IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GUARDS AND FIRE SCREENS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Hermon Symons, of Kentish Town, in the
County of Middlesex, Hardware Agent and Manufacturer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GUARDS AND FIRE SCREENS."
Sealed the 5th September 1868, and dated the 7th March 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hermon Symons at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th March 1868.
I, HERMON SYMONS, of Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex,
Hardware Agent and Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FIRE-GUARDS AND FIRE SCREENS," to be
as follows:-
The fire-guards and screens are constructed of separate pieces of plate,
metal, or wirework in the form of leaves or fans, or of any other suitable
design. Each of such leaves or fans is attached to a small metal wheel
or segment of a wheel, which wheel or segment of a wheel is provided
with a groove or chamber into which one end of the leaf or fan is made
to fit by dovetailing or otherwise.. By this arrangement each leaf or
fan is capable of having an independent motion imparted to it. The

page_text: wheels or segments of wheels are mounted concentrically upon an axis
on which they are free to revolve, and are respectively provided with
projections and recesses gearing into each other in such manner that
upon the outer wheel being rotated (which is effected by means of a
knob or handle fixed thereto on the outside of the guard or screen) the
other wheels or segments of wheels are respectively actuated. By these
means the leaves or fans, which may be disposed and arranged in any
desired form, are capable of being expanded or folded up at pleasure
into any section of a circle. In the case of fire-guards the axis is
attached to hooks, by preference those which are technically known as
"turn-again hooks, which are made so as to fit the bars of any
description of fire-stove and to hold the guard securely thereon.
"
Fire-screens constructed in accordance with this Invention simply
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Hermon Symons in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th September 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HERMON
SYMONS, of Kentish Town, in the County of Middlesex, Hardware Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Hermon Symons, Her special licence
that I, the said Hermon Symons, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Hermon Symons, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN FIRE-GUARDS AND FIRE SCREENS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Hermon Symons, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and

page_text: seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Hermon Symons, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, 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 consists in certain improvements in the con-
struction of fire-guards and screens whereby a highly ornamental
character can be imparted thereto whilst they are capable of being
arranged so as to prevent the passage of any desired portion of heat or
light through the same.
The fire-guards or screens which are the subject of my said Invention
are constructed of separate pieces of plate, metal, or wirework in the
form of leaves or fans, or of any other suitable design. Each of such
leaves or fans is attached to a small metal wheel or segment of a wheel
provided with a groove or chamber into which one end of the leaf or fan
is made to fit by dovetailing or any analogous contrivance, as will be
well understood by persons conversant with mechanism. By means
of this arrangement each leaf or fan is capable of having an independent
motion imparted to it. The wheels or segments of wheels are mounted
concentrically upon an axis on which they are free to revolve, and are
respectively provided with projections and recesses gearing into each
other in such manner that upon the outer wheel being rotated (which is
effected by means of a knob or handle fixed thereto on the outside of
the guard or screen) the other wheels or segments of wheels arc
respectively actuated. By these means the leaves or fans, which may
be disposed and arranged in any desired form, are capable of being
expanded or folded up at pleasure into any section of a circle. In the
case of fire-guards the axis is attached to hooks, by preference those
which are technically known as " turn-again" hooks, which may be
made so as to fit the bars of any description of fire-grate or stove and to
hold the guard securely thereon.
Fire-screens constructed in accordance with my said Invention simply

page_text: Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original and therefore claim
as constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of fire-guards and screens,
substantially as herein-before described and set forth or any merc
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Hermon Symons, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
E. P. H. Vaughan,
54, Chancery Lane.
H. SYMONS. (L.S.)