US2644588A - Library shelf arrangement - Google Patents

Description

July 7, 1953 Filed NOV. 9, 1950 c. s. BROWN 2,644,588

LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet l jnz/eni or Clifford jfirown I t/M 06k;

y 7, 1953 c. 5. BROWN 2,644,588

LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT Filed Nov. 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 7, 1953 c. 5. BROWN LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 9, 1950- Q frzvenfor' Clifford j Frown,

Filed NOV. 9, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 fnverzj or" l dl l I I I I ||h| H H F H H .wwmw

July 7, 1953 c. 5; BROWN LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT Filed Nov. 9, 1950 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 n fnuerzi or Q C lzfi ord j firown,

Patented July 7, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIBRARY SHELF ARRANGEMENT Clifford S. Brown, Wauwatosa, Wis, assignor to Hamilton Manufacturing Company," Two Rivers, Wis., a, corporation of Wisconsin Application November 9, 195.0, S rial. No- 194,8 8

3 Claims.

This invention relates to library sheli arrangements. and. is especially applicable to libra y book stacks for large and busy libraries, and particularly for archives and records.

Am ng other objects. the present invention aims to provide an, arrangement which will materially enhance the capacity of a given library space, while at the same time rendering the books or the like more readily accessible, together with simplified provision for guarding some of the books against unauthorized access. in certain inances.

In an important aspectl, the invention desires to provide a novel arrang m nt. o upr ght supports carryin longitudinally lidable shelves each shelf being arranged to ca ry a TOW of books or the like transversely across its front and two longitudinal rows of books to. the rear of the front row. invention makes a further contribution to. a compact stack, system in that ach shelf and track therefor may be sold a sembled. as a unit and r adil installed at a desired level on the stack uprigh These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from h i ll wine rip ion, taken together with the ac mpanyi drawings. o illustrative embodiments of the library shelf arrangements of the present invention, and in which drawings Figure 1 shows an elevational view taken from a side aisle, certain of said shelves indicating modifications for preventing unauthorized access, this figure showing ls a se on floor f a library in cross-section and indicating how the supports tor the first fl or sh lves. m y pp the flo r and the supports for the s c nd h mg;

Figure 2. is an enlarged front section l w taken. on. the staggered line Z2 of Fig. 1., w th par s further broken. away for clearne s f soript on;

Figure 3. is a view on the scal of Fig. 2. s ins. in side elevation a mult pl track or a s elf and being partly in. section hr u h the shel as on the line 33 of 2,; V

Figure 4 is a view somewha sim ar o i 3 but omitting the drawer and the auxiliary track and. showing the fixed track on its supports, there being here shown. a pair of such tracks, broken away to save space, arranged end. to end for a pair of shelves;

Figure 5 is a Plan view. partly in e t n through the suppor s. tak n on th line 54 of Fi 4.;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the shelves;

ure 7 is a. perspeotiy ie of a ux liary or slidahle tra k, b oken aw o. ave sr oe;

Figu 8 is a iraem ntary pe pec w of the iront end of a lockable drawer carrying also a front. cl sure;

Figure 9 is an enlarged cross-section of the front cl sure of Fig. 8;

Figure. 10 is a perspective view of one of the shelves showing the preferred book arrangement with the books facing in three directions.

Figure 1 1 is a floor plan of a conventional library floor and bool; stack arrangement, which may be replaced by the arrangement or the presut i vention;

Figure 12 is a view of the floor plan of Fig 11 with the conventional book stacks of Fig. 11 removed; and

Figure 13 is a floor plan of the library space of Fig. 11 adapted to. the shelf arrangement of the present invention.

A conventional library book; stack arrangement, with shelves arranged with their longer sides racing; the aisles, as Fig 11, is uneconomical oi space and is lacking the means for guarding some of the books against unauthorized access except by locking the entire floor or sections thereof. By means of the present invention, and as shown in Fig. 13, the same amount of floor space as in Fig. 11 may have its capacity substantially doubled by eliminating half, of the. aisle space, while at the same time permitting individual shelves or parts of shelves to be releasably looked against access, as presently more particularly referred to.

Turning to Fig. 1, the numeral I! may indicate the floor Of a first floor library shelf arrangement embodying the present invention, including upright supports I? which may be suitably anchored (by well known means which need not be here described) to the floor l l and also to the ceiling I3 of the first floor shelf arrangement which may in turn constitute the floorof a second floor library shelf arrangement comprising another tier of supports l2.

