IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stratford Kirwan, of the Reform Club, Pall Mall,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REVOLVING STANDS FOR BOOKS AND OTHER ARTICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stratford Kirwan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th May 1881.
"
JOHN STRATFORD KIRWAN, of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR BOOKS AND OTHER
ARTICLES."
My Invention relates to means for preventing revolving stands for books and
other articles from being top-heavy and being easily overturned when the books
or other articles in the lower compartments are removed.
The base consists of a circular or other suitably shaped plate supported upon
pivot or other casters, in the centre of which is fixed in any suitable manner an
iron or other pillar or shaft, which rises to the top of the stand. The bottom shelf
is made to turn freely upon the pillar or shaft, and runs upon wheels or rollers in
a circular track or upon a circular rail upon the base plate. The top or cover of
the stand also turns freely upon the central pillar or shaft. These two parts, viz.,
the bottom shelf and the top or cover are connected together by any suitable
number of standards or supports, thus forming a framework, which may be either
square, rectangular, or circular, or of any other suitable shape in plan. Between
the top or cover and the bottom shelf are arranged one or more intermediate
shelves, which are made adjustable in height with regard to the standards or
supports by pins or by any other suitable means. These shelves are supported at
the centre on collars fixed upon the central pillar or shaft by means of set screws
taking into holes drilled in it, and revolve freely upon the said collars. The
shelves may be made flat, but are by preference inclined slightly towards the
central pillar or shaft, so as to counteract the action of the centrifugal force if the
apparatus be revolved quickly.

page_text: When the shape of apparatus is either square or rectangular, two opposite
sides may be fitted with adjustable backs so as to regulate the depth of the
shelves, the adjustable backs being secured by means of pins or thumb screws.
The other two opposite sides of the shelves may also be fitted with adjustable
backs of various sizes to suit the distance between the first two backs, and
preferably made to slide into grooves formed in these latter. Instead of these
shelves with adjustable backs any other suitable form of shelf may be employed.
To prevent the books or other articles from being removed, rods of iron or other
suitable material may be inserted transversely through holes in the standards or
supports, and provided with a knob or head at one end and a small padlock or
other means of securing them at the other. Doors with glass windows or wire
may be arranged in front of the shelves. The apparatus may be made detachable
and of iron, wood, or of the two combined, or of any other suitable material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Stratford Kirwan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd November 1881.
JOHN STRATFORD KIRWAN, of the Reform Club, Pall Mall, in the County of
Middlesex. “ImprovemenTS IN REVOLVING STANDS FOR BOOKS AND OTHER
ARTICLES."
My Invention relates to means for preventing revolving stands for books and
other articles from being top-heavy, and being easily overturned when the books
or other articles in the lower compartments are removed.
The base consists of a circular or other suitably shaped plate supported upon
pivot or other casters, in the centre of which is fixed in any suitable manner an
iron or other pillar or shaft, which rises to the top of the stand. The bottom shelf
is made to turn freely upon the pillar or shaft, and runs upon wheels or rollers
either in a circular track or upon a circular rail or otherwise upon the base plate.
The top or cover of the stand also turns freely upon the central pillar or shaft.
These two parts, viz., the bottom shelf and the top or cover are connected together
by any suitable number of standards or supports, thus forming a framework, which
may be either square, rectangular, or circular, or of any suitable shape in plan.
Between the top or cover and the bottom shelf may be arranged one or more
intermediate shelves, which are made adjustable in height with regard to the
standards or supports by pins or by any other suitable means.
These shelves may
be supported at the centre on collars fixed upon the central pillar or shaft by
means of set screws taking into holes drilled in it, and revolve freely upon the
said collars. The shelves may be made flat, but are by preference inclined slightly
towards the central pillar or shaft, so as to counteract the action of centrifugal
force if the apparatus be revolved quickly.
When the shape of the apparatus is either square or rectangular, two opposite
sides may be fitted with adjustable backs so as to regulate the depth of the
shelves, the adjustable backs being secured by means of pins or thumb screws.
The other two opposite sides of the shelves may also be fitted with adjustablo
backs of various sizes to suit the distance between the first two backs, and
preferably made to slide into grooves formed in these latter. Instead of these
shelves with adjustable backs, any other suitable form of shelf may be employed,
and instead of employing various sizes of adjustable backs as just described
they may be constructed to expand and contract so as to be adapted to the
various distances between the sides; for instance, they may be made on the
principle of lazy tongs or of two boards sliding one upon the other. To prevent
the books or other articles from being removed, rods of iron or other suitable
material may be inserted transversely through holes in the standards or supports,
and provided with a knob or head at one end, and a small padlock or other means
of securing them at the other. Doors with glass windows or wire may be arranged
in front of the shelves. The apparatus may be made detachable and of iron, wood,
or of the two combined, or of any other suitable material.
But in order that my Invention may be more clearly understood I will proceed
to explain the same by the aid of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of an apparatus constructed
according to this Invention, the said apparatus being square in shape. A is the
base plate which is shown circular, but may be of any other suitable shape, and
which is supported upon pivot or other casters B. In the centre is fixed in any
suitable manner the upright pillar or shaft C which rises to the top of the stand,
and which is either smooth or is provided with small holes c drilled into it ; D is

page_text: the bottom shelf made to turn freely upon the pillar or shaft C, and which runs
upon wheels or rollers d which may roll in a circular track or upon a circular rail
upon the base plate A. The top or cover E of the stand also turns freely upon
the pillar or shaft; F are standards or supports which connect the top or cover E
and the bottom shelf D. Between the said top or cover and the bottom shelf is
arranged the intermediate shelf G, or more shelves may be used. The intermediate
shelves may be made adjustable in height with regard to the standards or
supports F by pins or by any other suitable means. It or they may be supported
at the centre on a collar or collars H fixed upon the central pillar or shaft C by
means of set screws I taking into the holes c drilled in the pillar or shaft.
The two opposite sides J and K may be fitted with the adjustable backs L and M
so as to regulate the depth of the shelves, these adjustable backs being secured by
means of pins or by thumb screws m which pass through them and can slide along
the slots n in the shelves. The other two opposite sides N and O of the shelves
may also be fitted with like adjustable backs P and Q of various sizes to suit the
distance between the first two backs L and M, and preferably made to slide into
grooves o formed in these latter as shown; R are rods of iron or other suitable
material inserted transversely through holes in the standards or supports F, and
provided with a knob or head at one end and a small padlock or other means of
securing them at the other for the purpose of preventing the books or other articles
from being removed.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is, the improved
revolving stand for books and other articles, substantially as herein described and
shown in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Stratford Kirwan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty first day of November, in the year of our Lord
1881.
JOHN STRATFORD KIRWAN. (L.S.)