US576327A

US576327A - Folding music-rack

Info

Publication number: US576327A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1914-02-02

Description

(No Model.) J. ROCKWELL.

FOLDING MUSIC RACK.

No. 576,327. Q Patented Feb. 2,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH ROGKlVELL, OF STOUGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOLDING MUSIC-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of'Letters Patent No. 576,327, dated February 2, 1897'.

Application filed July 14, 1896.

A citizen of the United States, residing at Stoughton, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Music- Racks, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a musicrack constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same partially folded up. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same completely folded up. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same with the parts in the position shown in Fig. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

My invention has for its object to simplify the construction of folding music-racks and reduce the number of pieces to a minimum, thereby increasing the strength and durability of the article, reducing its cost, and enabling it to be opened and closed much more easily and quickly than heretofore.

To this end my invention consists in certain novel features and combinations of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the said drawings my'improved folding rack is shown supported by a stand B of ordinaryconstruction, provided, as usual, with folding legs and preferably composed of sections sliding telescopically one Within the other in the usual manner to adapt the rack for use when standing or sitting down, the upper section of the stand being provided with a suitable clamping device a for securing the rack thereto when in use.

The rack is composed of the base-bar A,

made of a single piece of sheet metal of L shape in cross-section, to the opposite ends of which are pivoted at b b the two side bars 0 0, each of which is jointed at 10 and pivoted at its upper end at cl to one end of a horizontal bar D, which forms the top of the rack. To the top bar D, at short distances from its ends, are pivoted two diagonal bars or braces e e, which cross each other, as shown, their lower portions sliding through guides Serial No. 599,165. (No model.)

f f, which are pivoted to the rear side of the base-bar A, as shown in Fig. 5, to enable them to oscillate and thereby accommodate themselves to the varying angles of the bars 6 e as the rackis opened or folded up, said guides serving to connect the bars 6 ewith the basebar A. Each of the bars c e is provided at its lower end with a lip 12, which serves as a stop to prevent the bar from being drawn through the guide f when the rack is opened. The bars 6 c assist in holding up the top bar D and form the central portion of the rack for supporting the music, and when the rack is open, as shown in Fig. 1, the upper portions of the bars 6 6 project above the top bar D, forming extensions 15 for supporting large sheets of music in a manner to prevent their upper portions from falling over to the rear. These extensions take the place of the short supporting pieces or bars which it has hitherto been customary to pivot to the top bar of the rack and which are objectionable, as they each require to be opened or closed by a separate operation of the hand, while with my improved construction the extensions are projected upward by the same movement required to open the rack. Lips or projections 9 g are formed at the opposite ends of the base-bar A, which serve as stops to limit the outward movement of the lower members of the side bars 0 C when the rack is opened.

The several bars, when extended as shown in Fig. 1, form a rectangular rack, and when said rack is to be folded up the jointed side bars 0 O are first turned inward at the center toward each other, as shown in Fig. 2, which causes the top bar D to be carried toward the base-bar A and the diagonal bars 6 c to slide through the guides ff, when a single downward pressure of the hand upon the top bar will cause it to be brought down upon the base-bar A into parallelism therewith, the rack then assuming the compact shape shown in Fig. 3, when it can be easily carried in the pocket. if desired.

The above-described rack is of very simple construction, the-usual vertical bar extending from the center of the base to the top bar being dispensed with, while the number of parts and joints is reduced to a minimum. Another great advantage which will be readily appreciated is that the rack can be opened by a single movementpf the hand, it being merely necessary to take hold of the base-bar A with one hand and'draw the top bar D away from it with a quick movement of the other hand, which will open the parts to their full extent, as shown in Fig.1, when the rack will be ready forimmediate use. i

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In afoldin g music-rack, the combination of the basebar, the jointed side bars pivoted to the opposite ends of the basebar, the top bar having the upper ends of the side bars pivoted thereto, and the diagonal crossed bars or braces each composed of a single piece and pivoted to the top bar on each side of its center and having their lower portions loosely connected with the base-bar, whereby they are permitted to slide thereon in the direction of their length during the operation of opening or folding up the rack, substantially as described.

2. In afolding music-rack, the combination of the base-bar, the jointed side bars pivoted to theopposite ends of the base-bar, the top bar having the upper ends of the side bars pivoted thereto, and the diagonal crossed bars or braces pivoted to the top bar 011 each side of its center and having their lower portions connected with the base-bar by guides pivoted to the latter, said diagonal bars sliding through said guides during the operation of opening or folding up the rack, substantially as described.

3. In a folding music-rack, the combination of the base-bar, the jointed side bars pivoted to the opposite endsof the base-bar, the top bar having the upper ends of the side bars pivoted thereto, the diagonal crossed bars or braces pivoted to the top bar on each side of its center and having their lower portions loosely connected with the base-bar, whereby they are permitted to slide thereon in the di rection of their length during the operation of opening or folding up the rack, and the lips or projections g, g, at the ends of the base-bar forming stops to limit the outward movement of'the side bars, substantially as set forth.

4. In afolding music-rack, the combination of the base-bar A composed of a single piece, the jointed side bars 0, C, pivoted to the ends of the base-bar, the top bar D composed of a single piece and having the upper ends of the side bars pivoted thereto, and the diagonal crossed bars or braces e, 0, each composed of a single piece and pivoted to the top bar on each side of its center and loosely connected with the base-bar by guides secured thereto, said diagonalbars sliding on said guides during the operation of opening or folding up the rack and being provided with extensions 15, adapted to project above the top bar when the rack is open ed, substantially as described.

lVitness my hand this 11th day of July, A. D. 1896.

, JOSEPH ROCKIVELL.

In presence of P. E. TESCHEMACHER, B. L. MARDEN.