IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW SHUTTERS OR BLINDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WINDOW SHUTTERS OR BLINDS." A communication from abroad by Asher
Bijur, of New York City, in the County and State of New York, United States
of America.
Sealed the 23rd November 1877, and dated the 3rd October 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd October 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDOW SHUTTERS OR BLINDS." A communi-
cation from abroad by Asher Bijur, of New York City, in the County and State of
New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to furnish an improved shutter construction for
outside or inside use, by which the slats may be quickly and conveniently adjusted
to any desired width for admitting air and light without the use of slat rods and
staples, and the Invention consists of an outer shutter frame having fixed lateral
slats, and of an interior sliding frame with lateral slats that is guided in grooves of
the outer shutter frame, being balanced by suitable devices, so as to be readily
adjusted in the open or closed position along the stationary slats.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a front elevation, partly in
section, of the improved shutter.
Figures 2 and 3 are vertical transverse sections, showing the shutter respectively
in the open and closed positions; and Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the
same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the Drawing, A represents the outer shutter frame which is made of
the usual size, and hung in the customary manner, whether used for inside or outside
purposes. The outer shutter frame A is arranged with a number of stationary
slats a that are set vertically into the sides of the frame alternately with interstices
or openings that are of equal width with the slats. A second interior frame B is

page_text: made with lateral slats 6 that are secured vertically into the sides of the frame, the
frame being guided in grooves of the outer frame A, and made to slide up and down
for a distance equal to the width of the openings or interstices between the slats of
the outer frame, so as to give play to the inner frame for that distance, the
outer frame being grooved to that extent either at the top or bottom, preferably
at the top. The slats b of the sliding frame are made slightly wider than the
interstices between the slats a of the outer frame, so as to close entirely the openings
between the slats of the outer frame. The inner sliding frame B is balanced either
by means of cords, pulleys, and weights, arranged in boxes of the outer shutter
frame, as shown in Figure 1, or by means of springs, friction, or other devices, as
found most convenient. This balancing of the inner frame admits the easy setting
of the sliding frame B into the raised or lowered. position, so as to partly or
entirely open the interstices between the slats of the outer sash frame, or close the
same.
The admission of air and light may by the inner sliding frame be regulated with
great facility, and the shutter be also closed entirely, so as to keep out the light from
the room.
The slats of an entire shutter section may thus be set at one time by the
adjustment of the inner sliding frame, dispensing with separate slat rods and con-
necting staples, and making this construction especially adapted for inside blinds,
as the sliding frame retains the position to which it is once adjusted. In this
manner, a superior shutter construction for windows is formed, that gives a superior
adjustment of the slats, and a better construction than the shutters with pivoted
slats and connecting slat rods.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,―
First. A shutter for inside and outside use, made of an outer shutter frame, with
fixed cross slants, and of an inner sliding and guided frame with similar slats, that
open or close the openings of the outer frame, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Second. A shutter for. inside and outside use, made of an outer grooved shutter
frame having fixed vertical slats, and of an inner sliding and guided frame with
fixed slats of slightly greater width than the openings of the outer frame, the inner-
frame being balanced by suitable devices, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
In witness I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)