Improved Foot Warmer Device in connection with Furniture.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1894- Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Foot Warmer Device in connection with Furniture.
I, ROBERT HERMANN THIELEMANN, Artisan of Lichtenstein in the Kingdom
of Saxony, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in
what manner the same is performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The present invention consists of a device in connection with tables desks and
the like by means of which the feet and legs of the occupant inay be kept warm.
It is well known that many people whose vocation necessitates their sitting at a
desk or table for the greater part of the day, suffer from cold feet during winter,
a fact which besides personal discomfort, generates also a number of diseases.
This disadvantage is obviated by means of the present invention, which comprises
a combined table or desk, stool or chair and device for warming the feet and legs
arranged underneath the said table or desk before the stool or chair in the manner
hereinafter more particularly described.
And in order to make this Specification more easily intelligible reference
hnd
to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters denote similar parts,
throughout the several views:―
Fig. 1 being a side elevation of the device.
Fig. 2 a horizontal section on the line ab (Fig. 1).
Fig. 3 a vertical cross section through the desk.
Fig. 4 a plan of the desk slab.
Fig. 5 a detail side elevation of the mechanism for adjusting the position of the
desk slab.
Fig. 6 a plan of Fig. 5 with the retaining springs for the slab in position in the
rails thereof.
Fig. 7 a similar plan showing the said springs disengaged.
The device consists of the outer structure G advantageously in the form of a
desk having an interior lining of zinc Z and an intermedinte layer of felt F.
Within the shell G which open at the front part where the occupant is intended
to sit, is a second casing of zinc Z, both shell and casing being covered in by a top
plate or covering C. The interior casing Z' has a covering of cane R woven in
the usual manner and stretched in a metallic frame R' corresponding in shape and
size to the interior configuration of the said casing. The side of this interior
casing against which the chair T' is situated only extends from the base plate up to
the seat of the chair so that the two casings Z and Z enclose an intermediate
space having the plan form of three sides of a square (Fig. 2) the said space being
closed in on the chair side by the strips T' T'. Thus the occupant of the chair
can sit on the same with his feet and legs extending into and resting on the floor of
the interior of the casing Z', direct contact with the zinc walls being prevented by
the cane covering R. Within the space between the bottoms of the exterior and
interior casings Z Z' is a ring of steam distributing nozzles K having a steam
supply pipe D leading upwards and through the top covering C to a stop valve A
and then outwards (Fig. 1) in any convenient direction. Thus a steam jacket is
formed around the chamber in which the occupant of the chair has his legs. Upon
the top plate C and communicating with the interior of the steam jacket is a safety
valve S, whilst in the base plate a valve V is arranged having a protecting cap É
and operated by means of any suitable lever system St (Figs. 1, 2 & 3) by a button
or handle arranged on the top of the plate C. A thermometer Th is arranged

page_text: upon the latter plate by which to control the temperature of the steam jacket.
The valve V is for letting off the condensed water from the steam jacket and when
employed the cap E should first be removed.
On an extension T of the base plate the chair is arranged having folding
seat T adapted to fold onto the back of the chair so as to facilitate getting into
position before the desk. The valves and other devices on the plate or covering C
are covered by the slab of the desk which is advantageously made adjustable
and arranged in the following manner :-On suitable upwardly extending arms or
brackets of the plate C or upper part of the casing G (Figs. 1 and 5) are fixed
horizontally extending arms (Fig. 5) carrying guide rolls rr (Figs. 6 and 7) in
grooves of which L-shaped rails are mounted to run, said rails being supported
at their forward ends on rolls mounted on arms s supported on the plate C.
