A New or Improved Roller Case for Plans, Drawings, Tracings, or other Sheets.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Roller Case for Plans, Drawings, Tracings,
or other Sheets.
We, SOLOMON JAMES, Mining Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY HANCOCK, Builder,
both of 66, Summerfield Crescent, Gillott Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
-
This invention relates to a new or improved roller case for holding plans, draw-
ings, tracings, or other sheets with which it is desired to encase them readily
when not required, but which shall be as readily opened to view for inspection
when desired, without hurt or injury to such sheets.
It consists broadly of twin spring rollers, lying parallel to each other and each
being carried within an open D shaped half case, such two half cases adjoining
each other with their open flat sides, and thus forming the complete case.
These
rollers are carried at their ends by their pivots running in pivot bearings secured
in the ends of the two half cases. These bearings are made with convex or
conical surfaces so that at their central bearing part they stand well forward,
in order that the edges of any plan &c. rolled upon the rollers may be kept well
clear of the end of the bearings. The spring mechanism of the rollers may be
of any of the well known forms, but so arranged that the rolling up direction
of the one is reverse to that of the other, in order that when rolling up they ap-
proach one another. When these two half cases are placed together they are so
held by means of covers being passed on their united ends which fit moderately
tight, but which may be readily drawn off.
About midway in the length of the outer side of each half case we now form
a handle device which is partly enclosed within a handle case or frame, which
said handle case is made identical with the sectional shape of the case proper,
so that when the covers are drawn off the ends, they may be passed on to the
said handle cases for safe custody, but without interfering with the manipulation
of the apparatus, while they are also always near at hand for affixing to either
of their positions. The handles have a sliding spring action which pushes forward
a pressure plate at their front end against each of its respective roller, to prevent
any point a further motion of the roller. A very convenient form of handle
part is that of curved finger pulls.
at
The rollers are connected by a piece of canvas or other suitable material, above.
which are transverse strips of tape or the like, at say about six inches apart (which
may be more or less), so that the plan &c may be placed and held between the
tapes and the canvas. Upon the closing of the two half cases together. I may
use one or more spring catches which shall hold them together, but which will
yield under a moderate amount of opening force.
The working of the case is as follows:-To fix the plan &c in case, the covers
are first removed from ends and put on the handles, the fingers are placed under
the finger pulls which are drawn toward the top of handle the rollers are then
free, the case is then drawn as far apart as desired and the plan or document is

page_text: placed under the tapes on the canvas. One half can be then rolled on one roller,
the other half on the other roller, or the whole can be rolled on the one and rolled
back on the other when desired. It will be thus seen that any portion of the
plan can be inspected which may be desired by simply winding off on one roller
on to the other and when desirous of inspecting such portion the handle springs
are released and the said portion is securely held in view. The weight of case
will be sufficient to prevent any coiling or curling of the plan when open, thereby
presenting a flat smooth surface.
It will be observed that the manipulation can be carried out without the hands
coming in contact with the plan or document thus ensuring it to be free from
finger marks &c.
As the case can be made in all sizes, plans- of great length can be fitted in a
convenient and easily portable case and at the same time an inspection of same
can be easily effected.
Dated this 1st day of September 1897.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicants' Agent.
A New or Improved Roller Case for Plans, Drawings, Tracings,
or other Sheets.
We, SOLOMON JAMES, Mining Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY HANCOCK, Builder,
both of 66, Summerfield Crescent, Gillott Road, Edgbaston, in the City of
Birmingham, 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 a new or improved roller case for holding plans, draw-
ings, tracings, or other sheets in which it is desired to encase them readily when
not required, but which shall be as readily opened to view for inspection when
desired, without hurt or injury to such sheets.
In order to more particularly describe and ascertain the nature of this our
invention, and the manner in which the same may be performed, we have ap-
pended hereunto an illustrative sheet of drawings, upon which are figures 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 this our invention.
Fig. 2, is a part sectional view of the invention on line A-B (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3, is an end sectional view on line C-D Fig. 1.
Fig. 4, shows the device in its extended or opened position as when in use.
Fig. 5, is an end view of the cap for the two ends of the complete case when
closed.
'
It consists broadly of twin spring rollers 6 and 7, lying parallel to each other
and carried within open D shaped half case 8 and 9, such two half cases adjoining
each other with their open flat sides (see Fig. 3) and thus forming the complete
case. These rollers are carried at their ends by their pivots 10, running in pivot
bearings 11, secured in the ends of the two half cases. These bearings are made
to stand well forward from the interior end in order that the edges of any plan &c
rolled upon the rollers may be kept well clear of the end of the bearings. The
spring mechanism of the rollers may be of any of the well known forms (such
for instance as those known as the spring blind-roller type) but so arranged that
the rolling up direction of the one is reverse to that of the other, in order that

page_text: when rolling up they approach one another.
When these two half cases are
placed together they may be held by. means of a cap 12, being passed on at each
end which fit moderately tight over both half cases, but which may be readily
rawn off.
About midway in the length of the outer side of each half case we now form
handle device which is partly enclosed within a handle case or frame 13.
14, is the pressure relieving handle or finger pull to which is connected the
pressure plate 15, by means of studs 16, the whole of which is pushed forward
by springs 17, which are preferably encased in telescopic tubes 18 and 19. The
plate 15, is pressed upon its adjacent roller 6 or 7, (as the case may be) in order
to prevent its rotation, except when required. The precise shape of handles or
arrangement of springs may of course be modified, but that shown answers very
well.
The rollers 6 & 7. are connected by a piece of canvas 20, or other suitable
material, above which are transverse strips of tape 21, or the like, at say about
six inches apart (which may be more or less), so that the plan &c may be placed
and held between the tapes and the canvas. The direction and disposition of such
tapes may be varied. Upon the closing of the two half cases together, I may
use one or more spring catches, such as those shown at 22, which shall hold them
together, but which will yield under a moderate amount of opening force.
The working of the case is as follows:-To fix the plan &c. in case, (the covers
are first removed from ends) the fingers are placed under the finger pulls 14,
which are drawn toward the top of handle frame 13; the rollers are then free
of the pressure plate 15; the case is then drawn as far apart as desired and the
One half can be then
plan or document is placed under the tapes on the canvas.
rolled on one roller, the other half on the other roller, or the whole can be rolled
on the one and rolled back on the other when desired. It will be thus seen
that any portion of the plan can be inspected which may be desired, by simply
winding off from one roller on to the other, and when desirous of inspecting such
portion, the handle springs are let go and the said portion is securely held in
view. The weight of case will be sufficient to prevent any coiling or curling
of the plan when open, thereby presenting a flat smooth surface.
It will be observed that the manipulation can be carried out without the hands
coming in contact with the plan or document thus ensuring it to be free from
finger marks &c.
As the case can be made in all sizes, plans of great length can be fitted in a
convenient and easily portable case and at the same time an inspection of same
can be easily effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The device for carrying plans and the like, consisting of a spring roller
enclosed in a case, and controlled by relievable pressure plate substantially as
set forth and shown.
CHARLES T. POWELL.
Applicants' Agent. 12, Cherry Street, Birmingham.