Improvements in Venetian Blinds.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Venetian Blinds.
I, GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS JOHN SCHOTT of No. 48, Richmond Road, Bradford in the
County of York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention refers to improvements in Venetian Blinds and consist in the main in a
reversal of the present manner of applying them; that is to say I construct, my
improved blind in such a manner that it is drawn up when put into use and let down
when put out of use. By this arrangement I gain two main advantages. At present
the blind, when not used, hangs in a dense mass at the top of the window and obs' ructs
about a foot in depth and often more across the whole width of the window at the
very place where otherwise more light would enter the room than at any other part of
the window of equal size. This space under my improved arrangement is left open to
the light, as the blind, when not in use, is packed away at the bottom of the window
or even below the window frame, whereby no or very little light is obstructed.
The second advantage is that, to prevent the room being overlooked from the out-
side, the blind need only be drawn up so as to cover the lower part of the window to
the required height, whilst leaving the upper portion uncovered, thus securing
privacy without obstructing the light more than necessary for the attainment of the
purpose named. In order that it may be more easy to bring my improved blind into
use, and render it feasible to convert existing blinds with comparatively slight and
inexpensive changes into the improved kind, I adopt the tapes and laths or leaves as
at present generally constructed without any alteration, but only alter some minor
parts of the blind and the manner of combining, fixing and using the parts. The
laths I place in the tapes, and attach the tapes to the thicker top and bottom laths as
at present, and also pass two cords through the two holes of each lath as is now done.
The lower ends of the cords are attached to the thicker bottom lath as at present, but
the blind is not let down and drawn up by means of these cords as is at present the
case, but the cords are attached to a bar at the top of the window, reach vertically
from the window top to the botton lath and serve to carry the bottom lath, and the
other laths when they rest on the bottom lath, and to keep in position and guide the
laths when they are drawn up as will be presently further explained.
In place of these two cords I may use two metal rods or wires of suitable shape and
thickness.
I
For drawing up my improved blind I may use one or more cords, which I pass over
rollers fixed on the bar at the top of the window similar to the present method.
use by preference two cords which are suitably connected to the top lath in such
manner that the laths can be level and open or closed, and inclined to either side as
in the blind now used.
In cases where it is not important to adhere to the present form of the laths and
tapes, I may introduce changes iu their construction or manner of connection. For
examples, 1 may make the laths without the usual two holes, through which the
cords now pass, place the cords, or the wires substituted for them, at both ends of the
laths and attach to the lath ends metal pegs, forks, eyelets or some similar contrivance

page_text: by means of which they can be connected with and controlled by the said cords or
wires. The laths and tapes thereby become easier, simpler & cheaper to make, and
also stronger, and I gain the further advantage that a lath can be taken out and
replaced for cleaning purposes or for other reasons with great ease and without taking
the blind to pieces.
I may effect other changes in parts of the blind and in the manner of combining
or using them, as also in the inaterials used in the construction of parts. For
example I find that if the leaves are constructed with light reflecting surfaces of
silvered glass or other suitable material and are inclined towards the outside to just a
sufficient extent to keep the direct rays of the sun off the carpet and furniture, thus
leaving the spaces between the leaves partially open, the sun and light rays are
deflected towards the ceiling and into the upper portion of the room, and leave the
room almost as light as if there were no blinds applied, whilst at the same time
protecting the furniture against the sun. For this purpose it is not necessary that all
the leaves should be thus constructed as reflectors. A few suitably interspersed
among the ordinary leaves would have an appreciable effect. Either one or both
surfaces of such leaves I may construct as reflectors. In the former case I may insert
such leaves in the blind in such manner that the reflecting surfaces of two leaves face
each other, that is to say one leaf would have its reflecting surface on its underside,
whilst the next leaf below would have it on its upperside. I may also construct the
reflectors with coloured glass or with prisms or corrugated surfaces of various forms,
whereby novel and pleasing coloured lights effects would be attained. Such reflectors
could selfevidently also be inserted in venetian blinds of the ordinary present con-
struction without the other improvements beforementioned.
Dated this Seventeenth day of September 1896.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS JOHN SCHOTT.
Improvements in Venetian Blinds.
I, GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS JOHN SCHOTT, of No. 48 Richmond Road, Bradford in the
County of York, Manufacturer 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 refers to improvements in Venetian Blinds and consists in the main
in a reversal of the present manner of applying them; that is to say I construct my
improved blind in such a manner that it can be drawn up when put into use and let
down when put out of use. By this arrangement I gain two main advantages. At
present the blind when not used hangs in a dense mass at the top of the window and
obstructs about a foot in depth and often more across the whole width of the window
at the very place where otherwise more light would enter the room than at any other
part of the window of equal size. This space under my improved arrangement is left
open to the light, as the blind, when not in use, is packed away at the bottom of the
window or even below the window frame, whereby no or very little light is obstructed.
