An Improved School Desk.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
An Improved School Desk.
I, SAMUEL BRIDGE, of Lye, near Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Schoolmaster, and I, JOSEPH RICHARD HILL, also of Lye, near Stourbridge, in
the County of Worcester, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction of an improved desk which shall
enable the occupants to sit in a healthy and proper position thereat for writing
and other exercises, and also afford easy and convenient means of ingress to or
egress from the same.
The desk is mainly designed for use in infants' schools and classes for junior
scholars. It is constructed either with single standards for screwing to the floor of
a gallery where seats are already provided, or with the usual double standards for
desk and seat combined.
In its ordinary position for writing upon, its inner edge is arranged to come
vertically in line with the inner edge of the seat, thus enabling the occupants to sit
in an upright posture whilst writing; and by means of a hinge or joint in the
standards, the desk can be lifted at any point along its inner edge and turned over
into a more or less vertical position, thereby forming a back for the seat immediately
in front, and allowing ample room to enter or leave the desk or gallery.
The aforesaid hinge or joint in each standard is provided with suitable stops to
prevent its travelling too far in either direction, and these stops are placed within
the joint in order that the children's fingers may not get injured by its movement.
The joint has also a spring arranged in a cavity underneath its pivot, the pressure
of which is exerted at such an angle with the axis of the joint as to force the desk
smartly into either of the two positions it is arranged to occupy, and to hold it there
with sufficient firmness to render any locking arrangements unnecessary.
The constant pressure of the spring upon the moving parts of the joint also
prevents any noise or rattle, to which the desk would otherwise be liable whilst
in use.
The spring may be either a coil spring suitably applied, or a flat spring operating
somewhat like that of an ordinary penknife.
A rack for slates may be fixed on the under side of the desk, so as to be
convenient for use when the latter occupies its vertical position.
Dated this 1st dow of November 1893
SAMUEL BRIDGE,
JOSEPH RICHARD HILL,
Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved School Deck
1, SAMUEL BRIDGE, of Lye, near Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Schoolmaster, and 1, JOSEPH RICHARD HILL, also of Lye, near Stourbridge, in
the County of Worcester, Manufacturer, 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 the invention is the construction of an improved desk, which shall
1, SAMUEL BRIDGE, of Lye, near Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Schoolmaster, and 1, JOSEPH RICHARD HILL, also of Lye, near Stourbridge, in
the County of Worcester, Manufacturer, 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 the invention is the construction of an improved desk, which shall

page_text: enable the occupants to sit in a healthy and proper position thereat for writing or
other exercises, and also afford easy and convenient means of access to or egress
from the same. The desk is mainly intended for use in infants' schools and classes
for junior scholars.
In order to describe our invention, we shall make reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which the same letters are put to denote the same parts throughout.
We do not bind ourselves, however, to the exact dimensions or relative proportions
represented in the drawings, as the same may be considerably modified without
departing from the invention.
Fig. 1 represents an end view of the improved desk with seat attached to it, and
shows their relative position when in use for writing, kindergarten or other
exercises. The inner edge of the desk-top A is made to come vertically in line
with, or to slightly overhang, the inner edge of the seat B, thus enabling the
occupants to sit in an upright posture whilst at work. By means of a joint C in
the standard D, the desk-top can be lifted at any point along its inner edge and
folded over so as to occupy the position indicated by the dotted portion of Fig. 1,
thus forming a convenient back-rest for the children sitting in the next row and
allowing ample standing room between the desk and seat. The joint may be placed
at a higher or lower point in the standard than is shown in the drawing, thus
varying the throw of the desk-top to suit different widths of gallery steps.
The construction of the joint is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the former representing
a sectional elevation of the joint as seen in Fig. 1, and the latter a sectional view
of the same as seen from the desk-scat. In Fig. 3 the joint is represented as
having been turned one-half of its allotted distance, in order to show the action of
the spring H. The central portion C¹, which forms a portion of the upper part of
the standard connected with the desk-top, works upon a pivot or axis E, and has a
curved slot F in its lower part. An iron peg G, fixed in the two outer portions of
the joint, passes through this slot and determines the exact distance which the joint
may move in either direction. This is usually a little less than a quarter of a
revolution, as indicated by the dotted portions of Figs. 1 and 2, but it may be
more if necessary.
In order to add to the firmness and stability of the desk-top, a spring H may be
arranged in a cavity in the desk-leg underneath the joint, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
The stem K, upon which the spring is coiled, is connected with the central portion C
of the joint, and its lower end passes freely through a loose cup-shaped washer L
upon which the spring takes its bearing in the bottom of the cavity. As the
desk-top is turned in either direction the spring exerts its pressure at such an angle.
with the axis E of the joint as to force the latter smartly into either of its two
positions, and to hold it there with sufficient firmness.
The constant pressure of the spring upon the moving parts of the joint also
prevents any noise or rattle to which the desk might otherwise be liable whilst
in use.
The improved stop arrangement hereinbefore mentioned and the whole of the
spring action are enclosed entirely within the joint. Consequently there is no
danger to the children's fingers from the working of the desk.
The desk-standard D may be either a double one for desk and seat combined (as
represented in Fig. 1), or a single one for use where seats are separately provided.
In the latter case the standard would consist only of the leg supporting the
desk-top (with suitable provision for screwing it to the floor), without the portion
supporting the seat.
A rack for slates may conveniently be fitted underneath the desk-top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is: :-
(1) The improved desk with its jointed standard, together with the improved
method of rendering the same applicable to different. widths of gallery steps,

page_text: substantially as berebefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
(2) The improved stop arrangement in the joint, by which the movement of the
latter is regulated without danger to the children's fingers, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(3) The improved method of arranging a spring within the joint, for the purpose
of adding to the stability of the desk in either of its two positions, substantially as
bereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of July 1901
SAMUEL BRIDGE,
JOSEPH RICHARD HILL,
Applicants.