Improvements in the Manufacture of Bamboo Furniture.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Bamboo Furniture.
I, WILLIAM FREDRICK NEEDHAM, of Camden Works, Camden Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of furniture made of
bamboo canes, such as tables, chairs, stands, cots, or other articles; and its object
is to provide improved means for connecting and securing together the junctional
parts forming such structures, as hereinafter described.
One method of carrying out this my invention is preferably done in combination
with an invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me, numbered 2383,
and bearing date February 17th, 1888, and this arrangement I will first describe.
Assuming for instance, the application of this my invention, to the connecting
and securing of two rails (at right angles to each other) to an upright, or leg,
I proceed somewhat thus :-The end of one of the said rails, being encircled with a
metallic wrapped band, I secure to such band a screw nut. This screw nut consists
of a piece of metal stretching across the end of the bamboo, and connected to the
metallic mount in any suitable manner, generally by turning a portion of the said
mount at each side over it. In the centre of this piece a tapped hole is provided,
forming the screw nut.
Again, upon the end of the other rail, a similar mount is provided, and also a
screw nut. This nut however, is rather different in shape, it being somewhat of
a T shape, its base being secured to the mount, in the manner already described,
while its other part extends forward, having a tapped hole formed therein near its
end. At that part of the upright or pillar where the junction is effected, a hole is
made, through which a screw pin is passed, the said screw first passing through the
tapped hole in the T piece aforesaid, and thence into and through the nut in the
other rail, thus firmly uniting the two rails to the upright. The outer end of
the screw is preferably fitted with an ornamental terminal. If three rails at the
one junction are to be united, the two rails forming the straight through rails, are
provided each with a T piece as before described, the said screw passing through
these before passing into the nut in the third piece.
At
In a modification of this my invention, I may secure the screw nut in the rail as
follows:-I provide a dowel (rather long) to fit into the interior of the rail.
the inside end of this dowel, or, embedded in its side, is the screw nut (preferably
the former). This dowel with the nut in it, is now glued, or otherwise fastened
in the rail. In cases where one only of such rails is to be secured, the before-
mentioned screw pin, is passed through the upright into the screwnut in the
dowel-a central hole being made down the latter for that purpose-and the two
are thus firmly secured to cach other. In cases where two or more rails are to be
secured, I further provide in the other or cross rail or rails, an eye piece standing
out therefrom, through which the screw pin may also pass, when passing through
the upright into the nut, in the first rail. This eye piece may consist of a screw
eye, screwed into a dowel which is first glued or otherwise secured within the rail,
its eye standing out therefrom a distance corresponding to the centre of the upright,
so that the screw pin may pass therethrough before passing into the screw nut in
the first named rail.
The method of forming and attaching this eye piece may however be varied.
A very important feature in this my invention is, that this improved method of
connecting the parts together, permits of their being readily taken to pieces, and

page_text: packed for shipment or other transit, in a much more portable form, as they can
again be readily put together with little or no skill.
Dated this 11th day of Anril 1890.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Bamboo Furniture.
I, WILLIAM FREDRICK NEEDHAM, of Camden Works, Camden Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, 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 improvements in the manufacture of furniture made of
bamboo canes, such as, tables, chairs, stands, cots or other articles; and its object
is to provide improved means for connecting and securing together the junctional
parts forming such structures as hereinafter described.
I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
in which :-
Fig. 1 is a part sectional elevation of junctional parts, showing this my improved
method of fastening.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the rail b, showing the position and method of fixing of
the screw nut part of the fastening.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on line A-B.
Figs. 4 & 5 are detached detailed views of parts shown in Figs. 1 & 3.
Fig. 6 is a part sectional elevation, and Fig. 7 a sectional plan on line 0-D, of
a modified application of this my invention.
Fig. 8 is
sectional plan view, and Fig. 9 à detailed view of the same, showing a
further modification of this my invention.
Fig. 10 is a further sectional plan view of a modified form of my invention,
Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line E-F.
Figs. 12 & 13 are detached detailed views of the screw pin used in Fig. 10.
Fig. 14 shows a further modification in sectional plan view of this my invention,
Fig. 15 being a detached detailed view of one of the parts therein used.
Fig. 16 shows modified forms, and application of the securing pins, and Figs. 17
& 18 show detached detailed views of the said securing pins, each according to this
my invention.
Throughout the several views similar letters of reference refer to the same thing
or part.
One method of carrying out this my invention preferably done in combination
with an invention for which Letters Patent were granted to me, and numbered 2383,
and bearing date February 17th 1888. This arrangement is shown in Figs. 1, 2,
3 & 4.
The detail arrangement of these my improvements may be considerably varied
without departing from the nature of the invention.
I will first describe it as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5.
a, is an upright to which it is desired to secure the rails 6 & c. These parts are
mounted with metallic bands d, e, & f. I now secure to the rail b, the screw nut g.
This screw nut consists of a piece of metal stretching across the end of the bamboo,
and connected to the metallic mount e in any suitable manner, generally by turning
a portion h, h, of the said mount at each side over it. In the centre of this piece a
tapped hole i, is provided, forming the screw nut.
Again, upon the end of the other rail e, a similar mount is provided, and also a
screw nut j, see also Fig. 4. This nut j, however, is rather different in shape, it
being somewhat of a T shape, its base k, being secured to the mount, in the manner
already described, whilst .its other part extends forward, having a tapped hole
formed therein near its end. At that part of the upright or pillar a, where the

