Stools
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Jan., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 18th Feb., 1887.
"PP
proposed busca 211
Music Stools.
Figure 2 is a plan of figure 1 at the line A-B.
A (fig. 1) shows the bar attached to top of Music stool, and passing through the
case or box C, which in turn may be affixed to the pillar or framework of Music stool,
or other article.
The inner surface of bar A is provided with shallow projections, or teeth, which are
intersected by similar projections on the tongue or wedge B.
The outer surface of the tongue or wedge, is made to slide on one or more surfaces
of the case or box C, which surfaces incline inwards. When thus arranged the
tongue or wedge is constantly pressing against the bar A, and resists any motion of
the bar downwards or through the case or box, but offers no resistance to motion the
D
71

page_text: opposite way, by this means the seat of a Music stool or other article, can be adjusted
to any desired height, by simply lifting the head of the stool or other article to the
position required.
The descent of the bar A, is provided for by the lever D, which, at the will of the
operator, lifts the tongue or wedge B until the projections clear each other, when the
head of the stool or other article falls by its own weight.
In order to avoid the clicking noise which would be caused by the projections on A
and B passing each other, "in raising or lowering the head of the stool or other articlo,"
the bar A may be grooved in one or more places on its inner surface, to admit a cord
of wool or other soft Material, E, to be securely fastened to and extend the whole
length of the bar A.
The cord of wool or other material, is made of such thickness as to project slightly
beyond the teeth of the bar A, and provides as it were a cushion for the projections on
the tongue or wedge B, to rub against, thus preventing noise in the passage of the
bar A, upwards or downwards.
When it is desired to arrest the downward motion of the bar A, at any particular
place, the lever D is released, and the tongue or wedge is immediately dragged by the
friction of the cord, until the projections on A and B touch each other and are thus
securely locked.
The cord is made of such material as to be easily compressed, and capable of
regaining its round shape when released.
In music stands, or stands for other light purposes, the bar A may be made without
teeth or projections, the friction alone being sufficient to maintain it in position.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the upper portion of the pillar of a music-stool,
showing my improved apparatus applied thereto, taken on the line y y of Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan of figure 1 taken on the line ext.
Figure 3 is a front view of the bar or stem secured to the underside of the top of
the stool.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the tongue or wedge.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the tongue or wedge with rollers, and provided with
a spring for ensuring a noiseless action.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the tongue or wedge hinged within the box or socket
through which the stem or har slides.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of a modified form of my improved apparatus, taken
on the line of figure 8.
Figure 8 is a plan taken on the line y, y, of figure 7.
Figure 9 is a vertical section, showing the application of one form of my invention
to music-stands and other similar objects.
Figure 10 is a plan of the same on the line cx figure 9.
Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.
In applying my invention to a music-stool as shown in figures 1 and 2, I secure to
the underside of the movable top of the said music-stool a vertical bar or stem A of
metal or other suitable material. The said bar or stem is preferably of the form in
cross section shown in figure 2, though the form of the said bar or stem may be varied.
A box or socket B is fastened on or inserted into the framework or pillar of the stool
and secured thereto by screws through the flange B' or by other suitable means. This
socket B is square in cross section as shown in figure 2 and the bar or stem A slides
freely through the said socket, its surfaces a coming in contact with two of the sides -

