IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONSERVATORIES, SUMMER-HOUSES, AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Rawlings, of Hackney Road, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
CONSERVATORIES, SUMMER-HOUSES, AND OTHER SIMILAR STRUCTURES."
Sealed the 11th January 1878, and dated the 17th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Rawlings at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th July 1877.
JOHN RAWLINGS, of Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONSERVATORIES, SUMMER-HOUSES, AND OTHER SIMILAR
STRUCTURES,"
My Invention relates to conservatories, summer-houses, and similar structures,
and consists in such a method of construction that the structure may be readily
erected and taken down and removed to another place.
The conservatory, summer-house, or other structure is constructed principally of
a number of similar sections or frames, which are interchangeable, and can be
manufactured in large quantities at comparatively low cost.
When fitted together the sections form a structure of octagonal, rectangular, or
other regular geometrical form in plan, the different sections being mitred at the
angles, and tied together by radial and other tie rods, all as hereafter described.
The lower part of the structure consists of a base plate which rests on the
ground, a plinth rising from the base plate, and a sill upon the plinth, framed
together in sections, which are mitred at the angles, and tied together by tie bolts,
one for each section, all attached to and radiating from a central ring, and connected
each with its part of the base frame by a nut or screw coupling, whereby all the
parts may be drawn up tightly together with perfect accuracy; the base plate being
moreover surrounded by metal rods or straps received in a groove in the edge of
the base plate, and united at the angles by bolts and nuts to assist in binding the
whole together. The portions of the sill are also connected together at the inside
angles by a pair of key rods drawn up by a nut and right and left screws.
The joists are framed or tied together by distance pieces and a tie bar, and are
laid upon the base plate in one compact frame.

page_text: At each angle of the structure there is a post, which rises from the base plate
through an aperture of corresponding form in the sill and cross head, and extends
up through the whole structure to the eaves of the roof, just beneath which there
is a cross head and cornice resting upon trusses fixed to the posts and carrying a
gutter for the drainage of the entire roof, the whole framed together and composed
of a number of similar sections jointed at the angles, and tied together by radial tie
rods connected to each section and to a central ring as before, the ring and rods being
in this case overhead.
The roof rafters are supported in a groove in the upright post and by brackets
fixed thereto, the rafters being connected at their upper ends to a king post, through
which runs a bolt connected to the last-mentioned central ring, so as to tie the
whole of the roof framing together, the pressures in the two directions counteracting
one another.
Between the upright pillars frames, containing glazed sashes or pannels are fitted,
a door being provided in one or more of them, and the spaces between the rafters
may be filled with glazed sashes or otherwise covered in.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Rawlings in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th January
1878.
JOHN RAWLINGS, of Hackney Road, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CONSERVATORIES, SUMMER-HOUSES, AND OTHER SIMILAR
STRUCTURES."
The object of this Invention is to construct conservatories, summer-houses, and
other similar buildings in such a manner that they may either be erected or taken
down and removed with the utmost facility and convenience.
To carry out my Invention I proceed as follows:-I construct the conservatory
summer-house, or other building principally of a framework, which framework is
composed of a number of similar sections or segments, which are interchangeable,
and may be readily put together or taken to pieces as required.
Such sections or segments can be manufactured in large quantities at a time and
at a comparatively little cost, and may either be made in wood or metal, or partly
in wood and partly in metal.
When such sections or segments are fitted together they form a structure of
octagonal, rectangular, or other regular geometrical form, and possess all the
requisite qualities of strength and endurance.
And in order that my said Invention may be better understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now proceed, with the aid of the accompanying Drawings
(whereon similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts) to more
particularly describe and ascertain the same, and the manner of carrying the same
into effect.
The lower part of the structure consists of a base plate a which rests on the
ground, having a plinth b rising therefrom, and a sill c upon such plinth, framed
together in sections, which are mitred at the angles and tied together by tie bolts

page_text: or rods h, one for each section. This arrangement is shewn in section at Figure 1 of
the accompanying Drawings.
