Improvements in Apparatus for Displaying Pictures, Panels, and like Articles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Displaying Pictures, Panels,
and like Articles.
I. LOUIS DESIRE EUGÈNE GAILLARD, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris,
in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for enabling frames (pictures,
engravings on glass, and the like), or panels (wood, leather and the like) to be
united in a pile so that all the parts, or all the frames thus united may either be
intimately superposed so as to cover each other or be separated from one another
so as to enable them to be turned over like a book.
All the panels may he adapted to turn about a single vertical axis either so as to
be placed one above the other without leaving a perceptible space between them,
or so as to be turned over after the manner of a book with a maximum angle of
opening of 180 degrees, thus enabling any person to easily inspect the front and
back of any panel.
In the following description I will first of all describe the mode of mounting
any panel upon the supporting axis, and will then set forth in detail the arrange-
ment adopted for superposing any number of panels upon the same supporting
axis.
In the arrangement which I employ for fixing the panels upon a supporting axis.
I have endeavoured to completely obviate the effects of warping due to the mounting
of these panels.
Each panel is mounted in a U shaped iron which is fixed in turn to two Z shaped
pieces. Each of the Z shaped pieces carries two parallel flat parts provided with
a hole through which passes the supporting axis which may be fixed to a wall or
held at a suitable height by means of a foot.
The lower flat part of the Z shaped piece is held round the supporting axis, at
the proper height which it must occupy, by means of a disc. The upper flat part
of the Z shaped piece is on the contrary free round the supporting axis. The
upper part operates only by lateral friction and is opposed to the inclination of the
piece under the action of the weight supported. The entire horizontal part above
the Z shaped piece forms a kind of bracket which is connected to the lower part by
means of an inclined part constituting a buttress or strut designed at the same time
to transfer a portion of the load on to the lower horizontal collar and to oppose
twisting movements.
As will be readily understood the panel mounted in the U shaped iron can
be turned about the supporting axis through the medium of the Z shaped
pieces.
In the example selected I have supposed that the figured U shaped iron is
fixed to the Z shaped pieces by iron squares, but I may of course use any other
appropriate mode of fixing in order to unite this figured iron to the Z shaped
irons.
The frame fits into the U shaped iron and it is retained by two tenons which
take behind two fixed pins traversing the said U iron; a sinall pivoted catch

page_text: placed at the upper part of the U shaped iron is turned down after the frame has
been put in its place, and exerts a pressure upon the tenon owing to its eccentric
form, and it thus prevents the frame from being raised when it is caused to turu
about the axis. Such is the mode of mounting any panel upon the supporting
axis, the mode of mounting which I have just described enables me to arrange
round the axis a number of panels which depends on the thickness of the pauels and
the maximum size provided for the upper and front edge of the uppermost Z shaped
piece.
1 arrange around the axis from top to bottom a series of discs separated from
each other and held at equal distances apart by rings I arrange upon each of these
discs Z-shaped pieces, and after this has been effected it is sufficient for me to
unite each of the Z shaped pieces of the upper group with the corresponding
Zshaped piece of the lower group by means of U-shaped irons in order to constitute
my improved apparatus enabling all the panels which are held around the supporting
axis to be turned over.
With the object of gaining space, and enabling a greater number of pauels to be
arranged upon an axis of a given length, I mount the Z shaped pieces, in the
following manner: The first from the bottom of the apparatus has its top part
turned to the right of the support the second on the contrary has its top part
turned to the left and so forth in such a manner that supposing the support to
be furnished with all the Z shaped pieces, one half the panels mounted upon the
Zinped pieces will be placed one above the other on the right hand side of the
support, and the other half of the panels will be placed one above the other on
the left hand side of the support. This of course does not prevent all the Z shaped
pieces on the same side of the support from being placed all together either on the
right or left hand side of the said support.
The panels, may all be placed one against the other optionally on the right or
left hand side of the axis and that in this case the total thickness of the panels is
nearly the same as that which they would occupy if they were placed directly one
above the other.
It is possible to bring before the eyes of a spectator in front of the supporting
Axis any one of the faces of one of the panels, for example the rear face of the
seventh panel and the front face of the eighth panel; the plans of these two panels
open at 180 degrees being parallel.
It is possible to distribute all the panels mounted around the supporting axis, in
the same manner as the leaves round the back of a book at any angle of opening
between 0 and 180 degrees.
In one form of the invention I have supposed that the supporting axis is fixed to
a wall by any appropriate means, but, as above stated, it may he mounted upon a
foot, nud in this case it will be evident that all the panels may make a complete
turn around the supporting axis, and not simply half a turn as in the example
which have just described.
In certain cases, and for panels of wood, metal, and whenever it is not desired to
provide for the possibility of detaching the panels, I may dispense with the
U-shaped iron and replace it by any other appropriate mode of support, for
example by two feet or brackets.
In the case of panels of considerable weight, for which the two points of support
by the Z shaped pieces would not be sufficient to obviate warping, I may, augment
the number of Z shaped pieces, using for example three of the same. In like
manner may moreover add ties having suitable points of support at the top of
the frame and united to a ring mounted round the axis at its upper part and held
at the proper height by means of discs similar to the discs supporting the Z shaped
pieces. If in lieu of panels it is necessary to fix simply supports or giblets
round the axis, the arrangement will be the same ne in the case above described
but the Ushaped piece will be replaced by the piece forming one side of the
triangular frame.
All the constitutive elements and various parts of my apparatus may of course

