An Improved Cabinet and Combined Cabinet and Writing-desk, and Improved File-cases in connection therewith.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 12th Apr., 1890
An Improved Cabinet and Combined Cabinet and Writing-desk, and
Improved File-cases in connection therewith.
I SAMUEL GRAHAM BROWNE, of 77 Endlesham Road, Balham, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved Cabinet or Cabinet and Writing desk fitted
with nests, drawers or files suitable for the preservation and classification of letters
papers drawings etc. and improved file-cases in connection therewith.
My invention consists in a special form of construction whereby the cabinet or
cabinet and desk, occupying considerable space when erected, is capable of being
readily taken apart and packed in small bulk for transport, and further that the
number of drawers, nests or files can be increased at any time without the employment
of skilled labour; all parts being made to template or correspond or fit with each
other. The pieces required for such addition can be forwarded and erected with
little trouble. For instance a cabinet consisting, say, of 18 nests can be increased
to 36 when such addition is required. The file-cases, or drawers I also construct so
as to be packed in small bulk for transport. The cabinet or cabinet and writing
desk consists of a series of shelves supported by distance pieces or tubular supports
which are firmly held in place by tie rods, such distance pieces being provided with
slots so that the sides, back and any portion of the front can be inserted into same
and placed into position whilst the cabinet is being erected. The shelves may also
be provided with suitable grooves into which the panels forming the side, back etc.
By such arrangement the cabinet can be made dust proof. The supports or
distance pieces preferably consist of drawn tubes either fluted or provided with the
necessary slots.
Ferrules are provided and inserted into the top and bottom of such
tubes, the ferrules being bored so that the tie rods, preferably of gas barrel, will pass
through them. The shelves are provided with suitable holes through which the tic
rods pass, the holes being preferably bushed with metal. The tubes forming supports
to be of sufficient internal diameter to enable the socket of the gas pipe, forming
the tie rol, to pass through. To erect such a cabinet the tie rods are passed through
the holes in the shelves, over which the tubular supports fitted with ferrules at their
top and bottom ends are passed, the ferrules being slotted to correspond with the slots
in the supports. Into such slots panels forming the sides, back etc. are slipped in;
then another shelf threaded over tie rods and the operation repeated the required
number of times. The ends of the tie rods are screwed and provided with suitable
sockets or nuts which on being tightened up hold the various shelves, sides and
back etc. rigidly.
fit.
By unscrewing the sockets or nuts and unthreading the tie rods, the shelves, sides,
The
back etc. can be packed with the other part of the cabinet into small bulk.
number of shelves can be increased when required. The upper sockets being arranged
so that an extension of the tie rod can be screwed into them. The cabinet in this
stage forms the required number of nests or shelves into which file-cases or drawers
are fitted.
In some cases it is desirable to use flap doors to enclose the front
openings of the nests; the doors being arranged so that they remain either open or
closed and for this purpose I use a combined hinge and spring consisting of a piece
of flat spring steel or brass, one end of such spring being turned round so as to form
a socket through which the hinge pin is passed, such pin being suitably attached to
the flap door, the other end of the spring is secured to the shelf, the whole being of,
such form and strength as to effect the object above named. To fit such a cabinet
with suitable files for classifying letters etc. I use a file-case constructed with a hinged

page_text: bottom and front such front fitting the opening of the nests in cabinet. Such case
is provided with an index consisting of separate leaves each provided with three eyelet
holes which are passed over å holder consisting of two plates and two suitable holding
uprights which holder is slipped over a fixed pin screwed into the bottom of the case,
so arranged that when the index is interleaved with papers filed the whole can be
removed and a new index with holder replaced. The holder is provided with a top
and bottom plate and so arranged as to act as a binder for filing away the interleaved
index in book fořin.
-
The top plates containing the interleaves can be screwed down to tightly hold the
index and interleaves by means of the screwed uprights which are fixed to bottom
plate.
