IMPROVE- MENTS IN FOLDING SLATES OR WRITING TABLETS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel of No 28 Southampton Buildings
"
Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex for an invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FOLDING SLATES OR WRITING TABLETS Communicated to him
from Abroad by Wilhelm Stuckle of Worms in the German Empire
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd June 1882.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING SLATES OR WRITING
TABLETS [Communicated to him from abroad by Wilhelm Stuckle of Worms
in the German Empire.].
"
One part of this invention has reference to a mode of jointing together folding
slates or writing tablets so that the two parts shall be capable of being turned
over and folded together in every direction For this purpose, according to one
arrangement a flate plate or link with rounded ends and with a hole in each end,
is inserted edgewise into notches formed in the meeting edges of the frames of the
two slates, so that one half of the plate is situated in each frame. The notches
are formed near each end of the slates, and holes are bored longitudinally through
the ends thereof in positions corresponding with the holes of the plate, so that on
inserting pins with screwed ends into such holes they pass through the holes of the
plate and are secured by screwing into the wood beyond the same. The meeting
edges of the two slates being rounded semicircularly like the connecting links, it
will be seen that the slates can be folded over in every direction.
According to another modification the said plate or link is pivotted to two other
flat plates which are secured by screws to the end surface of the frame of each
slate. According to another modification, instead of forming the connecting link
of a solid plate, it is made of a piece of thin sheet metal bent together so as to
form an eye at each end and is secured by means of such eyes to the eyes of two
other plates formed by bending a piece of, sheet metal together, and which are
secured by screws to the flat surfaces of the frames.

page_text: Another part of the invention relates to the mode of securing the slates together
in a simple and efficaceous manner when folded. According to one arrangement
a hole is formed in the edge of the one slate, either at the end or, preferably at the
side, into which is inserted the one shank of a forked piece of metal such shank
being retained in the hole by a helical spring bearing against a collar on the end
of the shank and against a metal plate fitted over the hole. The other shank of
the forked piece is considerably shorter and when the slates are folded together is
caused to spring into a corresponding hole in the edge of the second slate, the
forked piece being drawn out somewhat against the action of the spring for this
purpose. The forked pieces being capable of turning right round in its hole, it
will secure the slates in whichever direction they may be folded together.
According to another arrangement a plate is fixed on the edge of each slate, the
one plate having hinged to it a metal flap having a hole at its free end which fits
over a stud on the plate of the other slate, the flap being capable of turning in
either direction so as to secure the slates in whichever direction they may be
folded. Or instead of the flap a double hook may be employed turning in either
direction on a pin and hooking on to a stud or into a loop on the other slate.
According to another modification, a hinged plate, similar to that previously
described, carries on each side a projecting pin or stud, having a notch, hook or
eye at its end which fits into a recess in the other slate, covered by a metal
plate. In this recess is a spring bolt or catch, which catches into the notch of
the stud and thus secures it, the catch being withdrawn by an external button.
According to another arrangement, the one slate is fitted with a head at each
end, sliding transversely through the frame so as to project with its one end into
a recess in the other slate. In this recess is a spring catch or lever that catches
under the head of the sliding bolt and thus secures, it, and which can be depressed
by an external stud so as to free the bolt.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th November 1882.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL of No 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING SLATES OR WRITING
TABLETS. A communication to me from Abroad by Wilhelm Stuckle of Worms
in the German Empire
The improvements in Folding Slates or writing tablets shewn on the accom-
panying drawings relate mainly to the construction of a rigid strong and yet
simple hinge which firmly connects the two slates or tablets when folded together
in either direction and which allows each slate to turn through an angle of 360°,
and also to the use of a fastening that securely holds the slates to-gether, in which-
ever direction they are folded."
