IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO MUSIC STOOLS OR OTHER ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE AND THE LIKE
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPLICABLE TO MUSIC STOOLS OR OTHER ADJUSTABLE FURNITURE AND THE
LIKE" (a communication from William Augustus Chapman Matthie of Montreal,
Canada, Gentleman) aud in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The object of the invention is to design a device which will elevate automatically
a piano-stool or other analogous extensible device and lock it in any desired
position without any appreciable exertion on the part of the operator; and it
consists essentially in forming the spindle of the extensible portion of the article
with a series of annular grooves designed to receive the ond of a bolt specially
formed to fit and operate as hereinafter explained, a spindle fitting into a chamber
as hereinafter specified, and resting upon a spiral spring placed at the bottom of
the said chamber substantially as hereinafter more particularly explained.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a music-stool provided with the improved
device.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail partially in section showing the locking portion of
the device.
As will be understood on reference to the drawing the device which I shall now
describe is not only applicable to piano-stools, as illustrated, but is also of equal
value in extensible chairs, foot-rests, tables, reading-desks, drawing tables, photo-
graphers' head-rests, reading and music stands and in fact in any article arranged
to be extensible but for the purpose of this description it will be sufficient to show
its application to a single article and therefore a music-stool is chosen for that
purpose.
A represents the seat of the music-stool connected to a spindle B. This spindle
fits in the usual way into an annular chamber formed in the stand C. At the bottom
of the chamber I place a spiral spring D of sufficient power and elasticity to force
the spindle and its seat up to the fullest extent required.

page_text: a are a series of annular grooves cut in the spindle B and designed to receive the
end of the bolt E more clearly shown in Figure 2. This bolt is provided with a
spindle F around which the spiral spring G is placed. This spiral spring acts on
one end against the collar f formed on the spindle F. The other end of the spring
rests against the back of the bracket G¹ which is designed as illustrated in Figure 2
to receive the bolt E.
When
His a pivoted pawl fitted behind the collar f attached to the handle I.
this handle is pressed down the bolt E will naturally be drawn back and if it is
fitting into one of the annular grooves a this action withdraws it and permits the
spindle B to move freely longitudinally within its chamber. As soon as the
handle I is pressed down so as to withdraw the bolt E from the groove a into which
chamber it may at the time be fitting the power of the spring D causes the spindle
to ascend raising the same until the bolt E is permitted by the release of the
handle I to spring into one of the annular grooves when the spindle B will be
securely held from moving longitudinally and at the same time the seat A may be
revolved freely. The top of the stand C is provided with a flanged sleeve J which
fits into the chamber in which the spindle B is inserted. This sleeve J has a notch
cut in it to receive the end of the bracket G¹ when inserted in position which
prevents the said sleeve revolving with the spindle.
With the view of operating the device by foot, a foot-treadle K is provided and
connected by the rod L to the lever I so that by pressing on this foot-lever K the
same effect will be produced as though the lever I was operated by hand.
In Figure 3 is shown a slight modification in the plan for supporting the
spindle B. In this form the annular grooves a are made ratchet-shape in form, the
top wall of each groove being slanted so that the pawl H which is made to engage
therewith offers no resistance to the free upward movement of the spindle while the
downward movement is prevented by the straight wall of the groove coming in
contact with the top of the pawl which is held against the spindle B by the action
of a spring d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated by
my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1. A spindle B 'having annular grooves a and attached to the seat A or its
equivalent and fitting into a chamber formed in the stand C in combination with
the spring D placed below the spindle B and the spring bolt E arranged to fit into
the groove a substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A spindle B having a series of annular grooyes a cut in it in combination with
the bolt E actuated by the spring f and pivoted lever H. I. substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
3. A spindle B having ratchet-formed annular grooves made around it, in
combination with a pivoted pawl H actuated by the spring & and arranged to
engage with the ratchet grooves as specified.
T4 of 3 700K