IMPROVED HORTICULTURAL FRAMES AND LIGHTS
Year: 1884

page_text: CIRCITIONIION.
CHARLES EDWARD SHEA of the Elms, Foots Cray, in the County of Kent, a
Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature in England, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for IMPROVED HORTICULTURAL FRAMES AND LIGHTS to
be as follows:-
:-
My invention consists of a mechanical appliance (explained hereafter) by which
horticultural frames and "Lights" may be opened so as to secure the following
advantages, namely, the ability to open the frame, or "light," either at the front or
at the back, or at both front and back at the same time, whereby greater case of
access to the contents of wide frames, or pits, is attained, and also superiority
of ventilation in cases where a through current of air is desirable. The aforesaid
invention consists in connecting the "light" of the frame or pit with such frame
or pit by a double hinge with intermediate bar at cach sido of such "light" in
the manner shown in the drawings which accompany and form part of this
Specification.
"
او
Referring to such Drawings Figure N° 1 thereof represents a general view of
a frame, or pit, with the light" thereof attached by a pair of the double
hinges referred to. For greater clearness of explanation I refer to Figure N° 2.
B. B. therein represents the frame, or pit. A. A. the "light thereof. C. C¹. C
C C. show the double hinge whereof the centre portion. C. consists of a bar of
the length of the "light," each end of which bar at C. C'. terminates with a hinge.
The short portions, C. C. at each end and beyond the hinge (or forming the other
arm thereof.) are for attachment respectively to the "light" and the frame or pit.
The hinge with intermediate bar may either be fixed to the under surface of the
"light" and upper surface of the frame or pit, as shown in Figures Nos 1 and 2,
or to the sides of the "light" and frame respectively, as shown in figure N° 3.
Figure No 4 shows a double hinge (unfixed) suitable for the first named method
of fixing (as shown in Figures Nos 1 and 2), and Figure N° 5 a double hinge
suitable for the second method (as shown in Figure N° 3.) The above diagrams
(N° 1. 2. and 3.) have all shown the hinges attached to the lower end of the
"light" and upper end of the frame or pit, but the hinge may also be attached,
with practically equal advantage, to the upper end of the "light" and lower end of
the frame or pit, as in Figure N° 6. The invention is also applicable, with either
mode of attachment, to "span-roof" frames, as shown in Figure N° 7, where both
methods of attachment are represented. Figures Nos 80, 8b, 80, 8d, 80, 8f and 88,-
9, 9b, 90, 9d, 90, 91, and 98, show some of the positions in which the frames fitted

page_text: with my invention (in its alternative method of attachment as before described)
may be opened, and (by suitable fastenings or supports when needed) maintained
in position. Figures No 100, 10b, and 10 show the application of the invention
to a "span-roof" frame.
"
With regard to the material of the hinges and intermediate bar, wrought iron
would doubtless be the cheapest and best, but tough and suitable wood might be
used for the intermediate bar especially in the case of small and not heavy "lights."
With regard to the fastenings, or supports, to be used in maintaining the "lights
in position when opened, there are several methods already well known and, in
common use in connection with existing forms of garden frames which in most
cases would suffice, but in cases such as are represented by Figures N° 80, 8d,
and 10b (for examples) it would be well, especially if the frames are to be opened
very wide, to provide at the front, or back, of the frame (if not at both front and
back) a fastening of considerable lateral rigidity so as not to allow of lateral strain
on the hinges. Such a fastening, or support, (which I suggest merely, and do not
Inake part of my claim for my invention) would be found in the method shown in
Figure No 11 which shows the front of a frame, A. A, with the "light" thereof,
B. B. raised. C. C and C¹, C, are respectively flat pieces of iron, moving on
pivots at C. and C respectively, with holes, or slots, cut at intervals therein, so
that a pin, or hook, attached. 10 the end of the "light" may pass through them.
Figure No 12 shows this in section, wherein d is the end of the "light," b. b. the
pin, or hook, screwed thereinto, C¹. C, and C. C, the sides or edges of the
aforesaid flat iron bars (also represented by the same letters in Figure N° 11) and
a, a. a. the holes, or slots, in such bars. When not in use the bars would fall
down and rest the one on the other, or on a support provided and shown at the
_point_d_on_the_Figure_Nº 11.

