An Apparatus for Enclosing and Displaying Maps, Diagrams, and other Rolled Sheets.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
[Communicated from abroad by FRANK VALENTINE, School Master, of Bowman's
Bluff, Henderson County, North Carolina, in the United States of America.]
An Apparatus for Enclosing and Displaying Maps, Diagrams, and
other Rolled Sheets.
1. EDWIN CHAMBERS JOHN DEVIS, Engineer, of Laurel Cottage, School Road,
Moseley, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature.
of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to maps, diagrams, charts, tables, and similar works which
are used in schools, colleges, lecture rooms, libraries, studies &c., and which are
generally kept rolled up when not required for reference, and are hung from walls,
easels, black boards &c. when so required.
Its object is to provide an apparatus of pleasing appearance which may enclose
such works and preserve them froin dust, moisture, and careless handling when they
are not required for reference, and allow of them being displayed easily and quickly
when so required.
For the sake of brevity I shall hereinafter speak of maps only, they being the
most commonly used works to which my invention is applicable.
I construct, in wood, metal, or other convenient material, a case or cabinet of
approximately and roughly prismatic or cylindrical form, of height somewhat
greater than the width of the maps to be contained and with one or more vertical
openings for the maps to pass through when rolled up.
I attach each map to a strip of wood or other suitable material and connect one
end of such strip to the case or cabinet near its upper end, and in such a way that
the strip can be made to take either a horizontal position, reaching out from the
case, or a vertical or approximately vertical position, hanging down by the side of or
inside the case, that is to say by hinges or equivalent means.
The map being attached to the inner or lower side of the strip, when the latter
is brought to the vertical position the former passes inside the cabinet, and when it
is desired to display the map the strip is brought to the horizontal position and
supported there and the map is unrolled.
In some cases I attach two or more maps to one strip. Each case or cabinet
may be made to contain any number of maps and each map may have its own
opening which may be closed either by the strip to which the map is attached or by
an independent cover, or there may be fewer openings than maps or strips,―say one
or two only, in an outer case, such opening or openings being capable of being
brought, at will, to face each of the maps, the latter being independently supported
inside.
The part of the apparatus to which the maps are attached may be made to revolve
so that any map can be brought to face in any required direction.
The whole case may be supported on a heavy base piece, with or without castors,
so as to be portable, by a table to give the required elevation as well as portability,-
or by brackets which can be fixed to a wall; or one side of the cabinet may be made.
conveniently for fixing to a wall.
The maps may have rollers attached to their lower edges, or may be attached by
their upper edges to rollers carried by the hinged arms or strips and actuated by.
cords, springs, or weights, as desired, and the rolling and unrolling of the maps can
be effected by the notion of the hinged arm itself or independently, by hand or
otherwise.
As regards exterior design, a considerable portion consists of constructional lines,

page_text: but these can, of course, be enriched in varying degree, while certain parts, such as,
generally, the cap and base pieces, can be designed to suit the surrounding furniture
or the taste of the owner.
Dated thin 214
1
1000
EDWIN C. J. DEVIS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Apparatus for Enclosing and Displaying Maps, Diagrams, and
other Rolled Sheets.
I, EDWIN CHAMBERS JOHN DEVIS, Engineer, of Laurel Cottage, School Road,
Moseley, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, 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 relates to maps, diagrams, charts, school pictures, and similar works
which are used in schools, colleges, lecture rooms, libraries, studies &c., and are
adapted to be kept rolled up when not required for reference, and are usually hung
from walls, easels, blackboards &c. when so required.
Its object is to provide an apparatus of pleasing appearance which may enclose
such works and preserve them from dust, moisture, and careless handling when
they are not required for reference, and allow of them being displayed easily,
quickly, and in the most convenient positions when so required.
For the sake of brevity I shall hereinafter speak of maps only, they being the most
commonly used works to which my invention is applicable.
I construct in any suitable material, but preferably in wood, a vertical case or
cabinet of approximately prismatic or cylindrical form, of height somewhat greater
than the width of the maps to be contained, and with one or more vertical openings
extending the whole height of the case or nearly so, and wide enough for the maps
to pass through when rolled up.
I attach each map, by its upper edge, to a strip of wood or other suitable material
and connect one end of such strip to the case or cabinet, near its upper end, and in
such a way that the strip can be made to take either a horizontal position, reaching
out from the case, or a vertical position, hanging down by the side of or inside the
case, that is to say; by hinges or equivalent means.
The map being attached to the lower or inner side of the strip, when the latter is
brought to the vertical position the former, being rolled up, passes through the opening
into the cabinet, and the strip may also pass into the cabinet or may stop at the
opening and form a door to close it. When the map is required for reference the
strip is brought to the horizontal position and supported there, and the map is
unrolled and hangs down from it.
