IMPROVEMENTS IN CURTAIN FIXTURES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes and
Son, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CURTAIN FIXTURES."-A communication from abroad by Chauncey Buckley and
Lodowick L. Sawyer, of Meriden, Connecticut, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Hughes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1876.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, 123, Chancery Lane,
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURTAIN FIXTURES."-A communication from abroad
by Chauncey Buckley and Lodowick L. Sawyer, of Meriden, Connecticut, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to an improvement in curtain fixtures, the principal object
being to combine what is known as a pendulum fixture, that is to say, a fixture in
which the hold upon the roll is released by drawing upon the cord, and then by
slackening the cord the curtain will unroll with a friction fixture, that is, a fixture
in which the roll is held by friction upon the pulley or at one end.
The Invention consists principally in a bracket with an elongated bearing for
the pivot of the roll, and with a stationary projection which engages the toothed
friction plate at one extreme of said elongated bearing, and leaves the friction plate
free at the other extreme, combined with a lever pivoted to the bracket above the
bearing, embracing the pivot and extending down with an eye below the pulley
through which the cord passes, all as more fully herein-after described.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is an end view; Fig. 2, an inside view of
the bracket with the ratchet wheel shown in broken lines; Fig. 3, a section; and
Figs. 4 to 16, inclusive, modifications of construction.
A is the bracket; B, the curtain roll, on the end of which is a pulley C. Outside
the pulley is a friction plate D with an elastic disc a bearing against the friction
plate D, and through the said disc and friction plate D a screw E passes, by the
turning of which the friction plate will be pressed with a greater or less force
against the pulley. The friction plate D is made with teeth upon its periphery, as
denoted in Figures 1 and 2. A collar d around the neck of the screw forms the
bearing upon which the roll will turn. The bracket A is constructed with an

page_text: elongated seat F, into which the roll is set, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, and on the
bracket a projection f is made on the inside, so that when the roll is at the
extreme back position, as in Fig. 3, the teeth of the plate D will engage the said
projection on the bracket, and support the curtain by means of friction between
the plate D and the end of the roll, but when the curtain is pulled upon with
sufficient force to overcome this friction the roll will turn and allow the curtain to
roll down. When the cord is pulled upon the roll move forward in the seat F as to
the position denoted in broken lines, Fig. 1, so that the plate D will clear the said
projection, then the curtain may be wound by pulling upon the cord.
In order to adapt this construction so that the curtain may run down of its own
gravity, we attach to the bracket A above the bearing, as at n, a lever L, which
embraces the pivot or axis of the roll, the lower end of the lever terminating in an
eye N through which the cord P is passed. The natural position of the lever is
vertical when the axis of the roll is at the rear extreme of the elongated bearing,
and in engagement with the projection on the bracket; but when the cord is 1
pulled upon, as denoted in broken lines, Figure 1, the lever will swing out, and draw
the roll away from its connection with the projection f, as seen in Fig. 1, therefore
if when the roll is pulled forward, as in Fig. 1, the end be slacked only sufficient
to allow the roll to turn the curtain will run down of its own gravity, and when it
has reached the desired position in its descent slack the pull upon the cord, and the ?
roll will pass into engagement with the projection f on the bracket, and its descent
be there arrested, thus operating as what is known as a pendulum fixture; but in
pendulum fixtures a pull upon the curtain only cannot turn the roll, consequently
a frequent derangement occurs in use of that fixture by persons not understanding
its manipulation.
The combination of these two devices prevents all possible derangement by
parties unfamiliar with the construction, as the curtain may be lowered either by
pulling directly upon it or by slackening the cord, as before described.
It will be understood that the plate or wheel D may be the friction plate, or
other device used for creating friction, it only being essential that there be friction 3
applied to the roll, so as to be held by the projection fon the bracket.