page_text: I CHARLES EDWARD SHEA of The Elms, Foots Cray, in the County of Kent,
Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for IMPROVED HORTICULTURAL FRAMES AND LIGHTS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention consists of a mechanical appliance (explained hereafter) by which
horticultural frames and "Lights" may be opened so as to secure the following
advantages, namely-The ability to open the Frame, or "Light," either at the
front, or at the back, or at both front and back at the same time, whereby greater
ease of access to the contents of wide (from front to back) frames, or pits, is
attained, and also superiority of ventilation in cases where a through current of air
is desirable. The aforesaid invention consists in connecting the moveable "Light"
of the Frame, or Pit, with such Frame, or Pit, by a "double hinge with intermediate
bar" at each side of such "light" in the manner shown in the drawings which
accompany and form part of this Specification. Referring to such drawings
Figure No 1 thereof represents a general view of a Frame, or Pit, with the "Light"
thereof attached by a pair of the double hinges with intermediate bars referred to,
For greater clearness of explanation I refer to Figure No 2. B. B. therein represent
the Frame, or Pit. A. A. the "Light" thereof. C. C. C. C. C. show the double
hinge whereof the centre portion C". consists of a bar the length of the " 'Light,"
each end of which bar, at C. C. terminates with a hinge. The short portions, U. C.
at each end, and beyond the hinge (or forming the other arm thereof) are for
attachment respectively to the "Light," and the Frame, or Pit. The hinge with
interinediate bar may either be fixed to the under surface of the "Light" and
upper surface of the Frame, or Pit, as shown in Figures Nos 1 and 2, or to the
sides of the "Light" and Frame respectively as shown in Figure No 3. If affixed
in the first named method then it will be necessary (in order to allow the " Light
to rest closely upon the Pit, or Frame, and so exclude the passage of air when the
Frame, or pit, is closed) either that the hinges should be recessed, or let into the
wood work of the sides of the Frame, or Pit, for a sufficient depth, or that a suffi-
ciently large fillet of wood should be affixed to the Frame, or to the "Light" (both
along the front and also the back) between the respective double hinges as shown
at A. A. in Figure No 1. Figure No 4 shows a double hinge, unfixed, suitable for
the first named method of fixing (as shown in Figures N°8 1 and 2) and Figure N° 5,
a double, hinge suitable for the second named method (as shown in Figure N° 3).
The above diagrams, No. 1. 2 and 3, have all shown the hinges attached to the
lower end of the "Light," and upper end of the Frame, or Pit, but the hinge may
also be attached with practically equal advantage to the upper end of the "
Light
and lower end of the Frame, or Pit, as in Figure No 6. The invention is also
applicable, with either mode of attachment, to "Spau-roof" frames or other horti-
cultural structures, as shown in figure No 7, where both methods of attachment
are represented. Figures N° 80, 8b, 8c 8d. 8c 8f, and 8g, 9a. 9b, 9c, 9. 9c, 9f and 98,
show some of the positions in which the Frames fitted with my invention (in its
alternative methods of attachment as before described) may be opened, and (by
suitable fastenings, or supports, when needed) maintained in position; such fasten-
ings, or supports, not being shown in these Figures. Figures 10 10b and 10° show
the application of my invention to a "span-roof" frame.
[E
"
"
With regard to the material and dimensions of the hinges and intermediate bar
wrought iron" would be by far the cheapest and best material, but tough and
suitable wood might be used for the intermediate bar in the case of very small and
not heavy "Lights." For a full size (6 feet by 4 feet) frame the intermediate, or
connecting, bar would be sufficiently strong if made of wrought iron about 2 inches

page_text: "
wide by a quarter to a third of an inch thick. For smaller Frames the dimensions
should be proportionately reduced. With regard to the fastenings, or supports, to
be used in maintaining the "Lights" in position when opened there are several
methods already well known and in common use in connection with existing forms
of garden frames which in most cases would suffice, but in cases such as are
represented by Figures Nos 8c. 8d. 8° and 10b (for example) it would be well,
especially if the frames are to be opened very wide; to provide at the front, or
back, (or, better still, at both front and back) of the frame a fastening of consider-
able lateral rigidity so as not to allow of lateral strain on the hinges. Such a
fastening, or support (which I suggest merely and do not make part of my claim
for my invention) would be found in the method shown in Figure No 11, which
shows the front of a Frame, A. A, with the "Light" thereof B. B. raised. C. Cu
and C. C. are respectively flat pieces, or bars, of iron, moving on pivots at C and Cl
respectively, with holes or slots cut at intervals therein so that
pin or hook
attached to the front or end of the " Light" may pass through them. Figure 12
shows this in section, wherein D is the end of the "light," B the pin, or hook,
screwed thereinto. C¹. C and C. C the sides, or edges, of the aforesaid flat
iron bars (also represented by the same letters in Figure No 11), and A. A. A.
the holes, or slots, in such bars. When not in use the bars would fall down and
rest the one on the other, or on a support provided at the point D in Figure No 11.
The same result might be even more effectually secured by the arrangement
shown in Figure No 13, wherein A. A¹ is the front (or-back, as-the-case-may-be)
of the Frame. B. B', the upper (or lower) end of the "Light," at the under side of
which at points a short distance from each end, namely at C and C, are affixed
(in manner shown in Figure 14) moveable iron bars, or rods, rather less in length
than the width (from side to side) of the inside of the "Light." Along the front
(or back, as the case may be) of the "Frame" (either inside or out) at D. D¹, is
aflixed a piece of iron (section shown in Figure 15) having two V shaped grooves,
side by side, and about half an inch wide and deep, running the entire length
thereof, at intervals of from 2 to 6 inches in which grooves are cut V shaped holes
or notches, as in Figure 16. The lower ends of the aforesaid bars or rods are to be
pointed or shaped to fit exactly into these notches as in Figure 13, and are to rest
in (or travel along when the "light" is being raised) the aforesaid grooves, the
intention and result being that as the "light" is lifted the lower and pointed ends
of the rods will travel along the grooves (one in each) and when the light is to be
retained open at any particular elevation the pointed ends of the rods will fall into
the nearest (passed) notches, or holes, and thus rigidly uphold the "light," These
fastenings, or supports, must be so attached as not to interfere with the proper
closing of the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The use, or application, to the moveable "lights" of horticultural frames, or
pits, or other analogous horticultural structures, of the "double hinges with inter-
inediate connecting bars" hereinbefore described as a means of opening the
lights" of such frames, pits, or other analogous horticultural structures.
"
CT
100K
CHARLES E. SHEA,
The Elins,
Foots Cray, Kent.