Improvements in Wardrobes or Cabinets.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1898-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wardrobes or Cabinets.
I, JOHN ERNEST KENNEDY, of 2364, St. Catherine Street, in the City of Mont-
real, in the County of Hochelaga, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, Merchant,
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 fol-
lowing statement:
-
My invention relates to improvements in wardrobes or cabinets and the object
of the invention is to devise à form of wardrobe from which the garments may
be easily and readily withdrawn and supported in position whereby they may be
conveniently and thoroughly displayed, and yet may be readily and quickly
pushed into the wardrobe case and it consists essentially of a wardrobe divided
into compartments and provided with garment supporting devices and closing
doors for each compartment as hereinafter more particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a wardrobe made in accordance with my inven-
tion showing one of the compartments open and a set of garments displayed.
Fig. 2, is an enlarged sectional perspective view of portion of the wardrobe
case constructed in accordance with my invention showing the extensible rods
in position in the wardrobe and the door closed.
Fig. 3, is a similar view showing the door open and the extensible rods drawn
forth.
Fig. 3, is a perspective detail of the garment hanger removed from the sup-
porting rod.
Fig. 3, is a plan view of Fig. 3.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of one compartment and the dividing up-
rights between it and the next compartment.
Fig. 5, is an enlarged perspective view of the extensible rods.
Fig. 6, is a perspective view of my improved handle and catch for the door.
Fig. 7, is a detail of an alternative form of garment support for the interior
of the compartment.
Fig. 8, is a longitudinal section through the wardrobe showing this form of
compartment.
Fig. 9, is a sectional plan of part of the wardrobe showing the alternative gar-
ment supporting stand partly drawn out.
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
I shall first describe my invention referring particularly to the Figures 1 to 6.
2 is the lower portion of the wardrobe case containing compartments in which
it is designed to hang the clothes and 3 is the upper portion of the wardrobe
containing the drawers in which the stock clothes are designed to be folded. It
will be noted that the upper compartment is narrower than the lower compart-
ment whereby a plat-form is left at the front thereof, which is provided with a
hand rail 4 and a stairs 5 leading up thereto.

page_text: A is the top of the wardrobe, B the back and C the front upright separating
the doors of the wardrobe. D is the front top board and E the door. F is the
top tube, which is supported on the back B by the bracket G, the end of which
extends into the tube and on the top front board by the bracket H, which ex-
tends into the tube.
F is the tube situated next below the tube F and supported thereon by the
carrier brackets I and I', which are suitably brazed or otherwise connected to
the lower tube F¹. The bracket I is preferably provided with grooved rollers i i
journaled therein at the top and bottom of the tube F. The bracket I¹ is pro-
vided with a single grooved roller resting on the tube F. F is the undermost
tube, which is provided with carrier brackets JJ suitably secured at the bottom
to the tube F. The bracket J has journalled in it at the top suitable rollers j
which are designed to run on the tube F¹. The bracket J has suitably journalled
in it at the top the grooved roller which is designed to run upon the tube F¹.
The end of the roller F¹ is provided with a stop collar and handle f and the end
of the tube F3 has secured to it a stop collar fl.
It will be noticed on reference to Fig. 3, that when the tubes are extended
the bracket I', and roller thereon are stopped by the bracket H and the bracket J¹
and roller are stopped by the stop collar f, so that when the tubes are extended
out to their fullest extent the tube is practically entirely outside the compart-
ment of the wardrobe altogether. Such tube F2 is designed to receive and hold
suitable garment supporters from which a number of garments may be hung.
It will be noticed on reference to Fig. 4, that the door E is provided with a
bevelled side e, which side is connected by hinges to the panel K, which has
also a bevelled side against which the bevelled side e fits when the door is
thrown out in alignment as indicated in Fig. 2.
In order to permit of the swinging of the door so that the sides e and may
ebutt each other I make an arc-shaped groove in the front edge of each up-
right C as indicated, the arc of which being of course concentric to the centre
of the hinge.
The panel K is provided with end bars K₁ suitable braces K and the rear
bar L are suitable rollers journalled in plate at each end of the bars K¹
at the top and bottom. The base bars K¹ and rollers L are held and designed
to be moved in suitable guide-ways M. secured to the top and bottom of the ward-
robe casing.
N is a cord connected to the panel K at one end and passing over a pulley n
secured to the frame near the back of the compartment. The cord N has a suit-
able weight N' which is designed to assist the pushing of the door into the com-
partment.
O is a handle L-shaped in form journalled in the centre of a rectangular
block and provided at the inner end with an off-set o, which is designed to be
turned into a notch in the dividing upright C, so as to hold the door closed. The
block is provided with trunnions of by which it is journalled in brackets 02
at the top and the bottom, and in order to permit of the cube or block being turned
I form an addition to the recess 2 in which the block 0¹ fits an arc-shaped re-
cess o concentric to the trunnions o¹.
