Improvements in Tables, Desks, and the like for Enabling them to be Adjusted to Various Heights.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 15th Jan., 1889
Improvements in Tables, Desks, and the like for Enabling them to
be Adjusted to Various Heights.
I JOSEPH WRIGHT of 16 Great George Street in the City of Westminster Consulting
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows
The object of my Invention is to provide a table desk or the like which can with
great facility be adjusted to and fixed at any desired elevation so that it can be used
either whilst sitting or standing at it as desired.
According to my Invention I provide each end of the upper part of the table desk
or the like with legs or guide pieces which are capable of moving vertically in recesses
or in or over guiding surfaces in or on the lower part or base of the table or desk or
the like. In the upper part of this base portion I mount two shafts extending across
from end to end and each carrying at both its ends a pulley so that each end of the
base has in it two pulleys one belonging to each of the shafts. At each end of the
desk table or the like I provide a weight which is connected to the legs or guide pieces
of the upper part of the desk or table by means of a band chain or the like which
passes over the pulleys. The arrangement which I prefer for this purpose is to connect
one end of the band to the lower end of one leg then lead the band over one of the
pulleys then pass it through an eye on the weight and then up over the other pulley
and then connect the other end of the said band to the lower end of the other leg.
The same is done at the other end of the desk table or the like. I prefer to attach the
weight by passing it through an eye as described and clamping it by a ring or sliding
piece clasping the band to tighten up the loop which is forined by its passing through
the eye. The top of the table or desk may be capable of being fixed in a horizontal
position or at any desired angle.
The desk or table is fixed at its adjusted elevation preferably by pinching screws
passing through the front of the base portion and bearing on the front legs which may
be connected with the hinder legs so that they are caused to bear against the opposed
portions of the base part.

page_text: By slackening the screws the upper part of the table or desk can very readily be
caused under the action of the weights to be raised or it can by pressure on it be
caused to descend and this with great regularity and evenness of motion.
Dated this 10th day of March 1888.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London,
Agents.
I, JOSEPH WRIGHT of 16 Great George Street in the City of Westminster, Consulting
Engineer 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 object of my Invention is to provide a table desk or the like which can with
great facility be adjusted to and fixed at any desired elevation so that it can be used
either whilst sitting or standing at it as desired.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawing represent sectional views at right
angles to each other of a devico constructed or arranged according to my Invention.
Figures 3 to 6 are details as hereinafter explained.
According to my Invention I provide each end of the upper part A of the table desk
or the like with logs or guide pieces a a which are capable of moving vertically in
recesses bb or in or over guiding surfaces in or on the lower part or base B of the
table or desk or the like. In the upper part of this base portion I mount two shafts CC
extending across from end to end and each carrying at both its ends a pulley c so
that each end of the base has in it two of the pulleys e one belonging to each of the
shafts C. At each end of the desk table or the like I provide a weight D which is
connected to the legs or guide pieces a a of the upper part of the desk or table by
means of a band chain or the like d which passes over the pulleys c. Figures 3 and 4.
are respectively a side view and a plan of one of the weights which I bave shewn as
being provided with holes d² forming a convenient uneans for adding weight as desired
by filling in the holes with lead. The arrangement which I prefer for this purpose
is to connect one end of the band d to the lower end of one leg a then lead the band
over one of the pulleys c then pass it through an eye formed by the bolt roller or
filling piece f carried in the piece; provided with a screw i by which it is secured to

page_text: the weight D. I then pass the band d up over the other pulley c and then connect
the other end of the said band d to the lower end of the other leg a. The same is
done at each end of the desk table or the like. I provide the band d with means
whereby it can be clamped which may be done by a ring or sliding piece but preferably
by clamping plates g tightened and loosened by means of the bolts and nuts h the said
plates g therefore forming means for clasping the band to tighten up the loop which
is formed by its passing through the eye or the like at fafter the band has been a lapted
to equal lengths on both sides of the weight. The top or flap k of the table or desk
may be capable of being fixed in a horizontal position or at any desired angle after
the manner of the lid of an ordinary desk.
The desk or table is fixed at its adjusted elevation preferably by pinching screws as
at 7 passing through the front of the base portion and bearing on the front legs a
which may be connected with the hinder legs by rods or boards as at m so that they
are caused to bear against the opposed portions of the base part B.
By slackening the screws the upper part A of the table or desk can very readily
be caused under the action of the weights D to bo raised or it can by pressure on it
be caused to descend and this with great regularity and evenness of motion because
immediately pressure in either direction is exerted on any portion of the part A the
pressure is by the arrangement of weights distributed equally and the upper part A
moves steadily and evenly upwards or downwards. Should the lengths of the
band on either side of the weight become unequal by loosening the plates g the
weight will at once adjust the lengths equally and the plates g are by the bolts and
nuts h then caused to fix the bands in position again.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the device for the purposes
herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. In adjustable tables and desks the arrangement of suspended weights and means
for taking up and compensating for variation in length on opposite sides of the weight
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Third day of December 1888.