IMPROVEMENTS IN FACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Clarke, of Birkenhead, in the County..of
Chester, Architect, for the Invention' of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS."
THE MANU
7
Sealed the 23rd September 1864, and dated the 30th April 1864.
the
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Clarke at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
30th April 1864.
2
"I, DAVID CLARKE, of Birkenhead, 'in the County of Chester, Architect,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS," to be as follows (that is to say):
The first object of this Invention' is to construct the laths and framework of
Venetian blinds of iron or other metal, instead of wood as heretofore. Ordinarily,
I propose that the laths shall be of corrugated iron, by which means very.
light iròn may be used, and the laths will necessarily be stronger than if flat
strips of iron were employed; care is taken 'to turn over the edges, so that
when in use they may present the least amount of friction to ' the--tapes.
Metal laths being provided, I am enabled to japan instead of being obliged
to paint them, 'the advantage of which is that they will be but little effected
by the rays of the sun, and be much more durable.
"The next part of my Invention relates to an improved method of regulating
the angle of the laths, which has hitherto been accomplished by means of a
cord or cords attached to and acting directly upon the upper lath; which has
Price Sd

page_text: been hung from the frame in swivel blocks. Now instead thereof I propose
to give motion from the centre by fitting the frame with two or more uprights.
upon which revolves a spindle (by preference tubular) and upon which
spindle the laths are hung, and are free to revolve in either direction as may
be required. Upon those parts of the spindle upon which the cords or
chains of the laths are to work I propose to place vulcanized india-rubber
sockets, so that the cords or chains may have a firmer hold or grip than they
would otherwise have upon the metal. The necessary cords or chains being
provided, the ends thereof are suitably attached to the upper part of the
ordinary blind tapes on the front side of the blind, and after being carried
round those parts of the spindle coated with the india-rubber, the other ends
are secured to the upper part of the outer tapes on the back side of the blind.
The spindle upon which the blind is hung may be actuated by means of a
pulley, or by any other convenient method. Attached to the roses with which
the bottom lath of a Venetian blind. is usually fitted. I propose to suspend a
metal tassel and ring; this. besides being ornamental will, by means of its
weight, give steadiness to the blind.
In constructing blinds for shop windows I propose to letter the laths on
both sides, so that whichever side of the blind may be presented, the same
lettering may be visible.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Clarke in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th October 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COMF, 1, DAVID
CLARKE, of Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Architect, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date" the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said David Clarke, Her special licence that I, the said David
Clarke; my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said David Clarke, 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 time 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 Inven-

page_text: tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VENETIAN BLINDS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Clarke, my executors or
administrators, 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 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 YB, that I, the said David Clarke, 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
folowing statement (that is to say):-
The first object of this Invention is to construct the laths and framework of
Venetian blinds of iron or other metal instead of wood, as heretofore. Ordinarily
I propose that the laths shall be of corrugated iron, by which means very light
iron may be used, and the laths will necessarily be stronger than if flat strips
of iron were employed. Care is taken to turn over the edges, so that when in
use they may present the least amount of friction to the tapes. Metal laths
being provided, I am enabled to japan instead of being obliged to paint them,
the advantage of which is that they will be but little effected by the rays of the
sun, and be much more durable. Another important advantage being that
when drawn fully up they will lie in a very small compass, and occupy very
little space. :
The next part of my Invention relates to an improved method of regulating
the angle of the laths, which has hitherto been accomplished by means of a
cord or cords attached to and acting directly upon the upper lath, which has
been hung from the frame in swivel blocks. Now, instead thereof, 1 propose
to give motion from the centre by fitting the frame with two or more uprights,
upon which revolves a spindle (by preference tubular), and upon. which, spindle
the laths are hung, and are free to revolve in either direction, as may be
required. Upon those parts of the spindle upon which the cords or chains
of the laths are to work I propose to place vulcanized india-rubber sockets,
so that the cords or chains may have a firmer hold or grip than they would
otherwise have upon the metal; or instead of the india-rubber sockets
I prefer in some cases to employ milled brass pulleys, in which the chains
and cords are free to work. .The necessary cords or chains being provided,
the ends thereof are suitably attached to the upper part of the ordinary blind
tapes on the front side of the blind, and after being carried round those parts:
of the spindle coated with the india-rubber or through the brass-milled pulleys,

page_text: "
the other ends are secured to the upper part of the outer tapes on the back
side of the blind. The spindle upon which the blind is hung may be actuated
by means of a pulley, or by any other convenient method, or by preference by
means of a cord passing over the end of the spindle, which cord works in a
rack pulley beneath. Attached to the roses, with which the bottom lath of a
Venetian blind is usually fitted, I propose to suspend a metal tassel and ring;
or in some cases I prefer to enclose the ends of the cords in a screwed metal
cup. This besides being ornamental will, by means of its weight, give steadiness
to the blind.
In constructing blinds for shop windows I propose to letter the laths on
both sides, so that whichever side of the blind may be presented the same
lettering may be visible.
That my Invention may be better understood I have annexed Drawings
thereof, which I now proceed to describe.
.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 an end view, and Fig. 3. a cross section
of a blind constructed according to the first part of my Invention; Fig. 4 is
a full-sized section of the corrugated iron lath.
A is a shaft revolving in bearings B, and being. covered with india-rubber
at the two parts C, C. Cords D are each coiled twice round the india-rubber,
and their ends then led to the upper extremities of the ordinary main tapes
E, E', through which they are passed and knotted; F, F, are the laths of the
blinds, corrugated and turned over at the edge as in Fig. 4, and supported
upon cross tapes as usual. The angle of the laths is varied as described by
pulling either end of a cord passing over the milled pulley K, which cord is
kept tight at the lower end by means of a rack pulley or any well known
arrangement. The shaft A being thus caused to revolve in either direction,
the cords D are wound up on one side and payed out at the other, thereby
raising the one pair of main tapes as at E', and lowering the other pair as at E.
The blind is raised or lowered by the cords G passing over four pulleys H,
and descending vertically to the roses and metal tassels 1, to which they are
secured.
In the second part of my Invention instead of the india-rubber sockets C
round which the cords D are coiled I use (see Figs. 5. and 6) four pulleys L
grooved to receive the cords D, and milled or roughened in the grooves to
prevent the cords slipping. The shaft A is caused to revolve in either
direction in the same manner as before. E, E', are the main tapes, depending
from the cords D, to which they may be attached, as herein-before described.
But it is preferred to connect the cords and tapes by means of metal buckles M,
through which both cords and tapes are passed..

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, I desire it to be understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise means or appliances herein-before
described, as these may to some extent be varied or modified without departing
from the nature of my said Invention, but what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First, the construction of Venetian blinds of iron or other metal instead of
wood, as heretofore.
Second, the mode or manner of regulating the laths to any desired angle,
as herein-before described.
Third, lettering both sides of the laths so whether open or shut the same
lettering may be visible.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Clarke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of
our Lord 1864.
Witness,
G. R. HOLLAND,
Patent Office,
Birmingham.
DAVID CLARKE. (L.S.)