A Combination of an Adjustable and Convertible School Desk.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Combination of an Adjustable and Convertible School Desk.
WALTER EDWARD EVERETT of 29 Hemberton Road Stockwell London S.W.
Warehouseman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to the improvement & more ready a laptability of school
desks, its principal feature being the combination of a desk convertible into a table
or backed seat, together with the rise & fall motion, making it adjustable to any
desired height & entirely removing the obstruction of a de-k or table when
not required to be used as such.
It is very desirable that desks should be constructed to occupy the smallest
space & prevent stooping on the part of the children when writing, & at the
same time allow ample room for the entrance or exit of the pupils.
"""
The Education Department now advise that "infants & "babies" galleries
shall be provided with desks, & this invention is believed to be the best &
only desk yet produced which is calculated to meet all the requirements of the
teachers & scholars.
In all the desks hitherto made, & which at present obtain, even when made
with a convertible top, the back-when used as a back support only-is of
equal & in many cases a greater height than when in use for writing or play
table purposes, thus preventing the teacher having a full view of the class.
This invention recognizes the fact that it is very important that the teacher
should have full command of the class, & he, or she, should be able to see
what the pupils are doing with their hands, while a blackbard, reading, object,
or other lesson is being given, & in all cases where they are not engaged in
writing, or desk work, & which are very apt (especially with very young
children) to be occupied in other than scholastic pursuits.
By this invention I obviate these inconveniences & while providing a desk
which fulfils all the requirements as to writing & kindergarten exercises, yet
allowing ample room for entrance & exit & for standing to drill, has the distinct
advantage of adjustment, so that when not required it can be lowered to form
a back sufficiently high to give proper support to the children & giving the
gallery the same appearance as though it had no desk accommodation.
For this purpose I provide the desk or table top proper, with angle plates
of iron or other material, on which is formed a dowel, which revolves in a
corresponding socket in the supporting standard without noise, the supporting
standard in its turn ascending or descending in the hollow foot-piece provided for
its reception, & being kept at any desired height or position by means of selfacting
springs, thumbscrews, pins ratchets, or other convenient arrangement non essential
to the invention. The supports which carry the table or desk I keep in position
by transverse braces. The hollow foot-pieces in which these supports rise & fall
being firmly fixed to the floor as well as connected by a transverse back rail. This
ensures the easy & correct working of the parts while not detracting from the neat
& light appearance of the whole construction.
By these means I thus provide a novel, rigid & economical school desk with
advantages of adjustment not hitherto produced.
This invention is equally well adapted for placing on new or existing galleries,
its adjustable action, & if necessary its varying width of table top making it
suitable for use at any heighth & width of gallery step.

page_text: The desk can be arranged by simply altering the position of fixing, to pass
either before or behind an existing (or newly provided) back support, or if desired
can entirely take the place of the lower board, this latter arrangement lessening
the cost of production & meeting the views of teachers who affirm that the back
support is not used, or required, when the pupils are using the desk or table.
Another important feature of this invention is that when the desk or table top
is reversed & lowered, before the lower back support, it is entirely protected from
damage by the childrens feet, thus always preserving an uninjured & smooth
writing surface.
By a very simple arrangement the desk or table top can be provided with
apertures for the reception of slates, these ascending or descending with the table
top if desired.
The desk or table top could be made to slope or remain perfectly flat.
Although the invention is described as being more particularly applied to use on
infants galleries it is obvious that it may with equal advantage be applied to
desks & tables of other sizes & construction either connected with, or apart from,
galleries or platforms.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1895.
A Combination of an Adjustable and Convertible School Desk.
WALTER E. EVERETT 29 Hemberton Road Stockwell S.W. Warehouseman
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:—
The invention relates to the improvement & more ready adaptability of school
desks, its principle feature, being the combination of a desk convertible into a table
or backed seat together with the rise & fall motion, making it adjustable to any
desired height, & entirely removing the obstruction of a desk or table when not
required to be used as such.
