Improvements in and relating to Portable Colour-boxes, Desks, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1895-Accepted. 13th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Portable Colour-boxes, Desks, and
the like.
I, THOMAS HENRY JOHN PRYCE, of Derry Downs, St. Mary Cray, in the
County of Kent, Banker's Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to portable colour-boxes, writing-desks and the like, and is
designed to provide improved means for supporting the sketch-block, canvas, paper,
or the like upon the same, and thus render them more convenient for use by persons
painting, sketching, writing, reading or the like when in a sitting posture.
In some colour-boxes as heretofore constructed, provision is made for turning the
lid far enough back to permit the use of the inside of the lid as an easel, and in
some cases provision has been made for adjusting the position of the. said lid and
for retaining it in any desired position with respect to the box for this purpose
but the uses to which such boxes can be put are limited..
According to my invention I provide an additional or supplementary flap. to
serve as an easel or desk, which flap is so arranged in combination with suitable
supporting devices that it can be very readily adjusted and can be secured in
position at any desired inclination and nearer to or further from the user as
required.
In applying my invention to a portable colour-box, I hinge to the inside of the
lid at the front edge thereof a flap of wood or other suitable material preferably
of the same size as the lid inside the frame. I so arrange this flap that, when the
latter is in its closed position. it lies within the lid and can if desired with the lid
form a compartment for containing a sketch-block, papers, or the like. When the
flap is in its open position and secured as hereinafter mentioned. it forms a
convenient easel or desk on which can be placed the sketch-block, paper or the
like for the use required. I generally form on or attach to the bottom of the
flap a strip or bead to prevent the paper or the like from sliding off the said flap.
In order to retain the above mentioned flap in position for use I provide a bracket
or other supporting piece hinged to the side wall of the box in such manner that it
may be turned up into such a position that a pin or other projection on the adjacent
end of the flap may be passed into one of a series of holes in the said bracket or
other supporting piece. These boles are so arranged that the position of. the flap
can be changed by putting the said pin into a higher or lower hole or into a hole
nearer to or further from the front of the box, to suit various kinds of work, that
is, the inclination of the flap can by these means be varied and the flap can be
brought nearer to or further from the user. In some cases I arrange brackets or
other supporting pieces at both sides of the box so as to provide for supporting the
flap at each end thereof. The said brackets, when folded down, lie in the box
above the contents thereof and in such position that the box can be closed and
fastened in the usual manner.. In some instances, instead of the aforesaid brackets,
I.use hinged rods or other suitable devices for holding the flap in position for use.
My improvements can be conveniently applied to any box, writing-deskor
similar receptacle which is intended to be held upon the knees of the user.whenpin
use, the flap forming a convenient support for paper or other material upon which

page_text: writing, drawing, sketching, painting or the like, is to be performed or for a book
or other article.
A writing-desk or box provided with my improvements can be very advantageously
used by persons travelling, as, when the flap is adjusted for use, a firm support is
obtained for writing, sketching or the like."
Dated the 20th dor of Lune 1901
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Portable Colour-boxes, Desks, and
the like.
I, THOMAS HENRY JOHN PRYCE, of Derry Downs, St. Mary Cray, in the
County of Kent, Banker's Clerk, 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 :-
My invention relates to portable colour-boxes, writing-desks and the like,
and is designed to provide the same with improved means for supporting the
sketch-block, canvas, paper, or the like thereon, thus rendering them more convenient
for use by persous painting, sketching, writing, reading or the like.
In some colour-boxes as heretofore constructed, provision is made for turning
the lid far enough back to permit the use of the inside of the lid as an easel, and
in some cases provision has been made for adjusting the position of the said lid and
for retaining it in any desired position with respect to the box for this purpose,
but the uses to which such boxes can be put are limited, and the inside of the
lid cannot be conveniently employed as an easel or support for the sketch-block or
the like.
According to my invention I provide an additional or supplementary flap to
serve as an easel or desk, which flap is so arranged in combination with suitable
supporting devices that it can be very readily adjusted and can be secured in
position at any desired inclination and nearer to or further from the user as may
be required.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and
Figure 2 a front elevation of a colour-box having my improvements applied
thereto, the said flap being shown in its operative position.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating another form or modification of
my invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
a is the body and 6 the lid or cover of a colour-box or similar receptacle.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, a flap c of wood or other suitable
material is hinged or pivoted at d to the inside of the lid at the front edge
thereof, the said flap being preferably of the same size as the interior of the frame
of the lid or cover as shown. This flap, when in its closed position, lies within the
lid b and can if desired form a compartment with the lid for containing a sketch-
block, papers, or the like. On the bottom of the flap c is provided a strip or
bead e to prevent the paper or the like from sliding off the said flap. When the
flap is in its open position and secured as hereinafter mentioned, it forms a convenient
easel or desk on which can be placed the sketch-block, paper, or the like for use as
required.
is a bracket for retaining the flap c in position for use; this bracket is hinged

