Improved Library Shelving.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 28th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Library Shelving.
We, WILLIAM H. WINSLOW and FRANCIS A. WINSLOW, both citizens of the
United States of America, residing at 366 Carroll Avenue, Chicago, Cook County,
Illinois, U.S.A., Gentlemen, 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 :-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in library shelving and consists
in certain novel features of construction, which will be fully described in this
Specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The invention is illustrated in the drawings presented herewith of which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an upright and bracket, a portion of the upright
being broken away;
Figure 2 is a similar view, but showing the bracket in a different position and
partly broken away;
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section in line 3-3 of Figure 1 upon a larger
scale;
Figure 4 is a horizontal longitudinal section in line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a clumping nut, and
Figure 6 is a side view of an operating key used in the adjustment of the
brackets.
This
In these drawings, A, is an upright supported in any suitable manner and
preferably constructed of channel iron having its edges bent toward each other so
as to form overhanging edges, a, a', and groove, a³, as seen in Figure 4.
style of channel iron has been adopted on account of its simplicity of construction,
but it is obvious that various shapes may be used, the important feature being
that it have suitable overhanging edges and a slot for receiving the clamping device
hereafter described.
The bracket is shown at B, as consisting of a plate provided with a suitable
ornamental face and having shoulders, b,, extending at right angles therefrom,
and forming a slide or bearing surface resting against the faces of the overhanging
edges. The means for clamping the bracket to the upright consist of an internally
screw-threaded clamping nut, C, provided with shoulders, c, c, (see Figure 5) resting
against the inner faces of the overhanging edges, said nut being of a size small
enough to pass between the overhanging edges when given a quarter turn from its
normal position; that is, its clamped position. An adjusting screw, D, is mounted
in a lug, b', extending from the bracket, B, and this screw is connected with the
clamping nut, C. The screw, D, is headed after it has been passed through the
nut, (see Figure 4 at d) so that said screw may be loosened until the head, d,
strikes the nut, C, and clamps the nut to the screw. The nut is held between the
overhanging edges which prevents its rotation when any adjustment of the screw
takes place, except when it is desired to turn the nut in order to remove the
bracket from the upright. The screw is provided with a suitable head so that it
may be turned by means of an operating key. When said screw is tightened it
crowds the shoulders, c, c, of the nut, C, against the inner faces of the overhanging
edges and clamps the bracket firmly against the upright. Lugs, b², 12, are provided
upon the shoulders, b, b, and project into the slot between the edges, a, a', and
prevent any lateral rocking of the bracket, B, and assist in guiding the same when
adjusting. it upon the uprights

page_text: Upon the forward end of the bracket is a lug, 63, having a hole, 6, (see
Figure 4) concentric with the screw, D, through which the key, E, may be inserted
when it is desired to adjust the bracket. A series of lugs, B', are arranged upon the
bracket to support the shelf, F, (see Figure 3) which is notched out as seen at f
thus forming together with the wall of the bracket and the lugs, B', 63, a channel B2,
adapted to guide the operating key to the screw, D, when it is desired to adjust the
shelves.
The construction shown and described is very simple and economical and it prevents
malicious persons from meddling with the adjustment of the brackets, since the screw
or adjusting device is beyond the reach of any one without the proper key. To remove
the bracket from the upright the screw, D, is loosened until the head, d, is crowded
against the nut, when the bracket will assume the position seen in Figure 2. The
nut is now clamped tightly to the screw, D, tbe bracket swung against the upright
thus drawing the square portion of the nut away from the overhanging edges, when
the nut may be given a quarter turn by means of the operating key and the bracket
withdrawn from the upright, since the nut is so constructed that it will easily pass
between the overhanging edges when parallel therewith.
We have described only one upright and bracket, but in the construction of
shelving it is obvious that two uprights. and brackets are necessary, the shelf lying
upon the lugs, B', and it is not thought necessary to describe but one set, as that
description pertains to both sets.
We have specifically shown and described the invention, but we are aware that
various modifications thereof may be made without changing the principle of our
invention, and we do not, therefore, desire to limit ourselves, except as particularly
pointed out in the following claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare what we
claim is :
1. The combination with a suitable upright, of a bracket having a fastening device
on the edge adjacent to the upright and means for guiding an operating key from
the opposite edge of the bracket to the fastening device; substantially as described.
2. The combination with a suitable upright, of a shelf bracket having a fastening
device adjacent to said upright and adapted to engage therewith and a shelf resting
upon the bracket and forming in connection therewith a channel extending from
the forward edge of the bracket to the clamping device; substantially as described.
3. The combination with a suitable upright, of a shelf bracket, a suitable clamping
device adjacent to the rear edge of the bracket and securing the bracket thereto,
and a notched shelf resting upon the bracket and forming therewith a guiding
channel extending from the forward edge of the bracket to the clamping device;
substantially as described.
4. The combination in a device of the class described, with an upright having
an undercut groove, of a bracket provided with a device for adjustably clamping
it to the upright, the lugs, B₁, B¹, the shelf, F, resting upon said lugs and the
notch, B, forming together with the bracket and shelf a guide for the operating
key; substantially as described.
5. The combination with an upright having an undercut groove, of a supporting
bracket, a nut having suitable shoulders for engagement with the overhanging edges
of the upright, means for preventing the rotation of said nut when in a clamped
position, a screw connecting said nut with the bracket, whereby the tightening of
the screw secures the bracket to the upright, said screw being provided with a head
fitted to a corresponding operating key and a guide extending to the front of the
bracket and adapted to guide said key; substantially as described.
6. The combination with an upright having an undercut groove, of a supporting
bracket, a clamping nut having shoulders adapted to impinge upon the inner faces
of the overhanging edges, a screw connecting the bracket with said nut and means
for clamping the nut to said screw when desired; substantially as described.

page_text: 7. The combination with an upright having an undercut groove, of a supporting
bracket, a clamping nut of a size small enough to pass through the opening between
the overhanging edges, but having shoulders when turned at right angles thereto
which will engage with the overhanging edges, a screw connecting said nut with the
bracket, said screw being headed so that when sufficiently withdrawn the head will
strike the nut and clamp the same to the screw; substantially as described.
8. The combination with an upright having an undercut groove, of a bracket having
a suitable bearing surface adapted to slide upon the overhanging edges of the upright
and a clamping device consisting substantially of the nut, C, having a square portion
adapted to slide in a slot between the overhanging edges, and shoulders adapted to
bear against the inner faces of said overhanging edges when turned at right angles
thereto, a screw connecting said nut with the bracket and means for clamping said
screw to the nut whereby said nut may be withdrawn from said slot when given a
quarter turn; substantially as described."
9. The combination with an upright having the overhanging edges, a, a¹, of the
bracket, B, having the guiding surfaces, b, b, the clamping device consisting of the
nut, C, having the shoulders, c, c, the lug, 6', the screw, D, connecting said lug with
the nut, and the head, d, adapted when the screw is sufficiently withdrawn to clamp
the nut thereto; substantially as and for the purpose set forth."
Dated this 17th day of January 1896.
WILLIAM HERMAN WINSLOW.
FRANCIS AXEL WINSLOW.
H. D. Fitzpatrick,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.
WILLIAM HERMAN
INSLOW.
FRANCIS AXEL WINSLOW.
H. D. Fitzpatrick,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.