IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE SCREENS IN ORDER TO RENDER THEY USEFUL ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Betjemann of the firm of George Betjemann and
Sons of 36 and 38 Pentonville Road in the County of Middlesex for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE SCREENS IN ORDER TO RENDER THEY
USEFUL ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Betjemann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th January 1883.
JOHN BETJEMANN of the firm of George Betjemann and Sons of 36 and
38 Pentonville Road in the County of Middlesex 1MPROVEMENTS IN FIRE
SCREENS IN ORDER TO RENDER THEM USEFUL ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
The Invention has for its object improvements in fire screens in order to render
them useful also for other purposes than that of merely screening the fire from the
person.
For this purpose I construct the screen in the form of a shallow cupboard and I
so hinge the door to the frame that it will when desired fall into a horizontal
position but no farther and thus serve as a shelf or table upon which a wine or
other glass or article may be placed or I hinge the door at the side and fit a swall
shelf to the inside of such door for the same purpose and I provide the door with
a spring or latch lock.
The door I fit on its outer side with a sheet of glass slidden into grooves and
kept in position by ears or catches turning upon centres in order that the glass
may be readily removed and a picture placed thereunder and removed or changed
as desired.
The interior of this improved fire screen I furnish with a pipe rack, a stand or
container for cigara and a hook upon which may hang a spirit bottle or with other
conveniences.
I mount the screen upon a swivel and I employ in connection therewith a
clamping screw by which means the screen may be set at any angle desired.
The Invention is applicable to screens supported by standards or by jointed
armis clamped to a mantel-piece or otherwise.
By these means a fire screen is rendered useful as a smoking table and is thus
converted into an article of utility for both winter and summer serving for its
double or compound use in winter and for its improved purposes in summer.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Betjemann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th July
1883.
JOHN BETJEMANN of the firm of George Betjemann and Sons of 36 and
38 Pentonville Road in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN
"
FIRE
SCREENS IN ORDER TO RENDER THEM USEFUL ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES
This Invention has for its object improvements in firo screens in order to render
them useful also for other purposes than that of merely screening the fire from the
person.
For this purpose I construct the screen in the form of a shallow cupboard and I
so hinge the door to the framo that it will when desired fall into a horizontal
position but no further and thus serve as a shelf or table upon which a wine or
other glass or article may be placed or I hinge the door at the sido and fit a small
shelf to the inside of such door for the same purpose and I provide the door with
a spring or latch lock.
The door 1 fit on its outer side with a sheet of glass slidden into grooves and
kept in position by ears or catches turning upon centres in order that the glass
may be readily removed and a picture placed thereunder and removed or changed
as desired.
The interior of this improved fire screen I furnish with a pipe rack, a stand or
container for cigars and a hook upon which may hang a spirit bottle or with other
conveniences.
I mount the screen upon a swivel and I employ in connection therewith a
clamping screw by which means the screen may be set at any angle desired.
The Invention is applicable to screens supported by standards or by jointed
arms clamped to a mantel piece or otherwise.
By these means a fire screen is rendered useful as a smoking table and is thus
converted into an article of utility for both winter and summer serving for its
double or compound use in winter and for its improved purposes in summer.
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of a fire
screen constructed according to my Invention.
a, is the fire screen which is made in the form of a shallow cupboard thereby
rendering it useful for other purposes than that of merely screening the fire from
tho person.
As shown in the Drawing the frame of the fire screen is constructed with a
door b. hinged to the bottom thereof in such manner that it can when unlocked be
lowered into a horizontal position in which position it will be securely retained by
portion of said door extending below the point where it is hinged to the

page_text: the door on its outer side with a sheet of glass c, slidden into grooves and kept in
position by ears or catches d turning upon centres in order that the glass c may be
readily removed and a picture placed thereunder and removed or changed as may
be desired.
As shown in the Drawings the interior of this fire screen is furnished with a pipo
rack e. a stand or container f for cigars and a hook g upon which may hang a spirit
bottle h or it may be fitted up with other conveniences or as a ladies work box or
otherwise as may be desired.
I mount the screen a upon a swivel i and I employ in connection therewith a
clamping screw j. by which means the screen a. may be set and fixed at any angle
desired
The invention is applicable to screens supported by standards as will be well
understood or by jointed arms . clamped to a mantel piece as shown or otherwise.
By these means a fire screen is rendered useful as a smoking table or for other
purposes and is thus converted into an article of utility for both winter and
summer, serving for its double or compound use in winter and for its improved
purposes in summer.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect I would have it understood that what I claim is the
improved fire screen substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof I the said John Betjemann have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fifth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.