Racks for Slates, Drawing Boards, and the like for Use in Schools and other Places.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 30th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 3rd May, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Racks for Slates, Drawing Boards, and the like for Use in Schools
and other Places.
I WILLIAM LITTLEWOOD RIDGE, Wesleyan Schools, Selby, Schoolmaster, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In schools such articles as slates when not in use are usually disposed of either
by putting them in boxes or shelves underneath the desks, among books and other
things, or through slits or in cases provided at the edge of the desk remote from the
pupil, or they must be collected. If put among other things beneath the desks, any
work upon the slates is liable to be spoiled, if put upon open shelves beneath the
desks, the slates are liable to be frequently thrown down and broken, if in slits or
cases at the edge of the desk remote from the pupil, either additional space must be
added to the desk, or the space needed must be taken from the breadth of the desk,
to the inconvenience of the pupil, and if collected when not in use, the slates must
be re-distributed as often as required.
The object of my invention is to provide an easy ready means whereby each pupil
may himself instantly and safely dispose of his slate when not in use, and as instantly
and easily take it again when required, without the trouble, liability to breakage and
to noise, waste of time, and other inconveniences involved in the usual modes.
For each pupil I provide a couple of racks, slightly longer, say half an inch, than
the breadth of the slate. These racks may be made of iron, steel or any suitable
material. A simple description of the elementary form of each rack would be that
of three plane surfaces each at right angles to the surface adjacent, so that a
transverse section would be represented by the block of letter Z, with its three
essential lines distorted to right angles. The higher horizontal surface is simply used
for fixing the rack to the desk, being pierced suitably for screws or nails. The
adjacent perpendicular surface forms the side, and the lower inner horizontal surface
the shelf of the rack. The two racks are affixed, preferably by screws, to the under
surface of the desk, at right angles to the edge of the desk nearest the pupil, and
close to that edge, so as to bring the ends of the racks just within the view of the
pupil, but without projecting. The two racks will be parallel to each other, the

page_text: shelves of the two racks will face each other, and the distance between the sides of
the two racks should exceed by one quarter of an inch the length of the slate. The
lower horizontal surfaces in the two racks form together the shelf or resting place of
the slate.
An important addition or modification of form must now be noticed. The distance
between the shelf of the rack and the under surface of the desk is made about double
the thickness of the slate, or of the slate frame, if framed slates are used. This would
give an entrance to the shelf about double that required. But the lower part of the
entrance is barred by a lip joined to the shelf along its whole breadth, and to the
perpendicular side for about half the height. The slate passes over this lip to the shelf.
As there is a lip at each end of the shelf the slate cannot pass out at either end without
being designedly lifted over the check-lip, and as there is also an opening at each end,
the slate can be instantly removed at either side of the desk, the side nearest the pupil
and the seat being of course that ordinarily used.
By various modifications one rack may be made with two shelves, thus partly
providing for two neighbouring slates.
To reduce the weight of the racks the several parts may be cut away or fretted
without interfering with the principle of the invention.
I have described my invention as used for slates. The principle is the same when
the invention is used for Drawing Boards or other articles, the dimensions being varied
according to requirements.
Dated thin 5th T.1 1002
WILLIAM LITTLEWOOD RIDGE.

page_text: Racks for Slates, Drawing Boards, and the like for Use in Schools
and other Places.
I WILLIAM LITTLEWOOD RIDGE Wesleyan Schools Selby Schocimaster 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
In schools such articles as slates are usually disposed of when not in use either by
putting them in boxes or shelves under the desks, or through slits or in cases at the
edge of the desk remote from the pupil, or they must be collected.
The object of my Invention is to provide an easy ready means whereby each pupil
may himself instantly, easily and safely dispose of his slate when not in use, and as
instantly and easily take it again when required without the trouble, liability to
breakage and to noise, waste of time and other inconveniences involved in the usual
modes.
For each slate I provide a couple of Racks, the construction, form and use of which
are illustrated in the accompanying Drawings. The Racks may be made of iron, steel
or any suitable material, and should be slightly longer, say half an inch, than the
breadth of the slate. A simple description of the elementary form of each rack would
be that of three plane surfaces each at right angles to the surface adjacent, so that a
transverse section would be represented by the section on A B, Figure 2 Sheet I.
The higher horizontal surface is simply used for fixing the rack to the desk being
pierced suitably for screws or nails as shewn in the plan, Figure 2. The adjacent
perpendicular surface shown in the elevation Figure 1. forms the side of the rack.
The lower horizontal surface also shewn in plan Figure 2 forms the shelf. The two
racks are affixed, preferably by screws, to the under surface of the desk, at right angles
to the edge of the desk nearest the pupil, and close to that edge, so as to bring one
end of each rack just within the view of the pupil, but without projecting as shewn in
Figure 3 Sheet II.. The two racks will be parallel to each other, as in Figure 5
Sheet III, and the shelves of the two racks will face each other in order to form
together the resting place of the slate, as seen in Figure 5. The distance between the
sides of the two racks should exceed by one quarter of an inch the length of the slate
in order to allow easy insertion and withdrawal of the slate.
An important detail in the construction of the rack, designed to secure the safety of
the slate, is shewn in the end view in Figure 2 Sheet I, and in Figure 3 Sheet II.
The distance between the shelf of the rack and the under surface of the desk, as seen
in Figure 4 Sheet II, is made about double the thickness of the slate, or of the slate
frame, if framed slates be used. This would give an entrance to the shelf about double
that required. But the lower part of the entrance is barred by a lip, which is joined
to the shelf along its whole breadth, and to the perpendicular side for about half the
height. This lip is shewn in the end view in Figure 2. Sheet I, and also in Figure 3
Sheet II. The slate passes over this lip to the shelf. As there is a lip at each end of

page_text: the shelf the slate cannot pass out at either end without being designedly lifted over
the check-lip.
By various modifications one rack may be made with two shelves, thus partly
providing for two neighbouring slates.
To reduce the weight of the racks, the several parts may be cut away or fretted
without interfering with the principle of my Invention.
I do not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the
same may be varied without departing from the principle of my Invention.
I have described my Invention as used for slates. The principle is the same when
the Invention is used for Drawing Boards or other articles, the dimensions being varied
according to requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is,
1. The use and employment of two shelves placed at suitable distance as herein before
described, so as to form together the resting place for a slate or other article.
2. The use and employment of the check-lips hereinbefore described, as a means of
holding the slate or other article in position and thus securing its safety after it has
been placed upon the shelves of the racks.
Dated this 26th day of March 1887.