The first modification is illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6. A¹ is the bracket;
B¹, the curtain roll, on the end of which is a pulley C₁; outside the pulley is a
friction plate D¹ with an elastic disc a bearing against the friction plate D¹, and
through the said disc and friction plate D¹ a screw E¹ passes, by the turning of
which the friction plate will be pressed with a greater or less force against the
pulley. The friction plate D' is made with teeth upon its periphery, as denoted in
Figures 4, 5, and 6. A collar d' around the neck of the screw forms the bearing
upon which the roll will turn. The bracket A' is constructed with an elongated
scat F¹, into which the roll is set, as seen in Figures 4, 5, and 0, and on the bracket
a projection is made on the inside, so that when the roll is at the extreme back
position, as in Fig. 6, the teeth of the plate D¹ will engage the said projection on
the bracket and support the curtain by means of friction between the plate D¹ and
the end of the roll; but when the curtain is pulled upon with sufficient force to
overcome this friction the roll will turn and allow the curtain to roll down. When
the cord is pulled upon the roll will move forward in the seat F¹, as to the position
in Figures 4 and 5, so that the plate D' will clear the said projection, then the
curtain may be wound by pulling upon the cord.
In order to adapt this construction so that the curtain may run down of its own
gravity when the roll is forward in the seat we form an arm G¹ on the bracket, as
seen in Fig. 4, extending forward of the pulley, and through which the cord passes,
as seen in Fig. 5. Therefore if when the roll is pulled forward, as in Figures 4
and 5, the end be slacked only sufficient to allow the roll to turn the curtain will
run down of its own gravity, and when it has reached the desired position in its
descent slack the pull upon the cord and the roll will pass into engagement with
the projection f¹ on the bracket and its descent be there arrested, thus operating as
what is known as a pendulum fixture; but in pendulum fixtures a pull upon the

page_text: curtain only cannot turn the roll, consequently a frequent derangement occurs in
use of that fixture by persons not understanding its manipulation.
The combination of these two devices prevents all possible derangement by
parties unfamiliar with the construction, as the curtain may be lowered either by
pulling directly upon it or by slackening the cord as before described.
The construction of the pulley is shown in detail in Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10. A
disc or plate L' is formed so as to pass over a tenon P¹ on the end of the roll, and the
opening through the disc has a notch , as seen in Fig. 9. The other plate N' is
formed with a barrel R¹ fitting closely the tenon P¹, and this barrel provided with
a projection n so that when it is passed on to the tenon P¹ the projection n¹ will
enter the notch in the other plate L' and thus engage the two parts, leaving a
space between the two plates for the cord to run around the barrel R¹; and in
order to prevent the pulley from turning on the roll one or more internal pro-
jections are formed within the barrel or plate N', so that when it is forced upon
the tenon these projections will imbed into the wood and prevent the pulley turning
independent of the roll. Or in cases where the friction plate D¹ may be dispensed
with the plates may be reversed, the plate N¹ and its barrel R¹ first set over the
tenon, and then the plate L' applied, as seen in Fig. 10, and in such construction
the plate L' may serve as the friction plate by omitting the projection n', thus
leaving the plate L' free, but forming one head of the pulley.
In Figures 11, 12, and 13 a further modification of the pulley is shown. A² is
the roll; B, a disc or plate lying against the end of the roll, its edge provided with
one or more teeth or notches a²; C is the other head of the pulley on which is
formed a pivot or trunnion &, and upon the inside of this head the barrel D² is
formed, and on the barrel a threaded screw E, a shoulder f2 formed between the
barrel and the screw. The screw is passed through the plate B2 into the roll, and
between the shoulder f* and the plate B2 the friction disc or plate 1³ is placed, so
that the bearing or friction upon the plate B2 may be adjusted by turning the
scrow E to a greater or less distance into the roll; E is the bracket in which is
an elongated seat F for the pivot D² to rest in, and from the bracket an arm G
extends in, as seen in Fig. 11, so as to engage a tooth or notch on the plate B²,
which will hold the roll to support the curtain in any position, but the friction on
the plate yields, so that taking hold of the curtain it may be drawn down, the roll
turning while the plate B remains stationary, and the turning of the roll winds tho
cord upon the barrel D²; then when the cord is drawn upon to wind the curtain the
roll moves forward in the elongated seat F2, so as to free the plate B from the
arm G² and prevent any friction or obstruction in rolling up the curtain.