It is very desirable that desks should be constructed to occupy the smallest space
& to prevent stooping on the part of the children yet without obstructing the
entrance or exit of the pupils.
The Education Department now advise that all infants & babies galleries
shall he provided with desks & this invention is believed to be the best & only
desk yet produced which is calculated to meet all the requirements of the teachers
& scholars.
In all the desks hitherto made, and which at present obtain, even when made
with a convertible top, the back, when used as a back support only, is of equal, &
in many cases, a greater height than when in use for writing or play table purposes,
thus preventing the teacher having a full view of the class.
This invention recognizes the fact that it is very important that the teacher
should have full command of the class & he, or she, should be able to see what
the pupils are doing with their hands when they are not engaged in writing or
desk work & which are very apt (especially with very young children) to
be occupied in other than scholastic pursuits.
By this invention I obviate these inconveniences & while providing a desk which
fulfils all the requirements as to writing & kindergarten exercises, yet allowing
ample room for entrance & exit & for standing to drill, has the distinct advantage
of adjustment so that when not required it can be lowered to form a back
sufficiently high to give proper support to the children & giving the gallery the
same appearance as though it had no desk accomodation.

page_text: accompanies tins specification wit more clearly expram the
invention, and on which,
Fig. 1. is an end elevation of the desk in position for writing, the children
sitting on the step formed in the construction of the gallery.
Fig. 2. shows the desk top turned over to allow room for scholars to pass in
and out.
Fig. 3. illustrates the desk top turned over as in Fig. 2. & lowered when required
for back support only.
Fig. 4. represents the desk part entirely removed.
Fig. 5. is an enlarged section of a method of fastening.
The table top (A) is provided with angle plates of iron or other material (B)
on which is formed a dowel revolving in a corresponding socket in the supporting
standard (C) without noise, the supporting standard in its turn ascending or
descending in the hollow footpiece (D) provided for its reception & being kept
at any desired height or position by means of self-acting springs, thumbscrews,
pins, ratchets or other convenient arrangement (E) non-essential to the invention.
The supports which carry the table or desk, I keep in position by transverse
braces (F). The hollow footpieces (D) in which these supports rise & fall being
firmly fixed to the floor, as well as connected by a transverse backrail (G).
This ensures the easy & correct working of the parts, & in addition forms the
back support necessary to childrens comfort.
By these means thus provide a novel, rigid, & economical school desk with
advantages of adjustment not hitherto introduced.
This invention is equally well adapted for placing on new or existing galleries,
its adjustable action, & if necessary, varying width of table top, making it suitable
for use at any height & width of gallery steps. The desk top (A) & the
supporting standard (C) can by altering the position of the hollow footpiece (D)
be arranged to pass either before or behind an existing or newly provided
back support, or if desired, can entirely take the place of the lower board (G)
this latter arrangement lessening the cost of production & meeting the views of
teachers who affirm that the lower back board (G) is not so necessary when
the pupils are using the desk or table.
Another important feature of this invention is that when the desk or table
top (A) is reversed & lowered before the lower back support (as shewn in
Fig. 3) it is entirely protected from injury by the childrens feet thus always
preserving an uninjured and smooth writing surface.
By a very simple arrangement the desk or table top can be provided with
apertures for the reception of slates, these ascending or descending with the
table top if desired. The desk or table top could also be made to slope or be
perfectly flat.
Although the invention is described as being more particularly applied to use on
infants galleries, it is obvious that it may with equal advantage be applied to
desks & tables of other sizes & construction either connected with or apart from
galleries or platforms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. A combination of an adjustable & convertible school desk.
2nd. A new arrangement of desk parts heretofore fully described & by which
the upper part of desk sliding in the lower is raised & lowered at will, calculated
to give the teacher a fuller command of the pupils than hitherto obtained.
3rd. A new arrangement of desk parts by which the removal of all desk
obstruction on infants galleries (when not required for writing) is facilitated.
Dated this 13th day of August 1896