US2958428A - Compacted bookstacks - Google Patents

Description

1960 A. s. MACDONALD ETAL 2,958,423

COMPACTED BOOKSTACKS Original Filed Dec. 20, 1950 Tg z. WW

.f d, 5? 3110mm 56" 3 Angus Snead Macdanald Lutz. [16217119 4 Gttoineg United States Patent 'COIVIPACTED BOOKSTACKS Angus S. Macdonald, near Rapidan, Va., and Lutz E.

Helbig, Scotch Plains, N.J., assignors to The Globe- Wernicke Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application Dec. 20, 1950, Ser. No. 200,403,

now Patent No. 2,826,310, dated Mar. 11, 1958. Divided and this application Oct. 7, 1955, Ser. No. 539,073

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-150) This application is a division of our prior application for Compacted Bookstacks, Serial No. 200,403, filed December 20, 1950, now Patent No. 2,826,310, granted March 11, 1958.

This invention relates to improvements in Compacted Bookstacks of the character set forth in the prior application of Angus Snead Macdonald, Serial No. 53,899, filed October 11, 1948, now Patent No. 2,645,356, dated July 14, 1953.

In large libraries, such as university and city libraries, there is need for an especially large capacity in number of books. The estimated capacity in a given space often is inconsistent with actual capacity found to exist after completion of the library. This difiiculty lies in the fact that volumes which must be stored in the library vary widely in size and thickness, which affects both the number of volumes that can be placed on a given shelf and the number of shelves that can be accommodated between floor and ceiling. It is important, therefore, not only to provide flexibility of storage capacity, but also to achieve maximum efficiency in a given area.

An object of this invention is to improve the construction of bookstacks to obtain maximum capacity of the stack system at minimum cost, as well as to accommodate little-used material to which access may be had only on infrequent occasions but is available when needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide bookstacks that are pivoted for swinging movement into and out of nested relation so as to locate movable and fixed stacks in side-by-side relation, close to each other, without intervening aisles therebetween, and wherein the movable stacks are capable of swinging motion to gain access to books or materials on the fixed stacks.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the construction of bookstacks to provide secure structure for swinging motion thereof in a simple and inexpensive mounting that will provide for easy movement of one stack with respect to another, and yet without adding appreciably to the cost of the installation, keeping it at a minimum.

These objects may be accomplished by providing an assembly of storage bookstacks, one row of stacks being fixed in stationary position, and a second row of stacks being mounted for swinging movement with respect thereto directly in front of the fixed stacks and yet movable to gain access not only to the books on the fixed stacks but also to a back row of books on the movable stacks. Journals are provided in the floor and ceiling for mounting the movable stacks therebetween, capable of free swinging motion on secure mountings at a minimum of cost of installation.

One certain embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in section thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view showing the bumper link plate and adjacent portions of the stacks; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a mounting for the movable stacks.

The invention is shown as applied to a library structure which includes storage space for books preferably arranged on one or more decks or floors, generally indicated at 2 in Fig. 2. These decks or floors are constructed as a part of the building assembly in permanent relation, and it is preferred that the bookstacks be erected therebetween.

We have shown in Fig. 1 a series of .rows of bookstacks, including fixed bookstacks 40 held in place by columns 41 erected between the floors or decks 2 and rigidly secured thereto in any suitable or well-known manner. The fixed bookstacks 40 have suitably arranged book shelves and, preferably, rows of shelves accessible from opposite sides of the fixed bookstacks.

In side-by-side relation with the fixed bookstacks 40 are movable bookstacks 42 on one or both sides of the fixed bookstacks 40. It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the fixed and movable bookstacks are in close side-by-' side relation without aisles therebetween. However, the

movable bookstacks are pivotally supported, as at 52 in Fig. 1, capable of swinging movement into wide aisles between the rows of bookstacks, for gaining access not only to the fixed bookstacks but also to the back rows of the movable bookstacks.

While the respective bookstacks may be of any desired construction, the movable bookstacks, preferably, are constructed as a unit capable of bodily swinging motion about the pivots 52 in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The movable bookstacks are mounted on pivot pins 52 at the top and 53 at the bottom. In each instance, a strap hinge or hinge bracket, generally indicated at 54, is used to support the end of the stack column on the mounting pins 52 and 53. This strap hinge has an eye journaled on the mounting pin and extends laterally therefrom and is welded, riveted or otherwise secured rigidly to the adjacent end of the bookstack column.

The mounting at the bottom is shown more in detail in Fig. 4. The pin 53 extends downward through a spacer 55 seated upon a thrust bearing 56 which in turn is carried by a bar 57 mounted upon, or imbedded in, the bottom deck. A like bar 58 is located at the bottom face of the deck 2, and a steel pipe or tube 59 extends between the bars 57 and 58 and is rigidly secured thereto, as by welding.

