Improvements in the Construction of, and in the Means of Opening and Closing, Boxes, Cases, Cabinets, and other Analogous Recep- tacles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
Date of Application, 28th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of, and in the Means of Opening
and Closing, Boxes, Cases, Cabinets, and other Analogous Recep-
tacles.
I, RICHARD STOKES, of 30, Linwood Road, Handsworth, near the City of Birmingham,
Cabinet Case Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of, and means for opening and closing
the parts of, boxes, cases, cabinets and other analogous receptacles, such scent, jewel,
dressing, liquor, display, letter and writing cases, show cases, travellers sample cases,
game, cigar, music, flower, plate cutlery, coal and like cabinets, biscuit boxes, trunks
and chests, wash stands and other analogous receptacles, and the object of iny said
invention is to so construct and provide such cabinets, cases or the like that the whole
of the parts are siraultaneously opened and their contents displayed by the act of
raising a lid or equivalent.
In carrying out one form of my invention as applied to a combination scent and
jewel case or cabinet, with the bottom part forming the case or receptacle for jewels
and the upper part of the back the stand for a series of scent bottles, the jewel case
part is the form of a partitioned tray elevated from the base to form a clearance for
the mechanism for opening and closing the covers which are in the form of two wings
or leaves hinged, to the back to open away from one another and fitted, above the
tray, with drawers or receptacles which are presented to the front when the said
leaves are opened outwards. The half covers swing horizontally from the back,
which has forwardly projecting sides and an overhanging and hinged top, which is
recessed on the underside at points, with the said recesses when the end is closed,
adapted to come down onto the stoppers of the scent bottles (whose bottoms rest in
suitable wells) and so lock the same in their assigned positions.
Depending from the inner edge of the lid is a short bracket jointed to a link or
connecting rod, whose lower end is in turn jointed to the pin of a system of compound
crossing levers arranged in the form of lazy tongs running down the inner side of, and
pivoted to, the back of the case or to a suitable bracket thereon, with the terminations
of the two last links coming together at a common pivot carried by a flexible
panelling sliding or running in right-angled guides formed at the opposite sides of
the lower part of the back and the inner part of the bottom so as to convert the
vertical movement of the lid-operated compound levers into a horizontal one.
forward end of the horizontal part of this panelling has pivoted to it, the inner ends
of a pair of links whose outer ends are respectively connected with further systems
of compound crossing levers disposed underneath the opposite sides of the bottom
tray, with their inner ends jointed to fixed brackets at the rear part whilst their forward
ends are jointedly connected to the horizontally swinging half lids or wings which
cover the tray, preferably at or near their niddles.
The
These parts are thus so arranged that by raising the flap or lid, the leaves or wings
which cover the tray are swung outwardly and the contents thereof are exposed,

page_text: whilst on again closing, the lids are again folded over or shut over the tray and the
scent bottles are locked.
Instead of employing flexible panelling for transmitting the movement of the lid
from the vertical to the horizontal plane, I may use bell-cranked levers or other
mechanical means.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a card or game and smoking cabinet I
propose to employ like mechanism for transmitting the movement of the lid both to
a sliding cigar drawer working along the bottom part and also to a forwardly swinging
The cabinet is constructed
receptacle for containing cards, markers and the like.
with a fixed bottom, back and sides and an open front, which is fitted with the
forwardly tipping receptacle, underneath which comes the drawer and both these
parts are opened and closed at the same tiine when the lid is raised. The link from
the lid has jointed to it, the middle of a cross lever, whose one end is pivoted to the
back of the case and the other end to a link connected with the tipping receptacle.
The said lid link is connected with the sliding drawer by flexible panelling and a system
of crossing levers arranged on the lazy tong principle and adapted to multiply the
movement to the said tray or drawer.
As a modification applied to receptacles with horizontally hinged lids or covers, the
lower end of the lid link may be curved from the vertical to the horizontal plane
is connected to a pair of compound and oppositely branching levers, each of which is
centrally pivoted and has its outer end connected to the outer end of a link inwardly
jointed to a fixed bracket on one of the horizontally hinged and swinging leaves, so
that when the lid (or its equivalent) is raised, the whole of the opening parts of the
cabinet turn outwards. This modification of the mechanism may be adapted to any
form of cabinet, case or box in which the opening of a horizontal pivoted lid or cover
is required to simultaneously swing open one or more vertically hinged front covers,
lids or doors.
In applying my invention to a washing cabinet or shut up lavatory in which the
open front of the lower part for containing the slop pail, water can or jug and the like
is closed by a pair of sliding flexible panels, I propose to transmit the movement
of the hinged top lid to the said sliding panel by connecting the lower end of the lid
link, by means of flexible or running panelling working in suitable guides or races,
to a pair of arms respectively jointed to a pair of contracting and horizontally
swinging levers or arms on the lazy tong principle, each having its inner end
jointedly connected to the bottom of the cabinet and its outer end jointed to the
after part of one of the flexible and running front-closing panels, which constitutes a
half door for the open front.
When the lid, flap or cover is raised the pair of sliding doors are run back and
admit of the utensils in the lower part of the case being got at.
1000
RICHARD STOKES,
By Henry Skerrett, Agent.
Improvements in the Construction of, and in the Means of Opening
and Closing, Boxes, Cases, Cabinets, and other Analogous Recep-
tacles.
I, RICHARD STOKES, of 30, Linwood Road, Handsworth, near the City of Birmingham,
Cabinet Case Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
ic and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the construction of, and means for opening and closing

page_text: the parts of, boxes, cases cabinets and other analogous receptacles, such as scent,
jewel, dressing, liquor, display, letter and writing cases, show cases, travellers sample
cases, game, cigar, music, flower, plate cutlery, coal and like cabinets, biscuit boxes,
trunks and chests, wash stands and other analogous receptacles, and the object of my
said invention is to so construct and provide such cabinets, cases or the like that the
whole of the parts are simultaneously opened and their contents displayed by the act
of raising a lid or equivalent.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a front elevation of a com-
bination jewel and scent-bottle case, or cabinet for similar purposes, constructed and
This view shows the cabinet
arranged in accordance with one form of my invention.
closed, but portions of the same are removed to reveal the arrangement of the concealed
mechanism by the simultaneous opening of all the parts on the raising of the lid
is effected.
Figure 2 is a topside plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is another front elevation of the said cabinet but showing the parts in the
opened positions which they assume on the lid being raised, and
Figure 4 represents a plan thereof.
2
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said
Figures 1 to 4.
In carrying out this form of my invention, the combination scent and jewel case
or cabinet has its lower part a arranged to form the case or receptacle for jewels and
the upper part of the back constitutes the stand for a series of scent bottles.
The jewels are placed within drawers c, partitioned off or elevated above the
base a¹, to form a clearance for the mechanism for opening and closing of the jewel
case, which is in the form of two wings or hox-like halves a², hinged at a³, to the
back to open away from one another and fitted with the drawers or receptacles which
are presented to the front when the said leaves are opened outward. The half cases
covers swing horizontally from the back, which has forwardly projecting sides b¹, and
an overhanging and hinged top d which may be recessed on the underside at points,
with the said recesses when the lid is closed, adapted to come down onto the stoppers
of the scent bottles (whose bottoms rest on the stand or ledge 62) and so lock the
stands in their assigned positions.
Depending from the inner edge of the lid is a short bracket e jointed at e¹, to a
link or connecting rod e², whose lower end is in turn jointed at es, to the pin of a
system of compound crossing levers f¹, f2, 3, arranged in the form of lazy tongs
running down the inner side of, and pivoted at f, to the back of the case or to a
suitable bracket thereon, with the terminations of the two last links f³, coming
together and being connected by a common pivot f³, to a flexible slide or strip of
steel g, running in right angled guides g¹, arranged at the lower part of the back b³
and the inner part of the bottom a¹, which said slide is adapted to convert the
The
vertical movement of the lid-operated compound-levers into a horizontal one.
forward end of the horizontal part of this slide has pivoted to it at ¹, the inner ends
of a pair of links h², whose outer ends are respectively connected with further
systems of compound crossing levers h, disposed underneath the hinged or folding
halves of the jewel case, with their inner ends h³, being jointed to fixed pins h+,
whilst their forward ends ho are jointedly connected to the said horizontally swinging
halves or wings at h6.
These parts are thus so arranged that by raising the flap or lid, its motion is
communicated through the before-described mechanism to the half boxes or wings,
which are swung outwardly and their drawers rendered accessible as represented in
Figures 3 and 4, whilst on again closing the said lid the case sections are again
folded over or closed together, as represented in Figures 1 and 2 and the scent bottles
are locked.
Instead of employing a flexible steel or other metal slide for transmitting the
movement of the lid from the vertical to the horizontal plane, I may use a length of
flexible panelling, or bell cranked levers or other mechanical means, and instead of

page_text: the swinging halves of the front being in the form of boxes containing sliding drawers
they may be made as horizontally turning covers to a tray or receptacle upon
which jewels or the like may be placed.
Figure 5 represents a front elevation of a stationery case or similar cabinet
constructed according to my invention and provided with a forwardly swinging
receptacle for containing note-paper, cards or the like, which is tipped forwards to
present the contents in a convenient position for removal, simultaneously with the
raising of the lid. This view shows the case closed.
Figure 6 is a front elevation.
Figure 7 represents a transverse vertical section of Figure 5 upon the dotted line x,
and Figure 8 is a similar section but shows the parts in the positions they assume
when the lid of the cabinet is raised.
Figure 9 shows a section of Figure 8, taken upon the dotted line x¹.
The cabinet represented in the said Figures 5 to 9 is constructed with a fixed
bottom a¹, back a², and sides a³, with an open front at, which is fitted with a forwardly.
tipping receptacle b, partitioned off into a series of compartments 61, to contain
stationary or the like and pivoted at 6, to the opposite sides a³. d is the hinged
lid, provided near the joint with a depending bracket e, connected by means of a link f,
to a rocking lever f¹, pivoted at f², to, and working in the plane of, the back a².
From the free end f³, another link g depends, with its lower, end hinged at g¹, to the
rearward bottom edge of the pivoted or swinging receptacle, the arrangement being
such that when the lid is raised, its motion is cominunicated through the link f, and
lever f', which is rocked upwardly and by means of the second link g, tips forward
the receptacle as shown in Figures 6, 8 and 9.
Figure 10 represents my invention applied to a combination smokers and card
cabinet or similar receptacle having, in addition to a forwardly-tipping receptacle (as
in the preceding arrangement) partitioned off to contain playing cards, markers and
the like, a sliding cigar drawer working within the bottom part.
Figure 11 represents a complete vertical section of this cabinet and Figure 12 a
topside plan thereof.
In carrying out my invention as applied to this card or game and smoking cabinet
I propose to employ similar mechanism to that previously described for transmitting
the movement of the lid both to the sliding cigar drawer and also to the forwardly
swinging receptacle. The cabinet is constructed similar to that shown in Figures 5
to 9, viz., with a fixed bottom a¹, back a², sides a³, and an open front at, which is
fitting with the forwardly tipping receptacle b, underneath which comes the drawer i
and hoth these parts are opened and closed at the same time when the lid d is raised.
The link depending from the bracket e on the lid has jointed to it the middle of a
cross lever f, whose one end is pivoted at f2 to the back of the case and the other
end to a link g, hinged as before to the tipping receptacle. The said lid link is
connected with the sliding drawer by a flexible slide or strip g¹, working in curved
guides g2, and adapted to operate a system of crossing levers h arranged on the lazy
tong principle so as to multiply the movement of the sliding panelling to the said
tray or drawer, which is slid outwards when the lazy-tong levers are opened and drawn
inwards when they are closed, simultaneous with the tipping forward or backward
of the receptacle b, on the raising or lowering of the lid.
My invention may also be applied simply to slide out or in a drawer when the
lid of a box is raised or lowered.
