Improvements in Adjustable Shelves for Holding Books, Periodicals, and other Articles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Shelves for Holding Books, Periodicals,
and other Articles.
I, ARTHUR WRENN LAMBERT, Norma House, South Norwood, London, S.E.,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved means of storing books,
periodicals, pamphlets, and other articles, whereby the ready adjustability of the
parts is secured, in such a manner that economy of space is attained, together
with the portability of the shelves and their contents. The uprights which carry
the shelves by the means hereafter indicated, are stanchions of suitable construction,
and are made of suitable substance, preferably of iron or steel. As a means of
supporting the shelves at any desired height I make use of an adjustable bearer or
support, preferably combined with a stanchion or stanchions-but I may so combine
this support with the shelf in such a way that it will disengage itself, or be
disengaged from the stanchion or stanchions when said shelf is removed from the
stack. To form these supports I provide arms of suitable substance, such as
malleable iron, which may be applied to the stanchions in ways hereafter indicated,
and which are formed about their inner extremities in a suitable manner, as with
a projection or projections, in order to effect the purposes hereafter set forth. A
force applied to the outer extremities of these arms, such as that caused by the
weight of the shelf, is utilized for the purpose of holding the arms secure with
relation to the stanchions, at any height at which they may be placed. These
arms may be caused to perform their function by means of said projection or
projections jamming in suitably formed grooves, slots, or the like, formed from end
to end in the stanchions; or by said projections gripping suitably formed ridges,
flanges, ribs, or the like, formed from end to end on the stanchions. I provide
suitable means whereby the weight to be carried is transferred to the outer
extremities of these arms so as to secure their efficient working. I prefer to so
govern these arms by means of springs, or their equivalent, that said arms may be
kept normally at their duty, even when no weight is applied. I so construct these
adjustable shelf supports that they may easily be altered in height by hand. Those
surfaces of the arms, and those of the stanchions which operate together are
preferably made of an even surface; but, in cases where necessary, as where great
jarring of the apparatus is likely to interfere with its proper action, these surfaces
may be formed with small corrugations, which interengage the said parts, and assist
their action, but which, nevertheless, but slightly detract from the absolute
adjustability in height. Further, should it be desired to guard against extraordinary
conditions likely to interfere with the arms in performing their proper function, as
against meddlesome people, for instance, I may fix the sliding parts, after their
adjustment, in relation to the stanchions by means of screws, cams, or other efficient
devices, which may be operated by a private key.
I may make use of many forms of shelves which may be supported by these
sliding shelf supports; but the form I prefer to employ, and which I desire shall
form part of this Patent, I now proceed to describe. I may use wood, metal, or
other suitable substance for my shelves. In the case of a wooden shelf, I affix by
means of screws, tacks, or in other suitable manner, to the front and back edges of
the shelf, a piece or pieces of metal, bent in such a way as to form a channel or
groove along the length of the shelf, preferably of rectangular or oval section, and

page_text: .
open froin end to end. I employ one, two, or more sliding uprights, formed with
feet so constructed as to slide freely within the above grooves or channels. The
pressure of the contents of the shelf when brought to bear against the upright, as
when this is slid along the shelf to press the contents, causes said feet to jam within
said channels, and so hold fast the upright or uprights in or about the vertical
position. In some cases I find it convenient to construct the shelves wholly of
metal; that is to say, the base is formed from sheet metal having the edges of
both sides so bent as to form grooves open from end to end. The uprights and
their feet are preferably stamped out of one piece of metal; if more convenient,
however, these feet may be of separate pieces, attached by brazing, riveting, or the
like. The sliding and jamming of these uprights in any position along the shelf is
the same as last described. In the case of a wide shelf I may form one or more
grooves along the length of the shelf. When the shelf is not of metal I preferably
line the groove or grooves with metal to take wear. The office of such groove or
grooves is to take a foot formed on the upright for the purpose of steadying the
same. Such a foot may be supplied with a roller or rollers to further ease the
adjustability of large uprights with heavy contents to support.
In shelving it is sometimes desirable to apply labels, say for the purpose of
designating the contained books or other articles. I provide labels which may
readily be applied to my shelves on their edges; to be adjustable along the length
of the shelf, but which are not easily detached by accident or design. They are of
suitable substance, preferably sheet metal, and are so formed as to embrace those
parts of the shelves forming the grooves on the edges. In shelving in some
instances it is not convenient to run up the entire height of a stack of shelves at the
outset. I propose, therefore, to construct the stanchions and other parts of the
stack so that it may be built up in sections, still allowing of the same methods of
adjustment of shelving in height past the several joints necessitated by such a
construction. For appearance sake I may cover the stanchions, or add panelling,
or otherwise ornament these stacks.
Dated this 16th day of August 1894.
Improvements in Adjustable Shelves for Holding Books, Periodicals,
and other Articles.
I, ARTHUR WRENN LAMBERT, of Norma House, South Norwood, London,
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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved means of storing books,
periodicals, pamphlets, and other articles, whereby the ready adjustability of the
parts is secured in such a manner that economy of space is attained together with
the portability of the shelves and their contents.
In order to carry out this my invention I provide uprights which carry the
shelves by the means hereafter indicated, which uprights are stanchions of
suitable construction, and are made of suitable substance preferably of iron or
steel.
As a means of supporting the shelves at ary desired height I make use of an
adjustable learer or support, preferably combined with a stanchion or stanchions,
but I may so combine this support with the shelf, and in such a way that it will
disengage itself or be disengaged from the stanchion or stanchions when said shelf
is removed from the stack.
To form these supports I provide arms of suitable substance such as malleable

page_text: iron, which may be applied to the stanchions in ways hereafter indicated, and which
have at their inner extremities a projection or projections for the purposes to be
hereafter set forth.
A force applied to the outer extremities of these arms, such as that caused by the
weight of the shelf, is utilised for the purpose of holding the arms secure with
relation to the stanchions at any height at which they may be placed.
These arms may be caused to act by means of said projection or projections
jamming in suitably formed grooves, slots, or the like, formed from end to end in
the stanchions, or by said projections gripping suitably formed ridges, flanges, ribs,
or the like also formed from end to end on the stanchions.
I provide suitable means whereby the weight to be carried is transferred to the
outer extremities of these arms, so as to secure their efficient working. I prefer to
govern these arms by means of springs or other equivalent, so that said arms may
be kept normally at their duty, even when no weight is applied. I construct these
adjustable shelf supports so that they may be easily altered in height by hand or
any other convenient means. The surfaces of the arms, and those of the stanchions
which operate together are preferably made of an even surface, but in cases where
necessary, as for instance, where great jarring of the apparatus may interfere with
its proper action, the surface may be provided with small corrugations or other like
means, which interengage the said parts and assist in their action. Also should it
be desirable to guard against any other conditions that may interfere with the
proper action of the arms, as for instance the interference of meddlesome persons,
I may fix the sliding parts after their adjustment by means of screws, cams, or
other efficient devices, which may be operated by a private key. I may make use of
many forms of shelves, which may be held in position by these sliding shelf supports,
but I prefer to use the form hereinafter described, and which I desire to claim in
this Patent. I may use wood, metal, or other suitable substance for my shelves.
In the case of wood shelves 1 fix by means of screws, tacks or other suitable
methods to the front and back edges of said shelf or shelves, a piece or pieces of
metal bent in such a way as to form a channel or groove along the length of said
shelf, preferably rectangular or oval in section, and open froin end to end. I use
one, two, or more sliding uprights, having feet so constructed as to slide freely
within the above grooves or channels, The pressure of the contents of the shelf
when brought to bear against the upper portion of the said sliding upright as when
it is moved along the shelf to press the contents, causes said feet to jam within
said channels, and so hold fast the upright or uprights in or about the vertical
position. In some cases I find it convenient to construct the shelves wholly of
metal, that is to say, the base is formed from sheet metal having the edges of both
sides so bent as to form grooves open from end to end. The uprights and their
feet are preferably stamped out of one piece of metal, but if more convenient the
feet may be formed of separate pieces attached by brazing, rivetting or other
convenient means, the sliding and jamming of the uprights in any position along the
shelf being the same in all cases. In the case of a wide shelf I may provide one or
more grooves along the length of a shelf, and when the shelf is not made of metal
I prefer to line the groove or grooves with metal in order to take the wear.
The object of such groove or grooves is to take the feet formed on the uprights for
the purpose of steadying the same in the manner described. These feet may be
supplied with rollers to further ease tbe adjustability of large uprights, with
heavy contents to support. It is sometimes desirable to apply labels to the
shelves for the purpose of designating the contained books or other articles.
I provide labels which may be readily applied to my improved shelves on their edges,
and which are adjustable along the length of the shelf, but which are not easily
detached by accident or design, said labels being of suitable substance, preferably
of sheet metal, and are so made as to embrace those parts of the shelves forming
grooves on the edges.
In a stack of shelves it is sometimes not convenient to run up the entire height
of the stack at the outset. I therefore construct the stanchions, and other parts

page_text: of the stack, so that it may be built up in sections if required, still allowing for the
same method of adjustment of the shelves in height, to pass the several joints
necessitated by such a construction.
For the sake of appearance I may cover the stanchions, or add panelling or other-
wise rnament these stacks. I do not confine myself to any one means of
supporting the shelves as the weight may be applied to the arms or brackets by the
shelf or weight resting upon or hanging from the outer ends of said arms.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of one form of upright or stanchion and adjustable
support and frame. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a plan of an upright or stanchion having rectangular grooves.
Fig. 4 shows one of the supporting arms. Fig. 5 being an elevation of another
modification of supporting arms.
Fig. 6 represents an elevation of a variation in supporting arms, by means of
which the arms may be locked by a key. Fig. 7 showing the arrangement of the
arms and supports with the casing removed.
Fig. 8 represents a modification as applied to stanchions or uprights for
single or double shelving that is to say, either having shelves on both sides of the
stanchions, or where the stanchions are required to be at one end of the adjustable
supports.
Fig. 9 is a modification of the arms as applied to stanchions of an oval or circular
groove. Fig. 10 is a plan of the same.
Figs. 11 and 12 are elevation and plan respectively of a further modification of
arms as applied to the outside of round stanchions.
Fig. 13 illustrates a method, having arms, with small plates or lugs cut out of
the metal bracket, and gripping the hollow stanchions or uprights, Fig. 14 being a
plan of the same.
Fig. 15 is an elevation, and Fig. 16 is a plan of an adjustable bracket and shelf
combined, which can be easily detached from the stanchions and removed with the
shelf attached. Fig. 17 being an end view.
Figs. 18 and 19 are plan and elevation respectively of the invention as applied to
angle iron stanchions.
Fig. 20 is an elevation of the labels herein before mentioned. Fig. 21 being a
section of the label as applied to the front of metal shelves, Fig. 22 as applied to
the fronts of wood shelves.
Fig. 23 represents a side elevation of the sliding uprights for supporting the
contents of the shelves and keeping them in a vertical position. Fig. 24 is a plan
of the same.
Fig. 25 is a cross section of a sliding upright as applied to metal shelves, and
Fig. 26 as applied to wood shelves.
Fig. 27 shows the middle groove and roller for steadying the uprights shown in
plan at Fig. 28.
Fig. 29 is another section of groove, of an oval or round form as applied to metal
shelves.
The same letters refer to the same parts in the several views. A is the stanchion
or upright for carrying the shelf B, shown in sectional plan in Fig. 3.
Care pro-
jections or ribs on the face of the stanchions, the surface of which may be smooth
or corrugated as shown at D. E is the frame supporting the shelf B.
Inside the
flanges of this frame E are the arms F, F, having at their inner ends shaped pieces
of metal F, so formed as that when the arms are pressed down at their outer ends
the pieces of metal are jammed between the surfaces G, G, of the ribs C, C, on the
stanchions. The outer ends of these arms have a projecting lug H, H. A flat
spring His placed on the pair of arms, dropping into grooves at or near the shaped
pieces on the inner end of each arm, the outer ends of this spring bearing upon the
lug H, of each arm. This flat spring is slightly bent to get it into position, but
when left free tends to assume a straight condition, thereby causing the shaped

page_text: Pieces F. F¹ to grip the ribs C, C, on the stanchions. The upper flange of the
frame E has a projecting lug J, J, at each end, which when any weight is applied,
bears upon the ends of the arms F, F, and brings the shaped pieces into gripping
action.
By slightly bending the spring it is obvious that the arms and supports are
disengaged from the stanchions.
Fig. 6 shows a modification of the arms arranged so as to be locked rigidly in
position, whereby the arms may be rendered safe from interference, Fig. 7 showing
the detail of the arms. In this arrangement the square lugs K, K, K, K, are pro-
vided to grip the ribs of the stanchions, said lugs being brought into action by
pressure on the outer ends of the arms L, L, in the same manner as hereinbefore
described.
Each arm has a bent continuation arm at its inner end, one of which has a boss M,
at its extremity, while the other arm is provided with a set screw N, having a
square or other shaped head, which bears against the boss M. When the set screw
is turned by the key O, the arms at M, and N, have a divergent motion, which
causes the lugs K, K, K, K, to firmly and rigidly grip the ribs G on the
stanchion, and thus the supports are held firmly in position, and cannot be
moved.
Fig. 8 shows a modification of this invention as applied to double shelves, or
where the stanchions are at one end of the supports, P, being a bracket frame with
a flange Q, at its bottom end for carrying the shelf B.
Fig. 9 represents a further modification of the same as applied to stanchions
having a hollow rib R in place of the flanged ribs C, C, Fig. 10 being a plan.
Figs. 11 and 12 represent elevation and plan respectively of a variation of round
stanchions S, in which the arms have a sleeve T, sliding on the round bar, which
grips the bar when weight or pressure is applied either by resting upon or by
hanging from the outer end of the arm U Fig. 13 is an elevation of the
modification herein before mentioned, in which the gripping lugs V₁ are cut out of
the metal forming the bracket V, as shown in the plan at Fig. 14. W, is a spring
which serves to keep the bracket and lugs slightly bearing against the special
shaped stanchion X. Figs. 18 and 19 are elevation and plan respectively of the
modifications set forth and illustrated by Figs. 13 and 14, but applied to angle
framed stanchions. In Fig. 15 is shown an elevation of an adjustable support
adapted to be fixed to metal or other shelves to permit said shelves being withdrawn
from the stanchion supports, without the necessity of previously removing the books
or contents of the shelf. In this case the supporting trame E, is rivetted or other-
wise fixed to the shelf B, by rivets, pins, or other means Y, Y, which slide in
slots Z, Z, thus allowing the adjustable support a slight lateral movement, and
permitting it and the lugs F', F1, to be withdrawn and disengaged from the
stanchion. Fig. 16 is a plan showing the lugs so disengaged, and Fig. 17 is a side
elevation of the same in the same manner. Fig. 17 showing the lugs as fitted into
the stanchions.
Fig. 20 is an elevation of the improved label herein before mentioned, the same
being shown in section at Fig. 21, as applied to metal shelves, and Fig. 22 as applied
to wood shelves. In these views the label is provided with flanges shown at a a aa,
which embrace the edges of the shelf, but which can be detached by sliding said
label along to either end of the shelf.
Fig. 23 is an elevation of a sliding upright or shelf bracket as applied to metal
shelves. b is the bracket formed of metal plate, and shown in side elevation in
Figs. 25, 26 and 27. care small flanged projections provided on the face of the
metal plate, for lifting the bracket and shelf by hand. d d are lugs provided at
the bottom of the bracket, which slide along the grooves e cee of the shelf and
which grip said grooves, when any pressure such as the weight or force of books
is exerted against the inner surfaces of the bracket, and thus holds the bracket
firmly in place. Various modifications of these said lugs are shown in Fig. 25 as

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applied to rectangular grooves in metal shelves ff in Fig. 26 as applied to wood
shelves g, and in Fig. 27 in metal grooves fixed to wood shelves as shown at h h.
In Figs. 27 and 28 are also shown in elevation and plan respectively the
roller j and groove & in the middle part of the shelf for steadying the brackets in the
case of wide shelves. Fig. 29 is a section of another form of groove for receiving
the lugs d, as applied to metal shelves, it being understood that these grooves may
be of any convenient shape or section.
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. The provision of upright stanchions having adjustable sliding supports for
shelves, which said sliding supports may be disengaged from and free to slide up or
down the stanchions substantially as set forth and herein described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
2. The provision of upright stanchions having adjustable sliding supports for
shelves, which said sliding supports may be disengaged and free to move up and
down the stanchions when so required, but which can be locked rigidly in position
by means of a key to prevent any undue interference, substantially as set forth and
herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. The provision of sliding uprights, or shelf brackets having feet constructed to
slide freely within grooves formed of metal or otherwise along the length of the
shelves, which feet are caused to jam in the said grooves when the contents of
the shelves press against the sides of the uprights, for the purpose of keeping said
contents in position, substantially as set forth and herein described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
4. The provision of a label of special shape, formed so as to slide on to the edge
of shelves, substantially as set forth and herein described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
5. The combination of upright stanchions having adjustable sliding supports for
shelves, which said supports may be disengaged and free to slide up or down the
stanchions, said supports being provided with or without a key and locking arrange-
ment of sliding uprights or shelf brackets having feet sliding within grooves
forined of metal or otherwise along the length of the shelves, which feet are caused
to jam in said grooves when the contents of the shelves press against the side of the
uprights, whereby the contents of the shelves are kept in or about a vertical
position, together with specially formed labels, substantially as set forth and herein
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
6. The application of these improvements to any form of shelves or other similar
appliance, substantially as set forth and herein described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated the 15th day of May 1805
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.