Improvements in Adjustable Supporting Means or Apparatus for Book and other Shelves.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 30th Nov.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Supporting Means or Apparatus for
Book and other Shelves.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES B. GODFREY, of Milford, in the
State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer.
1 ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 and 6 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to adjustable supports for book and other shelves of
the class wherein are employed a series or row of standards upon which the shelf
brackets are clamped in adjusted position.
The shelves, (of which there are usually several lines one above the other) at
one or both sides of the row or series of standards, are made in sections, each
section or shelf reaching from one standard to the next and supported at its ends
upon brackets adjustably mounted on the standards as referred to.
The two abutting shelves or sections meeting at and supported by any single
standard, should not, in practice, be supported upon a single bracket common to
both, for it is frequently necessary to vary or separate the height of the several
shelves in different sections, that is, between different standards, to accommodate
books or goods of varying height, hence the necessity for providing at each
intermediate standard and at both sides of the same, that is, at the front and back,
two brackets for each line of shelves, each bracket sustaining one end of a shelf
and permitting the latter to be independently adjusted.
Prior to my invention the shelf brackets have usually been provided at their
inner ends next the standards, with projections to rest in suitable ratchets on the
surrounding standards, or fitted to slide in and between the inturned edges of
vertical dovetailed or equivalent grooves or channels in the faces of the standards,
set screws or wedges being employed to clamp the brackets in adjusted position.
In practice, the width and the weight of the standards should be as little as
possible, to reduce the space lost between the ends of the shelves and to reduce
the cost, and the objection to either of the constructions referred to is that the
intermediate standards, which are those between the end standards of the row.or
series, must be of double width, in order to support the two vertical series of shelf
brackets which sustain the facing ends of adjaceut shelves, each vertical series of
brackets requiring a separate groove, or a separate ratchet.
To obviate this objection and to enable intermediate standards to be made as
narrow as possible, and thus ecouomise in space and cost, my correspondent has,
in accordance with this invention, devised a system in which the shelf brackets
are supported on and by the sides of the standards instead of at the front and
back faces thereof, said brackets being provided at one side only with laterally
extended lugs or projections adapted to engage their respective standards, screws
or equivalent devices serving to clamp the brackets in adjusted position upon the
standards.
By such a principle of construction I am enabled to apply four brackets at the
same level, or at different levels, about a single standard, of a width not exceeding
that of any other standard of the series.

page_text: Inasmuch as a shelf bracket engaging the standard at one side only, might,
under certain conditions or with certain constructions, work loose laterally it is
preferred to interpose between the two brackets sustaining any single shelf, a
suitable strut, it may be the shelf itself, against the ends of which the brackets
may be clamped, and which, by preventing lateral or vibratory movement of the
brackets assists in holding the latter in position.
My invention further comprehends a header adapted to rest upon the top of
the bracket-supporting standard and to receive and hold a supporting-standard for
the next tier above, and further adapted to hold a floor-supporting girder which
may be passed through or inserted in the said header.
My invention further comprehends a shelf-bracket provided with a shelf-
supporting ledge or flange, and an end stop at the outer end of the ledge or
flange to prevent a shelf being drawn bodily from the brackets at the front of the
stack.
Deted the 10th dor of Jannon. 1905
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COME DELE DI MUITIVATION.
i
Improvements in Adjustable Supporting Means or Apparatus for
Book and other Shelves.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES B. GODFREY, of Milford, in the
"State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London Chartered Patent Agent 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 :-
This invention relates to adjustable supports for book and other shelves of the
class wherein are employed a series or row of standards upon which the shelf
brackets are clamped in adjusted position.
The shelves, (of which there are usually several lines one above the other) at
one or both sides of the row or series of standards, are made in sections, each
section or shelf reaching from one standard to the next and supported at-its ends
upon brackets adjustably mounted on the standards as referred to.
The two abuteing shelves or sections meeting at and supperied by any single
standard, should not, in practice, be supported upon a single bracket common to
both, for it is frequently necessary to vary or separate the height of the several
shelves in different sections; that is, between different standards to accommodate
books or goods of varying height, hence the necessity for providing at each
intermediate standard and at both sides of the same, that is, at the front and back,
two brackets for each line of shelves, each bracket sustaining one end of a shelf
and permitting the latter to be independently adjusted.
Prior to this invention the shelf brackets have usually been provided at their
inner ends next the standards, with projections to rest in suitable ratchets on the
supporting standards, or fitted to slide in and between the inturned edges of
vertical dovetailed or equivalent grooves or channels in the faces of the standards,
set screws or wedges being employed to clamp the brackets in adjusted position.
In practice, the width and the weight of the standards should be as little as
possible, to reduce the space lost between the ends of the shelves and to reduce the
"cost, and the objection to either of the constructions referred to is that the
intermediate standards,-which are those between the end standards of the row or
series,—must usually be of double width, in order to support the two vertical series