The second advantage is that, to prevent the room being overlooked from the
outside, the blind need only be drawn up so as to cover the lower part of the window
to the required height, whilst leaving the upper portion uncovered, thus securing
privacy without obstructing the light more than necessary for the attainment of the
purpose named.
Further advantages are the ease with which the upper portion of the window, and

page_text: the adjoining woodwork can be cleaned, when the Blind is lowered. With the
present Blind always hanging at the top, access to the top portion of the window and
woodwork is difficult. The Blind itself can also be better and more conveniently
cleaned and taken to pieces or put together when lowered within easy reach of a
person standing on the floor, than when a ladder or steps have to be used to reach it
when hanging at the top of a window. The greater facility of admitting light and
air to living rooms must also be considered an advantage conducive to health.
In order that it may be more easy to bring my improved blind into use, and render
it feasible to convert existing blinds with comparatively slight and inexpensive
changes into the improved kind, I adopt the tapes and laths or leaves as at present
generally constructed without any alteration, but only alter soune minor parts of the
blind and the manner of combining, fixing and using the parts.
I will now describe the manner of carrying my invention into effect with the
assistance of the accomjanying drawings, which represent the following:
Fig. 1. is a perspective view of the interior arrangements of the topbox of my
improved Venetian Blind,
Fig. 2. is a perspective view of an upper portion of a window casing, showing my
improved Blind in connection therewith.
Fig. 3. a perspective view of a pulley block and its support which I employ.
Fig. 4. a cross-section of the upper lath of the Blind and some operative parts
connected therewith.
Fig. 5. a perspective view of a plate which is connected with the upper lath and an
end view of which is seen in Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. a perspective. view of a fastening device which is adapted to, be connected
with the sides of the window frame, and to serve, as a support for the drawcords;
Fig. 7. a side view of the part of one of said drawcords which serves; as attachment
to the toplath of the blind, and a pulley block which connects, the said part to the
main part of the Draw cord.
In these drawings the corresponding parts are designated by the same letters of
reference. As my invention will be largely applied to the conversion of existing
blinds into my improved kind, I will put iny description into the form of directions
for such conversion, which will bring out in the. clearest manner the differences
between the old and the new, and also serve as a guide for the. construction of new
Blinds on my improved principle.
1. Take down the old blind and take it to pieces, taking off the turning tapes,
which are not required any more, and the cordis, but the tapes "b." Fig: 2; when
tacked on to the top lath, can be left on. It is, however, not necessary that these
tapes should be nailed on the top lath. If the two top edges of the tapes are doubled
over and stitched together over the top lath, just to keep them in position untill the
plate "G" is fixed on the top lath, this plate will hold the. tape in position without
tacks, as the doubled-up edges of the tape cannot slip out, being held, hy the
beating "a" on the underside of the plate, ns illustrated in Fig. 4. This arrangement
renders unnecessary the tacking, whereby both the tape and lath are spoilt after
several repetitions of the tacking: In Fig. 4. "" is the top lath, shown in vertical
section.
2. Put the two plates "G." on top lath "L" by boring two holes through the top
lath on the outside of the draw-cords "C" to take in the peg "d" of the plate (shown
in Figs. 4 and 5.) The centre of the slot "e" in the plate "G" must be exactly
over the centre of slot in top lath. Screw down the plates. The pegs "d" of the
plates "G" serve to carry the turning cords "f" which are connected by the turning
pulleys "H" to the draw-cords "Cx." which latter pass over the extra, pulleys "Dx."
consequently the holes through which the drawcords "C" pass into the top box
must be exactly over the pegs "d" vertically.
3. Alterations in top box: Take out the old tape rollers and fill up with wood:
Put on the extra catch Bc." and the four extra pulleys "De 1. 2. 3 and 4." taking
great care that their centres are exactly in line, so that the cords. "Cx 1 and 2" pass
in stright lines over the pulleys and through the catch. The pulley.D 3:" must

page_text: be let into the top box a good 4 inch, so that its top does not stand higher than the
catch wheel, but rather lower, as otherwise the cord would not throw the catch off.
In putting on the pulleys "Da"-mind to have the hole, "h Fig. 3" for the cord on
the proper side-then thread the draw cords "C and Cx" through the top box s
shown, but the drawcords must be left long enough to allow the blind, when out of
use, to be let down below the window nearly to the floor, when there is no window
bottom to prevent it.
