An Improved Rack to be Fixed to Chairs, Seats, Pews, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rack to be Fixed to Chairs, Seats, Pews, and the like.
I, WILLIAM BALLANCE, Mountjoy, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Surveyor & Drafts-
man (Warrant Officer, Royal Engineers), do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of two brackets which are connected by a perch and
which support a shelf-for each seat or sitting.
Each bracket has two hooks springing from its vertical plane, one at the
lower extremity and one near the middle, the upper part of the bracket forming
a bed for the shelf.
Between the upper hook and shelf-rest is a socket at the knee-like angle in
which fits an end of the perch.
The two brackets being connected by the perch held in the sockets and having
the shelf superfixed, form combinedly a compendium rack, on which hats, coats,
umbrellas, sticks, books, binoculars, glasses and all like articles can be placed.
Dated this 25th day of March 1899.
An Improved Rack to be Fixed to Chairs, Seats, Pews, and the like.
I, WILLIAM BALLANCE, Mountjoy, Phoenix Park, Dublin, Surveyor & Drafts-
man (Warrant Officer, Royal Engineers), 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 an improved rack for holding requisites for immediate
use by persons in assemblies: and is combined of two brackets connected by
a rail and supporting two shelves.
In the drawing annexed hereto:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of each bracket with end of shelves superfixed, the
back support a sloping at an angle of or 72° (approximating to the slope of
seat-backs). The lower extremity of the bracket curves upward forming a
hook b; above this is another like hook c. The jib mn connecting the bearer e
and support is ogee shape; the upper arc n being convex (outward) and the
lower arc m concave (inward). At the middle of the jib is a bi-socket & hollowed
on both sides to receive a rail 1.
Fig. 2 shows a section of the socket d having a vertical division in the centre.
Fig. 3 represents a front view of the invention as it appears when fixed to
the back of a chair or seat sloping at 72°. The two brackets are connected by

page_text: a rail / fitted into the sockets d. Superfixed to the bearers e are two shelves fh
a few inches apart in the clear: the upper shelf has a raised bead along the
top front edge and two ends: between the shelves is a shutter, hinged to the
lower shelf and closed with lock and key against the upper one-a special pro-
vision for places of worship or wherever desired.
Fig. 4 illustrates the shelves f h without a shutter between them, shown
curved at the rear edge to fit against a chair-back that shape. For the use of
smokers a metal ash-tray p and match-striker o is provided in the front on the
bottom shelf. The shelves in this illustration are for use in music halls and
similar places, and may be fixed to brackets in the same manner as represented
in Fig. 3.
Amongst the advantages of my invention may be mentioned the following:-
1st. The general principle and design of the invention as an improved rack
to be fixed to chairs, seats, pews and the like: which I have observed is a long-
felt want to audiences and congregations, in places of worship and places of
entertainment and assembly generally.
2nd. The device is planned to take up but little room, and admits of persons
passing in and out rows of seats with arcustomed facility. For pews, seats
and the like having one continuous back from end to end of a row, racks are
linked together by connecting bracket and rail alternately, each bracket being
common to the two adjacent sittings.
Brd. It needs only slightly varying in detail according as it is required to fit
against perpendicular-, sloping, straight, or curve-shape backs of seats and
the like and it may be suitably constructed to fit against objects of different
size and shape as required.
4th. The contrivance is designed to be of light construction consistent with
stability; and may be made wholly of wood or metal or part metal and part
wood.
In the drawing annexed, the material of the brackets and rail is of brass and
the shelves of wood.
5th. The invention is a simple multum in parro; for when united and fixed
it forms a compendium rack on which hats, coats, umbrellas, gloves, books,
binoculars, cups, saucers, bottles, glasses, cigars, refreshments and other light
articles used or carried by persons in assemblies can be conveniently placed out
of the way yet ready at hand when required.
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:-
In connection with chairs, seats, pews and the like the use and application
of tlie ogee-shape jibs mn (part of the brackets): and the sockets d formed at
the middle of the jibs in which is introduced a coat-rail connecting each two
brackets, the sockets being drilled and providing a vertical division in the centre
permitting of a separate length of rail on either side for each rack also the
ash-tray fixed into the bottom shelf and admitting of being readily emptied
and cleaned through the opening in front.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1899.
WILLIAM BALLANCE.