AN IMPROVED EASEL FOR SUPPORTING AND LIFTING OR LOWERING BLACK BOARDS EMPLOYED IN TEACHING
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Kellett, of Laister Dyke, Bradford, in the County
of York, Schoolmaster, for an Invention of " AN IMPROVED EASEL FOR
SUPPORTING AND LIFTING OR LOWERING BLACK BOARDS EMPLOYED IN
TEACHING."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Kellett at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th August 1881.
JOSEPH KELLETT, of Laister Dyke, Bradford, in the County of York, School-
master. "AN IMPROVED EASEL FOR SUPPORTING AND LIFTING OR LOWERING
BLACK BOARDS EMPLOYED IN TEACHING."
The said improved easel is constructed with a square post having chamfered
edges; in the top of the post is fitted a grooved pulley, whose flanges project a
little from the front and back of the post. The base of the post is either made with
projecting cross feet strengthened by struts, or the bottom part of the post is
turned so that it may be inserted in an iron socket secured by a flange to one of
the floor joists; the socket is fitted with a lid, which is placed on the top of the
socket when the post is removed, so that the orifice may be closed. A black board
carrier is made with two uprights at a suitable distance apart, in which is fitted a
block to which is secured a hook, and to which is attached a cord or other flexible
band or chain, which is passed upwards between the two uprights and over the
pulley fitted in the groove at the top of the post to a balance weight. The two
uprights are fitted parallel to each other and inclined; the block connected to the
two uprights at the bottom of the frame is fitted with a guide, in which is passed
the post, and a bead is secured in front of the block to give a rest for the black-
board; and in the top of the upright is fitted a small block, leaving a space for the
passage of the cord, band, or chain; the block is fitted with a button or some
other fastening for the purpose of securing the black board in position in the frame.
The frame and blackboard slide on the post by means of guides made with iron or
metal straps or braces, which are secured by screws or small bolts to the sides of
the upright frames; one of the guides is secured to the block in which is fitted the
hook to which is attached the cord, band, or chain.

page_text: In using the easel the weight at the back of the post and attached to the cord,
band, or chain is removed and the frame slides to the floor or on to a rest formed
at the foot of the post; the black board is then placed on the projecting ledge of the
frame, and leans against the inclines of the uprights, and is secured in position by
a button or any other arrangement for fastening; the weight is then placed on the
cord, band, or chain, which is made to counterpoise the weight of the frame and
black board, and the frame and blackboard can be easily moved to any height or
lowered to any required position.
The advantages derived by the use of the improved blackboard easel are that a
good sized board can be used and brought to any position to suit young pupil
teachers, doing away with the heretofore awkward method of raising and lowering
the blackboard by pegs, and the teacher will at all times be able to set the black-
board to any suitable height for his work.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Kellett in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd February
1882.
JOSEPH KELLETT, of Laister Dyke, Bradford, in the County of York, School-
master, "AN IMPROVED EASEL FOR SUPPORTING AND LIFTING-OR-LOWERING
BLACK BOARDS EMPLOYED IN TEACHING."
The said improved easel is constructed of a square post having chamfered edges;
in the top of the post is fitted a bracket in which work two grooved pulleys. The
base of the post is made with projecting cross feet having casters, and strengthened
with brackets or angle irons. A blackboard carrier is made with two parallel
uprights, secured at a suitable distance apart by means of three blocks; the top
block is fitted with a button or some other fastening for securing the blackboard
in position; to the middle block is fastened a hook, to which is attached a cord,
band, or chain, and to the bottom block is secured a bead to give a rest for the
blackboard. But by preference the carrier is constructed with the same general
outline from one piece of wood, having the back parallel with the post, and cut
with a groove for the cord, band, or chain. The front part is made inclined, so as
to give the blackboard an oblique position, and the foot of the carrier is notched to
fit over the angle iron at the foot of the post. Two metal guides, by preference
of iron, are secured by screws to the sides of the carrier; the upper part which
encloses the post is provided with springs on which are mounted small rollers,
which come in contact with the sides and back of the post; rollers are also
fixed at the back of the carrier to prevent friction between the carrier and the
post. The arms of the other guide do not enclose the post, but only project a
suitable distance on the sides of the post, and the guide is made with a rest for the
blackboard and a receptacle for chalk. The top of the carrier is fitted with a

