Improvements in Rolling Partitions and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June. 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rolling Partitions and the like.
I, JAMES GODFREY WILSON of Fort Washington, in the City of New-York,
County of New-York, and State of New-York, in the United States of America,
Manufacturer, 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 consists in a black-board or map composed of a series of slats bound
together in such a manner as to form a plane surface on one or both sides thereof, and
to admit of its being rolled up, said map or black-board at the same time forming
a partition for dividing or sub-dividing school or lecture rooms. Furthermore, my
invention consists in the peculiar construction for a rolling partition or blind or other
structure, whereby such partition or blind or other structure is especially adapted for
use as a nap or black-board.
School or lecture rooms are frequently sub-divided into small rooms by movable
partitions so that the said small rooms can be thrown into one large room when
required. The principal object of my invention therefore, is to provide a partition
which can be readily removed by rolling it up, while when drawn down, it presents
a black-board or a map or other illustration, serving as a means of instruction or
reference.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 represents a face view of a combined black-board and partition constructel
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section thereof in the plane X, X figure 1.
Figure 3 is a face view of the combined map and partition.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation, on a larger scale than the preceding figures, of the
combined black-board and partition rolled up.
Figure 5 represents a vertical section of the partition, illustrating its construction.
Figure 6 is a front view of the same, part being broken away.
Figure 7 is a bottom view of figure 6.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of a detail part.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation showing the partition attached to a roller or pulley
for coiling it up.
Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of a modification.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.
In figure 1, A represents a partition, having its upper end attached to a roller or
pulley B, so that it can be coiled up when so desired. The sides of this partition can
be guided in suitable ways b. b secured on the posts or pillars C. C.
One side of this partition is made to present a perfectly smooth surface when
said partition is drawn down, and as shown in figure 1, I prepare this surface by the
usual means as a black-board, for instance, by applying black silicate paint thereto.
In figure 3 I have shown a permanent map painted upon this smooth surface, but it
is evident that in place of a map, a drawing, text, or other illustration, can be placed
thereon.
In figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 I have illustrated a construction especially adapted for use
with my combined map or black board and partition, in so far that the slats of which
t is composed, are held firmly together when the partition is drawn down, while at the
same time the said construction permits the coiling or rolling up of the partition.
a. a. designate slats of wood, which are threaded upon a series of suitable metallic
cables, wires, or bands D, distributed, at proper intervals apart, throughout the width
of the structure. In the example illustrated, I have shown cables D, which pass
through the slats centrally with the thickness thereof, their upper extremities being
attached at c. c. to the upper end slats a¹, and their lower extremities to spiral

page_text: springs E. E. placed within suitable recesses d in the lower end slat or slats F. The
lower ends of the springs E are affixed to the end slats in any suitable manner.
In
this example, I have shown them attached to nuts e, which are guided in the
recesses and receive adjusting screws G, each having a bearing in a metallic plate f
closing the particular recess. By means of these adjusting screws, the tension of the
cables D can be regulated at will.
The cables D being under tension, all the slats are held in close contact, edge to
edge, the tendency of these tensional cables being to hold them in this position, and to
return them to their normal position whenever separated. When the slats shrink,
which would cause a separation or opening of a joint or joints, the tensional cables are
virtually decreased in length by the contraction of the springs, to an extent corre-
sponding to the total amount of shrinkage, thereby drawing the slats together.
Whenever the structure is rolled or coiled up, as in the case of rolling partitions,
shutters, or blinds, the alteration of length caused by the turning of the slats about
their edges of contact, (figure 9), is allowed for by the drawing apart of the springs.
To cause this alteration to be very small, I bevel or round the edges of the adjoining
slats on one side of the structure.
If
It is obvious that the cables D may be held under tension by compressing the
springs E, for instance, by attaching the lower extremities of the cables to the lower
ends of the springs, and attaching the latter to the upper part of the recesses.
desired the springs E. E. can be placed in the upper end slat or slats, and the
lower extremities of the cables D attached to the lower end slat, or springs can be
placed in both end slats and the extremities of the cables attached to said springs.
In figure 10 1 have shown short spiral springs E¹, E', placed between two or more
of the upper slats and surrounding the cables. These springs, being under compres-
sion, tend to force these slats apart, thereby aiding the springs E, E, in holding the
remaining slats in close contact, edge to edge. These springs E¹, E¹, would be
embodied only in rolling partitions or blinds where the top slats are not exposed to
view.
The slats a are best provided with interlocking tongues and grooves, to hold the
same parallel with each other, and to give strength and stiffness to the structure.
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 :-
1. A map, or other illustration, or a black-board, composed of a series of slats,
bound together in such a manner as to permit of its being rolled up, said map or
black-board at the same time forming a partition for dividing or sub-dividing school or
lecture rooms, substantially as described.
2. A series of wooden slats threaded upon cables, wires, or bands, combined with
tension producing springs, substantially as described.
3. A rolling partition or the like composed of wooden slats threaded upon cables,
wires, or bands, combined with tension producing springs, and means for adjusting the
tension of said springs, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a series of wooden slats, of springs located in one of the
end slats, and cables, wires, or bands extending through the slats, the opposite
extremities of said cables, wires or bands being respectively attached to the springs
and to the opposite end slat, substantially as described.
5. The combination with a series of wooden slats threaded upon cables, wires, or
bands, of springs attached to the extremities of the cables, and additional springs
interposed between two or more of the slats, substantially as described.
Datad thin 10th day of Inne 1000
JAMES GODFREY WILSON.
By Harris & Mills,
Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.
JAMES GODFREY WILSON.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.