Improvements in Ornamental Windows.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 4th Sept., 1897
COMPLEIE
DIEULTIVATION.
Improvements in Ornamental Windows.
I, JOHN MEIGGS EWEN, of No. 1129 The Rookery, Chicago, County of Cook,
State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to the combination of prism lights or plates and ornamental
er stained glass windows, for the purpose of securing new and different effects in
the form of ornamental glass, for example, by my invention I may vary the
shing so as to produce in any given portion of a window higher lights, thus
bringing out dark objects; or I may produce a regular variation in color or shade
from one part of the stained or ornamental window to another, or I may leave a
part of the window in obscurity or in its natural condition, and throw an in-
creased illumination over another part, or I may secure new effects by super-
imposing pieces of glass of different colors, and associating therewith the prisms
to increase the volume of light; may secure new colors or shades not otherwise
easily attainable.
The attempt to secure variation in color or shade by placing one colored glass
over another results of course in reducing the volume of light, and hence destroy-
ing the effect which otherwise would be produced. I, by the use of the prisms
can overcome this defect, and can secure the required volume of light. The prisms
themselves may be colored. Of course it would be impossible, certainly impracti-
able, to exhibit all of the various uses to which my invention can be put, and
I have attempted to do no more in this application than simply to illustrate, as it
were, my invention.
Referring to the drawings,
Figure 1 may be considered as an elevation of an ordinary stained glass window.
Figure 2 is an elevation of an ordinary prism plate, the angles of the prisms
varying from top to bottom so as to produce an increased illuminating effect at
the top.
Figure 3 is an elevation of a stained glass window of Figure 1 with the prism
plate of Figure 2 back of it, showing the increased illuminating effect at the top.
Figure 4 is an elevation of an ornamental window.
Figure 5 is an elevation of a frame having a prism plate developed diagonally
across it.
Figure 6 is a view of the window of Figure 4 with the prism plate of Figure 5
back of it, showing the diagonal streak of light across the window.
Figure 7 is a sectional view, showing that the prism plate and the ornamental
window may be hinged together, one being movable and the other preferably
fixed in the window.
It is impracticable in a drawing of this kind to produce the colored effects, but
the prisms of either Figures 2 or 5 may be wholly or partially colored or shaded,
and the windows of Figure 1 and 4 may be composed in whole or in part of double
thicknesses of glass of different colors. Any of these windows or plates may be

page_text: made of sections, the sections being grouped and mounted together in any desired
manner.
All this is mere matter of detail, although I prefer to use prism plates electrically
glazed together, the prisms being colored as desired, or if necessary to produce a
given effect, and ordinary stained, ornamental or mosaic glass mounted in any
desired manner.
A is the sash or frame surrounding the ornamental glass. B the body of
ornamental or stained glass: C the frame of the prism plate: D D the prism lights
of such plates: E E the dead spaces in the complete prism plate; F the hinge
whereby the two frames or sashes are hinged togther.
I might enlarge upon what is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 by calling atten-
tion to the fact that it frequently happens that in stained glass windows an effect
composed of dark shadows with brilliant illuminations is desired: for example,
it might be anticipated that in stained glass windows it would be desirable to
have a scene somewhat dark and forbidding on sea or land with a brilliant 'burst
of light issuing from some particular point, i.e., the sky.
Now, in the art of stained glass as it has existed up to the present time, such
effects have been attempted to be produced by the coloring of the glass itself; and
in many instances this has proven to be not only difficult but impossible to accom-
plish. By my invention, it will be seen that the artist avails himself not only
of the coloring of the glass, but also of the daylight, which he so to speak scatters
or concentrates upon or about his window in such manner as to co-operate with
his stained glass, and contribute to the result desired. Some of the most beautiful
stained glass windows in the cathedrals of Europe have been practically dead to
the world for centuries because of the insufficiency of the light behind them.
These prisms will bring such obscure pictures into bold relief, and contribute not
only to the illumination of the church, but will also at the same time exhibit
to the world the master-pieces in the stained glass work.
In Figure 7, I have suggested that the prism plate and the stained glass windows
may be separated from each other or be separable, and I mean by this view to
suggest that many of these effects which I have described would be greatly
heightened or improved by separating the prism plate from the stained glass by
a considerable distance. Moreover, this separation is necessary in some cases,
particularly where the stained glass window is placed in an interior wall, and the
exterior wall is removed therefrom. This is a common occurrence in church 3
architecture. A stained glass window thus has to take its light from a secondary
source, and by placing a prism lights in the outside or exterior wall, and arranging
the angles properly, the light may be concentrated upon such interior stained glass
window, and the desired result be attained.
Figures 7 also indicates that one window may be movable with reference to the 4
other, so that by varying the position of the prism plates, for example, from time
to time, with the change in the position of the sun or the variations in the seasons,
or when a particular result desired is sought for at a particular hour of the day,
we may, so to speak, control the window to make it respond to such varying
requirements.
I wish to suggest again that in a subject so broad and interesting it is only
possible for me to make, as it were, a few passing suggestions touching the use
and operation of my invention.
Having now particularly 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 50
claim is:
-
1. The combination of an ornamental or stained glass window with a prism plate
through which some or all of the light passes, its direction being changed and the
light and ornamental effects of the window being combined and related to each
other substantially as shown and described.

page_text: ..
move
2. The combination of an ornamental window light and a prism light covering
all or part of the ornamental light, and one or the other adapted to swing
with reference to the other, the whole arranged and related substantially as shown
and described.
Dated this 13th day of July 1897.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.