Decorated Prism Windows.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
Decorated Prism Windows.
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 my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to ornamental prism lights and plates, and has for its
object to provide means whereby ornamental effects may be produced in con-
nection with prism lights. So much as is necessary to illustrate my invention
or to suggest the uses to which it may be put is shown in the accompanying
drawings, wherein,
Figure 1 is a view of a paper pattern.
Figure 2 a view of a prism light placed on the pattern ready for decorating:
Figure 3 is a section through a decorated prism light, the decoration being
applied to the prism side:
Figure 4 is a section through a decorated prism light, the decoration applied
to the plane side.
Figure 5 is an elevation of a prism plate composed of a series of prism lights
or decorated lights, which may or may not be prism lights:
Figure 6 is a view of a prism plate having a series of prism lights and a
decoration which extends over a series of lights. Like parts are indicated by the
same letter in all the figures.
A is a body of paper having the outline B B, this paper making a pattern. I
can best describe the result or the finished product by describing the manner in
which it is attained. I take this paper pattern and lay it down on a board or
table and place the prism light C upon it; the pattern will then be seen through
the light. I now apply to one side of each prism D the decorating material,
as for example, paint or the like, E. Of course I have illustrated the pattern as
giving simply a convenient means for aiding in applying the decorating material.
The pattern of course is not indispensable. In this form of device the character-
istic feature is painting upon one side only of the prism. In Figure 4 I have
shown the paint F as applying to the other or plain side of the prism light. In
Figure 5 I have shown a series of prism plates G G, and a series of decorated
plates H H, and in Figure 6 I have shown a series of prism plates J, having each
a portion of a decorative effect K.
In using the term "Prism" here I wish to be understood as meaning always
an effective or useful prism for the purpose of increasing the illumination of a
room or apartment to which the decorated window is applied, as distinguished
from a merely roughened or corrugated and irregular, broken surface of the
glass or transparent material on which the decorative effect may have been
applied: in other words, I desire to make use of the illuminating prism lights,
but to so modify their effects by the application of paints and the like as to
produce a pleasing appearance, while at the same time greatly increasing the
illumination of the room. The decoration may be placed on either side of the

page_text: prism light, although I prefer that it be put on the prism side, and when put on
the prism side I prefer to have it put on but one side of the prism. I have shown
prism lights having each one smooth surface, but of course this is not essential,
as the surface here shown as smooth may also be prismatic or otherwise broken or
interrupted.
I have spoken of painting the design, but it will be understood that it may be
applied in any desired manner, as for example, by covering the prism face with
wax and then etching out the design.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
An ornamental window glass comprising a glass body with a series of prisms
arranged thereon systematically to produce an increased illuminating effect, and
ornamental figures and designs arranged on the prism light substantially as shown
and specified so as to have their effect modified by the action of such prisms.
Dated this 13th day of July 1897.
For the Applicant.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.