An Improved Reversible Desk for Schools.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Reversible Desk for Schools.
I, SAMUEL BRIDGE, of Lye, near Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the improved construction of desks with reversible
tops, by the application of an improved joint, by ineans of which the desk can be
fixed in various useful positions, and by providing suitable means for rendering it
unnecessary to remove the inkwells in order to adjust the desk.
The improved joint in the desk standard is so constructed that the desk-top can
readily be adjusted either as a table or writing slope, or it may be turned up out
of the way to afford passage room between desk and seat.
The middle portion of the joint-that to which the bracket or plate supporting
the desk-top is attached-is disc-shaped, and revolves on a central pivot. A short
distance away from the pivot and parallel with it, a hole passes through the joint,
into which a round iron rod is fitted. The central disc of the joint is slotted out
where the iron rod passes through it, in such a manner as to permit it to revolve a
certain distance in either direction, the iron rod forming a stop for it both ways.
By cutting away a portion from one side of the rod where it passes through the
slot in the disc, the play of the latter may be slightly varied in extent by merely
turning the rod a quarter of a revolution. Hence the desk-top may be brought
down from a horizontal position in which it serves as a table, into an inclined
position in which it serves as a writing slope, by means of the movement of the
rod before mentioned. As the iron rod passes through the whole of the standards
attached to a desk, the action in each joint takes place simultaneously.
In order to obviate the necessity of removing the inkwells during the adjustment
of the desk, a bar of wood, running parallel to the desk-top, is attached to the
standards near the joint, and on this bar the inkwells are placed in such a manner
that the desk in revolving just clears them. A hole is cut in the desk-top exactly
over each inkwell, so that the pen may be dipped in the ink without difficulty
when the desk is adjusted as a writing slope. The above mentioned wood bar
also serves as a support for the iron rod herein before described.
When the desk-top is turned up vertically, the inkwells can easily be got at for
refilling, or can be removed for cleaning purposes.
Dated this 20th day of January 1896.
SAMUEL BRIDGE,
Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Reversible Desk for Schools.
1, SAMUEL BRIDGE, of Lye, near Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Schoolmaster, 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 has for its object the construction of an improved reversible desk
for schools, by the application thereto of (a) an improved joint which enables the
desk-top to be readily fixed in various useful positions for the convenience of the
scholars, and (b) an improved arrangement whereby the inkwells remain stationary
during the several movements of the desk.
In order to describe my invention I shall make use of the accompanying
drawings; without, however, binding myself to the exact details, relative propor-
tions or dimensions represented therein, as the same may be varied to a considerable
extent without departing from the invention. The same letters of reference, are
put to denote the same parts throughout the drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a back view of the improved desk, and
Fig. 2 an end view of both desk and seat.
Figs. 3 and 4 represent sectional views of the improved joint in the desk
standard, the shaded parts being of wood and the light parts iron.
The joint A is so constructed that the desk-top B, as shown in Fig. 2, can be
made to form either a table for kindergarten or other purposes, or an inclined desk
for writing upon; or it can be thrown back sufficiently to afford ample passage
room between desk and seat. The joint is made up of three disc-shaped portions,
equal in diameter and placed side by side, with a central rivet or pin C passing
through them upon which the central disc revolves. The two outer discs form
part of the desk standard D, and the inner one (marked E in Figs. 3 and 4) forms
part of the bracket or plate F which carries the desk-top. A short distance away
from the central pin C, and parallel with it, a hole passes clear through the joint,
into which a round iron rod G is fitted. This rod is cranked at one end, as shown
at H in Fig. 1, in order that it may be turned freely by the hand about a quarter
of a revolution, suitable stops. being put to prevent its travelling beyond its allotted
distance. The central disc E, where the rod G passes through it, is slotted out
(see J, Figs. 3 and 4) in such a manner as to permit it to revolve a certain
distance in either direction, the iron rod forming a stop for it both ways. The rod
itself at this point has a small portion cut away from one side, as shown in Fig. 5,
the purpose for which will be seen on reference to Figs. 3 and 4. While the rod
remains in the position represented in Fig. 3, the desk-top is maintained in a
horizontal position; but when the crank H is pushed down, as shown in Fig. 4,
the disc E is enabled to revolve a short distance further, and the desk-top is thus
brought down to an inclined position.
It will be noticed that when the desk-top is thrown back, as indicated by the
dotted portions of Figs. 3 and 4, it always goes to the same angle whether the
rod G be in one position or the other.
As the rod G passes through all the standards attached to a desk, the action
described above takes place in every joint simultaneously.
Fig. 6, by means of a sectional view, shows the improved arrangement of the
inkwells. A wooden rail K (shown longitudinally in Fig. 1) is attached to the
desk standards near the joint, and on this rail wood blocks or cups L, containing
the inkwells, are fitted at suitable distances. In order that the ink may be
brought as near to the surface of the desk as possible, the desk-top is hollowed out
at M, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and a hole N is pierced just over the

page_text: aperture in each inkwell, through which the pen can be dipped into the ink. The
shape of the cavity M is such that the desk-top in revolving never comes in
contact with the inkwells, so that the ink remains undisturbed during the various.
movements of the desk. When the desk-top is thrown back the inkwells can
easily be got at for re-filling or removal; and when it is in position for writing,.
the ink cannot get upset on the surface of the desk.
The wooden rail K also serves as a support for the rod G between the desk
standards. The rod is fitted in a groove in the rail in such a manner as to prevent
its getting bent or otherwise injured.
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.) The improved joint in the desk standard, by means of which the desk-top
can be fixed in various useful positions, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(2.) The improved arrangement of the inkwells, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 20th day of October 1806
SAMUEL BRIDGE,
Applicant.