Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 29th Apr., 1887.
I, JOHN GOOCH, of Brompton Road, in the County of Middlesex, Outfitter, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement —
The object of this Invention, which relates to improvements in shop fronts, is io
provide in an improved manner facilities and means whereby the whole extent of the
frontage between the side or party walls can during business hours be rendered
available and used for the display of goods and for business purposes, and whereby,
when not required for such purposes, the shop or like place of business can be closed,
while at the same time and by the same provision and means access to the house or
residential part of the premises through one or more private entrances separate from
the shop entrance is or are provided.
The Invention consists, essentially, in the construction of the shop front in such a
manner as that a part or parts thereof is or are movable relatively to the other
part or to one another, so that during business hours the movable front part or
parts can be separated the one from the other or from each other so as to open up an
entrance or entrances into the shop or like place of business, while closing up the
private entrance or entrances from the front into the residential part or parts of the
premises, and so that after business hours the said front part or paris can be brought
together so as to close up the front entrance or entrances to the shop or place of
business while opening up the front private entrance or entrances into the residential
part or paris of the premises.
On the accompanying drawings; Fig. 1, represents a froni elevation of a shop
frontage constructed in accordance with the present Invention, showing the shop or
place of business closed up, while access is provided to the residential part of the
premises.
Fig. 2, represents a sectional plan view thereof, through the line, a. b.
Fig. 3, represents a like view to Fig. 1, bui parily in section, showing the front
entrance to the residential part of the premises closed, and the front entrance to the
shop opened, the whole width of the frontage being thus rendered available for the
display of goods and for business purposes.

page_text: In carrying out the Invention, the shop front is constructed in parts, one, both,
any or all of which (depending principally upon the construction of the premises
and the number of entrances required into the shop, and into the residential part of
the premises, respectively) is or are adapted or provided with means of supporting
and moving the same, in the direction of the frontage, from or towards the other part
or parts of the front.
In the arrangement illustrated on the annexed drawings, the shop front is made in
iwo parts, 4, 5, the former of which occupies a fixed position in relation to its
adjacent side wall, 6, while the part, 5, is constructed and adapted in accordance
with the present improvements, that is, in such a manner as to be capable of being
readily moved from a position adjacent to its side wall, 7, (in which position it
closes the front private entrance, 8, to the house, and permits of entrance to the shop
from the front through the doorway, 9,-vide Fig. 3.) to a position adjacent to the
fixed front, 4, in which it closes the shop entrance, 9, and permits of entrance to the
house through the private doorway, Svide Figs. 1, and, 2.
In order that the movements of the movable part of the front may be steadily
effected without liability of disarranging the contained goods, and without neces-
sitating that such part should be "undressed," its base, 10, is made of a rigid box-like
construction, and is constructed with a strong flooring, 11, which is adapted to rest
upon and is bolted or otherwise suitably secured to a supporting framework or
carriage, 12, which is mounted upon suitable travelling wheels, 13, which run along
and are guided by rails, 14, let into the flooring. The carriage, 12, and the said
connected structure, 5, (which it supports just clear of the flooring,) may be caused
io receive the desired movements along the rails, 14, and between fop guide rods, 24,
by hand, but in order to obtain sieadiness and regularity of movement it is preferable
that the movement should be imparted by mechanical means. Suitable means for
attaining this object consist of a depending extension or extensions, 15, bolted or
otherwise secured to the underside of the carriage, 12, and extending below the
flooring, 16, passing through an opening, 17, formed therein in the direction of
the movement of the carriage. The extremity, 18, of each extension, 15, below
the level of the flooring, is formed to engage with a screwed rod, 19, which is
mounted in suitable bearings, 20, and extends parallel with and under the said
opening, 17, for the necessary longitudinal extent, and can be rotated in both directions
by means of bevel gearing, 21, and a connecting shaft, 22, which can be conveniently
operated by means of a handle, 23.
If it should be required to actuate both parts, 4, 5, of the front, away from and
towards each other so as to provide for a wide shop entrance, 9, and for a private
entrance, 8, adjacent to each side wall, then both such parts, 4, 5, may be likewise
fitted to or with supporting carriages, and they may be independently operated by
different connections, 15, 10, 23, or they may both be simultaneously operated from
the same screwed rod, 19, by extending it as far as necessary, and by forming the
screwed parts which would actuate the paris, 4, 5, respectively right and left handed.
If the shop entrance, 9, is closed by a door, 25, and fan-light, 26, fitting behind
the parts, 4, 5, then all that it is necessary to do to close up the shop, and afford
access to the house entrance, 8, is to appropriately operate the actuating mechanism
by turning the handle, 23, so as to cause the part or parts 4, 5, of the front to be
moved together as required. If, however, the said shop entrance, 9, is closed by a
door, 25, and fan-light, 26, fitting between the parts, 1, 5, then such door, 25, and
fan-light, 26, would require to be opened before the said actuating mechanism were
operated.
When the parts assume the position in which the shop is closed, vide Figs. 1, and 2,
they are retained in such position by suitable uprights 27, which can be at once
placed and bolted on the inside in position, to the facia at, 28, and flooring at, 29,
such uprights acting as door posts, between which and the adjacent wall the door, 30,
and fan-light, 31, can then be closed in a usual manner. Such door, 30, and fan-
light, 31, may be removed from their hinges, or may be let back into suitable recesses

page_text: formed in the inner surface of the adjacent wall so that the movable front part or
parts may be moved quite up to the wall or walls when the shop is opened.
When the shop front is desired to be fitted with revolving shutters, 32, the said
upright, 27, can also be made to act as a means of guiding one side of the shutter, its
adjacent side being grooved as at, 35, the other side of the shutter being likewise
guided, or being guided by a groove, 34, in the side wall, 6, so that the shop front
may be thus protected if required, the private entrance or entrances being only
protected by doors secured in a usual manner, so as to permit of all proper access
thereto.
It will be understood that the shop fronts may be made of any desired ornamental
or like construction depending upon the nature of the business, this not being in any
way material to the Invention.
It will thus he seen that the application of the Invention will be of considerable
advantage in all localities where window space is desired and of any especial value,
and where the frontage is comparatively narrow, and where the utmost possible frontage
is required for the display of goods to be sold.
In such buildings as are formed with a staircase or side hall divided off by a wall
as dotted at, 35, and by means of which staircase or hall only access can be obtained
to the domestic part of the building, then, when access to such stair-case is closed
through the front private entrance, 8, access may be obtained thereto from the shop
through a separate door, 36, properly applied and secured in a usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is :—
1. The construction of shop fronts in such a manner as that a part or parts thereof
is or are movable relatively to the other part or to one another, substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. The method of guiding and supporting the part of the shop front to be moved
by means of a guided wheeled or rolling carriage or framing substantially as herein-
before described.
3. The method of imparting the desired movements to the wheeled or rolling
arriage or framing and to the part of the shop front supported thereby, by adapting
o the said carriage or part of the shop front extensions depending through and below
he flooring, and engaging with screwed connections situated below the level of the
Hooring and operated by connected gearing, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The application of the uprights, 27, for the purpose of causing the movable part
of the shop front to retain its closed position and for acting as a door post to the
rivate entrance, and if required as a means of guiding revolving shutters.
Dated this 14th day of March 1887
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.