Improvements in Movable Partitions.
Year: 1894

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883), as required
by the decision of the Law Officer of the 29th day of January 1896.
Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
Improvements in Movable Partitions.
We, GEORGE THORNBOROUGH, of Tariff Street, Dale Street, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, and JOHN WILKS, of Thornaby-on-Tees,
in the County of York, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to movable partitions which are employed to divide a large
room into two or more smaller rooms, such as school rooms, class rooms, lecture
rooms, and the like.
It is designed to provide a more simple and less expensive means of supporting
the separate sections or leaves of the partitions than that hitherto adopted.
In carrying out this invention we support each leaf or section of the partition
by a runner or castor placed at the lower edge. The form of runner we prefer to
employ is provided internally with rollers or balls and is attached to the leaf of
the partition by a suitable swivelling or universal joint, preferably provided with
balls to reduce the amount of friction. A rail is placed in the floor and the recess
which carries the rail is covered over by a plate or plates. The spindle of the
runner projects at one or both sides of its bracket beneath this plate and is thereby
prevented from being withdrawn or removed from its position in the groove by
any augular movement of the leaf of the partition, and also assists in preventing
the partition being moved out of its perpendicular position.
At the top of the leaf we affix a bracket carrying a pair of runners and held
in position on top of a light beam or rail by a spiral or other suitable spring.
This bracket and the runner carried by it, do not suspend the leaf of the partition
but their function is to maintain it upright or in an approximately vertical position.
The bracket to which the runners are attached is preferably sustained in position
by a stud, bolt or pin passing through it with the spring placed on top, though if
found more convenient the head of the pin or stud may rest upon the
bracket and the spring be placed below to hold it down. The pressure of the
spring is sufficient to maintain the leaf of the partition upright and allow for
sufficient play to prevent any sticking or jambing, or to prevent the weight of the
leaf being lifted from the bottom rail.
A top bracket of this description may be attached to each or to every alternate
leaf of the partition.
•
The bottom supporting bracket and runner and the top steadying bracket and
runners we at present prefer to attach to the leaves of the partition near one
edge, and we connect each pair of leaves together by hinges or pivots the
supporting brackets being placed at the opposite edges to the hinges. Under the
Paine 71

page_text: hinged edge of one or both leaves, we may place a small friction roller, castor, ball
castor or the like.
Instead of placing the supporting brackets at the edges they may be placed in
the centre and the leaves worked independently or hinged together in pairs.
A strip of wood is run along the sides of the partition at the top to prevent the
leaves swivelling except at the desired point so that they will be moved in a direct
line from side to side.
Dated thin 07th of a
1004
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Movacie parutions.
We, GEORGE THORNBOROUGH, of Tariff Street, Dale Street, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, and JOHN WILKS, of Thornaby-on-Tees,
in the County of York, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to movable partitions which are employed to divide a large
room into two or more smaller rooms such as school rooms class rooms lecture rooms
and the like.
It is designed' to provide a more simple and less expensive means of supporting
the separate sections or leaves of the partitions than that hitherto adopted.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2. End elevation partly in section.
Fig. 3. Plan.
Fig. 4. End elevation of bottom supporting bracket.
Fig. 5. Side elevation of same.
Fig. 6. End elevation of top supporting bracket.
Fig. 7. Side elevation of same.
Fig. 8. End elevation of a modified form of bottom.supporting bracket.
Each leaf or section A of the partition is supported upon a runner or castor B.
placed at or below.its lower edge. The form of runner we prefer to employ is
provided internally with rollera 6 or balls and is attached to the leaf of the
partition by a bracket C provided with a suitable swivelling or universal joint c.
This joint may also be fitted with balls to reduce the amount of friction. A rail D.
is placed in a recess d in the floor and this recess is covered over, by a plate or
plates E. The spindle 6 of the runner projects at one or both sides of its bracket
beneath the plate E and is thereby prevented from being withdrawn or removed
from its position in the groove by any angular movement of the leaf A. of the
partition and also assists in preventing the partition being moved out of its
perpendicular position.
At the top of the leaf A we affix a bracket F carrying a pair of runners G and
held in position on top of a light beam H by a spiral or other suitable spring K.
The runners G traversing the rails h the bracket F and the runnors G carried by
it do not suspend or support the weight of the leaf A of the partition but their
function is to maintain it upright or in an approximately vertical position. The
bracket F which carries the runners Gis sustained in position by a stud, bolt or.
pin L passing through it with the spring placed on top though if found more,
convenient the head of the pin or stud may rest upon the bracket and the spring.
be placed below to hold it down. The pressure of the spring K is sufficient to

page_text: maintain the leaf of the partition upright and allow for sufficient play to prevent.
any sticking or jambing.
A top bracket of this description. may be attached to each or to every alternate.
leaf of the partition but at present we prefer to attach one to each leaf.
The bottom supporting bracket and runner and the top steadying bracket and
runners are attached to the leaves of the partition at the top and bottom edges and
at any convenient position across the width of the leaf according to whether it is.
desired that the leaves should swivel more to one side of the centre than the other
side.
Each pair of leaves A is connected together by hinges or pivots N. Under the
hinged edge of one or both leaves we may place a small friction roller, castor, ball
castor or the like.
Strips of wood O are run along the sides of the partition extending for the
greater part across the apartment to prevent the leaves being swivelled except at
the desired point so that they will be moved in a direct line from side to side of
the room or apartment.
Towards the end of the beam H at which the leaves A swivel the rails h are
provided with an incline ' preferably inclined in both directions for the purpose of
Blightly raising the partitions as they swivel so that the lower edge will be raised.
clear of the floor the second side of the incline tending to hold the leaves in position
when swivelled and laid flat together.
In Fig. 8 a modification of the lower bracket is shown in which the rail D.
instead of being below the floor level rises to the level of the floor and the bracket
of the castor B is prolonged and fitted with lngs b" which pass beneath the floor
plates.E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be.
understood we are aware that a Patent No. 15878 of 1892 has been granted to
Messrs. Brady & Peace relating to the binging together of the sections or flaps of
movable folding partitions or screens substantially as described and shown in the
Specification and drawings and we make no claim to such hinging. We declare
that what we claim is :-
1. A movable partition comprising a number of leaves hinged together in pairs
constructed with bottom supporting brackets and castors which support the weight
of the partition and top brackets and runners held in position by a spiral spring to.
maintain the partitions upright substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 30th day of May 1805.
Date LIIS DVIN®U&y of Di&y loud.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.