Improvements in and relating to Domestic and other Furniture.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 27th Dec.,
1900
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Domestic and other Furniture.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON, of the Belleisle Cabinet Works, Belleisle Street, Govan-
hill, in the City and County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Cabinet
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It relates to articles of domestic and other furniture and has for its chief objects
to adapt them for being quickly and easily unfixed, dismantled or re-fixed; also
for being parcelled and packed in small compass; for storage, removal or use.
In carrying out one modification of the invention in connection with a ward-
robe structure a pedestal is made which comprises a drawer frame, and one or
more drawers. This pedestal is made of any suitable height and width having a
cover board and a small skirting strip projecting upwards above the said board
on each extremity, right and left. These two skirting strips are furnished with
pegs on thin inner faces. The aforesaid cover board has a central fold-over
tightening strip hinged thereto and sometimes one or more frontal grooves to
the right or left, or both right and left. A wardrobe or cupboard structure is
made and fitted upon this pedestal assisted by these pegged skirtings, foldover
strip and grooves. The cupboard portion comprises a back with two sides, right
and left, hinged thereto. The rigut and left sides contain holes at their lower
extremities to receive the skirting pegs and similar holes at their upper ends.
A horizontal top with suitable mouldings is furnished at each extremity, under-
neath, with moulded strips corresponding to the skirting strips upon the pedestal
and a central foldover tightening strip at the front. These moulded strips have
pegs on their vis-a-vis faces which fit into holes provided in the upper ends of
the hinged vertical sides. One or more vertical front panels are fitted, right and
left at the front between the pedestal and the horizontal top: pegs and holes
keep these panels in proper adjustment with the vertical sides. Each of these
front panels fits with precision between the groove in pedestal and the horizontal
top: its lower and upper ends are adjusted, its lower end within the groove:
it is then moved sideways until the pegs and holes engage with each other.
When these panels are in their places the turn-over tightening strips, top and
bottom are unfolded and jammed between these front panels. A door or mirror
frame occupies the front space between these right and left panels. It is hinged
to one panel and locked or fastened to the other. A small flush bolt unites each
turn-over strip to the adjacent member.
Another modification comprises a fender shaped base, plinth or vertical skirt-
ing board having pegs on the inner faces of the right and left end members;
which members are either rigidly mitred or hinged to the front one.
An upright
back, of any required height, with right and left vertical sides hinged thereto
and having holes top and bottom is made and fitted to the structure as previously
described, also a base board hinged or otherwise connected horizontally across

page_text: the inner face of one of the vertical sides and a bearing strip fixed correspond-
ingly across the inner face of the opposite side for supporting the free end of this
base board. A horizontal top having both pegged, and hinged strips, similar to
those of the first named modification, is fitted into position upon the back and
sides; the base board is folded down, horizontally between the right and left
the lower pegs. The
upright sides and prevents them getting off
hinged tightening strip beneath the top is
then adjusted between
these right and left sides keeping them upon their top pegs. The back
of this structure is sometimes a high one extending upwards above the horizontal
top and fixed thereto with brackets, and the front is made either entirely or
partially open or entirely closed with hinging and locking members and a hinged
door as before described: it is also adapted for containing drawers within part
or whole of the cupboard recess. The upright back with right and left sides and
base board are not always hinged, one to another but, are sometimes completely
separable one from another; then the sides are put into their position upon the
pegged strips, top and bottom; the base board is forced into its place upon two
side ledges and the back, having pegs on its lower edge is fitted upon and to the
base board and top. Moulding strips are sometimes fixed upon the front edges
of the upright sides as hinging and locking members.
Another modification relates to a table, having two pairs of framed legs, right
and left, united together by means of back and bottom rails or boards. Each
pair of these side legs is hinged to the back board and contains holes along the
top margin of its spandril for uniting with pegged strips beneath the horizontal
and separable top which has also a tightening strip hinged beneath it adapted
for being turned down and forced between the front legs to retain them upon the
pegs. One or more slip bolts are combined with the turn-over strip for bolting
it at one or both extremities to the side legs. The bottom binding board rests
upon a cross rail of each pair of legs, right and left and is retained there with a
tightening screw. A high, low, or mirror back is combined with the table
constructed as above described when required, or the top is made without any
back or other part projecting above it.