It will thus be seen that the handle O may be turned down and the cube
swung on the trunnions into the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the door
appears pushed into the casing. When the door is in this position and the tubu-
lar supports drawn out, it will be readily understood that the garments hanging
therefrom on suitable supports as the one indicated in the drawings will be dis-
played to the greatest advantage possible, and may be freely inspected from each
side. It will also be noted that there will be no part of the support of the gar-
ments, which will occupy any floor space outside such wardrobe. After the gar-
ments have been inspected and it is desired to pull out another set for inspection
the tubular support of the inspected set may be pushed in again and the door
pulled out and swung back into position, so as to close the compartment where-

page_text: upon the handle O may be brought to the horizontal so as to cause the catch at
the inner end to engage again and thus keep such door closed.
In order to hold the garments properly draped on the supporting rod I provide
a coat support 6 comprising longitudinal wires 7, twisted together at the centre,
so as to form an open loop or catch 8 and formed at the ends into arches 9. 10
is the vest and trouser support which consists of an upper double hook 11 ar-
ranged to hook over a longitudinal bar 12 as shown. The lower ends of the
support 10 consist of straight bars 14, which are designed to be brought together
at the bottom by a ring 13, which fits ordinarily into a notch 12 and is designed
to pass from such notch down to the wider part of the pendant portion of the
hook, so as to cause the bottom edge bars to close together and securely grip the
trouser and vest. The wire used in such support is of course spring metal.
I shall next describe my invention referring more particularly to Figs. 7 to 9
in which I form the carrier supports for the garments, goods or merchandise in
a different manner.
In this case the interior of the wardrobe is divided into a plurality of equal
compartments a by guide strips a¹ attached to the floor and projecting perpen-
dicularly from the rear to close proximity with the front. The forward ends of
the guide strips a' are provided with two horizontal guide rollers a² placed a short
distance above the floor, one above the other and each slightly on opposite sides
of the central line of the guide strips aim such a manner that the peripheral
surface of each will extend slightly beyond the face of the guide strip on the
side toward which it is set.
Bare a plurality of movable display cars mounted on wheels or casters 6 de-
signed to run on the floor which should be hard and smooth. The front 13 of
the car B is made in imitation of a door which when the car is in position in
the wardrobe entirely fills up the space between its neighboring cars.
Suitable handles bi are provided at the front for drawing the cars out of their
compartments. The sides of the base 2 of the car form guides upon which the
rollers act when the car is being moved out or in. The sides of the 'base b
at the rear end recede slightly as shown so as to guide the car into the entrance
to its compartment more easily, when it has been entirely removed therefrom.
Attached to and projecting slightly beyond the sides of the base near the rear
are provided two rollers + designed to come into rolling contact with the guide
strips and guide the rear end of the car while it is being moved within the
compartment. The rollers are preferably placed at a lower level than the
rollers so that in passing they will not come into contact.
By means of the above arrangement of wheels or casters, rollers and guide
strips the cars can be readily moved from or into their respective compartments
without difficulty, even under a considerable weight of goods.
I merely show an arrangement applicable to the sale of gentlemen's wearing
apparel. The base 62 forms a platform on which are laid two reversely placed
piles of trousers. At a suitable distance above is fixed a narrow shelf 5 on which
is laid two reversely placed piles of vests and between the front partition 133
and rear partition B₁ near the top is fixed a pole 66 on which are hung by hooks
attached thereto coat-spreaders on which are supported coats. The coats, vests
and trousers of a number of suits are thus arranged in a neat form easy of access
and display.
It will thus be seen that I have provided a very efficient means for sup-
porting the garments inside each compartment of the wardrobe case. In some
cases may find it preferable to use the first form I described and in some cases
the latter form.
In both cases, however, the goods are preserved in good condition without
crease or deterioration through dust, light and general wear and tear incident
to the ordinary manner of displaying them piled on tables or exposed shelves.
Besides the goods themselves show to much better advantage as only one carrier
device is intended to be drawn out and displayed at one time for it is well known

page_text: that the best suit never looks well in where garments of all kinds are simulta-
neously displayed on tables or shelves.
In practice I use the upper sets of drawers in the top compartment for reserved
stock. When the suit is removed from one of the lower compartments a simi-
lar one may be drawn from the reserved stock and put in its place and thus a
single sample of all goods in stock may be kept in the display wardrobe.
Although I describe my support as applicable to garments it will of course
be understood that it may be employed to exhibit various dry goods and in fact
other commodities.
The utility of my wardrobe will be readily understood when exhibiting gar-
ments of various descriptions especially in large shops where there would be
several of these compartments provided all ranging along side of each other.
