Year: 1886

page_text: We, SHAW HANSON, Managing Director of the Midland Educational Company
Limited, Corporation Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick, and
PRIESTLEY SMITH of Broad Street Birmingham, aforesaid, Surgeon, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object to so construct desks and seats for desks, that
a child or other person when using them, shall be induced to sit in a natural and
healthy position.
It is agreed by those who have scientifically studied the hygeian of schools,
that the desks and seats now most commonly in use, oblige the scholars to assume
positions of the head and body which are in many cases injurious to the eyesight,
the figure, and the health; and it is further generally agreed that in order to avoid
these evils, auch desks and seats should meet the following requirements.
(1) That the back of the scholar shall be comfortably supported both while
reading, and while writing.
(2.) That the surface of the desk shall be inclined towards him.
(3.) That when used for writing, the inner edge of the desk shall overhang the
front edge of the seat.
(4.) That the distance between the edge of the desk and the edge of the seat
measured horizontally shall be variable at pleasure, so that the scholar shall be
able to stand upright in his place.
(5.) That when used in reading, the desk shall support the book in such a way,
that the scholar can see it easily, without stooping and without bending his head
forward.
Our invention has for its object to carry out these requirements; in other words
to provide desks and seats which according to the laws of hygeian, shall avoid
injury to the eyesight, the figure and the health.
We will now describe the construction of the desk and seat.
The slope of the desk carries on its or end brackets with horizontal guide rods
or bars running in the direction from front to back. These guide bars are preferably
made circular in cross section and slide in eyes or holes situated in the terminal
uprights or ends of the standards; in other words, the standards are provided at
their upper ends with bracket tops, on the upper surface of which, are short
upright projections with holes in them, and through these holes, the guide bars
which are fixed to the under surface of the desk, slide backwards and forwards,

page_text: Each guide bar has upon its underside, and near the front thereof, a cut away
part or notch equal in length to the thickness of the front upright of the bracket
wherein the rod works. This cut away part or notch constitutes the means of
retaining the desk in its forward or normal position when in use. The depth of
the cut away part is just sufficient to form a catch for the fixing of the desk
to the standard.
When the desk is in its normal or forward position, the inside edge overhangs
the front edge of the seat.
To slide back the desk so that a person can stand upright in his place, raise
vertically or pull up the front edge of the desk so as to remove the cut away or
recessed parts in the undersides of the rods, from the front bracket eyes wherein
they engage, and push back the desk which will then slide back to the desired
position limited by stops. Yielding pads are interposed between the stop parts to
prevent noise.
To bring back the desk to its normal position, the sitter simply pulls forward
the desk, and when the undercut away part on the guiding rod, comes opposite or
within the eye of the bracket, then the desk slightly drops by its own weight, and
is there fixed in position by the bottom side of the bracket lying or seating itself
within the recessed or cut away part in the underside of the rod.
Although we have described our invention as applied to the desk, yet the said
sliding movement may be applied to the seat instead of the desk. In this case, the
desk is made fixed, and the seat sliding.
Instead of fixing the desk or seat as described, it may be secured by a catch or
any other mechanical equivalent.
L
At the upper part of the slope of the desk, that is, at the part farthest from the
sitter, we provide a flap working upon hinges. When the desk is used for reading,
this flap is raised towards the sitter to an angle of about 45 degrees, and is fixed
in this position by a self acting catch, and thus provides a support for the book.
Dated this twentieth day of February 1886.

page_text: We, SHAW HANSON, Managing Director of the Midland Educational Company
Limited, Corporation Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick, and
PRIESTLEY SMITH of Broad Street Birmingham, aforesaid, Surgeon, do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL DESKS AND
SEATS FOR DESKS," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention has for its object to so construct desks and seats for desks, that a
child or other person when using them, shall be induced to sit in a natural and
healthy position.
It is agreed by those who have scientifically studied the hygiene of schools, that
the desks and seats now most commonly in use, oblige the scholars to assume
positions of the head and body which are in many cases injurious to the eye-
sight, the figure, and the health; and it is further generally agreed that in order
to avoid these evils, such desks and seats should meet the following requirements.
(1.) That the back of the scholar shall be comfortably supported both while
reading, and while writing.
(2.) That the surface of the desk shall be inclined towards him.
(3.) That when used for writing, the inner edge of the desk shall overhang the
front edge of the seat.
(4.) That the distance between the edge of the desk and the edge of the seat
measured horizontally shall be variable at pleasure, so that the scholar shall be
able to stand upright in his place.
(5.) That when used in reading, the desk shall support the book in such a way,
that the scholar can see it easily, without stooping and without bending his head
forward.
Our invention has for its object to carry out these requirements; in other words,
to provide desks and seats which according to the laws of hygiene shall avoid
injury to the eyesight, the figure and the health.
We will now describe the construction of the desk and seat.
The alope of the desk carries on its underside or end, brackets with horizontal
guide rods or bars running in the direction from front to back. These guide bars
are preferably made circular in cross section and slide in eyes or holes situated in
the terminal uprights or ends of the standards; in other words, the standards are
provided at their upper ends with bracket tops, on the upper surfaces of which,
are short upright projections with holes in them, and through these holes, the
guide bars which are fixed to the under surface of the desk slide backwards and
forwards. Each guide bar has upon its underside, and near the front thereof, a
cut away part or notch equal in length to the thickness of the front upright of the
bracket wherein the rod works. This cut away part or notch constitutes the
means of retaining the desk in its forward or normal position when in use.
The
depth of the cut away part is just sufficient to form a catch for the fixing of the
desk to the standard.

