Year: 1895

page_text: I, SAMUEL BRIDGE, of Lye, near Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction of an improved desk for school
use, of which the following are the distinguishing features:-
(1) The seat is made box-shape, thus forming a convenient receptacle for books,
papers, etc.
It may be attached to the framework of the desk in the ordinary
manner, or may be hinged or otherwise suitably arranged so as to be capable of
vertical or lateral adjustment. It may be in one length, corresponding to that of
the desk, or may be composed of separate and independent sections, according to
the number of scholars the desk is intended to accommodate, each having its own
separate means of vertical or lateral adjustment. A suitable back-rest may be
fitted either to the framework of the desk or to each section of the seat.
(2) The desk-top is divided longitudinally into two unequal portions; the larger
one, which may be called the desk proper, being of sufficient width for writing or
drawing upon; and the smaller one, which may be termed the ink-well bar, being
provided with the usual slate-slots, pen groove and holes for ink-wells.
The desk proper is furnished with an improved reversible arrangement, by means
of which it can readily be fixed either as a table or writing slope, or it may be
made to occupy other useful positions for the convenience of the pupil. This
reversible movement is effected by means of specially constructed hinges placed
underneath the desk at suitable distances. The central portion of each hinge is
formed in the shape of a disc, and is provided with teeth or cogs into which a lever,
working on a pivot and actuated by a spring, is made to engage. The force of the
spring is sufficient to keep the teeth firmly locked in any desired position, and as
there are two or more hinges to each desk, the latter is held perfectly rigid at
every point throughout its length.
In order to convert the desk proper from one position to another, an iron rod,
fitted underneath the desk-top or book-shelf, and actuated by a handle or spanner,
is made to operate upon the levers in the several hinges simultaneously in such a
manner as to disengage the cogs and permit the desk to be turned in either
direction. On releasing the rod, the spring in each hinge again comes into play,
and the desk is at once locked automatically as hereinbefore described. During
the various movements of the desk proper, the ink-wells remain stationary, as the
bar in which they are fixed is secured to the framework of the desk.
(3) A convenient arrangement for holding books, drawing copies and such like,
is provided at the back of the desk. This consists of a shelf hinged to the ink-well
bar in such a manner as to be capable of being adjusted in various useful positions,
or of being folded down at the back of the desk when not in use. An improved
stop arrangement is provided in each hinge, for the purpose of holding the shelf in
the required position, and the latter is fitted with suitable clips or a grooved ledge,
to prevent books and other articles from falling off.

page_text: The shelf may be in one length, corresponding to that of the desk, or may be
divided into separate sections like the seat herein before described.
Dated this 19th dox of December 1805
SAMUEL BRIDGE,
Applicant.
1, SAMUEL BRIDGE, of Lye, near Stourbridge, in the County of Worcester,
Schoolmaster, 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 relates to the improved construction of school desks, and
comprises (a) an improved arrangement of the seat; (b) a self-locking reversible
action of the desk-top; and (c) a special apparatus for supporting books, drawing
copies and such like in front of the eye of the pupil.
In order to describe my invention I shall make use of the accompanying
drawings; without, however, binding myself to the exact details, relative pro-
portions or dimensions represented therein, as the same may be varied to a
considerable extent without departing from the invention.
The same letters of reference are put to denote the same parts throughout the
drawings.
(1) The seat A represented in Figs. 1 and 2 is preferably made box-shape, as it
thus forms a convenient receptacle for books, papers, &c., but it may be of the
usual plain type if desired. It is attached to the framework B of the desk by
means of a hinge, in which suitable stops are provided to prevent its moving
beyond a certain distance in either direction. By means of this hinge the seat
may be pushed back to the position shown by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2,
thus affording room for standing up between desk and seat. The movement is so
easy op account of the position of the joint (especially that of the seat shown in
Fig. 1) that the mere act of rising is sufficient to push back the seat without the
slightest effort on the part of the occupant, and it can be brought back with the
same ease to its former position. The seat may be in one length corresponding to
that of the desk, as shown in Fig. 3, or it may be composed of separate sections,
one for each pupil, as represented in Fig. 4. Each section of the seat in the latter
case is supported upon a separate pedestal C attached to a wooden beam D which is
bolted to the desk standards near the floor. The lateral movement of each seat is
the same as herein before described, and either of the types of seat shown in Figs. 1
and 2 may be adopted.
If vertical adjustment of the seat be desired, this can be arranged by dividing
the pedestal C into two parts, an upper and a lower one. The latter will then be
shaped like a socket with the former fitted into it, and by means of a set screw
the seat can be adjusted at various heights to suit the requirements of the pupil.
A suitable back-rail may be fitted to the seat, by having its supporting arms
attached to the desk standards underneath the seat; or the pedestal C may be
similarly carried up to receive a back-rest, room being provided in either case for
the lateral movement of the seat.
(2) The desk-top is divided longitudinally into two unequal parts, as shown in
Figs. 6 and 7; the larger one E, which may be called the desk proper, being of
sufficient width for writing or drawing upon; and the smaller one F, which may
be termed the inkwell bar, being provided with the usual slate slots, pen groove
and holes for iukwells.

