A New or Improved Desk or Stand for Supporting a Book, Paper, or other Articles, and Fittings for Attaching same to Chair, Lounge, Bed, or Table.
Year: 1897

page_text: A New or Improved Desk or Stand for Supporting a Book, Paper, or
other Articles, and Fittings for Attaching same to Chair, Lounge,
Bed, or Table.
I, JOHN TREMEARNE of Creswick, in the Colony of Victoria, Medical Practitioner,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has been devised to provide a cheap and efficient adjustable stand
or desk for the use of persons who desire to have support for a book or other reading
matter or article, and may be described as follows:-
I provide an inclined shelf or desk composed preferably of light wood or metal
having at both ends a lateral slot said shelf being preferably about two or three
feet long by one foot wide. Into and through one or both of the slots before
mentioned I arrange a diagonal bar running parallel with the plane of the said
desk or shelf. One, or both, of said bars (preferably that one on the left hand
side) is fitted with a shoe, knob or cross-piece, parallel in direction with the
length of the said desk. This bottom shoe or projection may be either rigidly
affixed in position on the diagonal bar or free to slide along same.
Between the
said rectangular sole piece and the desk I arrange a sliding clamp piece which is
free to slide along the said diagonal bar and having in same a thumb screw for
locking it to such bar.
The projecting shoe and the clamp piece aforesaid are preferably made somewhat
L shaped, with a block or larger section at that portion through which the
diagonal bar passes, the object being to in some cases enable the said bar to be
held in a horizontal position and thus enable the desk to do service for a table
upon which a cup of tea or other article may be placed.
In lieu of thumb-screws any other convenient fastening appliances such as lock-
ing wedges pins or catches may be employed on either of the members forming
the clamp. On the opposite end of the desk is arranged a somewhat similar
diagonal sliding bar terminating at its bottom in a small foot-piece rigidly fastened
to, and at right angles with the said bar and preferably pointing inwards, that is
to say towards the left.
I may alternately construct the slotted arrangement for holding the diagonal
bar or bars, in the end of the desk, by perforating both such diagonal bar and the
end of the desk so that a pin may pass through such perforations in order that the
desk may be raised or lowered or altered in its angle in front of and at the will
of the reader or invalid or that the lower edge of the desk itself can rest on the
arms of chair. I may also in some cases dispense with the opposite or preferably

page_text: right hand sliding bar and employ in lieu thereof a rigid or fixed piece in order
that same may rest upon the chair or couch and form a support for the desk.
The principle on which the desk works is that it is held to the arm of the chair
or whatever it may be attached to by the two pieces projecting from the bars, the
one acting against the other and held in position by the weight of the desk itself;
the heavier the book for instance the steadier will the desk be held.
T
171
1
1008
A New or Improved Desk or Stand for Supporting a Book, Paper, or
other Articles, and Fittings for Attaching same to Chair, Lounge,
Bed, or Table.
I, JOHN TREMEARNE of Creswick in the Colony of Victoria, Australia, Medical
Practitioner, 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 has been devised to provide a clean and efficient adjustable stand
or desk for the use of persons who desire to have support for a book or other reading
matter or article. The invention is well adapted for the use of invalids and may
he rested upon a chair or supported on a bedstead and rest in a convenient position
to form a support for the article. The level or angle of the desk is adjustable so
that same may be conveniently set to be used as a book rest, for writing, sketching
or other work.
In order to make my invention clear I will now refer to the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which
Figure 1 illustrates one form of the appliance mounted upon a chair.
Figure 2 is a view of a modified form of the appliance.
Figures 3 and 4 show plan and side view of a third modified form.
Referring to Figure 1, A shows an inclined shelf or desk composed preferably
of light wood or metal and preferably about 24 inches long by 12 inches wide.
This shelf has at both ends (or through both end plates A') a lateral slot, into and
through one of which I arrange a diagonal bar B, said bar being fitted at its end
with a shoe knob or cross-piece B' set at right angles to it; this shoe or projection
is preferably a fixture but if desired may be made to slide along same. Between
this said sole piece and the desk I may arrange a clamp piece B2 upon the bar B,
which is arranged to slide along the said bar. The projecting shoe B¹ and the
clamp piece B3 are preferably made somewhat L-shape, with a block or larger
section at that portion through which the diagonal har B passes, the object being
to in some cases enable the bar to be held in a horizontal position and the desk to
do service for a table upon which a cup of tea or other article may be placed. The
clamp B2 may be held in any required position along the bar B by means of
thumb screws or any other convenient fastening appliances such as locking wedges,
pins or catches. On the opposite end of the des- is arranged a somewhat similar
sliding bar C, terminating at its bottom in a small foot piece C, rigidly fastened
to the said bar at right angles to it, such piece being either of L or Tform.
The desk is held to the arm of the chair (or to whatever it may be attached) by
the sole piece B¹ beneath the arm of the chair and the clamp piece B² resting upon

