IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COMBINATION FURNITURE, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Parker and Walter Parker, of Wenlock Street,
London, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR RELATING TO COMBINATION FURNITURE, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Parker and
Walter Parker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
20th September 1881.
FREDERICK PARKER and WALTER PARKER, of Wenlock Street, London, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COMBINATION
FURNITURE, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists in an ottoman, box, couch, and lounge; the back is loose
and will fit onto either side, making the couch either a right or a left hand one,
and the lid is so arranged as to be capable of being opened from either side, that is
to say, the lid will open, no matter at which side the back may be placed. For
securing the lid we prefer to employ a special form of slide, consisting of a plate
bent at right angles and secured to the frame work; a longitudinal slot enlarged
at the bend or angle of the plate serves to hold the ball headed pin of a plate which
is attached to the lid.
There are two sets of these slides and balls at each side of the couch, and to
place the lid on it must be so placed that the balls fit into the enlarged portion of
the slot in the plate, and upon being drawn forward, the back side becomes hinged
by the balls being drawn along the narrow portion of the slot to the end, and the
lid may then be lifted up and thrown open against the back. To reverse the
couch, fix the back on the opposite side, and repeat the process for opening the lid.
The back is provided with headed pins on both sides, which fit into suitable
socket plates fixed on both sides of the box; the heads are inserted into the large
part of the slot, and dropping into the narrow part of the slot, the back is firmly
held on, and it can be fixed on either side of the couch.

page_text: For a reversible box lounge without a back we supply a long hinge plate which
extends across the lounge, and is hinged to the box at one side and to the lid at
the other, so that if the box is opened at one side the hinge attached to the box
opens, and if opened at the other the hinge attached to the lid opens, thus giving
a ready access from either side.
The two forms of hinges above described may be combined in one by using a bar
as in the second form with a binge at each end, but placing the hinges by
preference both on one side of the bar, and making them capable of sliding upon
the bar. This may be accomplished by forming the hinges long enough to slide
upon a slide secured to the bar, as in the case of the slotted plates first described;
when the lid is in place upon the box neither hinge can open, and it is practically
locked, but by drawing the lid forward from the back it is released, and can be
raised at pleasure. It will be noticed that these hinges are applicable for other
purposes in which a lid or the like requires to be opened from either side.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick Parker and Walter Parker in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th March 1882.
FREDERICK PARKER and WALTER PARKER, of Wenlock Street, London, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COMBINATION
FURNITURE, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists in an ottoman, box, couch, and lounge; the back is loose,
and will fit onto either side, making the couch either a right or a left hand one,
and the lid is so arranged as to be capable of being opened from either side, that is
to say, the lid will open, no matter at which side the back may be placed. For
securing the lid we prefer to employ a special form of slide, consisting of a plate
bent at right angles and secured to the framework; a longitudinal slot enlarged at
the bend or angle of the plate serves to hold the ball headed pin of a plate which is
attached to the lid.
There are two sets of these slides and balls at each side of the couch, and to
place the lid on it must be so placed that the balls fit into the enlarged portion of
the slot in the plate, and upon being drawn forward the back side becomes hinged
by the balls being drawn along the narrow portion of the slot to the end, and the
lid may then be lifted up and thrown open against the back. To reverse the
couch, fix the back on the opposite side, and repeat the process for opening the lid.
The back is provided with headed pins on both sides which fit into suitable socket
plates fixed on both sides of the box; the heads are inserted into the large part of
the slot, and dropping into the narrow part of the slot, the back is firmly held on,
and it can be fixed on either side of the couch.
For a reversible box lounge without a back we employ a long hinge plate which
extends across the lounge, and is hinged to the box at one side and to the lid at
the other, so that if the box is opened at one side the hinge attached to the box
opens, and if opened at the other the hinge attached to the lid opens, thus giving
a ready access from either side.
The two forms of hinges above described may be combined in one by using a bar
as in the second form with a binge at each end, but placing the hinges by pre-
ference both on one side of the bar, and making them capable of sliding upon the
bar. This may be accomplished by forming the hinges long enough to slide upon
a block secured to the bar, as in the case of the slotted plates first described; when
the lid is in place upon the box neither hinge can open, and it is practically locked,
but by drawing the lid forward from the back it is released, and can be raised at
pleasure. It will be noticed that these hinges are applicable for other purposes in
which a lid or the like requires to be opened from either side.
Reference being now had to the accompanying Drawings, in which like letters of
reference represent like parts,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a couch without a back with the lid raised,
showing the hinges, and
Figure 2 is a cross-section on line Y, Z, of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a couch with a back, and has the lid raised,
showing another form of the hinges, and
Figure 4 is a cross-section upon line Y, Z, of Figure 3.
Figures 5 to 11 inclusive are various views and details of the hinges.
In Figures 1 and 2 no back is used, and the form of hinge employed is that
shown in Figures 7 and 8 and consists of a long bar having a hinge plate M above
it at one end, and below it at the other end; one plate is screwed to the box and
the other to the lid, and the action will be readily understood by reference to