The supports [2 occur adjacent the front ends of elongated slidable shelves (4, or 15, 01' I6 which are arranged vertically and in parallel on the supports [2 and are also carried by intermediate upright supports I1, intermediate supports ll serving to carry the rear ends of a pair of end to end aligned shelves. It will be understood that the shelves are also arranged in parallel longitudinally and are longitudinally slidable on the supports, by means presently more particularly described, so that the shelves of a paircarried by the intermediate upright supports 11 may be pulled out in opposite directions into the cross aisles l8 and iii respectively, in one case, and into the transverse aisles 213 and I9 in an adjoining location. At the same time the longer sides of some of the shelves are accessible from a longitudinal aisle transverse to all of the cross aisles l8, l9 and 26.

Some of the shelves may be of the form shown by the numeral 14, others of the form shown by the numeral and still others of the form shown by the numeral H3. The shelf I5 however, as presently explained would not be on a longitudinal aisle. In the caseof the shelf 14, the shelf desirably, and as best seen in Fig. 6 m cludes a shelf plate 2| and book abutments thereon for the novel arrangement of books as shown. These include book abutments '22 at each side of the shelf adjacent the front end thereof disposed longitudinally thereof and a bookabutment 23 at the rear end of the shelf and disposed transverselythereof. Parallel to the abutment 23 there may also be included a book abutment 24 disposed transversely of the shelf adjacent and at the rear of the first mentioned abutments 22 and spaced from the abutment 23 at the rear end of the shelf.

The various shelves, as here shown, may be formed of sheet metal and the shelf plate may have depending lugs 25 in which may be axled rollers 26 for anti-friction purposes in the sliding movements of the shelves, there being preferably four such rollers for each shelf. At the front of the shelf may be formed a downturned lip 21 for strengthening purposes, and also which may serve as a handle for pulling out the shelf. Upturned side edges 28 may prevent book slippage and also stiffen the shelf. This con struction provides a shelf plate occupying desirably a minimum of distance vertically.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, upright supports l2 carry one of the tracks for each shelf, at the forward end of the shelfpand an upright support I! carries the tracks for two aligned shelves end to end. The supports |2 are conveniently formed of channel iron material having outwardly flaring flanges |2a which are lapped and suitably welded together to form a hollow element box-like in cross-section constituting the support. Similarly the supports I! have lapped and welded flanges Fla.

The fixed tracks shown in Figs. 4 and 5 are .fixed in the sense that they do not move during ordinary operation of the shelves, but, for purposes of assembly and readjustment when desired, the fixed track 29 has a bracket 30 welded .as at 3| to the vertical wall 29a of the track.

The bracket 36 includes a plurality, in this in stance three vertically spaced hooks or gibs 32 which are received in vertically spaced and aligned slots 33 in the transverse wall 34 of the upright support l2. At the rear of'the track 29, .a similar bracket 35, welded as at 35a, carries a plurality of laterally projecting hooks or gibs 36 which engage in vertically spaced and aligned slots 3! in the side walls 38 of the vertical rows in each of the similar walls of supports IT. The slots 33 and 31 are of a size just sufficient to receive the gibs 32 and 36 respectively and the track is then dropped down so that the noses 39 of the gibs take over the lower edges of the slots to interlock the track and support.

Each fixed track 29 includes an overhanging upper wall 46 (Fig. 2) which extends laterally toward the shelf and terminates in a downturned flange 4|. Along its lower edge each fixed track 29 includes an underslung lower wall 42 which terminates in an upturned flange 43. While the upper wall 46 extends throughout the length of track 29, the lower wall 42 stops short of the forward end thereof. Here the side wall 29a is continued downwardly as at 44 to have axled therein at 45 a wheel 45a. It is to be understood that the fixed tracks 25 are arranged in pairs. each to receive a shelf thereon and are reciprocally formed to constitute such pairs respectively.

The sliding track 46 has a side wall 46a which laps the side wall 29a of the fixed track but is of less vertical height so that'the sliding track 46 telescopes within the fixed track to slide forwardly and rearwardly therein. Along its lower edge the sliding track 46 has a lower wall 41 which terminates in an upturned flange 48. The lower wall 41 of the sliding track is of less width than the lower wall 42 of the fixed track so that the flange 48 of the'slidirig track is retained by the flange 43 of the fixed track. At its forward end the sliding track lower wall 41 rides on the wheel 45a of the fixed track. At its rear end, the side wall 46a of the sliding track is extended rearwardly as at 45 and has axled therein as at 56 a wheel 5|, which is of a diameter larger than the vertical height of the sliding track 46 andof a size to ride on the lower wall 42 of the fixed track 49 while 'at the .same time engaging the upper wall 46 of the fixed track.

Along its upper edge the sliding track 46 has a laterally extending upper wall 52 which terminates in a downwardly extending flange 53.

