IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE RISING AND FALLING FURNITURE."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Horton, of Copley, near Halifax, in the County
of York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE RISING AND
FALLING FURNITURE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Horton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st October 1880.
JOSEPH HORTON, of Copley, near Halifax, in the County of York.
MENTS IN ADJUSTABLE RISING AND FALLING FURNITURE'
"IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to improvements in furniture, such as music stools, chairs,
invalids' beds, couches, and the like, and is as follows:-
In the basement or lower part of furniture to be raised or lowered I place a
reservoir of water or other liquid; from the reservoir rises a tube or cylinder into
which fits a piston or ram forming the centre rest of the furniture; at the bottom
of the tube or cylinder is a valve opening inwards; at the side of the tube or
cylinder and near the lower end is tap or passage from the tube to the reservoir;
the tap has connections, such as a crank and lever, carried to any convenient
position of the furniture and may be worked by foot or hand.
On any one raising the stool or furniture the water opens the valve and follows
the piston or ram by reason of the atmospheric pressure, and sustains it at any
height it may be left; in order to lower it, the tap is turned by pressing the lever
or connections, and the water will run back into the reservoir until the pressure is
taken off the lever.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said John Horton in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 5th April 1881.
JOSEPH HORTON, of Copley, near Halifax, in the County of York.
MENTS IN ADJUSTABLE RISING AND FALLING FURNITURE.
"
"IMPROVE-
This Invention relates to improvements in furniture, such as music stools, chairs,
children's chairs, invalids' beds, tables, couches, and other appliances requiring
adjusting. In the basement or other convenient part of the furniture to be raised
or lowered I place a reservoir of water or other liquid; from the reservoir rises
a tube or cylinder into which fits a piston or ram forming the centre rest of the
furniture; at the bottom of the tube or cylinder is a valve opening inwards; at the
side of the tube or cylinder and near the lower end is a tap or passage from the
tube to the reservoir; the said tap has connections, such as a crank and lever,
carried to any convenient position on the furniture, and may be worked by foot or
hand.
On any one raising the stool or furniture the water or liquid opens the valve
and follows the piston or ram by reason of the atmospheric pressure, and sustains
it at any height it may be left; in order to lower it the tap is turned by pressing
the lever or connections, and the water will run back into the reservoir until the
pressure is taken off the lever, and the seat or furniture lowers accordingly.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, in order that the same
may be fully understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with Figures and letters of reference.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my Invention applied to a music stool.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of cylinder, tube, and clams for connecting.
A is the outer casing forming a reservoir B; communicating at the base with
the reservoir is a tube C, in which fits the spindle or centre rest D forming a
piston or ram; at the bottom of the tube C is a valve E opening inwards; and a
passage or pipe F from tube to the reservoir having tap G, crank H, lever J, and
foot treadle K, preferably in the form of a ring, so that at whatever side the ring
is depressed it operates and opens the tap, and so lets out the liquid. The tube Č
may be made telescopic if required.
The action is as follows:-On any one raising the stool or furniture, the water,
liquid, or other suitable substance opens the valve E, follows up the piston D by
reason of the atmospheric pressure, and sustains it at any height it may be left;
in order to lower it the tap G is turned by acting upon the ring treadle or other
convenient hand or foot lever. This Invention is applicable to any kind of
furniture fixings or appliances requiring adjusting; liquids such as water, glycerine,
oil, quick-silver, may be used. The said furniture can be lifted by water pressure or
pumps if required.
Having thus described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would have it understood that I claim as the Invention to be
secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,―-
The new and peculiar arrangement for and application of liquids or their

page_text: equivalents (to furniture fittings and other appliances requiring adjusting),
substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Horton, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
JOHN E. WALSH,
Patent Agent,
Waterhouse Chambers,
Crossley Street,
Halifax,
and 30, East Parade,
Leeds.
JOSEPH HORTON. (LS.)