Improvements in Window Blind Apparatus.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 28th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct.,. 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Window Blind Apparatus.
I, SAMUEL EARNSHAW HOWELL of Brook Steel Works Sheffield in the county
of York Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
My invention has for its object to simplify the construction of self winding window
blind rollers, and to reduce the cost of manufacture.
In carrying out my invention, 1 make the blind roller of metal tubing of a suitable
length to receive the blind. I close one end of the tubular roller with a block or end
plate secured to the roller by any suitable means and provided with a centre hole for
the axle upon which the roller is to revolve..
In the other end of the tubular roller I place a short piece of tube or other
appliance that will give the same result, fitting loosely inside the said roller, and
having an indentation, or compression, or hollow, formed at its inner end; it is
attached to a narrow disc-shaped block or its equivalent by means of a pin or screw
passed through its periphery, and the block is firmly secured to the axle, which is held
stationary in the end brackets.
A suitable coiled spring is placed round the axle, one end being attached to the first
named end plate or block which is secured to the roller but not to the axle, and
the other end is secured to the short piece of internal tube at the place where it is
compressed or indented, and is therefore indirectly attached to the fixed axle.
The action of the spring when coiled up by pulling down the blind is to cause the
roller to revolve and wind up the blind, and this reactive movement would under
ordinary conditions be strongest and quickest when the blind was pulled down to its
extreme length, but in a roller made as above described, the spring acts also upon the
short length of loosely fitting tube to which it is secured and twists it against the
inner surface of the roller, with a pressure always proportioned to the varying power
of the spring as it is wound up or unwound.
This arrangement of a self adjusting brake permits the blind to hang sustained at
any required height, and to be wound up when the weight of the blind is relieved by
the hand.
Dated the 23rd day of November 1888.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Window Blind Apparatus.
1, SAMUEL EARNSHAW HOWELL of Brook Steel Works, Sheffield, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to simplify the construction. of self winding window
blind mechanism usually contained in the roller, and thereby reduce the cost of
manufacture.
The annexed sheet of drawings clearly illustrates the mechanical arrangements of a
blind roller made according to my invention, like letters of reference indicate like
parts in any of the figures in which they occur.
Fig. 1 is a section of the roller tube prepared to receive the mechanism.
Fig. 2, is a section of the complete roller with the mechanical details.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the brake tube

page_text: Fig. 5, transverse section of same.
In carrying out my invention, I make the blind roller A shown in Fig. 1, preferably
of metal tubing of any suitable diameter and required length, and I close one end of
the said tube with a metal block or end plate B, securing it by brazing or any other
means.
A centre hole is made in the end plate to receive the axle upon which the roller is
to revolve.
In any convenient position in the tubular roller, such as that shown in Fig. 2, I
place a short piece of tube C, fitting loosely inside the roller; it is secured upon a
disc or collar D, by one or more pins E, or by equivalent means, the collar D being
firmly secured to the axle F, the said axle being held stationary in the end brackets
by one or both ends being squared.
The tube C, is compressed or indented at G, and to this part I attach one end of a
coiled spring H, which encircles the axle F, its other end being secured to a collar I,
which also forms an end-plate to the roller; this collar is attached to the tubular
roller, but revolves on the axle F. It will thus be seen that the coiled spring is
attached (indirectly) at one end to the axis F, which is stationary ; and at the other
end to the tubular roller.
The action of the spring, which is coiled up when the blind is pulled down, is to
uncoil, and causes the roller to revolve and thus wind up the blind, and this reaction
increases in power the lower the blind is drawn down, and would under ordinary
conditions draw up the blind much too quickly, and not answer the purpose required.
But in a roiler made as I have described, the coiling of the spring as the blind is
drawn down, acts also upon the end of the short tube C, to which it is attached,
and which has a certain amount of play in the roller as before described, and
causes it to twist and press against the inside surface of the roller, with a pressure
always proportionate with the varying power of the spring as it is being coiled or
uncoiled.
This arrangement of a self adjusting brake in conjunction with weighted blind
rod or its equivalent, permits the blind to be drawn down and to hang sustained at
any desired position, and when the weight is relieved or sustained by the hand, to
wind up the roller and blind at one uniform speed.
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-In the construction of a self acting window blind roller, the combination with a
coiled spring H, of a self adjusting brake capable of being pressed against the
internal face of the roller by the action of the spring substantially as herein before
described and shown.
2-In a self winding window blind roller, the combination of the roller A, brake C,
disc or collar D, axle and spring H, arranged and acting together substantially as
described and shown.
Dated the 27th day of August 1920
ROBT. F. DRURY, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.