Improvements in Rack Pulleys for Window Blinds.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 21st Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rack Pulleys for Window Blinds.
I, JAMES ARTHUR SCHOFIELD, of 41 Eastbank Street, Southport, Lancashire,
Manufacturing Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The device according to my Invention comprises a projecting scutcheon piece or
plate having a clearance or space between the inner face of same and the surface to
which said plate is attached. The two side portions of said plate have grooves or
serrations extending across same on the outside thereof, the inner faces of the side
portions of said scutcheon plate being plain. In conjunction with the scutcheon plate
aforesaid I employ a sliding arm which works or travels between the two side
portions of the scutcheon plate. Said sliding arm is formed with projections or horn
pieces, which take into the grooves or serrations on the outer face of the scutcheon
plate aforesaid and it is also formed at the inner end with projections which bear
against the inner and plain surface of the parts of the scutcheon plate above referred
to, in such manner that the horn pieces or projections first mentioned will readily
catch and hold the said sliding arm in position, the other projections, namely those on
the inner end of the sliding arm working on the inner plain sides or faces of the plate
aforesaid exert a pull against the projections or horn pieces first mentioned taking
into the grooves or serrations on the outer face of the plates, and thus, the more
tightly the sliding arm is held up the more securely it will be retained in position.
At the outer end of the sliding arm I adapt a grooved wheel, pulley, or runner to
receive the blind cord, the said grooved wheel being fixed between a fork by means
of a pin passed through the sides of the fork and the pulley; or the pulley may work
on a pin secured to a single arm or short bracket piece.
As a means of fixing in position the device above described, I provide the back of
he grooved plate with one or more points or pins of a suitable length to hold the
said rack pulley in position.
As a modification of the foregoing arrangement I may employ a back plate without
any slot or opening therein and adapt thereto one central grooved or serrated har or

page_text: rod which may be of any desired shape in section. An intervening space is left
between the outer face of the back plate and the inner or plain face of the outer
central plate aforesaid. Also in this modification of the device according to my
Invention the inner end of the sliding arm (the outer end of which carries the grooved
pulley for the blind cord) is formed with a slot or opening of a section corresponding 5
with that of the serrated central plate along which it travels.
D1012
0
11007
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I JAMES ARTHUR SCHOFIELD of 41 Eastbank Street, Southport, Lancashire
Manufacturing Ironmonger 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 Rack Pulleys for window blinds, in which the arm carrying
the grooved wheel, pulley or runner for retaining the blind cord in position is held
firmly against the back plate upon which it slides, by the tension of the blind
cord.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying drawing in which Figures 1 to 5 inclusive shew a rack pulley
according to my invention, and Figures 6 to 12 modifications thereof.
Figure 1 is a section, Figure 2 a front view, and Figure 3 a back view, showing
the projecting scutcheon piece or plate a, formed on the outside face with suitable
corrugations or serrations, and slotted centrally for the reception of the sliding arm A.
Said sliding arm is formed with suitably shaped projections corresponding and
engaging with those on the outer sides of the scutcheon plate a, and is formed at the
inner end with projections c which bear against the inner or plain surface of the
plate a in such a manner that the projections on the outer face of the plate a will
readily catch and hold the sliding arm in position by means of the projections b,
whilst the projections c on the inner end of the arm A-working on the inner or plain
face of the plate-will exert a pull, and thus the more tightly the sliding arm is
held up by the blind cord, the more securely the arm will be retained in position.
At the outer end of the sliding arm A I provide a grooved wheel, pulley or
runner d to receive the blind cord, said pulley or runner d being fixed between a
fork e Figure 4 by means of a pin passed through the sides of the fork and the pulley;
or the pulley d may work on a pin secured to a single arm or short bracket piece f
Fig. 5. Figures 6 to 9 inclusive shew a modification of the above arrangement, in
which I employ a back plate g and adapt suitably thereto a bent or cranked
corrugated plate, bar or rod, h, of any suitable shape in section; an intervening
space is thus left between the outer edge of the back plate g and the inside edge or
face of the plate, bar or rod h. Also in this modification of the device according to
my Invention, the inner end of the sliding arm A is formed with a slot corresponding
to the thickness of the projecting corrugated plate, bar or rod h along which
it travels.
Figure 8 is a cross section of the last referred to arrangement, shewing the
employment of a fork and pin carrying the grooved wheel for the blind cord,
but
may use a single arm and pin carrying the grooved wheel as shewn at
Figure 9.
may also when desired dispense altogether with the back plate g Figures 6. 7. 8. 9.
and employ a cranked corrugated bar or plate with the sliding arm A formed

page_text: with a slot at the inner end enclosing the corrugated bar or plate h (shewn at
Figures 10 and 11) as in the last referred to arrangement.
As a means of fixing the Rack pulleys according to my Invention I provide
the ends B of the plates with suitable pins or points i to penetrate into the material
to which they are to be attached, and also if desired holes may be provided for the
reception of screws or other fastenings.
I do not limit myself to the particular form or outline of the corrugations or
serrations, as they may be either round, square or of any other suitable section as
shown at Figure 12 and may be on either or both sides of the plates.
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:
The Improvements in rack pulleys for window blinds in which an arm A carrying
the grooved wheel, pulley or runner herein referred to for retaining the blind cord in
position is held firmly against the back plate upon which it slides by the tension of
the blind cord substantially as herein set forth and described.
Dated this Iwenty first day of January 1888.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.