improvements in the construction ofs
Year: 1886

page_text: .
Ригровев.
I, WILLIAM STANIFORTH, of South Moor Works, Earl Street, Sheffield in the
County of York, Silversmith, 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 :-
My Invention for improvements in the construction of ornamental baskets,
receptacles, or stands used for fruit, dessert, and similar purposes refers principally
to a method of hinging, or jointing together the sides and ends of such baskets
receptacles or stands as that they may be fitted into a suitable stand and made to
fold, or close in a comparatively small compass and in such a manner as to form
novel and suitable ornaments for the table or sideboard When not in use as
baskets, or stands I prefer to make them of silver or electro plate but do not confine
myself to these materials as the principle of construction admits of considerable
variety. in the materials used.
The form, or shape, in which I make these baskets is such that they may be
closed and opened somewhat in the manner of an ordinary portfolio with flexible
ends and my Invention relates to the method of accomplishing this movement and
at the same time securing the objects as above set forth.
Reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which like letters represent
like parts, will clearly set forth the nature of my Invention.
Fig. 1 represents one of the baskets open. Fig. 2, the same when closed.
S fig. 3 shews one of the sides of a basket, detached, and as seen from the inside,
S₁ being a cross section of the same along the horizontal dotted line, and S2 a cross
section along the vertical dotted line. Fig. 4 shews one of the ends of a basket
which is made in three pieces A and A¹ being wings which are hinged, or jointed,
to a centre rib B. Fig. 5, is a cross section of this end, along the dotted line L, L,
fig. 4, shewing the manner in which the wings are hinged, or jointed, to the rib so
as to allow them to move to the position shewn by the dotted lines, which is the
position they occupy, in respect to the rib, when the basket is closed. On the
lower edges of the wings, A and A¹, fig. 4, are shewn at a, a, and a¹, a¹, respectively
parts of other hinges, or joints, teclinically called "knuckles," which when the
basket oud is in position register with corresponding knuckles soldered to the

page_text: sides of the basket, as for instance the knuckles a¹, a¹, on the wing A', register
with the long knuckle a¹ on the side S fig. 3, so that on the pin of the hinge, or
joint, being passed through the whole of these three knuckles the side S becomes
hinged, or jointed, to the ring A'. In like manner the knuckles a, a, on the
wing A register with a corresponding knuckle on the remaining side of the basket,
thus hinging, or jointing the end to both sides. In like manner, also, the other
end of the basket is hinged, or jointed, to each of the sides.
Now it will readily be seen when the sides and ends of the baskets are hinged,
or jointed, together in the manner described that upon pressure being brought to
bear simultaneously on each side of the basket, so as to close it, the ends will yield
to the pressure and being controlled by the hinges, or joints, which secure them to
the ribs B and those which secure them to the basket sides, they will double
inwardly allowing the sides to close over them.
"
The rib B, fig. 4 has a further use. Fig. 6, is a side view of this rib with the
wings A, A¹, of the end fig. 4 in the position indicated by the dotted lines in fig. 5.
On its lower end, at b, is shewn the centre knuckle of a 'Ball-joint." The other
two knuckles which complete this ball-joint are shewn in dotted lines at b, b, in
fig. 4. These two knuckles are secured to the basket stand, as shewn at b, b, fig. 2,
so as to admit of the centre knuckle b, on the rib B being slipped in between them
and the pin of the joint passed through the three and rivetted, or otherwise made
secure. The same arrangement applies to the other end of the basket.
"
Now it will be seen that when these ball-joints are pinned" in the manner
described the basket is secured to the stand and a uniform and steady movement
ensured when the basket is being closed or opened.
Fig. 7 represents a portion of the stand shewing the action of the ball-joints and
the relative positions of the ribs and wings of the ends when the basket is closed.
T, and T¹ in this fig. are square tubes of metal, open on their inner sides from the
points o, and o¹, respectively down to the ball, joints b, b, thus allowing the
ribs B, B, of the ends, to enter when the basket is open which adds very much to
its stability when in this position.
Although I have shewn a particular design of basket in all these drawings I do
not by any means confine myself to this design as it will readily be seen that the
principle of my Invention admits of considerable variation in this respect.
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;-
Baskets made with sides and ends hinged, or jointed, together, and to a stand,
in the manner and for the purposes as herein before described and set forth.
Dated this 20th day of November 1886.
WILLIAM STANIFORTH.