The front of the file-case which closes the aperture of the nest in the cabinet may
be hinged to the bottom of same and secured by side plates attached by screws which
also form a guide for the indexes. I provide a spring attachment for holding
down the index which is swivelled to the bottom of the case near its' back end,
so arranged that when the letters are to be examined it can be turned back to clear
the index.
This attachment consists of a strong spring wire bow shaped furnished near its
outer ends with a serrated flange or washer and centred each side of the bottom of
the case.
On each side of the case I insert a suitable metallic bush into which the
ends of the spring bow are inserted. These bushes are provided with flanges the
outer face of which is serrated and corresponds with the flange or disc upon the end
of the spring bow so as to retain the bow in any desired angle. On such bow shaped
wire I swing a suitable piece of metal with a flat surface which will rest on the papers.
This weight being sufficient to hold down the indexes in a draught of wind.
such cases for filing letters.
I use
For orders, price lists etc., as well as for post cards and telegrams which require
frequent reference I would use a case consisting of a bottom, an index of separate
leaves, provided with two eyelet holes; such index leaves being passed over two
shaped holders screwed to bottom of case and so arranged that they can be opened to
thread the letters over.. When closed the papers which have been perforated are
practically bound and can be turned over the holders for reference. When using
such files I use a flap door to close the containing nest. To lock such cabinet
containing files or drawers I prefer using rods passing through the cabinet provided
with suitable catches to fit into grooves or projections in the files or drawers or flap
doors, such rod being rotated or lifted, the catches locking the drawers etc. Where
a number of files are arranged in one cabinet I may use a fixture which can be
attached to the front of the file-case drawer or flap door, into which designating letters,
names or numbers may be slipped providing such fixture with one or more revolving
discs indicating through a slot the day, month, or year that may be required, also
forming handle. I propose fitting the cabinets with large nests fitted with flap doors
of sufficient size and number to hold the filled and bound indexes which are required
for current use. When desirable I fit the cabinets on a suitable stand the shelves
being erected on the same principles as the cabinet. Such stand having fitted on top
flap door with lock, hinged from the bottom shelf of the cabinet and when open
forming a stand on which to place the files, when closed to lock against one of the
shelves of the cabinet thus locking up a portion or all the drawers of the cabinet.
also make a combined cabinet and writing desk (the base of which is erected as the
cabinet) consisting of two parts so that the usual aperture is left for the knees, but
being securely tied together by the top and intermediate shelves portion of which
may be cut away when necessary. The desk consists of a flap door similar to above
mentioned which is also used for locking up the cabinet.
T

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Cabinet and Combined Cabinet and Writing-desk, and
Improved File-cases in connection therewith.
I SAMUEL GRAHAM BROWNE, of 77 Endlesham Road, Balham, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, 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 Cabinets, with the object that they may
be cheaply manufactured, readily taken to pieces and packed in small space for
transport, be easily erected and the height or size further increased at any time
without skilled labour and I effect my object by making each piece to template, and
using a novel method of securing superposed shelves and fitting them with sides,
backs and doors to form nests, suitable for the preservation of books, drawings, music
or other articles.
My Invention will be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying
drawings upon which :-
Figure is an elevation of a Cabinet.
Figure 2 side elevation of same partly in section.
Figure 3 plan of same.
Figure 4 a Cabinet ready for packing for shipment.
Figure 5 Cabinet of drawers.
Figure 6 combined Filing Cabinet and Writing Desk, with flap forming desk.
Figure 7 side elevation of same, partly in section, shewing flap desk open, and in
dotted line locking drawers.
Figure 8 Music Cabinet.
Figure 9 Cabinet for books.
Figure 10 shows in sectional plan standards, tie rods, sides; bäck and doors of
Cabinet.
Figures 11 to 15 details of Cabinet.
Figure 16 details of spring for doors.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The Cabinets or Cabinet and writing desk consists of a series of shelves A
supported by tubular standards or distance pieces B, such distance pieces being
provided with slots I so that the panels forming the sides and backs G and any
portion of the front can be inserted into same during erection. The shelves are pro-
vided with slots or grooves A¹ into which the panels fit. The edges of such panels
may be fringed with rubber or other suitable material to make the jointing dust proof.