I will now describe more specifically, and with reference to the accompanying
drawings, some of the forms which the apparatus takes.
The following letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the various
figures-A, the arins or strips to which the maps are attached; B, the pins on
which these arms hinge; C, the supports for the apparatus; D), the fixed bars which,
in some forms, separate the arms, A; E, the top and bottom boards of the apparatus,
in some forms; M, the maps, rolled up; N, the brackets supporting the map rollers
on the arms, A; 0, the cord pulleys on the map rollers; S, the buttons by which
the arms, A, are handled; T, the centre pins on which the map rollers revolve.
Figs. 1 to 4 show the exterior appearance of some patterns, in all of which the
strips which carry the maps form the covers or doors to the openings through which
the maps pass.
In Fig. 1, which is the simplest and cheapest of these, the case or cabinet has a
solid front, back, top, and bottom, but the sides are formed of the strips or arms, A A A,
in this case three on each side, to which the maps are attached, and which are connected
to the case, at their upper ends, by the pins B B each passing through the front

page_text: board, F1, and the three strips, A A A, and into the back board, F2, and the latter has
holes, CC, by which it can be hung from a wall.
Fig. 2 shows another pattern in which the strips or arms, A, are ranged around
an approximately cylindrical or prismatic case, alternating with the uprights, D,
which connect the circular or polygonal top and bottom boards, E E. In this case
there is a separate pin or hinge to each of the arms, A, as indicated at, B B B. The
top and bottom boards, E E, each carries at its centre a pin supported in bearings
carried by the bracket, F, from the back hoard, G, which also has holes C for fixing
to a wall. Thus the case can be made to revolve on its stand so as to allow of the
maps facing in any horizontal direction when displayed.
Fig. 3 shows a portable pattern similar to Fig. 1, but in which the case is supported
on a heavy and wide base, C, instead of being attachable to a wall, and the back and
front boards may both be made ornate.
Fig. 4 shows a similar modification of Fig. 2, namely with a heavy base piece, C,
substituted for the back board, but in this case, as there is no bracket to support the
top centre or bearing, I prefer to fix to the centre of the base piece, C, an upright, F, as
shown in the sectional views, Figs. 6 & 7, passing upwards to near the top of the case
and ending in a pivot, R, on which the case rests by means of the horizontal piece, H,
firmly fixed to the uprights, D, and carrying the bearing piece, K, on its lower
side, the pivot, R, and bearing piece, K, being preferably made of metal.
upright, F, passes through the bottom board, E, by means of a clearance hole which
may be lined with a metal bush, J, and a pin, I, is put through the upright, F, to
keep the case in position.
The
Fig.
5 is a sectional plan of Fig. 3, and shows the positions which the arms, A,
and the maps carried by them take in that and similar patterns, such as Fig. 1;
G being a vertical partition board which, being fixed to the front board, F₁, and back
board, F2, serves to stiffen the apparatus.
Figs. 8&9 show, in actual use, the apparatus represented in Figs. 4 & 1, respectively,
each displaying two maps.
Fig. 10 shows a compound mapholder such as will be found more convenient for
holding a large number of maps than a single large holder, being more compact and
sightly. It merely consists of two or more holders of any suitable revolving pattern
arranged in one apparatus or group. In this case three holders or cases, similar to
that shown by Fig. 2, are supported on one base, C₁, the top centres being carried by
a crown or roof piece, C₂, which is supported from the base, C₁, by a strong upright
passing up the centre of the group; or if it is preferred, the roof piece, C₂, may be
made to project over the tops of the revolving cases, or holders, and be supported by
three uprights. springing from the corners of the base piece, C1, or, instead of the
roof piece and top and bottom centres, each of the revolving cases may be supported
on a pivot upright, as described with reference to Figs. 4, 6, & 7. This pattern,
being heavy, is shown fitted with castors, C.
