Improvements in and relating to Venetian Blinds.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept.. 1893
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Venetian Blinds.
I, ALBERT WILLIAM PYKE, of 22 Bishopsgate Street Without, London, E.C.,
Tailor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first portion of my invention relates to a new Venetian blind arrangement.
The laths I purpose using are made of any suitable material and preferably of
corrugated block tin or other metal. At each end of the blind I have a rod
passing through which is permanently fastened to the window sash. The blind,
when drawn, is fixed with a fastener to the bottom of the window, and so acts as a
complete shutter and renders it an alarm against burglars as, when disturbed it
causes a gong to ring. My improved blind draws up from the centre by means of
wire cord fixed on spring drums placed either at the top or bottom of the blind,
thus preventing the unsightly arrangement frequently seen of the blind drawn up
awry, and the cord being wire is most durable in contrast with the cord now used
which breaks so easily.
I have also devised improvements in connection with the Venetian blinds made
with wooden laths which are now in use. I arrange the cords so that they may be
pulled from the centre of the blind and pass them through a spring clip, which also
serves as a handle. This clip, when held back by the pressure of the hand or
thumb, allows the cords to pass freely so that the blind can be lowered or raised to
suit the wishes of the user; but when released by the hand, the spring clip keeps
the blind fixed in the position required. My invention dispenses with all unsightly
hooks now used and does away with any damage to the window frame.
Dated this 21st day of September 1893.
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Venetian Blinds.
I, ALBERT WILLIAM PYKE, of 22 Bishopsgate Street Without, London, E.C.,
Tailor, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in Venetian blinds, and has for its object
the provision of a blind which when drawn down, may be secured in position by a
fastener and this acts as a shutter, and by an electrical or other connection can be
so arranged as to give an alarm when disturbed by burglars or others.
My invention further provides improvements by which the blind is drawn up so
that all the laths are in a horizoutal and parallel position, thus obviating the
unsightly appearance of a blind when it is drawn up awry, and at the same time
dispenses with all unsightly books and side cords, and does away with the necessity
of damaging the window frames.
In order to carry my invention into practice, I provide laths made of wood or
any suitable material, preferably of corrugated block tin or other nictal.
At each end of the laths I fix a loop, made preferably of wire, through which I

page_text: pass a metal rod which extends the whole length of the blind, one on either side,
which rods are secured at the bottom to the window sill or otherwise attached to
the window frame, and at the top to the shelf or bracket which carries the blind
and top pulleys. In place of the usual blind cords I use wire cords made of steel,
copper or other suitable metal, which passing through the blind laths in the usual
way, are wound round pulleys or drums for the purpose of drawing up the blind,
and at the same time ensure the laths being drawn up parallel to one another.
The bottom ends of the steel or copper wire cords are brought down below the
bottom lath, and joined together in the middle of the lath, and preferably continued
so as to be within reach when the blind is drawn up.
One of the metal rods I use for the purpose of holding the blind in any required
position, by fixing a handle at its bottom end, which revolves in a cam or other
convenient arrangement so that by turning the handle to the right or left, the rod
is raised or lowered. The upper end of the rod is continued up to the blind roller,
which at the part immediately above the rod is provided with a ring or disc, having
perforations or notches on its periphery, into which the top of the metal rod can
pass. Thus by moving the handle to the right or left the blind roller is fixed and
the blind remains stationary.
The blind when drawn down is fixed with a fastener to the bottom of the window
frame, and by an electrical arrangement completes a current in connection with an
alarm gong, so that if the blind is disturbed or the steel wire cords are cut or
separated, the alarm gong will be rung.
I have also devised improvements in connection with Venetian blinds made with
wood laths, the cords of which I arrange so that they may be pulled from the centre
of the blind, and are passed through a spring clip.
This clip, when held back by the hand, allows the cords to pass freely so that
the blind can be lowered or raised to suit the wishes of the user, but when released,
the spring clip keeps the blind fixed in the position required.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a Venetian blind,
Fig. 2 an enlarged detail of the loop and rod at the end of the lath,
Fig. 3 an enlarged detail of the rod arrangement for holding the blind in
position,
Fig. 4 a detail of the spring clip for holding the blind cords in position.
In each of these views, the same letters refer to the same parts respectively.
A is the window frame, B blind laths, C loops at the ends of the laths, DD' rods
passing through the loops, and holding the blind laths in a vertical position,
EE steel, copper or other metal wire cords connected together at the bottom and
winding round the pulleys or drums F F, on the roller at the top. G G are spring
drums for actuating the blind roller and pulling up the blind. H is the ring or
disc having perforations or notches on its periphery into which the metal rod D'
can pass, when by turning the handle J it is raised by the cam shaped end at K.
The wires to the electric alarm gong apparatus are shown at L L, which are put
into connection with the wires of the blind cords, when the blind is closed by means
of the fastening M M. In Fig. 4, N is the body or case of the spring clip afore-
said, provided inside with tapering strips of metal (). O. P is a conical tongue
piece which slides inside the case, and which has its side edges of a taper corre-
sponding to the taper of the metal strips in the body or case. These side edges are
each provided with a lining of india rubber R R so that when pressed against the
cords E, E, passing between the edges of the tongue and the faces of the tapering
strips in the case the indiarubber causes the cords to be firmly gripped. The
tongue is kept pressing against the cords by the spring S. T is a continuation of
the tongue through the casing, having a loop hole at its lower end, for attaching a
cord. By pulling this cord downwards the blind cords are released and free to
move, but on releasing this attached cord the spring presses the tongue against the
blind cords E E which are then gripped and held in position.

page_text: 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. The provision of a Venetian blind, having side guide rods and loops to keep
the blind in position, when drawn up or down, with steel, copper or other metal
wire cord and spring roller action, and disc and regulating rod for automatically
holding the blind in any required position, substantially as set forth and herein
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. The provision of fastenings and electrically connected wire and apparatus for
giving alarm when the blind is disturbed or the wires cut or separated, substantially
as set forth and herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The provision of a central cord and spring clip to be worked by the hand, and
which clip when released by the hand, holds the blind in position required,
substantially as set forth and herein described.
4. The application of this invention to any form or kind of Venetian blind,
substantially as set forth and herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 21st day of June 1894.
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.