A still further modification of the pulley is shown in Figures 14 and 15. A³ is
the roll reduced at one end to form the barrel B" of less diameter than the roll, and
upon or against the extreme end is set a plate C3 through which a screw D³ is
passed into the roll; between the plate C3 and the head of the screw a disc E³ is
placed, the screw boaring the said disc against the plate C so as to cause a friction
between the plate C and the end of the roll, so that when the plate C³ is held by a
device provided for the purpose the curtain may be drawn down by pulling upon
the curtain to overcome the friction between the roll and plate C³, and thus pulling
down the curtain winds the cord upon the pulley. The friction on the roll may be
adjusted by turning the screw D. A collar a³ is placed upon the screw between
the head and disc to form the bearing or pivot to rest in the bracket. Reducing
the roll to form the barrel B³ for the pulley leaves a shoulder d³ which serves as the
inner head of the pulley to prevent the cord running on to the roll.
Fig. 16 shows the method of hanging the roll of a suspended fixture with the
pulley of the construction shown in Fig. 10. The friction on the roll is produced
in the same manner, but around a collar through which the screw passes a loop is
arranged to which the suspending cord is attached.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd
December 1876.
EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, 123, Chancery Lane,
London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CURTAIN FIXTURES."-A communication from abroad
by Chauncey Buckley and Lodowick L. Sawyer, of Meriden, Connecticut, United
States of America.
This Invention relates to an improvement in curtain fixtures, the principal object
being to combine what is known as a pendulum fixture, that is to say, a fixture in
which the hold-up on the roll is released by drawing upon the cord, and then by
slackening the cord the curtain will unroll with a friction fixture, that is, a fixturo
in which the roll is held by friction upon the pulley, or at one end.
The Invention consists principally in a bracket with an elongated bearing for the
pivot of the roll, and with a stationary projection which engages the toothed friction
plate at one extreme of said elongated bearing, and leaves the friction plate free at
the other extreme, combined with a lever pivoted to the bracket above the bearing
embracing the pivot, and extending down with an eye below the pulley, through
which the cord passes, all as more fully herein-after described.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is an end view; Figure 2, an inside
view of the bracket with the ratchet wheel shewn in broken lines; Figure 3, a
section; and Figures 4 to 16 inclusive, modifications of construction.
A is the bracket; B, the curtain roll, on the end of which is a pulley C; outside
the pulloy is a friction plate D, with an elastic disc a bearing against the friction
plate D, and through the said disc and friction plate 1) a screw E passes, by the
turning of which the friction plate will be pressed with a greater or less force!
against the pulley. The friction plate D is made with teeth upon its periphery, as
denoted in Figures 1 and 2. A collar d around the neck of the screw forms the
bearing upon which the roll will turn. The bracket A is constructed with an
clongated seat F, into which the roll is set, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, and on the
bracket a projections f is made on the inside, so that when the roll is at the extreine
back position, as in Figure 3, the teeth of the plate D will engage the said projec-
tion on the bracket and support the curtain by means of friction between the plate D
and the end of the roll, but when the curtain is pulled upon with sufficient force
to overcome this friction the roll will turn and allow the curtain to roll down.
When the cord is pulled upon the roll will move forward in the seat F as to the
position denoted in broken lines, Figure 1, so that the plate D will clear the said
projection, then the curtain may be wound by pulling upon the cord.
