Improvements in Collapsible or Folding Shutters, Window Guards, Sun-shades, Gates, Balconies, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
RESERVE
Improvements in Collapsible or Folding Shutters, Window Guards,
Sun-shades, Gates, Balconies, and the like.
I, ANTHONY DUNDERDALE of 144, Harrowby Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention relates to collapsible or folding guards for windows, applicable for
preventing children falling out; or for preventing accidents when windows are being
cleaned outside. The invention is also applicable for window guards of other
descriptions, such as shutters, or for balconies, gates, etcetera.
The invention will first be described as applied to window guards. To each side
of the framing of the window, I provide a pillar, pivotted axially, and to each of the
said pillars or lower part thereof, I attach a guard with a suitable number of hori-
zontal guard rails, extending entirely across the window, or across a part thereof.
The guard rails are pivotted at one end to the main pillar, and at the other end to
another pillar of about the same length as the height of the guard. At the top or
bottom (preferably the bottom) of each guard and turning on the same axis as the
main pillars, I provide a slotted bar or frame, and through each slot a guide pin or
stud passes secured to the guard; the said slotted bars being placed so that they can
turn freely one above the other on their pivots.
When the guard is closed so as to form a window guard, the horizontal rails enter
grooves in the end pillars, so as to form a comparatively flat surface, and may be
fastened in that position by a suitable fastening. The guards being attached to the
vertically pivotted pillars, they can be opened to enable a person to clean the outside
of the window without danger. Owing to the slotted bars before described, both
guards are caused to open simultaneously and will only open a certain distance, so
that it is impossible for the window cleaner to fall out.
To form a balcony, suitable flooring, rails or boards may be used.
When the guards are not required for use, they can easily be turned upwards, the
horizontal rails being pivotted to the pillars, and thus leave the window opening free

page_text: The pillars, slotted bars etcetera, may be arranged; if desired, in recesses in the window
framing, so as to leave a clear and unimpeded window space.
A very simple arrangement for guards or shutters for shop or other windows to be
used during the night. or when the place of business is closed, for the purpose of
protection, is constructed as follows:-
Vertical pillars are provided pivotted axially or fixed, and provided with horizontal
rails and vertical end pillars, substantially as before described. The pillars and rails
being pivotted together, the guard or shutter can be turned upwards or raised clear of
the, window. A cord or chain passing over pulleys may be used for raising the guard.
When it is raised or folded against the main vertical pillar, the several parts are so
arranged as to fit in the smallest possible space.
When the vertical pillars are pivotted axially, the guards can be used as shields
for shading goods exhibited in a shop window, or as a sun-shade for a room. For
this purpose the guards can be covered with suitable fabric. The shades can be
turned, so as to form, say an angle of 45 degrees with the window.
The invention is applicable for other purposes which will be evident without further
description.
Dated this 20th day of July 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I ANTHONY DUNDERDALE of 144, Harrowby Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager, 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:-
The invention relates to collapsible or folding guards for windows, applicable for
preventing children falling out, or for preventing accidents when windows are bring
cleaned outside. The invention is also applicable for window guards of other
<descriptions, such as shutters, or for balconies, gates, etcetera.
The invention may be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which-
Figures 1 to 3 show one way of applying the invention to window guards and
balconies, Figure 1 being an elevation, Figure 2 a sectional plan with the guard
partly open, and Figure 3 a similar view showing the guard, etcetera, closed.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan showing a slight modification of the arrangement shown
in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is an elevation showing a modified arrangement of window guard.
Figure 6 is a half elevation showing the same guard open or folded up.
Figure 7 is an elevation showing a way in which the invention may be applied to
shop windows and the like.
Figure 8 is a detail view of a fastening or supporting device for such guards.
Figure 9 shows (in elevation) a gate, constructed in accordance with the invention,
in its closed or extended position.
Figure 10 shows the same gate open or folded up.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan of Figure 9.
Figures 12 and 13 are views of detached portions of the gate, to be hereinafter
more fully explained.
Figures 1 to 6 illustrate two slightly different ways in which the invention may be
applied to window guards or balconies for an ordinary dwelling house. On each side
of the framing A of the window, i provide a pillar B, which is preferably pivoted
axially as at 6, and to each of the said pillars attach a guard C. This guard is
provided with a suitable number of horizontal guard rails D, of such a length, as to
extend entirely across the window (when the guard is closed or extended) or across a

