IMPROVEMENTS IN OUTSIDE BLINDS OR SHADES FOR WINDOWS, DOORS, AND OTHER PLACES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Virginie Bacqueville Pieters, of Paris, in the Empire
France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OUTSIDE BLINDS OR SHADES
FOR WINDOWS, DOORS, AND OTHER PLACES."
Sealed the 3rd November 1857, and dated the 27th May 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Virginie Bacqueville
Pieters at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition,
on the 27th May 1857.
I, VIRGINIE BACQUEVILLE PIETERS, of Paris, in the Empire of France, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OUTSIDE
BLINDS OR SHADES FOR WINDOWS, DOORS, AND OTHER PLACES," to be as follows:-
My Invention, which relates to improvements in outside blinds or shades
applicable to windows, shops, doors, balconies, &c., &c., or as porches, consists
in forming such erections so that they collapse in the manner of a fan, and
may be readily thrown out or collapsed by suitable cords and pullies, or by
other convenient means. I form the shade in two parts, with folds or plaits
radiating from the middle part of the window or place to be shaded as a
centre; the two parts collapse, the one towards the one side of the window or
other place to be shaded, and the other towards the other side; or the whole
may collapse towards one side only. The circumference or edge of this
shade or blind carries a pendent part, which also collapses with the main part
or top.

page_text: Another arrangement of forming and collapsing these shades or blinds
consists in making the top with the plaits horizontal, and parallel to each
other, with & pendent parts at the sides, having vertical plaits, which are
more or less parallel to each other.
Metal or other supports, jointed or otherwise, are suitably adapted to carry
these blinds or shades.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Virginie Bacqueville Pieters in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th November 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, VIRGINIE
BACQUEVILLE PIETERS, of Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of May,, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Virginie Bacqueville Pieters, Her special licence that I, the said
Virginie Bacqueville Pieters, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Virginie Bacqueville Pieters, 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 term 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
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OUTSIDE BLINDS OR SHADES FOR WINDOWS,
DOORS, AND OTHER PLACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Virginie Bacqueville Pieters, 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 Inven-
tion, 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 YE, that I, the said Virginie Bacqueville Pieters, 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
following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of of Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):

page_text: Figures 1, 2, and 3, a is one wing, being one of the folding quarter
circles; the number and size of the folds depend on the height of the space at
disposal over the shop, and on the size of the moveable blind or shade
required; a¹ is the other wing or quarter circle. These two quarter circles
may be formed of linen, water-proof paper, matting, metal, &c., &c. b, b, is
the breast-work or timber, on which one of the sides or edges of the quarter
circles is fixed; c and c¹ are two strong wooden or metal rods, hinged on the
beam or timber b, b, and each supporting the inclined carrier of one wing
of the blind or shade; d, d, d, d, are eyes fixed at the extremity of each fold of
the wings of the blind or shade; e, e, e¹, e¹, are four return pullies placed on
the beam or timber, two for each half of the blind; f and f¹ are two cords,
attached to the exterior extremity of each of the hanging rods c and c'; these
cords pass, as indicated by the red lines, ou each of the pullies, and are united
in a single cord after having passed the second pullies.
When it is desired to close the blind or shade, it suffices to pull the end of
the cord, when the two wings fold up on each side. h and h¹ are two pullies
placed above the two first; i and are two other cords, which at one end are
also attached to each of the exterior extremities of rods c and c', and on the
other end are united in a single cord after having passed on pullies h and h¹.
In order to unfold the two wings of the blind or shade, it suffices to pull
the cord i, when the two wings open out and join each other.
In Figure 8, I have shown the hinged rods c, c³, as crossing each other, so
that there may be no opening at their junction, through which the rain or
sunbeams could penetrate. j, j, are vertical hangings, which the circum-
ference of the shade.
These moveable blinds or shades, which I have herein described as forming
a semicircumference, may be cut in any other suitable manner: thus, in order
to cover a great length and little width, such as a balcony running the whole
width of a house, the extremity of that fold which turns most in the opening
movement will be cut aslant. Also, in case of great thickness of the blind or
shade when folded up, the folds may be made of different sizes, so as not to
superpose several doublings of cloth on each other. The armature or frame-
work varies in form and strength according to the size and nature of the
blind, on which the kind of mechanism to be employed for the opening and
shutting movements also depends.
I will now describe one form and the frame of the blind or shade, as
applicable to an ordinary sized window.

