improvements in the Construction of School and other seats, Applicable also to the Division of Halls and Rooms.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1887.
Complete Left, 11th Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Dec., 1887
improvements in the Construction of School and other seats,
Applicable also to the Division of Halls and Rooms.
I, WILLIAM JOHN BARNS, Ironmonger of Stapleton Road in the City and County
of Bristol do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL OR OTHER SEATS, APPLICABLE ALSO
DIVISION OF HALLS AND ROOMS to be as follows:-
"
TO THE
My invention is designed amongst other advantages to provide by a simple and
almost instantaneous method, isolation for the formation of Classes in Schools and for
any required Screening or division at Public or other gatherings, and by means of my
said invention large rooms or Halls may be very speedily divided into smaller spaces
of any required dimension.
In carrying my invention into practice I construct the back of the seats with one or
more folding or sliding flap, or flaps, or slide or slides, and, if desired, the seating
itself may be fitted with a similar arrangement but in such latter instances these flaps
or slides may be provided with folding legs or props, or other suitable means of
support, when unfolded or drawn out for use.
The back legs of the seats may be continued upwards to a required distance above
the ordinary back to form guides for the aforesaid flap or flaps, or slide, or slides when
in position for use and to provide for and to receive bolt-sockets or other suitable
arrangements for securing the same, though 1 do not particularly bind myself to this
form of construction as a means of supporting the aforesaid flap or flaps, or slide or
slides.
The seats are arranged back to back, & in paralell divisions or spaces according to
the various classes or sections engaged. Where required these spaces or divisions
may be again divided by cross seats to enclose them at their end or ends. The

page_text: aforesaid back flap or flaps, or slide or slides may then be raised in position and the
enclosure completed if required, with the provision also of seat accommodation at
the ends of such divisions or spaces, by placing in position the flap or flaps, or slide or
slides connected with the seating itself as already described the same being supported
by means of the aforesaid folding legs or props or other suitable support. An enclosure,
either in part or entire, may be thus at once formed without general disturbance or
inconvenience in any, or every part of the room in which these seats are used, while
by reversing the operations described the seats resume their ordinary form.
Dated this 14th day of October 1887

page_text: Applicable also to the Division of Halls and Rooms.
I WILLIAM JOHN BARNS Ironmonger, of Stapleton Road, in the City and County
of Bristol 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 :-
The object of my invention is so to construct school and other seats as to render them
easily convertible for the isolation of classes in schools and for providing the required
divisions or screening, at public or other gatherings, and, by my said invention, either
of these requirements may be attained without any general disturbance or incon-
venience in any part of the room or Hall where it may be desired; while with equal
facility with which the said screenings or divisions have been effected the whole may
be restored to its usual or ordinary seating.
In carrying my invention into practise I use any suitable material or materials in
its manufacture and provide each seat with a flap or flaps either hinged to or sliding
within grooves, in the framework of the seat, or the seats may be provided underneath
with a drum, within which a jointed slide is coiled upon a spindle, which may be con-
nected with and actuated by a spring. The other end of the jointed slide passes up at
the back of the seat within grooves formed in its framework, and is drawn up and
down therein by means of a wheel and ratchet, or this may be effected by means of
cords and pulleys, the cords being attached to the top of the slide, and passing over
the pulleys fixed in the top of the framework of the seat.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained,
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, shewing the various modi-
fications of my invention, and in which drawings similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts.
(Sheet 1) Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a seat fitted, in front with a hinged
flap. A, a being the hinge of the flap, is represented closed, and recessed within the
front part of the back of the seat. Upon being raised into position for screening or
dividing purposes the flap fits between the head of the framework of the seat B. The
dotted lines shew the position of the flap when raised.
Figure 2 shews a back elevation of the seat, with the flap A and hinges a a; the back
being raised in position, and secured by the bolts C which drop into the aforesaid head
of the framework of the seat B.
(Sheet 2) Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a seat fitted with a single flap A
hinged at the back instead of at the front of the seat; a being the hinge. When
closed the flap A is recessed in the back of the seat, instead of in the front, as in

