A Folding Portable Drawing-board for Military and like purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left. 25th Nov. 1890-Accepted. 27th Dec.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Folding Portable Drawing-board for Military and like purposes.
GEORGE CHARLES INKPEN 12 Havelock Road Southsea Hants do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A drawing board composed of a number of thin laths of wood or other suitable
material, placed side by side and closely together, so as to form a solid plane when
flat with an even surface each lath being connected together by jointing or other-
wise but preferably glued, rivetted or otherwise connected to a backing of flexible
material in such a manner as to keep them perfectly flat & level yet capable of being
folded up in a bundle or otherwise when so required.
To keep the laths constituting the board ridgid and even as a flat plane when in
use I employ one or more jointed tension bars placed at the back of the laths &
preferably of metal which on being extended in direction of their length from side
to side of the board and in opposite direction to the laths working on an axis at either
side and engaging with catches on the opposite sides, a stiff and ridgid surface, such
as required for the purposes of drawing is attained.
The jointed stays, or tension bars are attached to and folded up with, & in direction
of the length of the laths.
The boards may be made any convenient size & of any suitable material preferably
wood.
For military purposes I add shoulder straps or cords attached to the corners of
the board, or ends of tension bars, for convenience when the board is placed in front
of the individual when in use.
If a hard substance be used for the board I provide slots in which cork is sunk to
give a hold to the drawing pins.
Spare drawings paper or finished sketches may be placed either on top or beneath
the surface of the board and held there by any convenient means, so as to fold up with
the laths for portability.
0
1
n 1
1000
G. C. INKPEN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Folding Portable Drawing-board for Military and like purposes.
GEORGE CHARLES INKPEN formerly of 12 Havelock Road now of Havelock Villas
Outram Road Southsea Hants Architect & Surveyor 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 relates to portable drawing or sketching boards for the use of
military men employed on sketching duty, artists, draughtsmen & others who require
temporarily a flat, even, & hard surface for the purpose of sketching, & yet capable
of being made portable i.e., rolled or folded up when not in use, providing a covering
as a protection to the board and forming pockets within the covering for the reception
of drawing paper, sketches, pencils, instruments &c. & providing straps for holding
and carrying the board when in and out of use, also providing cleats for holding the
paper to the board instead of loose drawing pins.
In order that my invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which-
Fig. 1, represents the board folded up in the covering (with shoulder straps for
carrying.

page_text: "
straps
"
"
"
D.
The drawing board Figure A is composed of a series of thin laths "a" of wood
metal or other suitable material placed closely together & side by side so as to form
a compact, even & solid surface see Figures 2, 3 & 4 such as is required for the purposes
of writing or sketching.
The laths "a" may be of varying widths so as to roll up as a bundle or fold up
as shown by Fig. 6.
a
و"
"b"
To add increased rigidity & ensure an even surface to the board when extended
for use the several laths " are shaped & moulded along the longitudinal edges
in such a manner as to intersect one with the other preferably as shewn by Fig. 7
at the joints "J" or as a modification if metal is used as shewn by Fig. 10 at "J."
The several laths "a" forming the board are connected together by joining or
hinging in any convenient manner but preferably if wood is used for the laths by a
flexible material over the whole of the back.
To render the laths "a" constituting the board "A" as a flat even & rigid
surface employ one or more tension bars B preferably of metal, working on an
axis "c" Fig. 4, fixed at the back of the board as shewn by the dotted lines e," so
arranged as to be capable of being extended in a transverse direction to that of the
laths traversing the dotted lines "" engaging with a spring catch at "d" Fig. 4 &
when so fixed the board is made equally rigid as if in one piece.
The tension bars "B" when not so extended fold up with, & in direction of the
laths occupying the position of dotted lines", e."
"
The board " A may be made any convenient size, & of any suitable material."
I also employ a covering preferable of waterproof material attached to one edge
of the board "A" which may be folded over the board as protection from weather
when in use, & roll up with the laths as protection to the board when packed for
carrying as shewn by Fig. 1, the projecting flaps H which lap over the ends K Fig. 1,
add further protection from dust, &c., & are secured by hooks, & eyes or other
convenient means for fastening, & thus forming a compact & enclosed bundle that
may be easily carried.
When the board is extended for use the covering is rolled up as shown by Fig. 3
at & temporarily secured by straps tape or otherwise at M.
Inside the covering I provide pockets for receiving sketches, paper, pencils &
instruments.
As a substitute for drawing pius I provide spring cleats Fig. 8 & 9 fixed at Q

page_text: Fig. 2, & 3 working on an axis R Fig. 8, which when closed engages with a grooved
shaped edge "S" Fig. 9 the drawing paper being placed on the surface of the board
it is jambed between the substance constituting the board, & the mouth of the cleat,
the paper thus being held firmly.
For military purposes I provide shoulder straps D Fig. 1, 2, & 3 for carrying &
supporting the board.
Fig. 1 shows the straps with the ends encircling the board for carrying.
Fig. 2 & 3 represents the straps with ends extended & engaging with hooks &
clips T for holding the board in front of an individual when in use.
Having now particularly described, & 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
First The folding drawing board being self contained, & having no detached
parts substantially as herein described.
Second The means by which a number of laths constituting the drawing board
are made rigid for the purposes described as substantially set forth.
Third The protecting covering with pockets as substantially set forth.
Fourth In the folding drawing board herein described, & the mode of &
means employed for ensuring perfect rigidity & protection thereto as substantially
set forth.
Dated this 24th day of November 1890.