IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL GUARDS OR PANELS FOR USE IN LIEU OF SHUTTERS, AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PIIRROSES"
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert John Worrall, of the Ironworks, Tue Brook, 33,
Whitechapel, Liverpool, and Victoria Buildings, in the City of Manchester, all
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN METAL GUARDS OR PANELS FOR USE IN LIEU OF SHUTTERS, AND IN
APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE
TO OTHER PIIRROSES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert John Worrall at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1879.
ROBERT JOHN WORRALL, of the Ironworks, Tue Brook, 33, Whitechapel,
Liverpool, and Victoria Buildings, in the City of Manchester, all in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL GUARDS OR PANELS FOR USE IN
LIEU OF SHUTTERS, AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH
INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES "
Window guards or panels are in important cities generally superseding shutters
for protecting windows and doorways of buildings, but as at present constructed
mostly possess several disadvantages, among which may be enumerated the
following, vis-The liability of the bars filling up the panel to work loose in their
holes, and thus allow the rails to sag, the panel to lose its symetrical shape and
an important element of its strength. The want of strong yet nent joints for
connecting the panels together, want of stability, and the unsightliness of the
fixtures when the panels are not in place.
Now my Invention is designed to obviate these evils and consists,-
First. In a method of securing the bars in the panels. I propose tapping the
holes in the upper rail or rails of each panel; I form the bars with a portion
screwed to engage with the tappet hole, the remainder of the bar being formed
of slightly reduced diameter, so as to pass easily through the tapped hole till
the screwed portion engages therewith, when the bottom end can be rivetted
up or otherwise secured, holding all fast. The screwed portion may be formed
separately and welded on, or the entire bar be rolled of varying diameter.
Second. In methods of jointing the panels together. One plan is to fit a pin to
one style to enter a hole in the other, and one rail carrying a metal strap into

page_text: which a projecting tongue on the other fits. Another plan is to form alternate
dovetails on both abutting rails, the one engaging with the other.
Another method consists in fitting plates to oach style, and having projecting
lugs so arranged that when fitted together they alternate with each other, and
with fixed pins on either style passing through them. Another plan is to form a
shoulder or shoulders on each panel where the rail or rails join the style, and fit a
metal shoe or fork on one panel to embrace the abutting portion of the next with,
if desired, the rail fitting the shoe cranked to bring all flush. Another plan
consists in forming a vertical key of square or similar section on one panel to fit a
correspondingly shaped hole on the other.
may arrange my fasteners in parallel pairs, and may use parallel buttons and
slots, or tongues and grooves if desired.
Third. When the panels are to be connected to the window bar I prefer to
secure a plate or plates with dovetail holes in it, and form dovetail tongues on the
styles to enter, or the arrangement can be reversed, that is, the tongues on the
window bar and the holes in the styles or in plates attached thereto. Similarly
I may use this method for connecting the panel at or near its base, or I may use
one or more continuous beadings or flanges attached to the name plate, stall board,
or other support for this latter purpose.
In some cases I prefer to employ window bars of special construction formed
with a special flange or moulding; on one panel I fit a curved hook or tooth to
grip one side of the flange, and pivot another corresponding hook on the panel, so
that when the next panel is pushed up against it and moves the hook, it is closed
onto the flange or round the beading (and the end panel or panels being locked as
usual) holding all firmly, so as to prevent the panels being pulled forward.
Fourth. When the panels are arranged over a doorway, they are generally
hinged like a gate so as to allow access when the window panels are up, but as the
panels are generally filled in with ornamentation, the ordinary latch and box takes
up too much room. I arrange my latch on the outer face of the style, thus leaving
the interior of the panel for ornamentation. In carrying it out I prefer to thicken
the style and form a slot in it (or secure a plate so as to form a slot) with bevelled
top and bottom. Within this I pivot above the centre a piece of metal of similar
shape to the slot, keyed on a spindle which is cranked at its outer end to work
into the ordinary catch, suitable thumb pieces or handles being attached, so that by
depressing one side the crank is moved clear of the catch to allow the gate to open;
when releasing the handle the metal piece falls flush with the style, and the gate
can be pushed to, the crank again locking in the catch, and if desired a lock may
shoot through the metal piece when closing the premises.
This latch arrangement applies to ordinary villa and like gates.
My method of screwing the vertical bars will be found applicable to gates
and certain other panels and palisadings used for purposes other than window
guards.
