Improvements in Sectional Book and other Cases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 21st Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sectional Book and other Cases.
We, ELLIOTT DWIGHT ROBBINS, Assistant Manager, of 221, Ohio Street, in
the City of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, CURTIS MCPIKE,
Manager, of 701, Estes Avenue, in the City of Chicago, aforesaid, and JAMES
DAVID ADAMS, Superintendent, of Wabash, in the County of Wabash and State
of Indiana, all of the United States of America, 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 relates to sectional book and other cases and has for its object
to provide a construction whereby the individual units, of which the case is com-
posed, may be readily assembled in any desired number, so as to increase the
dimensions of the book or other case, either vertically, horizontally or in both
directions, the construction being such that the several units will be firmly
held in place when united, but may be readily separated when desired. Further
objects of the invention are to provide a simple, strong and durable construction
for the individual units, to so construct and locate the connecting devices
between the ends of the units that all projecting parts which might tend to
engage with and damage clothing or other articles will be dispensed with, to
provide a simple and efficient manner of mounting and guiding the door of
the unit or section, to facilitate its removal for shipping or other purposes and
its placing in position for use, and to exclude dust from the interior of the case.
To these and other ends our invention consists in certain novel features which
we will now proceed to describe and illustrate in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a book case embodying our invention, the
same being shown as composed of four units;
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same;
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, on line 3-3 of Figure 1.
°
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inner surface of one end of one of the
units or sections and the adjacent portions of the back and bottom;
Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section through one of the
units and the lower portion of the superposed unit;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the meeting portions of two units of the same
horizontal tier;
Figure 7 is a detail view of a portion of Figure 5, illustrating a dust excluding
device;
Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the meeting ends of two adjacent sections
or units of the same tier;
Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view, in elevation from the inside of the section,
of one portion of the fastening or connecting device for the ends of the sections;
Figure 10 is a similar view of the other portion of the fastening or connecting
device;
Figure 11 is a plan section through the parts shown in Figures 9 and 10
when united;

page_text: igure 12 is a view, similar to Figure 11, illustrating a modified form of
fastening or connecting device;
Figure 13 is an edge view of the upper or rear corner of the door;
Figure 14 is a sectional view on line 14-14 of Figure 13, a portion of the
adjacent end wall being also shown in section; and
Figure 15 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Figure 13.
Referring to the drawings, we will first describe the construction of an
individual section or unit of a case embodying our invention, and will then
proceed to set forth the manner in which said sections or units are assembled
to form a case.
In said drawings, 1 indicates the bottom of the section, which is preferably
formed of a single piece of considerable thickness, although it may be built up
of several pieces so as to form in effect a single piece. The upper front edge of
this bottom piece is cut away or rebated to form a shoulder, as indicated at 2,
Figure 5 while in its under side are formed two or more longitudinal grooves
or recesses, two being shown in the present instance and indicated at 3 and 4.
In the particular construction shown, the groove 4, which is at the rear portion
of the bottom 1, is partly formed by rebating the rear lower edge of the bottom,
being completed by the back of the section in the manner hereinafter set forth.
There is also provided in the under face of the bottom 1, near the front edge
thereof, a longitudinal groove 5, which is preferably rounded at the junction of
its top wall with its front and rear walls, as clearly shown in Figures 5 and 7.
The back of the section is indicated at 6, its lower edge being flush with the
lower surface of the bottom 1, so that its inner face forms the rear wall of the
groove 4, and the lower inner wall of said back piece is rebated or cut away, as
indicated at 7, while its upper inner edge is provided with a longitudinal pro-
jection 8, adapted to fit the rebate 7 of the section above it. The ends of the
section are indicated at 9 and have their lower edges flush with the lower surface
of the bottom 1, while their rear portions are suitably joined to the back 6.
