Improvements in Convertible School Desks and Seats.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 31st Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Convertible School Desks and Seats.
I, DAVID FRANCIS, of 115, Craven Street, Birkenhead, in the County of
Chester, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object a convertible desk which shall be more convenient
than any hitherto in use, while at the same time very light and strong. Many years
ago I took out a Patent for a wrought iron framework for convertible desks. This,
however, had the great disadvantage that the children had to climb over the seat
to get their legs on the right side, as they could not enter it from either end.
Now my present invention among other things enables the children to enter from
either end. I form the support of the book-board and of the seat of wrought-iron
lattice work bolted each independently to a cross-piece or foundation beam formed
of a piece of American elm or other wood with a strip of wrought iron say two
inches by a quarter at top and bottom. The standards are bolted through this.
The standards are preferably formed each of two vertical members with short hoops
of wrought iron rivetted thereto and to each other, or alternately hoops and diamond
lattice work. The vertical members consist preferably of simple wrought iron bars
of about an inch to an inch and a quarter wide by ths thick and twisted at right
angles at the top, so that they and the ends of the lattice work shall form four flanges to
which the book-board or seat is securely screwed at each end. The book-boards
support a small pedestal carrying an axis on which revolves a bracket attached to
the desk proper. This bracket has teeth both at its lowest point and below the
flange to which the desk board is attached. These teeth work into suitable teeth
on the pedestal. Chained to any convenient part is a screwed peg which works
through holes in the standard into screwed holes in the bracket or vice-versa. This
holds the bracket and standard relatively to each other in any desired position.
As however there are generally only five positions in which it is necessary, the holes
are so arranged that it is held in these positions. A pin on the standard works in a
slot in the bracket in such manner that when the set screw is loosened and the
bracket revolved the pin working in the slot shall keep the teeth from engaging
with each other until any one of the five oppositions are approached at which point
the pin itself comes against the obstruction in the slot, and at the same time the
teeth or the ends of the rack interlock. The pin is so arranged that when screwed
up in any required position it can be tightened by means of a key so as to be locked
in place. Holes in the desk can be made for the slates, inkpots, etcetera, and an
ordinary back-board placed for the arms or for children on the next seat to lean
against.
Dodd hi ochl
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Convertible School Desks and Seats.
I, DAVID FRANCIS, of 115, Craven Street, Birkenhead, in the County of Chester,
Builder, 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 a convertible desk (or desk and seat combined).

page_text: which shan De more convenient than any hitherto in use, while, at the same time,
very light and strong.
Many years ago, I took out a Patent for a wrought iron framework for
supporting convertible desks and their seats. This, however, had the great
disadvantage that the children had to climb over the seat to get their legs on to the
right side thereof, as they could not enter the space between the desk and seat from
either end.
Now my present invention, among other advantages, possesses that of enabling
the children to enter from either end.
It may be more particularly described as follows, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the combined desk and seat, the former being
shown as adjusted for use as a table.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of a part of the same.
Figure 3 is an end view of the working parts of the desk in the position shown
in Figure 1, but as seen from the opposite end of the desk.
Figure 4 is view (on a larger scale, than the preceding) of the working parts
shown in Figure 1, the parts being disengaged ready for converting the desk by
turning upon its axis.
Figures 5 and 6 are similar views to Figure 1, showing the parts as arranged for
a desk and a seat back, respectively.
Figure 7 shows the construction of a guiding device, hereinafter more fully
explained.
Figure 8 is a section on a larger scale than the preceding figure, showing
the construction of the locking device to be hereinafter more fully described.
I form the support of the book-board A. and of the seat B of wrought iron lattice
work standards C, each bolted independently to a cross-piece or foundation beam D,
formed of a piece of American elm or other wood d, with a strip of wrought iron d',
say one and a half inches by a quarter at top and bottom.
The standards are bolted through the beams D by bolts d². The standards are
preferably formed each of two vertical members c', with short hoops of wrought iron
riveted, thereto and to each other, or with lattice work formed of hoops and
diamonds arranged alternately.
Or the hoops and diamonds may be formed of a single piece c² bent to the
required shape and riveted together at the proper points, and also riveted to the
vertical members c¹. A third bent piece c³ is also connected by rivets to the lower
ends of the pieces c¹ c¹ and c². The vertical members c' consist preferably of simple
wrought iron bars of about an inch to an inch and a quarter wide by ths thick,
and they are twisted at right angles at the top, so that they and the ends of the
lattice work piece 2, which is similarly twisted, shall form four flanges c', to which
the book board A or scat B is securely screwed.
The book board supports small pedestals E, each carrying a pin F, about the
axis of which revolves a bracket G attached to H, the desk proper, the bracket and
pedestal being held together by washers fand split pins f¹ on the ends of the pin F
or by other equivalent fastening device. The bracket G has teeth g both at its
lowest point and also just below the flanges g' to which the desk board H is attached.
These teeth are adapted to engage suitable teeth e on the pedestal, as hereinafter
described. F' is the elongated slot in the bracket within which the pin F works
as hereinafter described. J is a pin on the pedestal which works in a curved
slot J in the bracket, the said slot being concentric with the lower rounded end
of the slot F. The slot J is provided on its outer wall, with three embay-
ments for a purpose hereinafter described. K K are projections on the
bracket, each of which is adapted to engage with one or two recesses K'K' on
the pedestal when the book board is locked in the position shown in Figure 6 or
in the reverse position. The projections K K and recesses K K are the
equivalents of the teeth e and g and serve a similar purpose.
L is a screwed peg, which is mounted in the pedestal E and is adapted, when

