Improvements in Stands or Racks for Holding and Displaying Fabrics and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands or Racks for Holding and Displaying Fabrics
and the like.
I, JAMES PHILO CALDWELL, Dry Goods Merchant, Corner of Congress and Washington
Street, Winnsboro in the County of Fairfield, and State of Carolina, United States of
America 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 improved rack is especially designed to hold and display prints and ginghams.
It is strong and compact, simple in construction, holds a large number of pieces of
goods, takes but little room,is well balanced and can be readily packed for shipping.
My improvements are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1
invention.
is a perspective view of a print and ginghain rack embodying my
Figure 2 is a detail view of one of the shelves.
Two base pieces A are connected by two cross pieces B, which are separated from
each other a sufficient distance to accommodate the lower ends of two uprights or
standards C, which are further connected to the base pieces A, by bracing rods D.
The standards rise sufficiently high to accommodate a number of shelves, as hereinafter
described, say to the height of five or six feet, and are connected at their upper ends
by a cross piece E, which may be ornamented, as indicated.
Inclined arms F, are secured to the uprights or standards C, preferably on opposite
sides thereof, and they are inclined upwardly for the purpose hereinafter described.
These arms should be metallic rods of, say one-fourth inch diameter, firmly secured
in sockets in the uprights and extending outwardly therefrom for a distance of say
seven inches.
These arms are for the purpose of supporting shelves G, preferably made of sheet
metal, each having three edges turned over into tubular form at g, to avoid presenting
a sharp front edge or sharp opposite ends to strengthen and stiffen the
shelf, and to afford sockets to receive the appropriate arms F. Four shelves
are shown in Figure 1 in position. It will be observed that the rods extend
into the tubular sockets at the ends of the shelf, while the tubular front edge guards
the front of the shelf.
All the shelves are similarly constructed and similarly arranged. When they are
all mounted on the arms, they will add weight to the rack, which tends to hold it
steady, and they balance each other, as the arms project in opposite directions from
opposite sides of the standards, as clearly indicated.
Rolls of pieces of dry goods, such as prints, ginghams, and the like, are conveniently
held in this rack. They are prevented from slipping or falling out over the fronts of
the shelves on account of the inclination thereof, and they are prevented from slipping
or falling out edgewise by reason of the extended bearing surface afforded by the
shelves.
In order to strengthen the main frame, the standards C may be connected
intermediate at their upper and lower ends by a cross piece H.
The advantages of my improved rack have hereinbefore been mentioned, but in

page_text: addition it will be noted that the dry goods can be readily placed upon or removed
from the rack, and the shelves may be conveniently set up or taken down and
separately packed.
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 rack for dry goods, comprising the two base pieces A, A, the two cross
pieces B, B connecting them; the two uprights secured to the base pieces between
said cross pieces, the connecting cross piece at the top of the uprights, the rods
secured to opposite sides of the uprights and inclined upwardly relatively thereto,
and the sheet metal shelves each of which is formed integrally with tubular opposite
ends which enclose the rods and slide longitudinally in an inclined direction thereon,
and each of which has a tubular front edge, substantially as shown and, described.
2. The coinbination of the two vertical standards or uprights, a base to which
they are secured, the rods secured to opposite sides of the uprights, and inclined
upwardly relatively thereto, and the sheet metal shelves, each of which is formed
integrally with a tubular front edge and tubular opposite ends to stiffen it, to avoid,
sharp edges and to enclose the rods and slide longitudinally thereon, substantially
as shown and described.
T
Dated this 5th day of July 1807
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIË;
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.