page_text: When the desk is in its normal or forward position, the inside edge overhangs
the front edge of the seat.
To slide back the desk, so that a person can stand upright in his place, raise
vertically or pull up the front edge of the desk so as to remove the cut away or
recessed parts in the undersides of the rods, from the front bracket eyes wherein
they engage, and push back the desk which will then slide back to the desired
position limited by stops.
Yielding pads are interposed between the stop parts to prevent noisė.
To bring back the desk to its normal position, the sitter simply pulls forward
the desk, and when the undercut away part on the guiding rod comes opposite or
within the eye of the bracket, then the desk slightly drops by its own weight, and
is there fixed in position by the bottom side of the bracket lying or seating itself
within the recessed or cut away part in the underside of the rod.
Although we have described our invention as applied to the desk, yet the said
sliding movement may be applied to the seat instead of the desk.
In this case, the desk is made fixed, and the seat sliding.
Instead of fixing the desk or seat as described, it may be secured by a catch or
any other mechanical equivalent.
At the upper part of the slope of the desk, that is, at the part farthest from the
sitter, we provide a flap working upon hinges. When the desk is used for reading,
this flap is raised towards the sitter to an angle of about 45 degrees and is fixed
in this position by a self acting catch, and thus provides a support for the back.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings
the manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in transverse vertical section a school desk constructed
according to our invention, and in position-for use, with the inner edge of the
desk overhanging the front longitudinal edge of the seat. Figure 2 represents the
same out of use, or the slope of the desk pushed back out of position, so that a scholar
or person can gain access to the seat, or can stand upright in his or her place.
Figure represents a plan of figure 1, with a portion of one side of the desk
broken off, so as to exhibit the means for holding or securing the slope in its
forward position, and also for guiding it on being pushed back. Figure 4 is a plan
of figure 2, (like figure 3) with a portion of the end removed, for the purposes as
stated in the reference to the said figure. Figure 5 is a transverse section of the
upper portion of a desk and seat on a larger scale, and with the slope in position
for sliding back.
a is the slope of the desk, bb are the standards or uprights of the said desk, c is
the base or frame, d is a fixed or immovable seat, and d are the standards or
supports of the same, and d³ is the back rest, proceeding upwards from the back
thereof.
The slope of the desk is provided on its underside with brackets e; and between
the front and back depending arms e, horizontal guide rods f are disposed, and
work and slide within eyes or holes 6, passing through the terminal uprights or
ends 63 of the top parts 62 of the standards b; that is, the standards b are provided
at their upper ends with bracket tops 6%, with back and front short uprights b³ 65,
through which the rod f passes and slides, and which said rods are provided on
their undersides with catch or notch depressions f³, which engage as aforesaid with
the lower sides of the holes or eyes 6-a³ is a secondary or stay bracket, for
supporting the middle of the rod. g are concussion pads or washers to prevent
noise on the change of position of the slope.
To slide back the slope or desk a so that a person can stand upright, or get to,
or from the seat d, raise or pull up the front edge of the desk, (as in figure 5) 80 as
to remove the cut away or recessed parts f' on the undersides of the rods f from
the bracket eyes, and when in this position, the said slope can be pushed and
guided back into the position as represented in figure 2.
To bring back the slope or desk to its normal position, a person has simply to
pull forward the slope or desk in the reverse direction, until the cut away parts f³,

page_text: (on the undersides of the guide rods) come opposite, or within the eyes 6', then the
slope drops into position by its own weight, and is fixed in that position (with its
inside edge overhanging the front edge of the seat) by the bottom sides of the
aforesaid eyes or holes, lying or seating themselves within the cutaway parts on
the undersides of the rods.
Figure 6 represents a modification, in which the seat is made to slide, and be
affixed in its forward position (as shown in the dotted lines) by a catch arrange-
ment, similar to that already described with respect to a movable slope.
The front edge of the desk is thus made to overhang the longitudinal inner end
of the seat exactly in the same manner as when the slope is made to move.
a is a fixed slope, and bare the supporting standards-d is a movable seat and
back rest d³, supported by uprights d'e are the supporting brackets, f are guide
rods-f are catch depressions on the undersides thereof, which engage with the
eyes or holes d in the uprights d³, at the tops of the standards d exactly in the
same manner and in the ways and for the purposes described with respect to a
movable slope.
We are aware that movable seats (without holding expedients) have been made
to slide forward, but not to an extent that will make the front or inner edge
of the slope, overhang the front or inside edge of the seat.
Although we have shown that the movable slope or seat is affixed in one position
only, yet the said slope or seat may be affixed in two or more positions if necessary,
by employing two or more notched depressions on the underside of the guide bars."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. Making the inside or front longitudinal edge of the slope of a desk,
overhang the longitudinal inside or front edge of a seat or form; whether the slope
be movable, and the seat fixed, or the seat movable and the slope fixed, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. In a movable slope or desk, which admits of a backward and forward
sliding motion, and is secured in its forward or overhanging position, by notched
depressions (or their equivalents) on the underside, or on the undersides of guide
rods, (working through eyes or holes) taking or engaging with or upon shoulders
or projections carried at the top or tops of the supporting standards, substantially
as, and for the purpose herein described and set forth in figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Thirdly. Securing movable seats in their forward or adjusted positions, by
means of a catch depression on a sliding rod or rods, (carried by the seat) engaging
with, or upon shoulders or like projections on the tops of the supporting standards,
substantially as described and illustrated in figure 6.