The upper edges of the ends 9 are connected by longitudinally extending strips
or slabs 10 Figure 6 corresponding in number and size with the grooves 3 and 4
of the bottom, so that when one section is superposed upon another, said slabs
will enter said grooves, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the drawings, and
will prevent any displacement of the two sections relatively to each other in a
forward or rearward direction. The projection or tongue 8 fitting within the
rebate 7 serves to form a more efficient and dust tight joint at the rear of the
case. In the inner face of each end piece 9 there is formed a groove 11, Figures 3
and 4 which extends from the rear of the section to a point near the front, where
it terminates in a stop shoulder 12, said grooves being located a short distance
below the upper edge of the end pieces, as clearly shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5
of the drawings. There is also provided on the inner face of each end piece 9
a vertical strip 13, which has its front face flush with the vertical face of the
shoulder 2, and said strip extends from the level of the upper surface of the
bottom 1 to the lower margin of the groove 11, where it terminates a short distance
in the rear of the front end of said groove. The rear wall of the strip 13
is bevelled off, as shown at 14. The inner faces of the end pieces are flush,
except for the grooves 11 and strips 13.
These grooves and strips serve to guide and support the door 15, which is of
a length equal to the distance between the inner faces of the end pieces 9, and
of a height slightly greater than that from the base of the shoulder 2 to the
top of the section. The upper edge of the door extends therefore into the
groove 5 of the superadjacent section when the units are assembled, as indicated
in Figures 3 and of the drawings. The edge of the door 15, which lies at the
upper front portion thereof when the door is closed, is rounded off as indicated
at 16, to conform, to the rounding of the wall of the groove 5. The door is pro-
vided at each side with a pintle 17 to engage the corresponding groove 11, and
said pintles are longitudinally movable relatively to the door to permit their

page_text: disengagement from said grooves. We prefer to mount these pintles in the
manner shown in detail in Figures 13, 14 and 15 of the drawings, in which
the door 15 is shown provided with a recess 18, covered by a plate 19, having a
flange 20 flush with the edge of the door and apertured, as shown at 21, for the
passage of the pintle 17. The plate 19 is also provided with a longitudinal slot 22
and the pintle 17 is provided with a projecting arm 23 extending through said
slot, and by means of which said pintle may be operated. A tension spring 24
is secured to the inner face of the plate 19, its free end bearing upon the pintle 17
in such a manner as to hold said pintle firmly in any position to which it may be
adjusted. The thickness of the door is slightly less than the distance between
the upper end of the strips 13 and the upper edge of the end pieces 9, and the
construction is such that when the pintles 17 are extended into the grooves 11
they will form not only guides and supports for the upper or rear nortion of
the door, but also hinge pintles, upon which the door may turn when it is drawn
forward until said pintles are brought to the front end of the grooves 11. For
instance, when the door is in the position shown in Figure 5, the lower edge
may be moved outward by means of suitable handles 25 provided for that purpose.
the door turning upon the pintles 17 and against the stop shoulders 12 until
the door is in a horizontal position, whereupon it may be moved rearward, the
pintles travelling in the grooves 11 and thus supporting the rear portion of the
door, while the remaining portion is supported upon the upper ends of the strips 13,
and the door is thus prevented from tilting or turning upon the pintles 17.
The lateral edges of the door, bearing against the inner faces of the
end nieces 9, are guided thereby. A reversal of this movement, until the
pintles 17 come into contact with the stop shoulders 12, carries the door clear of
the strips 13, whereupon it may be swung down into the position shown in
Figuro 5, the groove 5 of the superposed section permitting this swinging of the
door. When the door is swung down into the position shown in Figure 5, its
inner edge bears at the sides against the outer vertical faces of the strips 13,
while its lower inner edge bears against the shoulder 2 and thus makes these
joints dust tight. We prefer to make provision for the exclusion of dust at
the upper edge of the door when closed by providing the groove 5 with a lining
of felt, or similar soft material, as indicated at 26, against which lining the.
rounded edge 16 of the door will bear when said door is closed. This lining
forms a cushion for the edge of the door, and while we have shown it as applied
to the whole of the grooves in Figure 7 of the drawings, so much thereof as
covers the rear portion of the groove may be dispensed with, only the front
portion of the groove being cushioned, as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings.