This upper wall and flange terminates short of the forward end of the sliding track 46leavin'g an opening 54 to receive the rollers 26 of the shelf I4. Also, at its vertical forward end, the sliding track 46 has a front wall 55 and a flange 56 in the plane of the flange 48. Parts 55, 56 form a stop for the forward roller 26 of the shelf l4. Similarly, at its rear end, the sliding track 46 has stops 5! for the rearward rollers 26. It'will be understood that the tracks 46 are also formed reciprocally and arranged in pairs respectively for each shelf and each pair of fixed tracks. r

When a shelf is assembled with its sliding track the shelf is canted upwardly at itsfore ward end to permit its rear. pair of rollers 26to be inserted in the opening 54 in a pair' ofslid ing tracks. The shelf is then moved rearwardly on the sliding track until the intermediatepair of rollers 26 can be inserted through the opening 54 into the sliding track. Thereupon the shelf l4 may be slid rearwardly and forwardly on the sliding track within the. limits of the stops 55 and 51 of the sliding track.

Next, the wheels 5| of the sliding track are located within the flanges of the fixed track 29, and the sliding track, with the shelf thereon, moved rearwardly on the fixed tracks, the lower wall of the sliding track being suDOprted on and moving relatively to the wheels 45a'atthe forward edges of the fixed tracks. 7

When the shelf is pulled forwardly it will move to the forward end of thesliding track, without movement of the latter, until the forward rollers .26 meet the stops 55 atthe. forward end or the sliding tracks, whereuponlthe shelf and sliding the sliding tracks will underlie approximately one-half of the length of the shelf, to support the latter while the shelf itself hangs sufficiently withdrawn (1. e.., for example: full length as seen in Fig... 1) from between the up i ht sup r t permit access to the books or the. like arranged not only transversely along the front of-the. shelf as at 538 but also arranged in two rows longitudinally' thereof as at 59. and as (Fig.

It will be understood that the row of books 53 arran ed transversely on the shelf along the front thereof are retained by the longitudinally extending abutments 22 of the shelf and if desired 'by the transverse abutment: 24 at the rear end of the longitudinally extending abutments 22. Thus the. abutments 22Z 4-22 form a partial enclosure for the books therein, which may be arranged with their backs facing forwardly as is customary, so that the titles on the backs of the books of the front transverse row may be read by the users of the library. The two parallel rows of bcoks59 and 60 are arranged in rows longitudinally of the shelf with their title carrying backs facing laterally outwardly, and are retained by the abutment 23 at the rear end of the shelf. At the forward end they are retained either by the abutment 24, or, where that is omitted, by the front row of books 58 and the rear edges of abutments 22. The books arranged transversely of the shelf between the abutments 22 may be books which are more frequently referred to so that they may be removed, from the shelf Without. sliding the shelves forwardly, while the books arranged longitudinally in rows 59 and 60 may be books which are less frequently referred to, but to which access may be readily had by sliding the parts forwardly on their tracks as already described.

Where it is desired to guard all of the books on a given shelf against unauthorized access, a shelf such as indicated at I5 may be employed. Here, as best seen in Fig. 8, the abutments 22 and 24 of the shelf M are eliminated, and the shelf I5 is boxed by a, front permanent closure 6|. The shelf l5 may carry locking means of any suitable character indicated somewhat diagrammatically at 62, by which look bars 53 may be actuated to engage suitable locking recesses in the adjacent upright supports H2. The lock bars 63 may be actuated, through the mechanism 52, by means of a key (not shown) engageable with a key cylinder 84, of, say, the rotatable cam type, at the lower front edge of the drawer [5.

In order to accommodate various adjusted distances between shelves, by vertical adjustments of the fixed tracks on the uprights as already described, the front closure 6! of the drawer [5 may have a vertically adjustable extension 65 which may slide in grooves 56 formed by bending inwardly the vertical side margins of the closure 6|. The closure 6!, as best seen in Fig. 9 may have welded thereto on its rear face a stud -61 which may play in a vertical slot 68 in the extension 55. A lock nut 69 screwed on the stud 6! may be loosened or tighted to fix the vertical adjustment of the extension 65. This adjustment means is thus inaccessible except when the drawer I5 is unlocked and slid forwardly.

The books on the shelf l5 may all be arranged in two parallel longitudinally extending rows with. their titiewarrying: backs facing; o positely and laterally outward, arrdwhen: the drawer i5 is; lockediin. position. all of: the booksthereon. are rendered: inacc ssible, since; such av shelf would normally located. between; Othen parallel. con.- ie-lions.v shelves. for: example... as. shown a "1. (Fig. l.3:); and; thus: the books. could not: be reached without; slidin the sh lf t5. forwardly.

