IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE SHELVES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I SYDNEY HARRIS of N° 26 Newton Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE SHELVES' to be as follows:-
"
My invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner hereinafter
described the parts of portable shelves whereby the building up and detachment of
the parts of the said shelves are effected with great facility the detached parts
being capable of being packed into a small compass for storage or transit.
The uprights between which the shelves are built or arranged are supported in
recesses made in feet or base plates preferably of metal resting on or affixed to the
floor ground or other surface the said recesses being somewhat longer than the
breadth of the uprights. Sliding on the uprights described and arranged in pairs
are slotted cross bars between which the shelves are supported the opposed faces of
the said slotted bars being recessed to receive the ends of the shelves. The several
pairs of slotted cross bars carrying the shelves are supported at the required
distances apart on the uprights by means of vertical props at each end of the cross
bars. These props (excepting those used for supporting the bottom shelf) are in
part cut away at top and bottom so as to leave projections at oue side. These
projections take into the ends of the slots in the cross supporting bars. The props
for supporting the lowest shelf have flat bottoms for taking into the recesses in the
metallic feet or base plates. Each pair of slotted bars in which the ends of the
shelf are supported is bound together at front and back by horizontal stay pieces
the ends of which engage in recesses in the ends of the slotted bars and also take
upon screw pins on the said slotted bars. By means of the stay pieces described
the shelf is bound or gripped between the slotted bars. The stay pieces are secured
in their places by screw nuts or other analogous fastenings.
When several series of shelves are to be built side by side each slotted cross bar
has a recess in each of its faces the recess in one face receiving the end of the shelf-
of one series and the recess in the other face receiving the end of the shelf of the
adjacent series of shelves.
In building up a series of portable shelves according to my invention I proceed
as follows:-The separate metallic feet or base plates are secured to the floor ground
or surface where the shelves are to be built and the bottoms of the uprights are
dropped into the slots in the said feet or base plates The pair of alotted cross bara
Paine B11

page_text: with the lowest shelf engaged in the recesses in the said bars is engaged with the
uprights and supported at the required height by the vertical props described and
the slotted cross bars are next bound together by the horizontal stay pieces. Or
the shelves may be passed by a sliding horizontal motion into the recesses in the
slotted bars. In this way a series of shelves can be readily and expeditiously
secured at the proper distances apart upon the uprights.
In order to separate the parts of the shelves for storage or transit it is only
necessary to unfasten the stay pieces when the cross bars carrying the shelves can
be lifted from the uprights or the shelves withdrawn from the slotted bars.
Portable shelves constructed according to my invention are fitted for use in shops,
warehouses show rooms and exhibitions and generally where temporary shelves are
required which are capable of being readily built up and taken to pieces.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I SYDNEY HARRIS of N° 26 Newton Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE SHELVES" and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention consists in constructing and arranging in the manner berein after
described the parts of portable shelves, whereby the building up and detachment
of the parts of the said shelves are effected with great facility, the detached parts
being capable of being packed into a small compass for storage or transit.
The uprights between which the shelves are built or arranged are supported in
recesses made in feet or base plates preferably of metal resting on or affixed to the
floor, ground or other surface, the said recesses being somewhat longer than the
breadth of the uprights. Sliding on the uprights described and arranged in pairs
are slotted cross bars between which the shelves are supported, the opposed faces of
the said slotted bare being recessed to receive the ends of the shelves. The several
pairs of slotted cross bars carrying the shelves are supported at the required distance
apart on the uprights by means of vertical props at each end of the cross bars.
These props are in part cut away at top and bottom so as to leave projections at.
one side. These projections take into the ends of the slots in the cross supporting
bars. Each pair of slotted bars in which the ends of the shelf are supported is
bound together at front by a horizontal stay piece, the ends of which engage in
recesses in the ends of the slotted bars and also take upon screw pins on the said
slotted bars. By means of the stay pieces described the shelf is bound or gripped
between the slotted bars. The stay pieces are secured in their places by screw
nuts or other analagous fastenings.
When several series of shelves are to be built side by side, each slotted cross bar
has a recess in each of its faces, the recess in one face receiving the end of the shelf
of one series and the recess in the other face receiving the end of the shelf of tho
adjacent series of shelves.
In building up a series of portable shelves according to my invention I proceed
as follows: The separate metallic fect or base plates are secured to the floor,
ground or surface where the shelves are to be built and the bottoms of the uprights
are dropped into the slots in the said feet or base plates. The pair of slotted cross
bars with the lowest shelf engaged in the recesses in the said bars is engaged with
the uprights and supported at the required height by the vertical props described
and the slotted cross bars are next bound together by the horizontal stay pieces.
Or the shelves may be passed by a sliding horizontal motion into the recesses in
the slotted bars. In this way a series of shelves can be readily and expeditiously
secured at the proper distances apart upon the uprights.
·
In order to separate the parts of the shelves for storage or transit it is only
necessary to unfasten the stay pieces when the cross bars carrying the shelves can
be lifted from the uprights, or the shelves withdrawn from the slotted bars.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings represent in perspective portable
phelves constructed according to my invention; Figure 3 represents partly in side
R90 U
25322

