An Improved Window-blind.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1895
',
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1896-Accepted, 20th June, 1596
An Improved Window-blind.
I, STEPHEN WAIT TOMKINS, of 4, Rupert Street, Bristol, Oil and Colour
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to window-blinds, and consists in improvements whereby
blinds having certain of the advantages of Venetian blinds and in part resembling
the same may be produced at a cheaper cost.
The improved window-blind in which this invention consists is composed of a
stout fibrous paper or like flexible material capable of being pleated or folded in
angular horizontally disposed folds after the manner of the pleating or folding of
the side of the body of a concertina and without ready liability to crack or become
severed at the bends of the folds. At the upper end the blind is attached to a
lath or head benin which is secured to the window frame.
At the lower end the blind is attached to a lath to which are connected at a
suitable distance apart cords which are carried up through apertures provided for
them in the blind and are conducted over pulleys fitted in the head. By means of
these cords the blind is raised and lowered.
If the blind be made of sufficiently heavy material, the lath at the bottom may
be dispensed with and the cords are then attached to the lower fold of the
material.
Blinds constructed and arranged in accordance with this invention are com-
paratively cheap, lend themselves to artistic decoration by painting, embossing or
otherwise ornamenting, and are light. Tapes and laddering are dispensed with and
the blinds when fully drawn up occupy less space than Venetian blinds which in
appearance they somewhat resemble.
Dated this 15th day of October 1895.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
An Improved Window-blind.
I, STEPHEN WAIT TOMKINS, formerly of 4. Rupert Street, Bristol, and now of
Mandlin Street, Bristol, Oil and Colour Merchant, 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 consists in manufacturing window blinds in stout fibrous paper or
like material capable of being pleated or folded in a manner resembling the pleating
or folding in the sides of concertinas and accordions. The paper or other fibrous
material must have, combined with pliability, the characteristic of a high degree of
resistance to cracking in the bends or turning points of the folds.
A paper well
adapted for the purpose is produced by using, for the manufacture thereof, hempen
rop yielding a long fibre which, in its raw state, is steeped in caustic soda, as is
usual, so as to remove mineral or earthy matter. By carefully regulated slow
running of the paper-making machine, the fibre remains long and unbroken and the
1

page_text: papier, produced is turned out suterently tough to be folded or pleated without
cracking.
When folded and cut to the size required, the paper is attached at the top to a
hend lath and, in some cases, at the lower end to a foot lath.
In the head are fitted pulleys over which are conducted cords which are passed
through the bottom lath and knotted below, or attached to beads, buttons or heads,
or to the lath. By these cords the blinds are worked in the same manner as is
usual in working Venetian blinds.
In some cases where the material is sufficiently heavy, the bottom lath may be
dispensed with, and the cords are attached to the lower fold of the blind or to
buttons, studs, or heads which bear against the under face of the lower fold.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, in elevation, a blind made of paper in accordance with this
invention. The blind is shown lowered.
Fig. 2 is a side or end view.
Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the blind raised and Fig. 4 a side or end view
thereof as raised.
The lind consists of a sheet a of fibrous paper, or the like substance, pleated or
folded at regular intervals in a manner resembling the pleating or folding of the
sides of concertinas and accordions.
While any paper or like material which is suitably tough and pliant may be
employed for such blinds, the material best adapted therefor is paper produced
from rope fibre which is steeped in caustic soda, as is usual, to remove mineral or
earthy matter.
The fibre is long and the speed of the rollers of the paper-making machine in
which the fibre is treated is regulated to be sufficiently slow as not to break or
unduly strain the fibre.
At the top the sheet a is attached by screws, pins or bolts to a head lath c
designed for attachment as ordinarily to a window frame. In the lath a are fitted,
as in a Venetian blind, brackets carrying pulleys d, of brass or other suitable metal,
over which are conducted the cords e by which the blind is worked in a manner
similar to a Venetian blind. At bottom the paper sheet a is attached to the foot
lath by pins, screws or bolts g.
The dare passed through eyeletted holes h in the sheet a and are carried
down through the foot lath and are anchored to suitable stops such as the cup
knobs shown in the drawing.
These bear against the lower face of the lath and the cords are knotted within
them.
Strengthening pieces of metal, leather or other suitable material may be
employed where the screws or pins are passed into the head c, and at other
places.
Instead of fixing the sheet a to the head and foot laths by screws, pins or bolts,
the attachment may be made by glue or other suitable adhesive substance.
Blinds composed, constructed, and fitted in accordance with this invention are
light and comparatively cheap, and lend themselves to decoration, as they may
bear designs, pictures or other artistic ornamentation.
Tapes and laddering are dispensed with, and, when fully drawn up, the blinds
occupy less space than Venetian blinds which, in appearance, they somewhat
resemble.
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. Blinds of tough and pliable paper, or of other material of a like mature to
such paper, pleated or folded at regular intervals in "zig-zag" or accordion fashion
so as to present a series of flat strips alternating with bends, and adapted to be
gathered up and extended.

page_text: 2. In combination with blinds composed of paper, means for raising and lowering
the same; such as cords and pulleys, or equivalent devices, substantially as
hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of May 1896.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.