IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL DESKS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Otho Giles Abbott, of Huddersfield, in the County
of York, Secretary to the Huddersfield School Board, for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL DESKS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Otho Giles Abbott at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th February 1872.
I, OTHO GILES ABBOTT, of Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Secretary to the Huddersfield School Board, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL DESKS WHICH ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to render such desks reversible, that is,
to enable them to be changed in position of the seat and desk from one
side to the other, without the necessity of having the whole desk and
its framing to move about as with desks at present constructed; also to

page_text: render the said desks readily convertible into seats for adults, and so
as to front in either direction at pleasure. To effect this object the end
frames are constructed symmetrical, that is, each end is uniform on
each side of a central vertical line, and both the desk and seat parts
are provided with axes or pivots which are hinged or capable of turning
in holes formed in the central part of the end frames. The said desk
and seat are made both sides alike, so that when turned over or reversed
remain the same or equal for use. The frames are provided with supports
for the seat and desk, which may be either fixed or portable, which
may be in a series of holes and pins or notches and catches so as to
effect any desirable or suitable position or inclination thereof. In order
to convert the said desk into a seat for adults the desk part is simply
turned on its axis into a vertical position or to any desirable incline and
secured by pin or catch, it then forms a back to the usual seat, and this
seat may be arranged to front in either direction.
In some cases it may be desirable to have the back for adults a little
higher than the ordinary height of desk for children when turned down
would supply; in such case the pivot may be at a suitable distance from
the edge which will form the top when the said desk is turned to form
a back for adults, and in which case the seat will also require to be
farther from the centre of the end frame when the desk will prevent
its being turned over under it, but to enable it to do so the arms by
which it is carried and connected to the frames are jointed intermediately
so as to fold, thus enabling it to turn, and the desk is so arranged as to
form a lock to the seat or to hold it in position when turned to form a
back for adults. The desk and seat may be employed as a seat and
table in recreation grounds and other places of amusement.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Otho Giles Abbott in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, OTHO GILES
ABBOTT, of Huddersfield, in the County of York, Secretary to the
Huddersfield School Board, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
3

page_text: year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Otho Giles Abbott, Her special
licence that I, the said Otho Giles Abbott, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Otho Giles Abbott, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SCHOOL DESKS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Otho Giles Abbott, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Otho Giles Abbott, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, and accompanying Sheet of Drawings:
The object of this Invention is to render such desks reversible, that
is, to enable them to be changed in position of the seat and desk from
one side to the other, without the necessity of having the whole desk
and its framing to move about as with desks at present constructed;
also to render the said desks readily convertible into seats for adults,
and so as to front in either direction at pleasure. To effect this object
the end frames are constructed symmetrical, that is, each end is uniform
on cach side of a central vertical line, and both the desk and seat
parts are provided with axes or pivots, which are hinged or capable of
turning in holes formed in the central parts of the end frames. The
said desk and seat are made both sides alike, so that when turned over
or reversed they remain the same or equal for use. The frames are
provided with supports for the seat and desk, which may be either
fixed or portable, and they may be in a series of holes and pins or
notches and catches, so as to effect any desirable position or inclination
thereof. In order to convert the said desk into a seat for adults the

page_text: desk part is simply turned on its axis into a vertical position or to any
desirable incline, and secured by pin or catch, it then forms a back
to the usual seat, and this seat may be arranged to front in either
direction.
In some cases it may be desirable to have the back for adults a little
higher than the ordinary height of desk for children which when turned
down would supply; in such case the pivot may be at a suitable
distance from the edge, which will form the top when the said desk is
turned to form a back for adults, and in which case the seat will also
require to be farther from the centre of the end frame, when the desk
will prevent its being turned over under it, but to enable it to do so the
arms by which it is carried and connected to the frames are jointed
intermediately so as to fold, thus enabling it to turn, and the desk is
so arranged as to form a lock to the seat or to hold it in position
when turned to form a back for adults. The desk and seat may be
employed as a seat and table in recreation grounds and other places of
amusement.
In order that this Invention may be more clearly understood I herein
give reference to an accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrating the
same.
Fig. 1 is an cnd elevation of a desk constructed in accordance with
this Invention; Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are vertical sections of same shewing
the desk and seat in different positions; and Figs. 5 & 6 are respec-
tively plan and front elevation of Fig. 1.
A are the end frames, which are constructed symmetrical or uniform on
cach side of the vertical dotted line B, C; D is the desk part, and E the
seat part, both of which are provided with axes or pivots passing through
holes formed at F and G in the end frames, and capable of turning
therein. The desk is supported or held in position by means of pins I
passing through any of the series of holes H to H³, and the seat is
supported by bearings or lugs fixed to the end frames at J, or it may
be supported like the desk by pins passing through holes in the end
frames. Both sides of the desk and seat being alike and equally fit
for use, it will be seen that they can be readily reversed or turned over
without moving the frames, and also can be adjusted to various degrees
of inclination by means of the pins before referred to and holes made
in the frames suitably for the purpose.

page_text: It will also be seen that if the desk be lowered into either of the
positions shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, and secured there by means of the
pins and holes at H* or H³, it forms a back rest or support for the back
when desired to be used as a seat for adults.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn
by Drawings in what manner the same is to be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise form of construction or arrangement, nor do I
claim the whole of the parts therein referred to; but what I claim as
of my Invention is, the construction, combination, and arrangement of
parts whereby school desks are rendered reversible and adjustable, also
applicable to other purposes in manner substantially as herein described
and shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Otho Giles Abbott, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-
two.
Witness,
J. W. TASKER,
Clerk to Tasker & Brierley,
Patent Agents,
Halifax.
OTHO GILES ABBOTT. (L.S.)