AN IMPROVED SAFETY NET TO ARREST THE FALL OF PERSONS OR HEAVY BODIES UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF DANGER
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Léon Edouard Laurency, of Paris, in the Depart-
ment of the Seine, in the Empire of France, for the Invention of
"AN IMPROVED SAFETY NET TO ARREST THE FALL OF PERSONS OR HEAVY
BODIES UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF DANGER."
Sealed the 11th May 1866, and dated the 18th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Léon Edouard Laurency
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 18th November 1865.
I, LÉON EDOUARD LAURENCY, of Paris, in the Department of the Seine,
in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED SAPETY NET TO ARREST THE FALL OF PERSONS OR HEAVY
BODIES UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF DANGER," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of safety nets to be placed wherever human life
may be endangered by a fall or by falling material; for example, on the
edge of a roof to catch any tiler who may slip off, beneath bricklayers'
scaffolding in front of houses, under the flying scaffoldings of house and
other painters, beneath the planks by which passengers land from vessels,
around the toothed gearing used in factories and elsewhere. These nets,
while preserving men engaged in building from the falls, unhappily so
frequent, also preserve the labourers engaged below and the passers by
from falling materials and tools escaping from the hand of the workman.
The frame of these nets is generall of hollow iron; the body is formed of

page_text: straps or bands crossing each other, and the whole is covered by a cord
netting.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawing forming part of this my Pro-
visional Specification, Figure 1 shews a double net for the corners or angles
of the interior of a house or edifice, to adapt which to the corners of the
exterior of the edifice it is only necessary to turn it and shift the irons to the
other side. The sockets of the rings are moveable and screw threaded for
fixing them. The nét cord is covered with vulcanized india-rubber, and the
cross pieces are of leather and gut cord. Figure 2 is a side view of a net
arranged so as not to form an obstruction to the public way, and Figure 3
front view of same in position. The box or trough B rises and descends
with rubbish or pieces of material, and is emptied into the cart below with-
out any danger to passers-by. Figures 4 and 5 represent an iron hook or
guard apparatus which supports the tackle in lieu of jacks or crabs, which
are the cause of many accidents. The use of these hooks or guards
permits a nearer approach to the wall while preserving the gutters and
roofing. Figure 6 represents a complete net apparatus for tilers and others
working on roofs; it carries at each arm two feet covered with leather
in order not to damage the cornices. Beneath the net there is a light
trough which goes all round. Lastly, Figure 7 shews a net set up to
receive persons who in case of fire have no resource but to throw them-
selves out of window.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Léon Edouard Laurency in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LÉON
EDOUARD LAURENCY, of Paris, in the Department of the Seine, in the
Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
.me, the said Léon Edouard Laurency, Her special licence that I, the said
Léon Edouard Laurency, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Léon Edouard Laurency, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to

page_text: 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 "AN IMPROVED SAFETY NET TO ARREST THE FALL OF
PERSONS OR HEAVY BODIES UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES OF DANGER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Léon Edouard Laurency, 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 Léon Edouard Laurency, 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 :-
The object of my Invention is a safety net (herein-after described and
illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawing forming part of this my
Specification) to be used in house building and repairing, in which work
accidents so frequently occur, and applicable also to many other cases
where there is danger of the workmen falling or from falling bodies.
In building or repairing or decorating buildings my safety net may be
applied, firstly, at the edges of roofs; secondly, to builders' or decorators'
scaffolds either inside or outside of buildings; thirdly, beneath the flying
or moveable scaffolds or ladders of painters, plasterers, and others who work
on the fronts of houses or facades of buildings, and are daily exposed to
accidents, which unfortunately too often occur.
The net is of more or less length according to the size of the scaffold
which it is to secure. The breadth, although variable, is usually about
three yards, and it is raised on the side towards the street. The body of
the net is of rope in squares of about 4 inches, and of a thickness of about
2 inches; the centre is traversed crosswise by strong bands or straps 6
inches broad and fixed to the framing. The two sides of the length are of
double plaited bands, and the extremities are composed of two sticks
covered with tow and leather, and to which are fixed the rings for the ropes
which suspend the net along the walls and fix it at the desired height;
buckles or rings and cramps or catches serve to unite several nets. The
net is upheld by the main rope, which at the corner seizes a ring by the
aid of a galvanized iron hook, and passing round the stick rises to the roof

page_text: and is there attached according to the facilities afforded by the building.
In the middle of the height this rope carries a strong ring from which starts
an under rope, which supports the net by the half to guard against accident;
if the stick should break it is held like the other rope by a hook.
The same net raised up with shortened ropes is placed at the edges of
roofs having the greatest slopes, and forms at the bottom a wall of rope,
which preserves the slaters, plumbers, masons, carpenters, or other work-
men from danger. The safety apparatus for slaters is set up the same as that
for painters, with the iron rods bent over at the ends in order not to injure
the roof, the gutters, or the cornice.
My Invention will be readily understood by reference to the annexed
Sheet of Drawing, and the following description of the several Diagrams
drawn thereon will sufficiently set forth the construction and mode of
applying my improved safety nets without the necessity of longer expla-
nation.
Figure 1 shews a safety net for angles, formed by two walls and having
hollow iron rods through which pass the thick ropes; Figure 2, trough or
rubbish receptacle to same net; Figure 3, side view of net with hollow
irons; Figure 4, front view of a safety net shewing rubbish trough or
receptacle preventing it from falling on the public way, this net therefore
preserves both workmen and passers-by; Figure 5, hollow irons for flying
scaffolds or ladders and cramp or hook apparatus for preserving the roofs
and avoiding the injury to the building and the danger attending the use
of the ordinary crabs or jacks; Figure 6, side view of flying scaffold or
ladder; Figure 7, scaffold on rollers with safety net to be used in working
in church domes, arched or glass covered passages, and elsewhere. A
single pillar or upright is sufficient as a means of escape in case of fire.
Figure 8, safety apparatus for the edge of a roof, and Figure 9 a safety net
in case of fire.
In witness whereof, I, the said Léon Edouard Laurency, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.