page_text: be made of any suitable metallic or other material, and I do not limit my rights at
all as regards the choice of material.
Dated this 29th day of February 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Displaying Pictures, Panels,
and like Articles.
I, LOUIS DÉSIRE EUGENE GAILLARD, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris,
in the Republic of France, 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 relates to an improved apparatus for enabling panels or frames
(for photographs, paintings and the like) to be united in a pile so that all the
parts, or all the frames thus united may either be intimately superposed so as to
cover each other or be separated from one another so as to enable them to be
turned over like a book.
In order to render the following explanations as clear as possible 1 have
represented my improved apparatus by way of example in the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a view of the vertical axis upon which the various parts supporting
the panels aro arranged; this vertical axis may either be carried by a bracket
provided on a wall or mounted upon a foot support.
Figure 2 is a view of the same axis upon which some panels are supposed to be
placed.
Figure 3 is a side view corresponding to Figure 2.
Figure 24 is a plan of the axis represented in Figure 2.
Figure 3 is a sectional plan, corresponding to Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the mode of fixing one of the panels upon
the supporting axis.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are plans in diagram, showing some of the positions which the
panels may occupy relatively to the supporting axis.
Figures 8 and 9 refer to a modification of the arrangement represented in
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figures 10 and 11 show the arrangement which I employ when it is necessary
to fix to the supporting axis, not panels, but simply horizontal rods which enable
any natural objects to be suspended and
Figure 12 is a modification of the arrangement represented in Figure 4.
All the panels may be adapted to turn about a single vertical axis either so as to
be placed one above the other without leaving a perceptible space between them,
or so as to be turned over after the manner of a book with a maximum angle of
opening of 180 degrees, thus enabling any person to easily inspect the front and
back of any panel.
In the following description I will first of all describe with reference to Figure 4
the mode of mounting any panel upon the supporting axis, and will then set forth
in detail the arrangement adopted for superposing any number of panels upon the
same supporting axis.
In the arrangement which I employ for fixing the panels upon a supporting axis
I have endeavoured to completely obviate the effects of warping due to the
mounting of these panels.

page_text: Each panel is mounted in a U shaped iron EF which is fixed in turn to two
Z shaped pieces ABC Figure 4. Each of the Z shaped pieces A B C carries
two parallel flat parts a provided with a hole through which passes the
supporting axis S which may he fixed to a wall or held at a suitable height by
means of a foot.
The lower flat part a of the Z shaped piece is hell round the supporting axis S,
at the proper height which it must occupy, by means of a disc R Figures, 1, 2, 3, 4.
The upper flat part of the Z shaped piece is on the contrary free round the
supporting axis S. The upper part operates only by Interal friction and is
opposed to the inclination of the piece under the action of the weight supported.
The entire horizontal part above the Z shaped piece A B C forins a kind of
bracket which is connected to the lower pari a by means of an inclined part C
constituting a buttress or strut designed at the same time to transfer a portion of
the lund on to the lower horizontal collar and to oppose twisting movements.
As will be readily understood on inspection of Figure 4, the panel mounted in
the U shaped iron E F can be turned about the supporting axis S through the
medium of the Z shaped pieces A B C.
In the example shown in the drawing I have supposed that the U shaped
iron EF is fixed to the Z shinped pieces by iron squares, but I may of course uze
any other appropriate mode of fixing in order to unite this iron to the Z shaped
irons.
The frame fits into the U shaped iron EF and it is retained by two tenons P
Figure 3 which take behind two fixed pins L L (Figures 3 and 4) traversing the
said U iron; a small pivoted catch M placed at the upper part of the U shaped
iron is turned down after the frame has been put in its place, and exerts a pressure
upon the tenon owing to its eccentric form, and it thus provents the frame from
being raised when it is caused to turn about the axis S. Such is the mode of
mounting any panel upon the supporting axis S, and as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 the
mode of mounting which I have just described enables me to arrange round the
axis S a number of panels which depends on the thickness of the panels and
the maximum size provided for the upper and front edge of the uppermost Z shaped
piece.
As shown in Figure 1, I arrange around the axis S from top to bottom a series
of dises R separated from each other and held at equal distances apart by rings O.
I arrange upon each of these discs Z-shaped pieces, and after this has been effected
it is sufficient for me to unite each of the Z shaped pieces of the upper group with
the corresponding Z shaped piece of the lower group by means of U-shaped
irons E Fin order to constitute my improved apparatus enabling all the panels
which are held around the supporting axis S to be turned over.
With the object of gaining space, and enabling a greater number of panels to be
arranged upon an axis of a given length, 1 mount tho Z shaped pieces, as shown in
Figure 2, in the following manner. The first from the bottom of the apparatus
has its top part A B turned to the right of the support S, the second on the
contrary has its top part A B turned to the left and so forth in such a manner
that supposing the support to be furnished with all the Z shaped pieces
seen from the front, as shown in Figure 2, one half the panels mounted upon
the Z shaped pieces will be placed one above the other on the right hand side of
the support, and the other half of the panels will be placed one above the other
on the left hand side of the support. This of course does not prevent all the
Z shaped pieces on the same side of the support from being placed nil together
either on the right or left hand side of the said support.
On inspecting the diagrams of Figures i, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawing,
in which have supposed that 10 panels are fixed around the supporting axis S
carried upon any bracket fixed to a vertical wall, it will be seen that-
(1) The said panels, as shown in Figure 5, may all be placed one against the
other optionally on the right or left hand side of the axis %, and that in this case

