Improvements in Tile-like Decoration Suitable for Fire Places.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tile-like Decoration Suitable for Fire Places.
I, WILLIAM JOHN GIBSON, of Salton Iron Works, Falkirk, in the County 'of
Stirling, North Britain, Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention to be as follows, that is to say:―
My said invention has for its object to provide an improved substitute for
ordinary encaustic tiles, and one which whilst capable of presenting decora-
tive effects similar to those of tiles may be made to exhibit various other
ornamental effects, and can be produced economically.
are
In carrying out my invention I employ glass for the outer surfaces of the
panels or decorative plates or pieces, and 1 secure it by means such as
hereinafter described. The glass may be opaque and of uniform or variegated
color, or it may be transparent and have colors or ornamental designs applied
to the back of it in any suitable manner. It is advantageous to use enamels
or pigments which can be made firmly adherent by heat for ornamenting the
glass.
For holding and securing the glass plates I may employ metal frames more
or less like those in use for holding ordinary tiles at the sides of the fireplaces.
Such frames are however constructed so that on the glass plates being placed
in position a suitable cement or mastic may be introduced in a semi-fluid or
plastic condition, and, on hardening, be locked in by extending in to recesses
or over connecting strips or loops formed in or fixed to the metal frames.
Dated this Twenty-third day of November 1899.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Tile-like Decoration Suitable for Fire Places.
I, WILLIAM JOHN GIBSON, of Salton Iron Works, Falkirk, in the County of
Stirling, North Britain, Ironfounder, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:
My said invention has for its object to provide an improved substitute for
ordinary encaustic tiles, and one which whilst capable of presenting decora
tive effects similar to those of tiles may be made to exhibit various other
ornamental effects, and can be produced economically.
In carrying out my invention I employ glass for the outer surfaces of the
panels or decorative plates or pieces, and I secure it by means such as are
hereinafter described. The glass may be opaque and of uniform or variegated
ID 077

page_text: color, or it may be transparent and have colors or ornamental designs applied
to the back of it in any suitable manner. It is advantageous to use enamels
or pigments which can be made firmly adherent by heat for ornamenting the
glass.
For holding and securing the glass plates I may employ metal frames more
or less like those in use for holding ordinary tiles at the sides of fireplaces.
Such frames are however constructed so that on the glass plates being placed
in position a suitable cement or mastic may be. introduced in a semi-fluid or
plastic condition, and, on hardening, be locked in by extending into recesses
or over connecting strips or loops formed in or fixed to the metal frames.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to and showing by way of example several modifica-
tions of my improvements.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, of the drawings are horizontal sections of various
modifications of the improvements. Figure, 6, is a back elevation, and Figure, 7,
a horizontal section of another modification. In these drawings the same refer-
ence letters are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
According to the invention glass is employed for the outer surfaces of panels
or decorative pieces for fireplaces and other parts. The glass employed is pre-
ferably colored and of a more or less transparent character, a suitable backing
being provided which is secured in frames as hereinafter described. Or the
glass may be transparent and have colors or ornamental designs applied to the
back of it in any suitable manner. In carrying out the invention glass plates, A,
are provided which are held or secured in metal frames, B, the figures in the
drawings showing by way of example several methods of securing the glass and
its backing. According to the modification shown in Figure, 1, the glass plates, A
are secured in a metal frame or casting, B, having sloping sides, and formed
with a holding rib or astragal, C. The plates, A, are placed in the frame, B,
so that their edges rest against ledges or flanges, D, E, formed on the sides
of the frame and the astragal, C. When the glass plates, A, are placed in
position, the frame, B, is filled with a suitable cement or mastic, G, (plaster of
Paris for example) so as to be in contact with the back of the plates, being
introduced in a semi-fluid or plastic condition. On hardening the cement or
backing becomes firmly locked in the metal frame, B, by means of spikes, H,
formed on the sides of the frame, the spikes projecting into the backing as shown
and thereby holding it securely in the frame. The glass plates A, are thus
held securely to the backing, G, but are free to expand and contract as required
without any danger of cracking.
According to the modification shown in Figure 2, the frame, B, is preferably
made of sheet metal, and has its sides formed at right angles to the surface of
the glass plates, A. Sloping flanges J, are formed along the sides of the
frame, B, at the back, so as to furnish a lock for the cement backing, G, the
cement on being introduced extending under and over the flanges, J, so that when
it hardens it becomes effectively locked in the frame.
In the modification shown in Figure 3, the frame, B, is a casting as in
Figure, 1, and sheet metal strips, K, L, having sloping locking flanges, J are fixed
to the sides of the frame by means of rivets, M, or other suitable fastenings.
Additional locking claws or tongues N are formed on the cross ribs or astra-
gals, C, the claws being arranged to project successively in opposite directions
on each side of the astragal as shown so as thereby to firmly grip the backing
and lock it in the frame.
In the modification shown in Figure, 4, the cross ribs or astragals, C, are
formed with locking claws or tongues, N, similar to those shown in Figure, 3,
and sheet metal strips, K, L, are also provided having sloping flanges, J, and
flanges, P, which latter fit over the outer edges of the frame, B, the sloping
flanges, J, serving as before to lock the cement or backing in the frame.
さ

page_text: In the modification shown in Figure, 5, the locking devices for the backing
consist of sheet metal loops or tongues, Q, R, the loops, Q, being set
or cast into snugs or projections, S, formed on the sides of the frame or cast-
ing, B, and the loops, R, being similarly fixed in the holding ribs or astragals C,
and disposed similarly to the claws or tongues, N, shown in Figures 3, and 4.
According to the modification shown in elevation and section in Figures 6
and 7, the frame or casting, B, is formed with its sides inclined oppositely to
those shown in Figure, 1, so that the front of the frame is broader than the back.
The frame is made open at each end so that the glass plates, A, can be con-
veniently inserted and placed in position against ledges or snugs, D, formed for
receiving them on the sides of the frame. The locking parts for the cement or
backing consist of comparatively broad flanges, T, formed along the sides of
the frame at the back, the flanges being connected by cross webs or ribs, U,
formed with recessed or looped parts, W, which project into the frame. The
cement or backing on being introduced extends into the recesses formed by
the flanges, T, and over the looped parts, W, of the webs, U so that on hardening
it becomes thereby very firmly locked in the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
Improvements in tile-like decoration consisting of glass plates held or secured
in metal frames by a suitable cement or mastic backing which is introduced in
a semi-fluid or plastic condition so as to be in contact with the back of the plates,
the backing on hardening being locked in the frame by extending into recesses
or over connecting strips, flanges, loops or tongues formed in or fixed to the
metal frames, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accom
panying drawings.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.