Improvements in and relating to Dovetailed Wooden Receptacles and Structures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec.,
1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Dovetailed Wooden Receptacles
and Structures.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON of 6 Glenbank Terrace, Lenzie in the County of Lanark
North Britain Designer; do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It relates to dovetailed receptacles and structures such as drawers and articles of
furniture which contain upright parts capable of being united to other upright parts
and held firmly together by means of dovetails upon their ends or members which
engage and fit into each other and when thus joined together and if so required to
a Hoor or bottom, constitute a rigid receptacle such as a drawer or article of
furniture.
The objects of the invention are to enable the parts constituting such a dovetailed
receptacle or structure to be readily (and repeatedly if required) disunited and folded
together into smaller compass for packing storing transit or other purposes and for
being as readily re-united into the original form of a drawer or other structure.
In constructing a receptacle, such as a drawer, in accordance. with this invention,
a groove or raggle" is formed on the inner surface of each of the four upright
sides thereof and the bottom or floor board or framed panel is fitted into these
grooves.
"
The ends of these upright sides are formed with dovetail parts for fitting
tightly, but detachably, into each other. Two of the upright sides, (by preference
the front and back ones), are hinged to the bottom board or floor, so that when the
dovetails of the other two associate upright sides are disconnected from them
they can be folded down as hinged. flaps, so as to lay flat upon the bottom board:
the other two upright sides are sometimes hinged so as to fold, swivel or slide parallel
with to or upon the underside of the bottom or floor board: these latter ones can also
be completely detached from the structure and laid upon it when packing for storage
or transit. The floor or bottom of such a drawer or receptacle is made in one or
more pieces and a midrail "munter
munters") is
(or
or are, according to
circumstances combined therewith.
35
66
When a drawer has been thus constructed the bottom board fits into the grooves
r "raggles" upon the upright sides and is then well able to support the contents
of the drawer.
In order to fold up parts of the drawer for any of the purposes before named two
of the upright sides can be forced out of their associate dovetails and the two sides
which are hinged to the upper part of the drawer bottom are folded down flat upon
it whilst the other two sides are either folded upon the underside of it or completely
separated from the other parts and can be laid upon them.
After thus collapsing such a drawer it can be re-erected by lifting and placing
together the sides in their upright relative positions and forcing the dove-tailed parts
thereof together. The bottom or floor occupies the groove on each of the four sides
without slackness. One or more bolts pins cottars or other devices are added when
required to lock the various parts of the structure and prevent their accidental
dismemberment.

page_text: The hinging and folding of the parts is sometimes varied slightly from the
foregoing description in order to suit the dimensions of the receptacle and other
controlling circumstances. Thus; one upright side can be arranged to fold down
upon the face of the floor or bottom board and the opposite side upon its back or
underside; or the last named one can be arranged to overlap and lay upon the one
first named.
19
Instead of forming a groove or "raggle upon the upright side pieces, strips of
wood or angled metal pieces are sometimes attached for supporting the floor or
bottom.
The invention is not limited to drawers but is designed for application to other
articles chiefly of the nature of furniture.
The receptacles made in accordance with the invention herein described are
adapted for being divided and subdivided internally or otherwise and furnished with
one or more locks lids catches or other accessories. So that the back, top, floor and
gables of a nest or chest of drawers or shelves can be made as herein described, the
open part being at the front instead of the top and drawers, constructed as aforesaid
may be fitted into the whole or part of the said. opening; and mouldings cornices
feet or other embellishing or necessary parts added thereto.
All the dovetailed parts of articles made in accordance with this invention are
separable one from another and the group of parts constituting such a structure are,
when so required, locked together by means of one or more reinoveable cottars, pins,
screws or other simple devices.