Again although I describe my garment support as being tubular in form it
will be of course understood that I consider any suitable form of bar or rod in
lieu thereof as equivalents.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A cabinet or wardrobe open in front, a plurality of goods carriers adapted
to fit thereon and means for independently, partially or wholly removing such
cars therefrom, as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a wardrobe, divided into a series of compartments, a rod or bar for each
compartment located in the upper end of the compartment and supported by a
suitable frame and arranged to be with-drawable from such compartment as
and for the purpose specified.
3. In a wardrobe, a garment support comprising the main bar having a suit-
able support at each end, and the supplemental bars, and carrier brackets con-
necting the supplemental bars to each other and supporting them upon the main
tubular bar whereby the supplemental bars may be extended lengthwise from
underneath the main bar as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a wardrobe, a garment support comprising the main tubular bar, suit-
able end brackets supporting the same on the front and back of the wardrobe, a
supplemental tube and suitable carriers for same, whereby it may be extended
lengthwise and supported by the main tube as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a wardrobe, a garment support comprising the top tubular bar, end
· brackets supporting the same on the front and back of the wardrobe, the supple-
mental lower tubes and the carrier brackets provided with suitable rollers and
secured to the lower tubes at the inner ends and intermediate of their lengths
as and for the purpose specified.
6. In a wardrobe, in combination the back, the front top board, the upper
tube, the end brackets for same, the intermediate and lower tube, the carrier
brackets secured on the end of the lower tubes and intermediate of their lengths
and the stop collar and handle on the intermediate tube as and for the purpose
specified.
7. In a wardrobe, in combination, the back, the front top board, the upper
tube, the end brackets for same, the intermediate and lower tube, the carrier
brackets secured on the ends of the lower tubes and intermediate of their length,
the stop collar and handle on the intermediate tube, and the stop collar on the
end of the lower tube as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a wardrobe, the combination with the back and ton board and extensible
tubes supported thereon as specified, of the door designed to close the front open-
ing of the wardrobe, the panel to which the door is hinged, suitable supporting
rollers for the bottom of the panel, and guide-ways for such rollers whereby
when the door is swung open on a line with the panel, such door may be pushed
inwardly as and for the purpose specified.
9. In a wardrobe, in combination the side upright provided with an arc-shaped

page_text: groove at the front edge thereof, the panel provided with a front bevelled edge
the door hinged thereto and provided with a reversely bevelled edge designed
to abutt the bevelled edge of the panel when swung open in alignment as and
for the purpose specified.
10. In a wardrobe, in combination a suitable casing a panel supported therein
in suitable guide-ways, the door hinged to the panel and a cord and weight at-
tached to the inner end of the panel as and for the purpose specified.
11. In a device of the class described, a panel recedably supported in the com-
partment, the door hinged thereto and provided with a recess in the locking-
style, a cube provided with suitable trunnions journalled in the top and bottom
of the recess and an L-shaped handle extending horizontally through the cube
and provided with a lateral projection on the inside designed to catch in the re-
cess in the upright as and for the purpose specified.
12. In a wardrobe, a locking device comprising a cube journalled in the top
and bottom of the recess in the door having an arc-shaped vertical side, an L-
shaped handle journalled in the cube and provided with a lateral locking pro-
jection, the said cube being designed to be rotated horizontally on its pivot, so
as to throw the handle down and around in alignment with the edge of the door
as and for the purpose specified.
13. A cabinet or wardrobe open in front, a plurality of goods carriers adapted
to fit therein, and supported on rollers, wheels, or casters, the fronts of such
bars made in the form of doors so as to close the front of the cabinet or wardrobe
when in place, the handles attached to the front thereof, and means for guiding
the said carriers while being moved in or out of said cabinet or wardrobe as and
for the purpose specified.
14. A cabinet or wardrobe open in front, a plurality of display cars supported
on rollers, wheels or casters and rear partition B¹ the front partition B2 adapted
to completely close front of wardrobe or cabinet when all are in place, the
handle 6, the base 6ª forming a shelf suitable for placing trousers or the shelf be
suitable for vests, the rod 6 suitable for supporting coats, means for guiding the
said display car when moved in or out of wardrobe, the shelves arranged above
wardrobe and the steps 5 leading thereto as and for the purpose specified.
15. In a wardrobe having a garment supporting rod or tube, a coat support
comprising a cross bar having at each end an upwardly extending laterally ar-
ranged arch-shaped form and a hook in the centre whereby it is supported upon
the tube as and for the purpose specified.
16. In a wardrobe having a garment supporting rod or tube, the combination
with the coat support having an arch-shaped form at the ends and a central loop
or notch, of the trousers and vest support comprising the arched clamping bars
and compressible hook pendant and ring all arranged as shown and for the pur-
pose specified.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant,