Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1887.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER SHAW-MACKENZIE of No. 1 Drayton Terrace, Kensington, in
the county of Middlesex, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of picture frames, menu
and engagement slates and similar articles, whereby such frames or other like articles
are adapted to hold natural flowers.
In carrying out my invention in practice, I form one or more slots, holes or other
suitable apertures through the picture frame, slate, or other article, and I support, by
means of rings, clips or other equivalent devices, or fix permanently on the back of the
frame, one or more small reservoirs to contain water. The said reservoir or reservoirs
are so situated with regard to the aforesaid opening or openings in the frame, that they
will conveniently receive the stalks of flowers which may be passed through such
openings from the front. The reservoirs being at the back of the frame are ordinarily
out of sight and the flowers only in view. In the case of frames held in a vertical
position, as when hanging on a wall, the reservoirs lie flat against the back of the
frame, but in the case of frames standing on a table or bracket in a sloping position,
I prefer to keep the reservoirs vertical, and for this purpose may provide a small
strut or support for the lower end of the reservoir and jointed to the frame, so
that it can be folded up flat when the frame is not in use. Any other devices applied
to a frame for holding the reservoirs may, if desired, be jointed to fold up in like
manner.
My invention may be applied to a picture frame, menu or engagement slate or
other similar article, of any desired pattern or formed of any suitable material or
combination of materials.
T
AMBROSE MYALL, C.E.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Picture Frames, Menu and Engagement Slates,
and similar Articles.
I, JOHN ALEXANDER SHAW-MACKENZIE of No. 1 Drayton Terrace, Kensington, in
the county of Middlesex, Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of this 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 improvements in the construction of picture frames, menu
and engagement slates and similar articles, whereby such frames or other like articles
are adapted to hold natural flowers.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively front and
back perspective views of a photograph frame constructed according to my invention.
Similar letters of reference are used to denote similar or corresponding parts in
both figures.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent, with the exception of those parts which refer to my
invention, a photograph or picture frame of a well known type, intended to stand
upon a table, shelf or bracket, and in which A is the frame having an aperture B to
display the photograph or picture, which is secured by a removable back-board C,
having a leg or strut D hinged thereto to support the frame in a sloping position.
Such frames are commonly made in fancy wood or metal, or in ordinary wood,
covered with plush or velvet. E is a tube of glass, metal, porcelain, vulcanite, or
other suitable material, supported on the back of the frame by the rings F, F, and H
is a slot formed in the top of the said frame. The stalks of the flowers are passed
through this slot into the tube E, which is filled with water. By this means the
flowers are brought to the front of the frame, while the stalks are hidden, and a very
effective decorative appearance is thereby secured. The rings F, F¹, may be hinged
to fold up flat to the frame, when not in use, if desired.
Although the tube Ę is shewn circular, it may be of any desired form, and although
only one slot H, and one tube or reservoir E, is shewn, two or more slots and
tubes may be provided if desired, and in place of a slot, a hole, as shewn at H', may
be employed.
It is obvious that although I have only shewn my invention as applied to picture
frames of one type, it is applicable to a picture frame of almost any construction.
Figs. 1 and 2 might also be taken to represent menu or engagement slates, or similar
articles, as the application of my invention thereto would be effected in a substantially
similar way.
I wish it to be understood that my said invention may be applied to nearly any
type of the above mentioned articles, and the shape of the water reservoir, of the rings
or other devices used to support it, and the shape and position in the frame of the slot
or hole for the flowers may be varied to suit circumstances as required.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The combination with a picture frame, menu or engagement slate, or other
similar article, of one or more water reservoirs and one or more slots or holes, for the
purpose of enabling the said frame, or other similar article, to hold natural flowers,
substantially as herein set forth.
(2) A picture frame adapted to hold natural flowers, constructed substantially as
herein described and shewn with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated thin 15th of 1007
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, S.W.,
Agent for the Applicant.