralize the weight of the parts of the blind hanging from the cords h
and 2 in the said position; but, as the cord j connecting the cone 6 and the spring
roller extends from k to a smaller diameter on the cone 6, the cord from the
cone 5 to a smaller diameter on the cone 4,-and the cord from the cone 3 to a
smaller diameter on the cone 2 the real or actual degree of power transmitted from
the spring o through or by the said cones and their cords is equal to the weight of
the said parts held in suspension by the lifting cords h and ². When all the laths
of the blind (Figs. 2 and 3-sheet 1) are collected at the highest position to which
they can be raised, the coiling portions of the lifting cords.h and h² are wholly coiled
wholly or nearly
upon the roller, the coiling portions of the cords j. j² and jare.
coiled each respectively upon the cones 1, 3 and 5, and the coiling portion of the
cord is wholly or nearly coiled upon the roller k. Thus the cords j, j and j³
extend each respective from the larger diameters of the roller k, the cone 2, and the
cone 4 to smaller diameters on the cones 1, 3 and 5, and a small degree of power
exerted by the spring is sufficient by the leverage so obtained to counterbalance the
total accumulated weight on the aforesaid lifting cords. When all the laths of
this blind are at their lowest positions, and the lowest lath only is sustained by the
cords h and the foregoing conditions of power and leverage are exactly reversed
by the transfer of the coiling portions of the cords j, j, j and j each respectively
to the roller, and the cones 2, 4 and 6, and the weight only of the lowest lath
of the blind then counteracts the maximum degree of force arranged to be exerted
for this purpose by the spring o. In the same manner the weight of the laths
sustained by the lifting cords in any intermediate position is neutralized or com-
pensated for when in motion or at rest.
In Sheet 2 Figure 4 represents in plan, Figure 5 in front elevation, and Figure 6
in end elevation an arrangement of rotating united conoids and rollers in accordance
with this invention, in which each conoid is shown. as being connected by a cord
with a cylindrical or roller-shaped part rotating in another- or different axial line,
the said cord coiling or uncoiling upon or from its conoid while uncoiling or coiling
from or upon its said roller. These conoids and rollers are shown as being employed
in a train or series as intermediaries for the transmission of motion and variation
of leverage and power between the resisting force of a spring and the varying
weight suspended on the cords of the blind. "The degree of resisting force exerted
by the spring in this arrangement may be equal at the same time with the total
accumulated weight of the adjustable parts of the blind (Figs. 5 and 6-Sheet 2)
when collected at the highest position to which they may be raised, and increase
still further in intensity as the said parts are drawn downward. The diminishing
weight or strain on the lifting cords of the blind in descending counteracts the
increased resistance of the spring by the gain of power by leverage, developed by

page_text: the rotation of the conorus and rollers, whereby the cords used in this series stretch
from properly proportioned parts of their conoids to their rollers to effect this
purpose.
In Sheet 2, Figures 5 and 6, m, m &c. indicate the laths of the blind, and n, 11²,
o and o² the tapes. In the same sheet in all the figures p indicates the top stationary
board. g and q indicate two laths having a space between them, and secured at the
proper distance apart by the parts s and s which are fixed to the two said laths in
the manner shown in Fig. 4. s and s indicate inverted box-like chambers in which
rollers loosely rolling in the said chambers-roll in contact with their under hori-
zontal surfaces and in contact with and upon the stationary board p. 3 and stare
securely held in position between 9 and 92 by the parts s and s pressing upon them
and causing their flanges, &c. to press against the upper parts of q and gas
shown in Fig. 4. and q² with their connecting parts s and 2 and the parts s³ and st
travel longitudinally in either direction to or fro, and to reduce friction the afore-
mentioned rollers in the chambered parts of s³ and are interposed between these
latter and the board p,-rolling between them as illustrated in Fig. 5. * indicates
the main roller pivotted in the bearings s and s² upon and from which the lifting
cords and t2 are coiled and uncoiled in a manner similar to that described with
reference to the cords h and h² Figs. 1 and 2-Sheet 1. u, u² and u³ represent each a
conoid, by preference spirally grooved, either formed in one with, or made separately
and firmly secured to a roller or cylindrical part in the same axial line. The conoid u
is shown as forming a part of, or a part in combination with and forming as a whole,
the main roller r. The conoids u² and u³ are shown each respectively with their roller-
like parts and ². The outer end of the part of the combined conoid and roller u
and is pivotted in the bearing 58, and the outer smaller end of u² has a central
round hole to receive a pivot, the outer end of the part 2 of the combined conoid
and roller and v² is pivotted in the cross bearing & secured to q and 7 and the
outer smaller end of the conoid u³ is pivotted in the cross bearings also secured
to
and indicates a roller having at one end a pivot extended in the before-
mentioned central hole in the smaller end of the conoid u², and at its other end a
long rod w rigidly secured to it, serving as a pivot in the bearings (formed in one.
