IM- PROVEMENTS IN FOLDING AND EXTENSIBLE CASES OR RECEPTACLES AND ARTICLES " OF FURNITURE
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edwin Powley Alexander at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th August 1882. Com-
municated to him from abroad by Alfred Fremont Potts of Indianapolis,
Marion County Indiana in the United States of America
EDWIN POWLEY ALEXANDER of 36 Southampton Buildings in the County of
Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and British and Foreign Patent Agent
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN FOLDING AND EXTENSIBLE CASES OR RECEPTACLES AND ARTICLES
"
OF FURNITURE a communication to me from abroad by Alfred Fremont Potts
of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana in the United States of America,
This Invention relates to cases and to articles of furniture capable of being
reduced to a closed or compact form, and also of being extended in order to secure
access to or display the contents, and consists Firstly, in certain combinations of
trays, frames or receptacles and hinged or pivotted connecting cross arms whereby
said trays are held in position both when closed and extended; Secondly in
the combination of such extensible receptacles with other articles or supports;
Thirdly in certain special articles provided with moveable or extensible
compartments; Fourthly in certain details of construction.
According to one arrangement the extensible receptacles consist each of two or a
series of boxes frames or trays capable of being brought one upon or against the
other to close the receptacle and combined with cross rods, arms or bars so
connected or jointed to the frames or trays, that the latter can be swung out or
extended, while maintained parallel to each other.
In some cases the trays or boxes stand vertically and the pivotted cross bars are
connected above and below so as to permit of the boxes or frames which are to be
brought together or extended being always parallel to each other. The outer
cases or boxes may have closed backs or they may be provided with hinged or
sliding doors. Or sliding frames or panels carrying samples engravings or other
articles may slide in or out through slots in the ends of the boxes.
One extensible structure may be set upon another and may support pictures,
samples, mirrors or other objects.
Or the structure may consist of a stand or receptacle to display paper hangings
or fabrics of any suitable character the extensible frame consisting of two parallel

page_text: series of pivotted cross frames or bars arranged and worked on the principle of
what are known as "Lazy tongs" levers connected by transverse troughs panels or
cross bars the troughs serving to receive rolls of fabric or the latter may be wound
upon connecting rods instead of being placed in connecting troughs..
A winding roll and cord serves as a means of extending the structure.
In some cases a lid hung between the jointed cross bars at the top serves to
cover up the structure when the bars are folded together. The transverse con-
necting bars may be provided with pins to support railway tickets, boxes serving
as receptacles for the tickets when the side bars are folded down said boxes
consisting each of two sections sliding one with the other to be extensible.
Or the structure may be in the form of a cabinet the receptacles consisting of a
series of vertical or horizontal trays or boxes which may be provided with a back
board against which they may be folded or from which they may be extended
downward the connecting pivotted cross rods or bars being attached at the sides.
A lid or top closes the upper open ends of the trays the front sides of which
may also be open to permit music papers pictures and the like to be introduced
removed and exposed.
The front tray of the series may have a falling cover or platform serving as a
table or shelf. Brackets may be connected to the front tray or box and when the
trays are closed or extended afford a bearing or support. The cover of the upper
tray may be so hinged as to support the structure or to be folded over to close the
upper box when all are folded together.
Two vertically arranged extensible structures may be secured upon a portable
support so as to constitute a support or stand for the reception and exhibition of
music periodicals pictures and the like. The extensible structures may be folded
-up to either side of the stand or extended. The extensible structure may consist
of horizontal or vertical trays, drawers or boxes connected by pivotted cross bars
and supported by a case frame or part of another structure by being pivotted or
otherwise connected thereto or sliding therein.
The extended structure is in some cases supported by legs or castors the base or
main supporting structure being cut away to receive these supports when the trays
are folded together.
The extensible portions may conceal a table or platform which may be folded
against the upright support.
In some classes of desks the extensible portion may consist of one or more
independent frames or receptacles slid in or out to either side or hinged or pivotted
and where requisite supported by a castor, secured to the case by a pivotted frame
which can turn up when the case is drawn to the other side.
Any suitable guiding and pivotting devices may be used with the sliding and
swinging frame or case.
One case or frame may be pivotted to the desk frame and another case may be
pivotted to a swinging frame binged to the main case.
It will be apparent that the above described principles of construction may be
embodied in articles of various forms and kinds for instance in cabinets for different
purposes closets, tables, desks and the like, display stands of different kinds. It
will also be seen that according to the purpose the character of the trays or
receptacles will be varied and the partitions or supports changed. It will also be
seen that the extensible receptacles may be combined with many different articles
of furniture other than those already named, now in use as with trunks tool chests,
with vehicles (as in compartment waggons) ships berths and the like.