IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER BLIND FURNITURE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Fullwood, of Torquay, in the County of Devon,
and of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Whitesmith, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER BLIND FURNITURE.”
Sealed the 29th June 1877, and dated the 17th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Fullwood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1877.
BENJAMIN FULLWOOD, of Torquay, in the County of Devon, and of Wolver-
hampton, in the County of Stafford, Whitesmith. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER
BLIND FURNITURE."
My Invention has for its object to retain the roller blind in any position to which
it may be raised or lowered, and consists of the improvements herein-after described,
whereby that object is effected both simply and efficiently. One end (by preference
the left-hand end) of the blind roller is supported by an ordinary blind end. The
other end of the blind roller is supported and turns in a bearing or clip con-
structed as follows:-The said clip consists of two nearly semicircular pieces or
parts, one fixed and connected by a bracket to the window frame, the other moveable
and connected to the fixed one by a joint. By means of a coiled or other spring
connecting the free or unjointed ends of the bearing or clip the moveable part is
drawn towards the fixed part.
The barrel fixed on that end of the roller which is supported by the said bearing
or clip is grasped between the fixed and moveable parts of the said bearing or clip
with sufficient force to retain it in any position to which it may be brought.
The barrel referred to consists of a tubular piece of about the same diameter as
the roller, and fixed firmly on the end of the said roller by screws or otherwise.
The said barrel has three flanges, one at each end and one near its middle; the
latter divides the outer cylindrical surface of the barrel into two unequal parts, in
the smaller one of which the bearing or clip engages; on the other division the cord
is coiled, by the pulling of which the blind is raised.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Fullwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
August 1877.
BENJAMIN FULLWOOD, of Torquay, in the County of Devon, and of Wolver-
hampton, in the County of Stafford, Whitesmith. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER
BLIND FURNITURE."
My Invention has for its object to retain the roller blind in any position to which
it may be raised or lowered; and my said Invention consists of the improvements
herein-after described, whereby that object is effected both simply and efficiently.
One end (by preference the left-hand end) of the blind roller is supported by an
ordinary blind end. The other end of the blind roller is supported and turns in a
bearing or clip constructed as follows:-The said clip consists of two nearly semi-
circular pieces or parts, one fixed and connected by a bracket to the window frame,
the other moveable and connected to the fixed one by a joint. By means of a coiled
or other spring connecting the free or unjointed ends of the bearing or clip the
moveable part is drawn towards the fixed part.
The barrel fixed on that end of the roller which is supported by the said bearing
or clip is grasped between the fixed and moveable parts of the said bearing or clip
with sufficient force to retain it in any position to which it may be brought.
The barrel referred to consists of a tubular piece of about the same diameter as
the roller, and fixed firmly on the end of the said roller by screws or otherwise.
The said barrel has three flanges, one at each end and one near its middle; the
latter divides the outer cylindrical surface of the barrel into two unequal parts, in
the smaller one of which the bearing or clip engages; on the other division the cord
is coiled, by the pulling of which the blind is raised.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a roller blind to which furniture constructed
according to my Invention is applied, and Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the
same.
Figure 3 represents the end of the blind roller provided with my improved
bearing or clip shown in section.
Figure 4 represents in side elevation and Figure 5 in plan the said bearing or
clip detached from the blind roller..
Figures 3, 4, and 5, are drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
The same letters indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the Drawing.
a is the blind roller turning at one end in the ordinary blind end b, and at the
other end in my improved bearing or clip. This clip consists of the two nearly
semicircular pieces marked respectively cand d. The half or part d of the clip is
fixed to or made in one piece with the bracket e, which bracket is fixed by screws
'to the window frame, as seen in Figure 2; the other half or part c of the clip is
connected by a joint at g to the fixed half or part d. By means of the said joint
at g the jointed or moveable half c of the clip can be lifted from or pressed towards
tho fixed half d. The joint by which the two parts or halves c, d, of the clip are
connected together may either be formed of an eye on each part, which eyes are
connected by a screw, as represented in Figure 5; or the fixed part d may be
'furnished with two parallel knuckles, between which a knuckle on the end of the
jointed or moveable part c engages, the engaged knuckles being connected together
by a joint pin. On the free or unjointed ends of the halves c, d, of the bearing or clip
lips or flanges c, d, are made around which lips a band of india-rubber h (see Figures
1 and 2) or a coiled spring is passed. By means of the said spring h the moveable or
jointed part c of the clip is drawn towards and maintained in contact with the
fixed part d
The barrel fixed on that end of the roller a, which is supported by the clip or
bearing described, has three flanges made upon it, thereby forming upon the barrel

page_text: two pulleys k, l, of unequal width. On the larger pulley k the cord m, by the
pulling of which the blind is raised, is coiled as represented in Figure 1, and in the
smaller pulley the bearing or c, d, engages, the two parts of the clip having such a
sectional figure that they fit closely in the said pulley 6, as best seen in Figure 3.
The blind cord m passes through a guiding eye n carried by the fixed half d of the
bearing or clip.
In using my improved roller blind furniture the moveable half or part c of the
bearing or clip is lifted from the fixed part d, to permit of the blind roller being
passed into it, and the left-hand end of the blind is first supported in the ordinary
blind end b; the right hand end of the blind roller is then introduced into the lower
or fixed half d of the clip and the upper or moveable half c closed upon the said
fixed half, and secured in that position by the coiled or band spring h´passed
around the free ends of the two parts c, d. The pulley 1 of the barrel fixed on the
blind roller is thereby grasped with sufficient force between the fixed and moveable
parts c, d, of the clip or bearing to retain the roller blind in any position to which
it may be brought, but the friction between the clip c, d, and the pulley is not
sufficient to prevent the raising or lowering of the blind by the application of a
slight forco to the cord m, or to a cord attached to the lower edge of the blind.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention of
improvements in roller blind furniture, in which the blind is raised by the coiling
of a cord upon the barrel of the blind roller, the construction and arrangement of
the parts herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing for
retaining the roller blind in any position to which it may have been raised or
lowered, that is to say, the construction and arrangement of the parts of the spring
clip or bearing in which one end of the blind roller is supported, and turns in
coinbination with a barrel or double pulley, constructed and arranged substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Fullwood, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
JAB. MURRAY,
Auctioneer,
Torquay.
BENJAMIN FULLWOOD. (L.S.)