An Improved Appliance for Straining and Keeping in Tension Window-blind and like Cords.
Year: 1890

page_text: CUM LEID SIDOIDICATION.
An Improved Appliance for Straining and Keeping in Tension
Window-blind and like Cords.
I, SAMUEL MARTIN GULLY, of Rumwell Hall, Taunton, in the county of Somerset,
ate Major, Royal Sussex Regiment, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
n what manner the saine is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in an improved device for straining and maintaining in
tension window-blind and other like cords.
By its use the cord is always kept strained notwithstanding variation in tension
due to changes of temperature, wear and other causes.
The appliance is fitted to or removed from a window frame or elsewhere with
facility.
"
In the appliance in which this invention consists the slide which carries the cord
pulley is connected at the lower end to the upper end of a spiral spring which at the
lower end is linked to a pin fixed in the bracket in which the slide works.
In applying the device to a window-blind or to other analogous position the cord,
doubled into a loop, is first passed round the pulley at the end of the blind roller, or
its equivalent, and the lower end of the loop is then passed below the cord pulley of
the straining device and the spring is then partially extended by drawing down the
whole appliance.
Points are thus determined for insertion of the screws for securing the device
in place.
The appliance is then temporarily relinquished and the screws are driven at the
determined points. Thereafter the device is anchored to the lowermost screw and
kept in place thereby and the upper screw. The spring, being partially extended only,
is free to extend further in obedience to any strain caused by increased tightness of
the cord, and any slackness in the cord is taken up by contraction of the spring.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 represents a face view and Fig. 2 a
part side elevation and part vertical section of my improved appliance for straining
window-blind and other like cords.
The carrier a which carries the cord pulley b is connected at the lower end to the
upper end of a spiral spring c which at the lower end is connected to the pin e
secured to the bracket in which the carrier a works and in which the spring c is
contained.
Towards each end of the bracket fare holes for the screws whereby the appliance is
secured in place. Extending downwards froin the screw hole at the lower end of the
bracket is a slot sufficiently wide to receive the shank of the screw.
This slot is closed at bottom. A similar slot, open above, extends upwards from the
screw hole at the upper end of the bracket.
In applying the device to straining a window-blind cord such as g, the cord, after
having been passed over the pulley of the blind roller, is passed below the pulley
and the spring
c is then partially extended by drawing down the whole appliance
which is then fixed in place.
If, after fixing, the cord becomes tighter through shrinking or other cause the
spring yields accordingly, following the cord.
Similarly, in event of any tendency to slackness arising in the cord it is taken up
and the cord kept strained by the contraction of the spring tending to return to its
normal state.
In the example illustrated in the accompanying drawings the screw holes are shaped,
as hereinbefore described, to facilitate fixing of the appliance as follows.
When, as above described, the cord has been passed below the pulley b and the

page_text: spring c extended to the proper degree the bracket-fis applied to the window frame h
and the points for attachment of the screws i¹ are determined by marking the frame.
The guide for determining the position of the screw is the inner edge of the bottom
of the slot extending downwards from the hole m. The point for the upper screw i
is in the slot. The points indicating the places for the screws having been thus
determined; the device.is relinquished and the screws are driven. The device is then
anchored to the lower screw by passing the bracket over the head of the screw.
The spring, acting through the cord g, now draws up the bracket until the shank of
the screw i bears against the inner edge of the slot and the appliance is then secure.
By this method of fixing, the appliance is removed and refixed with facility and
rapidity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :.
1. The use, in a window-blind cord strainer, of a spiral spring anchored at one end
to the frame or bracket of the strainer and at the other to the slide carrying the cord
pulley, the arrangement being such that when the device is fixed in situ the spring.
acts constantly on the cord and maintains it always strained, substantially.as herein-
before described.
2. The combination in a window-blind cord strainer of a spiral spring, cord pulley,
pulley slide, and bracket (pierced and slotted at each end) constructed, arranged and
operating, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying.
sheet of drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1890.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.