Improvements in and connected with Rollers for Window Blinds, Maps, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Rollers for Window Blinds,
Maps, and the like.
1, FREDERICK SNAPE, of 59 Avondale Road, Denmark Park, in the County of
Surrey, Tailor's Cutter, 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 :-
This invention has firstly for its object to provide a simple means for elongating
a roller so as to adapt it to window blinds, maps and the like, slightly varying in
width. A further object of the invention is to construct a bracket which can be
quickly and firmly secured to the window frames or other places and from which the
end of the roller cannot easily be jerked out.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and carried into
practice I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a blind roller according to my invention, in position ;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the roller ;
Figures 3 and 4 shew the roller ends;
Figure 5 shews a section of the clip A shewn in Figure 1 ;
Figure 6 shews one bracket in elevation, side elevation, plan, and bottom plan;
and
Figure 7 shews a modification of the roller ends.
The roller B is made in two longitudinal halves and is provided with a central
recess into which a smaller roller D is placed. The blind has a thick hem or loop
formed along its upper edge and into this hem or loop the small roller D is passed
and then laid in position between the two halves of the roller B with the blind
hanging down between the slit where the two edges of the halves of the roller
meet. If desired one or both of the half rollers may be rebated or undercut to
allow for the thickness of the blind, so that the roller when in position may not be
other than cylindrical in form. A is a strap or clip split as shewn in section at
Figure 5, so that it may be passed over the ends of the roller B when made up to
assist in keeping the sections of the roller together. The metal ends G and Hare
provided with tubes E and F split longitudinally to allow for the passage of the
blind as shewn in the section Figure 5, and are simply pushed over the ends of
the roller into the desired position. They may be close over the roller as shewn in
Figure or they may be drawn out slightly so as to lengthen the roller and may be
secured in any position by screws counter sunk when desired. With my invention 1
prefer to use the well-known single cord arrangement as shewn in the drawings, but
I do not confine myself to this nor to any other method of raising and lowering.
The bracket K is shewn in detail in Figure 6. It is formed with a screw V
on its under side and with a rigid strap or side support M terminating in a flange N
in which is a counter sunk hole for an ordinary screw. The flange N is level
with the collar or boss O on the bracket. A catch piece P is pivoted at Q and
when the roller is being placed in the brackets, the catch P is turned at an angle
of 90° or thereabouts so as to be clear of the recess R in the bracket. The roller
spindle is then placed in position and the catch P turned back thereover and secured
by passing one edge into a recess or cut S made in the metal of the bracket or under
a projecting piece made specially to receive the said edge. By this means the spindle
of the roller is prevented from being jerked out of the recess R in the bracket.
The side support or strut M also tends to minimise the side thrust of the roller when
rotated and thus prevents the bracket from too quickly working away from the wood
or other material to which it is fastened. The bracket J is similar to the bracket K
7

page_text: except that the catch piece P is not required, the bracket J being simply provided
with an eye.
In the modification of my invention-shewn in Figure 7 the split tubes are dis-
pensed with and two or more metal prongs T are rigidly affixed to or formed in
one with the ends G and Hand fit over the ends of the roller, or in longitudinal
grooves made to receive them in the circumference of the roller if desired. These
prongs, like the split tubes E and F, may be drawn out slightly to elongate the roller
when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be distinctly
understood I make no claim to the use per se of a split roller having a central rod,
but what I do claim is :-
(1) In combination with a split roller having a central recess, to receive a small
roller previously passed through a loop on the upper edge of the blind, map, or the
like, the metal ends with split tubes fitting over the circumference of the said roller,
and with or without one or more split straps A substantially as and for the purpose
herein before set forth and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
(2) The modified form of my invention shewn and described with reference to
Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings and for the purpose specified.
(3) The brackets J and K with struts or side supports M and with a catch piece P
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in Figure 6
of the accompanying drawings.
(4) My improved fittings for roller blinds substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this Sixth day of March 1890
"
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.