IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL WINDOW BLINDS AND GUARDS, AND MACHINERY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Aylett, of 5, Craven Terrace, Upper Hol-
loway, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL WINDOW BLINDS AND GUARDS, AND
MACHINERY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 27th April 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
1100
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Aylett at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th October 1879.
GEORGE HENRY AYLETT, of 5, Craven Terrace, Upper Holloway, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL WINDOW
BLINDS AND GUARDS, AND MACHINERY AND APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of ornamental window
blinds which also serve as guards, and in machinery or apparatus therefor.
Hitherto such blinds have generally been manufactured of cane bent to the
required design, and fitted in suitable frames. Blinds so constructed present several
disadvantages, as for example, the cane is affected by the atmosphere and loses its
shape; they are very fragile and expensive.
Now by my Invention these defects are obviated, and my improvements consist
in making such blinds preferably of finely drawn metal tubing, such tubing being
curved or bent to the required designs by the machinery hereinafter described, or
in some cases it may be found expedient to employ metal wire instead of tubing.
The machinery or apparatus which I employ is constructed as follows:-
For bending the tubing to the required forms or designs I employ slotted, tapered,
conical, or other shaped right and left handed screw threaded blocks according to
the designs required. The tubing is wound on these blocks by a lathe having a
rising motion. When the threads of the blocks are full, the length of tubing wound

page_text: thereon is separated into a number of parts by means of a saw working downwards
through the bereinbefore described slots in the blocks.
The frames for the blinds are also formed of tubing, and the various parts forming
the design are soldered into their positions in the frame which is provided with the
usual fastenings.
I also provide threaded or other shaped blocks or templets to form letters from
tubing, so that I am enabled to form the improved blinds with any required name,
or designation of a trade or profession, introduced into the design of the blind.
Window blinds constructed according to my Invention are light, cheap, durable,
and strong, and, being made of metal, will if properly fixed in position serve also as
guards or protectors. Such blinds also present a better and more finished appear-
ance than when made of cane as hitherto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said George Henry Aylett in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 28th April 1880.
GEORGE HENRY AYLETT, of 5, Craven Terrace, Upper Holloway, in the County
of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ORNAMENTAL WINDOW
BLINDS AND GUARDS, AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR."
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of ornamental window
blinds which also serve as guards, and in the machinery or apparatus therefor.
Hitherto such blinds have generally been manufactured of cane bent to the
required design, and fitted in suitable frames. Blinds so constructed present several
disadvantages, as for example, the cane is affected by the atmosphere and loses its
shape; they are very fragile and expensive.
Now by my Invention these defects are obviated, and my improvements consist
in making such blinds preferably of finely drawn metal tubing, such tubing being
curved or bent and tapered to the required designs by the machinery hereinafter
described. Or in some cases it may be found expedient to employ metal wire
instead of tubing.
But to make my Invention better understood, I will now proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front view
of the apparatus I employ for tapering the ends of tubing employed in the manu-
facture of my improved blinds; Figure 2, a side view of one of the screw threaded
blocks for forming the tubing into scrolls; and Figure 3 is a view on a small
scale of a blind made according to my Invention.
In carrying out my Invention I first form the frame of the blind of tubing of
suitable thickness, as shewn at a, a, Figure 3, which is merely given as an example.
I then form the above parts of the blind by bending the tubing to the desired design
or ornament by means of suitable templets; but to form the scrolls I employ by
preference an apparatus similar to that shewn in Figure 2, the end of the tubing
being first tapered by suitable means, but preferably by means of the apparatus
shewn in Figure 1.
The apparatus shewn in Figure 1 consists of a bed plate b mounted upon a suit-
able bench, and provided with bearings c carrying a shaft d operated by means of a
crank handle e at the outer end, the other end of the shaft carrying a cog wheel
f gearing into a rack in the sliding table g, such sliding table having a tongue gl
working in a slot or groove h in the bed plate 6 so as to allow the sliding table g
to be moved over the bed plate b. The surface of the bed plate b under the sliding
table g is inclined from the right hand back corner towards the left hand front
corner i, as shewn, so as to leave an angular space between the bed plate and the
sliding table. By this construction if the end of the tube be placed between the
sliding table g and the bed plate b, and the crank handle e be moved, the table g
will, by means of the cog wheel f and rack, be moved over the bed plate and will
press and roll the tube between the two surfaces and thus taper the tube.
The apparatus shewn in Figure 2 consists of a block j cut with a conical screw
thread, the grooves being semicircular, as shewn, to receive the tubing; 1, l, are
handles for turning the block; m is a pivotted eccentric on the face of the block for
gripping the end of the tube, as hereinafter described; the block is hollow, and is
provided with an atmospheric gas burner. n is the axle of the block, which is
hollow to receive a gas pipe for supplying gas to the burner; o, outlet for the
products of combustion; p, p, air supply holes; the end of the axle is fitted in a
receptacle in the bench, and is provided with suitable ratchet and catch.
To bend the tube the tapered end thereof is placed between the boss of the block
j and the eccentric m, and the block being turned by its handles the tube is
guided and bent round the grooves of the conical screw thread k, the heat from the

page_text: gas burner serving to anneal or soften the tubing so as to facilitate the operation.
The scroll having been formed can then be unscrewed from the block, and is then
flattened; the part of the tube not wound on the block may then be curved to the
required form to complete the part of the design as required. The whole of the
parts necessary to forin a blind having been completed are then soldered in their
places in the frame, as shewn in Figure 3, or otherwise arranged according to the
design to be produced.
I may also provide threaded or other shaped blocks or templets to form letters
from tubing, so that I am enabled to form the improved blinds with any required
name, or designation of a trade or profession introduced into the design of the
blind.
Window blinds constructed according to my Invention are light, cheap, durable,
and strong, and being made of metal will, if properly fixed in position, serve also
as guards or protectors. Such blinds also present a better and more finished
appearance than when made of cane as hitherto.
Having thus described my Invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in the Drawing, as the
same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention,
but what I claim is,-
Firstly. The manufacture of ornamental window blinds from drawn tubing,
tapered or not as required, substantially as hereinbefore described.
*Secondly. The construction and employment of the apparatus for manufacturing
ornamental window blinds from drawn tubing, substantially as herein before
described and represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Henry Aylett, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.