Improvements in the Fastening of Tapes for Venetian and similar Lath Blinds.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Fastening of Tapes for Venetian and similar
Lath Blinds.
I, JANE WADBROOK STIDOLPH, of Langdale House, Greenwich, S.E., do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to window blinds of Venetian or similar type; the con-
struction of which is well known.
It is usual for the cords, which are used for raising and lowering the blind,
to be passed through the lowest lath and knotted, and afterwards drawn against
the lath, the two ends of the "ladder" tape are then laid across and fixed to
the lath by tintacks or small nails. So that every time the blinds are taken
down for cleaning or repair, the tacks or nails have to be removed and afterwards
replaced, a process which is usually troublesome, and as a rule not very neatly
performed, and at the best of times the appearance thereof is not ornamental.
The object of my invention is to provide an appliance by means of which the
cord and tapes can be readily fixed to and loosened from the lath, one which
will appear more ornamental than the present arrangement.
One arrangement of my invention consists of a shallow metal box or boxlike
arrangement with lid, suitably but not necessarily of rectangular shape, placed
under the lowest lath of the blind with its centre in line with the cord, and
fixed by screws which can be driven when the lid is open. Through a hole in
the centre of the bottom of the box,-.e. that side which is against the lath-
the cord is passed, knotted, and thereby retained. Through long slits provided
on either side of the box lying parallel to the lath, the ends of the tapes can be
passed into the box and fastened thereto by buckles, or the equivalent, fixed
inside the box.
The lid of the box is then closed & the tapes & cord hidden from view.
The lid may be hinged and fitted with a simple snap fastening, or may be
arranged to be separate from, but tightly fitting in or on the box.
Portions of the bottom of the box may be removed, parts being left for retention
by the screws or the whole of the bottom may be omitted, and the sides flanged
outwardly and perforated for screws.
In another arrangement I fix, by screws or otherwise to the lath, a plate
suitably-of-rectangular-shape;-with-flanges-along-the--sides--lying-across-the-
lath.
Pivotting in holes near the ends of these flanges, I arrange two flaps of
L section which can lie with the short arm approximately at right angles to the
plate-near-its-edge-and-the-long-arms-inwards-and-approximately-parallel-to-
the lath.
When raised with the long arms perpendicular to the lath, the ends of the
tapes can be passed between the short arms of the flaps and the plate. The
flaps are then pressed down so as to lie with the long arms parallel to the plate,
when the short arms grip the tapes between themselves and the plate,

page_text: The edge of the short arms may be serrated so as to grip the tape.
The cord passes through a hole, in the plate and is knotted and retained.
I arrange the long arms of the flaps to extend sideways over the flanges of the
plate, and of such length that when lying down they butt nicely, so as to conceal
the knot of the cord or to overlap, for the same purpose.
I arrange the flange to allow clearance for the knot under the flaps,
In another arrangement I place, centrally over the hole for the cord, a metal
plate, suitably of rectangular shape with ends either turned up so as to form a
spring which when pressed over the sides of the lath grip it tightly. or capable
of being bent over so as to grip the lath.
A suitable recess in the centre of the plate provides clearance for the cord knot.
I provide slits at that part of the plate near the side of the lath through
which the ends of the tapes can be inserted. The tapes are then retained by
the grip of the plate on the lath.
It will be readily understood that my invention is capable of being carried
out in many different forms.
I make the appliance preferably of brass as being easily worked and most
ornamental but I may use any other metal or suitable substance.
In all cases I take care to provide suitable clearance for the cord knot.
Although the appliance may be suitably of rectangular shape, I do not limit
the appliance to that shape, as it may be oval, circular or any shape designed
with view to the ornamental intention of the invention.
Dated this 24th day of January 1899.
Improvements in the Fastening of Tapes for Venetian and similar
Lath Blinds.
I, JANE WADBROOK STIDOLPH, of Langdale House, Greenwich, S.E., 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 window blinds of Venetian or similar type, the con-
struction of which is well known.
It is usual for the cords, which are used for raising and lowering the blinds,
to be passed through the lowest lath and knotted and afterwards drawn against
the lath, the two ends of the "ladder" tape are then laid across and fixed to
the lath by tin tacks or small nails. So that every time the blinds are taken
down for cleaning or repair, the tacks or nails have to be removed and afterwards
replaced, a process which is usually troublesome, and as a rule not very neatly
performed, and at the best the appearance thereof is not ornamental.
The object of my invention is to provide an appliance by means of which the
cord and tapes can be readily fixed to and loosened from the lath, one which
will appear more ornamental than the present arrangement.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings:
Fig. 1 shows a view of the underside of the lowest lath of a blind fitted with
one arrangement of my invention.
Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal vertical section through the cords.
Fig. 3 shows a transverse vertical section.
Fig. 4 shows a plan of this arrangement without cover.
Fig. 5 shows a plan of cover.
This arrangement of my invention consists of a shallow metal box or boxlike