The tubular supports B preferably consist of metal drawn tubes either circular fluted as
shown at B, or square grooved as shewn at B₁ or of any other suitable form. B² and B³
shew a distance piece of wood which can be used for cheapness of manufactüre
especially for the backs of the cabinets.
When wood standards are used a covering strip N may be employed let into shelves
as shewn in Figure 15 giving the appearance of a continuous standard, the cabinet
then having the appearance of an ordinary piece of furniture.
Or such standards can be
The metal standards B are provided with ferrules C, slotted to receive panels and
bored out to fit tie rod D, which passes through same.
provided with a plate C' attached to their top and base, suitably bored for tie rod.
The tubes forming standards may be of sufficient internal diameter to enable the
connecting socket E¹ of the tie rod to pass through same and where wooden supports
are used they are bored out as shewn in B3. The standard may be provided with a
suitable slot to hold tie rod instead of being bored. The tie rods D are preferably
made from gas barrel and may be made in one or more pieces and screwed at both
ends and connected by the sockets, which are keyed, the top and bottom ends being
screwed to suit sockets or nuts, those at the base being keyed to the tie rod and also
secured to base so that they will not unscrew or rotate. Where it is desirable for the

page_text: holding socket to be concealed, the socket may have a flange; which can be screwed
to the underside of the shelf and the tie rod screwed into same. The shelves A will
be of suitable size and thickness and be bored with the required number of holes J
preferably fitted with metal bushes F through which tie rod D passes.
To erect such a cabinet the tie rods D are passed through the holes or slots provided
in the base A', the standards B with the ferrules C slipped over same, the sides and
backs placed in the slots I, the bottoms fitting into groove A¹ another shelf is then
threaded over the tie rods and the operation repeated the required number of times to
produce the required number of nests or shelves. On screwing up the top nut of the
tie rod the various snelves, sides, backs etc. are rigidly held in place. By unscrewing
the sockets or nuts and unthreading the tie rods the shelves, sides, backs and standards
with the other parts of the cabinet can be packed conveniently in small space. The
number of shelves can be increased when required by unscrewing the top socket and
by removing the top of the cabinet and replacing top with a shelf and rescrewing on
socket; the top socket or nuts E' being so arranged that an extension of the tie rod
can be screwed into them, more shelves and standards threaded and the top replaced.
The nests formed in such cabinet can be fitted with drawers or file cases so fixed
together that they can be taken apart for packing purposes, the fronts, bottoms sides
and back of the case being made in separate pieces when desirable. In some cases it
is desirable to use flap doors K to enclose the front openings of the nests, the doors
being so arranged that they remain either open or closed at will, and for this purpose
I use a combined hinge and spring consisting of a flat steel or brass spring L
(Figure 15) one end of such spring being turned round so as to form a socket through
which the hinge pin is passed connecting hinge M with spring L. The hinge is
screwed to the door K, the spring to the shelf A as shewn. Cabinets of this con-
struction can be made and used for many purposes such as show cabinets, shop cabinets
and others.
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
1. A Cabinet or article of furniture having shelves kept at suitable distances apart
by standards, having grooves or slots to receive the panels or pieces forming sides
and backs, the said standards being provided with slotted ferrules or plates, bored
to suit tic rod, tie rod passing through said standard and through holes or slots
in the shelves, grooves in or on the shelves to receive panels; and sockets nuts or
keys by which any number of superposed shelves may be tightened up by the tie rod,
or released for packing the whole being made to template so that the cabinet may be
enlarged or diminished at pleasure substantially as described.
2. A Cabinet having grooved or slotted standards, standards with tie rod passing
through same and securing shelves and panels substantially as described.
3. In a Cabinet or article of furniture having flap doors, the combined hinge and
spring consisting of a piece of flat spring, one end turned round so as to form a socket
through which the hinge pin or flap door is passed, the other end of the spring being
secured to shelf substantially as described.
4. The novel construction of Cabinets and similar articles of furniture in the
manner substantially as herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying
Drawings.