IMPROVE- MENTS IN METALLIC WINDOW SHUTTERS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Thomas Smith, of Ordsall House, East
Retford, in the County of Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN METALLIC WINDOW SHUTTERS."
Sealed the 9th October 1868, and dated the 14th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Thomas Smith
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th April 1863.
I, GEORGE THOMAS SMITH, of Ordsall House, East Retford, in the County
of Nottingham, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC WINDOW SHUTTERS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a novel arrangement and construction of sliding
shutters for shop fronts, the object being to dispense with the revolving and
moveable shutters at present in use.
I propose to form the shutter in one piece, either of flat or corrugated iron,
galvanised or painted, or of other metal, upon which is to be fixed a vertical
toothed rack in the centre, or one on each side. Into these racks are placed
pinion wheels on a horizontal shaft, so that by putting the shaft in motion by
means of a winch bandle the shutter is lifted from its lower position and
carried to the top of the window frame, and lowered when required by the

page_text: same means. A pall or catch drops into the teeth of the pinion or rack, and
holds the shutter in position on removing the handle or winch; or a catch
bolt or fastening may be placed on the upper part of the shutter or window,
in order to secure the same. In shutters of large size it will be. necessary to
join several sheets of metal, and to apply within the frame a series of friction
rollers, in order to assist the ascent and descent of the shutter.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Thomas Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 14th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
THOMAS SMITH, of Ordsall House, East Retford, in the County of Nottingham,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said George Thomas Smith, Her special licence that I, the
said George Thomas Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Thomas Smith, my executors, adminis
trators, 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 METALLIC WINDOW SHUTTERS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said George Thomas Smith, 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 George Thomas Smith, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement;―

page_text: My Invention consists in a novel arrangement and construction of sliding
shutters for shop fronts, the object being to dispense with the revolving and
moveable shutters at present in use.
In order that my said Invention may be completely understood, I now
proceed to describe the same, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
I form the shutter in one piece, a, either of flat or corrugated iron,
galvanized or painted, or of other metal, upon which, on the inside, is fixed a
vertical toothed rack b, the same lying flat in the centre, as shewn; or in
some cases for large shutters the racks may be placed one on each side of the
shutter, which shutter should be made of a series of plates fixed together
where one plate of metal cannot be obtained of sufficient size. Into these
racks are placed pinion wheels, such as shewn at c, actuated by a crank
handle or winch; thus it is evident that by turning such winch the shutter
may be raised or lowered at pleasure. When the shutter is raised to its full
height it is held in position by means of a stop pin attached to a flat horizontal
spring (shewn in dotted lines placed beneath the woodwork of the window.
This pin falls into a hole or cavity cut in the lower part of the solid shutter,
and when it is required to lower the shutter the spring and pin are drawn
back by a knob or projection d. Where two racks are used, as before
mentioned, a horizontal shaft is employed beneath the woodwork, and supplied
with suitable gearing to actuate such racks; the shaft with its wheels is to
bo set in motion by a winch handle, as before mentioned. But in both
instances, where it is desired to only partially raise or lower the shutter, and
to hold the same in position, an ordinary pall may be used to take into the
teeth of the rack or racks, by which means the shutter may be held firmly at
any height required. To avoid friction, a series of rollers may be employed
at the sides of the shutters for the samo to travel on.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark, in conclusion, that I do
not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts herein
described and shewn, as the same may obviously bo varied or modified in
many ways without departing from the principle on which my Invention is
based; but what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein in part
recited Letters Patent is, the particular arrangement and construction of solid
sliding shutters actuated by means of racks and toothed gearing, substantially

page_text: in the manner shewn by the accompanying Drawing, and herein fully described
and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Thomas Smith, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of October, Ono thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three.
GEORGE THO³. SMITH. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Agent for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross.