Domestic Use.
Year: 1887

page_text: Domestic Use.
I, FREDERIC STUART WEATHERLEY of the Bank of Montreal Quebec in the
Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, 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 a new and Improved Convertible Stand, of which the
following is a full, clear, and exact description.
My invention also relates to the construction of a device which, while of simple
and cheap design, can be quickly adjusted to form various conveniences of household
use, will possess ample strength and firmness in any one of its adjustments, and can
be readily taken apart and folded up into compact form for storage or removal.
The invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangements of parts
and details, as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 are perspective views, hereinafter fully described,
illustrating various adjustments of which the device is susceptible. Fig. 5 is detail
sectional view showing the form of catch employed for holding the boards in place
on the frame of the device. Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the mode of
taking the device apart. Fig. 10 illustrates in side view the device when folded,
and Figs. 11 and 12 are detail views illustrating the form of catch used in securing
the parts of the frame together.
The frame of the stand is supported by two end pairs of vertical corner-posts, A A¹
and B B¹, all of which are of equal length and exactly parallel with each other.
The posts A A and B B¹ of each pair are permanently connected and rigidly
braced by four parallel cross-bars, C, D, E, and F, the outer bars, C and F, being
arranged a short distance from the respective ends of the corner-posts and the
Г. 011

page_text: medial bars, D E, being arranged at an equal distance from the bars C and F,
respectively. The posts A B and A¹ B₁ are respectively connected and braced by
longitudinal side bars, G and H, in the plane of the end bars C and F, respectively,
the bars G being hinged to the inner sides of the posts B B¹, and bars H similarly
hinged to the posts A A¹, and the free end of each of said bars G and H being
formed with a tenon, K, which is received detachably in a corresponding slot, L, in
the post thereat. A button, M, is pivoted eccentrically to the outer end of each
tenon K, as shown clearly in Figs. 11 and 12, and thus can be turned over the face
of the post to securely lock the tenon therein, or swing back to allow the tenon with
the button to be withdrawn from the slot when taking the frame apart, as illustrated
in Fig. 9. Three rectangular boards N, of like size are employed in connection with
the frame, and each of the boards is formed in each side edge with two slots, O and P,
respectively, the slots being all adapted to fit closely the posts, end, and side braces of
the frame, which are of equal and uniform cross-section. At the base of each of the
slots O and P in the several boards is pivoted a catch-arm, Q, as shown in detail in
Fig. 5, which is adapted to be swung into one of the angle-slots R formed in the
inner corners of the side bars, G and H, and end cross-bars C D at the points at
which the slots O and P are adapted to embrace the same, as hereinafter more fully
described. Blocks S are secured in the outer angles between the end cross-bar C
and the corresponding end parts of the corner-posts, and extend to within a distance
of the ends of the same equal to the thickness of the boards N.
In arranging the stand thus constructed as a table, as shown in Fig. 1, the frame
is set up, as described, with the blocks S uppermost, and one board N is placed upon
the blocks S, with its slots O and P embracing the projecting ends of the corner-
posts, so that the board is held firmly in place while its upper surface is flush with
the tops of the posts. Another board N is rested upon the ends and side bars F
and H, respectively, with the slots O and P also embracing the corner-posts.
A music-stand or book-rack is formed, as in Fig. 2, by inverting the frame and
arranging the three boards N vertically and cross wise of the frame, with their slots O
and P embracing the side bars, G and H, and the catch-arms Q swung into the angle-
slots R in said bars, as before described, to hold the boards from shifting lengthwise
of the same.
In Fig. 3 is shown a towel rack, formed by placing one board N upon the end
and side bars C G of the inverted frame.
In Fig. 4 the stand is shown arranged as a boot-and-shoe rack. The frame is inverted
as before, and two of the boards N are rested horizontally upon the end and side
bars C G and the end bars E, respectively, while the remaining board is placed in an
inclined position, with its slots P embracing the upper ends of the posts B' A', its
slots embracing diagonally the end cross-bars F, and its forward edge abutting
against the inner side of the corresponding side bar H. A curtain can be bound
between the said bar H and the forward edge of the board, as shown in the figure.
In Fig. 6 one board N is placed horizontally upon the end and side bars CG of
the inverted frame and the other two boards arranged vertically upon and at either
side of the bottom board, with their upper slots, P, embracing the end cross-bars D
and the catch-arms Q swung into the slots R in said bars D, as before described, so
as to constitute a convenient cane and umbrella stand.
In Fig. 7 a book-shelf is shown, formed by arranging the boards horizontally one
above the other upon the proper end and side bars of the inverted frame with their
slots OP embracing the corner-posts, as before.
In Fig. 8 the frame is shown arranged, as in Fig. 1, with a bottom and two vertical
side boards N supported upon the end cross-bars D, with the slots of the side boards
embracing the end cross-bars C, and having the catch-arms Q engaged with the
slots R therein to form a substantial ladies' work table or flower-pot stand.
The braced pairs of end posts, A A¹ and B B¹, with their respective hinged
side bars, H and G, can be readily detached from each other, as before described in
connection with Fig. 9, the side bars folded upon the posts, and the same, with the
boards N, arranged in the compact form shown in Fig. 10 for removal or storage.

page_text: 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 herein described convertible stand, composed of the pairs of parallel corner-
posts A A and B B¹, the end cross-bars, C, D, E, and F connecting the posts of each
pair the pairs of side bars G and H, connecting the posts A B and A¹ B¹, respectively,
and the removable boards N, having the side notches, O and P, the said posts, end
and side bars all having a like cross-section adapted to the notches O and P in the
boards, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The portable frame constructed of the two pairs of corner-posts A A¹ and B B¹,
the posts of each pair being braced together, the side bars, G and H, hinged to the
posts B B and A A¹, respectively, and having tenons K on their free ends adapted to
slots L in the opposite posts, and a movable catch button on the end of each tenon K,
substantially as shown and described.
3. In a convertible stand of the character described, the combination, with a
supporting-bar, as H, having a slot, R, extending through a part only of its cross-
section, of a board, N, having a notch adapted to embrace the said bar, a catch-
K, pivoted to the board at the notch therein and adapted to enter the slot in the
bar, substantially as shown and described.
arm,
4. In a convertible stand of the class described, the combination, with the corner-
posts A A B B' and the end and side bars C and G, connecting the same, of blocks S,
fixed in the upper angle of the posts and end bars and extending to within a short
distance of the ends of the same, and the board N, having notches O and P, adapted
to embrace the end of the corner-posts and resting on the blocks S, substantially as
shown and described.
10LL
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