Figs. 11 & 12 show the general arrangement, and Figs. 13 & 14 the details of
another pattern of the apparatus consisting of an
outer case; F, having only two
openings, one on each side, closed by the hingel arins, A A, and enclosing two
frames or mapholders, each carrying six maps and capable of revolving round a
vertical axis, and so placed that, as it revolves, each map in succession comes opposite
the arm, A, and can be picked up by it, brought out through the opening, and
displayed as desired. This is effected as follows:-A vertical shaft, U, capable of
being revolved, as, for instance, by a handle or small wheel, Z, on the outside of the
case, is supported at the top by a bearing, V, fixed to the case, F,,and at the
bottom by a collar, Y, resting on the bottom of the case, F, and to it are fixed two
carrier discs, W, on which rest the maps, M. These discs are indented, as shown in
plan, Fig. 14, and tho centre pins, T, of the maps lie at the bottom of the indents,
where they are normally retained by the fixed annular plates, X, which are preferably
arranged just above the top and below the bottom carrier discs, overlapping them, as
shown. The guard plates, X, are however cut away just opposite the arm, A, so that
each map; as it reaches that point is free to slide out of keeping with the discs, W,

page_text: though it has no tendency of its own to do so. The arm, A, carries two brackets, N,
shaped as shown in Fig. 13, and indented for the centre pins, T, as shown in Fig. 14,
and so placed that as the mapholder, revolves the centre pins, T, pass between them
and the arm, A, so that if a map is left opposite the arm, A, and the latter is then
drawn up into the horizontal position, the forks or indents of the brackets, N, catch
the centre pins, T. and draw the map off the carrier dises, W, and through the opening
in the case, F, into the horizontal position, ready for unrolling. When the arm, A,
is lowered back into the vertical position it pushes the map back again on to the
carrier discs, and the latter can be revolved, and the map changed.. The wheel, Z, by
which the carrier is revolved bears labels which, as they successively come to the
front, correspond to the map which is, at the moment, opposite the arm, A. Or the
shaft, U, may carry a bevel wheel gearing with a second bevel wheel fixed to a
horizontal spindle passing through the front of the case, F, and fitted, outside, with
an index arm pointing to labels on the front of the case, so that, by turning the index
arm to the name of the desired map and lifting the arm, A, the desired map will
be obtained:
I have hitherto described the arms, A, as each carrying a single map, but it is
obvious that they may each carry two or more maps side by side, if made wide
enough, and in Fig. 15 is shown an apparatus in which each arm, A, carries three maps,
one under another, on long brackets, N, by which arrangement a large number of maps
can be accomodated, with the utmost compactness, and in the cheapest pattern of case.
In the revolving patterns of my apparatus the number of maps may be doubled by:
mounting two maps on each sheet, one on each side, back to back.
I have described. only a few of the forms which my invention takes and it is to be
understood that many of the details may be considerably varied from those already
described or shown in the drawings. Thus, for instance, instead of the maps being
attached, by their upper edges, to rollers, such rollers being centred in brackets
fixed to the arms, A, and being actuated by cords, they may be attached, by their
upper edges, directly to the arms, A, and have rollers attached to their lower
edges, so that they can be rolled up by hand from the bottom; or they may be
attached, by their upper edges, to spring rollers, such as are often used for window
blinds.
3.
When the maps are large the apparatus should be placed at such a level that the
tops of the maps can be easily seen when they are wholly unrolled, and to enable the
lower parts of the maps to be clearly seen, without stooping, I employ some one of
the well known devices used for retaining roller blinds in various positions, so
that the map can be held in a half unrolled position.
In order to make the apparatus as compact as possible there should be provision
for.keeping the maps tightly rolled up when not in use. When spring rollers are
used all that is necessary is to so fix the roller that the strip attached to the lower
edge of the map cannot pass over it, when the pull of the spring will keep the map
tightly rolled. In other cases this strip may be caught, when it gets to the top, by
a small spring catch fixed to the arm, A ; or it may carry a piece of tape which can
be tied round the map by hand, as shown in Fig. 7.
There are, of course, various means by which the arm, A, can be supported in
the horizontal position, but the one I prefer is that shown in Fig. 6, consisting of the
pin, B; passing into or through the slotted hole, L, in the arm, A, so that when the
latter has been brought to the horizontal position, it can be pushed inwards, endwise,
until its inner end passes under the central projecting piece of the block, E, and
thus supports it, as shown by the dotted lines. Instead of the slotted hole, a jib
or strut may be used between the arm, A, and the side of the case or cabinet.
The slotted hole may be formed by means of a bridge piece, P.
The arm, A, can be secured in its lower or vertical position by means of a catch
attached to the inner end of the button, S, which, in that case, would be so made
and fitted to the arm, A, that it can be easily turned by hand; but a sufficient
and more simple means is that shown at Q in Figs. 6 & 13. This consists in a
groove cut in the lower end of the arm and a corresponding small projecting piece, Q,

page_text: fixed to the bottom board, E. In Fig. 6 the slotted hole, L, in the upper end of the
arm, A, allows the latter to rise over the projection, Q, which may, therefore, be
made rigid; but when the slotted hole is not used, as in Fig. 13, the projection, Q,
may forin or be attached to the end of a spring which can yield downwards as the
arm, A, passes over it, as shown.
