Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of the Adjust- able Parts of Photographic, Easel, Music, Reading, and other similar Stands, and in the Means of Securing the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of the Adjust-
able Parts of Photographic, Easel, Music, Reading, and other
similar Stands, and in the Means of Securing the same.
1, FREDERICK ARTHUR WALTON, of 54, Hylton Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and method and
arrangement of securing the adjustable parts of stands, for photographs, easels, music,
reading, and other similar purposes, and consists in the arrangement of the con-
struction of such parts, and in the combination therewith, of a lever locking
device as hereinafter described, the whole forming a very compact article, capable
of being folded up into a very flat space, suitable for storage or transit.
The arrangement may be varied in detail somewhat, without departing from
the nature of these my improvements.
I will first briefly describe this my invention, as applied to a photographic
stand, having an adjustable stay or prop, by which variation in the angle of the
stand may be effected, and also having an adjustable grip, by which pictures,
glass &c., of various widths may be held.
I cut or stamp out a pillar, of a strip form, from sheet metal, having a suitable
foot to receive the picture, glass &c. At a suitable height upon this pillar, say at
about half its height, I provide a joint to receive the one end of a stay or prop.
This stay consists of a strip form, having at its upper end pivots or bearings,
taking into the aforesaid joints upon the pillar, and thence extends for a length
equal to, or a little more, than to the bottom of the said pillar. Upon the outer
side of this stay, and at a suitable distance from its upper end, a second joint is
provided, similar to that upon the pillar, to which is connected the one (lower)
end of a strut, the upper end of this said strut, being in its turn connected to a
sliding piece, which latter is made to slide upon the aforesaid pillar. This sliding
piece is further provided, (generally) with outstanding arms, to form a support
for the picture &c. resting thereon. Upon this sliding piece I further provide a
joint, which is to receive a gripping lever. This gripping lever may be cut from
stamped metal, and is furnished near its one end, with two pivots, taking into
the aforesaid joints upon the sliding piece. The other end of the lever forms
its handle or manipulating end, whilst its short end is bent at about right angles
thereto, and is so made that when the lever is raised to its vertical position, and
lies back against the pillar, the sliding piece and the pillar are firmly locked to
each other. Thus, by raising or lowering the sliding piece, the strut is raised or
lowered, and in so doing, the lower end of the stay or prop is extended from the
base of the pillar, and by manipulating the locking lever as before described, the
said stay may be secured in any given position.
At the upper part of the pillar, I provide an extensible top grip, consisting of a
strip of metal the same width as the pillar itself, and having a suitable upper part,
(bent over or otherwise,) to lay hold of the picture &c., or otherwise to carry an
ornament &c. This extensible grip is passed into, and through the aforesaid
sliding piece, so that when securing or locking the sliding piece to the pillar, the
extensible grip is secured also. By reason of this extensible grip being capable of
sliding within, or through the aforesaid sliding piece, it may be adjusted to suit
pictures &c. of various sizes, and then locked in such position.

page_text: If desired, a separate locking lever may be employed for securing the extensible
grip, or in some instances, the said grip may be disposed of altogether.
Also, instead of applying the locking lever to the upper part of the strut, the
said upper part may be a fixed point, and the sliding piece and the lever, applied at
its junction with the stay. Or the said sliding piece and the lever, may be applied
to the upper end of the stay, and each end of the strut in such a case, would be
fixed joints. Further, instead of putting the strut above the stay, it may be varied
by putting it below, with the same variations as to the position and application of
the sliding piece and lever, as before described.
In some cases, instead of the pillar consisting of a strip form, it may consist of a
frame, or a plate, in which latter, the strip upon which the sliding piece is to travel,
may be formed upon the said plate by cutting therein two long vertical slots, the
portion lying between such slots forming the strip.
Again. In constructing a stand suitable for reading &c., I provide the pillar,
stay, strut, top grip, & locking lever, similar or equivalent to what I have already
described, and further provide that the stand top or table may be made adjustable
and secured in any adjusted position as follows:-I construct a frame or plate,
usually having a turned up edge at its front, to prevent the slipping therefrom of
the book &c. At each end of the front part of this frame or plate I provide joints
to receive the one end of a link, the length of which is about equal to the desired
depth of the table. At the other end of these links, are connected segmental or
circular arms, which cross each other at the centre of the plate. At such centre of
the plate, they are made to pass between the sliding piece and the lever, together
with the central portion of the plate, & the top grip, or their equivalents, so that
when all the adjustments are made, the one lever grips and secures the whole.
the upper end of these two side links, clips or binders may be provided, for holding
down the sides of the books. Thus by the segmental arms, a larger or smaller
book &c., may be held. If desired, in this case, the table, and the adjustable
angular tilting &c. device, may be carried upon an independent rod pillar, telescopic
or otherwise.
