Year: 1888

page_text: A communication to me from abroad by OMER VAN LIERDE, of Sottegen, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Professor of Horticulture.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the glass frames ordinarily used for protecting and forcing
flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and it has for its object a novel method of constructing
and arranging such frames so that they are simple, cheap, and can be adjusted to
cover any desired space without any expensive building or foundation.
The improved frame is made preferably of iron, and consists of two lower parullei
edges or feet at any determined distance apart connected by a light arched frame-
work in which are fitted glass panes in the usual way. Any number of these frames
can be placed together end to end. so as to extend to any desired length. The
parallel feet rest in corresponding channels or gutters preferably of iron, which may
be connected together by narrow strips or plates at distances apart equal to the
length of each frame, and curved to fit the latter and make a joint between the
adjoining frames when laid upon them.
The parallel channels or gutters are preferably laid in a North and South direction,
and the glass frames being curved instead of flat, receive the heat of the sun advan-
tageously during the whole day. At each end of the line of frames arranged as
described may be fitted an end frame by which the extremities of the arched line of
glass frames are closed.
The arched frames described may also be advantageously used in other positions.
For instance, higher vaulted arch may be formed by using two lines of the
frames, their outer edges or feet only resting in channels or gutters and their inner
edges being raised to any desired height and meeting and supporting each other.
Or one edge or foot may rest in a channel or gutter the other edge resting against
77

page_text: a wall at any convenient height, and the channel or gutter itself being also supported
upon a wall or upon columns if desired, to protect trees or plants of considerable
height.
Any single frame can be readily removed, or raised for the admission of air without
difficulty when required.
The improved glass frames described are very quickly placed in position and
removed by a single person, they are evenly and constantly heated, rain or other
water is carried away by the channels or gutters, and they are applicable to the
culture of plants of all kinds.
EDWARDS & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Glass Forcing Frames for Plants.
Communicated to me from abroad by OMER VAN LIERDE, of Sottegem, in the
Kingdom of Belgium, Professor of Horticulture.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the firm of Edwards and Co. Patent Agents and
Engineers of 35 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
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 and accompanying drawings (that is to say):
:-
This invention relates to the glass frames ordinarily used for protecting and
forcing flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and it has for its object a novel method of
constructing and arranging such frames so that they are simple, cheap, and can be
adjusted to cover any desired space without any expensive building or foundation.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of the invention, the several figures
shewing different methods of its application.
The improved frame is made preferably of iron, and consists of two lower parallel
edges or feet at any determined distance apart supporting and connected by a light
arched framework in which are fitted glass frames in the usual way. Any number
of these frames can be placed together end to end, so as to extend to any desired
length, (as illustrated in figure 2). The parallel feet rest in corresponding channels
or gutters preferably of iron, which may be connected together by narrow strips or
plates at distances apart equal to the length of each frame (as shewn in figure 1),
and curved to fit the latter and make a joint between the adjoining frames when laid
upon them.
The parallel channels or gutters are preferably laid in a North and South direction,
and the glass frames being curved instead of flat, receive the heat of the sun advan-
tageously during the whole day. At each end of the line of frames arranged as
described may be fitted an end frame (shewn in figure 2) by which the extremities
of the arched line of glass frames are closed.
The arched frames described may also be advantageously used in other positions.
For instance, a higher vaulted arch may be formed (as illustrated in figure 5) by
using two lines of the frames, their outer edges or feet only resting in channels or
gutters and their inner edges being raised to any desired height and meeting and
supporting each other. Or one edge or foot may rest in a channel or gutter the
outer edge resting against a wall at any convenient height, (as illustrated in figure 4)
and the channel or gutter itself being also supported upon a wall or upon columns
if desired (as shewn in figure 3) to protect trees or plants of considerable height.
One or any number of the frames can be readily removed, or raised for the
admission of air without difficulty when required (as illustrated in figures 1, 2,
and 4).

page_text: The improved glass frames described are very quickly placed in position and
removed by a single person; they are evenly and constantly heated, rain or other
water is carried away by the channels or gutter, and they are applicable to the
culture of plants of all kinds.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The separate moveable arched frames, constructed and used substantially in the
manner and for the purposes described and shewn.
2. In combination with such frames, the channels or gutters in which their lower
edges rest, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 5th da Ր A
T
1000
EDWARDS & CO.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Patentee.