AN IMPROVED METHOD OF GLAZING GREENHOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED CHIEFLY OF GLASS, AND SKYLIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Greene and William James Greene, of the Firm
of Wm. Greene & Son, of Saffron Walden, in the County of Essex, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF GLAZING GREENHOUSES AND OTHER
BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED CHIEFLY OF GLASS, AND SKYLIGHTS AND OTHER
LIGHTS."
Sealed the 4th December 1877, and dated the 6th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Greene and William
James Greene at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July
1877.
WILLIAM GREENE and WILLIAM JAMES GREENE, of the Firm of Wm. Greene &
Son, of Saffron Walden, in the County of Essex. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
GLAZING GREENHOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED CHIEFLY OF GLASS,
AND SKYLIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTS."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to the glazing of the roofs or other
parts of greenhouses and other buildings constructed principally of glass, and of
skylights and other "lights," are to effect the setting of the glass panes with greater
rapidity and ease and with economy of cost, and without any projecting sash frames
by or in which water may be detained, or dust or dirt accumulated.
According to our Invention we arrange the panes of glass diagonally, that is, with
the angles or corners at the top, bottom, and sides, and we support them in this
position at their bottom corners or edges with metal clips which are nailed or other-
wise suitably secured under the glass to the supporting rafters, purlines, or battens.
of the roof or other part of the greenhouse or building, and which are so shaped as
to extend downwards; and when bent up or over to secure the bottom corners or
edges of the glass panes, and prevent them sliding downwards, each successive
row of panes from the lowermost row overlaps the lower adjacent row.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Greene and William James Greene in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th January 1878.
WILLIAM GREENE and WILLIAM JAMES GREENE, of the Firm of Wm. Greene &
Son, of Saffron Walden, in the County of Essex. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
GLAZING GREENHOUSES AND OTHER BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED CHIEFLY OF GLASS,
AND SKYLIGHTS AND OTHER LIGHTS."
The objects of this Invention, which relates to the glazing of the roofs or other
parts of greenhouses and other buildings constructed principally of glass, and of
skylights and other lights, are to effect the setting of the glass panes with greater
rapidity and ease, and without any projecting sash frames by or in which water
may be detained, or dust or dirt be accumulated; to secure the exclusion of rain
and snow, freedom of exit for condensation, liberty for the glass to expand or
contract, increased amount of light, absence of vertical shadows, cleanliness of laps,
which from their direction are always washed clean from dust by rainfall, or the
passage outwards of condensation unobstructed through the peculiar form of clip at
bottom, and economy of cost in construction and maintenance due to the small
proportion of the structure left uncovered by the glass, and consequent absence of
putty and painting, which is only required at the boundaries of the building or
framework where the glass terminates, and facility of removing and fixing or
replacing panes of glass when broken.
According to our Invention, which is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings in Figures 1 to 3, we arrange the panes of glass, 1 diagonally, that is,
with the angles or corners thereof at the top, bottom, and sides, and in rows in such
a manner that each successive row of paues from the lowermost row overlaps the
lower adjacent row. We support the panes 1 in this diagonal position at their side,
top, and bottom corners, and secure and prevent them from slipping down by means
of clips 2 stamped or cut from thin sheet metal of the shape shown in Figure 2, and
formed with arms 3, 4, and with a tag 5, which latter is screwed or nailed direct to the
supporting rafters, purlines, or battens 6 of the roof or other part of the framework
of the greenhouse or building, as at 7, or is bent over a band 8 screwed or nailed
thereto, as at 9, and supports the weight of the glass, the arms 3 being turned down
and under the top edges of the panes of the lower row, and the arms 4 being turned
up and over the side and bottom edges of the paues of the upper rows, these arms
being formed with overlaying shoulders 19 and recesses 20, which regulate the
extent of the lap of the panes. Each clip has thus to do with four panes of glass, of
which it (as it were) hangs upon the top corner of one in the lowermost row, as at
10, supports a side corner of cach of two in the next upper row, as at 11, and
supports the bottom corner of one in the uppermost row, as at 12. In the case of
the bottom rows of panes, the large or square panes of the second row rest with
their bottom angles in the clips, and right and left of it the panes are portions only
of a similar square, only three panes in this case are in contact with each of the
bottom clips, the parts of the clips which in the upper rows turn over the top angles
of the lower panes being here secured to the first supports, each clip being intended
to support the panes immediately above it and the side adjacent panes, as shown
at 21.
The arms 4 may be turned down, as at 13, and secured, as shewn at 14, by a thin
metal clip 15 of the shape shewn in Figure 3, the long arm 16 of which is passed
between the arms 4 and the glass, the clip 15 being bent at about the line 17, and
the arm 16 bent up into the notch 18.
Having now described the nature and objects of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we would remark in conclusion that we claim as our Invention, the above-
. described novel and peculiar diagonal arrangement and overlapping of the panes of

page_text: glass in the glazing of roofs and other parts of greenhouses and other buildings, and
skylights and other lights, and the above-described improved method and means of
supporting and securing the panes of glass in such structures in this position, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein-before described, and as illustrated on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Greene and William James Greene,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Second day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
WILLIAM GREENE. (L.S.)
W. J. GREENE.
(L.S.)