Improvements in and relating to Decorative Chests or Boxes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Decorative Chests or Boxes and
the like.
I, OTTO RAHN, Master Carpenter, a subject of the German Emperor, and at
present residing at Friedrichsroda, 42 Hauptstrasse in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-
Gotha, part of the German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion 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 reference to the manufacture of decorative chests boxes and
the like and it consists in the various improvements set forth in the specification,
by means of which a novel safety lock is provided for chests of this kind which
is easy of access and affords reasonable protection from any improper use of the
said chest and it further consists of means by which these chests even when
covered with leather for protection or for decorative purposes, may be given
the appearance of natural wood, so that the chest or box and the like to which
these improvements are applied, may take the place of the old fashioned, antique
family cloth press which is so much liked nowadays and which are usually pro-
vided with very complicated safety locks thus materially decreasing the price of
this piece of furniture.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown one of these chests as an example
to which my invention is applied. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the chest
embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of the same with part of the front
wall broken away, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the die used for preparing the
surface of the chest, Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the die.
In the figures:-
f is an eyed projection or cramp iron serving for the reception of the tongue
of the lock proper. g is another eyed projection or cramp iron, engaging with the
part constituting the safety lock. This safety lock consists of a pendulum k
pivoted at i in a socket h of the chest. 7 is a hook attached to one extremity of
the pendulum or pivoted pawl, said hook engaging with the eye of the projection g,
the latter being fastened to the cover of the chest by any suitable means. A
weight is attached to the other extremity of the pendulum which tends to keep
the pendulum or pivoted pawl k in a vertical position. In the horizontal posi-
tion of the chest the chest is locked even after the unlocking of the lock proper,
the hook engaging with the eyed projection g so that the cover can only be
opened upon inclining the chest itself which causes the hook to disengage with
the said eye so that the cover may be lifted off.
A further object of my invention is to so prepare the surface of the said chest
as to give it the appearance of natural wood, even in the case of leather being
used as a coating as is generally the case with chests of this kind; the use of
leather insuring safety against the action of moisture and of the weather and
temperature in general.
In the case of leather being used as a coating, this material, the so-called
chamois skin for instance, is first dyed the desired color, and then subjected to the
action of the die represented in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. The die is of flat

page_text: shape and is provided in its hollow interior with a suitable gas or other burner a,
the air necessary for combustion being admitted through the lateral openings
and the perforations c in the walls of the die. The bottom of the die carries a
number of ribs or projections & the outlines of which correspond to the pattern
it is desired to burn into the leather. The die as well as the ribs attached
thereto are heated by the gas burner. By impressing the heated die upon the
leather, the parts in contact with the hot die are both smoothened by the weight
of the die and at the same time given the peculiar brown color so much valued in
furniture of this kind; so that after the branding being effected the previously
rough surface of the leather will now appear smooth and delicately shaded. The
piece of leather thus prepared is then attached to the chest or box and the like
in any well known manner.
It is obvious that the decorative effect can be enhanced by the use of the known
metal plating e in suitable places.
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:
::.
1. Improvements in the manufacture of decorative chests and the like bearing
a safety lock, an eyed projection in connection with the lock proper and attached
to the cover of the chest or similar furniture, a pivoted pawl or pendulum,, bearing
a hook at one end and a weight at the other, and fastened to the chest itself, the
said hook engaging with the eyed projection attached to the cover of the chest
or other piece of furniture, so as to unlock the safety lock in an inclined position,
substantially as described.
2./ Improvements in the manufacture of decorative chests and the like con-
sisting in means for imparting to the surface of the chest itself or of the like
furniture or to the leather coating covering the surface, the appearance of natural
wood by the action of a heated die substantially as described.
3. Improvements in the manufacture of decorative chests and the like, com-
prising a die heated by gas or any other suitable means, ribs or projections being
attached to any of the sides of the said die, the outline of the said ribs corresponding
to the pattern to be branded upon the surface of the chest or furniture, substan-
tially as described.
Dated this 25th day of September 1899.
WALTER FOLKMAR,
Agent for Applicant.