IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAKING OF BRICKS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henri Adrien Bonneville, of the British and Foreign
Patent Offices, 24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of
France, and 38, Porchester Terrace, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAKING OF
BRICKS." A communication from Maurice Abord, Manufacturer,
residing at Buissonniers, near Autun, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 26th October, and dated the 2nd July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd July 1866.
I, HENRI ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the. British and Foreign Patent Offices,
24, Rue du Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 38, Porchester
Terrace, Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAKING
OF BRICKS," communicated to me by Maurice Abord, Manufacturer, a person
residing at Buissonniers, near Autun, in the Empire of France, aforesaid, to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of
hollow bricks for the construction of ceilings in rooms and apartments, as

page_text: shewn in the accompanying Drawing. These bricks are provided at each of
their extremities with a projection, which when they are placed between the
beams that support the flooring rest upon and are maintained by juts which
run along the sides of the beams. The lower part of each brick is so disposed
as to cover about half the inferior side of the beam, so that when all the
bricks are fixed and placed together their lower surface presents one uniformly
plane superficies, which forms the ceiling.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henri Adrien Bonneville in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st January 1867.,
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRI
ADRIEN BONNEVILLE, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 24, Rue du
Mont Thabor, Paris, in the Empire of France, and 38, Porchester Terrace,
Bayswater, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters.
Patent, bearing date the Second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Пerself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henri Adrien Bonneville, Her special licence that I, the said Henri
Adrien Bonneville, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MAKING OF BRICKS," a communication to me from abroad by
Maurice Abord, Manufacturer, residing at Buissonniers, near Autun, in the
Empire of France aforesaid, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henri Adrien Bonneville, my executors or administrators, by an instrument 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 Henri Adrien Bonneville, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of
hollow bricks for the construction of ceilings in rooms and apartments, as
shown in the accompanying Drawings. To attain this the bricks are provided
at each of their extremities with a projection which when they are placed
between the beams that support the flooring rest upon and are maintained by
juts which run along the sides of the beams. The lower part of each brick
is so disposed as to cover about half the inferior side of the beam, so that
when all the bricks are fixed and placed together their lower surface
presents one uniformly plane superficies, which forms the ceiling. These
bricks are intended to replace the laths and planks now used in the
building of ceilings; they are placed between the beams of the flooring,
which they prop, and rest on oaken ledges L, L, well fixed to these latter.
Each brick has a projection in order to mask the ledge on which it rests and
the lower surface of the beam, so as to give a plane superficies, on which the
plaster is easily and rapidly applied. By making use of this kind of brick
the flooring will be rendered much less sonorous, and a notable economy will
be the result. The ten holes with which the bricks in the Drawing are
pierced serve to diminish their weight, and at the same time to give them a
good solid conjunction. The number of these holes, their form, position, and
such like, is entirely optional, as also their dimensions in point of width,
length, and thickness, which may be at will augmented or diminished, so that
whatever modification may be brought in the form or size of the holes or in
the dimensions of the bricks cannot be held as constituting an improvement
to the same.
To facilitate the application of the coating on the ceiling the lower
part of the bricks are furnished with strice, which may have any form that is
best convenient, either semicircular or dovetailed, and further may have
more or less space intervening between them, as may be judged useful. That
part of the bricks which covers the wings of the T irons is dovetailed. The
plaster is introduced between the two slightly separated bricks, so that these
are maintained, and the plaster adheres more perfectly to their surfaces.
Instead of common earth, varnished and decorated pottery may be used in the
confection of the bricks, so as to do away with the necessity of plastering the
surface of the bricks forming the ceiling. This arrangement might
advantageously be pursued in bath-rooms and analogous places, where
dampness soon destroys coatings of plaster and paintings. The ease with
which such ceilings can be cleaned will render their adoption in many cases

page_text: exceedingly advantageous. Semi-vitrified and decorated porcelain may be
used, and give rise to the richest ornamentation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, what I claim is; the general making and arrangement of hollow
bricks for the construction of ceilings in houses, substantially as herein-before
set forth and ascertained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henri Adrien Bonneville, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
H. BONNEVILLE. (L.B.)