Fifth. In some cases I arrange panels or guards for windows so as to be pushed
up the window or doorway to the top, and be locked in the day time instead of
being carried away or lowered into a cellar. This will be found very convenient as
well as ornamental to most windows. I prefer to arrange buttons or flanges carried
by the panels to slide in parallel grooves or slots in the window bars, preferably
formed by two half pipes bolted together to form open grooves, or by a bridge and a
T-rail or similar section secured together, the heads of the buttons or flanges
preventing their boing laterally pulled out of the slots or grooves. The panels can
be counterweighted or balanced or raised and lowered in any convenient or desired
manner, such as by chain or cord over pulleys.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert John Worrall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th
June 1880.
ROBERT JOHN WORRALL, of the Ironworks, Tue Brook, 33, Whitechapel,
Liverpool, and Victoria Buildings, in the City of Manchester, all in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN METAL GUARDS OR PANELS FOR USE IN
LIEU OF SHUTTERS, AND IN APPLIANCES CONNECTED THEREWITH, PART OF WHICH
INVENTION IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Window guards as at present constructed have several defects, the most important
of these being the following, viz. :-
I. Want of sufficient strength without clumsiness, (a), to resist the "wear and
tear" incident upon their being portable; (b), to preserve their symetrical shape; (c),
to preserve the truth of those parts at which the panels join to each other, or to
the window bars, pilasters, sills, or other supports provided with fittings for their
reception.
II. Want of neat, temporary joints, efficient in keeping a number of panels rigid,
which may be joined together without exterior support to the upper parts.
III. Want of permanent or temporary fixtures or fittings used as connectors,
etcetera, to the window bars and other places; small, neat, and yet efficient in
keeping the window guards secure, and inaking them easy to fix in place, and
remove them with great despatch.
Now my Invention is designed to obviate these evils, and consists,-
Under the first head. In a method of securing the bars in the panels. I propose
tapping the holos in the upper rail or rails of each panel. I form the bars with a
portion screwed to engage with the tapped hole, the remainder of the bar being
formed of slightly reduced diameter so as to pass easily through the tapped holo
till the screwed portion engages therewith when the bottom end can be rivetted
up or otherwise secured, holding all fast. The screwed portion may be formed
separately and welded on, or the entire bar be rolled of varying diameter. It is
obvious that the principle applies equally whether the screwed bars filling up the
structure are arranged vertically or horizontally It is not essential that every bar
in the structure should be treated on this plan, though for good work I prefer
doing so.
To still further elucidate this part of my Invention I will now refer to the
Drawings and to the Figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 (Sheet I.) is a section of my screwed (vertical) bar and rail, in which A is
the rail; B, the screwed portion on the bar C; Fig. 2 is an elevation of part of the
bar I prefer to form the collar or enlarged part for screwing (usually /." larger
than the rest of the bar) by swage blocks at the time of making the bar.
When a spear or other ornament is fitted on the bar as is usually the case, I
prefer to put the enlarged collar or boss on the lower end of the spear, and then
weld it onto the bar, when the collar or boss can be threaded. Fig. 3 represents
the collar or boss as put on a square sectioned bar. The lower end of the bar can
also if desired be screwed (by a reduced thread) into the bottom rail of the
structure, as shown in Fig. 4, or it can be rivetted or otherwise secured. The
screwing of the reduced lower end of the bar however I do not consider a necessity
and do not claim it. It will be seen therefore that the adoption of this principle
must remove the evils referred to under this head.
Under the second head. In respect of methods of jointing the panels together, one
plan is represented in Figs. 5 and 6 respectively an elevation and plan. I fit a
pin D (shown in dotted lines) to one style of one panel E to enter a hole in the
adjoining one E. The top rail of panel E' carries a metal strap F usually of steel

page_text: or phosphor-bronze or other suitable hard metal, and generally secured to the rail
by one of the screwed bars or spears passing through it as shown. The end of the
rail of panel E or a plate attached to it carries a tongue G which slips into strap F,
thus holding the panels together until drawn apart for removal.
Another plan, shewn in Figs. 7 and 8, respectively an elevation and section
through X, Y, consists in forming a metal shoe H attached to one panel and covering
the shoulder joining the rail to the style, to slip over or embrace that of the next
panel; E, E', are the styles, and I a spear, spike, or other ornament screwed or
otherwise attached to the top of the case or shoe H.
In the Drawings the rails of the panels are cranked, as shown in the dotted lines,
to bring all flush when fitted together; the cranked portion of one rail lying on
that of the other. One of the shoulders usually employed to connect the styles
and top rail is shown in the section as H'.
These joints will be found very effective in ensuring the rigidity so essential to
the proper securing of the panels.
Under the third head. When the panels are to be connected to the window bars,
I prefer to secure a plate or plates with dovetail holes or recesses in it, or them,
and form dovetail tongues on the styles to enter; or the arrangement can be
reversed, that is, the tongues on the windowbar and the holes in the styles or in
plates attached thereto.