For this purpose according to one arrangement shown at figs: 1 to 4 of the
accompanying drawings, a flat plate or link a with rounded ends and with a hole
in each end is inserted edgewise into notches formed in the meeting edges of the
frames R R of the two slates, so that one half of the plate is situated in each
frame. The notches are formed near each end of the slates, and holes are bored
longitudinally through the ends thereof in positions corresponding with the holes
of the plate, so that on inserting pins S with screwed ends into such holes they
pass through the holes of the plate and are secured by screwing into the wood
beyond the same acting as pivots to the hinge. The meeting edges of the frames
R R¹ of the two slates being rounded semicircularly like the connecting links, it
will be seen from the various positions shown on the drawing that the slates can
be folded over in every direction, turning through an angle of 360°, Fig 1 shews
the slates that are provided outside with protecting boards B, folded together with
the slates inside, while Fig: 2 shews them turned to the opposite position. Figs 3
and 4 shew the slates in section and plan folded open for use. According to
another modification, shewn at Fig: 5 the said plate or link a is pivotted to two
other flat plates P P which are secured to the end surface of the frame R R' of
each plate. This arrangement may be considered stronger than the foregoing, as
all parts of the hinge are of metal and consequently not liable to damage by the
splitting of the frame as in the first arrangement. According to another modifi-
cation instead of forming the connecting link of a solid plate, it is made of a piece
of thin sheet metal b bent together so as to form an eye at each end as shewn at
Fig: 6 and is secured by means of such eyes to the eyes of two other plates u u
formed by bending a piece of sheet metal together, and which are secured by screws
to the flat surfaces of the frames.
The fastening together of the slates can be effected in various ways. Either at
the outer, edges or at the upper and lower edges. The former is to be preferred,
as the latter requires two fastenings. According to one arrangement shewn in
figs: 1, 7 and 8 a hole is formed in the edge R of the one slate, either at the end
or, preferably at the side, into which is inserted the one shank of a forked piece A
of metal such shank being retained in the hole by a helical spring e bearing against
a collar c on the end of the shank and against a metal plate d fitted over the hole.
The other shank ƒ of the forked piece is considerably shorter and when the slates
are folded together is caused to spring into a corresponding hole g in the edge of
the second slate which hole is protected from wear by a plate h, the forked piece
being drawn out somewhat against the action of the spring for this purpose. The
forked piece A being capable of turning right round in its hole, it will secure the
slates in whichever direction they may be folded together Fig 1 shews the

page_text: fastening A turned in the two opposite positions, the slates being open. Fig. 7
shews the same with the slates closed. Fig. 8 shews the fastening drawn out and
resting with its short limb on the frame. According to another arrangement shewn
at Fig 9 in plan and section a plate is fixed on the edge of each slate, the plate of
the slate R having hinged to it a metal flap B having a hole at its free end which
fits over a stud i on the plate of the other slate, R¹, the flap being capable of
turning in either direction so as to secure the slates in whichever direction they
may be folded. Or instead of the flap a double hook may be employed as at c,
Fig: 10 turning in either direction on a pin and hooking on to a stud or into a
loop K on the other slate
According to another modification shewn at Figs: 11, 12 and 13, a hinged
plate D, similar to that previously described, carries on each side a projecting pin
or stud having a notch hook or eye at its end, which fits into a recess in the
other slate R¹, covered by a metal plate. In this recess is a spring bolt or
catch m which catches into the notch of the stud and thus secures it, the catch
being withdrawn by an external button n compressing the spring o and releasing
the stud l.
According to another arrangement shewn at figs: 14, 15 and 16, the one slate is
fitted with a bolt E having a head at each end, and sliding transversely through
the frame, so as to project with its one end into a recess in the other slate. In
this recess is a spring catch or lever p that catches under the head of the sliding
bolt and thus secures it, and which can be depressed by an external stud r so as to
free the bolt allowing it to be drawn out of the hole or opening of the slates. As
the hole of R¹ and the catch of R are perfectly symetrical, the closing may be
effected on either side as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig: 14.
The advantages of the above described construction of hinges and fastenings for
slates as compared with those ordinarily employed consist mainly in that the slates.
are protected from fracture while the writing thereon is not liable to be rubbed out
.and is protected from dirt and dust, and the slates are prevented from shifting, one
on the other.
i
Having thus described, the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, I
claim,
°
First-
-Constructing folding Slates with rounded frames connected together by.
hinge joints so formed as to allow the slates to be folded together in all directions,
substantially as berein described
Second: The use for folding slates of hinge joints arranged and operating as
herein described with reference to Figs: 1 to 4 of the drawings
Third: The use for folding slates of hinge-joints arranged and operating as
herein described with reference to Fig: 5 of the drawings
Fourth-The use for folding slates of hinge joints arranged and operating as
herein described with reference to Fig: 6 of the drawings
Fifth-The use for slates that fold together in all directions of fastenings that
will secure the slates in whatever positions they are folded, substantially as herein
'described.
Sixth-The various constructions of of fastenings for folding slates herein
'described with reference to fig 1 and figs: 7 to 16 of the accompanying drawings:
In witness whereof, I the said, Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord,
one Thousand eight hundred and eighty-two