page_text: Sheet 1 Figure 1, and it is retained in its position by means of a Bales latch b, or
other suitable catch. The dotted lines shew position of the flap when raised.
Figure 2 is a back elevation of the seat with the flap A hinged thereto and
raised, and fixed in position by the bolts CC which drop into the head of the
framework B.
(Sheet 3) Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of a seat hinged at its back with a
flap A which flap is formed in two parts hinged together and shaped at its hinged
joint D to form a close joint, as shewn by dotted lines, when the hinged flap is raised
in position. The object of forming this flap in two parts, as described, is to render it
convertible (when not required for screening or dividing purposes) into a book rest at
the back of the seat, and this is attained by bringing out, in a level position, the part
of the flap hinged to the back of the seat, and turning inwards, at D, the hinged part
of the flap to the framework of the seat, into which it is secured by means of a knob
or knobs E, fitted to the end of the flap, which drop into sockets F (Figure 2) fitted
to the framework of the seat, and it thus acts as a bracket support to the book rest.
When the flap is not in use, it drops perpendicularly with the back of the seat, as
shewn by dotted lines, and is retained in position by means of a Bales latch, button, or
other, convenient catch. The dotted lines represent the flap raised in position for
screening or dividing purposes, its hinged part D being strengthened and supported
by the framework of the seat B carried to meet it. The flap is secured in position by
bolt C (Figure 2) dropping into the head of the framework B.
(Figure 2) is a back elevation of the seat shewing the flap hinged to the top of the
back of the seat, and in position for screening or dividing, and secured therein by the
bolts C, dropping into the top of the framework B.
Sheet 4 (Figure 1) is a sectional elevation of a seat fitted with a movable slide G
which may be fitted, when not in use, into a recess within the back of the seat, in
which it is held by the channel or groove H at its base, and the button, or other suit-
able attachment, I at the top. When the slide G is required for use, it is removed
from its recess at the back of the seat, and is dropped into a groove K formed in the
top of the back of the seat B.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a seat, representing the employment of a hinged
slide, in another form to that already described, and shewn by Fig. 1. This slide is
hinged as shewn in the drawing, to form a book rest. The slide runs within grooves L
formed in the framework of the seat. The framework is continued a suitable distance
above the ordinary back of the seat, for carrying the flap, when raised for screen or
division, but from the point where the ordinary back reaches the groove therein is dis-
continued as shewn at L1, to the extent of the width of the aforesaid hinged part of
the slide, to enable the latter to fall outwards, as a book rest, upon a bracketted
support B¹, which may be constructed in the framework B.
The grooves L are then continued upwards, within the framework B, for the purpose
of running the slide G within them, when required, to its position at the top of the
seat as a screen or division, and when thus used it is retained in position by bolts, or
any suitable catch.
Figure 3 is a back elevation of the seat, shewing the slide G raised in position as a
screen or division, and running within the grooves L L, formed in the framework B.
Sheet 5 (Figure 1) is a plan view of my invention, shewing the employment of
two slides G and G₁ running within the grooves formed for the purpose in the
framework of the seat B..
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a seat thus fitted with two slides, with the slides G
and G raised in position. The framework B of the seat is carried upwards to a
required height, to provide the aforesaid grooves in which the slides run.
Figure 3 is a back elevation of a seat, with the slides G and G' raised in position
within the grooves L L of the framework B of the seat.
Sheet 6, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a seat fitted with a jointed slide N which
may be partly enclosed within a drum M, conveniently fixed under the seat, and coiling on a
spindle T, which spindle may be actuated manually or by connection with a spring.
At the top of the jointed slide N are attached cords P passing over pulleys Q, fitted

