AN IMPROVED METHOD OP DRAWING AND WITHDRAWING WINDOW CURTAINS AND OTHER SIMILAR HANGINGS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Hawksey, of Saint Helen's, in the County
of Lancaster, Upholsterer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OP DRAWING AND WITHDRAWING WINDOW CURTAINS AND OTHER SIMILAR
HANGINGS."
Sealed the 28th December 1860, and dated the 30th June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Hawksey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
80th June 1860.
I, ANDREW HAWKSEY, of Saint Helen's, in the County of Lancaster,
Upholsterer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Ar
IMPROVED METHOD OF DRAWING AND WITHDRAWING WINDOW CURTAINS AND OTHER
SIMILAR HANGINGS," to be as follows:-
The Invention is designed for the purpose of enabling curtains of beds,
windows, and other similar hangings, to be drawn together and withdrawn
from one side without the use of rods and rings.
The improvement consists in forming a peculiarly shaped T-groove, in the
cornice or moulding from which the curtains hang, in the upper or horizontal
portion of which run a number of flat bowls or rollers, which are attached to
cords, whereby the said rollers are caused to traverse within the groove. Each
roller is furnished with a wire hook or eye, which projects through the vertical

page_text: portion of the groove, and to which the curtains are hung or attached, so that
by drawing the cords the curtains may be drawn together or asunder, and in
some situations (as in bay windows or other places where angles have to be
passed) with greater case and less wear than by the usual method of rods
and rings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Andrew Hawksey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ANDREW
HAWKSEY, of Saint Helen's, in the County of Lancaster, Upholsterer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the 24th year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Andrew Hawksey, Her especial license that I, the said Andrew Hawksey,
niy executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Andrew Hawksey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF DRAWING AND WITHDRAWING WINDOW CURTAINS AND OTHER SIMILAR
HANGINGS," the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Andrew
Hawksey, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
מסיוט
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Andrew Hawksey, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
The Invention is designed for the purpose of enabling curtains of beds,
windows, and other similar bangings, to be drawn together and withdrawn
from one side without the use of rods and rings.

page_text: The improvement consists in forming a peculiarly shaped T-groove in the
cornice or molding from which the curtains hang, in the upper or horizontal
portion of which groove a number of flat bowls, wheels, or rollers run, such
runners or bowls being attached to cords, whereby the said rollers are caused
to traverse within the groove. Each runner is furnished with a wire hook or
eye, which projects through the vertical portion of the T-groove, by means of
which the curtains or hangings are connected with or attached to the said
runners, so that by drawing the cords the curtains may be drawn together or
asunder, or all to one side if required, and in some situations (as in "bay
windows") or other places where angles have to be passed) the movement of
the curtains is accomplished with greater ease and less wear to the cords than
by the usual method of rods and rings.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings, the detail portion being
made about full size, and having similar letters of reference marked upon
corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the under side of a cornice suitable for a "bay
window," shewing the runners" in the groove and the direction of the cord,
and its connection with the two end or leading runners of each curtain ;
Fig. 2 exhibits a similar arrangement as applied to a flat bar and moulding,
Fig. 3 being a sectional view of the same, shewing the "runner" in the
moulding, and the position of the cords; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the
groove as formed for "bay windows" or other angular courses; Fig. 5 is a
sectional view, shewing the method of attaching the cord to the central pin of
the end or leading "runners;" in Fig. 6 another arrangement is shown, in
which the runners are used in pairs and in a vertical position, and the cords
placed between them; and Fig. 7 exhibits the method of applying the Inven-
tion to a cylindrical rod or pole.
In Fig. 1, a, a, is the groove, formed as shewn in section at Fig. 4, having a
recess for the cords in passing round the angles of the cornice; and b, b, are
the runners sliding in the horizontal part of such groove, and attached to the
curtains, the "leading runners " 6', 6', being attached to the cords c, c, as shewn
in Fig. 2. The ends of the cord may be united to form an endless cord and pass
around the pulley d, and return through the double pulley E, and thence down
to a pulley attached to an elastic band or other similar elastic appliance, to
keep the cords in tension, and retain them in their respective positions in the
groove, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4:
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly

page_text: understood that I claim the novel application and use of one or more grooved
courses or "races "having "runners" or flat bowls or wheels sliding within,
to cornices, mouldings, bars, poles, or other similar appliances from which
curtains or hangings are required to be suspended, and for the purpose of
rendering the operation of drawing and withdrawing such hangings more per-
fect, and with less friction and wear than by the means ordinarily employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Hawksey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 27th day of December, One thousand eight hundred
and sixty.
ANDREW HAWKSEY. (L.S.)
ANDREW HAWKSEY. (L.S.)