At
By any or all of these arrangements, the parts may be adjusted to any desired
angle within their range, and then securely locked; while when not in use, or,
for purposes of transit, they may be folded up into a very neat and compact
flat form.
Dated this 18th day of June 1890.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of the Adjust-
able Parts of Photographic, Easel, Music, Reading, and other
similar Stands, and in the Means of Securing the same.
I, FREDERICK ARTHUR WALTON, of 54, Hylton Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and method and
arrangement of securing the adjustable parts of stands, for photographs, easels,
music, reading, and other similar purposes, and consists in the arrangement of the
construction of such parts, and in the combination therewith, of a lever locking
device, as hereinafter described, the whole forming a very compact article, capable
of being folded up into a very flat space, suitable for storage or transit.
The arrangement may be varied in detail somewhat, without departing from the
nature of these my improvements.

page_text: In order to more clearly explain this my invention I have appended hereunto
illustrative sheets of drawings upon which are figured views and numbers of
reference, similar numbers referring throughout the several views to the same thing
or part, and in which:
Fig. 1, is a general view of a photograph &c. stand, constructed according to this
my invention.
Fig. 2, is a modified general view of a stand embracing this my invention.
Fig. 3, is a detached detailed view of the gripping lever.
Figs. 4, 5 & 6, are detached detailed enlarged, rear, side and sectional views,
showing one of the joints, and action of the gripping lever &c.
Figs. 7, S & 9, are side elevations of stands, showing modified arrangements and
positions of the locking device &c.
Fig. 10, is a detail front elevation of a modified form of frame to carry the
photos &c.
Fig. 11, is a front view of this my invention as applied to a reading stand &c.
Fig. 12, is a side elevation of Fig. 11.
Fig. 13, is a sectional detailed view of Fig. 11, on line C-D.
I will first briefly describe this my invention, as applied to a photographic stand,
(see Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 & 6,) having an adjustable stay or prop, by which variation in
the angle of the stand may be effected, and also having an adjustable grip, by which
pictures, glass &c., of various widths may be held.
For the purposes of illustration and explanation, I have regarded the piece
hereinafter numbered 3, as being transparent and the various parts as being visible
therethrough.
I cut or stamp out a pillar, of strip form, from sheet metal, having a suitable
foot to receive the picture, glass &c. At a suitable height upon this pillar, say at
about half its height, I provide a joint 4, to receive the one end of a stay or prop 5.
This stay 5, consists of a strip form, having at its upper end pivots or bearings,
taking into the aforesaid joint 4, upon the pillar, and thence extends for a length
equal to, or a little more, than to the bottom of the said pillar. Upon the outer
side of this stay, and at a suitable distance from its upper end, a second joint 6, is
provided, (similar to that upon the pillar,) to which is connected the one (lower)
end of a strut 7, the upper end of this said strut, being in its turn connected at 8,
to a sliding piece 9, which latter is made to slide upon the aforesaid pillar 1. This
sliding piece 9, is further provided, (generally) with outstanding arms 10, 10, to
form a support for the picture &c. 3, resting thereon. Upon this sliding piece 9;
1 further provide a joint 11, which is to receive a gripping lever 12. This gripping
lever may be cut from stamped metal (see Fig. 3), and is furnished near its one
end, with two pivots 13, 13, taking into the aforesaid joint 11, upon the sliding
piece 9. The other end 14, of the lever forms its handle or manipulating end,
whilst its short end 15, is bent at about right angles thereto, and is so made that
when the lever is raised to its vertical position (as seen in Figs. 5, & 6) and .lies
back against the pillar, the sliding piece 9, and the pillar 1, and the extensible
grip 16, are firmly locked to each other. Thus, by raising or lowering the sliding
piece 9, the strut 7, is raised or lowered, and in so doing, the lower end of the
stay or prop 5, is extended from the base of the pillar, and by manipulating
the locking lever as before described, the said stay may be secured in any given
position.
