JuPROVEMENTS IN HOLLOW VENTILATING BRICKS OR SLABS, AND IN ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED FOR VENTILATING HORTICULTURAL AND OTHER STRUCTURES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Looker, of Kingston-upon-Thames, in
the County of Surrey, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, for the Inven-
tion of "JuPROVEMENTS IN HOLLOW VENTILATING BRICKS OR SLABS, AND
IN ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED FOR VENTILATING HORTICULTURAL AND OTHER
STRUCTURES."
Scaled the 5th November 1972, and dated the 7th May 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Looker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th May 1872.
I, BENJAMIN LOOKER, of Kingston-upon-Thames, in the County of
Surrey, Brick and Tile Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOLLOW VENTILATING BRICKS OR
SLAES, AND IN ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED FOR VENTILATING HORTICULTURAL AND
OTHER STRUCTURES," to be as follows:-
:-
My hollow ventilating bricks or slabs are to be constructed as parallelo-
grams or other forms open at the ends, with internal ridges or protu-
berances extending from end to end so as to provide grooves therein for

page_text: he purpose hereafter described. At each end of each of these bricks
or slabs pieces of the sides are removed or notches made, so that each
side has this form *> 3* (the indicating the notches or parts
removed), whereby when two bricks or slabs are brought end to end,
as thus, an opening shall be constituted, so that when these
bricks or slabs are laid or set in position in a line a number of venti-
lating openings will be provided, which may be opened and closed by
means of sliding boards or plates placed in the grooves formed in the
tops and bottoms of the slabs or bricks (by the ridges or protuberances
aforesaid), such sliding boards or plates being made with corresponding
openings to those above-mentioned, in order that by bringing these last-
mentioned openings opposite the said openings in the line of bricks or
slabs the ventilating holes may be opened, and by withdrawing the said
boards or plates from that position the ventilating openings can be
closed.
•
Openings if required are made (in the sides of the bricks or slabs)
of the same character and for the same purpose as above described. And
in some cases if desired a brick or slab of the above internal form, but
without the notches or parts of the sides removed as above described,
are used if interposed between the others.
When these bricks or slabs are used in constructing horticultural
structures, especially those known as "Looker's," a line of these bricks
or slabs is placed along the base or lower part of the structure, so that
by opening and shutting the ventilating openings aforesaid ventilation of
the lower part of the structure may be provided, and by opening the
top lights or in "Looke's" structures removing the caps or ridge tiles
top ventilation will be provided.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Benjamin Looker in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th November 1872.

page_text: .
•
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Benjamin Looker, Her special licence that I, tho
said Benjamin Looker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Benjamin Looker, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN HOLLOW VENTILATING
BRICKS OR SLABS, AND IN ARRANGEMENTS TO BE USED FOR VENTILATING HORTI-
CULTURAL AND OTHER STRUCTURES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Benjamin Looker, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, 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
•

page_text: •
aforesaid), such sliding boards or plates being made with corresponding
openings to those above mentioned in order that by bringing these last-
mentioned openings opposite the said openings in the line of bricks or
slabs the ventilating holes may be opened, and by withdrawing the said
boards or plates from that position the ventilating openings can be ú
closed.
Openings if required are made (in the sides of the bricks or slabs) of the
same character and for the same purpose as above described, and in some
cases if desired a brick or slab of the above internal form, but without
the notches or parts of the sides removed as above described, are used if 1
interposed between the others.
When these bricks or slabs are used in constructing horticultural
structures, especially those known as "Looker's," a line of these bricks
is placed along the base or lower part of the structure, so that by
opening and shutting the ventilating openings aforesaid ventilation of
the lower part of the structure may be provided, and by opening the top
lights or in "Looker's" structures removing the caps or ridge tiles top
ventilation will be provided. If thought desirable the sliding board
or plate may be used in bricks or slabs wherein the hollow space is only
sufficient to allow the same to slide freely, thus avoiding the necessity for
the use of grooves.
Having by the foregoing statements in compliance with the aforesaid
condition in the said Letters Patent fully and particularly described
and ascertained the nature of the said Invention, and incidentally in
general terms described in what manner the same is to be performed
or put in practice, I now in further compliance with the said condition
proceed to particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the same
is to be performed or put in practice by reference to the accompanying
Drawings, wherein the aid of the foregoing descriptive statements must
be resorted to.

page_text: . A, ridges between which the sliding board works; B are the rollers
on which the board runs to facilitate motion; C, ventilating openings in
bricks or slabs; D, ventilating openings in board.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and
object of my said Invention, and in what manner the same may be
performed or put in practice, I hereby declare that I claim, the Inven-
tion of "Improvements in Hollow Ventilating Bricks or Slabs and in
Arrangements to be used for Ventilating Horticultural and other
Structures," wherein the use of the peculiarly formed bricks or slabs
and sliding plates or boards are principal and important points.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Looker, have hereunto
hand and scal, this Fifth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
set my
15 Witness,
BENJ. LOOKER. (L.S.)
THOMAS MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street, S.W.