page_text: of shelf brackets which sustain the facing ends of adjacent shelves, each vertical
series of brackets requiring a separate groove, or a separate ratchet..
To obviate this objection and to enable intermediate standards to be made as narrow
as possible, and thus economize in space and cost, my correspondent has in accordance
with this invention, devised a system in which the shelf brackets are supported on
and by the sides of the standards instead of at the front and back faces thereof,
said brackets being provided at one side only with laterally extended lugs or
projections adapted to engage their respective standards, screws or equivalent
devices serving to clamp the brackets in adjusted position upon the standards.
By such a principle of construction I am enabled to apply four brackets at the
sante level, or at different levels about a single standard, of a width not exceeding.
that of any other standard of the series.
Inasmuch as a shelf bracket engaging the standard at one side only, might under
certain conditions or with certain constructions, work loose laterally, it is preferred
to interpose between the two brackets sustaining any single shelf, a suitable strut,
it may be the shelf itself against the ends of which the brackets may be clamped,
and which, by preventing lateral or vibratory movement of the brackets assists in
holding the latter in position.
My invention further comprehends a header adapted to rest upon the top of the
bracket-supporting standard and to receive and hold a supporting-standard for
the next tier above, and further adapted to hold a floor-supporting girder which
may be passed through or inserted in the said header.
My invention further comprehends a shelf-bracket provided with a shelf
supporting ledge or flange, and an end stop at the outer end of the ledge or
flange to prevent a shelf being drawn bodily from the brackets at the front of the
stack.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1, in perspective, shows a sufficient portion of a stack of shelving embodying
my invention, to enable the same to be understood.
Fig. 2, is a horizontal section through two of the supports, showing the preferred
manner of clamping the brackets in adjusted position.
Fig. 3; in perspective; shows one of the shelf brackets detached.
Fig. 4 is a detail showing one of the supporting headers in side elevation.
Fig. 5-is a section on the dotted line -, Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating a modification of my invention.
Fig 7, is a perspective detail of the engaging end of the bracket Fig. 6, both
to be hereinafter fully described.
Figs. 8 and 9 are details illustrating yet another modified form of my invention.
In the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustration,
A, A, are two of a series of any number of supports, provided with suitable bases
or feet A!.
-or
These supports, in the construction Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, are I-shaped in cross
section, there being; therefore, two flanges a, a, and a', a¹, at the two opposite
front and back faces a³, a³ of the said supports.
B, B are the shelf supporting brackets, the brackets B' being for the bottom
shelf, and Hacking the depending book guard b³, with which the upper brackets B
are provided.
The brackets B, as shown, consist of shelf carriers b, with upwardly extended
and depending book guard flanges and 2, which serve to maintain the books in
upright positions.
The upwardly extended guard flange b' of each bracket has its inner end turned
or formed to present a laterally extended hooked lip. 63, shown as standing at right
angles to the line of the bracket and adapted to engage one of the flanges a, a,
or a, a, at the front or back face of the support, said bracket being provided
with u soirable clamping device, herein shown as a clamping-screw 6, by which to
clamp the said lip upon said flange and thereby retain the bracket in vertically
adjusted position!

page_text: By applying the brackets in this manner, i.e., at the side of the support, instead
of at the front or back, as heretofore, I am enabled to arrange four brackets in a
group, see Fig. 2, at or near the same level, yet keep the support as narrow as may
be, and possess the requisite strength.
Every fraction of an inch added to the width of the support takes so much off
the length of the shelves, hence the great advantage in applying the brackets at
both sides of a single bar support.
In Fig. 1, brackets of the several groups are shown at different levels, to
accommodate books, et cætera of different sizes.
The brackets B, B', engaging the support at the side only, might, under certain
conditions or constructions, slip off in the direction of the center of the shelf S
carried by and between them.
To guard against this, the shelves are made of such length that they serve as
struts to prevent any substantial movement of the sustaining brackets towards each
other, and in the preferred construction, the clamping screws or devices 6* are
inserted, and act, at such angle, as shown, that, when screwed in against the flange,
the outer ends 5 of the brackets, will be forced against the adjacent ends of the shelf
carried by them, to thereby firmly wedge or clamp the said brackets between said
shelf and the flanges of the supports, and effectually prevent slip.
In erecting book shelves in library and other halls, it is customary to arrange
them in stack form, i.e., built up of several tiers.
The present invention comprehends a header C, shaped at its bottom to fit upon
the top of a support A. and for that purpose, being in the present instance,
provided at two of its opposite sides with depending ears c, c, adapted to drop
between the flanges a, a, at opposite sides the said support, and thereby retain said
header in position.
The header C, at its top is fitted to receive and support the bottom of the
support of the next series of shelves above, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4.
In the embodiment of the invention here shown, the headers Care_each
provided with a transverse opening of suitable shape to receive the T or
other shaped girders D, upon which the elevated or mezzanine floor d rests,
a bolt d passed through the header and girder, serving to lock the two
together.
In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive I have shown modified forms of my invention for
clamping the brackets to their supports.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, the support F, as shown, has each of two of its
opposite faces provided with a pair of grooves or channels, to receive the lateral
lips f, on the shelf brackets, the screws f³ enabling said brackets to be forced
back against the ends of the shelves held by the brackets, to thereby frictionally
retain the latter in vertically adjusted position.
?
The brackets are held at one edge of the support and partly by the shelf, so
that only a single width support is at any time needed.
In Fig. 8 the support is provided at its opposite side with grooves v, v, to receive
the flanges n' on the ends of the shelf brackets n², the latter being provided at the
same side as the flanges, with lugs n³, in which are threaded the clamping screws n*,
adapted to act upon the support, as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 9 shows one end of a
shelf bracket n² separately.
The operation is precisely as in Figs. 1 and 2.
So far as known to my correspondent, be is the first to employ a single series of
like supports, the shelf carrying brackets clamped thereon, one bracket on each of
the end supports, and two brackets at opposite outer sides of the intermediate
supports with the shelves carried by the bracket; and also the first to devise a
support provided at opposite sides with oppositely extended flanges, with shelf-
supporting brackets applied to and at the flanged sides of said support, and at
substantially right angles to said flanges, and provided at one of their sides only
with one or more projections engaging the flanges at the respective sides of the
support, with suitable clamping devices for clamping the brackets in position.

