An Improved Adjustable Gripping Device for Shelf Brackets, and for Use in Hanging Pictures and for other purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: An Improved Adjustable Gripping Device for Shelf Brackets, and for
Use in Hanging Pictures, and for other purposes.
I, BENJAMIN SMITH, of Stone-roofed House, Widcombe Hill, Bath, Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved adjustable gripping device for the
brackets of book and other shelves, and for use in hanging pictures, and for
other purposes.
The device consists of a sleeve, of brass, steel, iron, or other suitable metal,
at one side of which is a slot open to the sleeve and to a chamber in which is
contained a ball of steel or other suitable metal superposed on a spiral spring,
the lower end of which bears against the inner face of the bottom of the
chamber which forms a pocket for the spring. The chamber has a sloping or
inclined side, so made that the ball aforesaid is caused to project through the
slot into the sleeve to an extent which increases with the height to which the
ball is raised by the spiral spring.
By virtue of this arrangement, the ball as it rises exerts an increasingly
tight grip upon a rod or post embraced by the sleeve. The sleeve may either
be a complete tube or it may be divided vertically and fitted with a hinge or
hinges so as to enable the appliance to be readily put on to a fixed rod or post,
without requiring to be slid on from either end of such rod or post.
Movement of the ball is controlled by a plunger which extends upwards in
the chamber and out at the top thereof and has its lower end in contact with
the ball. By exerting a downward pressure upon the plunger, the ball is pushed
down and the spiral spring compressed. The ball as it descends recedes into
the chamber and thus the grip thereof is withdrawn from the rod or post
embraced by the sleeve, which latter is, when the grip is sufficiently relaxed,
free to be slid up or down.
The sleeve carries a holding device which varies according to the purpose to
which the gripping device is applied.
In the application of this invention to the adjustment and support of single-
arm brackets for book and other shelves, the web of the bracket extends from
the sleeve, and is furnished with ledges for the shelves to be supported on. In
a double or compound bracket, the webs thereof support the ends of four
shelves.
In the application of this invention to hanging pictures which are below
given dimensions or weight, two of the gripping devices are employed and are
arranged to grip on one and the same rod which is hooked to the usual hori-
zontal rod. To the uppermost gripping device is attached one end of a chain
which, at the other end, is fixed to the picture frame. The bottom of the picture
ת
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page_text: frame rests in a claw formed on the lower gripping device. By the latter the
picture is supported, and by the upper gripping device the angle to which the
picture inclines is adjusted. With heavier pictures, two rods and four gripping
devices are preferably employed.
Obviously, the gripping device which constitutes this invention is applicable
to hat and coat pegs, to easels, and to various kinds of brackets and supports.
Instead of the spiral spring for raising the ball, a cam or counterweighted
lever or the like may be used.
Dated this 28th day of November 1898.
An Improved Adjustable Gripping Device for Shelf Brackets and for
Use in Hanging Pictures, and for other purposes.
I, BENJAMIN SMITH, of Stone-roofed House, Widcombe Hill, Bath, Builder,
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 consists in an improved adjustable gripping device for the
brackets of book and other shelves, and for use in hanging pictures, and for
other purposes.
The device consists of a sleeve of brass, steel, iron, or other suitable metal,
at one side of which is a slot open to the sleeve and to a chamber in which is
contained a ball of steel or other suitable metal, superposed on a spiral spring,.
the lower end of which bears against the inner face of the bottom of the
chamber which forms a pocket for the spring. The chamber has a sloping or
inclined side, so made that the ball aforesaid is caused to project through the
slot into the sleeve to an extent which increases with the height to which the
ball is raised by the spiral spring.
By virtue of this arrangement, the ball as it rises exerts an increasingly
tight grip upon a rod or post embraced by the sleeve. The sleeve may either
be a complete tube or it may be divided vertically and fitted with a hinge or
hinges so as to enable the appliance to be readily put on to a fixed rod or post,
without requiring to be slid on from either end of such rod or post.