In order to adapt this construction so that the curtain may run down of its own
gravity attach to the bracket A. above the bearing, as at n, a lever L, which
embraces the pivot or axis of the roll, the lower end of the lever terminating in an
eye N, through which the cord P is passed. The natural position of the lever is
vertical when the axis of the roll is at the rear extreme of the clongated bearing,
and in engagement with the projection f on the bracket, but when the cord is pulled
upon, as denoted in broken lines, Fig. 1, the lever will swing out and draw the roll
away from its connection with the projection f, as seen in Figure 1; therefore, if
when the roll is pulled forward, as in Figure 1, the end be slacked only sufficient to
allow the roll to turn, the curtain will run down of its own gravity, and when it
has reached the desired position in its descent slack the pull upon the cord, and the
roll will pass into engagement with the projection fon the bracket, and its descent
be there arrested, thus operating as what is known as a pendulum fixture; but in
endulum fixture a pull upon the curtain only cannot turn the roll, consequently a
frequent derangement occurs in use of that fixture by persons not understanding its
manipulation.
The combination of these two devices prevent all possible derangement by parties

page_text: unfamiliar with the construction, as the curtain may be lowered either by pulling
directly upon it or by slackening the cord, as before described.
It will be understood that the plate or wheel D may be the friction plate or
other device used for creating friction, it only being essential that there bo friction
appliod to the roll so as to be held by the projection f on the bracket.
The first modification is illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6. A is the bracket;
B', the curtain roll, on the end of which is a pulley C₁; outside the pulley is a
friction plate D, with an elastic disc a' bearing against the friction plate D¹, and
through the said disc and friction plate D' a screw E' passes, by the turning of
which the friction plate will be pressed with a greater or less force against the
pulley. The friction plate D¹ is made with teeth upon its periphery, as denoted in
Figures 4, 5, and 6. A collar d' around the neck of the screw forms the bearing
upon which the roll will turn. The bracket A' is constructed with an elongated
seat F, into which the roll is set, as seen in Figures 4, 5, and 6, and on the bracket
a projection f is made on the inside, so that when the roll is at the extreme back
position, as in Fig. 6, the teeth of the plate D¹ will engage the said projection on
the bracket, and support the curtain by means of friction between the plate D¹ and
the end of the roll, but when the curtain is pulled upon with sufficient force to
overcome this friction the roll will turn and allow the curtain to roll down. When
the cord is pulled upon the roll will move forward in the seat F' as to the position
in Figuros 4 and 5, so that the plate D¹ will clear the said projection, then the
curtain may be wound by pulling upon the cord.
In order to adapt this construction so that the curtain may run down of its own
gravity when the roll is forward in the seat we form an arm G' on the bracket, as
seen in Fig. 4, extending forward of the pulley, and through which the cord
passes, as seen in Fig. 5; therefore, if when the roll is pulled forward, as in
Figs. 4 and 5, the end bo slacked only sufficient to allow the roll to turn, the
curtain will run down of its own gravity, and when it has reached the desired
position in its descent slack the pull upon the cord, and the roll will pass into
engagement with the projection f¹ on the bracket, and its descent be then arrested,
thus operating as what is known as a pendulum fixture; but in pendulum fixtures
a pull upon the curtain only cannot turn the roll, consoquently a frequent
derangement occurs in the use of that fixture by persons not understanding its
manipulation.
The combination of these two devices prevents all possible derangement by
parties unfamiliar with the construction, as the curtain may be lowered either by
pulling directly upon it or by slackening the cord, as before described.
The construction of the pulley is shewn in detail in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. A
disc or plate L' is formed so as to pass over a tenon P¹ on the end of the roll, and
the opening through the disc has a notch 7, as seen in Fig. 9. The other plate N¹
is formed with a barrel R¹ fitting closely the tenon P¹, and this barrel provided
with a projection n³, so that when it is passed on to the tenon P¹ the projection n¹
will enter the notch in the other plate L¹ & thus engage the two parts, leaving a
space between the two plates for the cord to run around the barrel R¹, and in order
to prevent the pulley from turning on the roll one or more internal projections th
are formed within the barrel or plate N¹, so that when it is forced upon the tenon
these projections will imbed into the wood and prevent the pulley turning
independent of the roll; or in cases where the friction plate D¹ may be dispensed
with the plates may be reversed, the plate N¹ and its barrel R¹ first set over the
tenon, and then the plate L' applied, as seen in Fig. 10; and in such construction
the plate L may serve as the friction plate by omitting the projection n³, thus
leaving the plate L' free, but forming one head of the pulley.
