IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO SHUTTERS, BLINDS, OR APPARATUS FOR SHADING, COVERING, OR CLOSING WINDOWS AND SIMILAR OPENINGS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Dyer Stead Musgrave and Thomas Humphreys, both of
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPERTAINING TO SHUTTERS, BLINDS, OR APPARATUS FOR SHADING,
COVERING, OR CLOSING WINDOWS AND SIMILAR OPENINGS."
Sealed the 27th August 1878, and dated the 4th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dyer Stead Musgrave and
Thomas Humphreys at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th
March 1878.
DYER STEAD MUSGRAVE and THOMAS HUMPHREYS, both of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO SHUTTERS, BLINDS,
OR APPARATUS FOR SHADING, COVERING, OR CLOSING WINDOWS AND SIMILAR
OPENINGS."
Our Invention consists,-
1st. In the shutter and sun blind; these we construct in one.
The revolving
shutters are coiled up in the usual manner above, and slide down moveable grooves
or guides attached to the arms which lift up the shutter outwards, forming thus
either shutters when close against the window, or sun shade when extending
outward.
2nd. The laths or slats forming the shutters are attached together by means of
holes pierced through them in the direction of their width, or in such manner that
they will not be pervious to rain, and through these we put leather, metal (such as
copper or brass), or other bands not materially subject to destruction through
atmospheric changes.
3rd. The Venetian blind is placed inside the shutters and is hung from a metal
instead of a wooden plate, so that it need not be weaked by mortices for sheaves
and rollers. We also have a moveable block sliding thereon through which the
cords run and which by being brought against stationary parts of the metal plate
janib the cords so that they will not move, and thus acts as a break. We also con

page_text: struct the cords and tapes of metallic tape, chain, or cord so as to prevent them from
solar influence.
4th. In the lower part of the windows we construct wire netting blinds made
with a division in the centre, covered by a plate or ornament so that the wire can
be drawn out or interlapped under the same, and adjusted with set screws or their
mechanical equivalent. Letters or other ornaments placed thereon have their backs
corrugated to suit the corrugations of the wire, and so are more easily attached.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Dyer Stead Musgrave and Thomas Humphreys in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th September 1878.
DYER STEAD MUSGRAVE and THOMAS HUMPHREYS, both of Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO SHUTTERS, BLINDS,
OR APPARATUS FOR SHADING, COVERING, OR CLOSING WINDOWS AND SIMILAR
OPENINGS."
Our Invention consists in,
1st. The shutter and sun blind; these we construct combined in one. They can
be made either of iron or wood, as shown in the Drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 are elevation and section of an iron shutter and sun blind A, which
is raised or lowered by means of the hand wheel B placed beneath the window.
This hand wheel actuates the screw C by means of the shaft C', of which it forms a
part, through the worm a and worm wheel b. The turning of the screw C causes
the upward (or downward) motion of the nut D which supports the shutter by being
hinged thereto. The lever A¹ attached to the frame of the shutter pressing against
the wheel E causes the shutter A to assume the position indicated by the dotted
lines, thus forming a sun blind; F is a reflector and name plate which reflects the
gas light from inside down on to the goods in the window.
T
Figs. 3 and 4 show different forms of corrugations of the iron of the shutter, half
size, Fig. 3 being made so as to open and close at each joint.
Fig. 5, full size sections of supports for same in A, Fig. 1.
Figs. 7 and 8 are front and end elevation of our Invention as made in wood.
G, G, are revolving shutters coiled up in the usual manner on roller H, and sliding
down moveable grooves or guides I hinged at the top and attached to arms J.
These arms are used to lift and to support the shutter, the whole forming a sun-
shade when extended, after the manner shown in dotted lines. The shutters are
raised or lowered by means of the handle K, the motion passing through worm c,
worm wheel d, shaft e, mitre wheels to the roller H. The slide P of the arnis J
may be attached to a chain S to facilitate the raising or lowering of the sunshade,
and is worked by handle T, worm g, worm wheel h, shaft j, mitre wheels k, chain

page_text: wheels 1, 1, shaft R, and chains S, or the slide P may be raised and lowered by hand
without any mechanical appliances. To prevent the slide I leaving the proper
position a key w is formed on its inside edge, fitting into a groove on the end of the
end lath of the shutter, Fig. 6.
2nd. The laths or slats forming the shutters, attached together by means of holes
pierced through them in the direction of their width, or in such manner that they
will not be pervious to rain, and through these we put metal (such as copper or
brass), or other bands not materially subject to destruction through atmospheric
changes.
3rd. The Venetian blind placed inside the shutter is hung from a lath, shaped as
in Fig. 9, the tapes passing over a bridge-shaped metal plate, Fig. 10, instead of the
ordinary wooden roller, so that it need not be weakened by mortices for sheaves and
rollers.
Fig. 11 shows sliding blocks thereon through which the cords run; the slide L,
being drawn by the cords of the blind towards the stationary points M, M, jam the
cord against them, the weight of the blind automatically keeping it in position, thus
holding the blind stationary at any desired height. To lower the blind pull the
string o (which passes down to within reach of the hand), whereby the slide is
drawn back and the cords released. We also use metallic tape chains, which are
not affected by solar influence, see Figs. 12, 13, and 14; m, n, are oblong pieces of
tin or other metal linked together at their tops by wire links or loops o, o. These
tin plates are linked to those above and below them by the wire links p, p, and
short transverse links q, q. Thus the whole arrangement forms in reality a metallic
chain.
Fig. 15, washer and cover for protecting the end of the cord which supports the
blind.
4th. In the lower part of the windows we construct wire-netting blinds made
with a division in the centre, covered by a plate or ornament so that the wire can
be drawn out or interlapped under the same, and adjusted with set screws or their
mechanical equivalent. Letters or other ornaments placed thereon can have their
backs corrugated to suit the corrugations of the wire, and so are more easily attached,
or they can be left plain.
Having now described our Invention and the best modes known to us of carrying
it into effect, we wish to state that we do not confine ourselves to the exact arrange-
ments shown, as these may be greatly varied without departing from the principles
of our Invention, nor on the other hand do we claim the use of revolving shutters
or of corrugated iron shutters, or of the worm and wheel gearing for raising and
lowering, nor yet the device shown in Figure 11, except when the cord itself is used
to jam the wedge when not pressed down, but that what we believe to be new and
desire to claim under the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
1st. The arrangement of apparatus acting both as shutter and sunshade, with or
without reflector, substantially as described in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the shade or
shutter is raised or lowered on two or more pivots, fulcra, or supports, by adjusting
the distance between those pivots or fulcra the shutters, their supporting frame or
other apparatus attached thereto acting as a lever, and using the pivots or supports
as fulcra.
2. The arrangement of apparatus acting both as shutter and sunshade, sub-
stantially as described in Figures 7 and 8, in which the shade or shutter is raised or
lowered by means of a strut pivotted at the one end and placed in approximately
horizontal position by the other end being moved into position in guides, or their
mechanical equivalent.
3. The manufacture of Venetian blinds with the various improvements, sub-
stantially as described, and shown in Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12, no claim being made
for the improvements shown and described in Figures 9 and 10 taken separately,
but only when taken in combination.
4. The manufacture of Venetian blinds with metallic tapes or ladders, sub-
stantially as described.

page_text: 5. The special combination as regards details of sun blinds or shutters and of
Venetian blinds, substantially as herein described and delineated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Humphreys, on behalf of the said
Dyer Stead Musgrave and myself, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Third day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
THOMAS HUMPHREYS. (L.S.)
Witness,
WP. THOMPSON,
British & International Patent Agent,
6, Lord Street,
Liverpool.