IMPROVEMENTS IN SHUTTERS FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert McConnel, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SHUTTERS FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS."
Sealed the 18th February 1855, and dated the 28th August 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert McConnel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th August 1854.
I, ROBERT MCCONNEL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SHUTTERS FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to the window shutters of shops,
but it is also applicable in other situations.
The Invention consists in dividing the shutter horizontally into two parts,
which are connected together by suspensory cords or chaius passing over
overhead pulleys in such a manner as to counterbalance each other. Suitable
recesses are formed above and below the window; and when it is necessary to
open the shutters, one portion is caused to descend into the recess below, the
other one being by the same action raised to the recess at the top of the
window. In some cases the shutter may be divided into two equal portions, .
the recesses being made to correspond.
In other cases, where a sufficiently large recess cannot conveniently be
obtained above the window, the shutter may be divided unequally, and the

page_text: consequent difference of traverse may be compensated for by causing the
smaller portion to descend from the upper, recess to the bottom of the
window, whilst the larger portion is made to slide behind or before the other
one, and to rise to the top of the window.
Where the shutters are divided unequally, the smaller portion must be
weighted to counterbalance the larger portion, or the weight of the two
portions may be equalized in any convenient manner. The shutters may be
constructed of wood or iron, and in any known manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert McConnel in the Great Seal Patent Oflice on the
27th February 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
McCONNEL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Ironfounder,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert McConnel, Her special license that I, the said Robert McConnel,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Robert McConnel, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SHUTTERS FOR DOORS AND WINDOWS," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Robert McConnel, by an instrument in writing under my hand
and seal, 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.
per-
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert McConnel, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: My said Invention relates more particularly to the shutters of shop windows
or doors, but it is also applicable in other situations. The Invention consists
in dividing the shutter horizontally into two parts, which are connected
together by suspensary cords or chains passing over overhead pulleys in such a
manner as to counterbalance each other. Suitable recesses are formed above
and below the window; and when it is necessary to open the shutters, one
portion is caused to descend into the recess beneath, the other one being by
the same action raised to the recess at the top of the window. In some cases
the shutter may be divided into two equal portions, the recesses being made to
correspond. In other cases, where a sufficiently large recess cannot con-
veniently be obtained above the window, the shutter may be divided unequally,
and the consequent difference of traverso may be compensated for by causing
the smaller portion to descend from the upper recess to the bottom of the
window, whilst the larger portion is made to slide behind or before the other
one, and to rise to the top of the window. Where the shutters are divided
unequally, the smaller portion must be weighted to counterbalance the larger
portion, or the weight of the two portions may be equalized in any convenient
manner. The shutters may be constructed of wood or iron, and in any known
manner.
And in order that iny said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several explanatory Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a front, elevation of a shop front;
shewing the adaption thereto of three modifications of my improved shutters.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section, taken across the window frames. Figure 3 is
a vertical section, taken through the left-hand window space; and Figure 4 is a
vertical section, taken through the central window or door space. The shop
front is divided into three several portions, A, B, C, the central one B of which
answers as the doorway into the shop, whilst the outer divisions A and C are
glazed, and constitute the windows. The shutters of the window space A.
are represented as fully open, and consist of upper and lower portions D, E.
Both these shutters D, E, slide in the same grooves F outside the window
frames, but inside the outer facings f. To the two upper corners of the lower
shutter E are attached suspensory cords, which pass up inside the facings f,
and over pulleys G above, whence they again descend a short distance, and
are attached to the upper corners of the upper shutter 1). The two shutters
1), E, are not represented as made exactly equal in size, but the upper
and smaller shutter D is weighted so as to counterbalance the weight of
the lower shutter E. Although not equal in size, the shutters D, E, travel

page_text: equal distances in opposite directions when being closed or opened. In closing
or opening these shutters, only so much power is required as is sufficient to
overcome the trifling friction of the slides and pulleys. When shut, the top
shutter D passes down a little below the top of the window, so as to leave a little
space for the entrance of light into the shop when it is otherwise shut up.
Advantage is taken of the position of the lower shutter E, when open, to adapt
a reflector to it, for the purpose of throwing light into the flat or cellar below
the shop. This reflector is formed by a picce g, cut out, as it were, from the
body of the shutter, and mounted upon horizontal spindles working in the sides
of the shutter frame, so that it may be set at a suitable angle for reflecting
light into the interior, a suitable reflecting surface being formed upon its inner
side. When the shutters are to be closed, the reflector 7 is turned flush with
the shutter, and secured. The doorway B of the shop is represented as fitted
with shutters H, I, of very unequal size. These shutters slide in separate
grooves J in the door way frame, being connected by cords passing over
pulleys K, as in the modification already described. The smaller shutter I is
weighted or constructed in such a manner as to counterbalance the larger
shutter H. When the shutters are opened, the smaller one I, rises up into
the small recess above the doorway, whilst the larger one H descends into the
larger space below the floor of the shop, one shutter passing the other when
they are being opened or closed. In this manner, whilst the two shutters are
made to balance each other, a much smaller recess is required above the door
or window in proportion than in the arrangement wherein one shutter requires
to travel as far up as the other goes down; and this convenient disposition will
obviously be very advantageous in cases where a comparatively small recess
only can be obtained above the door or window. A small door L is formed in
the shutter I, which descends to the floor of the shop when closed, it being by
A
this door that access is obtained to the shop when otherwise shut up.
reflector M is adapted to the shutter H, and when this shutter descends below
the floor of the shop, the reflector is set so as to throw light into the flat
or cellar below the shop. The window space C is represented as furnished
with a single shutter N. This shutter slides in grooves in the side frames,
being arranged similarly to those already herein-before described, and when
opened it is caused to descend below the bottom of the window. It is
suspended by cords attached to its lower corners at O, which cords pass over
pulleys at P, and then re-descend to a counterweight Q below. This counter-
weight is a flat bar of iron or other metal or metals, and extends across the
window space, being arranged to work in grooves in the side frames, and
This system of
alongside of the grooves in which the shutter N itself moves.

page_text: arranging and balancing the window shutter is much to be preferred to the
common plau, on account of the convenient disposition of the parts, and the
smallness of the space taken up by the counterweight and balance details.
The shutter N is formed with doors R, which are intended to be opened when
the shutter is down below the window, so as to admit light to the interior of
the cellar or flat below the shop.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the system or mode of arranging and constructing shutters for doors
and windows, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of arranging and constructing shutters for doors
and windows, wherein each shutter is in two sections or divisions, which meet
together when closed in two different guide grooves.
Third, the application and use of unequally divided shutters, as herein-before
described, with counterweights attached for working them in proper balance.
Fourth, the system or mode of balancing shutters by suspended cross
weights, as delineated in Figure 1 of my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert McConnel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
ROBERT M'CONNEL. (L.S.)