Improvements in the Method of Suspending Swing Looking Glasses, and other similar Objects such as are Hung upon Centre'Pins, between Supporting Pillars.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1892 Accented, 6th Aug. 1892
Improvements in the Method of Suspending Swing Looking Glasses,
and other similar Objects such as are Hung upon Centre'Pins,
between Supporting Pillars.
I, GEORGE BARNLEY, of Rock Hill Villa, Aylestone, in the Borough, and
County of Leicester, Wesleyan Minister, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in providing the means whereby such articles as are
described in the foregoing title, may be easily adjusted to, and then held at, any
desired angle, during the pleasure of the operator, such adjustment admitting of
very minute changes of position, and requiring an exceedingly small amount of
trouble, both in effecting the alteration, and in returning the suspended object to
its original position. Variations from the perpendicular are made with equal facility,
whatsoever angle be formed with the horizon, and whether the frame receive a
backward, or a forward movement.
For this purpose I make, first, either a circular, or an oval shaped, body, of wood,
or metal, or other suitable substance. This I call the wheel, and it is placed within
the space between the swing frame, and the upright support. This wheel I fasten,
either to the support, or to the moveable suspended frame. The suspending central
pin, or screw, passes freely through the wheel, but is not otherwise connected
with it.
I, then, provide a band, preferably, of tempered brass, or it may be of steel, or
other material, so that it grips the wheel firmly. The elasticity of the band being
so arranged that a small amount of force, applied to the swinging frame, alters its
angle, whilst the friction between the inner surface of the spring band, and the
outer edge of the wheel is sufficient to prevent any alteration by the force of
gravitation alone. To increase such friction, however, I may make these surfaces
rugged, or may have them toothed.
The spring band is fastened in the same space as that in which the wheel is fixed,
i.e. between the support, and the swinging frame, but on the opposite side of it,
and I make the band to embrace the wheel, so that, when the swing frame is moved,
the wheel performs part of its revolution within the spring band, or the band is
moved along the outer edge of the wheel.
I may make the band to touch the wheel throughout the greater part of its
circumference, and, then, joining the two ends of the spring band to a headpiece, I fix
it in position partly by screws through the headpiece, and partly by another screw,
which allows a loop, or slot, formed by a bend in the band, to move along its sides,
so giving freedom for contraction, or expansion, of the spring, as the wheel moves
within it. But I may, also, so make the spring band that it touches, and grips less
of the circumference of the wheel, and I then give it very much the shape- of the
capital letter G, and the part corresponding to the lower lip of the letter, I use as
a lever to release or to allow the full pressure of the spring.
Dated this 18th day of January 1892.
GEORGE BARNLEY.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of Suspending Swing Looking Glasses,
and other similar Objects such as are Hung upon Centre Pins,
between Supporting Pillars.
I, GEORGE BARNLEY, of Rock Hill Villa, Aylestone, in the Borough, and
County of Leicester, Wesleyan Minister, 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:--
My invention is applicable to such objects as the swinging part of a toilet
mirror, the block-boards used for illustrations in lectures, and in school work,-
artists casels, doors in houses,-the glazed tops of horticultural frames, hinged
window frames, ventilating hopper lights, or shutters, and greenhouse ventilators,―
together with the lids of boxes, or of desks, and all similar contrivances.
The apparatus which I use consists of two parts, viz.
I. An elastic friction-band, and
-:
II. A solid core, which is gripped tightly, through the greater part of its
circumference, by the said band, but which, nevertheless, moves within the band so
freely as to allow the suspended object to vary its angle to any extent which may
be determined.
I. The friction-band is a circular, or an oval shaped hoop of metal, or it is
formed so as nearly to resemble a capital letter G, and it is preferably made of
tempered brass, or of steel. In the earlier mentioned form, the band of metal is
diverted from its circular or from its oval course, in one, or more, places, so as to
be doubled over into a locp; and, after forming such loop, or loops, the circular, or
the oval direction is again carried forward to its completion. The use of these loops
is for the twofold purpose of providing means for fixing the apparatus in its place,
and for giving elasticity to the band, so as to admit of its expansion, and contraction,
whilst adapting itself to the movements of the core within.
I, also, sometimes, bring the ends of the band into the form of loops for receiving
fastenings, and for increasing its flexibility. Or, I join them by a binding and
adjusting screw, or by a clip, or sliding collar, so as to allow of the increase, or of
the diminution, of the grip upon the central core.
The band is finished on its inner surface so as to be rough, or it may be toothed,
or corrugated, or grooved, in order that the core may not move too easily within it.
And this inner surface is of such lineal measurement that it greatly exceeds the
circumference of any such supporting screws, or regulators, as have been commonly
used, hitherto, for producing frictional resistance, so as to hold the moveable
object in its place. The lineal frictional surfaces are seldom less than two inches
in continual length, and may, for heavy bodies, be considerably more.