page_text: junction is effected, a hole is made through which a screw pin m is passed, the said
screw first passing through the tapped hole in the T piece j aforesaid, and thence
into and through the nut y, in the other rail b, thus firmly uniting the two rails b
&c to the upright a. The outer end of the screw m is preferably fitted with an
ornamental terminal as seen for instance in Fig. 5.
In Figs. 6 & 7, I have shown how three of such rails 1, c' & n may be secured
to the pillar A'. In this case the base of the nut j¹ is shown circular, and which
is shown in Fig. 6 as being secured by the mount e, in the same manner as shown
in Figs. 1 & 2. It will also be here noticed that the extended part (see Fig. 7)
is placed a little to the one side to permit of a corresponding position. of the piece o
which secured the rail n. I have here modified the form of the piece o from that
of j, by making therein a hole to receive the cross pin p, which is passed through
the bamboo n, and thus dispensing with the base k, or '. In either or both cases,
either or both of these forms may be adopted. In the case of the rail c', I have
shown the nut similar to that in Figs. 1, 2 & 3. The pin m³ is now passed
through the upright a', then through the pieces o & j', and then into the nut g',
which thus secures the whole together.
In Figs. 8 & 9 I have shown a modification in which I provide a dowel q (rather
long), to fit into the interior of the rail 63. At the inside end of this dowel the
screw nut is placed. This dowel with the nut g² in it, is now glued, or otherwise
fastened in the rail. In cases where one only of such rails is to be secured the
screw pin m², is now passed through the upright a, into the screw nut y³, in the
dowel q, a central hole being made down the latter for that purpose,-and
the two are thus firmly secured to each other. In cases where two or more rails
are to be secured, I further provide in the other or cross rail or rails; an eye piece r
standing out therefrom, through which the screw pin m² may also pass, when
passing through the upright into the nut 92, in the first rail b². This eye piece
may consist of a screw eye, screwed into a dowel, or nut s, its eye standing out
therefrom a distance corresponding to the centre of the upright.
In Figs. 10, 11, 12, & 13 I have shown a slight modification in which the screw
nut g is inserted in the side or middle of the dowel q', the screw pin m³ passing
thereinto as before. This screw pin m³ may be furnished with an ornamental head,
as seen, for instance, in Figs. 5 & 13.
In Figs. 14 & 15, instead of the screw eye r (see Figs. 8 & 9) I may employ the
pint, having a hole u, through which the screw pin m² passes. This pint is also
furnished with a second hole through which the cross pin w is passed. This pin
may not have a head, or, it may have an ornamental one as shown, and which may
afterwards be turned down as shown.
In Figs. 16, 17 & 18 I show a modified form wherein the securing pin t¹ is passed
through the upright a, and driven as a nail into the dowel q³. This pin being
provided with a hole u' through which the second pin t2 passes into the dowel q*.
It will be clearly seen that although I have shown the encircling metallic bands
around the junctional parts of the bamboo in most of the figures illustrated, it
is not in every case necessary, nor do these bands form any part of this my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. The combination with the upright pillar a, screw pin m,
of the screw nut g,
secured to the rail b, substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 3, and for
the purposes specified.
2. The combination with the upright a, rail b, nut g, and pin m, of the extended
nut secured to the rail c, substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4,
and for the purposes specified.
3. The modified combination with the upright a', pin m³, nut j³, rail b², nut j¹,

page_text: rail c', of the piece o, having the cross pin p, and the rail n, all operating sub-
stantially as shown in Figs. 6 & 7, and for the purposes specified.
4. The modified combination with the upright a', rail b³, and pin m², of the nut
or nut 9, embedded in the dowel 9, substantially as set forth, as illustrated in
Figs. 8 & 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.
5. The modified combination with the upright a², rail b², nut g² & pin m², of the
eye piece secured to the rail c², substantially as set forth and illustrated in
Figs. 8 & 9.
6. The modified combination with the upright a', rail b, pin m² and nut 9, of the
pint, and cross pin to, and rail c substantially as set forth and shown in Figs. 14
& 15.
7. The modified combination with the upright as, rail b, dowel q³, and the rail es
with dowel, of the pins and 2 engaging with each other and with their
respective dowels in the manner described and shown in Figs. 16, 17 & 18.
8. The general combination and arrangement of any of the several parts herein
described and illustrated, constituting a fastening, for securing the junctional parts
of bamboo furniture together substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of January 1891.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.