Improvements in or relating to Movable Partitions, Sliding Doors, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Movable Partitions, Sliding Doors,
and the like.
r
I, CHARLES STRAPPS of 26 Kershaw Street, Shaw, near Oldham, Joiner, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates chiefly to movable partitions as used in school rooms and the
like, for separating or dividing such rooms into class rooms, or (by removing such
partitions) converting class rooms into one large room, and my invention has for its
object to provide means for simplifying the method of mounting such partitions,
and enabling them to be more readily fixed or "run" into position than heretofore
and as readily put at one side or stored away when not required.
In accordance with my invention, I form the partition in the ordinary manner,
At each corner
glazed or unglazed, and with one or more openings for doors etc.
of the lower edge of such partition (which is partly cut away or recessed to allow
of it) 1 mount a flanged pulley or wheel, held vertically by the forked extremity of
a horizontally swivelling rod or spindle. These pulleys extend slightly beyond the
said lower edge of the partition and form runners for it to run upon, and thus
facilitate the moving of the partition.
In the floor of the room where the partition is situated, or required to be placed
in dividing a room, say, transversely with the length of the room, a groove or "line"
is formed into which the flanges of the aforesaid pulleys or runners of the partition
take, and in running to and fro therein serve to guide the partition to the required
position; a groove in or on the ceiling, and a set of anti-friction pulleys on the
top of the partition serving to keep the partition in a vertical position.
Assuming now it is desired to remove the partition to a position where it will
be out of the way, say against the school room wall,, or behind a class, and at
right-angles to its former position, 1 extend the groove in the floor and ceiling
By so
in a corresponding direction, with the corner or bend slightly curved.
arranging the grooves, and by the aforesaid pulleys being so mounted as to be
capable of swivelling horizontally, it will be seen that the partition can be
readily moved along the groove until it is alongside the wall, the pulleys or
runners, owing to their peculiar mounting, readily turning the angle or bend, and
in this way the partition is placed out of the way without any expensive, or
troublesome labor. To bring it into position again for dividing the room it will
be seen that the operation will be just as simple, the pulleys enabling it to readily
move into the transverse position again.
The partition may he made in sections, with separate runners for each, and in
such cases, and for disposing of the sections in a compact manner, two or more
extensions of the main groove may be made in the floor and ceiling (one (or
more) for each section), with the turning point, or points, slightly cut away to allow
the pulleys or runners sufficient room to turn round and take into such extensions.
This arrangement is chiefly used where economy of room is a desideratum.
When the partition is made in sections, and such sections run into one groove
they may be hinged to each other.

page_text: Instead of grooves, rails or rods may be used, and if desired the partition may
hang from swivelling pulleys running on an overhead rod or rods. Also duplicate
grooves and pulleys may be used instead of a single groove and pulley.
Dated this 13th day of Anril 1896.
CHARLES STRAPPS,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
Improvements in or relating to Movable Partitions, Sliding Doors,
and the like.
I, CHARLES STRAPPS of 26 Kershaw Street, Shaw, near Oldham, Joiner, 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 chiefly to movable partitions as used in school-rooms and
the like, for separating or dividing such rooms into class-rooms, or (by removing
such partitions) converting class-rooms into one large room, and my invention has
for its object to provide means for simplifying the mounting and disposal of such
partitions, and particularly in places where room is limited, or structural conditions
render the manipulation of the partition somewhat difficult.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings and
I will now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures
and letters of reference marked thereon.
. On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partition as erected and used in a
school-room in accordance with my invention, and in the position it occupies for
dividing such room, or for partitioning off one portion from another.
Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged perspective views of the lower and upper corners of
the improved partition, and the floor and ceiling fittings.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the partition in course of removal
(or fixing), and Fig. 3 is a similar view shewing the partition stowed in sections
against the wall of the room.
On Sheet 3, Figs. 6 to 9 illustrate details on an enlarged scale.
In accordance with my invention, I form the partition in one, or more sections,
according to the space into which it has to be stowed away, and I either hinge such
sections together, or leave them separate. The partition, or its sections, is, or are,
also of the usual glazed structure, and with or without doors.
At the lower corners of the partition, or each of its sections, I mount a flanged
pulley (A), capable of rotating in a vertical plane between the forks or cheeks (B)
of the horizontally swivelling rod (C), which is mounted in a metal bush or socket
fitted in the substance of the partition.
Upon the floor of the room two lath-like rods (D) are nailed, or a groove is
formed therein, corresponding to the position to be occupied by the partition when
across the room, as in Fig. 1; and between such rods, or in such groove, the flanges
of the pulleys (A) take.
The said rods, or groove, extend also to the place where the partition is to be
stowed away, which in case of a school-room may be behind a class, and against the
school-room wall, as shewn in Fig. 3, and in such case the said rods are curved
or bent at right-angles to suit, and with the partition made in two, three or more
portions, a double, treble or corresponding number of such rails is provided, as

