Improvements in and relating to Window Blinds.
Year: 1893

page_text: DIEVITICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Window Blinds.
We, CHARLES EBENEEZER GOODRICH, and SAMUEL E. WERTHEIMER, of
Pioche, in the County of Lincoln, and State of Nevada, United States of America,
Gentlemen, 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 window blind fixtures, and it has for its object [to
provide certain improvements in fixtures of that character in which the roller can
be automatically adjusted up and down as well as the blind which winds on the
roller. To this end the main and primary object of the present invention is to
provide an improvement in automatically-controlled window blind fixtures, whereby
the upper and lower portions of a window can be covered or uncovered simultaneously
or one at a time for the purposes of ventilation and light.
With these and other objects in view which will readily appear as the nature of
the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated
and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings:
-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a window and its frame showing the improved
window blind fixture applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line x-x of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of the blind roller and the several
parts connected therewith.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of one end of the blind roller and the
automatic check located at that end.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line y-y of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a detail in perspective of the winding wheel having the pawl notches in
its hub.
Fig. 7 is a detail in perspective of the stationary pawl check employed for one of
the winding wheels.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents a hollow blind roller of
the ordinary construction, in which is arranged the longitudinally-disposed shaft B,
mounted in suitable bearings inside of the roller so as to be steadied in its movement,
and adapted to have attached to the squared extremities b, thereof, the opposite
grooved winding wheels C, located at each end of the roller.
Each of the grooved winding wheels C arranged at opposite extremities of the
roller are so constructed that the base of their grooves are of a diameter
considerably less than the diameter of the blind roller in order to permit of the
raising and lowering of the roller by the operation hereinafter described, and said
winding wheels are provided in the base of their deep grooves with the transverse
notches C, the function of which will presently appear. The said winding wheels C,
are cast integral with the opposite spindle portions D, which project from opposite
sides of the wheels, and the inner of said spindle portions D, work inside of the
roller and have inner squared sockets d, which fit onto the squared extremities of
the roller shaft B, whereby a firm yet removable connection between the winding
wheels and the shaft is secured, and the said inner projecting spindles are journalled
in the opposite bearing plates E. The opposite bearing plates E, are held in

page_text: position on the opposite open ends of the roller A, by means of the flanged
ferrules F, the annular flanges of which are designed to enclose therebetween the
window blind a, winding and unwinding on the roller A, in the ordinary manner,
and inside of said bearing plates E, the inner spindle portions of the winding wheels
receive the attaching sleeves f, held in position on the spindles by the pins
passing therethrough and through the sleeve, and by this means is provided a
connection which prevents wobbling of the winding wheels, as well as the possibility
of becoming disconnected from the extremities of the shaft B.
The hollow blind roller A accommodates therein the usual spiral actuating
spring G, one end of which is fastened to the shaft B, while the other end is
secured to the roller A, so that the shaft with its attached wheels are independent
in one sense, of the roller A, to permit the blind to be separately raised and
lowered in the manner hereinafter described.
One of the winding wheels is further provided at both sides thereof with the
notched pawl hubs H, the inner notched one of which is adapted to work inside of
the opening of one of the flanged ferrules F, so as to be engaged by the ordinary
roller pawls h, pivoted to one of the bearing plates E and adapted to engage the
inner notched hub of said winding wheel in order to arrest the motion of the roller
and the re-coil of the actuating spring in the ordinary manner, when simply the
window blind is being raised and lowered.
The outer spindle portions D of each of the opposite winding wheels C, are
provided with the annular grooves I, and are adapted to loosely receive the
stationary collars J. The stationary collars J while loose on the outer spindle
portions of the winding wheels to permit of a free revolution therein, at the same
time are prevented from displacement by means of the retaining set screws j,
passing therethrough and adapted to project into the annular grooves in said
spindles. The collars J which form the support for the extremities of the blind
devices, are provided at their inner ends alongside of the outer flanges of the
winding wheels with the disks K while their outer ends are enlarged and provided
with the widened openings or slots k, which loosely embrace the opposite vertical
guide rods L.
The opposite guide rods L are supported in position at opposite sides of the
window frame by means of the upper and lower offstanding screw-brackets M
and M respectively. Each upper bracket M is provided with a perforation m there-
through to permit of the ready insertion of the guide rods and their removal while
the lower brackets M' are provided with the socket m', into which removably fit
the lower ends of the guide rods, and on said lower brackets M₁ are supported the
short buffer springs m³, against which the outer ends of the collars J are adapted to
strike, to relieve in part, the roller from jar when descending, or when suddenly
dropped to the lowest possible position. As illustrated the opposite parallel guide
rods do not extend the full height of the window frame but of course may be so
arranged if found desirable, but it is found preferable to have the same in
substantially the lengths illustrated so that the roller blind has an adjustment from
an intermediate point of the window to the top thereof. The guide rods serve
several important functions and while holding the blind and the roller steady in
their adjustments and preventing the roller from swinging when exposed to strong
currents of air, at the same time provide means for holding the collars J stationary
with respect to the rotation of the roller and the attached wheels, whereby utility
is given to the automatic check device presently described. The guide rods are
disposed sufficiently close to the window frame so that in the event of the operator
allowing the blind to slip from his hand, the bottom of the blind will be arrested
when it reaches the roller as the space between the roller and the window frame is
not large enough to admit the slat at the end of the blind to pass through and
thereby providing an arrangement whereby the blind roller can be arrested in its
downward movement which movement takes place when the blind is winding on the
roller.

