Improved Combined Bed-table and Book Rest.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Combined Bed-table and Book Rest.
1, MARY ANN CLAXTON of 1 Percy Street, New Brighton, in the County of
Chester, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present invention relates to an improved combined bed-table and book rest
intended chiefly for the use of invalids, the book rest being so arranged that it
can be adjusted to suit the convenience of the user or folded out of the way under-
neath the table-top when not required.
I construct the table with a top and four legs in the ordinary manner and the
book rest is hinged to the middle of one of the long edges of the top. The book
rest consists of a light rectangular flat frame with two narrow ledges hinged to
opposite sides of opposite edges of the frame; these ledges can be folded flat
against the frame of the book rest and have clips for holding the book open.
The hinges by which the book rest is articulated to the table top are double
acting so that the said rest can be turned upwards so as to stand above the table
top, or downwards so as to hang below the table top, or folded up flat underneath
the latter when not required, the ledges being, in the latter case, folded flat against
the frame of the book rest.
Catches and stops are provided to retain the book rest in the desired positions
and I also attach two or more hanging pockets to the edges (preferably the short
edges) of the table.
Dated this 1st day of May 1891.
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Combined Bed-table and Book Rest.
I, MARY ANN CLAXTON of 1 Percy Street, New Brighton, in the County of
Chester 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 present invention relates to an improved combined bed-table and book rest
intended chiefly for the use of invalids, the book rest being so arranged that it can
be adjusted to suit the convenience of the user or folded or slid out of the way
underneath the table-top when not required.
In the accompanying drawings which serve to illustrate my invention,
Fig. I is a perspective view of the table with the book rest raised,
Fig. II is a similar view with the book rest turned down,
Fig. III is a sectional elevation on the line A A of Fig. IV,
Fig. IV is a plan,
Fig. V is a sectional elevation on the line B B of Fig. IV, showing the book
rest turned down, and
Figs. VI and VII are similar views showing respectively the book rest raised
and slid out of the way underneath the table-top.
Throughout the drawings similar parts are indicated by the same reference
figures, and in the case of sections the direction in which they are viewed is
indicated by the small arrows placed adjacent to the letters denoting the plane of
section.

page_text: I construct the table with a top 1 and four legs 2, and the book rest 3 is hinged
either to the middle of one of the long edges of the table-top or preferably, as
shown in the drawings, to a slider 4 adapted to slide in grooves formed in the
pieces 5 fixed to the under side of the top.
The book rest 3 consists of a light rectangular flat frame with two narrow
ledges 7 and 8 respectively, hinged to opposite sides of opposite edges of the
frame; these ledges can be folded flat against the frame of the book rest and have
clips 9 for holding the book open.
The hinges 10 by which the book rest is articulated to the table-top or the
sliding piece 4 as the case may be, permit of the book rest being turned up as
shown in Fig. I or down as in Fig. 11. When it is desired to place the book rest
out of the way underneath the table-top, it is simply folded up underneath the
latter if hinged directly thereto, and retained by a catch, the hinges being of the
double acting kind used on swing doors and folding screens; when the book rest is
hinged to the slider 4 as shown in the drawings, it is swung into line with the
latter and the two together slid under the table top as shown in Fig. VII, the
ledges 7 and 8 being in either case folded flat against the book rest 3.
I attach two or more hanging pockets to the edges of the table, preferably to
the short edges as shown at 11, 11, in the drawings.
In order to make the table conveniently portable, each pair of legs may be
attached to a cross-piece which is hinged by the hinges 12 to the table frame 13,
the arrangement permitting the legs to be folded up underneath the table top; the
legs are retained in the upright position by the thumb-screws 14.
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 combined bed-table and book rest substantially as described
and illustrated.
(2) The combination with a bed-table or the like of a reversible book rest
connected therewith, such as 3, adapted to be turned up and down and placed out
of the way underneath the table top as may be desired and having ledges as 7
and 8 hinged or otherwise secured to opposite sides, substantially as described and
illustrated.
Dated this 6th day of November 1891
SLOAN & LLOYD BARNES,
Castle Chambers, 26, Castle Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.