AN IMPROVED CORD HOLDER FOR VENETIAN BLINDS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph George Rollason, Stamper and Piercer, of Bir-
mingham, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
CORD HOLDER FOR VENETIAN BLINDS AND OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph George Rollason at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th July 1876.
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON, Stamper and Piercer, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick. "AN IMPROVED CORD HOLDER FOR VENETIAN BLINDS AND OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES."
My improvements in cord holders consist in forming a plate (by preference) of
sheet metal, having a central raised hollow part contracted at the top to the average
width of two blind cords. The top end of the hollow recess stands at nearly right
angles, whilst the lower part may be bevelled downward to an angle of about forty-
five degrees, more or less, as preferred, screw holes being provided at each end for
applying it to the side of a window or otherwise. The part thus formed is slotted
vertically across the front and lower bevelled end of the projection for the cords to
lie in, and over this slot I apply a lever, the long end of which is nominally down-
ward when the cords are being held by the short end of the lever bearing or them.
This lever works on a fulcrum or axis formed of the metal of the plate, it being
divided for the purpose of entering a hole formed in the lever, which may be made
or cast in solid metal, or formed from a continuous strip of metal of the required
length and width, the same being pressed together leaving an opening near its
shortest end for receiving the axis before named, and on which it works.
In action the lever may stand at right angles, and the cords passed into the
cavity and down behind the bite or short end of the lever hanging pendant below,
when the lever may be pressed down and the cord securely held between the top
or short end of the lever and the top elevated metal of the plate until again relieved
by the elevation of the lever.
Although I have described the plate with its raised part as made of sheet metal,
and formed by stamping, nevertheless the same result may be produced from cast
metal, and in some instances I may form the lower terminal strap of the plate below
the screw hole into a hook for holding the loose cords.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph George Rollason in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
January 1877.
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON, Stamper and Piercer, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick. "AN IMPROVED CORD HOLDER FOR VENETIAN BLINDS AND OTHER
LIKE PURPOSES."
My improvements in cord holders consists in forming a plate (by preference) of
sheet metal, having a central raised hollow part contracted at the top to the
average width of two blind cords. The top end of the hollow recess stands at
nearly right angles, whilst the lower part may be bevelled downward to an angle of
about forty-five degrees, more or less, as preferred, screw holes being provided at each
end for applying it to the side of a window or otherwise. The part thus formed is
slotted vertically across the front and lower bevelled end of the projection for the
cords to lie in, and over this slot I apply a lever, the long end of which is nominally
downward when the cords are being held by the short end of the lever bearing on or
against them, this leaver works on a fulcrum or axis formed of the metal of the
plate, it being divided for the purpose of entering a hole formed in the lever, which
may be made or cast in solid metal, or formed from a continuous strip of metal of
the required length and width, the same being pressed together leaving an opening
near its shortest end for receiving the axis before named, and on which it works.
In action the lever may stand at right angles, and the cords passed into the
cavity and down behind the bite or short end of the lever hanging pendant below,
when the lever may be pressed down and the cords securely held between the
top or short end of the lever and the top elevated metal of the plate until again
relieved by the clevation of the leaver.
Although I have described the plate with its raised parts as made of sheet metal,
and formed by stamping, nevertheless the same result may be produced from cast
metal, and in some instances I may form the lower terminal strap of the plate below
the screw hole into a hook for holding the loose cords.
But to further illustrate my Invention I will describe the same, aided by the
Drawings hereunto annexed, observing that the same parts as they occur in different
views are marked with the same letter.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a front view of a metal body raised from sheet brass or other metal.
The axis a is formed from the metal of the body by the angular part above and
below being removed, and by way of giving the axis (a) a transverse circular shape
I squeeze it between a pair of suitable tools, which presses the angles into a
transverse circular form. The axis a is for receiving a lever, shown separate in
front and edge views at Fig. 2, the said lever being also made of sheet metal admits
of being placed over the axis, as at b, b, before finally closed together.
Fig. 3 represents a side view of Figure 1 with the lever applied, a small part of
which is shown in dotted lines.
Fig. 4 is a section of Figure 3 with a double blind cord represented in position
ready to be securely held by the depression of the lever C, which will bring the
upper part near the top edge of the frame marked d, impinging the cord between
the metal surfaces, and thereby securely holding it. In some instances I continuc
the lower strap E, Figure 1, down so as to be able to fashion it into a hook for
holding or suspending on it the loose cord, as shown in front and side views at
Figs. 5 and 6, but to avoid confusion I have omitted the lever C from Figure 5,
as at Figure 1.
Fig. 7 represents a front view of the body of my improved cord holder slightly
modified from Figures 1 and 5, but nevertheless the lower strap F in this case may
also be finished (if preferred) with a hook, as at Figures 5 and 6, for holding up the
loose cord. The metal of the plate, as at g, is slightly raised, and may be slightly

page_text: roughted or scalloped; the dotted line 7, h, represents the central line of the axis
on which the lever works, as may be seen at Fig. 8, which is a vertical section of
Figure 1, with the cord applied and held in position by the knuckle of the lever
impinging the cord down on the scalloped raised part g.
Fig. 9 is a front view of the lever J. In this case I have formed the axis h, h,
out of the same piece of sheet metal, but, if preferred, the axis may be formed of a.
piece of wire passed through the hollow knuckle of the lever, and through holes
of the ears of the frame; or the lever may be cast with the hole for the axis, or
drilled out of the same.
Fig. 10 represents a lever formed by turning up the metal for strengthening the
lever and obtaining a rectangular projection, as at l, for impinging on the cord; and
in some instances instead of making this part permanent with the lever it may be
made separate, as exhibited in flat view at Fig. 11, and in side view applied to the
lever at Fig. 12, and which Figure with this pendent addition I have exhibited in a
back view at Fig. 13, the pendent part being marked m. The part marked n
forming the axis of this pendent part may be treated as described at (a), Figures 1
and 5, and is engaged by the metal of the lever clipping it, as shown at Figure 12.
Having thus described my Invention, and the manner in which the same may be
carried into effect, and which may be done with much diversification in mode of
production as well as in the material used for the same, and the size and shape or
configuration may be greatly diversified without effecting the character or object of
my Invention; but what I claim and desire to protect under these my in part
recited Letters Patent is, the combination of a lever with a metal frame for impinging
or holding blind or other cords in any position desired, whether the cord lies in
front or at the back of the said lever by which it is held, as herein described and
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph George Rollason, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WILLIAM H. TAYLOR,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
17, Ann St.,
Birmingham.
JOSEPH GEORGE ROLLASON. (L.S.)