In Figures 11, 12, and 13 a further modification of the pulley is shown. A is
the roll; B, a disc or plate lying against the end of the roll, its edge provided with
one or more teeth or notches a²; C is the other head of the pulley, on which is
formed a pivot or trunnion d³, and upon the inside of this head the barrel ď² is
formed, and on the barrel a threaded screw E, a shoulder f³ formed between the

page_text: barrel and the screw. The screw is passed through the plate B into the roll, and
between the shoulder f and the plate B2 the friction disc or plate 12 is placed, so
that the bearing or friction upon the plate B³ may be adjusted by turning the
screw E to a greater or less distance into the roll. Es is the bracket, in which is
an elongated seat F2 for the pivot d to rest in, and from the bracket an arm G²
extends in, as seen in Fig. 11, so as to engage a tooth or notch on the plate B³,
which will hold the roll, to support the curtain in any position, but the friction on
the plate yields, so that taking hold of the curtain it may be drawn down, the roll
turning while the plate B2 remains stationary, and the turning of the roll winds
the cord upon the barrel D³, then, when the cord is drawn upon to wind the curtain,
the roll moves forward in the elongated seat F2, so as to free the plate B from the
arm G and prevent any friction or obstruction in rolling up the curtain.
A still further modification of the pulley is shewn in Figures 14 and 15. A³ is
the roll reduced at one end to form the barrel B³ of less diameter than the roll, and
upon or against the extreme end is set a plate C3 through which a screw D³ is
passed into the roll; between the plate C3 and the head of the screw a disc E³ is
placed, the screw bearing the said disc against the plate C³, so as to cause a friction
between the plate C³ and the end of the roll, so that when the plate C³ is held by a
device provided for the purpose the curtain may be drawn down by pulling upon
the curtain to overcome the friction between the roll and plate C, and thus pulling
down the curtain winds the cord upon the pulley. The friction on the roll may be
adjusted by turning the screw D. A collar a³ is placed upon the screw between
the head and disc to form the bearing or pivot to rest in the bracket. Reducing
the roll to form the barrel B3 for the pulley leaves a shoulder ds, which serves as
the inner head of the pulley, to prevent the cord running on to the roll.
Figure 16 shows the method of hanging the roll of a suspended fixture with the
pulley of the construction shewn in Figure 10. The friction on the roll is produced
in the same manner, but around a collar through which the screw passes a loop is
arranged, to which the suspending cord is attached.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim,―
First. The bracket A constructed with an elongated seat or bearing F and
projection f, the toothed friction plate D attached to the roll combined with the
lever L hung to the said bracket above the bearing embracing the axis of the roll,
and with an eye below through which the cord passes, all substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Second. The bracket A' constructed with an elongated seat or bearing F¹ and
projection f, and the arm G₁ at substantially right angles thereto, with an opening
through which the cord will pass, combined with the toothed wheel or friction
plate D attached to the roll, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. The herein described pulley for curtain fixtures, consisting of the two
plates L, N¹, one of which is formed with a barrel R¹ and provided with projections,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The head chaving the pivot d³, barrel D2, and the screw E³, formed in
the same piece, combined with the roll A2 and the plate B³, with one or more
notchos in its periphery, the friction disc , and the brackot E³ and arm or stop G³,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The curtain roll A³ formed with the barrel B³ of the pulley at one end,
combined with the plate C³, disc Es, and screw D³, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.