Movement of the ball is controlled by a plunger which extends upwards in
the chamber and out at the top thereof and has its lower end in contact with
the ball. By exerting a downward pressure upon the plunger, the ball is pushed
down and the spiral spring compressed. The ball as it descends recedes into
the chamber and thus the grip thereof is withdrawn from the rod or post
embraced by the sleeve, which latter is, when the grip is sufficiently relaxed,
free to be slid up or down.
In the application of this invention to the adjustment and support of single-
arm brackets for book and other shelves, the web of the bracket extends from
the sleeve, and is furnished with ledges for the shelves to be supported on. In
a double or compound bracket, the webs thereof each support the ends of four
shelves.
In the application of this invention to hanging pictures which are below
given dimensions or weight, two of the gripping devices are employed and are
arranged to grip on one and the same rod which is hooked to the usual hori-

page_text: zontal rod. To the uppermost gripping device is attached one end of a chain'
which, at the other end, is fixed to the picture frame. The bottom of the picture
frame rests in a claw formed on the lower gripping device. By the latter the
picture is supported, and by the upper gripping device the angle to which the
picture inclines is adjusted. With heavier pictures, two rods and four gripping
devices are preferably employed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in elevation my
improved adjustable gripping appliance which is thereat shown embracing a
post a and carrying a single -arm bracket for supporting book shelves, or shelves
for other purposes. Fig. 2 shows the appliance in vertical section.
The appliance consists of a sleeve b having at one side a slot c open to the
sleeve and to a chamber d in which is a ball e of steel or other suitable metal
superposed on a spiral spring f, the lower end of which bears upon a plug g
constituting the bottom of the chamber & which forms a pocket for the spring f.
The chamber d is inclined from the bottom inwards as it is continued upwards,
as seen at Fig. 2, the angle of inclination shown in which is that which I have
found in practice most suitable as affording firmness of grip and ease of release.
It is, approximately, 13 degrees.
Prior to placing the appliance on the post a, the ball e is depressed suffi-
ciently down into the chamber d by the exertion of adequate pressure through
the medium of the plunger h. When the appliance has been adjusted to the
place where it is required to remain, the pressure on the ball e is withdrawn
and the ball, rising up, is also forced against the post a and binds thereon,
thus securely holding the appliance at the place to which it has been adjusted.
Release is, as will be readily understood, effected by pushing down the ball e
by means of the plunger h and so moving the ball out of contact with the post a.
The sleeve, instead of being an undivided socket, as shown, may be divided
and fitted with hinges so as to adapt the appliance to embrace a fixed post such
as a or the like, without necessitating being slid on from either end of such
post.
At Fig. 3 the appliance is shown as carrying a pair of brackets for supporting
shelves which rest at the ends on lugs i projecting from the brackets. Similar
lugs are seen at Fig. 1.
At Fig. 4 is illustrated in front view and at Fig. 5 in side view my improved
gripping appliance as adapted for hanging pictures which do not exceed a given
weight or given dimensions, that is to say, pictures comparatively small or
light. Two grippers are employed and they grip on the same rod ; which is
hooked to an ordinary picture-hanging rail k.
The lowermost gripper carries a bracket on which the bottom rail of the
picture frame would rest. The uppermost gripper carries the chain m with
screw n such as are ordinarily used for regulating the angle at which a picture
is to lean, the screw being, as is well understood, screwed into the backing of
the picture frame.
At Fig. 6 is shown the arrangement for hanging heavier or larger pictures.
The arrangement is a duplication of that above described with reference to
Figs. 4 and 5; like letters of reference indicating like parts.
Obviously, the gripping device which constitutes this invention is applicable
to hat and coat pegs to easels and to various kinds of brackets and supports.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
An improved gripping device for supporting book and other shelves, and for
use in hanging pictures and for other purposes; the said device consisting of
a sleeve such as b, or the like, having a slot or aperture such as c opening into
the sleeve and into an inclined pocket or chamber such as d containing a spring
such as f and a ball such as e superposed on the spring; the whole being
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page_text: arranged that by the rising of the ball on the inclined plane the appliance
binds on a post such as a or on other surface, and that when a downward
pressure is exerted on the ball the grip is relaxed, substantially as hereinabove
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dit
09
1000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.