IMPROVED MEANS FORFORMING TEMPORARY PARTITIONS OR SCREENS IN CLASS ROOMS OR OTHER PLACES OR ON BOARD SHIP
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Williams Cook of Bury Street in the City of
London for an Invention of IMPROVED MEANS FOR FORMING TEMPORARY
PARTITIONS OR SCREENS IN CLASS ROOMS OR OTHER PLACES OR ON BOARD
SHIP
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Williams Cook at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st September 1882.
JAMES WILLIAMS Cook of Bury Street in the City of London " IMPROVED
MEANS FOR FORMING TEMPORARY PARTITIONS OR SCREENS IN CLASS-ROOMS OR
OTHER PLACES OR ON BOARD SHIP
"
The object of this invention is a means whereby temporary partitions or screens
may be formed at will in buildings out in the open or on board ship but is
particularly applicable to class-rooms where it is desired to separate the different
classes
According to the first part of this invention I hinge to or slide in the backs of
the forms or seats one or more flaps composed of wood or other suitable material
capable of being turned or drawn up in a vertical_position the said flap or flaps
being kept in such position by suitable means. It will be seen that a class-room
for example may be formed into a number of separate compartments by turning
or drawing up some or all of the flaps or the aforesaid flaps may be fitted in the
floor this I propose to effect by having boxes or recesses (with covers so as to
be flush with the floor) therein in which the flaps fold and when such flaps are
put in position they form the screens or partitions
According to the second part of my said invention instead of having flaps folding
or sliding in the said boxes or recesses hinge a folding stanard or stanards at
one or both ends of the said boxes or receptacles at back of the forms or seats or in
the floor and fix between such stanards a suitable flexible material so that when
the said stanards are turned up in a vertical position a partitious or partitions is
or are formed or the flexible material may be rolled in the boxes or receptacles
so as to attain the same result
The aforesaid screen arrangement may according to this invention be fitted to
desks or other articles of furniture where such might be required

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said James Williams Cook in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd March 1883.
"
JAMES WILLIAMS Cooк of Bury Street in the City of London IMPROVED
MEANS FOR FORMING TEMPORARY PARTITIONS OR SCREENS IN CLASS ROOMS OR
OTHER PLACES OR ON BOARD SHIP
"
The object of this invention is a means whereby temporary partitions or screens
may be formed at will in buildings out in the open or on board ship but is
particularly applicable to class rooms where it is desired to separate the different
classes.
According to the first part of this invention I hinge to or slide in the backs of
the forms or seats one or more flaps composed of wood or other suitable material
capable of being turned or drawn up in a vertical position the said flap or flaps
being kept in such position by suitable means. It will be seen that a class room
for example may be formed into a number of separate compartments by turning
or drawing up some or all of the flaps in which position they form the screens or
partitions.
According to the second part of my said invention instead of having flaps folding
or sliding as aforesaid I hinge a folding standard or standards at one or both
ends of the said boxes or receptacles at back of the forms or seats and fix
between such standards a suitable flexible material so that when the said
standards are turned up in a vertical position a partition or partitions is or are
formed or the flexible material may be rolled in the boxes or receptacles so as to
attain the same result.
The aforesaid screen arrangement may according to this invention be fitted to
desks or other articles of furniture where such might be required.
And in order to explain my said invention more fully I will now proceed to
describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig 1
represents front elevation of a form constructed according to the first part of my
said invention and as it would appear when the screen is in position. Fig 2
end view thereof. Fig 3 plan. The same letters denote the same parts in all
the above figures A shews the form B sliding partition E receptacle in which
partition slides the said partition being kept up by means of the bolts or buttons e
as shewn in figs 1 and 2. When it is desired to lower the screen out of use
the buttons e are turned back so that the said. partition may slide down the back
of form.
According to another way of carrying out my said invention I form the screen
as shewn in figs 4, 5 and 6. Fig 4 represents a front elevation. Fig 5 end elevation
and fig 6 plan the same letters denoting the same parts in these figures. G shews
the form. H standards pivotted at I, I, the said standards having canvas or other
flexible material K, fixed thereto for forming the screen. L receptacle for holding
screen having a lid M part of this lid is shewn removed in the plan, Fig 6 to
shew the position of the screen when out of use. The standards H are made of
any desired length according to the height it is necessary to make the screen.
The back of form G, is made solid so as to complete the screen or partition When
it is desired to form a screen or partition it is simply necessary to open the lid
turn the standards in a vertical position as shewn at fig 4 there being a piece
cut off each end of the lid so as to leave sufficient opening at each end thereof
to allow of the thickness of the standards passing through. The receptacle holding
the screen forms a book rest or shelf on back of form. I would here remark

page_text: that I may have but one pivotted standard in the form of a spring roller
on which the flexible material will roll such material having fixed at its other end
a lath or standard which drops into a slot at the other end of the receptacle when
the screen is in position.
Although I have described my said invention as applied to forms it is obvious
that it may be applied in the same way to other articles of furniture such as chairs
desks and tables so as to form screens or separate compartments in class rooms or
other places or on board ship
Having thus described the nature and object of my said invention and the
means of carrying the same into practical effect I would remark in conclusion
that I do not wish to confine myself to the precise details herein described but
what I claim is
The combination with articles of furniture of sliding or folding partitions or
screens arranged substantially as set forth
In Witness whereof I the said James Williams Cook have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty second day of March in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty three
JAS, W. COOK (L.S.)