Recent Building Patents.

Progress, Volume XI, Issue 10, 1 June 1916, Page 647

Recent Building Patents.

Concrete Slab. —Aust. Patent No. 16,184 by J. Knowlson of "Victoria, Australia consists of a concrete slab for floors, partitions, fences, &c, in which surface corrugations are arranged to form a key for the overlying plaster. The slabs, which may be reinforced, and corrugated on one or both faces, are made by passing the plastic concrete through a screed box to a mould which slides under a plain or corrugated roller. The slabs are then compressed and allowed to set, and, when erected, the faces may be rendered and finished in cement, &c, to produce flat surfaces. Re-inforced Beam.—Patent No. 10,395 by P. B. Frost and F. Rings of England consists of re-inforced concrete or terra-eotta beams for supporting floors, roads, &c, in which

the top members are formed narrower than the bottom, to leave spaces for filling when the beams are placed side by side. The flanges may be re-inforced by rods i, and the stiffening brackets d by hoops h, while diagonal shear wiring is embedded in the web b. The bottom flanges of the beams are placed in contact, and the spaces between the webs filled with coke breeze concrete to which flooring boards may be nailed, while the stiffening brackets may be utilized to supbetween the webs b.

Spouting Bracket. —Patent No. 36404 has been taken out by H. G. Goodyer of Wellington. It consists of a bracket made in two parts, a fascia or vertical portion and a spouting holding portion. The fascia portion is formed by a single thickness of the usual metal strip, and has its lower end doubled up for a short distance so as to form a narrow clip. It is made with holes in its upper and lower ends, through which nails for securing it to the building may be passed, the hole or holes at the lower end passing through the clip. The other portion of the bracket is also formed of

the usual metal strip, and is shaped to fit the bottom and outer curves of the spouting. The inner end of the strip is bent vertically downward so as to pass into the clip of the fascia portion, and so that when placed therein and secured by the nails passing through the clip, also passing through holes correspondingly positioned in this member, it will be rigidly supported upon the fascia portion. The outer edge of this portion is provided with any of the known and approved means by which the top outer edge of the spouting may be engaged and locked in the bracket, such, for instance, as the hinged wire clip commonly used.

Concrete Construction. patent, No. 35950, has been taken out by S. 11. Crump of Park Avenue, Auckland. The invention consists of a frame of vertical and horizontal or diagonal members, and in providing distancepieces attached to the frame for spacing apart shutters or making-boards, which are clamped against the distance-

pieces. The vertical members are made of wood, iron bars, or tubes, or a combination of wood and iron; and the concrete is cast around the members of the frame, which is entirely embedded in the concrete, so that there are no breaks in the surface of the same.

Door and Gate Latch. — recent patent No. 37170 taken out by A. O. Eae, Eemuera, Auckland is for a door and gate latch. The invention consists in providing an upper an a

lower latch, each of which is provided with an engagement catch, situated on the gate-post, or door-jamb, or the like.

The latches are connected together, so as to work simultaneously, by a vertical rod having a hand grip or handle thereon, a hasp also provided on the door being adapted to engage over an eye-bolt on the vertical rod, so that by means of a padlock or the like the door cart be securely locked when desired.

Skylight. —A patent No. 36221 for a skylight has been taken out by Aldred and Griffiths, plumbers of Wellington. According to this invention, the upright of the skylightframe at its top end is perforated with ventilating-holes arranged at a distance up from the roof-level. Beneath the holes a ledge is secured, running the full length of such side and projecting upwardly in a line approximately parallel with the flange of the skylight resting on the roof, but preferably dipping down slightly at its upper end. A gutter is thus formed between this ledge and the flange, in which water running down the roof will be caught, and out of the ends of which it will run on to the roof at the sides of the skylight. A flat hood is secured to the skylight top above the ventilation-apertures throughout the full length of such top, and inclines downwards at its end so as to overlap the

outer edge of the ledge before mentioned, leaving a clear space between them. This hood will prevent rain beating in through the apertures, and will also protect the ledge from any rain upon its top side, while air may pass freely in and out through the space between them. The outer edges of the hood and the ledge are turned up, to form small gutters that will collect any water falling thereon and convey it to their ends and on to the roof. The ledge and the hood may be fixed in position in any approved manner, as by riveting or soldering, and the hood may, if required, be suitably stayed.

Ventilating Louvres. —Patent No. 37238 has been taken out by the Woolnough Window Co. Ltd. of Dunedin. It relate chiefly to ventilating-louvres used largely in freezing works and in works where ventilation is required without light, and is an alleged improvement on patent No. 37039 of 15th December, 1915. The louvre-blade comprises one strip of metal having its edges 2a arid 2b flanged in opposite

directions, a portion of the flange being cut away to allow the blade to lie flat upon the surface of the web 3 of the side member 1. There is a set in the louvre-blade, as shown sit 2e, so as to allow the louvre-blade to cross the web 3

at the cut-away part of the louvre-blade, to give the blade free movement in an outward direction at the bottom edge and an inward direction at the upper edge thereof. Pivotbrackets are provided and are riveted to the set portion 2e of the louvre-blades 2, and holes are bored in the side members to receive the pins on the pivot-brackets when assembling the louvre. Suitable brackets 5 are provided to receive a coupling-up rod 6, which is pivotally connected to the brackets in a manner that enables an operator to open or close all the louvre-blades in a set in one operation. Anti-Rattling Device for sash windows. A device is shown herewith, the patent of Mr. A. M. Berry of Christchurch which should prove of interest. It consists of a lever pivoted at or near the middle of its length upon a fulcrumming block or bracket by means of which the device may be

mounted in the desired position. Upon one end of the said lever is formed a cam, while the other end of such lever constitutes a handle by means of which the device may be operated.