A Combined Dressing Table and Wash Stand.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
A Combined Dressing Table and Wash Stand.
I, De Bert HartTLEY, Manufacturer, of 331, Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois,
U.S.A., 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:-
My invention consists in combining with a dressing table of ordinary external
appearance and having drawers and mirror, a wash stand in which there is room
for the usual wash bowl, slop jar, etc., and in which there is especial provision
made for hanging towels and holding hair and clothes brushes, curling tongs and
other accessories of the toilet. There is also provision made for shelves for hold-
ing bottles, soaps and other conveniences, so that the same are not exposed to
sight in the ordinary use of the dressing table or wash stand. The object of my
improvements in the construction of this compound article of furniture, is to
save expense in furnishing a room, and to economize space therein; to lessen work
in the care of the furniture; to give a neat and ornamental appearance to the
article, and to conceal generally the objectionable features usually exposed to view
on an ordinary wash stand.
A further object is to utilize' the mirror ordinarily made a part of the dressing
table, as an accompaniment of the wash stand so that the one mirror answers for both.
A further object is to do away with all springs, hinges, cranks, weights and
grooves, such as are common in many combination articles of furniture, and which
render them so liable to get out of order, and to accumulate dirt, that they are
commercially not practical. A still further object is to construct the supporting
frame of the article of furniture in a strong and secure manner, in order that it
may not spread apart, but will withstand the strain to which it will be ordinarily
subjected. A further object is to so arrange and balance the adjustable part of
the device that it will swing easily, and occupy but little space in its rotary
movement outside of the supporting frame..
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application, I have
shown my invention in a series of views, as follows:-
Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of my invention when in position for use as
a wash stand.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 showing the device in an adjusted position.
Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.
Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the letter A indicates a dressing
table to which is secured the usual mirror frame B, (only a portion of, which is
shown) and in which are fitted movable drawers C, C, and a dummy drawer D.
The dressing table is made up of the sides a, a, back pieces a, a, lower front
cross brace a². In order to secure the parts of the frame firmly and rigidly
together, I dovetail the side and back pieces together, thus preventing the parts.
from spreading in any direction. The top of the dressing table is formed of a
main portion 6 to which is hinged the piece which forms the front of said
top. Extending forwardly from the lower portion of the hinged piece b², are
knobs for a purpose to be explained. In the centre of the front edge of the
top band in the centre of the bar a is pivoted the rotatable portion of my inven-

page_text: 2
tion which is constructed as follows: Extending longitudinally through the rotat-
able portion is a partition c which divides the wash stand portion from the
drawers C and D. On the wash stand side of the partition extends at right
angles thereto, a shelf (which supports the wash bowl, soap dish and so forth.
Secured to the front edge of the shelf e, are arms which form suitable racks
for towels and at the same time as a railing for the protection of articles on top of
the dressing table. This shelf el is supported by a vertical post e³, the lower end
of which is secured to a second shelf c, which extends from the back or partition c.
Secured to the partition e about half way between the two shelves c, d, are
brackets which are adapted to hold clothes brush, hair brush, curling tongs or
other accessories of the toilet. Having its ends secured in the partition cand
extending outwardly at a slight distance above the shelf c, is a metal rod c which
is adapted to protect the slop jar, water pitcher and so forth, and prevent them
from falling out upon the rotation of the commode. On the opposite side of the
partition from the dressing table, are placed sliding drawers C, C, of ordinary
construction. Above these drawers are the dummy drawers D, D, access to which
is attainable by raising the hinged lid 2. In the rear corners of the frame are
placed shelves a which are adapted to hold bottles, boxes, and other articles not
intended for constant use and which it is desirable to have out of sight. The
pivots used in my invention are of ordinary form of socket plate and pin, the
plate being slotted to permit of adjustment laterally.
It will be apparent that when the hinged section 62 of the top 61 is down or
horizontal, that the knob 63 will rest in a vertical position within the drawers D, D,
and below the upper edges of their sides or ends, thus preventing the rotating of
the device. Normally the device will be arranged as a dressing table, and in
order to utilize it as a wash stand it will be necessary to raise the part 62, when
the wash stand may be turned to the front, in which position the part 2 forms a
splasher board for the wash stand. I prefer to construct my device with an open
back for the purpose of affording ventilation for the wash stand part, but this
however is not essential. In order to gain access to the shelves a', it is necessary.
to partially rotate the device as shown in Fig. 2.
It will be apparent that various modifications may be made in the arrangement
of the parts forming the wash stand feature of my device without departure from
the principles involved in its construction.
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 a device of the character described, the combination with a supporting
frame of a hinged top, a rotatable part having sliding drawers arranged on one
side thereof, and on the other side having shelves, brackets, and rods for the
purposes set forth, said hinged top having means adapted to lock the rotatable
part in its normal position, substantially as set forth.
2. In an article of furniture, a supporting frame formed of sides and back and
with cross pieces dovetailed into the sides, a top secured to the frame and having
a hinged portion, and a rotatable body section having a partition therethrough
and on one side of said partition sliding and dummy drawers, and on the other
side of the partition, shelves, brackets and rods, substantially as set forth.
3. In an article of furniture, a supporting frame having arranged in the
corners thereof shelves, and having a top portion with a hinged section, and a
rotatable body portion pivoted in said frame, and adapted to be locked in its
normal position by the hinged section of the top, substantially as set forth.
4. In an article of furniture, a supporting frame having corner shelves a top
secured to said frame, a partitioned rotatable body portion pivotally connected
with said frame, said rotatable portion having arranged on one side of its partition
a series of drawers and on the other side having secured to the partition, brackets
and shelves, rods secured to said shelves, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 5. In an article of furniture a supporting frame, a partitioned rotatable body
portion, pivotally connected with said frame at the centre of said partition, and
adapted to be locked in its normal position, drawers arranged on one side of said
partition and brackets, shelves and rods arranged on the other side thereof, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. A. dressing table and wash stand consisting of a supporting frame having
shelves in the inner rear corners of same, a rotatable portion pivotally connected
at its centre with said frame, and having a partition therein, drawers arranged on
one side of said partition and brackets, shelves and rods arranged on the other
side, and means for locking said rotatable portion, substantially in the manner
set forth.
LT
1511 1
Pr
1000