page_text: elevation and partly in vertical section; a portion of the said shelves drawn to a
larger scale; Figures 4 and 5 represent sections of portions of the shelves, uprights
and fittings taken in a plane at right angles to that in which the section of
Figure 2 is taken; Figure 6 represents a perspective view of some of the parts
before the shelves are inserted in the sliding cross bars or shelf brackets; Figures 7
and 8 represent some of the fittings of the shelves and Figure 9 represents
modifications of the supporting brackets of the shelves.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the drawings: a, a are the wooden uprights between which the shelves b, b are
built or arranged the said uprights a, a being fitted at bottom in the recesses or
troughs of the metal shoes or base plates cand at top in the top shoes d (see
Figures 3, 4 5 and 6). The recesses or troughs in the bottom and top shoes c d aro
"made a little longer than the breadth of the uprights a, a for the purposo heroin
after explained. The shoes d, d are secured by preference to the top cornice or
cover e of the shelves; ff are the slotted cross bars or shelf brackets capable of
sliding and being fixed at any required height upon the uprights a, a.
Between
the slotted cross bars or brackets f. f the shelves b, bare supported, the opposed
faces of the said shelf brackets being furnished with recesses g, g for receiving the
ends of the shelves b, b (see Figures 4 and 6). When the shelf brackets f,fare
fitted upon the uprights a, a, recesses h, h are left at each end for the purpose
herein after explained. The back end of each recess g in the shelf brackets is
provided with a stop i (see Figure 6) for preventing the back movement of the
shelves when fitted in the shelf brackets. At the front of each sliding bar or
shelf bracket f is a screw pink for fixing the horizontal stay pieces by which the
shelves are bound or gripped between the shelf brackets f, f; m, m² are the vertical
props or pillows by which the several slotted bars or shelf brackets are supported
at the required distances apart on the uprights a, a. These props or pillows are
situated at the back and front of the shelf brackets, the front props being marked m
and the back props being marked m². The top and bottom of each prop or pillar
are furnished with projections or lips m³, m³ for taking into the recesses at the ends
of the shelf brackets and for taking into the spaces at the ends of the bottom and
top shoes C, d of the uprights a, a (see Figure 3). The horizontal stay pieces / by
which the slotted bars or shelf brackets are bound together and to the uprights a, a,
are shown separately in Figure 7. The ends of these stay pieces are recessed
for engaging them together and have square holes made in them. The said ends of
the stay pieces are engaged in the recesses at the front of the slotted bars or shelf
brackets f, and also take upon the screws k, k on the said shelf brackets. By
screwing screw nuts n upon the said screws k the stay pieces are secured in their
places and the shelves are bound or gripped between the slotted bars or shelf
brackets f. f.
l
A continuous stay piece or bar represented in Figure and marked p may be
used instead of the short stay pieces l.
When several series of shelves are built side by side as illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings each slotted cross bar or shelf bracket f has a recess in
each of its faces as represented, the recess in one face receiving the end of the
shelf of one series and the recess in the other face receiving the end of the shelf
of the adjacent series of shelves but the end shelf brackets have only a recess in
one face for receiving the shelf.
The last described shelf brackets are used when a single set of shelves is to be
built.
In Figure 2 the larger shelves constituting the base of the small shelves above
them may be fitted with drawers.
Portable shelves constructed according to my invention are built up in the
following manner.
The separate metallic base plates or shoes c, c having been screwed to the floor
or surface where the shelves are to be built the bottom of the uprights a, a are
dropped into the slots or troughs in the said base plates or shoes. The sliding

page_text: cross bars or shelf brackets f, f for the lowest shelves are engaged with the
uprights a, a and supported at the required height by the vertical props or
pillars m, m2 and after the shelves have been passed by a sliding motion into the
recesses g, g in the slotted bars or shelf brackets f,f the said brackets are bound
together and to the uprights by the horizontal stay pieces and screws and screw
nuts k, n. The next and succeeding shelves are in this way secured at the proper
distances apart on the uprights a, a and after the series of shelves have been built
up side by side the top shoes d, d carried by the cornice c are dropped upon
the tops of the several uprights a, a. The building up of the shelves is now
complete.
To separate the parts of the shelves for storage or transit the stay bars 1, 1 are
first removed, when the shelves bb may be removed by a sliding motion from the
shelf brackets f, f. The props or pillars m, m2 being withdrawn the shelf brackets
can be lifted from the uprights a, a and the latter disconnected from the bottom
shoes or base plates c, c.
In place of the sliding slotted cross bars or shelf brackets f, f, detachable shelf
brackets of the kind represented in Figure 9 and marked q, q may be used,
the said shelf brackets q, q being secured by screws to the uprights a, a of the
shelves.
Portable shelves constructed according to my invention are fitted for use in
shops warehouses, show rooms and exhibitions and generally where temporary
shelves are required which are capable of being readily built up and taken to
pieces.
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 of "Improvements in portable shelves"
First The combination with the uprights of the shelves, of the slotted cross
bars or shelf brackets recessed on one or on opposite faces for receiving the edge or
edges of the shelf or shelves, the said slotted cross bars or shelf brackets being
constructed and used substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly-The construction and combination of the parts described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings for supporting the slotted cross bars or
shelf brackets and shelves at the required distances apart on the uprights and for
binding the slotted cross bars or shelf brackets together and to the uprights.
Thirdly-The combination with the slotted cross bars or shelf brackets f, g or
removeable shelf brackets q, q, of the bottom and top shoes c, d for the purpose
and substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.
Dated this Twenty first day of Anvil 1005