Deted this 20th day of January 1907
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street Glasgow Agent for the applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Dovetailed Wooden Receptacles
and Structures.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON formerly of 6 Glenbank Terrace, Lenzie in the County of
Lanark, now, of 38 Regent Park Square in the city and county of the city of Glasgow
North Britain Designer; 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 :—
It relates to dovetailed receptacles and structures such as drawers and articles of
furniture which contain upright parts capable of being united to other upright parts
and held firmly together by means of dovetails upon their ends or members which
engage and fit into each other and when thus joined together, (and if so required, to
a floor or bottom), constitute a rigid receptacle such as a drawer or article of
furniture.
The objects of the invention are to adapt the parts constituting such a dovetailed
receptacle or structure for being readily (and repeatedly if so required) disunited and
folded together into smaller compass for packing, storing, transit or other purposes,
and for being as readily re-united into the original form of a drawer or other
structure.
The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
t
Figures 1 to 11 are fragmentary and other views, in plan, perspective, section and
detail of drawers made with dovetails and hinges in accordance with this invention.
Figures 12 to 15 are views of a drawer (and details) made without hinges, in
accordance with this invention.

page_text: Figures 16 to 20 are plan, perspective and fragmentary views of structures made in
accordance with this invention for receiving drawers, shelves, doors or other articles.
Similar letters and numerals throughout the illustrations indicate corresponding
parts.
In constructing a receptacle such as a drawer, in accordance with one modification
of this invention and as illustrated in figs 1 to 11 of the drawings, a groove or
raggle a¹ is forined on the inner surface of each upright side A, B, C, D thereof, and
the floor board, framed panel, or bottom E is fitted into these grooves a'.
The ends of these upright sides A, B, C, D, are formed with dovetail parts c¹, c², d², d²,
for fitting tightly, but detachably, into each other. Two of the upright sides (by
preference the front and back ones A and B) are hinged at 62 to the bottom board or
Hoor E figs 1 to 4, 7, 8 and 11, so that when the dovetails c', d¹ of the other two
associate upright sides C, D, are disconnected from them the sides A, B can be folded
down as hinged flaps, fig 4, so as to lay flat on the bottom board E; the other two
upright sides, C, D, are sometimes hinged, as shewn in figs 8 to 10 so as to fold,
swivel or slide parallel with, to or upon the underside of the bottom or floor
board E; these two sides C and D can also be completely detached from A, B, and E
as shewn in figs 2 and 12, and can be laid upon the folded structure when packing
for storage or transit. The floor or bottom E of such a drawer or receptacle figs 1 to 15
is made in one or more pieces paralled or otherwise, and a midrail or "munter" e²
is, according to circumstances combined therewith, singly or otherwise.
When a drawer has been constructed according to the modification shewn
in figs, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 11 and 12, the bottom board E fits into the grooves or
"raggles "al upon the upright sides A, B, C, D, and is well able to support the
contents of the drawer.
In order that the several parts, A, B, C, D, E, of a drawer constructed as shewn
in figs 1 and 2 may be folded up for any of the purposes before named, two of the
upright sides C, D can be forced out of their associate dovetails and the two hinged
sides A, B, which are fixed to the upper surface of the drawer bottom E can then be
folded down flat upon E whilst the other two sides are completely separated
from A, B, E, and laid upon them. One or more of the sides A, B, C, D are some-
times hinged to the underside e¹ (figs 9 and 10) of the drawer bottom E, suitably
for being folded upon the underside of it. One way of doing this is shewn at D,
fig 10, where a hinge F, with slot f¹ in the tongue piece and a double joint f², ƒ³,
and stud f(fig 9) enable either end C or D or both of them to be forced out of the
dovetails c, d (fig 2) the slot f', held by the stud f allowing the hinge F to move
outwards with the board C or D which can then be folded over against the
underside e¹ of the drawer.
Another way of hinging C or D to the bottom E is indicated in fig 8 where a
single joint hinge with slotted tongue piece f, f and stud f unites the end C to
the underside of E and enables that end when it has been forced out of the dove-
tails to be turned round (the stud f acting as a pivot) upon the underside e¹ of
the bottom E. The screw fig 9 keeps the tongue piece from getting loose and
obstructing the drawer when in use.