The pin and slotted hole device is suitable for any of the patterns described,
but especially for the non-revolving patterns, as one long pin will, in them, serve
for two or more arms. In the revolving pattern shown by Figs. 6 & 7 each.
arm requires a separate pin, and in such a case I form the pins with a flange at
each end so that they can be screwed to the uprights, D, as indicated at B, in Fig. 2
and others.
In the portable patterns of my apparatus, especially when the weight is great, it
is advisable to use castors, and to minimise the risk of overturning the apparatus such
castors should be as sensitive and of as small an eccentricity as practicable. The
castors I prefer are either a good ball pattern or one of the roller patterns described
in my Patent Specification No. 2 '534 of 1889.
The various apparatus which I have described may be taken as representative of
three main classes into which the invention is divisible; namely, one, represented by
Figs. 1, 3, 9, & 15, in which the maps, permanently attached to hinged arms, are
arranged, all, on two opposite sides of a cabinet, and face, all, in one direction, which
cannot be altered except by moving the whole apparatus; one, represented by
Figs. 2, 4, 8, & 10, in which the maps, again permanently attached to hinged arms,
are arranged around a cabinet and face, all, in different directions, which, however
can be altered, at will, without moving the whole apparatus; and one, represented by
Figs. 11 & 12, in which the maps are only temporarily taken up by the hinged arms,
when being displayed, and face, all, in the same direction, which cannot be altered except
by moving the whole apparatus. These three classes include all the most useful
forms of the apparatus, but it must be understood that special patterns, useful for
special purposes, may lie between or outside of them; thus, for instance, the non-
revolving pattern of the first class may be so modified that maps can be displayed
from three or more sides, or the maps may alternate with fixed uprights, as described
with reference to Figs. 2, 4, & others; the revolving pattern of the second class can
be so modified that the maps can be displayed from one or two sides only, or, instead
of alternating with fixed uprights, they may be arranged in groups of two or more,
separated by such uprights; the third class can be modified, as already described, so
that the maps are permanently attached to hinged arms which pass, with them, through
the openings in the outside case, or the outside case can be made to revolve, as well as
the maps, so that the latter can be brought to face in any direction.
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 :-
1.) For enclosing and displaying maps, diagrams, and similar rolled sheets, an
apparatus consisting of an approximately vertical cabinet, to the upper part of which
are attached, by hinges or equivalent means, arms adapted to carry the said sheets,
and which are capable of being either brought to the vertical position, when the
sheets, being rolled up, pass inside the cabinet, or brought to the horizontal
position, when the sheets can be unrolled and displayed,-there being, also, suitable
provision for supporting the arms in the horizontal position.
2.) For such a purpose, an apparatus consisting of a cabinet of which two opposite
sides are made up of hinged arms for carrying the rolled sheets, the back, front, top,
and bottom, being solid, and the apparatus being supported either by the back board
being adapted to be hung from a wall, or by the base being made wide and heavy, for
standing on a floor, table, or bracket; substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1, 3, 5 & 9, of the accompanying drawings.
3.) For such a purpose, an apparatus consisting of a top and bottom board
connected by upright bars with which alternate hinged arms for carrying the

page_text: rolled sheets, the whole being made capable of rotation about a vertical axis;
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 2, 4, 6, 7, & 8, of the accompanying
drawings.
4.) For such a purpose, an apparatus consisting of one or more frames carrying the
rolled sheets and capable of revolving round vertical axes, such frames being enclosed
by a vertical cabinet having one or two openings to each revolving frame, such
openings being fitted with hinged arms, and the whole being so arranged that the
hinged arms can pick up the rolled sheets as the latter are brought opposite the
openings by the rotation of the frames; substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 11, 12, 13, & 14, of the accompanying drawings.
5.) In apparatus for enclosing and displaying rolled sheets by means of hinged arms,
as hereinbefore described, the means of supporting such hinged arms in the horizontal
position substantially as described with reference to Fig. 6 of the accompanying
drawings, and consisting of a slotted hole in each arm, a pin passing through or
projecting into such hole, and a bearing piece, all so arranged that when the arm is
brought to the horizontal position and pushed inwards, end wise, its inner end catches
under the bearing piece and supports it.
6.) The apparatus, as
a whole, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1, 3, 5, & 9, of the accompanying drawings.
7.) The apparatus, as a whole, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 2, 4, 6, 7, & 8, of the accompanying drawings.
8.) The apparatus, as a whole, substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.
9.) The apparatus, as a whole, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 11, 12, 13, & 14, of the accompanying drawings.
10.) The apparatus, as a whole, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 15
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of September 1890.