A NEW KIND OF TILES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Leopold Faconnet, of 52, Rue du Transit, Vaugirard,
in the City of Paris, in the Empire of France, Tile Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "A NEW KIND OF TILES."
Sealed the 3rd October 1862, and dated the 5th April 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Leopold Faconnet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
April 1862.
I, LEOPOLD FACONNET, of 52, Rue du Transit, Vaugirard, in the City of
Paris, in the Empire of France, Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW KIND OF TILES," to be as
follows:-
I give to the tile either really or apparently several thicknesses, the inter-
mediate space (that which is exposed when the tile is placed) being thicker
than the upper and lower part. These thicknesses might always be real, but
in this case the weight would be unnecessarily great; be this, however, as it
may, from the difference of thickness the upper part of the tile may be over--
lapped, and the bottom of the tile itself overlap the head or top of two others,
still keeping a straight line and a plane surface. Each tile has on its under
part and at each side (if it has a real hollow) a rib or strengthening piece, which
may be straight or curved, according to the shape of the tile, and a third rib
may be added if desired. In the centre of the tile, and still on its under
surface, is cut a notch or groove to receive the edge or border of a canal,

page_text: bereafter described. A small rib placed at the end of the tile on its upper
surface, and slightly tapering strengthens the head of the tile, and divides the
current of water; the head of the tile may be pointed, rounded, or nearly at
right angles with one or two clasps or catches. On each side of the tile and
in the centre a slope or curve is formed, which facilitates the flow of water to
the canal before mentioned, and assists the placing of the tiles side by side.
Two marks are made top and bottom and outside the tile to assist the tiler in
always keeping a perfectly straight line. On the top of each tile on the part
which is to be overlapped is a canal leading right and left, forming two
straight gutters or drains (at an angle), which direct the water with rapidity
from the gutters of one tile to those of another, and which also prevent the
wind, however strong, forcing any water under the tiles. On the side or edge
tile, which completes the roofing, a ledge is formed to arrest the water.
In the accompanying Drawing, forming part of this my Provisional Specifi-
cation, I have shewn several tiles formed and laid according to my Invention.
A, tile with shells or scales; a, a, canal or drain; a', rib; B, under surface
of same tile; b, crotchet or hook; 6", ridge; ", notch or groove; C, section
of tile; D, edge tile; d, same tile with border or ledge; E, part of the tile A
for the junctions; F, tile forming but one scale; f, part of same tile; G, part
of the tile A for jointings; H, under surface of tile with one scale or shell;
h, part of same tile; I, section of same; J, tile with square head and two clasps
or catches j,j; j³, under surface of same tile; L, part of roof with scaly tiles;
L, part of roof with lozenge-shaped tiles; L", part of roof with hexagonal
tiles; L, part of roof with rectangular tiles; M, M, ridge; m, end view of same.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Leopold Faconnet in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd October 1862..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, I, LEOPOLD
FACONNET, of 52, Rue du Transit, Vaugirard, in the City of Paris, in the
Empire of France, Tile Manufacturer, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Leopold Faconnet, Her special licence, that I, the said Leopold Faconnet,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Leopold

page_text: .
upon the
Faconnet, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to 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 "A NEW KIND OF TILES,"
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Leopold Faconnet, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under , 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 Leopold Faconnet, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and forming part of this my Specification, and to the figures and letters of
reference placed thereon.
:
My improved tiles offer several advantages; one is, that on a roof covered
with them no overlapping will be apparent; thus, if covered with scale or
shell-shaped tiles, no discontinuity will be presented, and it will appear as one
whole, and if of even tiles it will form a perfectly plane surface and as if made
of one single piece. This is effected by giving to the tile several real or
apparent thicknesses, making it, for example, thinner at top and bottom than
in the intermediate part, that which is alone visible when the tile is placed.
These thicknesses might always be real, but in such case the weight of the.tile
would be considerable, and its strength unnecessarily great. When these
thicknesses are not real the tile presents on its under surface a cavity more or
less deep. In either case, from these differences in thickness the upper part
of the tile may be overlapped, and the lower part of the tile may overlap the
top of two other tiles without destroying the plane, that is to say, maintaining
an even surface. Each tile carries beneath its upper part and on each side, if
it has a real cavity, a strengthening rib, which may be straight or curved,
according to the shape of the tile, and a third rib may be added if deemed
necessary. In the centre, and still on the under surface of the tile, is formed
a notch or groove, the depth of which is to receive the border or edge of a
canal, to be hereafter described, and the width intended to facilitate moving the
tile right and left in dovetailing or fitting it. A small rib placed on the upper
surface and near the top, in which direction it slightly tapers, not only

