Improvements in Book Cases.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899-Accepted, 17th June, 1899
Improvements in Book Cases.
I, WALLACE SUMNER GRANGE, of Malta, in the County of De Kalb, State of
Illinois, U.S.A., Minister of the Gospel, do hereby declare the nature of my
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 book cases, and it has for its object to provide a simple
and efficient construction of book case having a series of separable box like
compartments adapted to rest one on top of the other with the open side of each
compartment to the front of the case, the lower side of each compartment when
in position constituting the shelf for the support of the books, and the several
compartments when separated constituting boxes for the shipment or transpor-
tation of the books, thus obviating the necessity of removing the books from the
case when their shipment or transportation is necessary.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may here-
inafter appear the invention consists in the construction and the combination
of parts hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be specifically
defined by the claims reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming
a part hereof and in which;
Fig. 1 is a perspective of a book case constructed according to my invention,
the top and one side being separated from the other parts for clearness of
illustration.
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section through a book case; and
Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a portion of the top and one side to show
clearly the groove or recess for receiving the ends of the side members.
In the drawing the numeral 1 designates a series of box like compartments
placed one on top of the other so as to constitute a series of shelves for sup-
porting the books. To the front edge of one of the horizontal sides of each
compartment, for instance to the front edge of the lower horizontal side of each
compartment, is secured or formed a flange 2 adapted to extend across the joint
between the bottom of one compartment and the top of the compartment next
below so as to close the joint and conceal the same from view thus giving the
appearance of a series of permanently secured shelves. These flanges also pre-
vent one compartment from sliding back of the front edge of the next compart-
ment in contact therewith. The numeral 3 designates the sides of the book
case which are separable from the box like compartments and which extend at
the top above the upper horizontal side of the top compartment and at the
bottom below the lower horizontal side of the bottom compartment so as to con-
stitute tongues which will enter grooves or recesses formed at the ends of the
top or cover to the book case and also to the bottom or base of the book case
respectively. The top or cover of the book case is designated by the numeral 4
and it is provided at its front with a flange or molding 5 to extend down over
the top of the uppermost compartment so as to conceal the front edge thereof
and form an ornamental finish. It is provided at opposite ends with projecting
and depending plates which are preferably made of metal and of any orna-
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page_text: mental configuration or design and color. These plates form grooves or recesses 7
at opposite ends of the top or cover so as to receive the tongues on the upper
ends of the sides 3 and they serve to hold together the top and sides and to assist
in securing the box like compartments between the sides. The base of the
book case is designated by the numeral S which is formed at its front edge with
an ornamental molding 9. It is provided at its opposite ends with the outwardly
and upwardly extending metallic plates 10 which form grooves 11 at opposite
ends of the base so as to receive the tongues or lower ends of the side members 3
and thus serve to assist in holding the base and side members together as well
as to secure the box like compartments in place.
The front edges of the side members 3 are provided with strips or moldings 12
which when the sides are in place will fit over the front edges of the end members
of the several box like compartments and thus conceal the meeting edges between
the same and furnish an ornamental finish, recesses 13 being formed above the
upper and lower ends of each of the strips or moldings 12 so as to receive the
molding to the top or cover and the molding to the base and thus form an orna-
mental finish and also to assist in locking or securing the parts together at such
points.
Under the construction described a very simple and efficient form of book case
is provided in which the several parts can be readily taken apart and placed in
position when desired without the employment of nails or screws to hold the
several parts together. When the book case is to be transported the members
are readily separated one from the other and each compartment will continue
to retain the books placed therein so that they can be shipped without removal
from the several compartments thus very greatly reducing the labor attending
the moving or shipment of the case and its contents and without injury or
damage to the books.
I have illustrated and described with particularity the preferred details of
construction and arrangement of the several parts but it is obvious that various
changes can be made therein without departing from the essential features of
the invention.
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. A book case composed of independent separable box like compartments
each having closed ends, back and open front and placed one upon the other so
that the lower part of one will rest upon the upper part of the adjoining box
with a horizontal portion between to form a shelf, separable side members having
flanges adapted to lap over and conceal the joints between the side members and
the ends of the compartments, a cover or top formed with grooves to receive the
upper ends of the side members, and a base formed with grooves to receive the
lower ends of said side members, substantially as described.
2. A book case composed of independent separable box like compartments
each having closed ends, top, bottom and back and open front and placed one
upon the other so that the bottom of one will rest on the top of the adjoining
box with the front meeting edges of the top and bottom flush with each other,
a flange to the front edge of the horizontal side of each compartment adapted
to fit over the front edge of the horizontal side of the adjoining compartment
and conceal the joint between the compartments, separable side members formed
with inwardly projecting flanges along their front edges to conceal the joints
between the side members and the ends of the compartments, a cover or top
formed with grooves to receive the upper ends of the side members, and a base
formed with grooves to receive the lower ends of the side members, substantially
as described.
3. A book case composed of independent separable box like compartments
each having closed ends, top, bottom and back and open front, and placed one

page_text: upon the other, a flange to the front edge of the horizontal side of each com-
partment adapted to fit over the front edge of the horizontal side of the adjoin-
ing compartment and conceal the joint between the compartments, separable
side members formed with inwardly projecting flanges along their front edges
to conceal the joints between the side members and the ends of the compart-
ments and with recesses at their upper and lower front edges, a cover or top
formed with grooves to receive the upper ends of the side members and along
its front edge with a depending flange to extend over the front top edge of the
compartment below and into the recesses in the edge of the side members, and a
base formed with grooves to receive the lower ends of the side members, and
with an upwardly projecting flange to extend over the front edge of the com-
partment next above and into the recesses in the lower edge of the side members,
substantially as described.
Dated thin 15th
1000
H. 1. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.