Improvements in Arm Rests for Telephone Operators.
Year: 1892

page_text: Da e of Application, 23rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Arm Rests for Telephone Operators.
We, JOSEPH R. BAILEY and LEVI C. LINCOLN, Gentlemen, and THE
WOONSOCKET EDGE TOOL COMPANY a body corporate, all of Woonsocket,
in the County of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an arm rest for use at telephones, and it has for its
objects to embody the features of vertical, lateral, and horizontal adjustment for
the rest, and to adapt the same to be thrown up out of the way when not in use,
the parts being strong, durable and not liable to get out of order.
Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and
claims when taken in connection with the annexed drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved device showing the same in an
operative position as attached to a wall or other support.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is an end view, and
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pivoted bar attached to the bracket and
the extensible arm.
Referring by letter to said drawings
A indicates a plate which is provided with screw apertures or other means for
fastening the same to a wall or support and carries at opposite ends the integral
or fixed lug-eyes a, which are in alignment with each other and furnish a bearing
for the ends of the vertically-disposed shouldered rod B. This rod which bears in
said lug-eyes and is fixed by means of a nut or the like is tapered externally
from the top of each shoulder down to the top of the next succeeding shoulder
below, for a purpose which will presently appear.
C indicates a bracket. This bracket which is preferably of bifurcated form has
its branches terminating in vertically-disposed eyes b, to receive the shouldered
rod B, so as to swing laterally and move vertically thereon. This bracket is pro-
vided with a bearing in its lower side preferably formed by a depending integral
lug c, which is hollow and receives a coiled or other suitable spring d, and a ratchet
lever D is pivoted in the lower end of said lug journal c, so that its inner beveled
end e, will bear upon the shoulders of the rod B, and its opposite end be in a con-
venient position to be manipulated by the operator; the spring d, bearing upon
said lever at such a point with respect to its pivot as to keep or have a normal
tendency to raise the engaging end of said lever off of the shoulders of the rod B,
when the bracket has been raised, the bracket as it rests serving to seat the
engaging end of said lever down upon the desired shoulder of the rod.
E indicates a bar. This bar is pivoted near its inner end to the bracket C, and
is held in a horizontal position by means of a lug f, formed on said bracket in rear
of the pivoted point of the bar and so arranged as to allow the bar to swing into a
vertical position or against the wall but limit its downward movement to that of
horizontal.
Findicates an extensible bar. This bar is provided with an cye or loop
depending from its inner end and receives the bar E, so as to slide thereon, the
forward movement of said extensible bar being limited by a stop pin g. This
extensible bar is preferably grooved out or channeled on its under side as better
illustrated in Fig. 4 so as to be truly guided on the bar E, and is provided on its
outer end with a vertically-disposed socket or eye h.
G indicates the socket or arm receiving portion of the rest.
This rest may be

page_text: of a curvilinear or other suitable shape and has a simple depending stem i, to enter
the eye or socket h, in the extensible bar F and may be secured therein so that it
may revolve or rotate by means of a screw, nut or other suitable fastening
device.
From the foregoing description taken in connection with the annexed drawings
the operation and advantages of the invention will be obvious. It will be seen
that the rest will permit of any movement of the body of the operator. There is
no liability of the parts slipping or breaking as they are durably constructed and
connected. The rest may be adjusted longitudinally, vertically and laterally, and
when not in use may be thrown up out of the way. To raise the rest it is simply
necessary to lift the bracket on the rod B and to lower the rest it is simply
necessary to raise the outer end of the ratchet lever E to free it from the shoulders
of the rod when the weight of the rest and bracket will allow it to drop to the
desired point.
By reason of the peculiar form of the shoulders on the rod B and the inner
beveled end e, of the ratchet lever D, it will be readily perceived that the
bracket C and the parts carried thereby are free to swing laterally, without in any
manner interfering with the vertical adjustment of the same which is a highly
important desideratum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :--
1. In an arm support for telephone operators, the combination with a shouldered
rod, of a vertically movable bracket journaled thereon and carrying a ratchet lever
adapted to engage the shoulders of the rod and a suitable rest secured to the
bracket, substantially as specified.
2. In an arm rest for telephone operators, the combination with a fixed rod
having shoulders, each of which is of a circular form in cross section and is tapered
externally from its top down to the top of the next succeeding shoulder below, of
a bracket journaled on the said rod, a spring pressed ratchet lever carried by the
bracket and having the inner beveled end e, adapted to engage the shoulders of the
rod, and a suitable rest secured to the bracket, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. The improved arm rest for telephone operators consisting essentially of the
plate having the vertically-disposed lug-eyes at opposite ends, the shouldered rod
bearing in said eyes, the bracket journaled on said rod and having a stop as
described, the ratchet lever journaled in the bracket and the spring bearing upon
said lever, the bar pivoted to the bracket and adapted to engage the stop at one
end, the extensible bar arranged to slide on said pivoted bar and the arm rest
or socket carried at the outer end of the extensible bar, substantially as
specified.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1892.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.