Each section is provided at the front and rear margins of the outer faces of
its end portions 9 with vertical strips 27, which abut against the corresponding
strips of the laterally adjacent sections when assembled in horizontal tiers, as
clearly indicated in Figures 6 and 8 of the drawings. This construction gives
the several sections a firm, extended and even bearing against each other, both
at the front and rear margins of their ends. Each section is provided at its
ends with apertures 28 and 29, formed through its end pieces 9, preferably near
the bottom thereof, and of sufficient size to permit the insertion of the fingers.
These apertures are closed by plates 30 and 31 Figures 9 and 10, respectively,
said plates being secured to the outer faces of the ends 9 of the section by
screws 32 Figure 11 or in any other suitable manner. The plate 30 is provided
with a central aperture 33, and the plate 31 is provided with a corresponding
central aperture 34. On the inner face of the plate 31 is provided a bridge
piece 35, located within the aperture or recess 29 and having a central aperture 36
in line with the aperture 34. A clamping lever 37 is pivoted to one arm of the
bridge piece 35, as indicated at 38, and is provided with an aperture 39 slightly
5 larger than the aperture 34 and 36. Said clamping lever is provided with an
operating stem or handle 40, which extends through a slot 41 in the bridge 35,
and a spring 42 secured to the bridge piece bears with its free end against the

page_text: free end of the clamping lever 37, said spring being provided with a large aper-
ture 43 for the unobstructed passage of the connecting pin or bolt hereinafter
described. All these parts lie entirely within the thickness of the end piece 9,
so that they do not project into the interior of the section. The connecting pin
or bolt is indicated at 44 and is provided with a head 45, by means of which it
may be grasped. Said pin or bolt passes somewhat loosely through the aper-
ture 33 in the plate 30 and more snugly through the apertures 34 in the plate 31
and 36 in the bridge piece 35. The aperture 39 in the clamping lever 37 is
of such dimensions that, when said lever is at or near a position at right angles
to the pin or bolt 44, said pin or bolt is clear from contact with its walls, but
when said clamping lever is inclined to a sufficient extent, as for instance, as
indicated in Figure 11 of the drawings, the margins of the aperture 39 will
bear upon the pin or bolt in such a manner that, while it permits said pin or
bolt to be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in said figure, it will
prevent its movement in the opposite direction. This is due to the fact that
movement in the direction of the arrow tends to move the clamping lever in such
a way as to free the pin or bolt from the binding action of the walls of the aperture
therein, while movement in the opposite direction tends to cause the margins of
said aperture to bite said pin or bolt and thereby prevents its withdrawal. The
spring 42 serves to always hold said clamping lever in operative position to
prevent withdrawal of the pin or bolt, except when said clamping lever is moved
against the action of said spring by pressure of the finger upon the stem or
handle 40.
It will be understood that, in assembling the sections or units together horizon-
tally, they are brought into position so that their end strips 27 abut against
each other, and the aperture 33 of the plate 30 of one section is opposite the
aperture 34 of the plate 31 of the adjacent section. All that is necessary to
firmly unite the sections is to insert the pin or bolt 44 through the apertures 33
and 34 in the plates and through the apertures 39 in the clamping lever 37,
which will freely permit the passage of said bolt in the manner just described.
When the head 45 of the pin or bolt bears against the inner side of the plate 30,
the two sections are firmly locked together, since any attempt to separate them
will cause the clamping lever 37 to bite upon the pin or bolt 44 and prevent
such separation. The sections may, however, be readily separated by inserting
the finger into the recess 29 and pressing upon the stem or handle 40, whereupon
the pin or bolt is released and may be withdrawn by means of its head 45.
will be observed that the pin or bolt is of such length that, when inserted in
position to unite the parts, neither it nor any of its associated mechanism pro-
jects beyond the inner faces of the end pieces, so that the interior of the
sections are entirely unobstructed. At the same time all external projections on
the ends of the cases are done away with, and all danger of injury to garments
or the person by becoming entangled with or striking against said projections is
done away with.
