IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCREENS FOR DOMESTIC FIRE-PLACES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Vaughan, of 67, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCREENS FOR DOMESTIC FIRE-PLACES." A communi-
cation from abroad by Jules Covillion, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Edward Vaughan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th January 1880.
GEORGE EDWARD VAUGHAN, of 67, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCREENS FOR DOMESTIC
A communication from abroad by Jules Covillion, of Paris, in the
Patent Agent.
FIRE-PLACES."
Republic of France.
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of screens for the
purpose of covering the grate and open spaces of ordinary domestic fire places
when the same are not being used.
The body of the screen in its simplest form is composed of a sheet of thin metal,
wood, or other suitable material, set in a three sided metallic frame of rectangular
or other shape, corresponding with the outline of the space to which it is to be
applied. The edges of this plate are secured to the frame by screws inserted from
the back and at or near its point of junction with the top cross piece it is
traversed by a spindle, the exterior end of which is provided with a knob or handle,
and the interior end with a washer and crank bar, by means of which the apparatus
is locked into position in the fire place. In addition to, or as a substitute for, the
above described locking mechanism, a flat metallic bar is in some cases pivoted
under the foot of each upright of the frame in such a manner as to be set at will
at right angles to the latter so as to form an independent support for the screen,
which is thus enabled to maintain its vertical position at any required point of the
hearth.
For fire places of large dimensions the arrangement above described is modified
by the substitution of double vertical panels for the single central sheet. In
this modification the panels, instead of being rigidly secured to the frame, are
mounted upon hinges set in the uprights of the latter, and are closed at the centre
by a slide bar working in guides at the back, the whole being maintained in
position either by the locking mechanism above described or by supporting

page_text: brackets pivoted at the foot of the uprights. When the screen is not required to
intercept draughts to or from the chimney the panels may be made of perforated or
open worked materials, but for general purposes it is preferred to make them of
plain metal or wood, the outer surfaces of which are painted, varnished, embossed,
inlaid, engraved, or otherwise ornamented as desired.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what I
consider novel and original, and therefore claim, is:-
The construction of screens for domestic fire places of a three sidod metallic
fram inclosing one stationary or two moveable panels, in combination with the
locking and supporting mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Vaughan, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.