Supporting Devices.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May. 1887.
Specification Accepted, 8th July, 1887.
Supporting Devices.
We, ALFRED VALENTINE MAYO trading as Wixley & Co., of 11 Fore Street, and
JOHN ISAAC LEE of 16 Craven Buildings, Strand, both in the County of Middlesex,
Shop Fitters, 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 :-
:-
The object of this invention is to provide a bracket of simple and inexpensive
construction which can be readily adjusted to any desired angle and maintained in
such position without the use of screw or other fastener. The bracket may be used for
a variety of purposes but is especially adapted for the display of articles in exhibitions
or shops.
In the accompanying drawings we have represented a few of the different forms in
which the bracket may be constructed but it will be observed that the essential feature
of the invention, namely the method of adjusting and maintaining the bracket at the
desired angle, is the same in each case.
The bracket A shown in figure 1 is constructed so as to afford a considerable scope
for inclination on either side of the horizontal line as indicated by dotted lines. The
curved portion A¹ of the bracket is formed rectangular in section and passes through
a hole or slot formed in the enlarged portion B of the collar B₁ which slides upon a
vertical rod and is secured at the desired height by the thumb screw D. The slot in B
may be either curved or straight the latter form being preferred for facility of
construction. When the bracket has been adjusted to the proper angle the weight
of the carrying end A causes the curved portion A¹ to "bind" in the slot through
which it passes and this binding tendency increases with every increase of weight
upon the bracket and is practically equal at whatever angle the bracket may be
placed.
The bracket shown in figure 2 is a modification of the foregoing being capable of
inclination in a downward direction only. In other respects it is similar and like
letters of reference are used to indicate the various parts.

page_text: The bracket shown in figure 3 is designed to carry a boot or shoe. In this case
the tail piece A¹ is curved to a short radius which admits of greater difference in the
angle of inclination whilst the binding tendency is if anything, increased.
When it is desired to attach the bracket to a flat surface the curved end may be
passed through a slot formed in a metal plate which may be screwed to a shelf wall
or table as shown in figures 4 and 5. where A represents the bracket and E the holding
or binding device secured to the main support by screws e. Instead of the slotted
binding device being a fixture it may be formed on the bracket or other article to be
supported and the curved piece or quadrant A' may be fixed.
It is evident that the form of the bracket has little or nothing to do with the
merits of our invention so long as it is provided with one or more curved pieces or
quadrants corresponding to the parts lettered A¹ in the accompanying drawings. It is
also evident that the invention is applicable to shelves, reading tables and to a variety
of
purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The method of retaining or fixing brackets, shelves or other articles at any
desired angle by means of a quadrant or curved portion such as A¹ passing through
an opening in a support, either the support or the quadrant being fixed substantially
as specified.
2. A bracket or support A having a quadrant such as A¹ which permits the bracket
to be inclined either above or below the horizontal line substantially as specified and
shown in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
3. A bracket or support A having a quadrant such as A¹ which permits the bracket
to be inclined either above or below the horizontal line substantially as specified and
shown in figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
A. V. MAYO.
J. I. LEE.