IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATITE POD RAISING AND LOWERIN VENDITAY AND OERD THE APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING VENETIAN AND OTHER BLINDS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Lenzberg, of No. 492, Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE APPARATITE POD RAISING AND LOWERIN VENDITAY AND OERD Bring
Sealed the 15th May 1863, and dated the 19th November 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Lenzberg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
November 1862.
I, LOUIS LENZBERG, of No. 492, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING VENETIAN AND OTHER
BLINDS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
The Invention consists in the construction of an apparatus for raising &
lowering Venetian, outside, and other blinds.
The apparatus contains a pulley, around which the cord attached to the
blind winds, and which is turned with a winch by hand. On one side of the
pulley a ratchet wheel is fixed, with a catch turning on a pivot, and permitting
the pulley to revolve when winding the cord, but preventing the recoil caused
by the weight of the blind. When it is wished to lower the blind, the catch
or paul is lifted out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel by simply depressing
with the finger or thumb a small button connected, for appearance and

page_text: convenience sake, with the other end of the catch. When this is done a
wedge of wood, metal, or other material placed between the side of the case
of the machine and the circumference of one or both sides of the pulley is
drawn by the reverse turning of the pulley against the circumference of one
or both sides of the pulley, thus producing sufficient pressure or friction to
regulate the descent of the blind gradually, instead of its falling down
suddenly. In the event, however, that the wedge should not press sufficiently
to resist the recoil of a very heavy blind when the catch is lifted out of the
teeth of the ratchet wheel, this can be remedied by a slight additional pressure
with the finger or thumb on the button, connected, as before mentioned, with
the outer end of the catch lying just above the wedge, and thus aiding in
pressing the wedge against the circumference of one or both sides of the
pulley. In raising the blind when all the force is required the wedge offers
no resistance, as it is lifted up by the turning of the circumference of one or
both sides of the pulley, so as to create no pressure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Louis Lenzberg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th May 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LOUIS
LENZBERG, of No. 492, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, Manu-
facturer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Louis Lenzberg, Her special licence that I, the said Louis Lenzberg,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Louis
Lenzberg, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPARATUS
FOR RAISING AND LOWERING VENETIAN AND OTHER BLINDS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Louis Lenzberg, my executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the

page_text: 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Louis Lenzberg, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereto annexed, and to
the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in the construction of an apparatus for raising and
lowering Venetian, outside, and other blinds.
Figure 1 is a section, shewing side of pulley, ratchet wheel, &c.; Figure 2,
inside view of back of case, ratchet wheel, pawl, and spring, section of wedge,
&c.; Figures 3 and 4, perspective views of the mechanism, the case being
removed.
The apparatus consists of a case A, made of suitable material, in which
works a pulley B, around which the cord F attached to the blind winds. This
pulley is turned with a winch handle E. On one side of the pulley a ratchet
wheel H is fixed, in the teeth of which one end of a click or pawl D turning
on a pivot acts, being kept in the teeth of the ratchet wheel by means of a
spring C, thus permitting the pulley to revolve when winding the cord, but
preventing the recoil caused by the weight of the blind. On the other end of
the pawl, for the sake of appearance and convenience, a knob or button I is
fixed, so that when it is wished to lower the blind the aforesaid catch can be
lifted out of the teeth of the ratchet wheel by simply depressing with the
finger or thumb the aforesaid button; when this is done a wedge G, made of
wood, metal, or other material, and placed between the side of the case of the
machine and the circumference of one or both sides of the pulley, is drawn by
the reverse turning of the pulley against the circumference of one or both
sides of the pulley, and produces sufficient pressure or friction to regulate the
descent of the blind gradually, instead of its falling down suddenly. In the
event, however, that the wedge should not press sufficiently to resist the recoil
of a very heavy blind when the catch is lifted out of the teeth of the ratchet
wheel, this can be remedied by slight additional pressure with the finger or
thumb on the button, connected, as before mentioned, with the outer end of
the catch, and lying just above the wedge; for a small pin K being placed
between the under side of the knob I and top of the wedge G, it follows that
when the knob receives additional pressure it must aid by means of the
aforesaid pin in pressing the wedge against the circumference of one or both
sides of the pulley. In raising the blind when the power is required the

page_text: wedge offers no resistance, as it is lifted up by the turning of the pulley, so as
to create no pressure.
Having now described the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein laid down; but what I claim is, the
construction of an apparatus for raising and lowering Venetian and other
blinds, after the manner herein described, although I do not confine myself to
the precise form and arrangement shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Louis Lenzberg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
LOUIS LENZBERG. (L.S.)