Improvements in and relating to School Desks, Writing Tables, and the like.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Loft, 13th July 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to School Desks, Writing Tables, and
the like.
I, JOSEPH SYMONDS, of 37, Park Street, Hereford, in the county of Hereford,
Smith and Hot Water Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention chiefly relates to school desks, and has for its object to construct the
same in such a manner that, when the desk is used for writing, it can be moved close
to the scholars and that, in addition to being used as a writing desk, it can be set
at a suitable angle to serve as a reading desk or placed in a horizontal position to
form a table and moved out of the way to afford room for standing or for drill.
According to my invention the desk proper is connected to the body or foundation
by long jointed arms which can be operated from either end of the desk without the
use of keys or screws.
Blocks are provided for holding the desk in its angular positions, which blocks are
provided with catches to retain them in place.
My improvements are also applicable to writing desks or tables for domestic
purposes.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to School Desks, Writing Tables, and
the like.
I, JOSEPH SYMONDS, of 37, Park Street, Hereford, in the county of Hereford,
Smith and Hot Water Engineer, 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 :—
My invention chiefly relates to school-desks, and has for its object to construct
the same in such a manner that, when the desk is used for writing, it can be moved
close to the scholars and that, in addition to being used as a writing desk, it can be
set at a suitable angle to serve as a reading desk or placed in a horizontal position
to form a table and moved out of the way to afford room for standing or for drill.
According to my invention the desk proper is connected to the body, foundation
or uprights by long jointed arms which can be operated from either end of the desk
without the use of keys or screws.
Blocks, or stops and catches are provided for holding the desk in its various
positions.
My improvements are also applicable to writing desks or tables for domestic
purposes.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how it
can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is an end elevation, and
Figure 2 is a plan of a school desk constructed according to my invention and seat
therefor, the top or desk proper being shewn in position for being written upon.
D
017

page_text: Figure 3 is an end elevation, and
Figure 4 is a plan of the desk with the top turned up at an angle to serve as a
reading desk.
Figures 5, 7 and 9 are end elevations shewing modifications in the arrangement of
the desk, and
Figures 6, 8 and 10 are plans of Figures 5, 7 and 9 respectively.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a, a represent the body, foundation or uprights of the
desk, and b, bare the long arms (moving in guides a¹, a¹) whereby the top or
desk proper c is connected to the said uprights. The arms b, b are fixed to the
ends of an oscillating bar which project through the uprights a, a so that by moving
one of the arms 6 the other will move simultaneously therewith. The top of the
desk is jointed at d to the arms b, b so that its angle relatively thereto can be
changed.
e, e are the stops engaging in notches fand f¹ in the uprights a, a for holding the
top c of the desk in position to serve for writing purposes and as a table respectively.
c is a rail for holding ink-wells.
9, 9 are brackets or projections on the arms b, b serving as blocks, stops or rests
for the top c when turned up at an angle to serve as a reading desk. b is a ledge
for supporting a book or the like. h, h¹, h² represent counterweighted combined dogs
and catches pivotted to the arms b, 6 and serving to retain the arms 6 in position
when the top c is so turned up, the guides a being formed with notches i into
which the catches h are pressed by the top c bearing upon the dogs h¹. The counter-
weight 2 raises the catches h out of the said notches when the top c of the desk is
turned down.
By this construction it will be understood that if the desk is required for writing
purposes, the top c must be pulled forward as far as it will come when the stops e
will engage in the front notches in the sloping portion of the uprights a as shown
in Figures 1 and 2 and by the dotted lines in Figure 3. If the desk is required to
serve as a table the top c must be lifted so as to remove the stop from the notch f,
and then pushed backwards as far as the guides a¹ will allow the arms b to move
when the stops e will take into the rear notches f¹ in the horizontal portion of the
uprights a, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1. If the desk is to be used for
reading purposes the top c must be turned up as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the
distance of the same from the person reading being adjusted by placing the catches h
in the notches i or behind the guides a¹.
The desk illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is the same in construction as that herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 except that, instead of the brackets g
forming the stops or rests for the top c when turned up to serve as a reading desk,
the said bracket is extended rearwards and supports the ink-well rail which forms
the said stop or rest. Bolts d¹, dare provided on the inner sides of the uprights a
which can be slid into the stops e made in the form of. eyes to receive them in order
to secure the desk in position for writing and as a table.
In Figures 7 and 8 the brackets g are extended so as to embrace the back edge and
the top surface of the ink-well rail and the top c is jointed to the projecting end of
the same, which, in combination with the recess e' in the hinge plate f2, forms the
stop when the top c is turned up to serve as a reading desk. The combined catches
and dogs are not shewn, it being obvious that they can be dispensed with if economy
in cost is especially to be considered.
The desk shewn in Figures 9 and 10 is only adapted to be used as a table and as
a writing desk, the top e being only made to he moved backwards and forwards and
not to turn up. This desk can be made at a comparatively small cost and is
especially suitable for use in infants' schools. The ink-wells are placed in the
top c and a separate ink-well rail is thus dispensed with, as also are the combined
counterweighted catches and dogs.

page_text: 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 school desk, writing table or the like having its top or desk proper con-
nected to the body, foundation or uprights by long moveable arms to which the said
top is jointed, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
(2) The improved school desks hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.