This part of my Invention is shewn in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12. Fig. 9 is a side
section of a window bar J with a plate attached to it, having the dovetail recess K,
into which the dovetail projection L on the style, or attached to it, enters. In
Fig. 10 (a section through X, Y, of Fig. 12) the reverse method is shown. Jis
the window bar, K¹ the dovetail attached to the plate, and L' the hole in the style,
or, as shewn, preferably in a plate or continuation attached to it, so as not to
weaken it; Fig. 11 is an elevation of Fig. 9, the panel being removed; Fig. 12 is a
front view of Fig. 10, representing a window bar having two panels E and E¹ fixed
in position.
The panel or panels are slid till the dovetail recess or recesses in the arms, or
continuations of the styles, engage with the dovetail or dovetails L' on the plate,
and this motion must be reversed before the dovetails can be disengaged; which
reverse motion is prevented by the securing or locking of the other end of this
panel, or other panels, or gates, in the same line. The whole is then secure so as
to be incapable of being pulled forward from the window, as shewn by the arrow
pointing in Fig. 9.
If desired the dovetail tongues or recessed plates may be hinged to the window
bars or panels when it is impossible to come quite close to the window bars with
the panels, and such projections when not in use being in the way.
In some cases I prefer to employ window bars of special construction formed with
a special flange or moulding. On one panel I pivot a curved hook or tooth to grip
one side of the flange and pivot another corresponding hook on the panel, so that
when the next panel is pushed up against it and moves the hook it is closed onto
the flange or round the beading (and the end panel or panels being locked as usual)
holding all firmly so as to prevent the panels being pulled forward.
The best method of accomplishing this is shown on Sheet II., Fig. 13 being a
plan view, with hooks gripping the window bar; Fig. 14 showing them in the act
of being closed; Fig. 15 an elevation.
I prefer to pivot by pin M. the hooked cam or claw N on the upper rail of one
panel as shown, and affix the other O to or let it form part of the next panel. The
cam N has a slot P formed in it, as shown, so that when the panels are to be put up it
is brought opposite the button headed pin Q on the other panel, so the pin enters it,
and the other panel being pushed forward, the pin traversing the slot P causes the
cam hook N to turn on centre M, close in, and grip the flange of the window bar R.,
while the other hook O engages with the other side. The ends of the panels or of
others attached to them are secured by locking or otherwise. I prefer to form one or

page_text: more teeth or projections a on the hooks and corresponding recesses in the window
bar to ensure firmness of grip.
Other methods of causing the panel or panels to operate the hooks can be used,
but the method shewn I believe to be simple and efficient. The straight line
behind the bar R represents the front of the window pane affixed to the window
bar in any desired manner.
It will thus be seen that the above mentioned methods will essentially tend to
the proper securing of the panels to their exterior supports in the simplest possible
and easiest workable manner.
When the panels are arranged over a doorway they are generally hinged like a
gate, so as to allow access when the window panels are up, but as the panels are
generally filled in with ornamentation the ordinary latch takes up too much room.
I arrange my latch on the outer face of the style, thus leaving the interior of
the panel for ornamentation. Figs. 16 and 17 show respectively a side view of the
gate style and an elevation of the same, the latch being raised in Fig. 17.
In carrying it out I prefer to thicken the style S, and form a slot in it (or secure
a plate so as to form a slot) with bevelled top and bottom, as shewn in dotted lines,
Fig. 17. Within this I pivot above the centre a piece of metal T, of similar shape
at the bottom, and less acutely bevelled at the top, and keyed or secured on a
spindle U, which is cranked at its outer end V to work in the ordinary catch W, on
the door post or other place. Suitable thumb pieces X, X, or handles are attached,
so that by depressing X, as shown in Fig. 17, the crank is moved clear of the catch,
allowing the bolt to move and the gate to open. When releasing the handle, the
metal piece or counterweight T falls flush with the style, and the gate can be
pushed to, the crank bolt again locking in the catch. To operate the gate from the
other side the handle X is raised. If desired a spring or similar lock may shoot a
bolt through the metal piece T, as shewn in dotted lines, Fig. 16, when closing the
premises.
This latch arrangement applies also to ordinary villa and like gates, and will be
found cheap, effective, and occupying little room. My method of securing the bars
in panels will be found applicable to securing such in gates and certain other panels
and palisadings and like structures used for purposes other than window guards,
such as divisions for property, cages for animals, and for such like purposes where
an open metal frame is filled in or secured together by bars or rods.
In some cases I arrange panels or guards for windows so as to be pushed or pulled
up the window or doorway to the top and locked in the day time instead of being
carried away or lowered into the cellar.
