Improvements in School Desks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1896
Improvements in School Desks.
I, DAVID GREIG, of 5 Spittalfield Crescent, in the City of Edinburgh, Builder
and Joiner, 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, which relates to school desks, has for its object to provide an
improved support and lock for maintaining the folding top in its horizontal or
inclined position when raised, whilst permitting of the top being readily folded
down when desired.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention,
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the desk shewing the desk top raised..
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a side elevation shewing the desk top folded down,
Figure 4 is a detail view shewing the device for locking and releasing the desk.
top and
Figure 5 is a view of the support for the releasing device.
The desk stand A may be of any ordinary type provided with a folding top B
and usual accessories, that shewn in the drawing being of the class referred to in.
the Specification of my Patent No. 6559 of 1884. The folding top B is connected
at each end to the stand A by jointed links C, C', the link C being pin jointed to
a plate on the under side of the desk top and the link C¹ similarly attached to the
stand. The link C' extends beyond the folding centre at c and has formed on it a
projection c¹ which drops into a notch in the link C and prevents the doubling or
folding of the links excepting in one direction.
When the desk top is down as at Fig. 3 and it is desired to secure it in the
position shewn at Fig. 1 it is simply raised by hand until the links C, C¹, are in.
line, and the links then form struts and serve to firmly support the top. When it.
is desired to lower the desk top a movable bar D, fitted so as to be capable of
sliding in slots as shewn at Fig. 5 in straps E under the desk top, is pushed back
so that a metal shod F near each end presses against the upper link C and doubles
up the links slightly, whereupon the desk top descends by its own weight.
In order to provide for more effectually locking the desk top in position when
raised, a turnbuckle or other catch G shewn at Fig. 4 ou a pin g passing through
the bar D, and operated by a handle H outside, is provided and arranged to engage
with a notch or projection in the under side of the desk top as shewn so as to
prevent the bar D being pushed back accidentally.
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. In a school desk having a folding top the provision of jointed links or struts
arranged to support and lock the desk top when raised substantially as.
described.
2. In a school desk having a folding top the combination with jointed links or
struts for supporting the top of the sliding bar arranged to act on the links and.
facilitate the lowering of the top substantially as described.

page_text: 3. In a school desk having a folding top the combination of the jointed top
supporting links or struts C, C, the sliding bar D and the turnbuckle or catch G
arranged to operate substantially as described.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1896.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.