The various sections or segments of the lower portion of the framework are all
connected to a central ring, from whence they radiate, and are each connected to
the base frame by a nut or screw coupling, or preferably, as being simpler and
equally effective method, by tie rods or bolts. These two methods of connecting
the different sections together are respectively shewn at e, e, e, and f, f, f, Figure 2,
of the accompanying Drawings, which shews in elevation part of the interior of
a building constructed on my improved principles. By this method of coupling all
the parts, they may be drawn together securely and tightly, and be made to fit
into each other with perfect accuracy.
The base plate a has formed round its external edge a suitable groove or channel,
indicated at g, Figure 1, wherein metal rods or bands are placed so as to surround
the same, such rods or bands being united at the angles by bolts and nuts, as shewn
at h*, Figure 1, and they thus act as girders to assist in binding the whole structure
together; but if desired such rods or bands may be dispensed with, as ordinarily
the coupling arrangements before described will be found sufficient. The sections
or segments of the sill c are also connected together at their inside angles by a
pair of key rods h¹ drawn up by a nut h² preferably of gun metal and right and
left screws, and secured at their outer ends by steel pins h³ and washers *, as shewn
at Figure 7, which shews an independent view of a pair of such key rods.
The joists which support the flooring are framed or tied together by distance
pieces j,j, and a tie bar k, and are laid upon the base plate a in one compact frame,
as shewn in Figure 3, which shews a plan view thereof.
In order to insure the floor of the building being kept thoroughly dry I bolt
down the planks of the flooring so as to slightly incline towards the centre of the
floor, and I provide and fix a suitable metal tube or pipe into an orifice formed in
the centre of the floor, and which serves to receive and carry away any water from
the floor of the building, the planks of which being so inclined and bolted down, as
already mentioned, the water naturally drains off into such tube or pipe. I provide
such tube or pipe with a suitable movable plug ', so that when not required for
drainage purposes the plug may be inserted therein to close the cavity. A sectional
view of such arrangement is shewn at Figure 5.
At each angle of the structure there is a stout post or upright m, which rising
from the base plate a passes through a suitable aperture made in the sill c, and
thence through a cross head, presently described, and extends upwards through the
entire structure to the eaves m' of the roof, as shewn in Figure 6, which is a view
partly in section of the upper portion of a building so constructed. Just beneath
these eaves I place a suitable cross head n and cornice n¹ resting upon trusses n²,
which are fixed to the uprights m, and which carry a suitable zinc or other gutter o,
so fixed as to afford drainage to the entire roof.
The whole of the upper portion of the structure is composed of a number of
corresponding sections or segments, which are framed together and jointed at the
angles, and secured by radial tie rods o' connected to each section or segment and
to a central ring o² in a similar manner, as already decribed with reference to the
base of the building, the central ring and tie rods being in this case overhead.
This portion of the arrangement is also shewn in Figures 2 and 6 of the
accompanying Drawings.
The rafters of the roof p are supported in grooves formed in the uprights m and
by brackets p' fixed thereto; the rafters being connected at their upper ends to a
king post p², Figure 2, through which runs a bolt p³ connected to the central ring o²,
which ties the whole of the framing of the roof together, the pressure in the two
opposite directions serving to counteract one another.
Between the uprights m suitable frames containing glazed sashes or panels are
fitted, a suitable door being provided in one or more of them.
The spaces between the rafters may be fitted cither with glazed sashes or other-
wise covered in any suitable and convenient manner.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is the
constructing conservatories, summer-houses, and other similar buildings of a wooden
or metal framework, or of a compound framework made partly of wood and partly
of metal, such framework being made in corresponding and interchangeable sections
or segments, so as to admit of their being easily and securely combined and fitted
together or taken to pieces and removed, substantially in the manner herein-before
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the John Rawlings, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
ELT & CO.,
British and Foreign Patent Office,
33, Southampton Buildings,
Holborn,
London,
JOHN RAWLINGS.
(L.S.)