IM- PROVEMENTS IN JOINTS OR HINGES FOR SWING LOOKING GLASSES, WARDROBE DOORS, AND OTHER DOORS, AND FOR OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Adams, of Chester Road, near Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Pianoforte and Organ Tuner, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN JOINTS OR HINGES FOR SWING LOOKING GLASSES, WARDROBE
DOORS, AND OTHER DOORS, AND FOR OTHER ARTICLES."
Scaled the 14th March 1879, and dated the 27th September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Adams at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1878.
SAMUEL ADAMS, of Chester Road, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Pianoforte and Organ Tuner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTS OR HINGES FOR SWING
LOOKING GLASSES, WARDROBE DOORS, AND OTHER DOORS, AND FOR OTHER
ARTICLES."
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in constructing
joints or hinges for swing looking glasses, wardrobe doors, and other doors, and for
other articles, whereby the said swing looking glasses, doors, and other articles to
which the joints or hinges are applied are firmly held by the said joints or hinges
in the positions to which they have been adjusted or brought. Joints or hinges
made according to my Invention are readily manufactured and are easily applied.
My improved joint or hinge consists essentially of two hollow or cup-like
circular discs, their hollow sides being presented to each other so as to form
between them a box-like cavity. The said cup-like discs are connected together at
their middles by a joint pin, and are capable of turning upon one another. The
flat edge of one of the cup-like discs works against the inner face and near the edge
of the other cup-like disc. Or the edge of the inner face of one disc may be
furnished with a projecting annular flange or lip slightly within the edge of the
disc for an outer flange or lip on the other disc to overhang and work upon. Each
of the meeting edges of the two discs has thus an annular bearing upon which it is
supported and bears. At the outer edge of each disc is an arm or plate. By
means of these arms or plates the two halves of the joint or hinge are connected to

page_text: the two parts to be jointed or hinged together. The axis of each cup-like disc is
perforated with a hole for the pin of the joint or hinge to pass through, and on the
inner face of each cup-like disc and around the pin hole is a projecting bush. When
the two discs are secured together by their joint pin these bushes bear against one
another.
Within the box-like cavity between the two cup-like discs a spring is placed.
I prefer to make this spring from a disc of steel perforated at its middle and bent
into an arched form. When this arch-shaped spring has been placed within the
box-like cavity of the two parts of the joint or hinge, the said two parts are secured
together by passing a joint pin through them, and rivetting the said pin. The two
parts of the joint or hinge are thereby securely connected together and are capable
of turning upon one another. By the securing together of the two parts or halves
of the joint or hinge the arch-shaped spring within them is compressed, its edges
bearing against portions of the edge of one of the cup-like discs, and its summit
against the middle of the other cup-like disc. By the pressure of the said spring
considerable resistance is offered to the motion of either of the cup-like discs of the
joint upon the other.
In applying my Invention to a swing looking glass, one half of the joint is
connected by its arm or plate to the pillar or stand of the looking glass, and the
other half of the joint is connected by its arm or plate to the frame of the looking
glass. On turning the looking glass on its joint, the spring within the joint offers
such a resistance to the motion of the said glass that the latter moves very steadily
or stiffly on its joint, and when the looking glass has been adjusted it is retained in
that position by the said joint.
In applying my Invention to the doors of wardrobes, bookcases, and other doors,
the two parts of the hinge are connected by their arms to the two parts to be
hinged together, the hinge maintaining the door either in its open position or
closed position.
Although my Invention is principally applicable. to jointing of swing looking
glasses to their stands or supports and to the hinging of wardrobe and other like
doors to their frames, yet I do not limit myself thereto, as joints or hinges made
according to my Invention may be applied to the jointing or hinging of other
articles which require a strong and stiff joint or hinge.
Although I prefer to employ cup-like discs as described in the construction of the
joints or hinges, yet flat discs having a spring between them may be used in place
of the said cup-like discs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Samuel Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th March
1879.
"
SAMUEL ADAMS, of Chester Road, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Pianoforte and Organ Tuner. IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINTS OR HINGES FOR SWING
LOOKING GLASSES, WARDROBE DOORS, AND OTHER DOORS, AND FOR OTHER
ARTICLES."
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in constructing
joints or hinges for swing looking glasses, wardrobe doors, and other doors, and for
other articles, whereby the said swing looking glasses, doors, and other articles to
which the joints or hinges are applied are firmly held by the said joints or hinges
in the positions to which they have been adjusted or brought.
Joints or hinges made according to my Invention are readily manufactured and
are easily applied.
My improved joint or hinge consists essentially of two hollow or cup-like
circular discs, their hollow sides being presented to each other so as to form between
them a box-like cavity. The said cup-like discs are connected together at their
middles by a joint pin and are capable of turning upon one another. The flat edge
of one of the cup-like discs works against the inner face and near the edge of the
other cup-like disc. Or the edge of the inner face of one disc may be furnished
with a projecting annular flange.or lip, slightly within the edge of the disc, for an
outer flange or lip on the other disc to overhang and work upon. Each of the
meeting edges of the two discs has thus an annular bearing upon which it is
supported and bears. At the outer edge of each disc is an arm or plate. By
means of these arms or plates the two halves of the joint or hinge are connected to
the two parts to be jointed or hinged together. The middle of each cup-like disc
is perforated with a hole for the pin of the joint or hinge to pass through,
and on the inner face of each cup-like disc and around the pin hole is a projecting
bush. When the two discs are secured together by their pin these bushes bear
against one another. Within the box-like cavity between the two cup-like discs a
spring is placed. I prefer to make this spring from a disc of steel perforated at its
middle and bent into an arched or dome form. When this arched or dome-shaped
spring has been placed within the box-like cavity of the two parts of the joint or
hinge, the said two parts are secured together by passing a joint pin through them,
a screw pin or a rivetted pin being employed. The two parts of the hinge or joint
are thereby securely connected together, and are capable of turning upon one
another. By the securing together of the two parts or halves of the joint or hinge
the spring between them is compressed, its edge or edges bearing against the edge
of one of the cup-like discs and its summit against the middle of the other cup-like
disc. By the pressure of the said spring considerable resistance is offered to the
motion of either of the cup-like discs of the joint upon the other.
Instead of cup-like discs as described, flat discs having a spring between them
may be used.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawing, the
manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal section a joint or hinge made according to my
Invention; Figures 2 and 3 are elevations of the same; and Figure 4 is an
elevation of one-half or part of the joint or hinge; Figure 5 represents the spring
separately,
The said joint or hinge is composed of two parts or halves marked respectively a
and b, the part a consisting of a hollow or cup-like disc, and the part 6 of a flat
disc. The cup-like disc a is connected to one part of the door or article by the
arm a², and the flat disc b is connected to the door frame or article by a similar
arm 62. The two parts or halves a, b, are connected together at their middles by

