Prism Plate for Windows and Support for the same.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION:
Prism Plate for Windows and Support for the same.
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 this invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:
-
My invention relates to prismatic windows and has for its object to provide
a new and improved window of this description.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figure 1 is a view of a prismatic window embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a section through the same;
Figure 3 is a front view showing a modified form of my device.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.
When the window to be provided with prism lights is set at a distance back
of the wall of the building or, in other words, is provided with a deep reveal, the
light is obstructed by the wall and the efficiency of the prism lights is very much
reduced. Moreover, the arrangement of these prism plates is liable, under certain
conditions, to interfere with the architectural effects of the building, and it is
a part of my invention to so arrange them as that they are detached so to speak
from the scheme of architecture and do not, therefore, interfere with those effects.
Again, in the manufacture of prism plates, it will be observed that we use certain
factors or elements, which under existing conditions consist of prism lights four
inches square. It will be therefore seen that any attempt to fit the window opening
exactly and to provide for all emergencies would require a large number of small
pieces or factors, but these are difficult to make, require large stocks to be kept
on hand, and also destroy the harmony or uniformity of the finished plate, and it
is a part of my invention therefore, to arrange so that standard sizes of these
prisni lights can be made and be thus applied to the various windows, a greater
or less margin being left about the edge in each case. Again, it is often highly
important, if not essential, to arrange these window plates so as not to interfere
with the action of the ordinary window and not to disturb or prevent ventilation
by the ordinary window, and not to prevent the washing or cleaning of the ordinary
window. These objects are also accomplished by my invention. I have called this
prism plate when so applied a "forilux."
In order to avoid these difficulties and to produce the results hereinafter men-
tioned, I suspend a prism plate A at a distance from the window B, instead of
placing the prism lights directly in the window. This, prism plate is preferably
of such dimensions that a space C will be left all round its edges, so that the
appearance of the building will not be changed and so that the deep reveals will
show. This also allows proper ventilation to be obtained by manipulating the
window B. I prefer to suspend the prism plate A approximately in the plane
of the outer face of the wall D, but it is of course evident that its position may be
varied somewhat if desired, though of course it should not be placed far enough
within the reveal to prevent the proper amount of light from falling upon it.
гр.
877

page_text: As shown in Figure 1, I have suspended the prism plate by means of a series
of supports E placed at intervals around the plate.
In Figure 3, I have shown the prism plate as suspended from the cross bar
or rod located near the top of the window. The plate is preferably pivotally or
movably connected with this rod, or the rod movably mounted in bearings, the
lower part of the prism plate being held in position by the holding pieces G. This
latter construction provides a very simple, efficient and artistic means for holding
the prism plate in position.
It will be seen that by placing the prism plate as here indicated, little or none of the
light will be obstructed by the walls of the building. It is of course evident that the
position of the prism plate may be varied and that the mode of suspension may also be
varied. I have not attempted to set forth the various details of construction of
the several parts, as they will readily occur to those versed in the art, and I have
simply attempted to show diagrammatically as it were, a construction embody-
ing my invention and which will make its application clear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The combination with a window, of a prism plate suspended substantially
in the plane of the outer face of the wall surrounding the window opening, said
prism plate smaller in dimensions than said opening, so that there will be an inter-
vening space between its outer boundary and the edges of the window opening,
and a series of holding pieces connected with said prism plate and with the wall
or frame surrounding the window opening.
2. The combination with a window having a deep reveal of a prism plate con-
sisting of a series of prism lights provided with prisms systematically arranged
to produce and increase the illuminating effect, said prism plate suspended near
the outer face of the wall surrounding the reveal and being smaller in dimensions
than said reveal, so that when in position there is an intervening space between
its outer boundary and the edges of the reveal, whereby the artistic effect due to
the reveal remains substantially unchanged.
3. A prism plate for windows, comprising a bar secured in the window opening
somewhat below the upper edge of such opening, two other bars secured to and
suspended from the first mentioned bar, a prismi plate attached to such bars and
lower supports or attachments at the corners of the prism plate, substantially as
shown and described.