Improvements in Window Glass.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr.. 1897
Improvements in Window Glass.
1, THOMAS WALTER HORN, of 514 Board of Trade Building, Toronto, County
of Yoke, Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Gentleman, 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 prismatic window lights, and to the arrangement thereof
in connection with apartments for the distribution of light throughout such
apartinents.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through an apartment showing a window
containing my prismatic light at the top of the front of the room; Figure 2 is a
like longitudinal section through a modification;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are cross sections of various forms of prismatic lights;
Figure 6 is a cross-section through a series of sections of prismatic light; and
Figure 7 is a plan view of the same.
Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.
A is an apartment having, for example, the partition B and the window C. D is
a second apartment having the partition E, the window F and the lower light space
or window G. H is a glass body having a series of prisms thereon, H¹ H'H' and
80 OD, each having a downwardly increasing inclined face. J is a similar body of
glass having at the top the prisms J' of uniform size and at the bottom the prisms J
of a size different from the prisms J. K is a similar body having at the top and
bottom the prisms K' and midway the prisms K2 differing in size and shape from
the prisnis K. L L are sections of glass tile having the prisms L' of uniform size
and shape thereon, and L' is a section of tile having the prisms L' thereon of a
different size and shape from the prisms L'. M indicates a prismatic window
above the partition B; N, a similar window above the partition E; and O, a
similar window below the partition E.
I make no effort in these diagrams to show any considerable number of prisms,
but simply give the idea in a general way. I may use a tile or section of glass
having prisms of different form thereon; and that form may consist of prisms
greatly varying in angle from one end of the section to the other, or of prisms
uniform in size for a portion of the tile section and of a different size for the
remaining portion, such parts being distributed as may be convenient. Of course
the shape and angle of the prisms will vary according to the necessities of the
various cases. It will be observed that the prisms are set so as to refract the
light and also that they have flat surfaces, and in the preferred form one of these
surfaces is substantially at right angles to the plane of the body of the tile
section.
The use and operation of my invention are as follows. It frequently occurs in
the use of prismatic light that it is desirable to distribute a certain proportion of
the light in some particular part of the room, as distinguished from the general
result sought to be obtained, that is to say, the throwing of the entire volume of
light in substantially parallel lines horizontally through the apartment. This
I accomplish by having a series of prisms varying in size and shape, and such
varying prisms may either be formed upon a single tile section, or a window of a

page_text: series of tile sections may be made up some of the sections having prisms of one
angle and some having prisms of another angle. This treatment of the light
becomes more important where an effort is made to reach the interior or secondary
apartment, so to speak, or apartment cut off from the direct connection with the
light by means of a partition. These partitions are of various sizes and shapes,
having sometimes openings at top, sometimes at bottom, and sometimes both.
I find that it is possible by putting suitable prismatic lights in such openings, and
by using the proper prisms in the window of primary source of light, to direct the
light through the apartment so that the first apartment is illuminated, and then to
carry a reasonable portion of such light against the proper. prismatic light of the
second apartment. This is illustrated roughly by the lines of Figures 1 and 2,
which do not attempt to bear any proper relation to the prisms shown in those
drawings, but simply serve diagrammatically to illustrate what I have endeavoured
to describe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:
1. As a new article of manufacture a prismatic glass consisting of a flat body
of glass with one comparatively smooth side and a series of prismatic ribs raised
on the other side, each prism having flat surfaces, and such prisms varying as
to size.
2. As a new article of manufacture a prismatic glass consisting of a flat body of
glass with one side comparatively smooth and a series of prismatic ribs raised on
the other side, each prism having flat surfaces, and such prisms varying as to
size, the angle of inclination in each increasing from one edge of the glass to
the other.
3. A compound window glass comprising a series of glass sections each having
one surface flat and prismatic ribs on the other surface, the angles of the prisms
on one section varying in size from those on another.
4. In a compound or two part apartment, the combination of prismatic lights at
the primary source of light supply in one apartment, such prismatic lights shaped
so as to throw the light diagonally through such apartment, with prismatic lights
in the source of light for the second apartment to receive such light and throw it
diagonally through such second apartment.
5. A window glass comprising a series of angular or beveled surfaces, said
surfaces made of varying angles so as to direct the light to various parts of
the room.
Dated this 15th day of February 1897
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents for the Applicant.