IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1879., A communication
from abroad by Frank Grant Johnson, of Brooklyn, New York, United States
of America.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR
BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES." [A communication from abroad by Frank Grant
Johnson, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to that class of stands in which shelf holders are capable
of being freely rotated about a central supporting column fixed to a moveable bar,
and which stands may be readily changed in position upon the floor for convenience
as required. A stand constructed according to the said Invention is not limited to
carrying books, but may be easily adapted by an arrangement of shelves to carry
paper files, dental or other tools, and many other articles requiring compartments
in a position convenient for use.
The 'said improvements comprise such a construction of the several parts, and
so making the same interchangeable as to admit of ready dismounting and compact
packing for transportation and remounting with ease and facility, together with the
novel construction and combination of the parts as hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I make the said stand of cast iron
for cheapness, strength, and durability, which iron when properly japanned may be
finished and ornamented in colors to suit various tastes and conditions of purchasers.
A cast iron base resting directly on the floor or upon casters is provided with a
central top, the centre of which is bored to take the threaded end of an iron rod or
gas pipe cut to the proper length for the height required, and which combined
constitute the stationary base of the apparatus, and is designed to support the
carrying and working parts which are adjusted upon, and are rotated around it.
The said working parts are as follows, that is to say, there is a holding rotating
tube, the interior orifice of which is slightly larger than the diameter of stationary
rod or carrier, the lower end of the tube is slightly enlarged or reamed out for a short
distance to take a slight shoulder on the base to prevent the oscillation of the tube,
The height of the said tube is slightly prolonged above the top of the carrier, the
projecting interval being plugged firmly with a screw or other stopper, the lower or
inside end of which is cone shaped, and the top of the carrier is reamed or bored to

page_text: fit the cone, the two forming the top bearing from which the revolving case is
suspended and on which it rotates.
I make the shelves of cast iron and of a peculiar construction, that is to say, tho
centre of each shelf is provided with a sliding boss bored to fit loosely on the said
tube, this boss being also perforated laterally by a threaded hole to take a set screw
to clamp against the tube and screw the shelf in proper position as it is moved up
and down for adjustment to sizes of books or otherwise.
To obtain strength, lightness of material, symmetry and efficacy, I construct the
shelves with open work or grated bottoms, the grates being in line transversely to
the position of the books; each shelf may be provided with four distinct divisions in
alternate sets of grates at right angles with each other, each being ordered on the
back and two sides by guard plates on the upper surface of each shelf, the width of
which is continued below the boss on the central division for stiffness and strength,
and at the ends they are still further depressed in a curved or other outline form at
the outer sides to guard the top of the books from falling out. The top side of
the upper shelf and the bottom side of the lower one may have their projecting
portion cut away.
I do not however confine myself to the particular form or
construction of the shelves described, as shelves may be made of different shapes and
quite plain, and operate well for several uses. The sides of the case may be provided
with doors of glass or wood to be fastened or locked at will.