US574955A - Book case and holder - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

0. T. B. SMITH. BOOK CASE AND HOLDER.

Patented Jan. 12, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES T. B. SMITH, OF LANSINGBURG, NEWV YORK.

BOOK CASE AND" HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,955, dated. January 12, 1897. Application filed July 27, 1896. Serial No. 600,683. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. B. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansingburg, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book Cases and Holders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in both figures therein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in front elevation of my improved book case and holder. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the broken line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

The object of my invention is to provide a portable bookcase in which books can be -transported conveniently; also, to provide a convenient holder for temporarily supporting an open book in connection with the bookcase.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the bookcase, which is in the form of a rectangular box, open at one side and provided with the vertical partitions A, dividing the interior of the case into a plurality of separate compartments, each adapted to contain a book.

The books are severally supported in their respective compartments upon ashoe or carriage B, which rests upon the bottom of the compartment. The upper surface of the shoe is concaved in cross-section and adapted to receive the convexed back or closed edge of the book. As the book thus rests upon the shoe within its compartment it is maintained in a closed position by the engagement of its covers with'the partition-walls of the case. The book is thus supported in a position which adapts it to be opened with little or no efiort as soon as the book and shoe are withdrawn from the compartment.

In front of the open side of the case and a little below the level of the bottoms of the several compartments is a platform 0, extending the whole length of the case and adapted to support and form a track or slideway for the book-holder D.

The book-holder comprises a base D, having one or more sliding dovetailed connections with the platform and a pair of up wardly flaring wings D which converge downwardly toward a notch D in the holder adapted to receive the several shoes, the bottom of the notch being in the same plane with the bottoms of the several compartments.

The dovetailed connection between the holder and platform comprises a tongueD depending from the baseof the holder and loosely fitting within a similarly-formed longitudinal groove D in the upper surface of the platform.

The holder is movable along its slideway transversely of the compartments of the bookcase, and is adapted to be located with its notch D in position to register with the lower end of a selected compartment, and when so located the shoe contained in such compartment can, with its supported book, be Withdrawn therefrom into the notch D by means of the knob-handle D attached to the front end of the shoe. When so withdrawn, the shoe rests on the holder within the notch, and as the book is opened it is supported by the wings D in a position convenient for use. The holder can be thus used in connection with each book contained in the case.

The slideway-grooves D extend the whole length of the slideway-platform and are open at both ends to facilitate the attachment of the holder to the platform and itsremoval therefrom, as well as to permit the holder to project beyond the end of the platform in adjusting the apparatus for use in connection with the compartment at either end of the case.

The dovetailed form of sliding connection between the holder and platform prevents the holder from being overturned when it projects a considerable distance beyond the end of the platform, as when it is in position for its notch to register with either end compartment. 1

The form of holder shown is especially adapted for use in schools or public libraries, as the upwardly-flaring wings support the open book in a position convenient for inspection, but unsuitable for use as a desk or ISO writing-table, and such wings prevent the book from being opened sufficiently far to break or strain the binding.

The position of the open book is indicated by dotted lines 13 in Fig. 1, while at B a book is shown supported upon a shoe within one of the compartments.

The shoes protect the books from wear in the operation of transferring them to and from the holder.

I have shown the platform 0 hinged at O to the bottom of the bookcase and adapted when the holder D is removed to form a door or cover for the open side of the case. In Fig". 2 I have indicated by dotted lines C the position of such cover when closed, in which position it can be secured by the locking mechanism C, which may be of any known form. By providing the case with such a cover and lock it is adapted to form a permanent portable bookcase in which a set of books can be shipped from the publisher or dealer directly to the user, the case being especially constructed and adapted for the size, form, and number of volumes to be contained therein.

It is only necessary for the user to lower the cover to the position shown and apply the holder thereto to adapt the apparatus for use.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a bookcase open at one side and subdivided into a plurality of separate book-compartments, of book-supporting shoes in the several compartments, a

platform extending along the open side of the case and provided with a slideway, and a book-holder movable along the platformslideway transversely of the book-compartments and adapted to receive the several shoes and hold the shoe-supported book in an open position, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a bookcase open at one side and provided with separate bookcompartments, of a slideway-platform hinged to the bottom of the case and adapted to cover the open side thereof, locking mechanism for such cover, and a detachable bookholder movable along the platform transversely of the book-compartments and adapted to support the several books in an open position, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a bookcase open at one side and having separate book-compartments, and a slideway-platform extending along the open side of the case, of book supporting shoes in the several compartments, and a book-holder movable along the slideway and having a notch adapted to receive the several shoes, and a pair of upwardly-flaring wings adapted to hold the shoesupported book in an open position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of July, 1896.

- (7. 'l. B. SMITH \Vitnesses:

FRANK C. CURTIS, THOMAS H. GREY.

Images