page_text: the total thickness of the panels is nearly the same as that which they would occupy
if they were placed directly one above the other.
(2) It is possible to bring before the eyes of a spectator in front of the
supporting axis any one of the faces of one of the panels, for example the rear
face of the panel No. 7 and the front face of the panel No. 8, the plans of these
two panels open at 180 degrees being parallel.
(3) It is possible to distribute all the panels mounted around the supporting axis,
as shown in Figure 7, in the same manner as the leaves round the back of a book
at any angle of opening between 0 and 180 degrees.
In the example represented in Figures 5, 6 and 7, I have supposed that the
supporting axis is fixed to a wall by any appropriate means, but, as above stated,
it may be mounted upon a foot, and in this case it will be evident that all the
panels may make a complete turn around the supporting axis, and not simply half
a turn as in the example which I have just described.
In certain cases, and for panels of wood, metal, and whenever it is not desired
to provide for the possibility of detaching the panels, I may dispense with the
U shaped iron EF and replace it by any other appropriate mode of support, for
example by two feet as shown in Figure 12.
In the case of panels of considerable weight, for which the two points of support
by the Z shaped pieces would not be sufficient to obviate warping, I may, as
represented in Figures 8 and 9, augment the number of Z shaped pieces, using for
example three of the same. In like manner I may moreover add ties having
suitable points of support at N and G and united to a ring mounted round the
axis S at its upper part and held at the proper height by means of discs similar to
the discs R supporting the Z shaped pieces. If in lieu of panels it is necessary to
fix simply supports or gibbets Ttt round the axis S, as illustrated in Figures 10.
and 11, the arrangement will be the same as in the case of Figure 4, but the
U shaped piece E F is replaced by the piece t' of the frame T t t.
All the constitutive elements and various parts of iny apparatus may of course.
be made of any suitable metallic or other material, and I do not limit my rights at
all as regards the choice of material.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
The above described apparatus designed for enabling panels or frames for
photographs, paintings and the like to he turned round a supporting axis either
fixed to a wall through the medium of a bracket or held by a foot, this apparatus.
being specially characterized by:
First. An axis S constituting the axis of rotation of the system, upon which are
mounted two or more similar groups of Z shaped pieces, each of the pieces of a.
group being united to the corresponding piece or pieces in a rigid and unchangeable.
manner by means of an appropriate upright against which the panel is fixed.
Second. In the apparatus above referred to the special mounting of the Z shaped
pieces upon the supporting axis S, each of these Z shaped pieces being made in two
horizontal parts connected by an inclined part forming a buttress, the horizontal
parts being pierced with holes through which the supporting axis passes, and the
piece being maintained at the suitable height by means of a disc fixed upon the
axis S and supporting the Z shaped piece by its lower horizontal part; the Z shaped
pieces of the same group fitting one into the other in such a manner that half the
pieces of any group on the right or left hand side will bear exactly one against the
other by their inclined parts C when the sheets or panels which they support remain
one against the other; these pieces being such that they permit the opening of any
two consecutive elements at an angle of 180 degrees; and the supporting axis S.
being optionally mounted upon a wall bracket, or carried upon a column, or adapted.
to any inode of mounting.

page_text: Third. The employment, either of a U shaped iron for uniting the two corre-
sponding Z shaped pieces of two groups placed upon the support S; this U shaped
iron being designed to receive the panel which may be held in the said iron in any
appropriate manner or by any other mode of fixing, as herein before set forth.
Fourth. The employment, in the case of panels of very great weight, of
suspension ties placed above each panel and having their point of support upon
rings held round the axis S by means of discs fixed upon this axis.
Dated this 28th day of November 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.