Improvements in Pulpits and Reading Desks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pulpits and Reading Desks.
I, DAVID CHRISTIAN EBERHART of Park Avenue Place, Shrewsbury, York
County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Dentist do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The pulpit or reading desk of this invention is constructed with a telescopic
base formed in sections and having spring plates to keep said sections in the raised
position by engaging the sections next below. Hooked plates attached to the
sections prevent these from withdrawing from one another. Stop plates prevent
each section from dropping through the section next below. Upon each side of
the base at the bottom thereof are located spring rollers for curtains to conceal
the base at any height the pulpit may be drawn up, any one or more of the sections
being capable of movement within another leaving the rest raised so that the pulpit
may be adjusted to the heights of different occupants.
Dated this 26th day of January 1894.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pulpits and Reading Desks.
I, DAVID CHRISTIAN EBERHART of Park Avenue Place, Shrewsbury, York
County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Dentist, 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 this invention is an improved construction of pulpits and the like
whereby the same may be adjusted vertically to any desired height to suit the
convenience of the speaker. A further object is to provide a simple and economical
means for concealing from the view of the audience the mechanical construction of
the pulpit or reading desk.
In the drawing
Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the device of this invention shewn moved out to its
extreme height.
Fig. 2 a vertical section on line x-r of Fig. 3.
Fig. 3 a top view with the cushion or table removed.
Fig. 4 a side elevation, the concealing side curtain being removed, shewing the
device telescoped down or closed.
Fig. 5 a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of the sections composing the
supporting base, the top section being telescoped into the one next below.
1 is the table or top of the pulpit. 2 the telescopic supporting sections made of
any suitable material. 3 a series of spring plates or stops attached at their upper
ends to the sides of the sections. These plates are adapted to automatically
spring out and engage the tops of the sections next below when the sections are
drawn out (Figs. 1, 5). 4 are recesses in the sides of the sections to receive the
spring plates when the sections are telescoped down. 5 are stop plates which
prevent each section from dropping through the section next below. They are
located at the inner bottom edges of all but the top and bottom sections.
[Price 1

page_text: The
6 (Figs. 2, 3) are hooks for preventing the complete withdrawal of the sections
from each other. 7 are curtains of any suitable material carried on three sides of
the pulpit from the edges of the table I and are sufficiently long to conceal the
construction when the pulpit or reading desk is moved out to the full extent.
front curtain is not fixed at its lower end and will drape gracefully when the table
is placed at any intermediate height. 7' are brackets fixed to the bottom section
and carrying spring rollers 8 of the well known construction. Upon these the
lower ends of the side curtains are wound and they will act to keep the two side
curtains taut at any position of the table, taking in or paying out as the case
may be.
To raise the pulpit from the position shewn in Fig. 4, the table 1 is lifted and
the sections severally drawn out until the plates 3 of each section spring out and
engage the top of the section next below thereby retaining the sections in the
raised position, the hooks 6 preventing the complete withdrawal of the sections
from one another.
To telescope the pulpit the spring plates 3 of each section are successively
pressed into their respective recesses 4, whereupon the sections (or any one of
them) will slide one within the other, the downward movement being limited by
the stop plates 5.
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. In a pulpit or reading desk, the combination with a telescopic base formed in
sections, of spring plates attached to said sections and adapted to retain them in
their raised position and hooked plates attached to said sections for preventing the
complete withdrawal of the latter one from another, substantially as described and
shewn.
2. In a pulpit or reading desk, the combination with a telescopic base formed in
sections, of spring plates thereon for retaining the same in its raised position, hooks
for preventing the complete withdrawal of the sections and stops for limiting the
telescoping of each section, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In a pulpit or reading desk, the combination with a table and a vertically
adjustable base, of front and side curtains depending from the table and concealing
the base, and spring rollers mounted on the base for winding and unwinding said
curtains to conform with the height to which said base is adjusted, substantially as
described and shewn.
Dated this 24th day of October 1894.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.