Improvements in Desks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 14th Dec. 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Desks.
We CHRIS LARSON Cabinet Maker and CHARLES PETER JOHNSON, Dealer in Real
Estate, both of Chicago, in the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, 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 my invention relates to the class of desks in which the drawers, pigeon-
holes or other receptacles on the side or sides of the desk and below the writing
board thereof can be drawn forward and swung round when desired, to right angles
with the position said receptacles are in when the desk is closed.
My present invention consists in the combination of the bottom of the desk having
grooves therein or thereon with the bottom of the pigeon-holes or other receptacles
having pins or projections on the under side thereof fitting into the grooves and
guided thereby so that the movement of the receptacles is controlled and they may
be drawn forward and swung around in a line or nearly so, with the front of the desk.
The purpose of my present invention is to reduce the friction resulting from the
movement of the receptacles above named, and to reduce the tendency to uneven &
jerky motion in operating the desk.
I have illustrated my invention by the drawings accompanying this specification
and forming a part thereof in which :-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the bottom of the desk showing the grooves therein or
thereon in full lines with the bottom of the receptacles and pins therein in broken
lines placed thereon in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom of
the desk with the bottom of the receptacles superimposed in an open position.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the grove in the frame of the desk above receptacles and
forms a guide in which a single pin or stud placed in the top of the receptacles or
pigeon-holes moves.
Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several parts.
X is the bottom of the desk.
Y is the bottom of the pigeon holes or other receptacles.
Z is the part of the desk above the pigeon-holes.
A A' is a groove having a long curved part A and a short curved part A'.
B is a long curved groove.
Grooves A A and B may be cast in one piece of metal and placed in the bottom
of the desk, or they may be cast separate-that is, in two pieces-and placed thereon,
or cut in the bottom of the desk and suitably lined with metal.
a bare pins or studs projecting from and below the under side of bottom Y of
the receptacles and fitting into grooves A A' & B respectively.
B' is the groove in top Z.
A single pin or stud projects above the top of the pigeon-holes or receptacles into
groove B' which forms a guide therefor.
Casters are placed by me in the ordinary manner in bottom X which supports the
weight of pigeon holes and contents. When the desk is closed pins a bare in the
position illustrated in Fig. 1, and when the pigeon holes or other receptacles are
wung around said pins are in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. Groove B₁ is a
luplicate of grove B₁ and the pin or stud projecting above the top of the pigeon
oles has the same movement as has pin b. Grooves A & B are arcs of a circle having
practically the same radius and prolongation A' of grove A is the arc of a circle
aving the radius equal to the distance apart of pins a band the centre of the
ircle being the end of the groove B in which pin b is illustrated in Fig. 2.
By having parallel and like, or nearly so, grooves A B I avoid all liability of
in 6 entering prolongation A' of curve A unless a third pin be added.

page_text: As in the operation of my device herein described, the pin bis in groove B near
but not necessarily at the extreme end thereof. When pin a enters or commences
to enter prolongation A' of groove A it is evident that a very easy and gradual
change may be made from the direction of curve A to the direction of prolongation A¹
as is illustrated in Fig. 1 where the change forms a reverse curve so called and
all shock incident to a sudden change in the direction of the movement of the com-
paratively heavy body, consisting of the pigeon-holes & contents is avoided.
If desired grooves A A' and B as shown in Fig. 1 may be made in the part of the
desk Zabove the pigeon holes in place of the groove B': pins or projections
corresponding to pins a being secured into the upper part Y of the receptacles and
adapted to engage with said grooves. If desired also the grooves instead of being
made in the bottom & top of the desk respectively may be made in the bottom and
top of the receptacles and the pins engaging therewith may be secured into the upper
and lower portions of the desk respectively as will be understood.
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 desk such as that herein before referred to the application to the bottom of
the desk of metal grooves or grooves lined with metal adapted to engage with
pins secured in the underside of the pigeon holes, all substantially as and for
the purposes hereinafter set forth.
2. In a desk such as that herein before referred to the application to the top of the
desk above the pigeon holes or receptacles of a metal groove or grooves lined with
metal, adapted to engage with a pin secured in the top of the receptacle all substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
3. In a desk such as that herein before referred to the application the top of the
desk of metal grooves or grooves lined with metal as shown in Fig. 1 of the
drawings and which grooves are adapted to engage pins secured in the upper part of
the receptacles all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
4. In a desk such as that described, the alternative, of making the grooves in the
bottom and top respectively of the receptacles and securing the pins into the bottom
and top respectively of the desk, all substantially as and for the purposes heroinbefore
set forth.
Dated this 24th day of huber
1000
CHRIS LARSON and
CHARLES PETER JOHNSON.
By their Agents, Horn & Son.