page_text: the screw pin c upon which they turn, the said pin c being passed through holes in
the said parts. The flat edge of the cup-like disc a bears against the face of the
disc b as seen in the section, Figure 1. On the inner face of each of the parts a, b,
is a projecting bush, which bushes bear against one another when the said parts a, b,
are connected together as seen in Figure 1. Within the annular cavity formed
between the two parts a, b, an arched or dome-shaped spring d (shewn separately in
Figure 5) is placed before the two parts a, b, are connected together by the joint
pins c. By the securing together of the two parts or halves of the joint or hinge,
the spring d is compressed, its circular edge or portions of its edge bearing against
the face of the disc or half b near the edge, the summit of the said spring bearing
against the middle of the cup-like disc or half a in the manner seen in Figure I.
By the pressure of the spring & considerable resistance is offered to the motion of
either of the two parts or halves a, b, of the joint upon the other.
Instead of using a flat disc b and a cup-like disc a, two cup-like discs may be
employed, and the edge of the inner face of one disc may be furnished with an
inner projecting annular flange or lip for an outer flange or lip on the other part to
overhang and work upon.
In applying my Invention to a swing looking glass, one half of the joint is
connected by its arm or plate to the pillar or stand of the looking glass, and the
other half of the joint is connected by its arm or plate to the frame of the looking
glass. On turning the looking glass on its joint the spring within the joint offers
such a resistance to the motion of the said glass that the latter moves very stiffly
on its joint, and when the looking glass has been adjusted it is retained in that
position by the said joint.
In applying my Invention to the doors of wardrobes, bookcases, and other doors,
the two parts or halves of the hinges are connected by their arms to the two parts
to be hinged together, the hinge maintaining the door either in its open position or
closed position.
Figure 6 represents in elevation, and Figure 7 in longitudinal section another
joint or hinge constructed according to my Invention; Figure 8 represents one half
of the joint or hinge.
In this arrangement the cup-like disc a constituting one half of the joint or
hinge is furnished with two arms a³, a, on opposite sides for fixing it in its place,
and the other flat disc b constituting the other half of the hinge or joint is without
an arm or arms, but is furnished with a flange in which screw holes are made for
the fastening screws to pass through. Instead of using a single dome-shaped spring,
two of the said springs arranged with their convex faces presented to each other
may be employed as illustrated in the section, Figure 7, where the springs are
marked g. Or one of the dome-shaped springs having four (or other number of)
radial arms, as seen in Figure 9 and marked h, may be used. I do not however
limit myself to any particular shaped spring, as a coiled spring or a block of
vulcanized india-rubber may be used.
For the joints of swing looking glasses I prefer to fix the disc part b to the
frame of the glass by means of a plate situated at the edge of the said disc part, as
represented in Figure 74, where the said fixing arm is marked p.
Figure 10 represents in front elevation; Figure 11 in section, and Figure 12 in
side elevation, and Figure 13 in front elevation, with a portion in section, a hinge
or joint in which a coiled metallic spring is used to bind the two parts or halves
together.
In this arrangement each half or part is furnished with a cup-like disc or box
somewhat deeper than that before described, the smaller cup part 6 fitting in the
larger cup part a. In the cup part b is a coiled spring i which takes its bearing at
one end against the bottom of the said cup part b, and at its other end against the
washer k under the head of the fixing screw pin c. By driving home the screw pin c
until the bottom of the box or cap of the part bis in contact with the bottom of the box
or cup of the half a the pressure of the spring i binds the two parts so tightly together
that considerable resistance is offered to the motion of either part upon the other.

page_text: Although my Invention is principally applicable to the jointing of swing looking
glasses to their stands or supports, and to the hinging of wardrobe and other like
doors to their frames, yet I do not limit myself thereto, as joints or hinges made
according to my Invention inay be applied to the jointing or hinging of other articles
which require a strong and stiff joint or hinge.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
the improvements in joints or hinges for swing looking glasses, wardrobe doors, and
other doors, and for other articles herein-before described, and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, that is to say, constructing the said joints or hinges
essentially of two hollow or cup-like parts or of two flat disc-like parts, or of a
single hollow or cup like part in combination with a flat disc-like part, the said parts
or halves of the joint or hinge being jointed together by and turning upon a screw
pin or rivet passing through their middles, a stiff joint being formed by means of a
spring or springs enclosed between and pressing against the two parts or halves of
the joint or hinge so as to offer considerable resistance to the motion of either of them
upon the other; also the modification in which the spring is contained in one of the
said parts instead of between the two parts, substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Adams, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRET,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
SAMUEL ADAMS. (L.S.)