Prism Plates with Irregularly Arranged Prisms for Windows and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Prism Plates with Irregularly Arranged Prisms for Windows and
the like.
I, JOHN MEIGGS EWEN, of No. 1129 The Rookery, Chicago, County of Cook,
State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
:―
My invention relates to ornamental prismatic glass, and has for its object to
produce effects, designs, ornamental figures, geometrical figures, designs and the
like, by variations in the shape, relation, size and quality of the prisms.
The light received upon a window comes commonly from some general source
or direction. That is, the mass of the light may be said to fall upon the window
from some general direction which is a comparatively small portion of the entire
sphere. The prisms when arranged of uniform size and shape in the window,
obviously produce a comparatively uniform effect on the interior of the room.
For example, a glass having prisms calculated to raise the light which comes
from above upon the window so as to lift it, as it were, from the floor, and direct
it back through the room along horizontal lines, will, of course, present, when
viewed along those horizontal lines, a comparatively uniform surface of illumina-
tion. Now, if such a body of glass be broken, as, for example, by a rib or vertical
or diagonal strip of prisms of a different quality or arrangement, so that they
tend to throw the light down instead of to raise it from the floor, it is evident
that the figure or design formed by such prisms, which vary in quality from the
prisms of the principal surface, will be revealed to the observer by dark lines
or bands co-incident with the changed prism.
And, again, if we have in the body of the prismatic glass, a design traced by
glass of a different prismatic quality, so that such design will be bright when
viewed from some position in the room, while the body of the glass is perhaps
dark when viewed from the same position, it is evident that we will get another
effect. In this manner the effects may be greatly varied, and the light be dis-
tributed throughout the room, so that, in some parts there will be brilliant light,
in others, obscure light; in one part a certain design will appear, and in another
part another design will appear. In some respects the effect might be likened
to the varying principle of changeable dress goods.
I have given in the drawings a few illustrations of the work which may thus
be accomplished.
Figure 1 is a view of a body of glass, having a series of sections with prisms
arranged as indicated;
Figure 2 is a view of a different design with the parts arranged in a somewhat
different manner;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a window piece showing an architectural effect;
Figure 4 is a section of the Line 4-4 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a section of the Line 5-5 of Figure 3.

page_text: A A are the prismatic sections shown in Figure 1 as rectangular, and in
Figure 2 as irregular.
These sections are formed in a body of glass together or in separate pieces
subsequently united in any desired manner. They are properly inclined so as
to give the desired prismatic effect for the body.
B B are the ornamental pieces set in or formed in the body, and having pris-
matically arranged surfaces, but so as to give a different direction to the light
passing therethrough from the direction given by the surrounding body portions.
As previously suggested, these forms may be infinitely varied and the arrange-
ments of the several prisms may be equally varied. The particular design,
however, which is characteristic of the total structure must present a prismatic
surface different from the prismatic surface of the body.
In Figure 3, C C represent the body of the window, which should be of pris-
matic glass in large sheets or small sections, as desired, but intended to raise
the light and give an increased illumination to the interior of the room.
DD are sections of prismatic glass arranged so as to throw the light in some
particular direction. Or, in other words, to be luminous when viewed from some
particular direction.
E E are capitals and bases, which may or may not have the same prismatic
arrangement as the columns.
F is the lintel and G the pedestal, which are also of prismatic quality differing
from the body of the glass.
From what has already been said, and from this brief description of the draw-
ings, which are intended not to show all possible applications of my invention,
but simply to suggest the manner in which it may be utilized, it will be evident
that any desired design may be produced by the application of the principle which
I have employed.
I do not wish to be limited to the particular quality or character of the glass,
or glass like the substance used, nor to the particular form or fashion of the prism,
nor to the particular designs employed.
The prisms may be inside or out, or on both sides, the glass may be colored,
and any desired design employed. I prefer, however, the employment of light
transmitting prismatic glass, arranged so as. on the whole, to increase the volume
of light usefully introduced into the room.
Of course my invention is intended to be applied to practically flat glass bodies,
such as are used for windows, and the prisms employed are intended to be sub-
stantially flat-surfaced prisms which will be, substantially all of them, arranged
so that they will co-operate to reflect or refract the light so as to increase the
illumination of the room, and such prisms I call "useful prisms" as distinguished
from mere irregularities or roughened or broken surfaces of the glass, which
are not intended and do not have the power of increasing the illumination of the
room. The complete window light is called a prism plate and the several sections
are called prism lights.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: —
1. A prism plate for windows comprising a series of prism lights united
together to form the plate, the prism lights arranged in groups so as to form a
predetermined design or figure, and the prisms of the prism lights forming such
design or figure inclined or tilted with reference to the prisms of the prism lights
surrounding the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A prism plate for a window having a receiving surface and a series of pro-
jecting prisms systemmatically arranged to produce an increased illuminating
effect for the apartment on the other surface, the prisms of the group which forms
a design varied with reference to the surrounding prisms so as to throw the light
in a different direction and thus exhibit the design.

page_text: 3. A prism plate for windows having the arrangement of prisms substantially
as shown and described.
Dated this 13th day of July 1897.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.