page_text: strengthens the tile but serves to divide the current of water into the canal or
conduit hereafter described. The head of the tile may be pointed, rounded,
or nearly at right angles, and have one or two clasps or catches. On each side
and in the middle of the tile is a sloping cut, which facilitates the flow of
water to the canal, and also the placing and fitting of the tiles side by side.
Two guide marks are placed at top and bottom and outside the tile to guide
the tiler and prevent any departure from a straight line when laying the tiles.
To carry off any water which might pass througli the joints a canal right and
left is formed at the top of each tile on the part which is overlapped two
gutters in a straight line and at an angle, which not only receive, carry, and
direct the water which passes through the joints, but prevent the wind,
however strong, diverting the water from its course.
It will be apparent
that by this arrangement the water entering the canals leading into each other
descends with great rapidity, and that all these gutters being well covered in
their entire length the wind cannot throw the water back into the habitation.
These tiles may be laid and fitted with the greatest rapidity and solidity, the
hook piece, or projection near the top of the under surface permitting anybody
to apply and solidly dovetail them, for five tiles press upon each one, and a rib
near the book or projecting piece isolates the tile from the lath or support,
protecting it from humidity and decay. On the edge tile is formed a ledge to
arrest the water, but I prefer a tile which I call the stay or arrest, and which
is a pipe cut through the centre, and having one end smaller than the other,
so that it may enter another similar tile, and the second not project on the
first in overlapping. This overlapping exists, but it is beneath and invisible.
To terminate this stop tile at the bottom of the roof I place a but end or
stopper (also shell or scale-shaped or even, to accord with the other tiles), of
the form of a quarter sphere. These stay or stop tiles may vary in form to
suit the rest of the roofing. Fifteen of my tiles will cover a superficial yard,
and weigh about eighty pounds, and they may be placed on metal roofing if
desired;
the shape may be lozenge, hexagonal, or other, and they will neces-
sarily vary in size according to requirement. An arrangement of ridge tiles
fitting on the top of the roof without plaster completes this roofing; the ridge
tile is beveled at its inner lower part to facilitate its application. It need not
be feared that the canals or gutters will choke, inasmuch as they are perfectly
overlapped, are provided with a raised edge, which prevents overflow, and are
larger than required; these tiles will give no passage to snow or rain, even
flame will not penetrate them, and from these advantages, combined with
their lightness, and that the wind will have no power to tear them off, they
will be found greatly preferable to any other roofing.

page_text: In the Drawings, A indicates a scale-shaped tile, seen from above; a, a,
canal or gutter (the border may be angular, but for placing in the kiln and
carriage it is preferable to round it); a', rib; B, same tile, seen from beneath;
b, b, ridge and border, which may be straight or curved; b', hook or jointing
piece; b, ridge; ", notch or groove; C, section of the tile; D, edge tile;
d, same tile with border or ledge; E, part of tile A for the junctions; F, tile
without scale or forming one only; f, part of tile F; G, part of tile A, for
jointings; H, under surface of one scale tile; h, part of tilè F; I, section of
tile HI; J, tile with two hook pieces; j, j, top of same tile; L, part of roof
with scaly tiles; L', same with lozenge-shaped tiles; L", same with hexagonal
tiles; L, same with rectangular tiles; M, M, ridge; m, end view of same;
N, stop or terminating tile; n, section of same; O, stopper or but end of N
o, section of stopper; P, stop tile at angle; p, section of P; and Q, stop tile P
for placing at the ends of roofs.
;
In witness whereof, I, the said Leopold Faconnet, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
L. FACONNET. (L.S.)
P. B. DARNIS.