IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING GLASS SHADES OR COVERS FOR PLANTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Benson, of No 9, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING GLASS SHADES OR
COVERS FOR PLANTS." A communication from abroad by Semon J. Pardessus,
of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 24th May 1878, and dated the 8th December 1877.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Martin Benson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1877.
MARTIN BENSON, of No. 9, Southampton Buildings, London
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN VENTILATING GLASS SHADES OR COVERS FOR PLANTS." A communication from
abroad by Semon I. Pardessus, of New York, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to furnish glass shades or covers with means of
ventilation for protecting, growing, and forcing the growth of plants, particular for
the development of buds, flowers, and for various other similar uses requiring light
and ventilation combined.
Reference is hereby made to the accompanying Drawings forming part of this
Specification.
Fig. 1 is a top view of a glass shade or cover to which my improvement has
been applied; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same taken through the line x, x,
(Fig. 1).
Fig. 3 is a detail top view of a modification of the lid or cover; Fig. 4 is a cross
section of the same, taken through the line y, y, (Fig. 3).'
Fig. 5 is a detail top view of another modification of the lid or cover; Fig. 6
is a cross section of the same, taken through the line 2, 2, (Fig. 5).
Fig. 7 is a detail top view of another modification of the lid or cover.
A represents an ordinary glass shade, in the top of which is cut an opening two
and a half inches, more or less, in diameter, according to the size of the shade and
the purpose for which it is to be used. In the opening in the top of the shade A
is secured a rim B, of metal or other suitable material. The rim B may have points
formed upon it, to be bent down upon the inner side of the shade A to secure it in
Drine 27

page_text: place, and may be further secured by putty; or it may be secured in any other con-
venient way.
Into the rim B is fitted another rim C, which may be hinged to the rim B, so
that it may be opened by turning it back, as is shown in Figs 1, 2, and 6; or the
rim C may have pivots attached to its opposite sides to work in bearings attached i
to the rim B, so that it may be opened by turning it upon pivots in the manner of
a stove pipe damper, as shewn in Figs. 3 and 4; or the rim C may be hinged, and
the hinge swivelled to the rim B, as shewn in Fig. 7; or the rim C may be simply
fitted into the rim B, so that it may be removed when desired. In the rim C is
secured a plate D of glass, mica, wire gauze, perforated sheet metal, plain sheet
metal, or sheet metal having openings through it, closed by another plate of sheet
metal pivoted to its centre, so that the said openings can be opened and closed as
may be desired. With this construction the buds and flowers of the plants placed
beneath the shades will remain in a healthy condition, firm upon their steins, and
will reach perfection, a result hitherto unattainable in the ordinary "glass shade fern
case," owing to the confined and excessively moist atmosphere surrounding plants
growing under non-ventilating glass shades, and which invariably causes the buds
and flowers to decay, and then drop off.
Having described the manner of constructing and using my improvement, what
I claim is, a propagating shade consisting of the glass body A and glass plate D,
together with the hinged rims B, C,-as and for the purpose herein-before specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Martin Benson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
MARTIN RENSON
(r.s)