Improvements in the Manufacture of "Metallic" Garden and other similar Seats.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1887
Complete Left, 9th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 11th May, 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of "Metallic" Garden and other
similar Seats.
We WILLIAM HENRY SPROSTON, SAMUEL SPROSTON, & CHARLES SPROSTON, all
of Wellington Road, Dudley, in the county of Worcester, Manufacturers do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of what are generally understood and
known as metallic seats, such as are generally used for outdoor purposes, for gardens,
parks, railway stations, public thoroughfares, and other places, whether such seats are
composed entirely of metal, or their framework only of metal, and being further
completed with wood or other suitable material, and consists in making such seats
after the manner of the manufacture of metallic bedsteads, that is to say, in the building
up of such structures, or part or parts of such structures, we unite or connect the rods,
rails, scrolls, figures, or other details at their junction with such other or similar details
by means of cast "chills," and further complete such constructions as herein further
explained.
Ordinarily such seats are made of cast or wrought metal, and in some cases partly of
both, and frequently having wooden strips or laths in combination therewith; but in
such cases, the separate parts, such as the back, the ends, and the seats, are made
separately in one casting each, and then bolted or rivetted together, or they are built
up of wrought metal strips rivetted & screwed together.
In this our invention however we build up such parts of any approved pattern or
design, by placing such component parts in what is known as a "frame," having
moulds formed at certain approved points where such component parts come near to,
or, in contact with each other, and into such moulds pour molten metal forming what is
understood in the bedstead trade as "chills."
In very simple forms of seats, such seats may be practically, thus formed in one
piece of framework, or, may have a detached seat, but generally we should prefer to
make the parts of such seats, such for instance as, the back, each end, and the seat
(when the latter is metallic) in separate parts, after the manner stated, and then
secure such parts together, by providing formations upon these said parts, whereby and
wherein they may be locked or secured to each other. These formations may consist

page_text: of "chill" dovetails, recesses, or holes, formed upon some such parts, corresponding to
other counterparts formed upon other parts which adjoin thereto when building up the
"seat;", or in some cases upon such chills there may be formed snugs to receive bolts
for securing such parts together. Generally however we should prefer the former
method, which affords very great facility for taking such "seats" to pieces, and packing
them compact, for transport, or for storage when not in use.
7.
Or, further, in some instances we may form upon such "chills" at suitable points,
hinges corresponding to each other, so that when put together, they may, when
required for transport &c. be more or less folded up into a much smaller compass.
When wooden laths are desired for the seat, or for the back, suitable provision
would be made so that such laths may be screwed or otherwise fastened to the frame-
work, or, cast recesses may be made in connection with the ends, to receive such
laths &c.
By forming these structures after this manner it enables us to vary their design and
composition, inasmuch as we may make combinations more or less of brass and ironwork,
tubular or solid, of any approved section, with or without wood or other panels,
figures, or scroll work, & which may be painted, japanned, bronzed, or otherwise
embellished as desired.

page_text: similar Seats.
We WILLIAM HENRY SPROSTON, SAMUEL SPROSTON, and CHARLES SPROSTON, all
of Wellington Road, Dudley, in the county of Worcester, Manufacturers, 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 :-
This invention relates to the manufacture of what are generally understood and
known as metallic seats, such as are generally used for out door purposes, for gardens,
parks, railway stations, public thoroughfares, and other places, whether such seats are
composed entirely of metal, or their framework only of metal, and being further
completed with wood or other suitable material, and consists in the building up of
such structures, or part or parts of such structures, by uniting or connecting the
rods, rails, scrolls, figures, or other details at their junctions with such other or similar
details by means of cast chills," and further completing such constructions as herein
further explained.
i
We first make up the various parts, such as the back, the ends, the seat, stay rods &c.,
by placing their component details in what is known as a frame having moulds formed
at certain approved points where such component details come near to or in contact
with each other, and into such moulds pour molten iron forming what is known as
chills.
We further provide for the securing of these parts in their respective positions
forming the complete structure, by means of "chills" dovetails, recesses, or holes
formed upon some such parts or extended bolts, cast in such chills corresponding to
other counterparts formed upon other parts which adjoin thereto, when building up the
structure.
When wooden laths are desired for the seat, or for the back, suitable provision would
be made so that such laths may be screwed or otherwise fastened to the framework,
or, cast recesses may be made in connection with the ends, to receive such laths &c.
By forming these structures after this manner it enables us to vary their design and
composition, inasmuch as we may make combinations more or less of brass and iron-
work, tubular or solid, of any approved section, with or without wood or other panels,
figures, or scroll work &c., which may be painted, japanned, bronzed, or otherwise
embellished as desired. In order to explain more clearly this our said invention, we'
have appended hereunto an illustrative sheet of drawings upon which are figures and
letters of reference, like letters, throughout the several views refer to the same thing
or part.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a seat made according to our invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of Fig. 2 upon line A-B, shewing dovetail chill

page_text: Fig. 5 is an end view of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of the screw up joint.
Fig. 7 is a section in detail of chill for back of seat.
We take the rods or tubes a, b, c, d & e, and bend or shape them as required, then
place them in a chill mould frame with their ends or parts meeting in, or passing
through such moulds, when molten iron is run into the moulds, and forms the
chills g, g, g, which when cold, firmly connects such parts together.
Upon the piece c, we form recesses to receive the ends of the laths h, which may
be secured by means of bolts i, or other suitable means.
This piece c is shewn in detail in Figs. 3, 4 & 5.
At the front and back of the seat, we provide tie bars j, of a suitable sectional
form, but preferably of what is known as half round iron. At each end of these bars
a dovetail chill k is cast, fitting into a corresponding dovetail formed upon the chills g¹.
The upper surface of the bar j, forming a continuation of the seat, in line with the
upper surface of the laths h.
We next proceed with the backs of the seats, somewhat as follows:-
We provide two or more horizontal tubes or rods 1, 1, and connect between them any
number of bars or tubes, (according to design) by means of cast chills at their
junctions.
In the illustration we have shown how we may readily construct such backs having
We first cast the
panels or plates m, m, m, secured between such horizontal tubes.
plates, and bend them to the desired curved form, then place them in a chill mould,
together with the horizontal tubes 1, 1, and connect them by means of the chills n, n.
These chills n, n, however, are made to embrace only a part of the circle of the
tubes 1, 7, as seen in detail Fig. 7 thus giving a free or clear line along the rear side of
such tubes, which gives a much neater appearance, and more agreeable for the
passing of the hand along such surface.
At the ends of the tubes 7, 1, we cast chills o, o, and also in such chills secure the
pins p, as seen in detail. Fig. 6. This screw pin takes into the hole provided in chill g³,
and secured thereto, by the nut q.
At such parts where necessary we provide stay rods or tubes, as for instance at r,
having chills, screw pin, and nut at their ends similar to those described at 1, 1.
Thus it will be readily seen that seats can be constructed with much greater economy
than by the methods at present in use, and afford very much greater convenience for
transit or storage by reason of their being readily taken to pieces, and packed in com-
part form, while such method of construction also admits of a much greater variation
in design than those of present make.
It will be readily seen that the panels m, m, may be variously ornamented, either in
themselves, or, they may have affixed to them panels of glass or superior metal &c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
The improved method of manufacturing metallic garden, and other similar seats, as
hereindescribed and illustrated upon the drawings, that is to say, the general combina-
tion and arrangement of parts constituting such seats, with their fastenings, and
attachment of ornaments or any mere modification of the same; and by which
fastenings such seats can be readily taken to pieces for packing or storage.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants Agent.