IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITII FITTING GLASS IN WINDOWS, DOORS, OR Roofs of BUILDINGS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Watson, of Torquay, in the County of Devon,
Architect, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS CONNECTED WITII FITTING
GLASS IN WINDOWS, DOORS, OR Roofs of BUILDINGS.”
Sealed the 13th November 1877, and dated the 18th May 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Watson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th May 1877.
"IMPROVEMENTS
JOHN WATSON, of Torquay, in the County of Devon, Architect.
CONNECTED WITH FITTING GLASS IN WINDOWS, DOORS, OR ROOFS OF BUILDINGS."
This Invention relates to improvements connected with fitting glass in windows,'
doors, or roofs of buildings, the object being fitting glass without the aid of putty,.
in flat, "lean-to," angled, or span roof, also in doors, windows, or other like
structures in which glass is fitted vertically.
For the purposes of my Invention I cut or otherwise remove corners, or pieces.
of the edges near the corners, from sheets or squares of glass, the spaces of the.
removed portions being available for bolts or other fastenings, the steins of which-
can pass through the space or spaces so that a nut upon the exterior may hold the
glass in position with the aid of a vulcanized or other washer between.
.
The washers I prefer should have about one-half of their diameter thicker than
the other, in order that the thicker portion may rest upon the under glass and the'
thinner portion upon the overlap of the upper glass, to obtain a fair and equal bite
upon both pieces of glass at the corner, or upon the corners of four pieces or sheets.
of glass; according to the construction or form of glazing.
I prefer to arrange bolt stems upon or to brackets which may straddle the
rafters, say, of a roof, so as not to interfere with the flow of rain water to the
proper channel, should the rafter be hollow or troughed on the top.
The bolts may be passed down from the outside through the spaces of the glass
to the bracket, to the wood, or other rafter.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Watson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th November
1877.
"IMPROVEMENTS
JOHN WATSON, of Torquay, in the County of Devon, Architect.
CONNECTED WITH FITTING GLASS IN WINDOWS, DOORS, OR ROOFS OF BUILDINGS."
This Invention relates to improvements connected with fitting glass in windows,
doors, or roofs of buildings; the object is fitting glass without the aid of putty, in
flat, lean-to, angled, or span roofs, also in doors, windows, or other like structures
in which glass is fitted vertically.
For the purposes of my Invention I cut or otherwise remove corners, or pieces
of the edges near the corners, from sheets or squares of glass, the spaces of the
removed portions being available for bolts or other fastenings, the stems of which
pass through the space or spaces so that a nut upon the exterior may hold the glass
in position, with the aid of a vulcanized or other washer between.
The washers I prefer should have about one-half of their diameter thicker than
the other, in order that the thicker portion may rest upon the under glass and the
thinner portion upon the upper glass, to obtain a fair and equal bite or hold upon
both pieces of glass at the corner or upon the corners of four pieces or sheets of
glass, according to the construction or form of glazing.
I prefer to arrange the bolt stems upon or to brackets which may straddle the
rafters, say, of a roof, so as not to interfere with the flow of rain water to the
proper channel, should the rafter be hollow or troughed on the top.
The bolts may be passed down from the outside through the spaces of the glass
to the bracket or to the wood or other rafter.
One method of applying my Invention is represented in Figure 1 of the annexed
Drawings to an angled or lean-to roof, say, of a conservatory or greenhouse;
A, A, are two adjoining upper sheets or squares of glass, the bottom edges of which
overlap the top edges of the two lower panes B, B, on the outside.
The meeting lower corners of A, A, and the corresponding upper corners of B, B,
are cut off or otherwise removed (the glass may, however, be made without
corners), so that a diamond-shaped opening is left, as is more particularly shown
in Figure 2, a top view, and Figure 3, an under view; C is an intermediate rafter,
the upper face of which is channelled or grooved to serve as a gutter for the
reception of rain water that may fall through between the meeting edges of the
panes, and from which it can be led into an caves, gutter, or otherwise.
Within the gutter, if the rafter be of wood, I prefer to fit a zinc or other metal
lining D with the edges turned up and curled, as shown, so that the rain water
may run therein, and thereby keep the woodwork clear of contact with rain
water.
The curls of the metal lining are slightly above the top edges of the rafter to
ensure the glass resting upon them, and form a cushion or yielding body to meet
the expansion and contraction of the glass under changes of temperature.
At the part of the rafters where the corners of the glass come I fit a straddle
bracket E, as in Figure 4, a side view, and Figure 5 a section of same, the
lips F, F, of the bracket being screwed to the rafter C that the top plate G is level
with the top edges of the lining curls, the plate G being curved to suit the two
levels of the glass edges, as in Figure 5. This bracket is holed for the reception
of a pin or bolt H which passes into or through it from the outside, where by the
intermediation of a cushion washer I it binds the four panes of glass in position.
The cushion washer is preferably of cured or vulcanized rubber, having two
distinct thicknesses in its diameter, so that it finds a level bearing, the thinner
portion upon the upper panes and the thicker portion upon the lower panes, the
upper glasses resting against the step of the washer as a support in conjunction
with the pressure from the nut J above, between which and the cushion washer,

page_text: which completely covers up the opening, a metal washer K can be placed to protect.
the cushion against the direct action of the weather.
In the case of metal rafters, such as I have shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, the
bracket lips may rest in notches in the top edges or be secured to the rafter in any
convenient manner.
"
In Figure 1 I have shown a principal" in wood to represent how I make the
attachment of my system of glazing thereto, and in dotted lines I indicate an iron
"principal;" M is a lipped support on the "principal" with a face a upon the upper
pane, a turned down piece b lodging against the edge to prevent the pane slipping.
This lipped support is available for all kinds of glazing; L is an angle step on
the "principal," to facilitate the placing of planks when repairs or painting is
necessary.
My system of glazing without putty, as herein-before set forth, is applicable to all
kinds of glass roofings or frames of angled, span, or other forms, also the vertical glaz-
ings in side or window frames, doors, and like structures, and in some cases the edges
of the glass may be notched instead of the corners for the reception of the bolts or
other fasteners. By this Invention any one pane can be removed and new ones
placed in with facility without disturbing other panes.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
Firstly. The improved system of glazing without putty, as herein-before described,
and substantially shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim fitting panes of glass without corners, through the space or
opening of which thereby formed, bolts or like attachments can be caused to hold
the glass in position, as herein-before described.
Thirdly. I claim fitting panes of glass with one or more notches in the edges in
contradistinction to the corners last referred to, by which, through bolt or like
attachment, the glass can be held in position without putty, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Watson, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixteenth day of November, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
JOHN WATSON. (L.S.)