Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1887
Complete Left, 8th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 9th Mar., 1888
I, WILLIAM GEORGE GODDARD of Albion House, Peacock Street Norwich,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to Blackboards and similar articles, and has for its object to
provide means for covering the front or back or both sides of the blackboard, slate, or
other similar article, so as to cover over, conceal, or render invisible whatever may be
written thereon.
To carry my invention into effect I provide a blackboard as used in schools and
lecture rooms, slate, canvas stretcher or other suitable material, and to this fit or
arrange a blind or covering of any convenient form or material, which can be drawn
over the front of the board and if necessary may be provided with lock and key or
other kind of attachment or fastening.
I may also fit this covering so that as it covers the front portion of the board, it will
uncover the back or vice versa.
The blind or covering may be worked by means of a spring roller at the top as
used for maps, by a key actuating suitable gearing to effect this object or by a cord
such as is usually attached to Roller Blinds for windows or any other convenient
method of raising and lowering the same.
It is obvious that my invention is capable of considerable modification such as the
substitution of doors, panels, or shutters for the before mentioned blind or covering,
or by constructing the covering or blind of strips of metal or wood, but the essence
of my invention consists in the employment of means for covering a blackboard so as
to cover over, conceal, or render invisible whatever may be written or printed
thereon.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Black-boards or similar Articles.
I WILLIAM GEORGE GODDARD of Albion House, Peacock Street, Norwich,
Gentleman 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 Blackboards and similar articles and has for its object to
provide means for covering the front or back or both back and front of the Black-
board slate or other similar article so as to cover over conceal or render invisible
whatever may be written thereon.
To carry my Invention into effect I provide a Blackboard as used in Schools, and
Lecture Rooms, Slate, Canvas Stretcher or other suitable article, and to this fit or
arrange a blind or covering of any convenient form or material which can be drawn
over the front of the Board and if necessary may be provided with a lock and key or
other kind of attachment or fastening. I may also fit this covering so that as it
covers the front portion of the board it will uncover the back or vice versa. And in
order that my invention may be fully understood I will proceed to describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar figures indicate
corresponding parts.
Fig. 1. is a front elevation partly in section; and Figs. 2. & 3 are enlarged
perspective views shewing details of construction.
The Black-board, Slate or other similar article A is provided with projections B B
which form bearings for a roller C. C which runs along the bottom of the board.
The axis of the said roller C. C. terminates in a boss D, by means of which the
roller can be rotated either by a handle M, as shewn in Fig. 1 or in any other
convenient manner. Two cords F. F. and G. G. pass over the roller C. C. and also
over the grooved pullies E. E¹. To these cords the blind or covering is attached and
as the roller is rotated by turning the handle M shewn in Fig. I in the opposite
direction to the hands of a watch, the cords run from the pullies, down the front of
the board, round the roller and up the back of the board carrying the blind L with
them until it reaches the back of the Pullies E. E¹¹ when the roller must be rotated
in the opposite direction, or the handle can be shifted to the other. end of the roller if
convenient.
The grooved pullies E. E¹ run upon the endless screws H. H¹ which are actuated
by the milled heads K. K¹ and can be raised or lowered according as the cord is
required to be tightened or slackened. The endless screws H. H¹ are fitted in
projections on the Board.
Part of the frame of the board is cut away and put on hinges and provided with a
lock and key so as to form a lock-up receptacle for the roller C. C.
It is obvious that my invention is capable of considerable modification such as the
substitution of doors, panels, or shutters for the before mentioned blind or covering
or by constructing the covering or blind of strips of metal or wood, but the essence.

page_text: of my invention consists in the employment of means for covering a Black-board so
as to cover over, conceal, or render invisible whatever may be printed or written
thereon.
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
The construction of a Blackboard Slate, or other similar article, provided with a
blind or covering actuated by a roller fitted with a lock and key substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.