A further modification relates to a table in which are comprised a top with
drawer frame fixed rigidly to and beneath it and fitted with one or more drawers
and adapted for the whole being united to or detached from right and left side
legs which are made in pairs each pair with a top rail or spandril and a bottom
rail; the whole constituting a panel or frame. A horizontal strip is fixed across
the inside lower edge of each spandril, sometimes extending across the legs as
.well. A cavity, sometimes V shaped, is formed behind each of these last named
strips for receiving the edge, sometimes V shaped, of a board contained on each
(right and left) side of the drawer frame: this board projects slightly below the
drawer frame and fits without slackness into the space which would otherwise
exist between the end of the drawer frame the upright legs and the inner face
of the spandril and prevents any slackness taking place between the leg frame
and drawer frame. A strip is fixed beneath the table top at each extremity of it,
right and left, in line with the outer face of the table legs. The upper end of
each leg frame is fitted tightly between one of these strips and the drawer frame
and a thumb screw is inserted from the inside through the drawer frame, right
and left, into the adjacent spandril binding the legs and framed upper structure
firmly together. A horizontal board is fitted from right to left upon the lower
cross rail of each leg frame and is fixed to each rail with a thumb-screw.
The table thus constructed is sometimes made without any back either high
or low upon it and at others it is made with either a high, low or mirror back
fitted upon the table top, or to the back of the drawer frame:
S
Sometimes a cupboard receptacle is formed between this drawer frame and the
horizontal tightening board beneath it by means of vertical side boards or gables,
right and left which are hinged at their upper ends to the underside of the
drawer frame and temporarily fixed at their lower ends to the tightening board;

page_text: a door with lift-off hinges is fixed to one of these vertical sides and can be closed
over the cupboard space and fixed to the opposite gable.
A still further modification of the invention relates to a table with framed
front, panelled, and fitted with one or more doors, having side legs right and
left hinged to it and adapted for being folded upon the rear side of the panelled
front; a plain or pegged strip is fitted on the inside of each side leg for supporting
a horizontal base board; holes are in the upper margins of the side leg spandrils
for, engaging with pegged strips underneath the table top: the table top is fur-
nished underneath with immoveable pegged strips at each extremity right and
left for receiving the side legs and a turn-over board is hinged beneath and to
the table top at its rear edge for being fitted vertically and tightly between the
side legs and horizontal base board as a cupboard back and fixed in position
there with one or more slip bolts.
The doors, or hinged mirror frames designed for use as doors, in these struc-
tures, are, by preference, fitted with lift-off hinges so that they may be removed.
from their frames when dismantling and relaxing the various parts of the struc-
ture for packing, storing or removing it.
The drawers comprised in any suite of such structures are made of suitable
sizes for being fitted one within another in order to economise space. When
the various parts comprising any of these articles of furniture are separated and
dismantled they can be made up into bundles of small compass for packing stor-
ing and removing.
The relaxing, dismantling and separating the parts comprising any of the
articles in the class of structure described herein is effected in reverse order to
that described for their setting up or putting together.
A rail is sometimes fixed, removeably or otherwise to the rear ends of the fender
shaped base of the second modification herein described.
n
1
.
m
I, JAMES ROBERTSON, of the Belleisle Cabinet Works, Belleisle Street, Govan-
hill, in the City and County of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Cabinet
Maker, 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:-
It relates to articles of domestic and other furniture and has for its chief
objects, to adapt them for being quickly and easily unfixed, dismantled or refixed;
also for being parcelled and packed in small compass, for storage, removal or use.
The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accom-
panying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a view in perspective representing a rigid framed pedestal with
pegged and other strips and provisions for containing one or more drawers.
Figures 2 and 3 are views in section through Z, Z, of the article shewn in
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a view in perspective representing a rigid framed pedestal and
cupboard superstructure partially fixed to it in accordance with this invention.
Figure 5 is a view in perspective representing a pegged rigid framed plinth
or fender base made in accordance with this invention.

page_text: Figure 6 is a view in perspective representing a pegged top and upright sides
for combination with a pegged base or plinth.
Figure 7 is a view in perspective of a combined cupboard and table.
Figure 8 is a view in perspective representing a hinged table frame and a
detached top with pegged strips.
Figure 9 is a view in perspective representing a dismembering table made in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 10 is a view in perspective representing the dismembered parts of a
table made in accordance with this invention.
Figure 11 is a group of sectional diagrams representing details.
Figure 12 is a view in perspective of a wardrobe constructed according to this
invention.
Figure 13 is a view in perspective representing a bedroom suite dismantled
and placed in position ready for packing.