It
The units constructed in the manner described may be assembled together,
either in vertical or horizontal rows, or in both, so as to constitute a book or
other case of any desired capacity, which may be increased or diminished at will
by the removal or addition of other sections or units. With regard to the units
constituting the vertical rows, the engagement of the slats 10 with the grooves 3
and 4 prevents relative motion of the sections or units in a direction forward or
back in a horizontal plane, while endwise movement in this plane is prevented
by the contact of the lower portion of the end pieces 9 with the ends of said
slats 10. At the same time, the sections may be separated by simply lifting
the upper section vertically from the section below it. With regard to the
sections in the same horizontal row, they may be united by simply bringing their
ends together until the strips 27 abut, whereupon the locking pin or bolt 44
may be inserted in the manner herein before described and will lock the sections
together so that they will be held firmly in place. The sections may be

page_text: separated horizontally by inserting the hands within the adjacent sections,
releasing the clamping lever 37 with one hand, and withdrawing the locking
pin or bolt 44 with the other. It will be observed that the devices for con-
necting the sections at their ends do not project into the interior of the sections
when in position, and when the sections are separated they do not project exter-
nally in such a manner as to cause damage. The bevelling of the rear edges of
the strips 13, as shown at 14 Figure 6, prevents injury to the books or other
articles in inserting and withdrawing the same, and facilitates their removal by
preventing their catching on said strips. The construction is such, owing to
the provision of dust tight joints at the back of the sections and between the
door and the front of the sections to which it is applied, as well as the lower
portion of the section above it, that the contents of each section is effectually
protected from the entry of dust or dirt. The mounting of the door is such as
to provide at a comparatively small cost an efficient guiding and supporting
means therefor, and by reason of the retractible pintles, the door may be readily
disengaged for shipment or inspection and as readily replaced in position for
It will be understood, of course, that in order to complete the case a top 46
is employed, grooved and recessed on its under side to fit the upper portion of
the section below it, and finished above in any suitable manner, as indicatel
in Figures 12 and 3.
use.
We do not wish to be understood as limiting our invention in its application
to book cases only, as it is obvious that a similar construction may be applied
to cases and cabinets of various kinds, as, for instance, either cabinets or in-
dividual units, such as commercial filing cabinets or units, consisting of letter,
catalogue, card index or check files pigeon hole cases, document files and various
other devices of office equipment. Furthermore, we do not wish to be under-
stood as limiting ourselves to the precise details of construction hereinbefore
set forth, as said details may be varied without departing from the principle of
our invention. For instance, the particular form of connecting device between
the ends of the sections may be varied, and in Figure 12 of the drawings we
have shown a modification, in which plates 47 and 48 are employed, corre-
sponding to the plates 30 and 31, the plate 48 being, however, centrally enlarged
and threaded, as shown at 49, while a bolt or pin 50, corresponding with the
bolt or pin 44 and having a head 51, corresponding to the head 45 is employed,
said bolt or pin being threaded to screw into the threaded aperture of the plate 48.
It will be observed however, that in this case as in the case of the construction
shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, the fastening device are entirely protected and
concealed within recesses in the ends of the sections, so as to not project into
the interior of the same, and so that, when the sections are separted, there are
no external projections. Some of the features specified may be omitted from
the completed case without departing from our invention, and we therefore do
not limit ourselves to the precise construction set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is: -
1. A book or other case, composed of superposed sections or units, each having
a bottom composed of a single piece or of several pieces forming in effect a
single piece, said bottom being provided with longitudinal grooves or recesses,
and a top consisting of corresponding longitudinal strips or slats to fit said
recesses. substantially as described.
2. A book or other case, composed of a plurality of superposed sections or units,
each provided with a bottom composed of a single piece or of several pieces
forming in effect a single piece, said bottom having longitudinal recesses or
grooves, and pieces which extend flush with the under surface of the bottom,
and a top composed of longitudinal strips or slats to fit said grooves and abut
against the end pieces substantially as described.

page_text: 3. A book or other case, composed of a plurality of superposed sections or
units, the back of each section being rebated or shouldered at its lower inner
edge and provided with a corresponding rib or projection at its upper inner edge,
substantially as described.
4. A book or other case, composed of a plurality of superposed sections or
units, each provided with a sliding pivoted door, the bottom of each section
being grooved or recessed near its front end to receive the projecting upper end
of the door, and provided with a cushion of felt, or the like, against which said
door bears when closed, substantially as described.
5. A section or unit for book and other cases, the end pieces whereof have
flush inner faces grooved near their upper edges, and having vertical strips
extending downward from the grooves near the front ends thereof, in com-
bination with a door having projections to fit said grooves, substantially as
described.
6. A section or unit for book or other cases, the end pieces whereof are
grooved from the rear to a point near the front, below their upper. edges, in
combination with a door having adjustable pintles, which may be projected
to engage said grooves, and means for supporting the front or lower portion
of the door, substantially as described.
7. A section or unit for book or other cases, the ends whereof are grooved from
the rear to a point near the front, below their upper edges, and provided with
vertical strips extending downward from said grooves near the front thereof, in
combination with a door having adjustable pintles, which may be projected to
engage said grooves, substantially as described.
8. In a section or unit for book or other cases, the combination, with the
grooved end pieces, of a door having recesses near its marginal edges, apertured
and slotted plates for said recesses, a pintle mounted in each recess and extending
through the aperture thereof and having an operating arm extending through the
slot thereof, and a tension spring bearing on each pintle to hold the same in
position when adjusted, substantially as described.
9. In a sectional book or other case, the combination with the meeting ends
of two sections or units, provided externally with vertical strips at both front
and rear, of connecting devices located intermediate said strips for holding
the sections together end to end, with the strips of one section abutting against
those of the other, substantially as described.
10. In a sectional book or other case, the combination with the meeting ends
of two sections or units havin recesses extending from the interior to the
exterior, and apertured plates for closing said recesses, of a connecting bolt or
pin adapted to engage said plates and having its ends located in the recesses
without projecting beyond the inner faces of the sections, substantially as
described.
11. In a sectional book or other case, the combination with the meeting ends
of two sections or units having opposite recesses extending from the interior
to the exterior, and apertured plates closing the exterior of said recesses, one
of said plates being provided with a bridge piece and with a clamping lever
pivotally connected therewith, of a locking pin or bolt adapted to extend through
said apertures and be engaged by said clamping lever, substantially as described.
12. In a sectional book or other case, the combination, with the meeting ends
of two sections or units, recessed as described and provided with apertured closing
plates, of a bridge piece mounted on one of said plates within the recess. an
apertured clamping lever pivotally connected to said bridge piece and provided
with an operating stem or handle and a spring for holding said clamping lever
in an oblique position, and a connecting bolt or pin having a body adapted to
extend through said apertures and engage the clamping lever, and a head to
bear against the inner face of the other plate, substantially as described.
13. In a sectional book or other case, the combination, with the meeting ends
of two sections or units having recesses closed by apertured plates, of a remov-

page_text: able connecting bolt or pin provided with a head to engage the inner face of one
of said plates, the other of said plates being provided with means for engaging
the body of said bolt or pin, when inserted, substantially as described.
14. A section or unit for book or other cases, provided with grooved end
pieces, and a door having projections to engage said groove, in combination
with vertical strips secured to the inner faces of the end pieces, and extending
from said grooves to the bottom of the section or unit, said strips having their rear
portions, bevelled, substantially as described.
13
101
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.