Improvements in Sliding and Folding Partitions and Screens.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th June, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
Improvements in Sliding and Folding Partitions and Screens.
WALTER EDWARD EVERETT 29 Hemberton Road Stockwell S.W. Warehouseman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to screens or partitions (either glazed or solid) for dividing
of schoolrooms or any large rooms or halls into smaller rooms, and provides an
original, more expeditions and inexpensive method of sliding & folding back in
sections than hitherto.
The principal feature of the invention is the entire absence of overhead or
underground gear-cases, which often cause jamming of the leaves & provent the
screen working smoothly. This important feature renders the partition more easily
placed in existing buildings where such gear boxes or cases cannot readily bo
provided for.
The leaves or sections in this partition may be made in any height or width, and
each section may be folded to right or left hand or if desired centrally pivoted thus
adapting it for fixing in positions where other screens occupying more space cannot
be placed because of obstruction to doorways, windows chimney breasts &c. The
sections being separate from one another give lightness & smoothness in working
not often obtainable when doors are hinged together or in wide sections.
By this invention only a very small channel is necessary in the floor of the room
on each side of which, iron, or hard wood runners are laid flush with the floor, a
small bolt or pin travelling in the channel keeps the lower part of the screen in
position, while the wheels on which the sections travel are in two (one on either
side of bolt or pin) one running on each side of the channel.
By this dual arrangement of wheels, I provide for the more ready folding of
screen, the wheels, while sections are turning, revolving in opposite directions,
thus reducing the friction to a minimum.
At the upper part of doors, I fix rollers which revolve horizontally in a small
channel formed either in wood or iron and thus assist the easy movement of the
sections & keep the top of screen in position.
By making these upper rollers of differing heights, I provide means of swivelling
the sections ont of the upper channel through small apertures cut in the side in any
desired position. They thus all fold back against the wall, the bolts used for
keeping the screen in position when up, being utilised to keep them in this folded
or "shut up" position.
Provision is also made for preventing any portion of the screen, possibly getting
out of place, when in either position.
The edges of sections being hollowed and rounded or otherwise alternately fitted
one for the other, forms a further means of locking while the end section, being
hinged to a fixed fillet on wall and made to lap on first sliding section, ensures
the screen being immediately placed in working order without complex or minute
fitting, or being kept firmly in position when folded back.
Dated this 15th day of April 1897.

page_text: Improvements in Sliding and Folding Partitions and Screens.
I WALTER EDWARD EVERETT 29 Hemberton Road Stockwell S.W. 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:-
This invention relates to screens or partitions (either glazed or solid) for dividing
of schoolrooms or other large rooms or halls into smaller rooms, & provides a
more expeditious, and inexpensive, method of sliding & folding back in sections
than hitherto.
The principle feature of the invention is the entire absence of overhead or
underground gear cases which often cause jamming of the leaves & prevent the
screen working smoothly. This important feature renders the partition more easily
placed in existing buildings where such gear boxes or cases cannot readily be
provided for.
The leaves or sections in this partitiou may be made in any height or width, and
each section may be folded to right or left hand, or if desired, centrally pivoted,
thus adapting it for fixing in positions where other screens occupying greater space
cannot be placed because of obstruction by doorways, windows, chimney breasts etc.
The sections being separate from one another give lightness & smoothness in
working, not often obtainable when doors are hinged together or in wide sections.
The Drawings which accompany this Specification will more clearly explain the
invention and on which:-
Fig. 1. Represents a general view of the screen when in position dividing the
schoolroom.
Fig. 2. Is a ground plan of same shewing in dotted lines a suggested position
when folded back against wall.
Fig. 3. Gives a view of upper and lower parts of one of the sections, shewing the
working parts on an enlarged scale.
Figs. 4 & 5 are sections of the same.
In Figs. 1 & 2 (Sheet 1.) the separate sections are indicated by letter A. The
end section B. being hinged to boxings, forms a means of communication from one
room to another, or if desired a door could be formed in any one of the sections,
without impairing the utility of the general construction.
Referring to Sheet 2 of Drawings.
At the upper part of doors or sections I fix rollers C. &. D which revolving
horizontally in a small channel E (formed either in wood or iron) assist the easy
movement of the sections & keep the top of screen in position. By making these
upper rollers of differing heights, I provide a means of swivelling the various
sections from under the channel E. by allowing the sinaller roller C. to pass through
an aperture cut in the side of channel guard F. in any desired position, the most
convenient probably being at R. (Fig. 1). The size of this aperture may be reduced
to a minimum, the door being securely held by larger roller D. while swivelling.
The sections thus, as the small roller C. arrives at aperture may all be readily
folded back against wall, the iron strips G. making it impossible for any part to
fall forward or slip out from the bottom while swivelling, to, or from, "Shut up
position.
دو
By this invention, only a small channel H. is necessary in the floor of the room
on each side of which, iron or hard wood runners are laid flush with the flooring, or
(as in drawing) channel & runners forming one continuous length of hardwood J.

page_text: A small bolt or pin K. (having a loose revolving collar & being part of special
roller frame L) travels in the channel & keeps the lower part of the screen in
position, while the wheels M. on which the sections travel, are in two; (one on either
side of the bolt or pin) one running on each side of the channel.
By this dual arrangement of wheels combined with central pin & in conjunction
with upper rollers "C" & "D" I provide an easy & original method of
swivelling the sections. The wheels M, revolving in opposite directions & being
immediately beneath the roller D keep the sections perfectly perpendicular under all
circumstances and reduces the friction to a minimum.
The lower roller & frame N. may be either a ball as shewn on drawing, or any
quick turning form of castor, being a non-essential feature of the invention.
The edges of each section being hollowed & rounded as shewn at P. (Fig. 2) or
otherwise alternately fitted one for the other, forms a further means of locking.
The end section B. being hinged to a fixed fillet on wall & made to lap on first
sliding section, ensures the partition being immediately placed in working order
without complex or minute fitting and makes it practically independent of possible
'swelling or "shrinkage in new or old buildings.
The hinging however of this section B. is not necessary to the invention, each
section being entirely independent one of the other.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Improvements in sliding and swivelling partitions and screens as hereintofore
described & illustrated.
2. The entire absence of overhead or under ground gear cases.
3. The easy swivelling & running of sections by means of dual system of wheels
with central pin.
4. An improved method of erection by which possible swelling & shrinking due
to damp or heat, cannot affect the utility of the partition.
Dated this 25th June 1897.
WALTER EDWARD EVERETT.