In carrying out one modification of the invention in connection with a ward-
robe structure, such as shewn in Figures 4 and 12, a rigid pedestal is made as
shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 12 and 13. It comprises a frame A, B, C, D and,
sometimes, one or more drawers E. This pedestal is made of any suitable height
and width having a top or cover board B and a small skirting strip a¹ projecting
upwards above the board B on each extremity of it, right and left. These two
skirting strips a¹ are furnished with pegs a² on their inner faces. The aforesaid
top or cover board B has a central fold-over tightening strip 61 hinged thereto
and sometimes one or more frontal grooves 62 to the right or left of the strip 61
or on both right and left of it. A wardrobe or cupboard structure is made and
fitted upon is pedestal assisted by these pegged skirtings, fold-over strip and
grooves. The cupboard portion comprises à back F with sides G, right and left
hinged thereto. These right and left sides G contain holes a³ at their lower
extremities to receive the skirting pegs a², and similar holes a³ at their upper
ends. A horizontal top H, with suitable mouldings is furnished underneath, at
each extremity right and left with moulded strips h¹ corresponding to the skirt-
ing strips a¹ upon the pedestal and a central fold-over tightening strip 61 at the
front. These moulded strips h¹ have pegs a² on their vis-a-vis faces which fit
into holes a³ provided in the upper ends of the hinged vertical sides G.
One or
more vertical front panels J are fitted right and left at the front between the
pedestal and the horizontal top H; pegs a² and holes a³ keep these panels J in
proper adjustment with the verical sides G. Each of these front panels J fits
with precision between the groove 62 in the pedestal top B and the horizontal
top H. Its lower and upper ends are adjusted into their required places (its lower
end within a groove b²); it is then moved sideways until the pegs upon the edge
of the panel J, and corresponding, associate holes in the sides G engage with
each other. When these panels J are in their places the turn-over tightening
strips b¹ top and bottom are unfolded and jammed between these front panels.
A door or mirror frame K occupies the front space between these right and left
panels J. It is hinged to one panel J and locked or fastened to the other. A
small flush bolt unites each turn-over strip 61 to the adjacent member J.
In Figure 2 the strip is represented as folded down upon. the board B and
in Figure 3 it is shewn in its erect position for keeping the panels J in their
respective positions; when the strip is thus jammed between the panels J it
prevents the sides G from being dislodged from the pegged strips a¹. In Figure 12
the strips 61 are represented as tightly adjusted, top and bottom, between the
panels J, J.
Another modification of the invention as represented in Figures 5 to 7 of the
drawings comprises a fender shaped base, plinth or vertical skirting board a to a
having pegs a² on the inner faces of the right and left end members a³, a6;
which members are either rigidly mitred or (in some instances) hinged to the
front one a*. An upright back F, Fig. 7, of any required height, with right and
Jeft vertical sides G hinged thereto and having holes a top and bottom, is made

page_text: and fitted to the structure as previously described; also a base board b³ hinged to
or otherwise connected horizontally across the inner face of one of the vertical
sides G and a bearing strip g¹, fixed in a suitable and corresponding position
across the inner face of the opposite side G for supporting the free end of this
base board 63. A horizontal top H with pegged and hinged strips h¹ and b
similar to those of the first named modification, is fitted into position upon the
back F and sides G. The base board 63 is folded down, horizontally between the
right and left upright sides G and prevents them getting off the lower pegs a².
The hinged tightening strip b Figs. 6 and 7 is then adjusted between these right
and left sides, keeping them upon their top pegs 2. The back of this struc-
ture is sometimes a high one extending upwards above the horizontal top H and
is fixed thereto with brackets f¹ Fig. 7 or other simple devices, and the front is
made either entirely or partially open or entirely closed by means of panels or
doors such as J, K Figs. 4 and 12. It is also adapted for containing drawers
within part or whole of the cupboard recess. The upright back F with right and
left sides G and base board b³ are not always hinged one to another, but are
sometimes completely separable one from another; then the sides G are put into
positions upon the pegged strips top and bottom; the base board 73 is forced into
its place upon two side ledges gl and the back F having pegs on its lower edge is
fitted upon and to the base board 63 and between it and the top H. Moulded
strips, Fig. 7, are sometimes fixed upon the front edges of the upright sides G
as hinging and locking members. A back rail, indicated by dotted lines in the
drawing is sometimes fixed removeably or otherwise to the rear ends of the fender
shaped base shewn in Figure 5.