page_text: part thereof. The guard rails D are pivoted at one end to the main pillar B, so that
they can be moved in a vertical direction, and at the other end, they are pivoted in
a similar manner to another vertical pillar B', of about the same length as the height
of the guard. Where only two horizontal guard rails D are used, as shown in
Figures 1, 5 and 6, the intervening space may be provided with a suitable number of
vertical guard rails D', which are pivoted to the horizontal rails in a similar manner
to the pillar B¹.
When the guards are closed or partly closed, they may be brought together at
their edges as shown in Figures 2 and 5, and locked as at 6', or they may be over-
lapped (when the guards are wider than half the width between the pillars B B, as in
Figure 3), and secured in any suitable manner, such as by a bolt passing through
both guards.
In the case of overlapping guards, the end pillars B', B', and vertical guard rails D¹
of one guard may be placed on the inner faces of its horizontal guard rails D, and
those of the other guard may be mounted on the outer faces of its rails D. Suitable
notches or grooves may be provided in the end pillars B B¹, in which the horizontal
rails may rest, so that the two guards will lie approximately parallel. It will be
obvious that the horizontal guards may he connected to the window frame by universal
joints, and the main pivotted pillars B dispensed with.
When the guards are not required, they may be folded together and laid back
against the window frame, as in Figure 6, or they may be turned backwards so as
to lie flat against the wall beyond the window frame. In cases where the guards,
when closed, lie parallel to the window frame, as in Figure 5, they may be simply
folded up against the frame, as shown in Figure 6, the main pillars being made
fixtures, or the latter may be dispensed with altogether, the horizontal guards being
pivoted to the window frame itself or its equivalent. In folding up or letting down
the guards, their weight may be counteracted by a spring E or its equivalent, which
may be attached to the extended end of one or both of the horizontal guard rails D,
as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6.
At the top or bottom (preferably the bottom) of each guard, and turning on the
same axis as the main pillars B, I may provide a slotted bar or frame F, Figure 4.
These slotted bars turn with the guards, either being connected to them by a pin or
stud, or being simply secured in a rigid manner to the pillars B. A bolt passes
through and works freely in both the slots, and the bars are so placed, that when the
guards are closed so as to overlap each other, the said bars will lie one above the
other. By this means, the guards can be opened outwards into the position shown
in Figure 2, to enable a person to clean the outside of the window without danger,
as, owing to the slotted bars before described, both guards are caused to open
simultaneously, and will only open a certain distance, so that it is impossible for the
window cleaner to fall out. When it is required to fold up the guards, the bolt fis
removed. When the slotted bars F F are not employed, the guards CC may be
simply placed in the position shown in Figure 2, and locked or otherwise secured
therein, as at 6¹.
To form a balcony, suitable flooring, rails, or boards may be used. These may be
supported in any suitable manner, such as by the arrangement shown in Figures 2
and 3, in which G G¹ are three horizontal arms, each pivoted at their inner ends to
the lower part of the window frame. The arms are toggle jointed, so that when
opened out, they assume the position shown in Figure 2, and are ready to receive
the flooring board, but when not required, they are folded back against the window
frame, as in Figure 3. Or the front edge of the board may be supported by suitable
projections upon the guards themselves.
When the guards are not required for use, they can easily be turned upwards,
or upwards and backwards as before described, and thus leave the window opening
free. The pillars, guard rails, slotted bars, etcetera, may be arranged, if desired, to
fold into recesses in the window framing or other equivalent part, so as to leave a
clear and unimpeded window space.

page_text: An arrangement such as shown in Figure 7 may also be employed for guards
or shutters, for the purpose of protecting shop or other windows during the night,
cr when the place of business is closed. The guards or shutters can be turned
upwards or raised clear of the windows on either side, or they may be pivoted on
a horizontal pillar or bar B, so that they can be turned downwards as shown in
Figure 7, and be stowed away in a small compass in a suitable recess in the window
sill or window frame. A cord and pulley or other suitable lifting or counter-
balancing device may be employed, where necessary, to assist in the opening or closing
of the shutters.
Figure 8 shows a slotted bar H, which may be slipped over the top of the
vertical rails of the guards or shutters to prevent them being shaken about by the
wind or mischievous boys, etcetera. The lugs h clip over the edges of the horizontal
rails D).
When the vertical pillars are pivoted axially, the guards can be used as shields for
shading goods exhibited in a shop window, or as a sun-shade for a room. For
this purpose, the guards can be covered with suitable fabric. The shades can be
turned so as to form, say an angle of 15 degrees with the window.
An arrangement such as shown in Figure 7 is also applicable as a protecting barrier
in front of a shop or other door, a recess being provided in the floor or door step,
within which the barrier may be stowed when not required.
My invention is also applicable to gates. An arrangement such as that shown in
Figure 1, may be used when the gate is to open to each side, but when it is required
to open only towards one side, it may be constructed as shown in Figures 9 to 15.
The vertical pillars and guard rails are arranged, as before, but the horizontal rails are
jointed say, at the centre, as at d, preferably with a toggle joint. The gate when
open, folds up into the position shown in Figure 10, and may then be turned back
upon its hinges o³. J is a diagonal stay to prevent the inner half of the gate from
drooping. This stay is jointed as at j, so that when the gate is folded up, it doubles
inwards and assumes the position shown in the detached view, Figure 12. The outer
half of the gate is prevented from drooping by a strut J'. The latter is pivoted at
its upper end to one of the vertical guard rails, while its lower end passes through
a stirrup Figures 11 and 13 on one of the horizontal guard rails. The strut J¹
can be made perpendicular if desired. When the gate is folded up, the strut J¹
assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10, but in extending the gate
into the position shown in Figure 9, the lower end of the strut is drawn through the
aforesaid stirrup, until the parts have assumed their normal positions. A notch 3.
Figure 13, now drops over a pin j, attached to the horizontal rail, and the further
descent of the outer half of the gate is prevented. To fold up the gate it is only
necessary to knock the strut off the pin and push or draw up the centre of
the gate.
The invention is applicable for bank doors and other purposes which will be
evident without further description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A collapsible or folding shutter, window guard, balcony, gate or the like,
consisting of a pillar or rail B' (or a parallel series of such rails) connected in a
pivotal manner with a suitable number of parallel transverse rails D which are each
hinged at the end remote from the rail B¹ to a main supporting pillar or bar Bor
its equivalent, such bar being either fixed or capable of an axial movement, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
2. A removable balcony for a window or the like, consisting of a pair of over-
lapping collapsible hinged guards such as described adapted to be secured together
in a half open position with their edges adjacent or nearly so and provided with a
suitable removable flooring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. A guard or balcony for a window or the like, having its sides, or sides and floor
framing, collapsible, and adapted to be folded up into a small space at the sides or
bottom (or both) of the window frame, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. The various forms of collapsible barriers or guards, each constructed as a whole
substantially as shown and described, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 20th day of April 1889.
ANTHONY DUNDERDALE.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.