Figure 13 is a plan of a travellers sample case or similar cabinet, having a sliding
drawer in addition to the top receptacle which is covered by the lid, the bottom of
the said receptacle being removed to more clearly show the arrangement of the lid-
actuated mechanism for sliding in or out the drawer.
Figure 14 is a transverse vertical section of the said cabinet..
a is the body of the case with top receptacle a¹, i is the sliding drawer, and d the
lid, whose motion is communicated to the said drawer from a bracket e, by means of
a connecting link f, a suitably guided flexible strip g, (which may be either of

page_text: flexible panel or steel) and a system of lazy tongue levers h, jointed to a fixed pivot h¹,
on the bottom of the box and at 2, to the underside of the drawer.
Instead of employing guided flexible strips of steel, or lengths of flexible panel-
ling for transmitting motion from a vertical to a horizontal direction, I may, in any of
the arrangements herein before described, employ a curved and slotted link, such as
represented in Figure 15 and marked g, one end of which is pivoted to the connecting
link f, and the other end to the expanding and contracting lazy tongs h, whilst its
curved slot works over a fixed pin g¹, carried by the back or other part of the
case.
Figure 16 represents an elevation and Figure 17 a plan of washing cabinet or
shut-up lavatory in which the open front at, of the lower part a¹, for containing the
slop pail, water can or jug and the like is closed by a pair of sliding flexible panels b.
According to my invention I propose to transmit the movement of the hinged top
lid d, to the said sliding panels b, by connecting the lower end of the lid link f, by
means of flexible or running panelling g, working in suitable guides or races g¹ to a
pair of arms h¹, respectively jointed to a pair of contracting and horizontally swinging
levers or arms h, on the lazy tong principle, each of the latter having its inner end /²,
jointedly connected to the bottom of the cabinet at h³, and its outer end h*, jointed (as
shown in Figure 17) to the after part of one of the flexible and running front-closing
panels b, which constitutes a half door for the open front.
When the lid, flap or cover is raised the pair of sliding doors are run back and
admit of the utensils in the lower part of the case being got at.
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 what I
claim is :-
First Boxes, cabinets, cases and other receptacles for various purposes in which
the whole of the sliding or hinged parts are simultaneously opened and their contents
rendered accessible or displayed by the act of raising the lid or equivalent part,
which operates compound lever mechanism in connection with the said opening
parts.
Secondly-In boxes, cabinets, cases and the like swinging or hinged doors, lids,
covers or receptacles, simultaneously opening and closing the said hinged parts by means
of a system of compound levers and links arranged in combination with flexible slides
operated by the act of raising or lowering a lid or equivalent part, substantially in
the manner herein described and also as set forth in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
Thirdly-In boxes, cabinets, cases and other receptacles having sliding drawers,
covers, doors, panels, or the like, communicating motion for opening and closing the
said parts by means of a system of compound levers and links arranged in combina-
tion with flexible slides or other connections, and operated by the act of raising or
lowering a lid or equivalent part, substantially in the manner herein described, and
also as set forth in Figures 10 to 17 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly:-In boxes, cabinets and cases having tipping or swinging receptacles or
parts, communicating motion to the said tipping parts by a system of links and levers
operated by the act of opening and closing a lid or its equivalent, substantially as
and for the purpose herein described, and also as set forth in Figures 5 to 12 of the
accompanying drawings.
Fifthly In cabinets, cases or boxes having swinging or sliding parts opened by
mechanism actuated from the lid or equivalent part, the employment of a curved and
slotted link connection, working over a fixed pin for communicating motion from levers
or links working in one plane to other mechanism working in a dis-similar plane, sub-
stantially as herein described and also as set forth in Figure 15 of the accompanying
drawings.
Sixthly-In cabinets, boxes, cases or other articles having covers, closures or the
like in the form of a sliding flexible panel or panellings, operating the said panels the

page_text: raising or lowering of a lid or equivalent through the medium of a system of lever
and link mechanism, with or without flexible slides or connections, substantially as
herein described, and also as set forth in Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 29th day of December 1899.
LOA
RICHARD STOKES,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.