Improvements in the Construction and Erection of Furniture.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 8th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
Improvements in the Construction and Erection of Furniture.
I, JOSEPH HILLEBRAND, of 37, Clarendon Square, in the County of London,
Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction and erection of fur-
niture of a class in which the front contains openings or compartments formed by
the sides and transverse front rails. Such furniture would include chests of
drawers, and cabinets for filing documents, where the openings or compartments
receive drawers or trays, which slide upon longitudinal runners fitted to the sides
or side frames. According to present known methods, the front rails are fixed by
glueing their ends and inserting them into holes provided in the sides or side
frames for their reception. This is usually done by inserting the ends of the
rails singly on one side, previously glued, and then guiding them as well as
can be into the holes on the opposite side, and then the two sides are clamped.
Each additional compartment which may be added on to the side of the first
one entails a similar operation till the final clamping, after which the tops and
other parts are glued in place.
By means of my present invention, the carcase may be erected complete, even
polished, with the exception of fixing the front rails. These are provided with
holes at or near each end which correspond with dowels or tenons made on the
ends of the side runners which are securely fixed to the sides. Then the front
rails are glued and forced into place, the holes being countersunk and glued so
that the dowelled ends enter and when face to face a strong joint is made. The
operation which is now complete can be done at intervals of time, which is not
the case in the old method. This new method ensures sound joints, which cannot
always be relied upon in the method heretofore practised, especially where a large
number of rails are required to be inserted, as the glue on several of the joints
made at the commencement of the operation may have set, and the rails conse-
quently break in the final clamping. I do not confine myself to the exact details
described and may use any equivalent device for the interlocking of the named
members.
Improvements in the Construction and Erection of Furniture.
I, JOSEPH HILLEBRAND, of 37, Clarendon Square, in the County of London,
Cabinet Maker, 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 improvements in the construction and erection of fur-

page_text: .
niture of a class in which the front contains openings or compartments formed by
the sides and transverse front rails. Such furniture would include, chests of
drawers, and cabinets for filing documents, where the openings or compartments
receive drawers or trays, which slide upon longitudinal runners fitted to the sides
or side frames. According to present known methods, the front rails are fixed by
glueing their ends and inserting them into holes provided in the sides or side
frames for their reception. This is usually done by inserting the ends of the
rails singly on one side previously glued, and then guiding them as well as
can be into the holes on the opposite side, and then the two sides are clamped.
Each additional compartment which may be added on to the side of the first
one entails a similar operation until the final clamping, after which the tops and
other parts are glued in place.
By means of my present invention, the carcase may be erected complete, even
polished, with the exception of fixing the front rails. These are provided with
holes at or near each end which correspond with dowels or tenons made on the
ends of the side runners which are securely fixed to the sides. The front
rails are glued and forced into place, the holes being countersunk and glued so
that the dowelled ends enter and when face to face a strong joint is made. The
operation which is now complete can be done at intervals of time, which is not
the case in the old method. This new method ensures sound joints, which cannot
always be relied upon in the method heretofore practised, especially where a large
number of rails are required to be inserted, as the glue on several of the joints
made at the commencement of the operation may have set, and the rails conse-
quently break in the final clamping. I do not confine myself to the exact details
described and may use any equivalent device for the interlocking of the named
members.
For the purpose of more clearly understanding this invention, I have attached
hereto a sheet of drawings, on which
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are perspective views of so much of, for instance, a filing
cabinet as is necessary to illustrate my invention, while
Figures 4 and 5 show modifications of my invention.
Referring to said drawings, A shows the sides or side frames to which are secured
by screws B (or other suitable means) the runners C. The dowels or tenons are
shown by D, the front rails by E and a back rail. by F.
In Figure 1 is shown a runner B provided with only one dowel D, and Figure 2
shows a front rail secured in position on said runner.
In Figure 3 I have shown a runner having two dowels at one end, which form
I may prefer to employ, say, when greater strength or rigidity is required. It
will be obvious that more than two dowels may be employed, if desired.
I may employ dowels of various forms, and as an illustration of this, Figures 4
and 5 show dowels of square cross section, in Figure 4 one such dowel being used
and in Figure 5 two such dowels.
It will be understood that the relative positions of the dowels and the holes in
the rails for their reception may be reversed, that is to say, the dowels may be
provided on the front rails and the holes in the runners.
I may form the dowels on the ends of the runners or the like by means of a
spoke tanging chuck, or hollow auger, or by cutting away a portion of said ends,
or I may insert the dowels, already prepared, into suitable holes in said runners
or the like. My invention in applicable to other purposes where it is desired
simply to tie parts of furniture together.
The runners may be in two parts, if desired, one at front and one at back,
secured as above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
1 claim is
1. In furniture of the kind hereinbefore referred to the provision of. one or

page_text: more dowels at one or each end of side rails or runners and corresponding holes
within the front cross rails (or vice versa) whereby the latter may be applied and
held firmly in place upon said furniture substantially as described.
2. In furniture of the kind hereinbefore referred to, the manner of tying one
side to its opposite side by means of cross ties secured upon the dowelled ends of
runners or rails fixed upon said opposite sides substantially as described.
Dated this fith day of Ton
1000
For the Applicant,
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.
61 & 62, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agents.