IMPROVE- MENTS IN FIRE GUARDS OR SCREENS
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 16th Apr., 1887.
I, CHARLES MEASON of Carlyle Road Lozells near Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Designer do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FIRE GUARDS OR SCREENS to be as follows:
22
My invention has for its object the production of a depending or suspended fire
guard or screen, whereby the same can be distended or adjusted to any desired
position within certain limits. The said screen or guard is suspended and affixed to
the outer edge of a mantel-shelf or mantel piece.
In carrying out my invention I. proceed as follows.
I take a rectangular or other suitably shaped frame, ornamented or decorated
within its interior, either by panelled or colored glass, crewel work, needle work and
the like, so as to give a tasteful and ornamental effect thereto, and which said frame
constitutes the screen or guard proper and surrounding the screen on three sides, is
a suspender frame, made up of three short rods or lengths of tubing, joined together,
and following the sides, and top of the screen; and between the said outer suspender
frame and the sides of the screen, two guide rods are situated, which are fixed
respectively at their top and bottom ends, to the screen sides; so that these rods
extend to nearly the whole length of the two opposite sides.
The lower ends of the said guide rods pass through eyes or socket holes, formed in
standing out lugs carried by the depending ends of the outer frame; while the upper
ends of the said rods are connected to socket arms, the sockets of which, slide upon
the depending rods of the outer frame.
To the top bar of the depending frame, a suspending fixed rod passes upwards, and
curves inwardly, and is connected at its other end to a forked clip or clamp, which
embraces the shelf of a mantel piece; and passing through the top of this clip or
holding device, a screw pin passes, having a knob or turn at its end, for the screwing
and unscrewing of the pin on the clamping or releasing of the screen from the mantel
shelf. This hanging fixed arm, is curved outwardly from the clamping device, so as
to bring the screen away from the shelf or fire-place, and which said arm is provided
at its lower end with a stiff ball and socket joint, which admits of the screen being
adjusted in any desired position, or rather at any desired angle.

page_text: Thus the hanging or depending fire screen, which has a sliding action consists of a
depending frame connected to a hanging bracket arm carried by a fixing clip, which
arm removes the screen to some distance from the fire place; and within the
depending frame described, the screen is situated and slides, so as to raise and lower
its position with respect to the fire-place. Thus when the screen is required to be
lowered, it is only necessary to unloosen a set screw on the side of the frame, when
the screen can be lowered, and when in the desired position, affixed, by again screwing
home the affixing pin, which passes through one of the sockets carried by the screen;
so that the parallel direction of the screen determined by the guide rods, working
through the lugs on the terminals of the outer frame, and by the sockets on the sides
of the screen, working upon the depending bars of the outer frame.
To adjust the screen to any angle, it is only necessary to turn it upon its ball and
socket joint, when it can be placed in any position or at any angle that may be
desired.
Instead of making the screen slide within the frame, the depending arm connected
to the clip or clamping device may be formed of two. tubes working telescopically one
within the other, so as to allow of the adjustment of the screen to any desired height,
by simply sliding one tube within the other, which are respectively connected to the
screen and clamping device or clip. In this last named modification, the outer frame
is dispensed with, and the end of the sliding outer tube connected directly to the top
of the outer surrounding frame of the screen. Or the screen may be suspended on
the side with telescopic rods arranged for its vertical adjustment, while the lateral
adjustment is effected by hinge or similar joints.
I also propose making the inside frame which holds the glass, countersunk with
glass or crewel work; that is, it is provided with a countersunk back to allow the
glass to be filled in and made secure by means of loose pins or screws, thus allowing
the filling in part or middle to be removed at pleasure.
The sliding action of the screen may also be carried out by making a socket eye, on
the side of the screen slide upon a fixed depending rod, secured to the mantel shelf.
The adjustment and fixing of the screen upon the rod, is effected by a binding screw
taking through the bracket, and impressing itself on the rod. Or ile depending rod
from the clamp may be fixed and the bracket eye which slides and is secured thereon,
attached to the frame or side of the screen.
Dated this Sixtoanth day of Amil 1000
CHARLES MEASON.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: I, CHARLES MEASON of Carlyle Road Lozells near Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Designer 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 :-
My invention has for its object the production of a depending or suspended fire
guard or screen, whereby the same can be distended or adjusted to any desired
position within certain limits. The said screen or guard is suspended and affixed to
the outer edge of a mantel shelf or mantel piece.
In carrying out my invention, I proceed as follows.
I take a rectangular or other suitably shaped frame, ornamented or decorated
within its interior, either by panelled or colored glass, crewel work, needle work and
the like, so as to give a tasteful and ornamental effect thereto, and which said frame
constitutes the screen or guard proper; and surrounding the screen on three sides, is
a suspender frame, made up of three short rods or lengths of tubing, joined together,
and following the sides, and top of the screen; and between the said outer suspender
frame and the sides of the screen, two guide rods are situated, which are fixed
respectively at their top and bottom ends, to the screen sides; so that these rods
extend to nearly the whole length of the two opposite sides.
The lower ends of the said guide rods pass through eyes or socket holes, formed in
standing out lugs carried by the depending ends of the outer frame; while the upper
ends of the said rods are connected to socket arms, the sockets of which, slide upon
the depending rods of the outer frame.
To the top bar of the depending frame, a suspending fixed rod passes upwards, and
curves inwardly, and is connected at its other end, to a forked clip or clamp which
embraces the shelf of a mantel-piece; and passing through the top of this clip or
holding device, a screw pin passes, having a knob or turn at its end, for the screwing
and unscrewing of the pin on the clamping or releasing of the screen from the mantel
shelf. This hanging fixed arm, is curved outwardly from the clamping device, so as
to bring the screen away from the shelf or fire-place, and which said arm is provided
at its lower end with a stiff ball and socket joint, which admits of the screen being
adjusted in any desired position, or rather at any desired angle.
Thus the hanging or depending fire-screen, which has a sliding action, consists of a
depending frame connected to a hanging bracket arm carried by a fixing clip, which
arm removes the screen to some distance from the fire place; and within the
depending frame described, the screen is situated and slides, so as to raise and lower
its position with respect to the fire place. Thus when the screen is required to be
lowered, it is only necessary to unloosen a set screw on the side of the frame, when
the screen can be lowered, and when in the desired position, affixed, by again screwing
home the affixing pin, which passes through one of the sockets carried by the screen;
so that the parallel direction of the screen is determined by the guide rods, working

page_text: through the lugs, on the terminals of the outer frame, and by the sockets on the sides
of the screen, working upon the depending bars of the outer frame.
To adjust the screen to any angle, it is only necessary to turn it upon its ball and
socket joint, when it can be placed in any position, or at any angle that may be
desired.
Instead of making the screen slide within the frame, the depending arm connected
to the clip or clamping device, may be formed of two tubes working telescopically
one within the other, so as to allow of the adjustment of the screen to any desired
height, by simply sliding, one tube. within the other, which are respectively connected
to the screen and clamping device or clip. In this last named modification, the outer
frame is dispensed with, and the end of the sliding outer tube connected directly to
the top of the outer surrounding frame of the screen. Or the screen may be suspended
on the side, with telescopic rods arranged for its vertical adjustment, while the lateral
adjustment is effected by hinge or similar joints.
I also propose making the inside frame which holds the glass, countersunk with
glass or crewel work; that is, it is provided with a countersunk back, to allow the
glass to be filled in, and made secure by means of loose pins or screws, thus allowing
the filling in part or middle to be removed at pleasure.
The sliding action of the screen may be carried out by making a socket eye on the
side of the screen, slide upon a fixed depending rod secured to the mantel-shelf—The
adjustment and fixing of the sereen upon the rod, is effected by a binding screw
taking through the bracket, and impressing itself on the rod.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation, an adjustable depending fire guard or screen
constructed according to my invention. Figure 2 represents the same (upon a smaller
scale) in use, and secured to an ordinary mantel shelf. Figure 3 shows upon a larger
scale, the socket and the affixing screw, by which means, the interior, or adjustable
part of the said screen is secured in any desired position. Figure 4 shows one of the
terminal ends of the said depending outer frame, and with one of the guide eyes and
through which one of the guide rods passes, in section. Figure 5 shows the ball and
socket arrangement in connection with the supporting arms, by which means, the
screen admits of being adjusted at any angle relatively to the fire-place, or mantel-
shelf supporting it.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of
the Drawing.
a is a rectangular inner and adjustable frame, ornamented or decorated within its
interior, by panelling or colored glass; and which said frame constitutes the screen or
guard proper, and admits of being raised and lowered, or adjusted, (as represented in
the dotted lines) within a rectangular outer fixed frame b, which is made up of three
short rods or lengths of tubing, joined together, and following the opposite sides and
top of the screen; and between the said outer suspender frame b, and the sides of the
screen frame
a, guide rods c are disposed, and are fixed respectively at their top and
bottom ends, to the top parts of the screen frame. are bracket arms, situated at
the extremities of the depending parts of the fixed outer framing b. These bracket
arms have eyes 3, through which the guide rods e pass.c² is a secondary arm carried
by the bracket c, and secured to the framing a. These arms carry at their outer
extremities, sockets d, through which the depending rods of the frame pass, so as to
admit of the screen c sliding for adjustment; and through the sides of the said
sockets, screws e pass, for securing the inner framing a to the depending rods of the
outer framing b. The inner ends of each of the said screws, impinge and press upon
the outside part of a bearing clip d², secured within each of the sockets. The said
.clips also embrace the rods, so that on the screwing up of the screws by their milled
heads, additional holding surface is thereby obtained, which firmly affixes the framing
carried by the guide rods e and arms to the sides of the depending fixed outer
framing b.
The outer framing b, has a suspending rod, and which is attached at its upper

page_text: end to the arm of a clamping device f, by means of a ball and socket joint
arrangement, thus admitting of the frame, and screen carried by it, to be placed at
any desired angle. This clamping device is arranged to embrace the shelf of a
mantel-piece, and to be secured thereto, by means of a securing screw pass through
a boss on the end of the lower arm; that is, the joint is made up of a ball or sphere ?
on the top of the rod b', and which spherical part is enclosed within a like concaved
spherical end at the end of the arm.
When the screen is required to be lowered or adjusted to any other desired position,
it is only necessary to unloosen the said screws e on the two opposite sides of the
frame, when the screen can be lowered or placed in any desired position, by a sliding
motion (as shown in the dotted lines) and secured in this said position by the again
screwing home of the screws, so as to affix the movable part to the hanging rods of
the fixed framing.
Although I have described that the screen or guard is made depending, yet the
same may if necessary, be constructed to slide upon a vertical upright, supported upon
al tripod or other stand.
Figure 6 represents a modification, in which the socket eye dis carried by a
screen a, which slides upon a fixed depending rod b, secured to the mantel shelf, and
which screen is affixed in position by a binding screw e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. Making fire screens or fire guards, or the framings or the enclosing
framings of fire screens or fire guards, depending or hanging and adjustable; so as to
admit of the said screens or guards being hung or suspended from a mantel-shelf or
the like, and the adjustable sliding part or parts thereof brought or moved into a
higher or lower position as may be desired, substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. Suspending depending adjustable fire screens or fire guards from a ball
and socket joint arrangement, to admit of the said screen being placcid at any desired
angle.
Thirdly The general construction of depending and adjustable fire screens, con-
sisting of an inner movable frame a, outer fixed frame, guide rods c, bracket arms
and eyes 23, bracket arms and sockets c² d d², with affixing screws e (with milled
heads or turns) passing through the sides of the said sockets. The suspending
arm, ball and socket joint, clamp arm and clamp with screw g, substantially
as described and illustrated in the several figures of the drawing.
Fourthly. In adjustable fire-screens or fire-guards, in which the tubular framing
of the movable or adjustable part is made to slide telescopically within the tubular
framing of the fixed part, and the said movable part is affixed in position by clamping,
screw or other similar device, substantially as described.
Dated this Thirteenth day of January 1887.