Another modification of the invention relates to a table having two pairs of
framed legs g³ right and left, as indicated in Fig. 8 united together by means
of back and bottom boards or rails f2 and 64. Each pair of these side legs is
hinged to the back board f2 and contains holes a³ along the top margin of its
spandril g for uniting with pegged strips ¹ beneath the horizontal and separable
top H which has also a tightening strip 61 hinged beneath it adapted for being
turned down and forced between the front legs to retain the spandrils upon
the pegs a². One or more slip bolts are combined with the turn-over strip b¹ for
bolting it, at one or both of its extremities, to the side legs. The bottom binding
board 6 rests right and left upon a cross rail g of each pair of legs and is retained
there with tightening screws 96. A high, low or mirror back is when required
combined with the table constructed as thus described, or the top H is made with-
out any back or other projection above it.
A further modification relates to a table such as indicated in Figs. 9 to 11 in
which are comprised a top Hwith drawer frame L fixed rigidly to and beneath
it and fitted with one or more drawers E and adapted for the whole being united
to or detached from right and left side legs which are made in pairs each pair
having a top rail or spandril and a bottom rail : the whole constituting a
panel or frame. A horizontal strip g is fixed across the inside lower edge of
each spandril g sometimes extending across the legs as well. A cavity marked 98
Figure 11. sometimes V or chisel shaped is formed behind each of these last
named strips 7 for receiving the edge, sometimes V or chisel shaped, of a
board contained on each (right and left) side of the drawer frame L; this
board sometimes projects slightly below the drawer frame and fits without
slackness into the space which would otherwise exist between the end of the
drawer frame L, the upright legs, ³, and the inner face of the spandril, and
prevents any slackness existing between the leg frame 3, 4 and drawer frame L.
A plain strip h¹ without pegs is fixed beneath the table top H at each extremity
of it, right and left, in line with the outer face of the table legs g³. The upper
end of each leg frame g³, g, is fitted tightly between one of these strips h¹ and
the drawer frame L as shewn in Fig. 9, and thumb screws, 9 Fig. 11, are in-
serted in lieu of pegs from the inside, through the end boards of the drawer
frame, right and left into the adjacent spandrils g. binding the legs and framed

page_text: upper structure firmly together. A horizontal board 64 is fitted from right to
left, upon the lower cross rails g³ of each leg frame and is fixed to each rail with
a thumb screw 96.
The table thus constructed is sometimes made without any back, either high
or low upon it, as indicated in Fig. 10, and at others it is made with either a
high back as shewn in Fig. 9 or a low one; sometimes it is made with a mirror
back. Any of these backs are fitted upon the top H or to the back of the drawer
frame L, or constitute an upward extension of the member f² Figure 8.
Sometimes a cupboard receptacle M is formed between the underside of the
drawer frame L and the horizontal board 64 beneath it by means of right and
left vertical side boards or gables m¹ Figures 9 and 10, which are hinged at
their upper ends to the underside of the drawer frame L, and temporarily fixed
at their lower ends by means of pegs or bolts to the horizontal board b⭑.
door m² with lift off hinges is fixed to one of these vertical sides m¹ and can be
closed over the cupboard space and fixed to the opposite gable.
A
A still further modification relates to a table constructed similarly to the one
shewn in Figure 8, having a deep framed front with panels. In this modification
the parts fg and b¹ are each of suitable depth to define the four sides of
a cupboard space, f2 being the front of it and b₁ the back. The front part 2 is
panelled and fitted with one or more doors. The side legs g³ with deep spandril
parts are hinged right and left to the part 2 and adapted for being folded
upon the rear side of it. A plain (or pegged) strip, such as gl Fig. 6, is fitted
on the inside of each pair of side legs near the bottom of each spandril for sup-
porting a horizontal base board such as 63 Fig. 6. Holes a³ are formed in the
upper margins of these deep spandrils g for engaging with pegged strips h¹
underneath the table top. The top H is fitted at each extremity, right and left
with immoveable pegged strips h³, as shewn in Fig. 8 for receiving the said side
leg spandrils g and the turn-over board 6' of similar depth to the parts f2 and g
is hinged as before described to the table top at its rear edge for being fitted at
the back of the table, vertically and tightly between the side legs and horizontal
base board 63 as a cupboard back and is fixed in position there with one or more
slip bolts or other simple devices.
The doors or hinged mirror frames designed for use as doors in combination
with these structures are, by preference, fitted with lift-off hinges so that they
may be removed from their frames when dismantling and relaxing the various
parts of the structure for packing, storing or removing it.