At the upper part of the pillar, I provide the extensible top grip 16, consisting
of a strip of metal the same width as the pillar itself, and having a suitable upper
part, (bent over or otherwise) to lay hold of the picture &c., or otherwise to carry
an ornament &c.
This extensible grip is passed into, and through the aforesaid sliding piece, so
that when securing or locking the sliding piece to the pillar, the extensible grip is
secured also. By reason of this extensible grip being capable of sliding within, or
through the aforesaid sliding piece, it may be adjusted to suit pictures &c. of various
sizes, and then locked in such position.
-;

page_text: In Fig. 2, I have shown a modified form of stand in which the pillar 1", is carried
free of the floor.
17, is a front prop jointed at 18, to the prop 5", and also connected to the piece 16",
by means of the link 19. In other respects it is similar to-Fig. 1.
If desired (see Fig. 7), a separate locking lever 12ª may be employed for securing
the extensible grip, or in some instances, the said grip may be disposed of
altogether.
Also, instead of applying the locking lever to the upper part of the strut 7, the
upper part 17, may be a fixed point, and the sliding piece 9, and the lever 12",
applied at its junction with the stay 5º. Or as seen in Fig. 8, the said sliding
piece 9, and the lever 12, may be applied to the upper end of the stay 5º, and each
end of the strut 7", in such a case would be fixed joints. Further as seen in Fig. 9,
instead of putting the strut 7, above the stay 5, it may be varied by putting it
below, with the same variations as to the position and application of the sliding
piece 9, and lever 12, as before described.
In some cases, instead of the pillar consisting of a strip form, it may, as seen in
Fig. 10, consist of a frame or a plate 20, in which latter, the strip 21, upon which
the sliding piece is to travel, may be formed upon the said plate by cutting
therein two long vertical slots 22, 22, the portion lying between such slots forming
the strip.
Again. In constructing a stand suitable for reading &c., I provide the pillar A²,
stay 5, strut 7, top grip 16", & locking lever 12°, similar or equivalent to what I
have already described, and further provide that the stand top or table may be
made adjustable and secured in any adjusted position as follows:-
I construct a frame or plate 23, usually having a turned up edge at its front, to
prevent the slipping therefrom of the book &c. At each end of the front part of
this frame or plate I provide joints 25, 25, to receive the one end of the links 26, 26,
the lengths of which are about equal to the desired depth of the table.
At the other end of these links 26, 26, are connected segmental or circular
arms, 27, 27, which cross each other at the centre of the plate. At such centre
of the plate, they are made to pass between the sliding piece 9 and the lever 12,
together with the central portion of the plate 23, and the top grip 16, or their
equivalents, so that when all the adjustments are made, the one lever 12, grips
and secures the whole. At the upper end of these two side links 26, 26, clips or
binders 28, 28, may be provided, for holding down the sides of the book &c.
These arms preferably carry in an open tulie 29, and having a head at their
outer end, between which and the front end of the tube (or plate 27) is placed a
spiral spring 30, by which they are always kept pressed down upon the books &c.
Thus by the segmental arms being capable of working inwards or outwards upon
the joints 25, and at 31, a larger or smaller book &c. may be held. If desired
in this case, the table, and the adjustable angular tilting device, may be carried
upon an independent rod, pillar, telescopic or otherwise.
By any or all of these arrangements, the parts may be adjusted to any
desired angle within their range, and then securely locked; while when not in
use, or, for purposes of transit, they may be folded up into a very neat and compact
flat form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my inven
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination in a photographic or other similar stand, the securing or
locking together of the various adjustable parts, by means of the lever locking
device, as herein described and illustrated upon the drawings.
2. The combination in a photographic or other similar stand, of the pillar, and
stay 5, with the strut 7, being connected to the sliding piece 9, having a fastening
whereby it may be secured in any given position, substantially as described and
shown upon the drawings in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, & 6.

page_text: 3. The modified combination or combinations of either or both of the foregoing
claims, substantially as described and shown upon the drawings in Figs. 2, 7 to 13,
inclusive.
4. The combination in a reading stand of the adjustable frame 23, & links 26, 26,
with the segmental arms 27, 27, sliding piece 9, and grips 28, substantially as
described and shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13.
Dated this 18th day of March 1891.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.