Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the latents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 11th day of August 1897.
I, EVAN PHILLIPS, of Cambrian Place, Ulverston, in the County of Lancaster
Engineer, 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:
My invention relates to improvements in swivelling and folding screens or
partitions for dividing rooms into two or more compartments, or for doorways or
other purposes where an opening is required to be temporarily closed.
The screens or partitions may be divided into any number of leaves or sections and
made to fold after the manner of an ordinary lap screen, and my invention has
reference to an improved method of carrying or supporting the sections and for
securely connecting the screen or end section with the wall or doorway all as
hereinafter described.
Hitherto the chief objection in connection with swivelling and folding partitions
has been that the groove or boxing formed in the floor to guide the partition,
becomes a receptacle for dust and dirt to accumulate in and which is difficult to
clear. In my invention this objection is entirely overcome for in place of the
ordinary groove or boxing laid in the floor, I employ an iron bar or rail of square
or other approved flangeless section and which is let in so that the top of an edge
of it is level with the line of floor and on this bar runs a swivelling guiding roller
device of any suitable construction but by preference a V or grooved roller
mounted in a bracket that is adapted to fit and swivel in a box or housing fixed to
the bottom of the partition. In order to connect the partition securely to the
wall and to maintain the vertical position of the partition in the act of folding
against a wall I employ two or more hinges made after the manner of an ordinary
tee hinge, with knuckle or joint at one end only, which end is hinged to the end
section of partition, and the long end or stem is fixed to a movable intermediate
style which is hinged to the wall or to a fixed post. By this construction I
lessen the strain on the hinges when the partition is folded.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the swivel motion roller device which is fixed to the
lower edge or bottom of one or more of the sections of the partition.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

page_text: -
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation through G and H of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a sectional end view of the bracket and V grooved pulley.
Figs. 5 5" and 5° are sections of other forms of rail for the pulley to run on.
Fig. 6 is a plan showing the method of hinging the parts of the partition
together and connecting it securely to the wall while supporting it in an upright
position in the act of folding.
Fig. 7 is a plan of the partition in the extended position.
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the partition in the extended position, and
Fig. 9 an end elevation of same.
-
Each section or each alternate section of the partition is supported on the
swivel motion device shown in Figures 1 to 5.
The swivel motion device Figs. to 5 consists of a V grooved guiding roller C
whose diameter may be equal to the full thickness of the partition or larger.
This roller C is fitted in a forked bracket D and runs on an iron rail A of square
section laid on edge and let into a sill piece B which forms part of the floor. The
bracket D is formed with a pivot D¹ on top which fits into a metal case E which is
ict in and fixed to bottom edge of partition. On top of pivot D¹ a centre is pre-
pared to receive a ball F which forms a bearing on which the partition swivels
or in place of a ball a steel centre may be inserted in pivot D¹ or the metal case E.
The metal case E which swivels along with the partition is formed in a circular
shape corresponding with the bracket D so that when the partition is extended in a
straight line across a room the outer sides of the bracket D are flush with the metal
case and the partition. These fittings are not necessarily placed in the centre of all
or some of the leaves of the partition.
Fig. 5 shows a triangular rail A, and Figs. 5" and 5° two somewhat similar rails.
Other suitable flangeless forms may be used instead of the examples shown.
The top guide or motion may be of usual form viz. a pivot with an anti-
friction roller M Figs. 8 and 9 running in a groove formed under the beam or
ceiling.
Figs. 6 and 7 show the method of securing the end leaf J¹ to the intermediate
stile K which is hinged to the fixed post L. The hinge N which is jointed at
one end and fixed to the end leaf J', has an extended stem similar to an ordinary
tee hinge and this end is fixed to the intermediate stile K.
Fig. 8 shows the connection when the partition is brought out into line,
between the end leaf J, the movable intermediate stile K and the fixed post L.
The hinges N may be two or more in number and fixed on the face as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I am aware
of Patent Specification of Messrs. Brady and Peace No. 15878 of 1892 wherein
is claimed the hinging together of sections or flaps of movable folding partitions
or screens of the description therein indicated substantially as therein described
and shown and I lay no claim thereto, I am also aware of the Specifications of
Thornborough and Wilks No. 18500 of 1894, of Napier No. 22,283 of 1894, and
of Peace No. 2715 of 1896, and I do not claim anything described and claimed in
the said specifications, but what I claim is :-
1. The flangeless rail as described and shown in Figures 1, 1, 5, 5, 5" and 5º of
the drawings for use in connection with one or more rolling, guiding swivelling,
bottom supports of any suitable construction in movable screens and partitions.
2. The construction of the rolling, guiding swivelling bottom support consist-
ing of a guiding roller adapted for running on a floor rail and mounted in a forked
bracket adapted to swivel round a vertical axis and to fit in a housing let into the
bottom of the screen or partition or one or more of the leaves thereof, as herein
shewn and described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9.
3. The means for securely connecting a screen or partition with the wall con-
sisting in a stile such as K hinged to the wall or to a fixed post L and hinges

page_text: such as N fixed at one end to the stile K and at the other end hinged to the
seren or partition leaf, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this Tenth day of February 1897
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.