Year: 1888

page_text: TOM COOK Architect & Surveyor, 39 Victoria Buildings Victoria Street Manchester
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A method of dividing rooms by Revolving Sliding partitions of a decorative
character which may be glazed or not as required.
Each leaf of the partition is hung at the top and furnished with a swivel a pulley
and rail by which the partition leaves are moved against the side walls of the room.
There is no mechanical movement at the bottom the partition being bolted to the
floor and a movable wood slip keeping them straight & lineable.

page_text: Dividing Rooms by Revolving Sliding Partitions.
TOM COOK Architect & Surveyor by Profession 39 Victoria Buildings Victoria
Street Manchester 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 :-
Revolving Sliding Partitions are used for dividing rooms into two or more apart-
ments, Carried out in a decorative way they possess over ordinary coiling Shutters
the advantage of appearing as a finished feature, and not a mere temporary division.
If the panels are glazed the partition is capable of shutting off heat, noise, &c. from
one room to the other, while still allowing a view over the entirety. They may be
used for the purpose of Screening off a Dining or Drawing room from a Conservatory,
excluding heat & gas and allowing a view of the plants and flowers-In the division
of Schoolrooms they will play an important part or in the division of Workrooms
where it is desirable to separate the sexes, and allow of supervision by the overseer
over the whole.
Previous attempts have been made to use these partitions but have mostly failed in
the following most important points.
They have applied the moving force at a point about 5 ft. 6 inches from the floor
level and have included expensive mechanical gearing at the top and bottom and a
connection between them under the mistaken idea that it is necessary to keep the
leaves of the partition vertical during the time they slide. This has made the
partitions costly of production and has prevented their being used as fully as they
should be. Their arrangements have also been open to the following objections-
A groove cut into the floor to receive the bottom gearing if placed below it or a
large obstruction to conceal it if placed above the floor line.
The groove necessarily means, 1st. Severance of carpet, 2nd. The provision of a
place for harbouring dust and vermin, 3rd. Ventilating the space underneath wood
Hoors into the room above, and draughts therefore to those in it. If the groove is not
cut and the bottom sill and gearing placed above the floor the obstruction is so great
as to preclude the use of the floor about it when the partition is removed.
My arrangement is intended to overcome the whole of the foregoing objections and
is as follows: Each leaf of the partition is suspended from the top by a swivel and
pulley and is fitted with a hook on each side for the application of the moving force.
The leaves of the partition are cut about one half an inch short of the full height of
the room, or space they are to fill, and hang perpendicular by the force of gravity
when in a state of rest. The application of the moving force at the top does not
remove them from a perpendicular position when in motion during the act of sliding.
To take up and prevent any dragging, consequent upon inequalities of the floor,
sagging of the bearing rail, or any other cause, each leaf of the partition is fitted with
a small ball castor on each bottom corner. When the partition is in use a movable
wood slip bolted to the floor and partition closes up the crevice at the bottom and
renders the whole rigid and lineable.

page_text: D. is the swivel with hooks for the application of the moving force.
E. are the wood slips at the bottom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:
1st. The application of power and moving force at the top of the partition and the
combined hook and swivel by which the partition is moved.
2nd. Dispensing with mechanical gearing at the bottom of the partition other than
ball castors applied as stated.
3rd. The wood slips and bolt closing the bottom crevice.
4th. The arrangement and idea enabling partitions to be used without severance
and mutilation of carpets and obtaining unobstructed space on the floor of the room.
Dated the 2011 L
ז
1000
TOM COOK,
39, Victoria Buildings, Victoria Street,
Manchester.