page_text: in the head of the framework of the seat B, by which means the jointed slide may be
drawn up, and secured in position, by the other ends of the cords P, being connected
to suitable fastenings at the back, or any desired part of the framework B. When the
cords P are loosened from their fastenings, the spring, which may be connected with
the spindle T, upon which the jointed slide N coils, revolves the said spindle T, and
draws down the slide until checked by the stop l.
Figure 2 is a back elevation of the seat, fitted as described, with jointed slide N,
which is shewn raised into position within the grooves L L of the framework of the
seat B, shewing the cords P passing over the pulleys Q fitted in the head of the frame-
work B. M is the drum in which the slide N may be coiled, upon a plain spindle and
rolled thereon by hand, when required to be lowered, instead of the spindle T being
actuated by a spring as before described.
Figure 3 is a plan view of part of the framework B of a seat, rendered telescopic,
which telescopic parts e, are fitted with slides or panels G G¹ G³, thus providing one,
two, or three sliding screens or panels, one above the other, by sliding the said tele-
scopic parts e as required, and as shewn in the sectional view Fig. 4.
Seats may
thus be constructed with one or more slides or panels.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the slides G G G telescoping one within the other, the
slide G being grooved, and sliding within the framework B of the seat, and by this
means the spaces r between the said slides, as shewn in the telescoping framework B
(Figures 3 and 4) are avoided. Figure 5 represents the employment of three
slides G G¹ and G2, and seats may thus be constructed with one or more slides.
Sheet 7, Fig. 1, is a sectional elevation of a seat fitted with a jointed slide N, the
lower end of which drops within a case or box O provided below the seat for the
purpose. The frameworkB of the seat is carried to a required height, and is fitted
with grooves in which the said slide works, by means of a cord or cords P, attached to
the top of the slide, and which then pass or passes over a pulley or pulleys Q, fitted in
the head of the framework B, and fastened at the back of the seat by any suitable
attachment.
Fig. 2 is a back elevation of the seat with the jointed slide raised in position within
the grooves L within the framework B of the seat. When the screen or division is
not required, the jointed slide is lowered by means of the cord P, and coils within the
box O, as shewn in Fig. 1. There is a check / formed in the top of the jointed slide,
to prevent it from dropping further within the groove L at the back of the seat.
Sheet 8 Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a seat fitted with the before mentioned
jointed slide, and of similar construction to that shewn in Sheets 6 and 7, with the
exception that the raising and lowering of the jointed slide is effected by means of a
wheel R and ratchet S, of any suitable pattern or kind.
Figure 2 is a back elevation of a seat so fitted. The wheel which so operates the
ratchet S formed in the back of the jointed slide may be fitted in any convenient
position to the framework of the seat. In my description herein of my invention con-
structed with hinged flaps or slides, I wish it to be understood that I do not bind
myself to any particular form of hinging or sliding as there are obviously forms of
both kinds which may be adopted, without in the least departing from the range of 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, 1 declare that what 1
claim is :-
1st. The construction of School or other seats with a hinged flap, or hinged
flaps, as and for the purposes herein before described and as shewn in the drawings.
2nd. The construction of School and other seats with one or more slides running
within grooves or fitting into a socket as and for the purposes herein before described
and as shewn in the drawings.
3rd. The construction of School or other seats with a telescopic framework con-
taining one or more slides or panels as, and for the purposes herein before described
and as shewn by the drawings.

page_text: 4th. The construction of School or other seats with one or more slides dovetailed
and running within each other and similarly connected with the framework of the seat
as and for the purposes herein before described and as shewn in the drawings.
5th. The construction of School or other seats with a jointed slide and the means
and methods by which the same is operated as and for the purpose herein before
described and as shewn in the drawings.
66
6th. The combination and arrangements of parts constituting my invention for
Improvements in the construction of school and other seats applicable also for the
division of Halls and Rooms" as and for the purposes and by the means herein before
described and as shewn in the drawings.
Dnted this 10th do
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