A NEW OR IMPROVED ACTION OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING, LOWERING, AND SUSPENDING VENETIAN BLINDS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Holden, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, for
the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED ACTION OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING,
LOWERING, AND SUSPENDING VENETIAN BLINDS."
Sealed the 1st August 1879, and dated the 11th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Holden at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1879.
RICHARD HOLDEN, of Hyde, in the County of Chester "A NEW OR IMPROVED
ACTION OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING, LOWERING, AND SUSPENDING VENETIAN
BLINDS."
The two cords which are connected with the two ends of the bottom rail of the
blind respectively pass first under a pair of cams or eccentrics and afterwards over
a pair of small grooved pullies and hang down vertically.
On one side of each respective cam or eccentric are projections or raised parts to
the extent of one half of the cams diameter. These projections are to allow a lifting
lever with two outside arms to fit accurately under.
On the same centre pin which works the aforesaid lifting lever run the two
small grooved pulleys over which hang the cords vertically.
On the foot plate of the cam support or bracket are two projections which form a
support, between which projections fits a lever with a T head. This lever, which
fits accurately under the bridge of the aforesaid lifting lever, is allowed to work
freely by a centre pin which passes through the two aforesaid projections on the
foot plate & the lever with T head.
The lever with T head which raises the aforesaid lifting lever contains two aper-
tures through which the cords of the blind run.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When it is wished to raise the blind it only requires the pulling down of the cord
ends, as in the ordinary manner. The lowering of the blind is effected by drawing
the cords which run through the lever in front or towards you as you stand in front
of the blind. By so doing the lever with its T head raises the lifting lever, which
raises the cams or eccentrics, thereby allowing the cords to be perfectly at liberty
to move either way, & consequently while in this position the blind can be lowered
or raised at the option of the operator. It is manifest that as soon as the.cords
[Price 6d1

page_text: are at liberty or accidentally let slip that the blind is prevented from falling from
the fact that the lifting lever & the lever through which the cords run find their
centres of gravity, & consequently the cams or eccentrics fall upon & bite the
cords & thus retain the cords-&-blind-in-position:
It is not at all necessary to let the cords slip. By simply giving the cords a
vertical position the same result is obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Holden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
August 1879.
RICHARD HOLDEN, of Hyde, in the County of Chester. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
ACTION OR APPARATUS FOR RAISING, LOWERING, AND SUSPENDING VENETIAN
BLINDS."
My said Invention relates to a new or improved action or apparatus for raising,
lowering, and suspending venetian blinds.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents my Invention in side eleva-
tion; Figures 2 and 3 in end elevation, and Figure 4 in plan.
A, B, are the cords connected with the two ends of the blind respectively. The
said cords A, B, pass first under the cams C, D, and afterwards over the small
grooved pullies E, F, and hang down vertically, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
On one or the outside of each respective cam C, D, are projections or raised parts
to the extent of one half of the cam's diameter, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3;
these projections are to allow the lifting lever G, which works on centre H, to work
freely between the outsides of the cams C, D, and inside the bracket or support I.
On the said centre H works the two grooved pullies E, F, over which run the
cords A, B, and hang down vertically.
On the sole or foot plate of bracket I are two projections K, L, which form a
support with centre M to receive the cord lever N, which lever with its T head fits
accurately under the bridge of the aforesaid lifting lever G.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-When it is wished to raise the blind
it only requires the pulling down of the cord ends A, B, as in the ordinary manner.
The lowering of the blind is effected by drawing the cords A, B, which run through
the cord lever N in the room at right angles to the top rail of the blind, by so
doing the cord lever N, with its head, raises the lifting lever G, which conse-
quently raises the cams C, D, thereby allowing the cords A, B, to be perfectly at
liberty to move either way. The two ends of the lifting lever G fit accurately
under the projectious or raised parts of the cams C, D, as shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3 in Figure 1 by dotted lines. It is evident that as soon as the cords A, B, are
at liberty or accidentally let slip that the blind is prevented from falling from the
fact that the lifting lever G and the cord lever N find their centres of gravity, and
consequently the cams C, D, fall upon and bite the cords A, B, and thus retain the

page_text: cords A, B, and the blind in position. The dotted lines, as shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 3, are to show the amount of angle or distance the lifting lever G and the cord
lever N has to travel before they become into action, thereby allowing a little
moving of the cords and levers in case of safety.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
The combination of the cams C, D, lifting lever G, and cord lever N, substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the Drawings
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Holden, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
RICHARD HOLDEN. (L.S.)