This will be found very convenient to most windows. I prefer to arrange
buttons or flanges carried by the panels to slide in parallel grooves or slots in the
window bars, preferably formed by two half pipes bolted together to form open
grooves, or by a bridge and a Trail, or similar section secured together. The heads
of the buttons or flanges prevent their being laterally pulled out of the slots or
grooves. However, instead of the buttons or flanges I generally prefer to use a
wheel or several wheels, or spheres of metal, hard wood, or other suitable substance
attached to the styles, as shown in Figs. 21 and 22, Sheet III., as this arrangement
causes less friction than when a rigid bearing surface is used.
The panels can be counterweighted if desired, and be raised or lowered in any
desired manner, such as by a windlass or chains or cords over pulleys. To sustain
the panels in position they may be locked or bolted into the side of the window,
or be held by an automatic sustaining device suitable for the purpose.
Fig. 18 represents an elevation of a shop window fitted with a panel on this
principle; Y is the panel sliding in guides Z, Z. It is pushed up by hand, or can
be hoisted by a mechanical device if desired; Z, Z', are mortice locks, the bolts of
which enter recesses to retain the panels as shewn, or instead of this locking
arrangement springs Y₁ can be fitted in the window bars or flanges of the metal

page_text: grooves, as shewn in Fig. 19, a projection or stop Y³, attached to each style, resting
on the springs, as shewn, to support the whole.
In elevating the panel the springs are pushed back by the stops Y³, and when
these have passed the springs they automatically shoot out and sustain the panel.
To lower the panel they are pushed or pulled back, and the panel descends. To 5
prevent injury to the window in case of anything giving way buffers of india
rubber or other resilient material may be placed for the panel to abut against.
Figs. 20, 21, and 22 represent on the left side transverse sections, and on the
right top plans of the sliding arrangement. In Fig. 20 A¹ is the style; B¹, the
friction roller on pin C in such, and held by nut E¹. D' is the bridge rail forming
the groove or channel for the roller; F', a washer on the pin. I profer screwing
one set of pins C' to the side of one style and to slip in the rollers on that side
placed in the groove, so that by removing nuts E' and pins C¹ on the other side
the panel can be drawn away and removed for alteration or repairs; or the grooves
themselves can be made removable in any desired manner.
Fig. 22 represents a similar arrangement, but spheres are used instead of rollers,
and a groove or channel D¹ of corresponding shape.
Fig. 21 represents the arrangement of two segments of pipe D¹¹, D¹¹¹, secured
together by double shouldered bolts in the centre of a window, being suitably held
rigid at top and bottom and arranged for the ends of two panels to work in. The
rollers are of corresponding shape, and projections G¹, G¹, formed on the horizontal
rails abut against the edges of the pipo or groove to prevent the rollers coming in
contact with the bolts. Instead of this arrangement a bridge and a T-rail or
similar section bolted together will answer the purpose, suitable rollers being used.
Suitable orifices or ducts can be cut in the grooves for the supply of lubricating?
matter if required.
The Drawings above referred to (except Fig. 18) are given as nearly as possible
the size I prefer to work to, Figs. 16 and 17 however being represented as of
heavier material than the rest, the Drawings being taken from stronger work.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the use of
the various mechanism and details herein before expressed for purposes foreign to
the ground intended to be covered by this Specification, but that what I believe
to be novel and original, and desire to claim under the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is,-
I. The manufacture of metal guards or panels for use in lieu of shutters, gates,
and analagous structures, with the bars filling up or partly filling the structure,
screwed (by a threaded portion of larger diameter than the rest of the bar) into the
framing or rails, for the purposes described.
II. The methods of and apparatus for jointing the sections of panelling together,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8.
III. The arrangement and use of the dovetail connections for jointing the panels
or sections to the window bars or like places or supports, as described and shown
in Figs. 9 to 12, or any mere modification thereof.
IV. The mode of and apparatus as described for securing the sections or panels
to the window bars by causing the said sections or panels when being put up to
automatically operate booked cams, claws, or their equivalent attached thereto to
clip flanges, mouldings, recesses, or the like on said bars.
V. A latch for the gates, of panels in lieu of shutters or other gates, as described,
in which a vertical counterweight (placed parallel and preferably flush with the
style or side of frame when in its normal position) is pivoted above the centre, and
operates a cranked catch, bolt, or its equivalent at or nearly at right angles to it
and the style.
VI. The manufacture of metal guards or panels for use in lieu of shutters, so
constructed and fitted as to be pushed or raised up in grooves or guides and be

page_text: held or suspended at or near the top of the front or face of the window or opening
when not required to be protected, as hereinbefore described.
VII The general arrangement of apparatus or appliances, substantially as
described and set forth for the purposes expressed in the foregoing Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert John Worrall, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
E. GARDNER COLTON,
Patent Agent,
32, Southampton Buildings, W.C.
ROBERT J. WORRALL. (L.S.)