Mounting Prismatic Pavement Window and like Lights with Soft Metal Projecting at the Ends of the Prism Grooves.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1897-Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
DI MULTICATION.
Mounting Prismatic Pavement Window and like Lights with Soft
Metal Projecting at the Ends of the Prism Grooves.
I, JOHN MEIGGS EWEN, of No. 1129 The Rookery, Chicago, County of Cook,
State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention relates to new and useful improvements in mounting tile-like
sections, particularly prism lights to form prism plates. Of course it will be
readily seen that it is more or less applicable to the mounting of other tile-like
bodies, as for example, stained and ornamental glass, prism tiles and tiles proper;
but some of its features are applicable only to prism lights, and all of its features
are applicable to such lights.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure 1 is an elevation looking toward the prism side of a prism plate, with
the mounting modified in different parts of such plate.
Figure 2 is a cross-section through two prism lights, showing the joining warp
before it has been forced into position.
Figure 3 is a similar view after it has been forced into position.
Figure 4 is a similar view of a modification before the solder has been applied.
Figure 5 is a like view after the solder has been applied.
Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.
Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line 7-7, Fig. 1.
Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.
A is the surrounding frame; B, the body of the prism light having a prism C
thereon. As previously suggested, I have shown various modifications in Figure 1,
and hence I have lettered the various portions of the warps separately. D is a
warp having the bead E and the upwardly projecting part F of such material that
it can be melted or hammered down into the grooves between the prisms, as
indicated at H, and it may thus be hammered down into the ends of both of the
grooves which lie opposite each other, but as indicated at J it may be thus
hammered or melted alternately in opposite directions, thus giving the zigzag
effect indicated at J. K is the body of a warp having the bead L and adapted to
be secured in position by the solder drops M M which lie in the grooves and join
the body of the warp, as indicated in Figures 1, 4 and 5. N is the body of a
warp having a bead O, and the body has a width equal to the thickness of the
body of the prism light, as indicated in Figure 6, and in this event the warps or
ties P should be beaded on the prism side of the plate so as to hold the prism
lights in the grid or net. Figure 7 illustrates this arrangement reversed. R is
the warp, the body of which is just equal in width to the thickness of the body
of the prism light, so that it does not extend above the prism surface thereof; S is
the bead which engages the plane surface of the prism lights, and in this case the
ransverse warp D may have some means for holding the prism side of the lights,
as for example that illustrated at H and J.

page_text: There are several results accomplished by my invention, but the particular thing
aimed at is to adapt a form of mounting substantially the same as that in common
use to prism lights, modifying it so as to permit the prisms to extend substantially
or entirely across the surface of the prism lights. In mountings as commonly
employed, for example in stained glass, there is a bead or overhanging portion
on each edge of the grid or net sections, and as this method of mounting was
applied to prism lights formerly, they were provided with a surrounding smooth
border or rim, thus greatly reducing the prism area. When the prisms extend
entirely across the surface of the prism lights, we can get substantially the same
results by forming the warps and short cross pieces or ties with beads on one
side only, and then if the metal be of proper character, melting or hammering
it down so as to form little lugs in the ends of the grooves, thus firmly securing
the prism lights in the grid. In such cases, if the prisms do not approach each
other too closely, the ordinary double beaded or double grooved warp or tie may
be used where it runs parallel with the prisms, or here also it may be hammered
or worked over. If the warp is composed of metal not easily so hammered or
molded, it may be secured and the prism lights be held in position by drops of
solder deposited in the ends of the grooves and upon the projecting metal of the
warp or tie. Where it is not thought best thus to make use of the ends of
the grooves, the warps or ties between the ends of the prisms may be made, as
indicated in the drawings, of a width equal to the thickness of the body of the
prism light, the transverse warps or ties being beaded on the prism side so as to
hold the prism lights between the beaded sections.
I do not wish to limit myself to any particular form of prism lights or warps
or ties, but I have here shown, as it were, diagrammatically or by suggestion
enough to enable any person familiar with this art to make use of my invention,
and in making use of it he can easily modify it to suit the circumstances of his
particular case and employ more or less of what I have set forth, without departing
from the spirit of my invention. I do not therefore wish to be limited to the
particular forms of devices or arrangement of parts illustrated. It is evident
that if desired the parts can be more securely fixed in position by the electro-
glazing process, or by the use of cement and the like in any of the ordinary ways.
To fully carry out my invention in the best way, the surrounding frame should be
of a somewhat similar construction to the grid elements; in other words, the
surrounding frame and the grid elements or warps and ties when brought together
should constitute a grid, into the several meshes or pockets of which the prism
lights can be dropped into position, the upwardly projecting edges of the grid
elements being then treated so as to present projections extending into the ends
of the grooves between the prisms. This can perhaps be best accomplished by
having the grid elements composed of comparatively soft metal which can be
hammered, melted or forced down and outwardly into the ends of the grooves
between the prisms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
1. A prism plate consisting of a series of prism lights, a series of grid elements
between the lights, and projections mechanically formed on the grid elements and
lying in the grooves between the prisms, whereby the parts are all secured together.
2. A prism plate consisting of a series of prism lights having prisms extend-
ing across their surfaces, a series of grid or net elements interposed between the
edges of the prism lights and beaded on the plane side of the prism plate, and a
series of mechanically secured lugs on the grid elements projecting into the ends
of the grooves between the prisms.
3. A prism plate comprising a series of prism lights with prisms extending
substantially across the face thereof, a grid or net of comparatively soft metal
and beaded on the plane side of the prism plate so as to hold the prism lights in

page_text: position, and projections from the grid elements extending into the ends of the
grooves between the prisms, formed by forcing down the upwardly projecting edges
of such grid elements.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.