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586,226 · Belcher · "Combined Prism and Ornamental Glass" · Page 2 Home  > Prism Glass  > Patent Index  > Page 2

586,226: 2 of 3

light behind them. These prisms will bring such obscure pictures into bold relief and contribute not only to the illumination of the church, but will also at the same time exhibit to the world the masterpieces in the stained-glass work.     In the figures I have shown that the prism-plate and the stained-glass windows may be separated from each other or be separable, and I mean by this view to suggest that many of these effects which I have described would be greatly heightened or improved by separating the prism-plate from the stained glass by a considerable distance. Moreover, this separation is necessary in some cases, particularly where the stained-glass window is placed in an interior wall and the exterior wall is removed therefrom. This is a common occurrence in church architecture. A stained-glass window thus has to take its light from a secondary source, and by placing prism-lights in the outside or exterior wall and arranging the angles properly the light may be concentrated upon such interior stained-glass window and the desired result be attained.     The figures also indicate that one window may be movable with reference to the other, so that by varying the position of the prism-plates,

for example, from time to time, with the change in the position of the sun or the variations in the seasons, or when a particular result desired is sought for at a particular hour of the day, we may, so to speak, control the window to make it respond to such varying requirements.     I wish to suggest again that in a subject so broad and interesting it is only possible for me to make, as it were, a few passing suggestions touching the use and operation of my invention.     I claim—     The combination of a stained-glass window with varying colors and varying degrees of translucency, with a prism-plate window comprising a transparent body having a series of prisms on one side systematically arranged to produce an increased illuminating effect and adapted to receive the light from without, bend the rays and direct them upon the stained-glass window in a predetermined manner to vary the effects produced by the stained-glass window. HENRY F. BELCHER. Witnesses:     DONALD M. CARTER,     BERTHA C. SIMS.