IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
A communication from abroad by Frank Grant Johnson, of Brooklyn, New
York, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th February 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR
BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES." [A communication from abroad by Frank Grant
Johnson, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to that class of stands in which shelf-holders are capable
of being freely rotated about a central supporting column fixed to a movable bar,
and which stands may be readily changed in position upon the floor for convenience
as required. A stand constructed according to the said Invention is not limited to
carrying books, but may be easily adapted by an arrangement of shelves to carry
paper-files, dental or other tools, and many other articles requiring compartments
in a position convenient for use.
The said improvements comprise such a construction of the several parts,
and so making the same interchangeable as to admit of ready dismounting and
compact packing for transportation, and remounting with ease and facility, together
with the novel construction and combination of the parts as hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I make the said stand of cast iron
for cheapness, strength, and durability, which iron when properly japanned may be
finished and ornamented in colours to suit various tastes and conditions of
purchasers.
A cast iron base resting directly on the floor or upon casters is provided with a
central top, the centre of which is bored to take the threaded end of an iron rod or
gas pipe cut to the proper length for the height required, and which combined
constitute the stationary base of the apparatus, and is designed to support the
carrying and working parts which are adjusted upon and are rotated around it.
The said working parts are as follows, that is to say:-There is a holding

page_text: rotating tube, the interior orifice of which is slightly larger than the diameter of
the stationary rod or carrier. The lower end of the tube is slightly enlarged or
reamed out for a short distance to take a slight shoulder on the base to prevent the
oscillation of the tube. The height of the said tube is slightly prolonged above the
top of the carrier, the projecting interval being plugged firmly with a screw or
other stopper, the lower or inside end of which is cone shaped, and the top of the
carrier is reamed or bored to fit the cone, the two forming the top bearing from
which the revolving case is suspended, and on which it rotates.
I make the shelves of cast iron and of a peculiar construction, that is to say, the
centre of each shelf is provided with a sliding boss bored to fit loosely on the said
tube, this boss being also perforated laterally by a threaded hole to take a set screw
to clamp against the tube, and screw the shelf in proper position as it is moved up
and down for adjustment to sizes of books, or otherwise.
To obtain strength, lightness of material, symmetry, and efficacy, I construct the
shelves with open work or grated bottoms, the grates being in line transversely to
the position of the books; each shelf may be provided with four distinct divisions
in alternate sets of grates at right angles with each other, each being bordered on
the back and two sides by guard-plates on the upper-surface of each shelf, the
width of which is continued below the boss on the central divisions for stiffness
and strength, and at the ends they are still further depressed in a curved or other
outline form at the outer sides to guard the top of the books from falling out. The
top side of the upper shelf and the bottom side of the lower one may have their
projecting portion cut away. I do not however confine myself to the particular
form or construction of the shelves described, as shelves may be made of different
shapes and quite plain, and operate well for several uses. The sides of the case
may be provided with doors of glass or wood to be fastened or locked at will.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR
BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Frank Grant
Johnson, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to that class of stands having shelf-holders capable of free
rotation about a central supporting column which is fixed to a movable base, and
may be readily changed in position upon the floor for convenience as required.
A stand constructed according to this Invention is not limited to the carrying of
books, but may be casily adapted by an arrangement of its shelves to carry paper-
files, dental or other tools, and many other articles requiring compartments in a
position convenient for the use of such articles.
For the sake of cheapness of construction, strength, and durability, I prefer to
make the said stand of cast iron, which when properly japanned may be finished
and ornamented in colors as required.
The said improvements consist in such a construction of the several parts as to
render the same interchangeable, to admit of readily dismounting them, compactly
packing them for transportation, and easily remounting them. It also consists in
the novel construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described and as
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, which I will now proceed to explain.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus constructed according to this
Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan partly in section.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a portion of the same drawn to an enlarged
scale.
F represents a cast iron base; resting directly on the floor or upon casters, and
provided with a central top or boss, the centre of which is bored to receive the
threaded end of an iron rod or gas pipe cut to the proper length for the height
required. These parts combined constitute the stationary base of the apparatus
designed to support the carrying and working parts, which are adjusted upon and
are rotated around the same. The said working parts are as follow, that is to
say-B is a holding rotating tube, the interior orifice of which is slightly larger
in diameter than the stationary rod or carrier A. The lower end of the tube is
slightly enlarged or reamed out for a short distance to take a slight shoulder on the
base F to prevent the oscillation of the tube. The height of the tube B is slightly
prolonged above the top of the carrier A, the projecting interval being plugged
firmly with a screw or other stopper c', the lower or inside end of which is cone-
shaped, and the top of the carrier A is reamed or bored at a to fit the cone,
the two forming the top bearing from which the revolving case is suspended and
on which it rotates.
The shelves are formed of cast iron and are constructed in a peculiar manner,
as shewn in Figures 1 and 2. The centre of each shelf is provided with a sliding
boss m bored to fit loosely on the tube B, this boss m being also perforated
laterally by a threaded or tapped hole to take a set-screw g to press against or
enter the tube B, and clamp the shelf in the proper position as it is moved up
and down for adjusting to the sizes of the books, or otherwise.
To obtain strength, lightness of material, symmetry, and efficacy, I construct the
shelves with open work or grated bottoms, the grates being in line transversely.
to the position of the books. In the Drawing each shelf is shewn with four
distinct divisions, and the alternate sets of grates are at right angles to each

page_text: other, each set being bordered on the back and two sides by guard-plates e on the
upper surface of cach shelf, which plates are continued below the boss on the central
division to afford stiffness and strength; they are also extended downward at the
ends, as seen in Figure 1, where they are shewn with deep downward extensions e
at the outer sides and at the ends to guard the top of the books from falling out.
The top side of the upper shelf and the bottom side of the lower one may have
their projecting portion cut away, as shewn in the Drawing. I do not however
confine myself to the above described particular form or construction of the shelves,
as the said shelves may be made of various shapes according to the purpose for
which the said apparatus is to be used. The sides of the case may be provided
with doors of glass, wood, or other material, provided with means for locking or
fastening them.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a revolving stand for books or other articles, the combination of the
following parts, namely:-A base or rest with a central vertical stationary tube or
bar surrounded throughout its length by and supporting a suspended rotating
carrying tube to which are attached shelves adjustable or otherwise, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. A sliding adjustable shelf on or forming part of a rotating book-stand,
and provided with a central boss and fastening device, and either with or without
a depressed guard and side top guard, in combination with the bottom guard-plates
projecting upward from the shelf, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. A sliding adjustable shelf on a revolving book-stand made partly open or
with grates, slats, or bars, guarded by vertical division-plates, and provided with a
central sliding boss and fastening device, substantially as and for the purposo set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One