page_text: t
My correspondent is also the first, so far as he is aware, to employ means acting
upon a support to clamp the end of a bracket adjacent said support upon the latter,
and at the same time impart lateral or side movement of the bracket. towards and
grip the shelf end, and he therefore considers himself entitled to claim these features
broadly without reference to the particular features of construction and without.
restricting the invention to any partiuular use to which the shelves may be put.
In practice the shelves S. at their ends, are cut away at their under sides to
receive the shelf supports biof the brackets B, the under side of the shelf th n
coinciding with or. being in the same plane. .as. the under side of the said shelf
supports. Looking at the outer or front edge of a shelf so formed, the cutaway
ends would appear objectionable to the sight and to conceal the same and also to
provide a stop which shall prevent the shelf being drawn outwardly, from. its
support on the bracket, the latter is, provided with a stop. bx shown as a web.
connecting the shelf support at its upper side with the.apper book guard d'.
The header will of course be adapted for the particular type of standard. and
floor girder employed, without departing from the invention involved therein as set
forth in the claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A vertical support, provided at opposite sides with oppositely extendel flanges,
and shelf-supporting brackets applied to an at the flanged sides of said support
and at substantially right angles to the said flanges, and provided at one of their
sides only with one or more projections engaging the flanges at their respective.
sides of the support, and means to clamp the said brackets in vertically adjusted
position, substantially as described.
2. A vertical support provided at opposite sides with oppositely extended flanges,
shelf-supporting brackets applied to and at the opposite flanged sides of the said
support at substantially right angles to the said flanges, and provided at one of
their sides only with one or more projections engaging the flanges at their
respective sides of the support, and means acting in or near the line of the length
of the bracket and accessible and operable from the front of the support to clamp
the said brackets in vertically adjusted position upon said support, substantially as
described.
3. A vertical support provided at opposite sides with oppositely extended lateral
flanges, shelt-supporting brackets applied laterally to and at the opposite flanged
sides of said support, and at substantially right angles to the said flanges, and
provided at their sides away from the ends of the shelves with one or more
projections engaging said flanges; and means to clamp the said brackets upon the
said support in vertically adjusted position, substantially as described.
4. The combination with a support flanged at its opposite sides, of brackets
provided at one of their sides with lips, hooked to extend around the edges of and
engage opposite faces of said flanges, and set screws threaded in said hooked lips.
to clamp said brackets in vertically adjusted position on said support, substantially
as described.
5. The combination with two supports, of shelf-supporting brackets adjustably
secured at one of their ends to the respective supports, a shelf sustained by and
between said brackets, and means acting upon the said supports to clamp the ends
of the brackets adjacent the supports upon the latter and at the same time impart
lateral or side movement of the brackets towards and to grip the shelf ends,
substantially as described.
6. The combination with a support, of a shelf bracket adjustably secured at one
of its ends thereupon, a shelf sustained at one end by said bracket, and means
acting upon the support to clamp the adjacent end of said bracket thereupon and
at the same time impart to the free end of the said bracket a swinging movement

page_text: about the said support as a fulerum, towards and to grip the end of the said shelf,
substantially as described.
7. The combination with a shelf bracket sustaining support, of a header resting
upou the top thereof, and provided with an opening penetrating the same laterally
above the end of said support, a second support sustained upon and by the said
header and above the said opening, and a floor supporting girder extended through
the said opening and secured to the said header, substantially as described.
8. A single series of like supports; shelf supporting brackets arranged thereon,
and clamping devices to clamp said brackets in position on said supports, one such
bracket on each of the end supports, and two such brackets on opposite outer sides
of the intermediate supports, and shelves carried by said shelf brackets, substantially
as described.
9. The construction and arrangement, or combination, and use of parts of
adjustable supporting means or apparatus for book and other shelves substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated the 9th day of October 1805.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for Applicant.