A FOOTSTOOL AND HASSOCK COMBINED
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Durant Cumming, of St. James's, Middlesex,
for the Invention of "A FOOTSTOOL AND HASSOCK COMBINED."-A com-
munication.
Sealed the 26th September 1856, and dated the 27th March 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Durant Cumming
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th March 1856.
I, RICHARD DURANT COMMING, of St. James's, Middlesex, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention for A FOOTSTOOL AND HASSOCK COMBINED, (a
communication from abroad), to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in forming a footstool and hassock combined, in such
manner, that when not required as a hassock it may be used as a footstool,
and vice versa. In the centre of two upright supports is attached by pivots a
flat board, extending from one support to the other and at right angles thereto;
one side of this board is formed as a cushion, and covered with velvet or other
material to kneel upon. When required to be used as a footstool, the board
is reversed or turned over on its axis; or the board may be fixed instead of
turning upon pivots, and a leaf or board of equal length and width hinged to
the back thereof, which may be let down over the cushion when required as a
footstool, or to preserve the cushion from dust.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Durant Cumming in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th September 1856..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
DURANT CUMMING, of St. James', Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Ierself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Richard Durant Cumming, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Durant
Cumming, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Richard Durant Cumming, my executors, administrators, and assigns.
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times: thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A
FOOTSTOOL AND HASSOCK COMBINED," (a communication from abroad,) upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Ricliard Durant Cumming, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument, in, writing under my or their
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the, said: Invention,, and in what, manner the same was to
be performed, and, cause the same to be; filed, in the, Great Seal, Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the dater of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard, Durant Cumming, do hereby
leclare the nature of the said Invention, and in which inanner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This Invention consists in forming a hassock and footstool combined, in such
manner, that when not required as a bassock it may be used as a footstool,
and vice versa. At each end of the frame I attach by pivots. a flat board,
extending from one end to the other. One side of this board is formed as a
cushion, and covered with velvet or other material to kncel upon. When
required, to be used as a footstool, the board is reversed or turned over upon
its axis; or the board may be fixed instead of turning upon pivots, and'a leaf
or board of equal length and breadth hinged to the back thereof, which may
be let down over the cushion when required as a footstool, or to preserve the
cushion from dust.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, I will now proceed
to explain the manner in which the same may be carried into effect. For
this purpose, I prefer to use the first-mentioned modification, as possessing the
advantages of superior neatness and simplicity, and as occupying less space than
where an additional board is employed.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a front elevation of the combined
footstool and hassock with the board in position to serve the purposes of a
footstool; Fig. 2 is a plan of the foregoing; Fig. 3, an end elevation of the
same, having one of the end supports removed for the purpose of shewing the
board more clearly; and Fig. 4, a similar elevation, with the board turned
over, so as to present the cushioned side thereof uppermost for kneeling upon.
The same parts are marked with the same letters of reference throughout.
a represents the board, supported by means of the pivots b, formed therewith,
and turning in holes formed in the supports c. The side d of the board a may
either be left plain, or covered with carpet or other suitable material, for
resting the feet upon, when that side is turned uppermost to serve the purposes
of a footstool; the other side e being cushioned, and covered with velvet
or other suitable material, to serve as a hassock for kneeling upon. When
used as a footstool, a portion of the board a, situated behind the pivots,
and which for the sake of distinction is marked a', rests upon and is partly
supported by the bracket pieces f, but when turned over, so as to present the
cushioned side e of the board a uppermost, the opposite surfaces of the parts
a of the board rest upon and are partly supported by the front portions of
the bracket pieces f.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be
understood that what I claim in respect thereof is, the construction of a
combined footstool and hassock, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Durant Cumming, havo hereto
set my hand and scal, this 27th day of September 1856.
R. D. (L.S.)
(L.S.) CUMMING.