page_text: Figure 2. In this Figure the lid is shown open on the left, the hinge which is
attached to the box being the one that is opened, so that the long bar lies against
the lid; see Figures 1 and 2. In dotted lines, Figure 2, is shown how the lid opens
to the right, the long bar then lying across the box, and the lid hinge being
opened.
Figures 3 and 4 show a form with a movable back, and the lid is shown open to
the left as in Figures 1 and 2, but the lid and hinge have been brought forward to
allow of the lid being fully opened and resting against the back, as clearly shown
in Figure 4, where in dotted lines the back and lid are shown on the right of the
couch. The back is secured by having projections fitting into sockets upon both
sides of the couch, or by buttons and slotted plates as already described. The form
of hinge shown in Figures 3 and 4 is shown in detail in Figures 9, 10, 11, and 11º,
and consists of a bar A extending across the box and having an independent hinge
at each end. Each hinge has a flat top plate B (Figure 11) and a lower channel
plate C; at the end of the top plate B is a short channel E which when closed forms
a continuation of the lower channel plate C. In Figure 11 the left hand hinge is
closed and the right hand hinge is partly open.
Upon the bar A are blocks D, T shaped in cross section, over which the channel
plates C and E 6t and slide, as shown in the cross section, Figure 11ª; these
blocks D project from the plate A at suitable distances from its ends, as shown in
Figures 10 and 11; C (Figure 11) are stops to prevent the binges being drawn
entirely off the blocks D. The length of bar A and the distance. between the
hinges is regulated by the width of the box and lid. The action of the hinge is as
follows:-
Supposing the lid to be closed, as in Figure 9, and that it is desired to open it
from the left side, as in Figure 11, the back being placed upon the right side, the
lid and hinges attached to it are drawn towards the left in the Drawing, as far as
necessary to allow the lid to clear the back and lean against it when open, as
shown in Figure 4, or until the stops C¹ coming up against the blocks D on the
right of Figure 11 prevent the lid from being pulled any further out. By this
movement the hinge on the left in Figure 11 has got clear of the block D, and the
short channel E on the right has also got clear of block D, so there is no obstruction
to raising the lid, and the blocks D hold the channel plates C sufficiently firmly
whilst the hinges open. To close it again the lid is simply shut down and pushed
horizontally back to its former position.
If the couch is to be reversed the back is placed upon the other side (say the left
hand side in Figure 11), and the operation just described is repeated from the
opposite side, the lid being drawn to the right side instead of to the left as in the
first case.
It will be noticed that the hinge to the left in Figure 11 which is lifted bodily
up would be likely to open by reason of the weight of the channel plate C causing
it to fall away from the top plute B which is secured to the lid. To obviate this
we employ either suitable spring catches to clip the channel plate lightly and just
keep it from falling, as will be readily understood, or we may use a special form of
catch F, Figure 11, which books on to a pin H projecting from the side of the
channel plate C. This catch works stiffly upon its axis at F¹, so as to remain
where it is placed and not fall by its own weight, or it may be kept in place by a
spring, and is provided with a recess F into which as the hinge is drawn forward
a pin or projection G upon the bar A takes and moves it. In Figures 11 and 9
the catch F bas been moved clear of the pin H so that the hinge on the right can
be opened, whilst upon the left hinge the opposite result has been attained by the
same movement. If the lid be moved in the opposite direction (for opening the
other way) the catch upon the left hinge will be unfastened so as to allow that
hinge to open, whilst that upon the right will be fastened so as to hold the hinge
together.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 6, a plan of a device by which the
same result is attained as in Figures 9 to 11. A plate I has a long slot J swelled

page_text: out at J¹, and the plate may be bent down at the outer end and is screwed on to
the box; there are four of these plates at or near the four corners of the box. A
small angle plate K is attached to each corner of the lid, and to this is jointed, so
as to be capable of moving freely in the direction of the length of the slot J, a
headed pin the head of which passed through the enlarged portion J¹ of the slot,
and when drawn along the slot acts as a hinge. In Figure 5 the lid is shown
closed, and to open it it is slightly raised at one side so as to lift the pin at that
side clear of the plate, and is then drawn along as far as necessary and lifted up, as
shown by the dotted lines in Figure 5, the heads of the pins then serving to hold
the lid up by preventing it from falling over backwards, or the lid can be leaned
against the back. The lid can of course be lifted from either side, and the back of
the couch may be placed on either side.
Having now described our Invention and the method of performing the same,
we wish it to be understood that we are aware that a movable back has before now
been used for sofas, and we make no claim to the movable back as previously
employed, but that what we claim and desire to protect under the hereinbefore in
part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. In a box couch a lid-seat arranged to open from either side, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth and shown.
Second. The herein described construction of couch, box, or other article having
a lid arranged to open from either side, substantially as set forth and shown.
Third. In a box couch the employment of a sliding lid-seat which can be drawn
out and opened from either side, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
shown.
Fourth. The herein described construction of hinge in which hinge plates M are
jointed at each end and fold over upon opposite sides of a connecting bar or plate,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth and shown in Figures 1, 2, 7, and 8
of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The double action hinge, substantially as set forth and shown in
Figures 3, 4, and 9 to 11 of the accompanying Drawings, and consisting
essentially of a plate or bar A serving to connect two independent hinges which
become attached to or disconnected from said bar by the sliding of the lid or object
to which one portion of said hinges is fastened.
Sixth. In a hinge the channel plate C and plate B terminating in a short
channel plate E in combination with a block D or their respective mechanical
equivalents, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes set
forth and shown.
Seventh. The combination hinges, substantially as set forth and shown in
Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings, in which headed swing pins L
upon the lid or movable portion of the box or other article operate in conjunction
with slotted plates I upon the box or portion thereof other than the lid.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Parker, have for myself and on
behalf of the said Walter Parker, hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty two.
FREDERICK PARKER. (LS)