The binging and folding of the parts A, B, C, D, E together is sometimes varied
slightly from the foregoing examples in order to suit the dimensions of the receptacle
and other controlling circumstances: as for instance, in fig 7 the extra deep side A
and the extra low side B can both be folded upon E. Also in figures 5 and 6 the
extra deep sides A, B, are made to fold down, one of them A, upon E and the
other, B, upon A, by means of dividing B into two unequal parts hinging them
together as shewn at 63 and fixing the lever part 61 of B to the bottom E; these
sides A and B can then be folded upon and over E as shewn in fig 6.
In figs 5 and 6 the bottom E is fastened immoveably to the back strip 6¹ the
groove a' being formed only in the sides A, C and D.
Another way of folding extra deep sides such as A and B is by hinging one deep
side as at A figs 5 to 7, and the other one similarly to D, fig 10, so that one of them
is folded on the face and the other on the underside e¹ of the bottom E.

page_text: After collapsing such a drawer as above described it can be re-constructed by placing
together the parts A, B, E in their relative positions and then forcing the dovetails
of C, D, into those of A, B. The bottom or floor E occupies without slackness the
groove a¹ in each of the four sides A, B, C, D except in such a case as that shewn
in figs 5 and 6 where there is no groove in the side B, b¹.
Instead of forming a groove or "raggle" al in the upright side pieces A, B, C
and D for receiving and retaining the bottom E in its position as shewn in the details
figs 11 and 15. Strips of wood such as a² fig 13 or angled pieces of metal such as
a³ fig 14 are sometimes fixed upon the upright side pieces and the bottom E can rest
upon or be fixed to them for its support.
"
Drawer handles such as a figs 2,8 12, and 16 are indicated in figs 1, 3, 4 and 6.
The invention is not limited to drawers but is designed for application to other
articles, chiefly of the nature of furniture. These may be either fixed or portable.
Figures 16 to 20 afford some indications how such dovetailed structures, adapted for
rapid erection and dismemberment are formed and put together. Many of the
receptacles made in accordance with the invention herein described are adapted
for being divided and subdivided to any extent, internally or otherwise and fitted
with one or more locks a³, lids, handles at, catcher as a or other accessories; see
figs 2 and 12. So that the back G, top H, floor J, and gables K.of a nest or chest of
drawers or shelves, indicated by figures 16 and 17 can be made with dovetailed and
grooved parts as herein described for mutually interfitting, one within another.
The back G is fitted to the gables K either by insertion within grooves or "raggles
as shewn at K¹ fig 17 or by means of fixing it to wood or metal strips such as g¹
figs 18 to 20 or a³ fig 14. The top H fig 16 is fixed to the gables K by inserting the
dovetails h¹ into those marked 2 and the bottom J unites the lower parts of these
gables immovably together by inserting the dovetails within those marked k³
figs 16, 17, similarly to the base board described and drawn in the specification of
my Patent No 9718 of 1896 (figs 88 to 96) wherein numerous parts are hinged to
each other and are adapted for being all folded together, instead of every part being
completely dismembered from the rest as delineated in figs 16 to 20. When it is
intended to fit the structure G, H, J, K, fig 16 with (shelves or) drawers such
as A, B, C, D, E, the gables are furnished with strips for supporting them. The
frame G, H, J, K, is designed also to be fitted with hinged sliding or other doors,
adapting it for use as a cupboard, bookcase or other purpose. It is intended that these
structures, frames or receptacles, fig 16 to 20, be united together in ranges or groups,
fitted in or around a library or other place by suitably varying the size and number
of the divisions which comprise it such as indicated in fig 16. This purpose of
repetition or continuity of sections is indicated by dotted lines in figs 17, 20. In
figs 18 to 20 a slight variation is shewn in the arrangement of the dovetails for fixing
the gables K to the top H. In fig. 18 a strip h² is shewn containing dovetails h³ into
which those marked upon the gable K are designed to be fitted: one strip h² is
fitted to the top H for every gable K and the continuity of the sections, many or few
which are united to each other by dovetailed parts is indicated by dotted lines
in fig 20.