page_text: My Invention, which relates to improvements in outside blinds or shades
applicable to windows, shops, doors, balconies, &c., or as porches, consists in
forming such erections so that they collapse in the manner of a fan, and may
be readily thrown out or collapsed by suitable cords and pullies, or by other
convenient means. I form the shade in two parts, with folds or plaits
radiating from the middle part of the window or place to be shaded as a
centre; the two parts collapse, the one towards the one side of the window or
other place to be shaded, and the other towards the other side; or the whole
may collapse towards one side only. The circumference or edge of this
shade or blind carries a pendent part, which also collapses with the main
part or top.
Another arrangement of forming and collapsing these shades or blinds
consists in making the top with the plaits horizontal, and parallel to each
other, and with pendent parts at the sides, having vertical plaits, which are
more or less parallel to each other.
Metal or other supports, jointed or otherwise, are suitably adapted to carry
these blinds or shades, which are opened and shut by cords and pullies, or it
may be by other suitable means.
My Invention relates to a new moveable blind or shade adapted for sun or
rain shades, blinds, verandahs, porticoes, &c., applicable to the fronts of shops,
doors, windows, tents, marquees, places of shelter, fire screens, &c. It is
especially applicable to the fronts of shops and to doors and windows. It
presents several advantages over the ordinary blinds or shades used; first,
elegance; secondly, economy; thirdly, stability; fourthly, facility in working;
fifthly, facility in mounting and removing the same; sixthly, facility for
carrying away the water when used as a rain shade or shelter.
My Invention is represented in the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1
shows the blind or shade closed; Figure 2 shows the same open; and
Figure 3 the same unfolded, as applied to a window.
Supposing two quarter circumferences folded like a fan, connected at the
top, and fixed on a beam. These two quarter circumferences can easily be
unfolded outwards, and form a semicircular surface constituting the shelter in
front of the window. They can with equal facility fold up against the wall
and occupy the least possible space.
The mechanism, governing these two movements of opening and shutting,.
may be of various kinds; I have herein shown the most simple and con-
venient method for small apparatus, that of cords, chains, and return pullies,.
but the movements can be communicated equally well by wheel or othe
gearing.

page_text: Figure 4 represents the frame closed; Fig. 5 represents it partially open;
and Figure 6 represents a blind of another form, which can cover a particular
frame, and shelter a window or other opening. a is the beam, fixed above
the upper horizontal rabbet of the window; b is an iron tie having two hooks;
it occupies the middle of the beam a, a; c, c, are rods, terminated at one
extremity by an eye, through which one of the pins of the hooks of tie b, b,
passes, so as to hinge or pivot thereon, each describing a part of a circle;
d, d, are eyes formed on the rods c, c; e, e, are two systems of pullies for the
movement of the cords, which govern the opening and shutting of each half
blind or shade; f, f, are the two cords which open and shut the two parts of
the blind or shade; one of the cords, represented by red lines, serves for
opening and shutting the right-hand half of the blind or shade, the other cord,
represented by blue lines, serves for opening and shutting the left-hand half of
the blind or shade.
It will be understood simply by inspection that the two cords, red and blue,
being each knotted at the middle of their length to the eye d of the extreme
rods c, it suffices to pull one of their extremities in order to open the blind
or shade, and the other in order to shut it.
In Figure 6, I have represented a simple blind or shade, not fan-shaped,
enclosing a window. g is the horizontal part, placed at the upper part. It
is advantageous to incline it slightly; h, h, are the two side depending
parts, which unite at the edges of the part g; i is the cord, serving to
close the blind or shade, that is to say, serving to fold it up on the wall.
This cord is fastened at a fixed point j, and is attached at the middle of
the exterior edge of the blind or shade, and finally passes over a return
pulley 7.
I have illustrated and described the working of my improved blind by these
simple means only, but it will be understood that there are others, which can
be applied according to size and circumstances.
it
It will also be understood that the frame may be constructed as desired;
may also vary with its size, and the openings to which it is to be applied.
Each of these blinds or shades may be ornamented in any way desired, for
instance, the exterior edge may be crenated, beaded, or cut out, and the whole
may be surrounded with illuminations, lanterns, glasses, borders, &c. The
5 form of my folding blinds or shades allows of their being made of window
glass, which can be arranged at will, so as to produce effects of colour,
reflections of tints, &c. It will be understood that grooved hinged folding
parts would then be used, in order to fix the glass therein. As regards the
mechanism for the shutting, it may vary with the size and construction.

page_text: It will now be understood that the advantages I have pointed out are,
First, as regards elegance, the shape is better adapted for ornamental
purposes.
Secondly, as regards economy, in the working I prefer to suppress expensive
apparatus for transmitting motion, and use pullies and cords only.
Thirdly, as regards stability, the surface being undulating and ribbed
presents great strength.
Fourthly, facility of working, it suffices to pull two cords, which govern the
whole movement.
Fifthly, facility of mounting and removing, it suffices to dismount or remove
the beam or timber to which the blinds are attached.
Sixthly, facility for carrying away the water, the surface of the blind or
shade forming a series of contiguous gutters.
I can also make in the same manner lateral blinds or shades, which will be
joined to the oblique, horizontal, or vertical blinds or shades, and will thus
constitute a perfect shelter.
I can also arrange the cords so as to govern the various movements of the
wings of blinds or shades from the interior, and that with great ease, either
horizontally or vertically.
I can fix the two folding quarter circles on any foundation, and placed in
front of a fire they will constitute a screen, which will be opened and shut
by similar mechanism to those I have described.
Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention, intended to be secured
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is, the use of folding
surfaces such as I have specified, for moveable blinds or shades, verandahs,
porticoes, screens, or other sheltering surfaces, the said surfaces being furnished
with parts suitable for the several uses, to fold in the manner and by the aid
of the means herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Virginie Bacqueville Pieters, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
V. BACQUEVILLE PIETERS. (L.S.)