Improvements in Movable Partitions.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Movable Partitions.
I, JOHN WILKS, of Thornaby-on-Tees, in the County of York, Commercial
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to partitions such as are employed for dividing school
rooms class rooms and similar apartments and is designed to provide for the better
and more economical construction of such.
In carrying out the invention I construct the leaves or sections of the partitions
of suitable form preferably connected or hinged together and I suspend same from
above by means of a bracket or cross head or other device running upon one or two
rails. The bracket or cross head is attached to the leaf of the partition in such a
way as to sustain the whole weight thereof. At the bottom the leaf is provided
with a pin or stud or with a cross head or T piece running in a groove formed in
the floor. The use of a T piece will prevent it being withdrawn from the groove
and it may be furnished with runners to prevent friction.
To prevent the doors or leaves of the partition being pulled away from the wall
I provide a spring stop or catch top and bottom or in other convenient position
with which the edge of the leaf engages.
When the partition is required away
from the wall this catch can be released. This stop or catch may be operated by
a weight or spring.
To the floor or ceiling or both may be attached a bar bracket or slide and to the
partition a pulley or slide to bear against such bar or bracket whilst the partition
is swivelling to direct the movement thereof.
Arms may also be connected to the leaf or door to guide it and to keep it plumb
or upright whilst swivelling. These are preferably hinged or connected by a pin
or pivot or the like to allow of the desired movement and play. These guide arms
may be fixed to the leaf or door as described or as an alternative may be attached
to the wall or wall piece or otherwise arranged to give the desired support to the
partition.
A bar bracket or slide similar to that above described may also be attached to
one leaf or section of the partition and a runner or slide to the adjacent part of
the partition.
Two or more sections of the partition may be connected together by spring
catches or the like so as to be detachable when required.
Many of these improvements may also be applied to partitions supported at the
bottom as well as when suspended from above.
Dated this 21st day of June 1905.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Movable Partitions.
I, JOHN WILKS, of Thornaby-on-Tees, in the County of York, Commercial
Traveller, 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 relates to partitions such as are employed for dividing school
rooms class rooms and similar apartments and is designed to provide for the better
and more economical construction of sucb.
It consists essentially in applying to the one edge of the leaves or sections a
stationary catch which will prevent it travelling along the groove while the other
edge is being turned or swivelled forward and in pivoting to the leaves or sections
arms or links one end of each of which is pivoted to the leaf or section and the
other end carries a bracket which traverses the groove to maintain the leaf or
section upright when swivelling and moving to and fro.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation showing the invention applied to one form of partition.
Fig. 2. Side elevation of same.
Fig. 3. Plan.
Fig. 4. Front elevation showing the invention applied to another partition.
Fig. 5. End elevation of same.
Fig. 6. Plan.
Fig. 7. Front elevation showing the invention applied to another partition.
Fig. 8. End elevation of same.
Fig. 9. Plan.
Fig. 10. Front elevation showing another modification of the invention.
Fig. 11. Eud elevation.
Fig. 12. Plan of one leaf or section.
Fig. 13. Plan of one leaf or section showing a further modification.
Figs. 14 and 15. Enlarged details of suitable spring catches.
The partitions are constructed with a number of leaves or sections A of any
ordinary or suitable form pivoted centrally or at one edge and supported either
from above or below by means of a bracket or crosshead B running upon one or
two rails C C¹
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 one part of my present invention is shown as applied
to a partition the sections or leaves of which are pivoted at one edge and may be
supported at either the top or bottom. To prevent the doors or leaves A of the
partition being pulled away from the wall I provide a stop or spring catch D top
and bottom or in other convenient position with which the edge of the leaf engages.
The catch DI prefer to make with a spring so that the leaves may be pushed past
it should they be swivelled before they come behind it. The catch engages with
one edge of the leaf and prevents it being drawn forward until the leaf is again
swivelled or turned into its normal position. The catches D may be applied either
to the top or bottom of the leaf or section or to both top and bottom thereof as
found most suitable.
Referring to Figs. 4 to 6 the other part of my invention is shown as applied to
partition the sections or leaves of which are pivoted on their central axes and are
supported at the top. The leaves A are suspended from above by means of a
bracket or cross head B or other device running upon one or two rails C C'. The
bracket or cross head B is attached to the leaf of the partition in such a way as to
sustain the whole weight thereof. At the bottom the leaf is provided with a pin
or stud or with a cross head or T piece E running in a groove formed in the floor

page_text: The use of a T piece will prevent it being withdrawn from the groove and it may
be furnished with runners to prevent friction. To the leaves or sections A. I also
connect arms or links G to guide them and keep them plumb or upright whilst
swivelling. The arms or links G are pivoted to the leaves or sections top or bottom by
a pin or pivot H carried by a suitable bracket to allow of the desired movement and
play. To the free end of the arm or link G is pivoted a bracket or T piece g
which traverses the groove K and maintains the leaf upright. At the side of the
groove both top and bottom I place spring catches D which engage with the ends
of the links and prevent them moving forward in the groove K whilst the leaves
are swivelled across the groove.
Referring to Figs. 7 to 9 my invention is shown as applied to a partition the
leaves or sections A of which are pivoted at their centres and are supported at the
bottom. To the bottom of each leaf is fitted a bracket or cross head B carrying a
runner traversing the rail C. To the leaves or sections A are pivoted the arms G
with a piece or bracket g running in the auxiliary groove K'. Similar arms are
pivoted both top and bottom to maintain the leaves or sections always in an upright
position. At the sides of the grooves both top and bottom I place studs or spring
catches D which engage with the ends of the arms G when the leaves are swivelled
across the groove and hold them in that position until the leaves are swivelled or
turned back again.
Referring to Figs. 10 to 12 the invention is shown applied to a partition the
sections or leaves A of which are pivoted at their centres and are suspended from
above. To each leaf or section are attached extending arms G¹ one at each side
carrying runners g' and along the sides of the groove in the top plate are placed longi-
The leaves
tudinal strips L and M which extend for the most part across the room.
of the partition fit between these and are by them prevented swivelling to one
On the
side or the other except when run clear of them at one side of the room.
under side of these the runners gl bear and prevent any canting of the leaves or
sections and thus prevent any jambing or locking when sliding. When the leaves
are swivelled at one side of the room these arms are clear of the strips L and M
and when swivelled the leaves are held upright by catches such as D placed top
and bottom.
In Fig. 13 the runners g' are carried by brackets affixed to or let into the
side of the leaf or section and act in a similar manner or run inside the strips L
and M.
In Figs. 14 and 15 are shown suitable forms of spring catches.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I now declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a movable swivelling partition the combination with the leaves or sections
of catches placed top and bottom to engage with the edges of the leaves when
swivelled and hold them in position substantially as described.
2. In a movable swivelling partition the combination with the leaves or sections
of the arms or links pivoted thereto top and bottom with brackets or T pieces to
slide in the groove to maintain them upright with or without spring catches to
hold them when swivelled across the groove substantially as described and
shown.
3. A movable swivelling partition constructed substantially as described and
shown with reference either to Figs. 1 to 3, Figs. 4 to 6, Figs. 7 to 9, or Figs. 10
to 13 of the drawings.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.