In the class of structures indicated by figures 16 to 20 the open part is at the front
instead of being at the top as it is in the case of receptacles such as those shewn
in figures 1 to 12; and drawers constructed as herein described (or otherwise) can be
fitted into the whole, or part only, of the said openings or compartments (see A to E
fig 16) and decorative or useful parts such as mouldings cornices feet or other
embellishing or necessary parts are, when required, added thereto.
All the dovetailed parts of articles made in accordance with this invention are
separable from their associate dovetailed parts, each from the other reciprocal member,
and the group of parts constituting such a structure, are, when so required, locked
together by means of one or more removable cottars or pins a' figs 2 and 12, screws or
other simple devices designed and adapted for being parcelled into small compass when
dismembered.
I am aware that, previous to my invention wooden boxes, brackets, shelves and other

page_text: articles have been made wherein the several parts have been made interfitting with
squared holes, seats and ends and adapted for being repeatedly dismembered and
re-united, also for being rendered rigidly firm by means of cottars, pegs, pins or
metal joints, hinged or otherwise, it will therefore be understood that I do not claim
such things as my invention.
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:-
First, a wooden drawer containing four grooved sides A, B, C, D, with dovetailed
ends also a bottom E, adapted for being repeatedly united together and disunited all
substantially as herein described with reference to figures 12 and 15 of the drawings
or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Second, a wooden receptacle or structure containing four grooved sides A, B, C, D,
with dovetailed ends also a bottom E, adapted for being repeatedly united together
and disunited all substantially as herein described with reference to figures 12 and 15
of the drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Third, a wooden drawer containing two grooved and dovetailed parts A, B, hinged
to a part E and having separable grooved and dovetailed parts C, D, adapted for being
repeatedly united together, disunited, folded and parcelled all substantially as herein
described with reference to figures 1 to 4 also 7 and 11 of the drawings or any mere
modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Fourth, a wooden receptacle or structure containing two grooved and dovetailed
parts A, B, hinged to a part E and having separable grooved and dovetailed parts C, D,
adapted for being repeatedly united together, disunited, folded and parcelled all
substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 4 also 7 and 11 of the
drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified..
Fifth, a wooden dovetailed and hinged drawer or receptacle containing two grooved
and dovetailed parts A, B, and having separable grooved and dovetailed parts C, D all
hinged to the part E, and adapted for being repeatedly united together, disunited,
folded and parcelled all substantially as herein described with reference to figures 8
and 11.of the drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Sixth, a wooden dovetailed and hinged drawer or receptacle containing two grooved
and dovetailed parts A, B, and having detachable grooved and dovetailed parts C, D,
all hinged to the part E and adapted for being repeatedly united together, disunited,
folded and parcelled all substantially as herein described with reference to
figures 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes
specified.
1
Seventh, a wooden dovetailed structure G, H, J, K, adapted for its several parts
being repeatedly united together, disunited and parcelled all substantially as herein
described with reference to figure 16 of the drawings, or any mere modification thereof
for the purposes specified.
Eighth, a wooden dovetailed structure G, H, J, K, adapted for its several parts being
repeatedly united together, disunited and parcelled all substantially as herein
described with reference to figures 16 and 17 of the drawings or any mere modification
thereof for purposes specified.
Ninth, a wooden dovetailed structure G, H, J, K, adapted for its several parts being
repeatedly united together, disunited and made up into one or more parcels, all
substantially as herein described with reference to figures 18, 19 and 20 of the
drawings or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Jib: 10th dow of October 1907
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD
263 Argyle Street Glasgow Agent for the Applicant.