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588,725 · Bruner · "Illuminating Area-Spanning Pavement" · Page 1 Home  > Prism Glass  > Patent Index  > Page 1

588,725 : 1 of 4

Patents: 372 of 530	UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. PRESTON M. BRUNER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.	Preston M. Bruner 2 of 2
ILLUMINATING AREA-SPANNING PAVEMENT. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letter Patent No. 588,725, dated August 24, 1897. Application filed March 16, 1896. Serial No. 583,385. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:     Be it known that I, PRESTON M. BRUNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Illuminated Area-Spanning Pavements and Substructures for Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein—     Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the substructure in position and the lenses arranged thereon preparatory to receiving the composition forming the pavement proper. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the removable sectional molds. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the sectional molds, the same being reduced in length for filling out spaces when the ordinary molds are too long to be used. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the lens.     This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in illuminated area-spanning pavements and substructure for the same, the object being that the finished pavement shall have embedded in it regular rows of lenses which transmit light to the area and basement beneath.     My invention comprises the feature of embedding the glass lenses in the body of the concrete, which necessarily involves means for supporting the lenses in position while the pavement is being built. In the means so employed for this purpose are included a removable substructure which holds the lenses in proper position and other features of novelty which I claim as new and as part of my present invention.     Another feature of my invention resides in the strengthening-girders which extend across the area-way, which strengthening-girders space the sectional molds of the substructure and which, when the molds are removed, form the facing of the ribs and act as a permanent support for the pavement.     In the drawings I have illustrated an I-beam A, which we will assume is the building edge of the area-way, and a wall B, which we will call the "pavement edge" of the area-way, C

indicating the sidewalk-pavement. It is obvious that this particular arrangement will not be found in all area-ways, as varying conditions exist which might necessitate a slight change in the pavement itself or the substructure for the same.     D and E are ground supports, upon which are arranged, preferably transversely of the area-way, studding or strips F. This studding may be of any size or dimensions, but I prefer to use the same about as arranged in the drawings. Upon this floor of the substructure are arranged rows of sectional molds G, placed end to end and side by side, as shown. These sectional-molds are preferably made about a foot long and of such height as it is desired the ribs of the pavement shall be deep. The side walls of these molds also converge toward the top to facilitate their removal and before using the molds are preferably greased on the outside to prevent the adhesion of the composition thereto. The end walls of these molds are preferably slotted, as shown, and in the top are formed openings g, which are so spaced apart that when a series of molds are arranged end to end the openings will be equidistant. The walls of these openings are tapered, as shown, for the purpose of leading off any cement or composition which might leak between the lens and mold, thus preventing the composition from contacting with the lower light-transmitting surface of the lens to which it would adhere and obstruct the passage of rays of light. The tops of the molds adjacent to these openings are formed with projections or recesses to engage the lenses and hold them in place while the composition material is being laid. This I consider an essential feature in the construction of this kind of a pavement for the reason that in finishing the surface of the pavement, either by the use of a trowel, straight-edge, or wiper, it frequently happens in the practice of well-known methods that the lenses will be displaced, and it would be very hard to replace them on account of the setting of the composition. By the attachment between the lens and mold which prevents the lens from moving laterally the composition can be laid and finished without danger of displacing the lenses.