page_text: illustrated, with space for the flanges of the several pulleys to swivel, in taking the
"points" of their respective grooves.
Upon the top of the partition, or each of its sections, and at each corner, is a
runner (E), which rotates horizontally upon a vertical stud, and takes into a
groove (DI), or between a set of guide rails in, or on the ceiling, and in such:
manner, or by such means the partition is kept erect. Said groove or rails on the
ceiling also extend at right angles along the wall with one or more additional
grooves for receiving the respective sections of the partition.
Assuming now the partition is made in two portions (1) and (2), and is in the
position shewn in Fig. 1, and it is desired to dispose of it alongside the wall, as
shewn in Fig. 3, the swivelling pulley (A) of part (1), nearest the wall, is caused
to move round the "bend," and is then pushed along the rails parallel with the
wall, and into the groove (X) nearest the wall. Simultaneously the runner (E) at
the top corner follows the corresponding groove in, or on the ceiling, and the flanged
pulley and runner, at the opposite corners of the partition section, follow the rails.
until they reach the "bend," when they also readily describe the same, and pass-
into the groove (X) alongside the wall. Part (2) of the partition is then caused
to move along rails (D) until the "bend" is reached, when the pulley (A) and.
runner (E) at the left hand bottom and top corners, readily turn the "bend," and
move along the second groove (Y), followed by the pulley and runner at the right.
hand corners, the peculiar way in which the wheels and runners accommodate the
moving of the partition, or its sections, at such an extreme angle being clearly
shewn in Fig. 2.
When part (2) is fully home, the sections of the partition lie compactly together
against the school-wall. To draw them out, or replace them across the room, the
modus-operandi is reversed.
Fig. 8 shews a plan of the arrangement of rails of grooves for allowing of a.
number of sections being stowed away in a space which is shorter than the full
length of the partition.
Owing to the curve or "bend" of the rails at (Z) the partition will stand away
from the wall somewhat and leave a space, and to fill up such space, and yet permit
of the partition moving round the "bend," I provide a filling strip (F), hinged to.
the fixed part (G) (see Fig. 9), or hinged to the partition, which strip (F) can be
readily turned in or out of line with the partition, and so fill up the gap, or
enable the partition to be moved. The space may be filled by extending the
rails (D) to the wall but this would not be so practical.
In lieu of mounting the partition to run on wheels on the floor it may be suspended.
from swivelling pulleys running on an overhead track of rails, but this will only be
desirable in cases where the floor, does not alow of the grooves, or rails.
Lastly, my invention is equally applicable to other than school-room partitions,..
such as stable partitions, bed-room partitions, boiler-house doors or gates, and
similar moving objects requiring to be expeditiously put into position for use, and
as expeditiously stowed at one side when not required.
Having thus 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 :-
1. In movable partitions, sliding doors and the like (made in one or more
portions) the use and application of swivelling wheels and runners, in combination
with guide tracks, or grooves, arranged and mounted as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. Pulleys or wheels (A), mounted on an horizontal axis between swivelling
cheeks or forks (B) of rod (C), as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The rods (D) (or their equivalent grooves) on the floor and ceiling of a room.
and arranged to form one, or more guide tracks, as and for the purposes set.
forth.

page_text: 4. The arrangement of over-head guide track and swivelling pulleys, from
which a partition, door, or the like is suspended, as and for the purposes set
forth.
1
1000
CHARLES
STRAPPS,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.