page_text: The desk proper E is furnished with an improved reversible mechanism, by
means of which it can readily be fixed either as a table as shown in Fig. 6, or a
writing slope as shown in Fig. 7; or it may be made to occupy other useful
positions, as indicated by the dotted portions of Fig. 7. The reversible movement
is effected by means of specially constructed hinges placed underneath the desk at
suitable distances. The central portion of each hinge is disc-shaped, as shown
at G in Figs. 6 and 7, and is provided with suitable teeth H, into which a lever J,
working on a central rivet and actuated by a spring K, is made to engage. The
lever is shown in the drawings shaded by fine lines, in order that it may be
discerned more clearly. The force of the spring above mentioned is sufficient to
keep the teeth of the lever firmly locked with those of the disc (as shown in
Fig. 6) in whatever position the desk proper may occupy; and as there are always
two or more hinges fitted to a desk, the latter is held perfectly rigid at every point
throughout its length.
In order to change the position of the desk proper, an iron rod L fitted
underneath the book-board M, and working in bearings at both ends, is made to
operate upon the lever J in the following manner. A bell crank N is formed in
the rod L, as shown in Fig. 5, and the two ends of the rod are bent at right angles
thus (see O, Figs. 6 and 7) exactly underneath the lower ends of the levers.
When the bell crank N is drawn forward, as shown in Fig. 7, the lever J is lifted
and its teeth disengaged from those of the disc G, thus leaving the desk proper
free to be turned in either direction. On releasing the bell crank the spring K forces
back the lever, which once more engages itself with any of the cogs of the disc G
which happen to be opposite to it, and the desk proper is again securely fastened.
A spanner may be used, if preferred, in place of the bell crank N. The cogs of
the disc G are represented in the drawings in three positions only, but they may.
be put all round the disc if necessary.
Both inkwell bar and desk proper are supported upon a U shaped casting P,
which has a cavity in its base for receiving the lever J, and which is securely
bolted through the book-board M to the desk standard underneath.
A longitudinal back view of the desk is given in Fig. 5, also of the improved
book rest to be hereinafter described.
(3) A convenient apparatus for holding books, drawing copies and such like is
attached to the desk at the back, as shown in Fig. 8. This consists of a shelf R
hinged to the desk in such a manner as to be capable of holding books and other
articles at right angles to the pupil's line of vision; or of being folded down
behind the desk when not in use. An improved stop arrangement is provided in
each hinge, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, for holding the shelf R in the required
position. This consists of one or more cogs (marked V in Figs. 9 and 10) which
firmly unite the bracket S and the arm T together (see Fig. 9) by the assistance
of the coil spring W. The bracket S is securely fastened to the underside of the
inkwell bar, and when the cogs V are engaged with each other as shown in Fig. 9,
the book-shelf R occupies the position represented in Fig. 8, and is firmly held in
that position. In order to release the book-shelf it is drawn slightly endwise,
when the cogs in the hinge become disengaged as shown in Fig. 10, and the book-
shelf can be turned upon the rivet X till it occupies the position shown by the
dotted lines in Fig. 8.
A hollowed ledge Y (Fig. 8) is fitted to the book-shelf R, for the purpose of
keeping a book open at any page, or for preventing drawing copies and such like
articles from falling off.
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 seat, as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in Figs. 1–4
of the accompanying drawings.
(2.) The improved reversible mechanism applied to the desk-top, substantially

page_text: as herein before described and illustrated in Figs. 5-7 of the accompanying
drawings.
(3.) The improved apparatus for holding books and other articles at right angles
to the pupil's line of vision, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figs. 5, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings..
Dated this 10th der of October 1806
SAMUEL BRIDGE,
Applicant.