4. The connection of the turning pulley "H" to the top lath "L" and the draw
cord "C" is made as follows:-
: Pass a short piece of cord ("f" Fig. 7) which for a 2 inch lath should be 8 inches
long over the top of the pulley "H"; then put the two ends together, overlapping
each other 1 inches, sew the ends together for of an inch at each end of the lap,
which leaves an open loop "g" 2 inch long, as shown in Fig. 7. The length of the
short turning cord "f" varies slightly according to the width of the lath, but it
should in all cases only be just long enough for the top lath, when closed, to clear
the bottom of the turning pulley "H," as otherwise there will be too inuch space.
between the top lath and the top box, when the blind is pulled up to the top of the
window.
Then screw off the cap "h," put the draw cord "C" through the cap and tie a
knot on the end of the cord and draw it up into the cap. Then holding the cap in
one hand, screw the pulley "H" with the short turning cord "f" attached, into the
cap "h," but without turning the latter, so that the draw cord "Cz" does not get
twisted.
Then pass the short turning cord "f" over the end of the top lath "L" and put its
loop "g" on to the peg "d" of the plate "G," and screw on the nut "," which thus
serves to fasten together the plate "G," the top lath "L," and the turning cord "f"
5. Now put the blind together in the usual inanner and fix to the window, but,
where feasible, outside the window slide, which allows the blind to come straight
down without catching on the meeting rail.
6. Screw the hooked palley ("K" Fig. 6) on the side of the window lining in a
slightly slanted position, so that the cord does not draw off the pulley, and
5 to 6 feet from the floor. The draw cords "C" are passed down the backside of
the pulley and a knot tied so as to allow the top lath just to go down below the
window, when this knot and the draw cord will hold the top lath in that position
without the catch "B" being put on. It would also be convenient to furnish the
ordinary drawcord "C" on the other side of the windows with a hook pulley "K" in
the same manner, as the hook serves to hang on the loose draw cords, and keeps them
off the floor and from getting entangled with the other cords. In Fig. 2 both
drawcords "C and Ca" are shown fitted with the hook pulley "K." Hang the loose
end of the draw cord on the hook, then double the cord up again and hang on the
hook, and so on until the loose cords are coiled up on the hook at a convenient
length.
7. The catch cords ("A" Fig. 2.) and turning cord ("I" Fig. 2) must be fastened
to the wood lining as usual, to prevent them getting out of their proper places and
entangled with the draw cords,
In the above description and in Figs. 1 & 2 I have retained the draw cords "C"
of the old blind, which carry the bottom lath, in their present usual form. This,
besides obviating unnecessary changes, has the advantage, that these cords can be
used for drawing up the bottom lath as heretofore when desired. But it will be
obvious, that in cases, where the bottom lath is not desired to be raised these
cords "C" might be permanently attached to the top box, when their function as
drawcords would cease, and they would simply serve to carry the bottom lath, and
the other laths when they rest on the bottom lath, and to keep in position and guide
the laths when they are drawn up. In that event it would be advantageous, as
preventing stretching, to use two metal wires instead of Cords.
The catch "B" shown in Fig. 1 is not of my invention, but is what is known in
the trade as "Beaumonts Patent Action," which I find the best for the purpose.

page_text: The pulley block "D" Fig. 3. I have specially devised so that the cords cannot
come off the pulley, being held and guided thereon by the bow or bridge of the
frame and the hole "." The function of the pulley shown in the fitting "K" Fig. 6
is to minimise the friction when the Draw cords pass over it, and thus make it more
easy to draw up the Blind.
The functions of the other parts shown in the Drawings will be sufficiently clear
from the foregoing description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. Constructing a venetian blind in such inanner that it can be lowered to the
bottom of the window or below the window when not in use, and, when required,
raised to cover the whole or a portion of the window, as and for the purposes herein
before specified.
2. In a venetian Blind the use of a set of drawcords attached to the upper lath of
the said blind and serving to raise or lower the said upper lath and the other laths
attached thereto substantially as herein before described and shown.
3. The method of attaching the draw cords to the upper lath in such manner that
the laths can be effectually turned, by means of the turning pulley block "H,"
cap "h," loops "f" and "g," and peg "d" of plate "G," substantially as described
and sown.
4. In combination with a venetian Blind the use of pulley blocks "K" Fig. 6 and
"D" Fig. 3. or either of thein, substantially as described and shown.
5. Fixi g the turning or carrier tapes "6" of a venetian blind on the top
lath "L" by means of the turned down edges "a" of a plate "G" attached to the
said toplath, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 4.
6. The combination with a Venetian blind of Drawcords "c" attached to the top
lath by means of the pulley block "H," cap "h," loops "f" and "g," peg "d" and
plate "G," the said drawcords passing through the topbox and pulley blocks "Dx"
and "K," substantially as and for the purposes described and shown in the drawings
or any mere modification thereof.
Dated this Seventeenth day of June 1897.
GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS JOHN SCHOTT.