Improvements in Shop-fronts and Show-cases.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1896--Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shop-fronts and Show-cases.
I, FREDERICK POLLARD, of 517 Superior Street, Cleveland, in the County of
Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, one of the United States of America, Show-case and
Window Manufacturer, 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 windows commonly placed in the fronts of stores, at one
or both sides of the entrance, for the purpose of displaying or exposing goods to
the best advantage to the passing public; and it consists, essentially, of the
peculiar means adopted for making a perfect joint between two or more glass
plates, as hereinafter fully described and especially claimed.
The object of my improvement is to provide a shop-front or show-case of
angular, straight, or curved construction or a combination of two or more such
forms without having recourse to a.frame or upright of any kind at the junction of
the glass plates, whereby the attractiveness of the window is greatly enhanced and
its usefulness for display purposes much improved. Heretofore an upright frame
or support of some sort has been necessary to hold the adjacent edges of the
window-glass in place; but with my construction I am able to dispense with said
frame. The joints in this construction are, of course, water-tight, as in the former
method of joining the plates.
That my invention may be seen and fully understood by others reference will be
had to the following specification and annexed drawings, forming a part thereof, in
which-
Figure 1 is a front view of two windows, illustrating my invention as adapted to
an angular construction. Fig. 2, a plan view of the same, the glass being
sectioned;
Fig. 3, an enlarged inside view showing the joint between two plates abutting at
an argle; Fig. 4, a sectional view of the same; and
Fig. 5, a sectional view of four plates, showing the form of joints made straight,
and by curved plates abutting each other without forming angles.
Similar figures of reference designate like parts in the drawings and speci-
fication.
It will be understood that any number of glass plates, either straight or curved,
may be joined together if a suitable support is provided at the top, bottom, and
extreme ends, and said plates, when straight, may continue in a given direction, or
turn a corner by forming an angle with each other, or the corner may be made
with the help of a curved plate. The angle at which two plates stand in relation
to each other may vary to suit any contingency.
In Figs. 1 and 2, two show windows are shown with a doorway between, said
windows consisting of the two wide glass plates 1 and 2 at the front and the three
narrow plates 3, each standing at angle with the former. The plates 1, 2 and 3
are supported by the base 4, the top frame 5, and the upright end frames 6, the
latter appearing only at the extreme ends of each series of glass plates. The ends
of the plates 1 and 2 adjacent to the plates 3 extend a short distance beyond said
plates 3, thereby making a neater and more pleasing appearance and for the better
protection of their respective joints.
Since all joints between the plates 1 and 2 and the plates 3 are alike, but one of
said joints will be described, and it will be understood that said description is
applicable to all similar ioints.

page_text: The edge of the glass plate 3, which is adjacent to the inside face of the plate 1,
is hevelled, so as to be parallel to said face when the proper angle is given to said
plate 3.
Before the plates 1 and 3 are permanently fixed in the base 4 and the
frames 5 and 6 the strip 7, of felt or other suitable material, is inserted between
adjacent faces of said plates. The strip 7 is about as wide as one-half of the
thickness of the plate 3 (or 1) and occupies the inner half of the interstice between
said plate and the plate 1. The strip 7 serves as a yielding buffer hetween abutting
surfaces of the glass and also a back for the water-proof and air-tight filling 8, or
putty or other suitable substance. The filling 8 occupies the outer half of the
interstice between the plates 1 and 3.
Perforations are provided in the plates 1 and 3, near the junction of the same,
to receive the sleeves 9 and bolts 10. After the plates 1 and 3 have been fixed in
the base 4 and the frames 5 and 6, with the strip 7 and the filling 8 in place, the
joint between said plates is rendered secure by means of the angular metallic
straps 11 and the bolts 10, which are passed through the holes in said straps and
plates and secured by the nuts 12. The angle of each strap 11 conforms to that
of the abutting plates, and opposite ends of said strap are attached to adjacent
plates, the nuts 12 being on the inside. The washers 13 are interposed between
the adjacent surfaces of the glass and the connecting metallic members and, with
the sleeves 9, keep the metal from coming in contact with said glass. The
sleeves 9 and washers 13 are preferably made of rubber. It will now be seen that
an exceedingly strong, durable, and tight joint is formed in the manner herein-
before described, and one quite capable of taking the place of the old upright.
Any number of straps 11, with attached parts, may be employed for each joint,
two only being shown in Fig. 1.
In Fig. 5, the three straight plates 3 and the curved plate 14 are shown,
abutting at their adjacent edges in all cases, as is necessary where joints are formed
between straight or curved and straight plates. The supporting base 4" is shown,
and the strips 7 and filling 8 appear between adjacent edges of the plates 3ª and 14.
The straight strap 11 connects the adjoining plates 3, and the partially curved
straps 11b connect the curved plate 14 with the adjoining straight plates 3ª. The
bolts 10, sleeves 9, washers 13, and nuts 12 are employed in holding the straps 11ª
and 11 securely in position, as in the case before described, holes being provided
in the glass to receive said sleeves and bolts. The straps 11, 11ª, and 11 are
similar to each other with the exception of the slight change necessary to have
them conform to the surface of the glass.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. The combination, in a shop-front or show-case of a base, a top and end frames,
two or more abutting glass plates, and metallic straps secured to said plates near
their adjacent ends by bolts and nuts, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. The combination, in a shop-front or show-case, of a base, a top and end frames,
two or more abutting glass plates, metallic straps secured to said plates near
their adjacent ends by bolts and nuts, and a soft strip and water-tight filling
between adjacent surfaces of said plates, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated this 27th day of June 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.