The drawers E comprised in any suite of such structures, are made, by pre-
ference of suitable sizes for being fitted, one within another, in order to economise
space when packing the articles for removal or transit. When the various parts
comprising any of these articles of furniture are separated and dismantled they
can be made up into bundles of comparatively small compass for packing, storing
and removing. Figure 13 represents a group of three such dismantled structures
piled together ready for packing. The group comprises, a bed room suite con-
sisting of a wardrobe like that shewn in Figure 12 and two high backed tables
such as that shewn in Figure 9;.c one having a mirror back. Figures 12 and 13
are drawn from a photograph and exhibit the relative dimensions or bulk of a
wardrobe ready for use and the same wardrobe dismantled and united in one
group with two dismantled tables. The drawers E in Fig. 13 would, in private
use, be filled with suitable contents as packing boxes when thus parcelling them
for removal.
Instead of the pegs a² and holes a³ upon the several parts herein described it
may be found more convenient in some instances to use tongue pieces and grooves
as their equivalents for uniting together sundry parts of such dismembering
articles.
The relaxing, dismantling and separating the parts comprising any of the
articles in the class of structure described herein is effected in reverse order to
that described for their setting up or putting together.

page_text: 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:
First, In an article of furniture a rigid, indivisible pedestal A, B, C, D, re-
cessed suitably for receiving one or more drawers E; a hinged and collapsible
cupboard portion comprising a top H a back F and two sides G (with holes a³)
hinged thereto and adapted for being fitted upon pegged strips a¹ and h¹; the
said strips a¹ and h¹ with pegs a²; one or more panels J capable of being united
to the sides G with pegs a² and holes a³ and held in position by means of hinged
strips and adapted for receiving a lift off door or panel K; and the hinged
strips b, all substantially as herein described and drawn or any mere modifica-
tion thereof, for the purposes specified.
Second, In an article of dismembering furniture the combination therewith
of a rigid indivisible pedestal A, B, C, D, recessed suitably for receiving one
or more drawers E having pegged side strips a projecting upwards above the
top B; a strip hinged to the part B and grooves in the said top all substan-
tially as herein described and drawn or any mere modification thereof for the
purposes specified.
Third, In an article of dismembering furniture the combination therewith of
a cupboard receptacle comprising a top H with hinged and pegged strips bl
and h, a part F with two parts G hinged thereto having holes a³ formed therein
adapting them for being fitted upon pegged strips a¹ and h¹ all substantially as
herein described and drawn or any mere modification thereof for the purposes
specified.
Fourth, In an article of furniture, a rigid plinth or base board a with pegged
ends a, a, a top H with hinged and pegged strips 61, h¹, a part F with two
leaves G hinged thereto having holes a³ therein adapting them for being fitted
upon the said plinth and top, and a binding base board 63 all substantially as
herein described and drawn or any mere modification thereof for the purposes
specified.
Fifth, In an article of dismembering furniture the combination therewith of
a plinth or fender shaped base a to a fitted with pegs a² all substantially as
herein described with reference to Figures 5 and 7 of the drawings or any mere
modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Sixth, In an article of dismembering furniture the combination therewith of
a base a with pegged parts a³, as, a top H, having hinged and pegged strips
b, and parts G with holes as formed therein, all substantially as herein de-
scribed with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, or any mere modifi-
cation thereof for the purposes specified.
Seventh, An article of dismembering furniture comprising a top H with hinged
and pegged strips b¹, h¹; a back f with table supports g, g, hinged thereto
and having holes a³ adapting them for engaging with the pegs a² upon the
strips h; and a board with fixing devices 6 all substantially as herein
described with reference to Figure 8 of the drawings or any mere modification
thereof for the purposes specified.
Eighth, In an article of dismembering furniture a top H with plain or un-
pegged strips h¹, drawer frame L rigidly fixed to the top H; a board 64 and its
fixing devices 9; supports g³ to g with the fixing devices 11, 97, 98, g; the
board m hinged to the part L and adapted for being fixed to the board 64 all
substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 of the draw-
ings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Ninth, In an article of dismembering furniture the combination therewith of
a top H having plain or unpegged strips h' and a drawer frame L rigidly and
inseparably united thereto, and parts shaped and adapted for fitting with pre-
cision into the spaces between the members g³ and 97 together with the devices
for fixing the parts to all substantially as herein described with reference to

page_text: Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings or any mere modification thereof for the pur
poses specified.
Tenth, In the framed support g³, 94, 95, of a dismembering table the com-
bination therewith of a strip g and cavity 98 adapted for receiving the end of a
member; all substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 9, 10
and 11 of the drawings or any mere modification therof for the purposes
specified.
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
133A, Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.