US233042A

US233042A - smith

Info

Publication number: US233042A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1880-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 1897-10-05

Description

(No Model.) I

H. M. SMITH. Adjustable Shelf Partition.

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UNrrEn STATES 1 ATENT OFFICE.

HAVILAH M. SMITH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ADJUSTABLE SHELF-PARTITION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 238,042, dated October 5, 1880',

Application filed July 31, 1880.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAVILAH M. SMITH, of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Shelf-Partitions, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The device which constitutes the presentinvention is designed for the purpose of dividing any given extent of shelfroom into convenient compartments, with the capacity of varying that subdivision readily and at pleasure, as circumstances may require. It is specially intended for use in libraries and bookstores, to prevent the books upon the shelves from falling over when, for any reason, an unoccupied space exists on the shelf; but it will be manifest upon the simple suggestion to that effect that its utility is not limited to its use in connection with books. It may be used as a lateral support for various articles of merchandise and to separate any one kind of goods from another.

The device consists of two pieces of deal or other material joined together in the form of the letter T. The cap-piece should be substantially straight or plain upon its upper face, and preferably beveled ot'f toward its ends on its under side, although this is'not absolutely necessary.

If made of wood, the standard and the crosspiece will preferably be made separate and then joined by any convenient means; but if of metal the whole device may be made out of a single sheet or casting.

The length of the upright should be adapted to the height of the space in which itis to be used, the length being such that while the foot of the upright rests on the lower shelf the cap-piece will have an easy bearing against the under side of the shelf above. Thus constructed, the partition will maintain a vertical position, and yet be capable of being easily moved to the right or to the left, as may be desired. 1

When used upon a library-shelf, if any of the books are removed it is only necessary to shift the adjustable partition to a position (No model.)

against the side of the remaining volumes, and it will constitute a complete lateral support, and thus keep them in a vertical position. For this purpose it is deemed far better than the guard, which heretofore has come somewhat into use, and which consists of an upright provided with a laterally-projccting foot-piece.

The present device permits of. all the books standing squarely and directly upon the shelf. which was not the case with the older device.

When the present improved device is made in large quantities for shipment it will be found convenient and economical to ship the partitions before the parts are permanently joined together. In such casetheconstruction should be such that the parts may be united readily when it is required to put the partitions into use, and for this purpose the dovetail joint will be found specially adapted.

In the accompanying drawings, which fully illustrate the invention, Figure l is a view of the device in perspective. Fig. 2 shows a section of shelving divided into four cotnpartments, the first compartment bein g a receptacle for a number of small tubes or cylinders, the third containing books, and the second and the fourth being vacant.

What is claimed as new is 1. An adjustable book'snpport or shelf-partition consisting of an upright and a cap-piece, and having a height corresponding to the vertical space which it is designed to occupy, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an upper and alower shelf and an adjustable T-shaped book-support or shelfpartition, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An adjustable book-support or shelf-partition composed of two pieces-an upright and a cap-piece-the two being constructed to be joined together by a dovetail, substantially as described.

HAVILAH M. SMITH.

Witnesses SAML. A. DUNCAN, BENJ. A. SMITH.