page_text: in
button, or, by preference, with a hinged cap for securing the blackboard in position;
the projecting piece is made with a wedge-shaped tongue, which fits in a groove
the edge of the board, and the hinge is made with a lip which when fastening
comes in contact with the face of the board, and the hinged cap is made with a
knob or hook on which a map may be hung.
At a suitable height in the groove of the carrier is secured a cord, band, or chain,
which is passed over the pulleys in the bracket fitted on the top of the post, and
from the pulleys the rope, band, or chain is attached to a balance weight, having
one or more lugs, through which passes a guide rod, which is secured to the bracket
by a nut and at the bottom to an iron plate sunk in the foot of the post; a thumb
screw is screwed in one of the lugs of the weight, which secures the weight at any
desired height, and when the blackboard requires to be turned round or removed
the balance weight and carrier remain in position.
In using the easel the frame or carrier is slid down till it rests on the foot of the
easel or stand; the blackboard is then placed on the projecting ledge of the carrier
and against the same; it is then secured at the top by the hinged cap, and the
weight is then attached to the cord, band, or chain. The weight is made to
counterpoise the weight of the board and carrier, and the blackboard can easily be
raised or lowered to any desired position on the post.
The advantages to be derived from the use of the improved blackboard easel are
that a large sized board can be used by female and young pupil teachers; the
awkward method hitherto employed of raising and lowering the .blackboard by
pegs is done away with, and the teacher can more readily set the blackboard to
any desired height to suit the work to be performed.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood I will proceed.
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents a front view of the improved easel, Figure 2 side view, and
Figure 3 plan of the same; Figure represents a front view of an extension to
the carrier for supporting picture frames, and Figure 5, side view of the saine.
Similar letters are used to represent similar parts in all the Figures.
A is the square post made with chamfered edges, having a base made with
projecting cross feet B, which are fitted with strong casters C; the post and base
are strengthened with brackets or angle irons D; in the top of the post is fitted a
bracket E, in which work two grooved pullies F, over which works a cord, band, or
chain G, which is secured at one end to the blackboard carrier H by a pin or hook I,
a groove formed in the carrier receiving the cord, band, or chain G, the other
end of which is secured to a ring or hook J fitted to a balance weight K. The
blackboard carrier H is constructed with the back L parallel with the post, and
cut with a groove, as herein before described, for the passage of the cord, band, or
chain G, and the front part M is inclined so as to give the blackboard N an
oblique position; the bottom part of the carrier H is fitted with a rest O for the
blackboard to rest on, and the rest is also made with a receptacle P for chalk.
The top of the carrier H is fitted with a hinged cap Q having a lip R, which,
when securing the blackboard in position, comes in contact with the face of the
board, and the lip R is fitted with a hook or knob S, on which a nap may be
hung.
Metal guides T are secured by screws to the sides of the carrier H. The upper
parts U, which enclose the post, have a spring action, and are fitted with small
friction rollers V, which come in contact with the sides and back of the post A, and
friction rollers W are also fitted to the carrier H to prevent friction between the
carrier and the post.
The balance weight K is made with a lug X, through which passes a guide rod Y
secured to the bracket E by a nut Z. The bottom part of the rod Y is secured
in an iron plate sunk in the foot A', and to secure the weight to the rod when the
black board requires to be turned round or removed a thumbscrew B¹ is employed,
which screws in the lug X and presses against the rod Y. The weight may be
constructed in detached sections, so as to be adaptable to picture frames or boards

page_text: of varying size and weight, and in this form would be used in combination with a
carrier for picture frames with or without a hinged cap, and provided with a foot
with lateral extensions C¹, having at their ends lugs D₁, with adjustible screws E',
for supporting and securing the board or picture frame.
The
In using the easel the weight K is detached from the cord, band, or chain G, and
the carrier will slide down and rest on the foot of the easel or stand.
black board N is then placed on the projecting ledge C, and secured in position by
bringing down the lip R; then the weight K is replaced on the cord, band, or
chain, which weight counterpoises the weight of the blackboard N and carrier H,
which can then be raised and lowered to any suitable position or height on the
post A.
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what I do
claim is,-
The combination of parts forming the improved easel for supporting and lifting
or lowering blackboards employed in teaching, operating substantially in the
manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Kellett, have hereto set my hand
and seal; this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
JOSEPH KELLETT. (L.S.)