US203080A - Improvement in book-racks - Google Patents

Description

A. R. SHERMAN.

Book-Rack.

PatentedApr il 30, I878.

INVENTOI i WITNESSES -a ATTORNEYS.

MPETERS, FHOTOVLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. 01c.

UNIT n-STATEs PATENT OFFIoE.

ALBERT n. SHERMAN, on NATIOK, RHODE ISLAND.

lM PROVEM ENT IN BOOK-RACKS.

Specification forming of Letters Patent No. 203,080, dated April 8; application filed March 16, 1878.

To all whom it mag concern.

Be it known that I, ALBERT R. SHERMAN,

' of Natick, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Book-Racks, of which the following is a specification: I

Figure l is a front view of myimproved book-rack. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, partly in section to show the construction. Fig. 3 is a detail top view of one end of the bottom rail and its bracket. Fig. 4 is a detail cross-section of the back cushion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved book-rack for church-pews, which shall be so constructed as to hold the books against the back of the pew, and at the same time hold them shut, which will also hold small books in place, and which shall be simple in construction and convenient in use.

A represents the shelf upon which the books stand, and to the upper side of which is attached a cushion, B, of felt covered withvelvet, plush, or other suitable material, to prevent noise when the books are placed in the rack, and to prevent the edges of the books from being worn. The ends of the shelf A are attached to two brackets, O, the bases of which.

fit and slide upon the lower "parts of the baseplates D, to which they are secured by the clamping screws E. The screws E pass through slots in the lower parts of the plates D, so that, by loosening the said screws E, the shelf A may be lowered or raised, according as longer or shorter books are to be used in the rack. Upon the upper side of the brackets O are formed sockets F, to receive the ends of the rod Gr, the end parts of which are bent inward at right angles, and are secured adjustably in the said sockets F by the set-screws H. The rod G is covered with the material with which the rack is upholstered,- is designed to adapt the rack to hold small books, and

may be adjusted closer to or farther from the back of the pew, according to the size of the said small books. The rod G is secured in the sockets F by set-screws H, passing in through the sides of the said sockets and pressing against the said rod. Upon the upper part of the base-plates D are formed sockets I, in which are placed pins J, which are secured in place by the spiral springs K, the outer ends of which rest against a shoulder or flange formed upon the inner surface of the sockets I, and their inner ends rest against the heads of screws, screwed into the inner ends of the said pins J. The outer ends of the pins J have eyes formed in them to receive and hold the ends of the rod L, which eyes may be made in the form of hands, as shown in the drawings, or of any other ornamental shape. The rod L is designed to be covered with the same material as is used in upholstering the rest of the rack,

By this construction the rod L has a reciprocating movement, and will adapt itself automatically to the size of the books.

The eyes of the holders or pins J have shoulders formed upon their lower sides to strike against the rubber heads of the stop-pins M, which are placed in sockets N, formed upon the lower sides of the sockets I, and which are secured adjustably in the said sockets N by set-screws O, passing in through the sides of the said sockets N.

The stops M are designed to prevent noise when the books are removed and the rod L moves inward, and also to limit the inward movement of the said rod L, so that space may be left between it and the pew-back to enable the books to be readily inserted without its being necessary to draw out the said rod L with one hand while inserting a book with the other hand.

Against the back of the pew is placed a cushion, Q R, the ends of which are inserted beneath, and are held by, the upper parts of the base-plates D. The back of the cushion is a metallic plate, P, the side edges of which are bent over forward, and are scalloped or otherwise ornamented; and in the grooves thus formed are inserted the edges of a rubber plate, Q, and a cover, R, of the material used for upholstering the racks. The strips Q R are made wider than the space between the turned-over edges of the plate I, so that the said strips Q B may be convexed or arched, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus adapted to serve as a cushion. The turned-over edges of the plate P are then closed down upon the edges of the strips Q It, so as to hold them securely.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The book-rack consisting, essentially, of the reciprocating rod L, the pins J, the sockets I, and the plates D, constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the reciprocating rod L, the holders J, and the spiral springs K with the sockets Iformed upon the base-plates D of abook-rack, substantially as herein shown and described. V

3. The combination of the adjustable stops M with the movable holding-rod of a bookrack, substantially as herein shown and described.

ALBERT SHERMAN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS H. EATON, AL0NZ0 L. JENKs.

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