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258,232 · Ingalls · "Illuminating Tile" · Page 2 Home  > Prism Glass  > Patent Index  > Page 2

258,232: 2 of 3

It will be observed, also, that I avoid the formation of a flanged lip on the lower interior face of the socket, such as is usually employed to take under a shoulder on the lens and support it. Such flanges, by interposing an opaque obstacle, cut off a large percentage of the light which would otherwise pass through the lens. The slight conical swell on the part e of the lens is sufficient to support it in the correspondingly-shaped socket, and such a construction offers very little, if any, impediment to the passage of the rays of light.     In setting the lenses I first place a little putty around the lower margin of the socket, and then set in the lens, grinding or crushing off the fragile ribs g in setting as much as may be necessary to properly bed the lens. When the lenses are thus set I then pour into the spaces around them the usual molten cement or other good cementing material. The rounding off of the upper angle of the spheroidal portion e of the lens also enables me to flow the cement over said edge, as shown in Fig. 3, which serves to keep the lens down in its socket.     I will now describe the construction, arrangement, and purpose of the studs or elevations a and b on the plate. One function of these is to prevent the slipping of the feet in walking, as is well known. Another is to strengthen the plate. By arranging the studs a a at the points where the sockets are nearest together, and extending them from socket to socket, the plate is strengthened at its weakest points, as is known. The elevations b are made pointed, and are arranged at the elevated ends d' of the inclined planes d of the lenses. The broader ends of the elevations b being as wide as the planes d, and they having their pointed ends in the opposite direction or away from the planes, it will be seen that the soiled water will flow down the planes, and the current be divided, as indicated by arrows 5 in Fig. 1, and flow on at each side of the planes, thus keeping the latter clean. In sweeping, also, the points of the elevations b will prevent any collection of dirt at the elevated ends of the planes d, and will also secure them against injury from blows. The passages between the elevated planes d and the studs a, which are in line, are unobstructed for the entire length of the tile.     As before stated, I do not limit myself to a lens which is circular in plan; and, although I prefer to curve the oblique side of the pendent portion h, I do not limit myself to this. I may make the same an oblique plane. The other side of the pendent portion stands in a vertical plane, or nearly so.

Having thus described my invention, I claim--     1. A lens for an illuminating-tile, having a slightly-spheroidal upper portion to rest in a correspondingly-shaped socket, and a pendent portion united to the upper portion by a long sweep or curve, whereby the formation of a neck or abrupt angle is avoided, and an underlying flange or lip on the socket is rendered unnecessary, substantially as set forth.     2. A lens for an illuminating-tile, having slender ribs formed exteriorly on the portion of the lens which rests in the socket, whereby the said lenses may be the better adjusted to a uniform level, as set forth.     3. A lens for an illuminating-tile, having a pendent portion, one side of which stands nearly vertical and the other face inclined, said pendant portion having substantially the form of an ungula, as set forth and shown.     4. A lens for an illuminating-tile, having a portion of its upper exterior face made into the form of an inclined plane, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.     5. A lens for an illuminating-tile, having a conical portion to rest in the socket in the socket-plate, and a pendent portion having a vertical face and a curved, oblique, or inclined face, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.     6. A lens for an illuminating-tile, having a conical portion, a, provided with ribs g and an inclined plane, d, and a pendent portion, h, having the form of an ungula, substantially as herein set forth.     7. The combination of a lens having an inclined plane formed on a portion of its upper face only, and said plane being arranged obliquely to the vertical axis of the lens, with a socket-plate having the axes of its lens-sockets arranged at right angles to the general level of the plate, and provided with an elevation or stud arranged at the end of the inclined plane on the lens, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.     8. The combination, with the socket-plate provided with studs a a and pointed elevations b b, arranged as shown, of the lenses B, provided with inclined planes d and pendent ungulas h, all arranged substantially as set forth.     In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOSHUA K. INGALLS. Witnesses:     HENRY CONNETT,     ARTHUR C. FRASER.