The writing plate or slab P is hinged at its forward ends at ce to the two rails s
which latter have these ends rounded upwardly at to form stops as hereinafter
described. At the rear side of the plate, i.e. the side furthest from the writer two
graduated sector bars are pivoted to the underside of the said plate Pat I said
sectors being each adapted to slide in slots of the corresponding rails, so that the
slab can be tilted and supported at any desired angle in the substructure G by
means of the set screws n of the said rails s, which clamp the said sector bars in
any position. The slab can further be slid backward from the occupant as
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and is arrested in its forward or normal position by
means of the following device:-To the arms &', (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) are fixed flat
springs / carrying at their free ends, studs % adapted when the slab is in its normal
position to engage in orifices or slots e of the upwardly extending web of the
rails. Suitably guided on the web of the said rails is a wedge shaped sliding
block attached by a connecting line or rod to one end of a pivoted lever k
pivoted to the under side of the slab P. The inclined surface of this slide block y
is adapted when drawn forward by moving the lever k into the position shown in
Fig. 7, to contact with the pin or stud of the spring and push the same back
out of the slot e of the rail so that the slab P can then be pushed backwards away
from the occupant into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. On releasing
the lever the block will return to its original position under the pull of its
spring i. Thus in order to push the slab back, to facilitate getting into position
before the desk or table, it is only necessary to pull back the levers & and push the
slab out, its outward movement being determined by the rounded up cuds of the
rails contacting with the front guide rolls rr. In order to get into position
before the desk it is advantageous to fold up the seat of the chuir and push back
the slab P then to put down the sent, sit down on the same and put the legs into
the interior chamber Z, at the bottom of which a stiffening ring 1 having feet
resting on the base plate is provided to prevent treading through the zinc lining.
The slab inny then be drawn forward, and the temperature within the steam jacket
regulated as desired. If deemed necessary buttons H H may be arranged on the
plate C for the reception of a covering for the knees.
Instead of steam heating any other suitable heating may be employed although
the former is advantageous.
By means of this apparatus the feet and legs of persons sitting at the desk will
be held continually warm.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is performed declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In combination with a desk or table, double walls to surround the feet and
legs of the occupant, and means for heating the space enclosed by said double
walls substantially as described.
2. The combination of a desk or table, consisting of an outer shell or sub-
structure, an inner chamber within said exterior shell, a covering plate common to
both shell and interior casing an adjustable slab mounted on and above said cover

page_text: and means for heating the space enclosed between the said shell and interior casing
substantially as described.
3. The combination of a desk or table consisting of an exterior shell and an
interior chamber, a cover common to both and adjustable slab mounted on said
cover, a steam distributor between the shell bottom and inner casing bottom, steam
supply pipe to said distributor, means for regulating the steam supply and a
condensed water cock arranged in the bottom of the exterior shell substantially as
described.
4. The combination of a desk or table consisting of an exterior shell and an
interior chamber, a cover common to both and adjustable slab mounted on said
cover, a steam distributor between the shell bottom and inner casing bottom, steam
supply pipe to said distributor, means for regulating the steam supply and a
condensed water cock arranged in the bottom of the exterior shell an extension of
the base plate and chair arranged thereon, a folding seat to said chair, substantially
as described.
5. The combination of a desk or table, consisting of an outer shell or sub-
structure, an inner chamber within said exterior shell, a covering plate common to
both shell and interior casing means for heating the space between said shell and
interior casing, an adjustable slab, sliding rails hinged to said slab, fixed guide rolls
to said rails, and means for arresting said rails in their forward or normal position,
sector bars hinged to said slab, and guided in slots in the rail ends and means for
clamping said sectors in any position substantially as described.
6. The combination of a desk or table, having an exterior shell or substructure
and an interior chamber, a cover common to both and means to heat the space
enclosed between the said shell and chamber, an adjustable slab mounted on
sliding rails on said cover, means to guide said rails, and an arresting mechanism
for said rails consisting of a stationary spring mounted parallel to said rail, a stud
or pin on the free end of said spring, a slot or notch in said rail web into which
said spring pin may engage, a spring retained wedge shaped block guided on said
web and adapted to push back said spring from the said rail and means for actuating
said block substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1894.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.