page_text: The automatic check device referred to consists of one of the stationary collar
disks K and a stop pawl N pivoted to one side thereof next to one of the winding
wheels, so as to engage the outer end of the notched pawl hub of the said winding
wheel, and thus provide means for checking the roller at any point desired, by
preventing the same from turning in the direction induced by its spring, which
tendency causes the roller and the spring to revolve together so that the fixture
will lower of its own gravity.
The blind roller and the entire window blind fixture are supported for a vertical
adjustment of the window frame by means of the spring metal supporting ribbons O.
The spring metal supporting ribbons have their lower extremities fitted into the
transverse notches e, of the winding wheels and are adapted to wind and unwind in
the grooves of said wheels, as the roller is raised and lowered automatically as
bereinafter described, and the upper extremites of the said supporting ribbons O,
are removably attached to the stationary grooved supporting disks P. The
stationary supporting disks P are also provided with transverse notches p, which
receive the upper ends or extremities of the ribbons which are held in engagement
with such notches by a wrap of the ribbon in the grooves of said disks.
Irrespective of the vertical adjustment of the entire window fixture it is of
course necessary to provide means whereby the blind a, can be wound and
unwound without affecting the adjusted position of the roller, and to secure this
result it is necessary to prevent the stop pawl N from coming out of engagement
with the winding wheel adjacent thereto and therefore providing for holding the
shaft stationary while the roller A may revolve independently thereof, and be
checked at any moment by reason of the ordinary roller pawls at one end thereof,
which operate in the ordinary manner. The pull cord Q is employed for this
purpose and is provided at its upper end with a metal loop or ring 9, adapted to
loosely engage either one of the stationary collars J. By simply grasping this pull
cord with one hand when the roller is in a stationary position and holding the
same fairly taut, the operator prevents the ascent of the roller as well as the
disengagement of the pawl N, which would necessarily follow from the rolling
motion imparted to the roller by pulling down on the blind and which would
therefore by reason of the tension of the spring therein cause the end wheels to turn
in a direction in which they would wind themselves up on the metal ribbons and
therefore elevate the entire roller. Consequently, it will be apparent that while the
roller is in this manner held stationary, the blind may be wound or unwound at will
and as previously adverted to, when the roller is stopped by its roller pawl in the
ordinary manner a further revolution in the direction induced by its spring will be
checked by means of the stop pawl N.
When the blind roller is in a position below the top of the window and it is
desired to elevate the same automatically, it is simply necessary to grasp the blind
and pull down on the same. This imparts a revolving motion to the roller A,
which motion, if the tension of the spring is sufficient to overcome the weight of the
roller, before the curtain shade has been unwound very much, will immediately
cause the shaft B, to also revolve, thereby turning the wheels C, which wind up on
the metal ribbous and thereby cause the roller to ascend toward the top of the
window the tension of the spring being so regulated that the roller will reach its
highest point before the blind is unwound entirely therefrom.
To lower the roller it is simply necessary to pull down on the blind so that the
pawl N will be disengaged, and then quickly releasing the pressure on the blind by
raising the hand, so that the roller in response to its own gravity will quickly
descend, unwinding itself from the supporting ribbons and winding up the blind
simultaneously. The roller is checked and held in its adjusted position by checking.
the blind with the band so as to cause the stop pawl N to again engage the winding
wheel hub. It will be of course understood that while this motion is taking place
and also as the roller is ascending the spring is necessarily inactive.
Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be