Openings are provided in the bars 57 and 58 at the opposite ends of the tube 59 to receive aligned pins therein, one of which supports the bottom of a bookstack, and the other is connected with the top of the bookstack in the next lower library space. The bars 57 and 58 also preferably tie together adjacent bookstacks in a row, as described above.

The free end of the movable case, generally indicated at 42, preferably has casters 60 mounted thereon, which casters are shown in Fig. 1 as being substantially concentric with the axis of swinging movement of the movable case.

Each of the casters is shaped frustro-conical and is mounted on an axis that radiates from the axis of the pivot 52. These axes as well as the apex of each cone of the truncated caster, extend to a point that intersects the vertical axis of the pivot 52 at the floor. By using tapered casters mounted in this manner, the case will naturally revolve in the arc of a circle and without any appreciable friction over the floor. At the same time, the weight of the case will be carried by a larger bearing surface, both on the caster and on the floor, than would be provided otherwise. This makes possible the use of Patented Nov. 1, 1960 i 3 casters of resilient material, and the casters are not so liable to groove the floor on which they roll.

The adjacent end-s of the fixed bookstacks 40 may be connected together to hold these in rigid alignment with each other by a link plate 61, shown in Fig. 3. This plate. 61 is secured by bolts or other suitable fastenings 62 to the adjacent ends of the fixed cases and holds these in secure relation to each other.

. The plate 61, preferably, extends laterally sufficiently far so that its outer ends may form abutments for the swinging motion of the movable cases 42, to prevent injury to the metal of the fixed cases. Bumpers are shown at 63 in the form of rubber pads secured to the corners of the swinging cases 42 in position to abut the outer end portions of the link plate 61 and thereby not only cushion the closing movement of the swinging cases but also to prevent damage to each.

We have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 handles 64 on the free edge of each of the bookstacks, secured to the structure thereof for moving these on their pivots. Such handles may be used, if desired, on any of the forms shown embodying the invention and facilitate the bandling thereof.

By providing a row of movable bookcases in front of a row of fixed bookcases, it is possible to gain acccws to three rows of books. One-third of these are accessible at all times at the outer face of the movable bookcases. These can be the most active books, while those located on the back face of the movable bookcases and on the fixed bookcases can be little-used books which, nevertheless, are made available when needed.

At the same time the large storage capacity obtained thereby can be accomplished at relatively small cost so as to provide a very efiicient library storage of books.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as specified in the claims.

We claim:

1. In library bookstack construction having upper and lower decks, a plurality of swinging bookstacks arranged in aligned adjacent relation with adjacent ends hinged for swinging movement of the bookstacks with respect to upright axes, each of the swinging bookstacks having a laterally extending bracket secured thereto, hinge pins having journaled connections with the brackets for hingedly supporting each of the swinging bookstacks for swinging movement, tubes mounted in the upper and 4 lower decks, at least one of the tubes extending through one of the decks and having open opposite ends and receiving therein certain of the pins of said bookstacks above and below said deck, the remaining tubes receiving the remaining pins.

2. In library bookstack construction as set forth in claim 1, a bar connecting together spaced tubes on the top of one deck, thrust bearings mounted on opposite ends of the bar, and spacers seated upon the thrust bearings surrounding the pins and between the thrust bearings and the superposed brackets.

3. In library bookstack construction, the combination of a pair of aligned fixed bookstacks arranged end to end and having ends adjacent each other, a plate extending in bridging relation between said adjacent ends of bookstacks along outer faces thereof and rigidly secured thereto, a pair of aligned swinging bookstacks at the front of the fixed bookstacks and with adjacent ends adjacent the adjacent ends of the fixed bookstacks, said adjacent ends of the aligned swinging bookstacks overlapping the ends of said plate, means hingedly mounting the swinging bookstacks at the opposite outer ends thereof for swinging movement of said adjacent ends of the swinging bookstacks toward and from the adjacent ends of the fixed bookstacks, and bumper pads carried by the adjacent ends of the swinging bookstacks and extending therefrom toward the fixed bookstacks in position for bumping engagement with the opposite end portions of said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 288,633 Hasenpflug Nov. 20, 1883 601,985 Russ Apr. 5, 1898 918,060 Kabureck Apr. 13, 1909 1,253,546 Vanderveld Jan. 15, 1918 1,653,323 Taylor Dec. 20, 1927 2,003,670 Walker June 4, 1935 2,048,274 Luby July, 21, 1936 2,096,239 Geyer Oct. 19, 1937 2,229,171 Gritton Jan. 21, 1941 2,817,444 Brandell Dec. 24, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,432 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1899 143,249 Great Britain June 2, 1921 558,732 Great Britain Jan. 18, 1944

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