Year: 1886

page_text: I CYRUS JOHNSON of 21 Devonshire Street in the County of Middlesex Artist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in stands for holding letters
books pictures and such like.
I form the stand in such manner that the letters pictures or such like are held
between two parallel plates or surfaces which are caused to be pressed one towards
another by their own weight and by the weight of the articles held between them.
The plates may be vertical and hinged together at the bottom by horizontal
hinges and also have legs projecting outwards from the outer side of each at the
bottom and inclining somewhat downwards so that their outer ends only rest upon
any table or surface upon which the stand may be placed. In this way the hinge
joints will always be very slightly above the table or surface when the two plates
are resting one against the other and the plates will press one towards the other
by their own weight.
The legs may be rigidly secured to the plates or they may be jointed about
half way up the outer surface of the plates as well as being jointed one to another.
In this way the plates could always come parallel when pressing towards one
another whether few or many letters papers &c. were between them.
It is not necessary that the plates or surfaces should be vertical they might be
inclined at any desired angle more especially for holding pictures and such like.
1000

page_text: improvements in stands for Holding Letters, Books, Pictures,
and such like.
I CYRUS JOHNSON of 21 Devonshire Street in the County of Middlesex Artist
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 has for its object improvements in stands for holding letters
books pictures and such like.
I form the stand in such manner that the letters pictures or such like are held
between two parallel plates or surfaces which are caused to be pressed one towards
another by their own weight and by the weight of the articles held between them.
The plates may be vertical and hinged together at the bottom by horizontal
hinges and also have legs projecting outwards from the outer side of each at the
bottom and inclining somewhat downwards so that their outer ends only rest upon
any table or surface upon which the stand may be placed. In this way the hinge
joints will always be very slightly above the table or surface when the two plates
are resting one against the other and the plates will press one towards the other
by their own weight.
The legs may be rigidly secured to the plates or they may be jointed about half
way up the outer surface of the plates as well as being jointed one to another.
In this way the plates could always come parallel when pressing towards one
another whether few or many letters papers &c. were between them.
It is not necessary that the plates or surfaces should be vertical they might be
inclined at any desired angle more especially for holding pictures and such like.
Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings hereunto annexed shew end views of a variety of
stands formed as above described.
In Figure 1 the plates a are rigidly secured to their legs b and ordinary hinges c
are fixed to the legs so as to joint the plates one to the other at the bottom. In
this figure the plates when closed together are shewn to be nearly parallel one.
with the other but if it is desired that the stand shall be capable of holding a
greater number or thickness of letters papers &c. the bottom edges of the plates
may be set at a greater distance, apart as shewn at Figure 2. In place of using
metallic hinges, the plates, may if preferred be jointed the one to the other by
flexible fabric as shewn at Figure 3. Figure 4 shews a stand in which the plates
are at an angle in place of being vertical.
Figures 5 and 6 shew a stand in which the plates a instead of being rigidly
secured to the legs are jointed to them. Figure 5 shews the stand when fully open
and Figure 6 shews it with the plates bearing the one against the other.
It will be seen that the stand is capable of holding either a single letter or
article or of holding a considerable bulk of them. Figure 7 shews a side elevation
of the stand.

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 would state that I do
not limit myself to the exact forms of stands shown in the drawing but I declare
that what I claim is :-
1. A stand in which books, letters, pictures or such like can be held between
two plates or surfaces which are pressed one towards the other by a downward
thrust resulting from their own weight and the weight of the articles placed
between them substantially as described.
2. Stands for holding letters books pictures and such like formed substantially
as herein before described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
1
1000
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.