page_text: resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1. In a window blind fixture, the combination with opposite parallel guide rods,
the spring-actuated blind roller, winding wheels attached to the extremities of the
shaft of said roller and having projecting spindle portions, supporting collars
loosely receiving said projecting spindle portions and having slots working over
said guide rods, one of said collars having an automatic check device for one of
the winding wheels and flexible supporting ribbons winding and unwinding at one
end on said winding wheels, substantially as set forth.
2. In a window blind fixture, the combination with the spring-actuated and
pawl-arrested blind roller, of winding wheels attached to the extremities of the
shaft of said roller and of less diameter than the same, said winding wheels having
projecting spindle portions and one of which is further provided with an outer
projecting notched hub, collars loosely receiving the spindle portions of the winding
wheels and having slotted outer ends, one of said collars being further provided with
a stop pawl adapted to engage said notched hub of one of the winding wheels, the
flexible supporting ribbons secured stationary at their upper ends and having their
lower ends winding and unwinding on the winding wheels, and the opposite
stationary guide rods, receiving the slotted ends of said collars, substantially as set
forth.
3. In a window blind fixture, the combination with a spring-actuated blind roller
having the ordinary arresting pawls at one end, of winding wheels attached to the
extremities of the shaft of said roller and having outer projecting spindles, one of
said winding wheels being further provided at both sides thereof with notched pawl
hubs the inner one of which is adapted to be engaged by the roller arresting pawls,
supporting collars loosely receiving the outer spindle portions of the winding wheels
and having disks at their inner ends and outer slotted ends, a stop pawl pivoted to
one side of one of the collar disks and adapted to engage the outer notched pawl
hub of one of said winding wheels, the Hexible supporting ribbons winding and
unwinding on said winding wheels, and the opposite stationary guide rods loosely
receiving the slotted ends of said collars, substantially as set forth.
4. In a window blind fixture, the combination with the spring-actuated blind
roller and its shaft therein, of the opposite bearing plates clamped in position to
opposite ends of the roller, the opposite winding wheels having opposite spindle
portions projecting from opposite sides thereof, the inner of said spindle portions
being journalled in said opposite bearing plates, and having at their inner extremities
inside of the roller sockets which fit onto the extremities of the roller shaft,
attaching sleeves embracing the inner spindle portions at one side of the opposite
bearing plates. the supporting collars loosely receiving the outer spindle portions of
the winding wheels, and one of which carries a check device for one of the winding
wheels, the flexible supporting ribbons, and the opposite stationary guide rods
loosely receiving the outer ends of said supporting collars, substantially as set
forth.
5. In a window blind fxture, the combination with an ordinary spring-actuated
blind roller, of winding wheels attached to the outside extremities of the shaft of
said roller, one of said winding wheels having pawl notches independent of the
roller pawls, a disk supported loosely in a non-rotative position alongside of the
notched winding wheel and having a pawl adapted to engage said pawl notches, and
the flexible supporting ribbons, substantially as set forth.
6. In a window blind fixture, the combination with the adjustable blind roller
carrying winding wheels at one end, of the stationary grooved supporting disks
having transverse notches intersecting their grooves, and the flexible supporting

page_text: ribbons winding and unwinding on said roller winding wheels and adapted to have
their upper ends wrapped in the grooves of said disks and their extremities engage
the notches thereof substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.