page_text: arrangement "b," with lid "," suitably but not necessarily of rectangular shape,
placed under the lowest lath "a" of the blind, with its centre in line with the
cord "," and fixed by screws which can be driven when the lid is open.
Through a hole h in the centre of the bottom of the box-i.e. that side which
is against the lath a,-the cord is passed, knotted, and thereby retained.
C
Through long slits ss1, provided in either side of the box lying parallel to
the lath; the ends of the tapes tt1 can be passed into the box, and fastened
thereto by buckles e el, or the equivalent, fixed inside the box.
The lid of the box is then closed and the ends of tapes and cord hidden from
view.
.
The lid may be hinged, and fitted with a simple snap fastening as shown
in Fig. 1 or may be arranged to be separate from, but tightly fitting in or on
the box as in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5.
Portions of the bottom of the box may be removed, parts being left for reten
tion by the screws; or the whole of the bottom may be omitted, and the sides
flanged outwardly, as 61 Fig. 1, and perforated for screws.
Fig. 6 shows longitudinal section,
Fig. 7 shows transverse section.
Fig. 8 shows plan of another arrangement in which I fix by screws or nails
to the lath a, a plate p, suitably of rectangular shape, with flanges f, f 1, along
the sides lying across the lath.
two
Pivotting in holes g g 1 near the ends of the flanges f f 1,
I arrange
flaps m 1 m 2 m 1 m 21; of approximately L section, which can lie with the
short arm m2 approximately at right angles to the plate p, near its edge, and
the long arm m 1 inwards, and approximately parallel to the lath.
When raised with the long arm perpendicular to the lath, as shown m 11 m 21
Figs. 7 & 8, the ends of the tapes can be passed between the short arms of the
flaps and the plate p. The flaps are then pressed down, as m 1 m 2 Figs. 7 & 8,
so as to lie with the long arms parallel to the plate, when the short arms grip
the tapes between them and the plate.
The edge of the short arms may be serrated as in Figs. 6, 8.
The cord c passes through a hole h in the plate p and is knotted and retained.
I arrange the long arms of the flaps to extend sideways over the flanges f, f 1,
and of such length that when lying down they either butt nicely, so as to
conceal the knot of the cord, or overlap for the same purpose.
I arrange the flanges f, f 1 to allow clearance for the knot under the flaps m 1.
Fig. 9 shows side elevation of lath.
Fig. 10 shows transverse section of lath,
Fig. 11 shows view from below lath, fitted with another arrangement of my
invention, in which I place centrally over the hole for the cord a metal plate n,
suitably of rectangular shape, with ends either turned up so as to form a spring,
as n 1, which when pressed over the sides of the lath grip it tightly, or capable of
being bent over so as to grip the lath, as n 2.
A suitable recess r in the centre of the plate provides clearance for the cord
knot.
I provide slits ss 1, at those parts of the plate near the sides of the lath, through
which the ends of the tapes t t 1 can be inserted. The plate is then sprung on
or-fixed-to-the-lath-as-above described,-when-the-tapes-are-retained-by-the-grip-
of the plate on the lath.
It will be readily understood that my invention is capable of being carried out
in many different forms.
-I-make the appliance preferably-of-brass-as-being-easily-worked-and-ornamental,-
but I may use any other metal or suitable material.
In all cases I take care to provide suitable clearance for the cord knot.
Although the appliance may be suitably of rectangular shape I do not limit
the appliance to that shape, as it may be oval, circular, or any shape designed
with view to the ornamental intention of the invention.

page_text: It will be noticed that when the arrangements of my invention shown in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 are once applied to a blind, the cords and tapes can
be fixed and freed without removal and refixing of nails or screws; and that in
arrangement shown in Figs. 9, 10, 11, there are no nails or screws at all,
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 I am
aware of inventions described in Specifications 19477 of 1889, and 11415 of 1895,
and that what I claim is:
1. For Venetian or similar blinds the improved appliance for fastening the
ends of tapes and concealing the ends of tapes and cords, as described and illus-
trated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
2. For Venetian or similar blinds the improved appliance for fastening the
ends of tapes, and concealing the ends of tapes and cords, as described and illus-
trated in Figs. 6, 7, 8.
3. For Venetian or similar blinds the improved appliance for fastening the
ends of tapes, and concealing the ends of tapes and cords, capable of being fixed
without screws or nails, as described and illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 11.
Dated this day 26th September 1899.
JANE WADBROOKE STIDOLPH.