improvements In Convertible SCHOOL DEALS.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1898
improvements In Convertible SCHOOL DEALS.
I, JOSEPHI BARDSLEY, of Bullhouse, near Penistone, in the County of York,
Congregational Minister, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the improved construction of school desks and seats for
same, the object being to obtain greater compactness when not in use, and thus
providing more room for drilling and other purposes..
I propose to carry the desk upon a horizontal bai secured to and carried between
the standards which rise from the floor.
This bar is provided at each end within, the standards, with two squared portions,
and an intermediate round portion or neck, one of the squares being at an angle
to the other.
Upon the underside of the desk are fixed two brackets provided with holes
through them partly circular and partly squared, so that they will fit either upon
the squares or upon the round necks formed upon the supporting bar before
described.
Thus when the desk is moved longitudinally upon one pair of the squares it is
supported at an angle as a desk, when moved upon the other squares it is held in
a flat position, as a table, and when moved upon the round neck the desk can be
turned in a vertical position close to the standards.
To secure the desk rigidly when in use either as a table or as a desk, I propose
to make the top of the standards flat, and upon the underside of each end of the
desk I fix a slightly wedge shaped block in such a position, that when the desk is
moved upon either square of the bar, the wedge will bear upon one or other of the
standards.
The seat is constructed in a similar manner but the bar in this case has only one
set of squares and a tilting neck, the angular set not being required.
I also propose to make the base of the seat standards, to slide within the arched,
grooved or otherwise prepared base of the desk standards, so that when required
the seat can be tilted and be moved close to the desk.
1 1
100
1
1000
Improvements in Convertible School Desks and Seats.
I, JOSEPH BARDSLEY, of Bullhouse, near Penistone, in the County of York,
Congregational Minister, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
[Price 8d.]

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention which relates to the construction of desks and seats for schools
and the like, has for its chief object to enable such desks and seats to be closed and
folded in such a simple and convenient manner that the largest amount of room
may be obtained and be available for the purposes of drill, as well as the con-
version of the sloping desk into a flat or level table.
I have illustrated the invention in the annexed sheets of drawings, in which like
letters of reference, refer to like parts in any of the figures in which they occur.
Fig. 1, is an end elevation of a desk and seat with the various positions they can
be placed in, indicated by dotted lines.
A
Fig, position when xed as a desk.
I support the wooden desk D, upon two brackets B, carried upon a horizontal
bar A, each end of which is secured to a metal standard S, which rises from its
base upon the floor.
This horizontal bar is of peculiar construction, the part A2, is fixed with its upper
and lower faces horizontal, the part marked A3, is set to an angle as shown in Fig. 2,
and the part A4, is round.
The two brackets B, have squared holes through them as shown in Fig. 2, which
fit upon the rod or bar A, and when moved upon the round part A, the flat sides
bear upon the round as indicated by dotted lines, so as to permit a partial
revolution.
Thus when the desk top to which the brackets are fixed is moved longitudinally
upon the bar A. until both brackets are upon the round necks A', the desk may be
partially revolved thereon and turned into either of the vertical positions indicated
in Fig. 1, and close to the standards S.
When required as a flat table, and the brackets are in the necks A, as shown
in Fig. 3, the desk D), is moved to the left until the brackets are upon the hori-
zontally fixed square parts A³, and when the usual slope of a desk is required, the
top is moved to the right upon the part A', upon which it is turned and then moved
forward upon the angular part A³.
To secure the top D, rigidly in either the sloping or horizontal position before
described, I affix to the underside of the desk two wedge shaped or dovetailed
blocks C, and C³, and on the top of the standards S, I make correspondingly under-
cut recesses R to receive the blocks C, and C3, when the desk top is moved into
position either for use as a table or as a sloping desk as shown in Figs. 4 and 5
and in Fig. 1. These blocks when in position fit firmly against the Hat base of
the recess and the undercut sides, and hold the desk top firmly and prevent radial
or other movement.
The seat or form F, is constructed in a similar manner to that already described,
but the square A³, in this case is similar to A, as the seat is not required to slope
like the desk. The movements are shown in Fig. 1, namely horizontal when in
use and vertical on either side when out of use.
In some cases drill exercises are carried on between the desk and the seat, in
which case both the desk and the seat would be tilted to the outside of the standards,
but where it is preferred to drill in front of the seat, I prepare the seat so that
it can be moved to some position nearer the desk.
This may be carried out in various ways, such for example as constructing the
front portion of the base of the seat, (or a fixture to the said base) to slide in a
hollow provided in the base of the desk standard, or by arranging the bases of
the seat standards to slide between and bear against the desk standards, distance
stops being used to regulate the amount of movement, and in this case the desk
and seat would be tilted over to the inside of their respective standards, as indicated
in Fig. 1.

page_text: E, in Fig. 1, represents a bookshelf, and stayrods from standard to standard
may be adapted to act as footrests.
. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A convertible desk and seat constructed as herein before described and shown
in the annexed drawings.
2. In the construction of convertible desks and seats, a horizontal bar A, secured
to both standards S, provided with a squared part A, a similar squared part A³,
arranged at an angle to the part A³, and an intermediate round neck A', in
combination with and carrying brackets B, upon which the desk or seat is fixed
and acts in the manner specified, substantially as herein before described and set
forth.
3. In a desk having a tilting top 1), which can be fixed in a horizontal, or a
sloping position as desired, a recess R, (preferably undercut) made across the top
of each standard S, for the reception of correspondingly shaped blocks or locking
pieces C, and C, fixed to the underside of the desk or seat, as herein before described
and shown.
Dated the 14th day of September 1898.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.