IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESKS AND SEATS, APPLICABLE TO THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Johnstone, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Clerk of Works, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF DESKS AND SEATS, APPLICABLE TO THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th November 1876, and dated the 12th Juno 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Johnstone at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th June 1876.
<<
JOSEPH JOHNSTONE, of Bradford, in the County of York, Clerk of Works.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESKS AND SEATS, APPLICABLE TO THE
USE OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to improvements in desks and seats for the use of schools
or other places whereby the seats are hinged so that they may readily be turned
up out of the way when not in use or allow room for standing between the seat
and the desk.
For this purpose I construct the standards which are cast in any convenient
form with sockets, which are formed on the front of the standards and at any
convenient height; in the sockets are fitted lugs made on brackets, forming hinges
on which the brackets turn; on the brackets are screwed or bolted the seats.
The brackets are constructed with projecting pieces or rims, which come in contact
with the front rims of the standards when the seat is down, keeping the seat
firmly in position; by lifting up the seat it is readily turned up out of the way
when not in use, and allows room for standing between the seat and desk; tho
desk is fitted on the top of the standards without the intervention of loose or extra
parts, and can be made flat or inclined; a bolt is passed through the sockets of the
standards upon which the brackets turn; this bolt strengthens the seat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Joseph Johnstone in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th December
1876.
JOSEPH JOHNSTONE, of Bradford, in the County of York, Clerk of Works.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DESKS AND SEATS, APPLICABLE TO THE
USE OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER PURPOSES."
The said Invention relates to improvements in desks and seats for the use of
schools and other places whereby the seats are hinged so that they may be readily
[Price 4d.]

page_text: turned up out of the way when not in use, or so as to allow room for standing
between the seat and the desk.
For this purpose I construct the standards which are cast in any convenient form
with sockets, which are formed on the front of the standards and at any convenient
height; in these sockets are fitted lugs formed on brackets forming hinges on
The
which the brackets turn; on the brackets are screwed or bolted the seats.
brackets are constructed with projecting pieces or rims which come in contact with
the front rims of the standards when the seat is down, keeping the seat firmly in
position; by lifting up the seat it is readily turned up out of the way when not
required for use, or for allowing room for standing between the seat and desk;
the desk is fitted on the top of the standards, and without the intervention of loose
or extra parts, and can be made flat or inclined; a bolt may be passed through
the sockets of the standards, upon which the brackets will turn, which will
strengthen the seat.
But in order to enable these improvements to be better understood I will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the improved desk, standard, and seat,
Figure 2 front elevation, and Figure 3 plan of the same.
reference are used in all the figures to represent similar parts.
Similar letters of
A, standards cast in any convenient form, and having sockets B made in the
front and at any convenient height; in the sockets are fitted lugs C, formed on
brackets D, forming the hinges on which the brackets turn; on the brackets is
screwed or bolted the seat E; the brackets D are constructed with projecting
pieces or rims F, which come in contact with the front rims G of the standards A
when the seat is down, keeping the seat firmly in position; by lifting up the seat
(shewn in dotted lines at H) it is readily turned up out of the way when not
required for use, or for allowing room for standing between the seat and desk.
The desk I is fitted on the top of the standards A, and without the intervention
of loose or extra parts, and can be made flat or inclined; the bottom part J of
the desk is screwed or bolted on the standards through the lugs K, and forms a
recess for placing books, slates, and other articles; the desk is made with a back L
and ends M. The brackets D are secured to the standards A by studs rivetted
over the sockets B, or by a bolt N, made to pass through the sockets upon which
the brackets D turn; the bolt strengthens the seat.
Having thus described my improvements and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as these may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I do claim
is the construction and employment of standards made with hinged brackets, on
which are fitted the seats of the desks, so that they may be turned up out of the
way when not required for use, or for allowing room for standing between the
seats and desks, substantially as herein-before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Johnstone, have hereto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
JAMES KENDALL,
Clerk to Walter James Turner, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
JOSEPH JOHNSTONE. (L.S.)