page_text: screwed inward, to enter a slot L' in the bracket or to engage one of the extreme
ends of the slot J. therein for a purpose hereinafter described. The peg I may be
turned by means of a key inserted into a recess in its outer end, and it may be
conveniently mounted within a boss L2 on the pedestal, the inner end of which is
screwed to fit the pin, and the outer end of which is provided with an annular plug
or cap adapted to permit the insertion of the key and to prevent the removal of
the peg. The latter may also be furnished with a collar 2, the opposite ends of
which bear upon the inner ends of a recess 13 in the boss and the plug 'respectively
when the peg is screwed in or out to the required extent.
Instead of the above arrangement of holes, peg and key, a loose peg with milled
head or handle could be employed, such peg being conveniently connected to the
desk board by a chain or cord, and being adapted to be taken out of one of a series
of holes in the pedestal and inserted into another one when the position of the desk
is to be re-adjusted. I prefer the first arrangement, however, as being more
generally convenient.
When the parts are locked in the position shown in Figure 1, that is, when the
desk board is horizontal and forms a table, both sets of teeth e and
are in engage-
ment, the central pin F is leaning against the upper end of its slot F, the guide
pin is located in the centre of the central embayment, and the screw peg L
projects into the centre of the slot L' and bears against the lower wall thereof.
The desk board is now held immovable by the teeth e and g and peg and slot L
and L To cant the desk board into the position shown in Figure 5, the peg L is
screwed back clear of the bracket, the desk board is raised so that the sets of teeth
clear each other, as in Figure 4, the pin F being then in the lower end of its slot
and the guide pin J resting within the guide slot J. The board H is turned upon
its axis in the required direction for a distance equivalent to one tooth e or y, and
is then again dropped into position. The guide pin J now rests within one end
of the embayment and screw peg L is screwed into the opposite end of the
slot L'.
To guide the desk board readily from one position to another, when adjusting it
as aforesaid, a guiding device such as shown in Figure 7 is employed. The device
consists of a pin or projection M on the pedestal E, working in a curved groove M¹
in the bracket. The said groove is concentric with the slot J, and has three radial
recesses m m¹ and m, in its upper side, having the same relative angular positions
as the three predetermined positions of the desk board and each adapted to fit the
projection. When the latter is raised, the projection M comes clear of the recesses,
and, on turning the desk board about its axis, the projection rides on those
portions of the upper wall of groove M¹ which lie between the recesses, and thus
the desk board is upheld until the projection M reaches the next recess which
it enters, if the board is permitted to drop, and guides the teeth e and g into
engagement.
If it is desired to convert the desk-board into a back board for the seat, the
peg L is withdrawn and the board raised as before and swung round until the
part N on the bracket and the part N' on 'the pedestal come in contact with
the flanges e¹g of the pedestal and bracket respectively. During this movement,
it is guided and upheld by the engagement of the projection M and groove M' and
also partly by the engagement of the pin J with the slot J. When swung round
to its full extent, it is pushed backwards so that one of the projections K on the
bracket enters the adjacent recess K¹ on the pedestal and all tilting in the reverse
direction is prevented. To permit of this backward movement, the embayments jj
are provided, into one of which the pin enters as shown in Figure 6. The
projection M does not interfere with this movement, as it rests within the widened
end of the slot M¹. As an additional security, the back board may be locked
by the screw peg L, which engages one of the extreme ends of the slot L'.
Holes can be made in the desk board for the slates, ink-pots, etcetera, and an
ordinary book or arm rest H¹ may be provided thereon for the arms or books of the
children on the next seat behind.

page_text: 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 wrought iron lattice work desk supports, constructed sub-.
stantially as shown and described.
2. In a convertible desk, the combination of a bracket depending from the desk
board, an upright pedestal mounted on the desk support, a pivot pin on the pedestal
or bracket working in a slot in the bracket or pedestal, and a series of teeth or
their equivalent as described on the bracket adapted to engage a corresponding
series of teeth or their equivalent as described when the bracket is pressed home
against the pivot pin but to be disengaged therefrom when the bracket is drawn
upwards.or outwards, the said combination being used either in combination with
or independently of a guiding device or a locking device such as described, or with
a combination of both devices, substantially as described.
T
2000
BUIL ULLIN
DAVID FRANCIS.
Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.