IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOORS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOORS AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by John Law, of East
Maitland. Australia.
Sealed the 4th March 1870, and dated the 6th September 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas
Hughes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 6th September 1869.
I, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent
Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOORS AND
SIMILAR ARTICLES," a communication to me from abroad by John Law, of
East Maitland, Australia, to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in holding the several parts together by metal
bolts instead of using the tenons and mortices hitherto employed, the
bolts being similar to the ordinary bed screws and nuts. For doors the
screws are passed through the side frames and the nuts are sunk into
the edges of the cross rails about an inch from the grooves of the panels.
This mode of fastening is applicable to all heavy woodwork, panelled

page_text: framing, and wherever the wedged tenon and mortice is now used, and
it not only saves the wood required to make the tenons, but is far
stronger, saves one half of the labour, and makes better work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th March 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son, Patent Agents, 123,
Chancery Lane, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, Her special
licence that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edward Thomas
Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DOORS AND BIMILAR
ARTICLES," a communication to me from abroad by John Law, of East
Maitland, Australia, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Edward Thomas Hughes, my executors or administrators, by an in-
strument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings (that is to say):
-

page_text: This Invention consists in securing the several parts of doors and other
woodwork by metal bolts and nuts sunk in the wood instead of using the
tenons and mortices hitherto employed, the said bolts and nuts being
similar in construction to ordinary bed screws.
In the accompanying Drawing is illustrated an elevation of a door
shewing the position of the screws, part of the said door being shewn in
section for the better illustration of the Invention.
In constructing a door sunken holes are made in the cross rails about
an inch from the grooves of the panels in sufficient quantity to impart
solidity to the structure, the said holes being of the proper size and
shape to admit the nut and screwed end of the bolt, as shewn in the
Drawing, a corresponding number of holes are then made in the side
frames of the door to admit of the bolt heads being sunk into the wood
and the bolts screwed into the nuts as shewn.
This method is also much better adapted for the fitting of locks, as any
sized mortice lock can be fitted to the door without injury thereto. In
the construction of doors and other woodwork according to this Invention
no mortice is used, the only tenon required being that which fills the
panel groove and which is speedily formed with a grooving plane.
This method of securing is applicable to all heavy woodwork, panelled
framing, and other structures where the wedged tenon and mortice are
now used, and by this means not only is the wood required to make the
tenons saved, but the woodwork is far stronger, only half the labour is
required, and better finished work is the result.
Having thus fully described the Invention as communicated to me
I claim, constructing doors and other woodwork with the framing
fastened together by means of bolts and nuts instead of the tenons and
mortices hitherto employed for this purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
E. T. HUGHES. (L.S.)