page_text: of the said box or socket as shown in figure 2. The inner surface a¹ of the stem A is
formed with shallow serrations or teeth throughout its entire length. In the angle of
the box or socket B which is opposite the serrated surface of the stem A are formed
inclined surfaces bb, at an angle of about 30 degrees from the perpendicular, inclining
inward towards the bar A, and between the said inclined surfaces and the bar or
stem A is inserted the tongue or wedge C, shown separately in Figure 4. This wedge C
has corresponding inclined surfaces c c. which slide upon the inclined surfaces bb in
the box or socket, and the upper and lower portions of the face of the said wedge
next to that of the inner surface of the bar or stem A are serrated or toothed in a
similar manner to the face a² of the said bar or stem. Thus when the wedge C is
inserted in the socket B it slides on its surfaces c c down the inclined surfaces b b by
its own weight and the teeth or serrations on the surfaces c¹ of the said wedge inter-
lock with those on the bar or stem A and prevent the passage of the said bar or stem
through the socket B, the bar or stem A being firmly held by the wedge C at any
required height whether the object it sustains be heavy or light. B' is a slot cast or
formed in the socket B into which slot the projection on the lower portion of the
wedge Centers when the said wedge is raised. B³ is a projection which serves as a
stop to the wedge C should the stool be turned upside down.
The form of the wedge C in cross section may be as shown in figure 2 or it may
be of any other suitable form. Also instead of being provided with the inclined
surfaces c it may be provided with rollers as shown in figure 5, the said rollers
travelling on the inclined surfaces b b of the socket B. Or the inclined surfaces in the
socket B and on the wedge C may be dispensed with and the said wedge hinged in
the said socket by links, as shown in figure 6.
To release the bar A from the action of the wedge C so as to permit of the vertical
adjustment of the top of the stool I use a piece of stout wire or thin rod of metal or
other material D. The said rod fits in a vertical groove a² formed in the face a' of the
stem A and in a corresponding groove formed in the face of the wedge as shown
in figure 2, the said rod being thus fitted between the stem A and the wedge C. The
upper end of the said rod is bent at right angles, passed through a hole a³ in the upper
end of the stem A and extended to the outer edge of the stool where it terminates in
a button or push E. When it is desired to adjust the height of the stool, the head of
the stool, is lifted slightly, and at the same time the button or push E is pressed. The
pressure thus exerted on the rod D forces the tongue or wedge C up the inclined
surfaces b b or forces it upward on its links ce³ (as the case may be) and separates
the interlocking surfaces a¹ and c¹ of the stem A and wedge C allowing the stem A
and the top of the stool to be raised or lowered to the desired height. On pressure
being removed from the button or push E the wedge C falls by gravity, the serrated
surfaces of the said wedge and stem A again interlock and the top of the stool is rigidly
and securely held in the desired position.
To prevent the clicking noise which would be caused by the serrations on the stem A
and wedge Crubbing against each other during the passage of the stem A through
the socket B as the stool is raised or lowered, I provide the tongue or wedge C with
a pad or cushion c* of velvet or other soft elastic material fitted in a recess in the said
wedge between its upper and lower serrated surfaces c¹. When the wedge C is in
contact with the stem A the pad ct is compressed, but when relieved from pressure it
projects beyond the serrations on the said wedge and prevents them from coming in
contact with the serrations on the stem A as the said stem passes up or down in the
socket B. Or instead of the pad eo I employ a spring or springs. The said spring or
springs are so arranged within the recess in the wedge that their free ends project
slightly, at the upper and lower ends of the recess, beyond the serrated surfaces c'.
Thus a spring may be rivetted at its centre in the recess in the wedge C (as shown
in figures 5 and 6) the two free ends of the said spring being curved inward but
projecting from the said recess slightly beyond the serrated portions c¹ of the said
wedge. The free ends of the spring are compressed when the wedge is holding the
stem A but when the stem A is released from the wedge they keep the serrated
surfaces of the stem A and wedge C out of contact with each other. Or two or more.

page_text: springs may be used, the said springs being rivetted in the said recess so that the free
end of one spring is towards the top of the wedge while the free end of the next in the
series is towards the bottom of the wedge. Or the spring or springs may be arranged
within the recess in the wedge in any other suitable manner.
Also instead of the
elastic pad or cushion, or spring or springs being secured to the wedge C they may
be secured to and extend the entire length of the bar or stem A.
*
In figures 7 and 81 have shown a modified form of my invention in which the bar
or stem A and wedge Care plain instead of being serrated as shown in figures 1
and 2. In this case the bar or stem A is square in cross section at its upper end, two
of its sides a a being perpendicular and fitting in the angle formed by two of the sides
of the socket B. The sides a a¹ of the bar or stem taper slightly towards its lower
end. The wedge is formed with jaws the inner surfaces c¹ of which incline 'down-
ward so that the said jaws fit against and embrace the tapering sides a¹ a¹ of the bar
or stem A as shown in figures 7 and 8. Leather or other suitable pads may be
inserted in recesses formed in the surfaces c¹ of the wedge to increase the friction.
The inclined surfaces of the box or socket B are made at a less angle than when
a serrated bar and wedge are used, say at about an angle of 20 degrees from the
perpendicular, and the inclined surfaces e of the wedge C correspond. A spring F
may be inserted in the recess of the socket B as shown in figure 7, the said spring
pressing upon the lower projection of the wedge C and holding the said wedge down
in the socket B. The weight supported by the bar or stem A causes the surfaces a¹, c',
and b and c to bind upon each other and the bar or stem is thus supported in any
position to which it may be adjusted. The bar or stem A may be raised or lowered in
the socket B by slightly raising the wedge C. This may be effected by a lever
arranged either at the top or bottom of the said wedge, or by a rod D as in figure 1,
in which latter case the spring F is dispensed with.
с
Two or more wedges may be used arranged on different sides of the bar or stem A.
Either of the arrangements hereinbefore described can be used for music-stools,
music-stands, or stands for mathematical or other instruments, but when a light weight
only is to be supported it is unnecessary to use a serrated bar and wedge and the
surfaces of the sliding bar, rod or stem and wedge, which come in contact with each
other, may be perpendicular as shown in figures 9 and 10 instead of being tapered as
shown in figures 7 and 8. In figures 9 and 10 A is the sliding bar or rod which
supports the desk of a music-stand, B is the socket in the pedestal of the stand in
which the bar or rod A slides vertically, and C is the wedge with inclined surfaces c
sliding upon
the inclined surfaces b in the socket B. The wedge C may be made to
fit around the rod A as shown in figure 10 and the friction between the said wedge and
bar or rod is sufficient to sustain the desk and music-book. B is a slot in the
socket B into which slot the lower portion of the wedge Centers as the said wedge
is raised.
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 :-
First The combination of the stem, bar or rod A, the socket B, and the wedge C
sliding or hinged within the said socket, constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
:-
Second-The combination of the stem, bar or rod A, the socket B, the wedge C
sliding or hinged within the said socket, and the bent rod D, constructed, arranged
and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third-The spring or springs, or elastic pad or cushion secured to the wedge C or
to the stem, bar or rod A, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
SAMUEL MARSDEN.