IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEY-PIECE COVERINGS OR CASINGS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Horseley Gudgeon, of Winchester, of the County
of Hants, Upholsterer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEY-PIECE
COVERINGS OR CASINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Horseley Gudgeon
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1881.
ROBERT HORSELEY GUDGEON, of Winchester, in the County of Hants,
Upholsterer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEY-PIECE COVERINGS OR CASINGS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of what are known
as chimney-piece coverings or casings.
Such chimney-piece coverings or casings as hitherto constructed have consisted
of rigid wooden or other, frames ornamented in various ways, but such coverings
have not been much used because of the necessity of making a special covering to
suit each chimney-piece to be covered.
Now by my improvements this inconvenience is obviated, and in carrying out
my Invention I construct the jambs and frieze of the chimney piece covering or
casing in separate parts or frames, and so fit them together that the parts can slide
one on the other as required, by which arrangement a covering can be adapted to
different sizes or forms of chimney pieces without requiring to be specially made
and without the assistance of skilled labour to fix them, as the height of the jambs
or the width of the frieze can be lengthened or shortened by sliding the parts of.
which they are constructed inwards or outwards the one on the other. The
coverings or casings may be fixed in position in any suitable manner, and can be
removed and replaced with great facility and without in any way injuring the
walls of the apartment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Horseley Gudgeon in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 4th August 1881.
ROBERT HORSELEY GUDGEON, of Winchester, in the County of Hants,
Upholsterer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CHIMNEY-PIECE COVERINGS OR CASINGS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of what are known
as chimney piece coverings or casings.
Such chimney piece coverings or casings as hitherto constructed have consisted
of rigid wooden or other frames ornamented in various ways, but such coverings
have not been much used because of the necessity of making a special covering to
suit each chimney piece, fire grate, or opening to be covered.
Now by my improvements this inconvenience is obviated, and in carrying out
my Invention I construct the jambs, frieze, and top-shelf or mantel board of the
chimney piece covering or casing in separate parts or frames, and so fit them
together that the parts can slide one on the other as required, or the mantel board
or any of the other parts may be used separately.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is a front
elevation shewing a suitable construction of chimney piece covering or casing for
carrying out my improvements; Figure 2, a back elevation of the same; Figures 3
and 4, vertical transverse sections taken through the lines A, B, and C, D, respec-
tively; Figure 5, a plan, the top shelf or mantel board being removed; Figure 6.
plan of the underside of the top shelf or mantel board, and Figures 7 and 8 details,
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
a, a, aro the jambs of the chimney piece covering or casing, with returns con-
structed as shewn, to slide and to be adjustable within the plinths b, b, by means
of the slides c, c, the pins d, d, serving for fixing the jambs to any required height
to suit the height of the chimney piece opening or grate to be covered. The
jambs a, a, are provided at their upper ends where joined by the frieze with dove-
tail grooves e, e, to receive the ends of the friezo f, f¹, formed with a dovetail gat
cach end to fit and slide in the said grooves. The frieze is formed in three parts,
the two outer parts f, f, sliding on the centre piece f¹, and capable of being
extended so as to be adjustable to suit different widths of chimney pieces; h, h', is
the top shelf or mantel board of the covering or casing, constructed similarly to the
frieze, so as in a like manner to be adjustable to suit different lengths of chimney
pieces. The tops of the jambs a, a, are provided with shifting panels i formed
with grooves j to slide on projections in the jambs. This arrangement allows of
the covering or casing being adapted, as shewn in Figures 3, 4, and 5, to chimney
pieces constructed with brackets or consoles; or where there are no brackets the
panels may lie flush with the face of the jambs, as shewn in Figure 7; Figure 8
is a detached view of the panel i. k, k, are metal plates for protecting the covering
or casing from the heat of the fire.
i
By these improvements it will be seen that the parts constituting the mantel
piece covering or casing being constructed so as to slide one on the other the
covering can be adjusted to different sizes or forms of chimney pieces, grates, or
openings without requiring to be specially made, and without the assistance of
skilled labor to fix them, as the height of the jambs or the width of the frieze and
top shelf or mantel board can, as hereinbefore described, be lengthened or shortened
by sliding the parts of which they are constructed inwards or outwards, the one on
the other. The coverings or casings may be fixed in position in any suitable
manner, and can be removed and replaced with great facility, and without in any

page_text: way injuring the walls of the apartment, and for removal can be taken to pieces
and packed in a comparatively small space.
In cases where the chimney piece covering is provided with a super mantel the
same is also constructed so as to slide with the mantel board.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in
the Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar
character of my Invention; but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The manufacture and use of chimney piece coverings or casings con-
structed to slide so as to be adjustable to suit chimney pieces, fire grates, or
openings of different sizes and shapes.
Secondly. The general arrangement and construction of the chimney piece
covering or casing, operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere
modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Horseley Gudgeon, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ROBERT HORSELEY GUDGEON. (L.S.)
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South Street, Finsbury,
London.