A. shelf; such as; indicated at I16- nusht.be-..e1nnl' yed that: would have lo kin -means: 191 (Fig:- similar to, the; lockingmeans- 64: f: sh lf- 15 but which would otherwisebe. like shelf it. ex ep that the abutm nt. "H. Off the. shelf 6 would; take the n ace oithe; abutm nt 24. of the she f I4. an would be extendedto. a reater hei h Thus with. the shelf: t6, the. hooks arran ed. transverse he alone. e fr nt. dg zof the. shel would; no be; concealed. or locked. fr m access. but; the. shelf itself. could. be locked. so that it could; not e'sl forwardly to give access to he hooks arran d longitudinal y at the r arof; the shelf Where all he ooks..- ar intended to be r e accessible it will be understood thatv some or the shelyes will face two intersecting: aisl s nd; thus the boo-ks arranged thereon both; transver ely and longitudinally will be. accessible without sliding the shelv s: forwardly- Referrin a a n. to Fig. 1.1, th s shows. a conv n tional library arran emen comprising pri h T2 and shelves 1-3; arranged with, their longer sides facing forwar ly. The rr n m nt shown in Fig. 11 could e converted to the arrang m of: the. present invention by r movin t e h lve 1?. while. leaving: th upr ghts .2 n pos n. a shown in Fig. 1.2. The. uprights 2. may s p rt an upper floor level to, which accessmightbe had by the. stairs 1.4. Additional uprightsuppor s. l2 and ll, of. the, present disclosure, could then be arranged interspersed with the. original uprights 12;, as shown in Fig. 13, having shelves. of the present invention supported thereby. This ar rangement eliminates approximately half of the aisle space which is necessary in a conventional library stack arrangement of Fig. 11 and providesa compact stack system of the present invention thus substantially doubling the capacity of the same given library fioor space.

If desired, the abutment H of the shelf l6 may be extensibly constructed, as shown, for example, with respect to the extensible closure 6| for the shelf l5.

Each of the shelves may be sold assembled as a unit with a pair of fixed tracks 29 and a pair of auxiliary tracks 46, thus facilitating handling and installation.

So constructed and arranged a maximum amount of the vertical space in the stack may be utilized for books and records, waste space may be minimized, and flexibility promoted.

It is to be understood that the term books and the like includes many different kinds of records or reading material, whether loose, bound or in special containers.

The invention is not intended to be limited to details of construction shown for purposes of exemplification. Furthermore, it is not essential in every case that all features of the invention be used conjointly since various combinations and sub-combinations may at times be advantageously employed. Such changes may be made as fall within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the invention.

See also my co-pending application Serial No. 324,531, filed December 6, 1952.

The invention having been here described. what is here claimed is: v

1. In a library shelf arrangement including a plurality of upright supports and shelf supporting means carried by and between the supports, the combination, with extension tracks slidable on the shelf supporting means, of an elongated shelf slidable longitudinally on said extension tracks, said shelf being longer from front to rear than it is wide and open at the front thereof, the width of the shelf being substantially equal to the depth of two normal rows of books, a relatively short book abutment disposed longitudinally of the shelf at each side thereof adjacent the front end of the shelf, a forward transverse book abutment disposed adjacent and at the rear of the first mentioned abutments and spaced from the rear end of the shelf whereby the front end of the shelf provides a compartment for holding books in a transverse row across the front of the shelf between said longitudinal abutments with their titlecarrying backs facing forwardly and accessible without withdrawing the shelffrom between said supports, and a transverse book abutment at the rear end of the shelf spaced from said forward transverse abutment whereby the portion of the shelf between said transverse abutments provides a rear compartment for holdin books in two rows longitudinally of the shelf with the backs of the books of the longitudinal rows facing oppositely and laterally outwardly of the shelf, the shelf between said transverse abutments being substantially unobstructed at its sides to facilitate lateral withdrawal of books from said rear compartment, and means for causing the extension tracks to move partially forwardly with the shelf and with respect to the supports as the shelf is withdrawn from between the supports, whereby the books of said longitudinal rows are accessible and their titles read- 8 able from opposite lateral sides of the shelf respectively when the shelf is withdrawn from between said supports, the shelf at such time being intermediately supported by said extension tracks. I

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein means are included for releasably locking the shelf to prevent movement thereof from between the sup ports, whereby unauthorized access to the books in said longitudinal rows is prevented while access to the books in said front compartment is unobstructed.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the forward abutment is formed in overlapping sections one of which is vertically movable with respect to the other and wherein means are provided for locking the sections in vertically: extended relation, the last mentioned locking means being inaccessible when the shelf is locked by the first mentioned locking means.

CLIFFORD S. BROWN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 161,333 Gooken Dec. 26, 1950 252,394 Moon Jan. 17, 1882 1,312,133 Pickford Aug. 5, 1919 1,466,335 Gleason Aug. 28, 1923 1,576,420 Folts Mar. 9, 1926 1,639,387 Sweard Aug. 16, 1927 1,734,993 Best et al Nov. 12, 1929 2,100,992 Woodhead et al. Nov. 30, 1937 2,104,913 Streeter Jan. 11, 1938 2,157,611 Jones et al. May 9, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 752,058 France July 3,1933

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