A NEW OR IMPROVED PORTABLE TRAVELLING DESK, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Robert Baker at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd May 1883.
ว
'
FRANCIS ROBERT BAKER of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Engineer
"A NEW OR IMPROVED PORTABLE TRAVELLING DESK, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED
THEREWITH"
The object of my invention is to obtain a steady writing, or reading desk, or
surface upon which a person when travelling, may write with a firm and steady
hand, or read from with ease while the vebicle in which the person may be
travelling is in motion
The desk surface or apparatus is simple in its construction, efficient in its action,
and its portability reduced to a minimum-It is well known that a person when
travelling in a Railway train or other vehicle while in motion has but little or no
power or command in writing or reading, in consequence of the oscillations and
movements or tremor imparted by the moving or travelling vehicle
My invention consists of an adjustable desk or other surface attached or connected
to the waist of a person travelling, by a strap band spring or hook or by other
equivalent means, in order that the said person may write upon, or read from the
said desk or surface so connected, without having the oscillations or tremor from
the moving vehicle imparted to the desk or other surface.
My new or improved desk or apparatus is attached to a person travelling, by a
buckle strap or band, passing around the waist-A flat surface constituting the
desk, has a longitudinal strip or bar of metal, acting as the pillar or support for
the desk, and its upper end slides between guides formed on the back of the said
desk, the desk is thereby capable of being adjusted on the upper part of the pillar
or support, to any convenient height or position, and is affixed in the desired position
by a thumb screw passing through an abridging plate
The flat pillar or support described is jointed at or about its middle by a butt or
stop hinge to give the desired inclination to the desk or surface, and also for folding
when not in use.
The lower end of the strip pillar or support below the knuckles thereof, slides or
takes into a rectangular open ended socket affixed by a plate to the band encircling
the waist of the user; the plane of the plate and socket described is situated at an

page_text: angle to the attachment strap or band, in order to throw the position of the deak
perfectly in front of, and parallel to the user of the said desk,
In using the desk or apparatus described the band or strap is placed around the
waist of the user thereof, the lower terminal part of the longitudinal strip pillar or
support is slipped into the rectangular socket on the strap or band, the end
extending through the bottom open end of the socket and coming below the strap
or band, forming a lateral steadying pressure stay or support to the desk, and also
preventing the twisting of the strap or band on pressure being applied to the desk
The desk having been adjusted to its proper position on the supporting strip or
rod, the stops of the hinge abutting against each other, gives the necessary slope to
the desk which is now ready for use-The user (when writing) places the paper to
be written upon the desk described, and with his left hand holds the edge of the
paper and the edge of the desk and with the other hand writes or delineates
thereon, with the greatest ease, and freedom, little oscillation, vibration or tremor
being imparted to the desk, and person so using, while the vehicle in which the
person may be travelling is in rapid motion.
When the desk is not in use the terminal end of the pillar or support is with-
drawn from the socket, and the whole apparatus folded up and collapsed in a small
compass for convenience of carrying.
In order to increase the portability of the desk or slope, it may be hinged about
its middle, and folded up like the flap of a book
Instead of the strap or band described for securing the desk or parts connected
with it to the person, the said band' or strap may be dispensed with,-by securing
or attaching the pillar or support, of the desk, to the front part of the person so
using, by hinged clamp plates gripping any convenient front part of the garment,
or the said desk and parts connected with it may be attached to the person by
hooks, springs or by pin catch fastenings