page_text: to the side wall of the box a at g, g, so that it may be turned up into such a position
that a pin or projection on the side of the flap c may be passed into one of a
series of holes j, j in the bracket f. These holes are so arranged that the position
of the flap can be adjusted by putting the said pin into a higher or lower hole or
into a hole nearer to or further from the front of the box, to suit various kinds of
work, that is to say, the inclination of the flap can by these means be varied and
the flap can be brought nearer to or further from the user at will. In some cases
I provide a leg or rod hinged at one end to the unsupported corner of the flap c
and having its other end resting on the interior of the lid or other convenient
support. Or arrange brackets for other supporting pieces at both sides of the
box so as to provide for supporting the flap at each end thereof. The said brackets,
when folded down, lie in the box above the contents thereof as shown by dotted
lines in Figures 2 and 4, and in such a position that the box can be closed and
fastened in the usual manner. In some instances, instead of the aforesaid
brackets, I use hinged rods or other suitable devices for holding the flap in position
for use.
to
In Figures 3 and 4 I have shown another form or modification of my invention
which may be very advantageously employed for writing by stenographers and
others. In this arrangement the flap or table is made in two parts c', c², connected
by hinge-joints at 3 and provided with a ledge e and with pins or projections
enter holes in folding brackets f. The two halves or portions c', c² of the said
flap are adapted to be folded together and lie in the cover b of the box as shown
by dotted lines in Figure 3. The upper end of the flap c¹ is mounted in a roller k
so that its upper surface is flush with or a tangent to the surface of the said roller.
By mounting the flap or table in this manner I provide for enabling the paper or
the like to be laid over or beyond its upper edge without obstruction and thus
render the desk much more convenient in use. The roller k is pivotted at 7 to the
cover b, the end wall of which is suitably curved to fit closely up against the said
roller. It will be seen that, by the use of my improved support, I obviate the
necessity of employing additional fastening devices. for holding the lid or cover in
an open position such as are at present necessary.
In order to facilitate the holding of drawing-blocks, paper, or the like on the
flap c or c', in the desired position, I provide headed plugs or pegs m, Figures 1
and 2, of hard wood, metal or other suitable material fitting into holes e in the said
flap. The shanks m' of these plugs are preferably split or slotted as shown so
that they may be sprung into the said holes and their accidental displacement thus
prevented. These plugs are useful for raising the drawing-block or the like when
it is desired to use it in a higher position than that at which it is supported by the
ledge e, or they may be used for securing sheets of Bristol board or other material
by nipping the edges thereof between the under surface of their heads m and the
surface of the flap or table.
My improvements can be conveniently applied to any box, writing-desk or similar
receptacle and are more especially advantageous for boxes or the like intended to
be held upon the knees of the user when in use, the flap forming a convenient
support for paper or other material upon which writing, drawing, sketching,
painting or the like, is to be performed or for a book or other article.
A writing-desk or box provided with my improvements can be very advantageously
used by persons travelling, as, when the flap is adjusted for use, a firm support is
obtained for writing, sketching or the like.
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 :-
First. A portable colour-box, desk or the like, constructed with a flap or table
hinged or pivoted to the lid and adapted to be held in a convenient position by
means of one or more folding brackets attached to the body of the box, substantially
as hereinbefore described.

page_text: Second. A box or desk having my improvements embodied therein or incorporated
therewith substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to
Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing, for the purposes specified.
Dated this 7th day of March 1895.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,.
Agents for the Applicant.