with s³) and extending to, and rotating in the bearing 510. Surrounding the rod w
is the spiral spring, with one end securely fixed to the bearing 10 and the other to
the rotating rod wat w². The cord y coils or uncoils upon or from the conoid u while
uncoiling or coiling from or upon the roller-like part v, and thus passes to or from
the one or the other to the inverse end of each. In a similar manner and with a
similar action and purpose the cords y² and y³ connect and are secured to, each
respectively, u² and 2, and 3 and v³. and represent two narrow roller discs,
rotating loosely on the pivot of v³, which rotates in the aforesaid central hole in u²
and the other on the pivot of 2 which rotates in the bearing s'. z rotates with its
periphery in contact with the periphery of the part 2 of the main roller, and z² in the
same manner with the circumferential surface of v, and are employed to resist any
approachment or deflection of the axes of the parts to which they are applied by the
strain on the cords y, y² and y³. The board p is recessed as indicated by the broken
lines in Fig. 5 to allow-the parts u³ and v² to move freely.
The conoids u, u² and u³ are preferably constructed of a conoidal figure because
when three are used as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5-Sheet 2-they may in that form
be made to give a result equal to one larger single frustum of a right cone used in a
manner similar to that of a fusee in horology. Where three conoids are thus employed
in a series I prefer to construct them so that the largest, the middle and the smallest
diameters of these conoids shall be of the dimensions indicated by the cube roots of
the dimensions of the largest, the middle, and the smallest diameters of a single right
cone to produce the same result in the gain, or relinquishing of power by leverage,-
or any convenient number of diameter may be taken, at equal distance apart from
adjacent ones axially, on the said single cone, and the cube roots of their dimensions
will give the same number of diameters on the conoids at equal distances apart,

page_text: axially, from adjacent ones, and the conoids may be thus generated in a true form. If
two conoids only be used in the same series then the square roots are similarly taken
in lieu of the cube roots.
It will now be obvious that in drawing down the blind illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6
the cords y, y and y³ will be uncoiled from », 3 and and coiled upon parts of the
conoids 24. u2 and 3 of smaller diameters than those of v, v or v³, and therefore while
the weight on the cords t and 2 diminishes on the lowering of the blind, power will
be gained in favour of this weight by the changed conditions of leverage and power
caused by the position of the said cords on their respective conoids to counteract the
increased resistance of the spring w. In this latter arrangement of this invention,
also, if the power of the spring be made to preponderate over the suspended weight
so as to constantly tend to cause the blind to ascend, tho, latter may be drawn down
by a cord to any required position and there retained by the use of any known
check as herein before referred to.
I would here have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details
herein shown and described as they may be varied without departing from the
character of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. The mode of application of truncated cones or truncated conoids as intermediary
parts of mechanism for the transmission of rotary motion and for the variation of
transmitted power between suspended weight, accumulating in being raised, and the
power that counteracts it, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The mode of application of rollers, or equivalents, rolling between the parts as
constructed to move longitudinally, to and fro, and the top stationary board, sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twelfth day of April 1889.
TANDnt
GUTTRY
AUT
JOSEPH CAMUEL ONTO