Improved Means for Facilitating the Holding of Colour-boxes, Writing-desks; and other Portable Articles by Persons Using the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Facilitating the Holding of Colour-boxes,
Writing-desks; and other Portable Articles by Persons Using
the same.
I, THOMAS HENRY JOHN PRYCE, of Derry Downs, St. Mary Cray, in the
County of Kent, Banker's Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to improved means for temporarily securing colour-boxes
writing-desks, chess-boards, luncheon-baskets and other portable articles to the
person of the user so as to facilitate the holding of such articles while in use.
The main object of my said invention is to facilitate the holding of colour-boxes
by artists while they are engaged in painting.
Hitherto it has been customary to provide colour-boxes with bands or straps
which are passed over the shoulder or secured around the waist or held under the
feet. These attachments present various disadvantages, being either irksome, not
easily detached and removed from the person or otherwise inconvenient to
the user.
Now according to my said invention I obviate these disadvantages by providing
suitably curved springs adapted to be secured to the colour-box or other article in
such a manner that, when the said box or other article is resting on the knees of
the user, the curved parts of the said springs engage with the outer sides of the
thighs of the user and thus securely retain the box or other article in position
without inconveniencing or obstructing the movements of the user.
In carrying my said invention into practice according to one method I form the
said springs from strips of sheet metal which are bent to suitable curves to engage
with the person of the user and which are provided with inclined or tapered
portions at their upper ends, which tapered portions fit into sockets secured to the
sides of the box or other article.
In other cases, more especially when it is desired to make the distance between
the springs less than the width of the box or other article, the upper ends of the
said springs are bent so that they may be fitted into sockets secured to the bottom
of the box or other article.
Or, if desired, the said springs may be hinged or pivoted or both hinged and
pivoted or otherwise suitably attached to the said box or other article so as to be
readily folded or swung into and out of their operative position suitable buttons,
catches or the like being provided, if necessary, to hold them in either of their
desired positions.
The sockets or other attachments for the said springs may be secured to the
box at a suitable distance apart or they may be provided with a suitable adjustment
such as a slide provided with a lock-nut or the like whereby this distance may be
varied at will.
In this manner I am enabled to provide a very simple and convenient attachment
which does not impede the movements of the user and can be readily applied to or
removed from the person.

page_text: It is obvious that my improved device may be somewhat further modified
without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Dated the 16th day of May 1894.
THOMAS H. J. PRYCE.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Means for Facilitating the Holding of Colour-boxes,
Writing-desks, and other Portable Articles by Persons Using
the same.
I, THOMAS HENRY JOHN PRYCE, of Derry Downs, St. Mary Cray, in the
County of Kent, Banker's Clerk, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved means for temporarily securing colour-boxes,
writing-desks, chess-boards, luncheon-baskets or trays and other portable articles
to the person of the user, so as to facilitate the holding of such articles while
in use.
The main object of my said invention is to facilitate the holding of colour-boxes
by artists while they are engaged in painting.
Hitherto it has been customary to provide colour-boxes, for this purpose, with
bands or straps which are passed over the shoulders or under the legs, or are
secured around the waist or held under the feet while the box rests upon the knees
of the user.
These attachments present various disadvantages, being not readily
removable from the person and being otherwise inconvenient and irksome to
the user.
Now according to my said invention I obviate these disadvantages by providing
suitably curved springs secured or adapted to be secured to the colour-box or other
article in such a manner that, when the said box or other article is resting on the
knees of the user, the curved parts of the said springs will engage with the outer
sides of his thighs and thus securely retain the box or other article in the required
position without inconveniencing or unduly obstructing his movements.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice:
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and
Figure 2 a side elevation showing the application of my improvements to a
colour-box.
Figure 3 is a front elevation showing another form or modification of my
invention.
Figure 4 is a plan, and
Figure 5 a side elevation, illustrating the application of my invention to a
luncheon-tray or a plate-and-glass holder for insertion in a luncheon-basket.
Figure 6 is an elevation, and
Figure 7 a transverse section, showing a further modification of my said
invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a a are the springs, which are preferably formed of thin steel, and which are
suitably bent or curved so that they will engage with the person of the user as and
for the purpose above set forth. These springs are either adapted to be temporarily
secured in the required position to the box or other article so that they can be

page_text: readily removed when desired, or they are permanently attached to the box or
other article in such a manner that they can be readily moved into and out of their
operative position.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, the springs a are provided at.
their upper end with inclined or taper parts or heads which fit into sockets e
secured to the sides of the box or other article by screws, rivets or in any other
suitable manner; these sockets are formed with overlapping sides c¹ and are
tapered or inclined so as to correspond to the parts of the springs a. The said
springs can, therefore, be readily removed when not required for use and be placed
within the colour-box or elsewhere for carriage. The operation of mounting or
dismounting the said springs is very simple and can be effected in a few seconds, it
being only necessary to lay the narrower part of the spring between the overlapping
edges of the socket c, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, the space between
these overlapping edges being made of sufficient width for this purpose, and to
then draw the taper part or head into the said socket; the springs will then be
securely held in position for use.
In other cases, more especially when it is desired to make the distance between
the springs a a, less than the width of the box or other article, the said springs are
bent at their upper end, as shown for example at a', Figure 3, so that they may be
fitted in the manner above described into sockets e secured to the underside of the
box or other article.
I sometimes attach my curved springs to a box or other article by means of
pivots in such a manner that they can be readily folded or swung into and out of
their operative position. This arrangement is very advantageous in the case
of luncheon-trays and other articles to be fitted into boxes or baskets.
In Figures 4 and 5 I have shown a luncheon-tray, having the curved springs
pivotted thereto at d.
The said springs are, if desired, hinged or both hinged and pivotted so that they
can be readily moved into and out of their operative position. Or they are
otherwise conveniently attached to the said box or other article, suitable buttons,
catches or the like being provided, if necessary, to hold them in either of their
desired positions.
In cases where it is desired to apply my invention to wickerwork articles, such
as luncheon-baskets and the like, I find it advantageous to employ an arrangement
such as is shown in Figures 6 and 7 wherein the stud or pivot d, carrying the
curved spring a, is mounted on a plate e between which and a back-plate f the
wickerwork is firmly clamped by means of bolts g. It is obvious, however, that,
if desired, sockets similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2 or other suitable
fastenings or holders for the springs a may be attached to the plate e in a similar
or any other convenient manner.
The sockets or other attachments for the said springs may be secured to the box
at a suitable distance apart; or they may be provided with a suitable adjustment,
such as a slide provided with a lock-nut or the like, whereby this distance may be
varied at will.
It will be seen that, by my invention, I provide a very simple and convenient
device whereby a colour-box or other article can be securely held on the person of
the user, and which does not impede the movements of the user and can be very
readily applied and removed at will.
It is obvious that my improved device may, if desired, be somewhat further
modified without departing from the nature of my said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The herein described device for temporarily securing colour-boxes or
other articles to the person of the user.
Second. The combination, with a colour-box or similar article provided with

page_text: sockets, of curved springs adapted to fit into the said sockets, substantially as, and
for the purpose, above specified.
Third. A colour-box or similar article having suitably curved springs so attached
thereto that they can be moved into and out of their operative position, substantially
as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fourth. A colour-box or similar article provided with my improved device
constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to Figures 1
and 2, or to Figure 3, or to Figures 4 and 5, or to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawing,
for the purposes specified.
Dated the 6th day of 1905
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.