IMPROVE- MENTS IN METALLIC BARS OR CLIPS TO BE USED FOR ROOFING AND GLASING PURPOSES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Alfred Bickley, of Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Stationer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN METALLIC BARS OR CLIPS TO BE USED FOR ROOFING AND GLASING
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 2nd June 1871, and dated the 7th December 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Alfred Bickley
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th December 1870.
I, THOMAS ALFRED BICKLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC BARS OR CLIPS TO BE USED FOR ROOFING AND
GLAZING PURPOSES," to be as follows, that is to say :—
My improvements refer to the formation of metallic horizontal bars
or clips for the securing and holding of glass or slates for roofing and
glazing purposes, and are more especially applicable to orchard and
horticultural houses generally.

page_text: I form a continuous horizontal bar secured to the rafters, purlins, or
framework of the roof in one length or lengths in any suitable manner,
and having a series of turned-over clips or catches into which the lower
edges of the slates or lengths of glass are slid, the under side of the bar
being suitably grooved to house and receive the top edges of the next
row of slates or lengths of glass. Such groove may be formed in the
section of the metallic bar, or may be cut as a rebate in the rafters,
purlins, or framework of the roof. Some of the clips or catches at
intervals in the series are made to turn upon a rivet centre outwards for
the purpose of removing and replacing broken glass or slates when
required. The lengths of glass or slate may slide and butt against each
other, or may be arranged so that the one length overlaps the next, and
so on throughout the series.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Alfred Bickley in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 6th June 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
ALFRED BICKLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Stationer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Alfred Bickley, Her special
license that I, the said Thomas Alfred Bickley, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Alfred Bickley,
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 "In-
PROVEMENTS IN METALLIC BARS OR CLIPS TO BE USED FOR ROOFING AND GLAZING
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Alfred Bickley, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should 3

page_text: 2
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 Thomas Alfred Bickley, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner tho
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
My improvements refer to the formation of metallic horizontal bars
or clips for the securing and holding of glass or slates for roofing, and
glazing purposes, and are more especially applicable to orchard and
horticultural houses generally.
"
I form a continuous horizontal bar secured to the rafters, purlins, or
framework of the roof in one length or lengths in any suitable manner,
and having a series of turned-over clips or catches into which the lower
edges of the slates or lengths of glass are slid, the under side of the bar
being suitably grooved to house and receive the top edges of the next
row of slates or lengths of glass. Each groove may be formed in the
section of the metallic bar, or may be cut as a rebate in the rafters,
purlins, or framework of the roof. Some of the clips or catches at
intervals in the series are made to turn upon a rivet centre outwards for
the purpose of inserting the glass or slates when required. The lengths
of glass or slate may slide and butt against each other, or may be
arranged so that the one length overlaps the next, and so on throughout
the series.
My Invention will be better understood by referring to the accom-
panying Drawings and the letters and figures marked thereupon.
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views of the continuous metallic
horizontal bars (a) secured to the rafters, purlins, or framework (6) of
the roof in one or more lengths in any suitable manner, such as by
screwing or nailing to the rafters, or the bars (a) may be let into the
rafters, which will tend to strengthen the roof. The bars (a) are pro-
vided with a series of turned-up clips or catches (c) for receiving the
lower edges of the panes of glass or slates, and at certain distances
the form of the clips (c) is modified, as shewn at (c³), Figure 2, being
turned the reverse way, and having nuts or pivotted catches, such as (d)

page_text: Figures 2 and 3, fixed upon them for the purpose of inserting the glass
or slates, or for the removal of any which may be broken. Instead of
using the nuts or pivotted catches (d) a portion or the whole of the
clips (c) may if desired be formed of a sufficiently ductile metal to allow
of their being bent either way for inserting or removing the glass or
Blates.
Figure 3 represents an entire bar shewing the clips (c) and nuts or
catches (d) arranged at intervals; the projecting parts (e) are intended
to carry any surface water on to the next lower row of glass or slates,
and also to hold them down in position. (f), Figures 1 and 2, is a 1
rebate cut in the rafter or formed as part of the metallic bars (e), as
preferred, for receiving the upper edges of the glass or slates; (9) is a
sloping part, the object of which is to carry condensed moisture from
the inside of the glass on to the top of the next row of panes, thus
preventing the usual "drip."
Figure 4 shews the lower edge of the bar with sections of glass and
various ways of glazing. By preference I employ the method of abutting
them together as at (7), or as shewn at (i).
]
Figure 5 represents a portion of the roof of a glass house shewing the
application of my improvements. The bars (a) with their clips as described 2
may be cut out or produced in a variety of patterns or outlines.
Having thus described the object and nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be carried into effect, I claim, without
limiting myself to these precise details, the several improvements in
metallic bars or clips to be used for roofing and glazing purposes, 2
substantially in manner as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Alfred Bickley, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.