When the shape resembling a letter G, is used there is no need for the loops, and
the requisite friction is then obtained by the core fitting very closely within the
tempered collar. The part corresponding to the lower lip of the letter G, is used
as a thumb piece by which the grip is relaxed, or restored.
11. The second part of the apparatus is a solid core, made of metal, or wood, or
any other suitable substance, and is in the form of a disc, or it may be oval. It fits
inside the band, so as to be gripped firmly. And its outer edge is finished so as to
correspond with the unevennesses of the inner side of the band. The flexibility of
the band allows these unevennesses, on the two surfaces which are in contact, to
pass, one over the other; and then causes an interlocking when the prominences on
one of the surfaces are opposite to the depressions on the other, and as pressure, by
the operator, is discontinued when the desired angle has been produced.
I fasten one of the parts of this apparatus to the object which is moveable, as,
for example, to the swinging frame of a toilet mirror. And I fix the other to the

page_text: stationary support, or supports. And I may, so arrange that the band moves round
the stationary core, or that the core moves within the stationary band.
The following letters, and figures, refer to the drawings which shew the nature
of the invention, and which are deposited herewith :-
Fig. I. shews a part of the side of a swing frame, in which a dressing glass is
fixed for toilet purposes.
A. A. the side of the swinging frame.
The friction band is seen, attached to this frame, and is so fixed as to be between
the swing frame, and one of its supporting pillars.
a. is the circular space encompassed by the friction band. This may be formed
into an oval shape instead of being circular. The inner surface of this band is
finished rough, or otherwise made uneven, by toothing, or by corrugation, or in
other ways.
b. is a loop, formed by diverting the metal band from its circular, or oval, course,
and bringing it back again so as to move on again in its former direction. The
loop allows of a screw being driven through it, as a means of fastening, and it, at
the same time gives freedom to the band, for expansion and contraction, as
inequalities on the frictional surfaces pass over each other, and afterwards need to
be interlocked.
c. c. are other loops, serving similar purposes to that at b.
Fig. II. A. A. the side of the frame, as in Fig. 1.
a. the space encompassed by the friction band.
b. b. loops às in Fig. I. but varied in number.
c. the ends of the band, so arranged as to provide for regulating the grip on the
core.
d. a clip for tightening the ends of the band. For this may be substituted a
binding screw.
Fig. III. shews the friction band under a different arrangement.
A. A. the side of glass, as before.
a. the inner surface of friction band.
b. b. a loop formed by one end of the band, and fastened by screws to the frame
of the glass. Instead of this, there may be a solid metal plate.
c. c. screws, or pins, to prevent the loop from opening.
d. one end of the band, elongated into a lever, and used to relax the hold of the
band upon the inner core, when an alteration of angle is desired.
Fig. IV. the inner side of the support, on which the swinging frame is hung.
a. the inner solid core, so made as to fit closely into the spaces marked a. in
Figs. I. II. & III.
This figure will be understood better, if it be regarded as folded over on to the
bands as shewn.
b. b. b. screws for fastening.
The circle in the centre shews where the ordinary suspending pin passes through.
Note 1. The outer edge of this core is made uneven, to correspond with the inner
surface of the friction band.
Note 2. The details of adjustment will be varied according to the shape, size, or
weight, of the hinged, or suspended object. But the friction band, or collar, firmly
gripping a central core, is the same in every case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An improvement in the method of holding any such object as is suspended
apon central pins, or such as is fastened by hinges, placed at its extremity of side,
or of end, so that it automatically continues at any desired angle, during the will of
he operator, without liability to change.
2. The substitution,-in order to this, of a much more powerful, and a greatly
extended, frictional surface, in the place of the ordinary screw knob, and instead of

page_text: - a screw pressure' upon the side of a 'central pin. The knob with its screwed shank,
and nut, being employed only for purposes of suspension, and not at all for setting
the desired angle.
3. The ready adjustment to any desired angle; with the stability of such angle,
by an act of simple pressure with the hand, and without using any separately
operated screw, or pin, or hook, or rack, or check of any kind.
4. In the case of horticultural frames, the dispensing with struts, or props, and,
'so, the giving free access to every part of the interior, without hindrance to
workmen.
5. The use, for these purposes, of a friction band, or collar, which firmly grips a
*central core.
6. The roughening such surfaces of collar, and core, as are in contact.
7. The provision of springs, or loops, which allow the collar to expand when
sinequalities of surface are passing each other, and which so contract, as to cause
interlocking when the desired angle has been reached.
Dated this 13th day of June 1892.
GEORGE BARNLEY.