page_text: such arm, so that a secure support is obtained, whilst the addition of a weight on
the desk or table A will render same more secure. The foot piece C simply rests
upon the arm of the chair and supports the opposite side of the desk or table. By
reference to Figure 1 it will be seen that table A is adjustable along the diagonal;
bar B, the clamp piece B2 is also adjustable along the bar, and the bar C is
adjustable in length relatively to the table so that the desk or table A may be
readily set at any desired angle.
Figure 2 illustrates an alternate arrangement in which side bars C and D are
a fixture and are connected together by a cross piece E; the desk A is arranged to
slide upon such bars, which are stepped on their inside faces for the purpose or
may be grooved and have guide bars CD planted thereon. The bars C and D
have foot pieces C¹ D' secured at their ends. The bar D has a central longitudinal
slot D³ in which a diagonal bar B is placed; the bar terminates in a foot piece
which consists of a block F set at right-angles to the bar B and having
perforations F through which a pin F2 passes. The angle of the diagonal bar B
end table A is controlled by a pin G which passes through slots G' and through
the longitudinal slot D³. In this construction the foot piece I has similar
functions to the clamp B2. The appliance rests upon a chair with such piece D
upon the arm and the pin F2 (corresponding with the foot piece B) beneath such
arm. I have illustrated (Figure 2) wire spring catches H, which are in some
cases employed to hold the leaves of a book and which may be turned into the
outward position shewn at H¹ when not in use.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the construction here shewn is somewhat similar
to that just described, the diagonal bar B in this case resting (when in position)
upon the corner 1 of the table, the extending side pieces being dispensed with,
so that the said corner D+ practically takes the place of the foot piece D' of
Figure 2 and B2 of Figure 1. I employ in some cases a sliding bar or bars J such
bar or bars being arranged to slide in a frame J set at the back of the desk and can
e adjusted in length to suit arm chairs of various sizes.
The table may be provided with depressions or receptacles for holding pens,
pencils, paint brushes, ink, paper and envelopes or other articles that might be
required.
In attaching my desk or stand to a bed, the arms B and C should be longer and
further apart than when used for a chair, the parts B' or F2 and B2 or DI being
arranged to grip the horizontal bar of the bed; when attaching it to a table the
ledge of the table would be gripped in a similar manner to the arm of a chair.
I do not confine myself to an arbitrary adherence to the exact details of con-
struction herein described and illustrated, as these may be varied in many respects
without departing from the nature of my invention; nor do I confine myself to
the employment of any particular material in constructing same, as I may use
wood, papier-mache or other suitable composition.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is-
1. In combination-A desk or table as A, a sliding bar as B, provided with a
foot as B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In combination-A desk or stand as A, a bar as B, having foot piece as B',
and a bar as C having foot piece as C¹, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3. In combination-A desk or stand as A, provided with a slot as D³, a bar
as B to work in same and having a foot piece as F and peg as F2, an opposite
support as C and foot piece C, said desk or stand being arranged to slide along
the bars D and C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In combination-A desk or stand as A having a slotted end with perforation
for adjustment peg and provided with a bar B, said bar terminating in a foot piece

page_text: as B¹, and a horizontal sliding bar as J, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
5. The combination and arrangement of the several parts substantially as
illustrated on Figure 1 of the drawings.
6. The combination and arrangement of the several parts substantially as
illustrated on Figure 2 of the drawings.
Dated thin 20th dor of Tune 1807
JOHN TREMEARNE,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
JOHN TREMEARNE,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.