An Improvement in Writing Desks, Tables, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Writing Desks, Tables, and the like.
HERBERT ANTHONY SAWYER Indian Staff Corps, care of Messrs. William
Watson & Co. 27, Leadenhall Street, London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
A suitable writing slope or desk to which is attacheable (& removeable) a fixed
(or hinged) support for the head; this support can also be used with any ordinary
table, or other desk to which by a modification it can be slipped on.
The "claim" lies in the means adopted for supporting the head & thereby
keeping the writers or readers head & back erect. The nature of the desk is a
secondary matter.
Dated this 19th day of July 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Writing Desks, Tables, and the like.
I HERBERT ANTHONY SAWYER Indian Staff Corps c/o Messrs. William
Watson & Coy. 27 Leadenhall Street London E.C. 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 relates to desks and also to head supports for preventing stooping
or rounding of the back and shoulders and the same is carried out in the following
manner reference being had to the annexed drawing in which,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a desk constructed according to my invention and
showing the underside of same.
Figure 2 plan view of the top side of desk.
Figure 3 perspective view of desk in position.
Figure 4 perspective view of spring clip for attachment to the edge of a desk or
to a table.
Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a modified arrangement for attaching the chin
rest to the desk.
Figures 67 & 8 sectional side elevations of further modifications of attachment
of chin rest to the desk.
Figure 9 sectional side elevation of a modified arrangement of attaching the desk
support.
Figure 10 sectional side elevation of a modified arrangement for attaching the
book rest to the desk.
Referring to Figure 1 a is the desk cc are two metal supports. These metal
supports are carried in sockets which have square or angular apertures in same
which engage on square or angular sections e on the iron supports c. ff are two flat
springs having bent ends. g & glare catch pieces or stops for retaining the various
pieces in position when packed away for transit is the head support or chin rest
is the book or holder. The bent parts ; have square or angular apertures which
engage on square or angular portions on the rest i. The bent parts bear upon
the collars & l.
Referring to Figure 2 the ink pot n may be pivoted in an aperture cut in the
drawing board as shown.

page_text: Referring to Figure 4. The spring clips o may be used on any edge such as a
table edge or the desk edge the ends p p of the head rest being inserted in the holes
or apertures g g in the clip o.
Referring to Figure 5. In this case the head rest is pivoted at m and has a
square portion having a pin or stud q' which engages in an aperture in the flat
spring which thus retains the head rest in the desired position.
Referring to Figure 6. In this case a bracket s is secured in position by a thumb
-screw t and the ends p p of the head rest h are inserted in apertures u.
Referring to Figure 7. In this case the ends p, p, of the head rest are bent at
right angles and are pivotally secured to the desk by a cylindrical rod or shaft pl
having pins attached to same a spring w has apertures for the reception of the pins
or studs thus retaining the rest in the required position.
Referring to Figure 9. In this case the desk supports are provided with studs
or projections w carried on the bearing w' which engage in apertures in the
spring a.
Referring to Figure 8. In this case the head rest is pivotally secured to a sunk
plate y.
A slot may be cut in the table if desired for the reception of the rest when
folded down. Any of the means described may be employed for retaining the rest
in position.
Referring to Figure 10. The ends of the book rest are attached to the angular
piece 1, which is pivotally secured to the desk at 2 the spring 3 bears upon the
angular piece 1 & thus retains the book rest in the desired position.
When it is desired to use the desk the supports cc are moved in the direction of
the arrow 1, the springs having first been depressed into the slots 6 in the desk a.
The supports c c are now moved through an angle of 90° and pushed back in the
direction of the arrow 2 until the square or angular portion e engages in the guide
or socket d and the flat spring frises and prevents this support from moving in the
direction of the arrow 1 by bearing against the end t of same. The book rest i is
now placed with its ends u, u, in the apertures 7 in the square or angular portions k
so as to support a book or the like. The chin rest is placed in position by having
the ends p p inserted in the apertures q2 in the desk or by using the spring clip o
aforesaid. It will be seen that by using this arrangement an individual is prevented
from stooping when writing etc. The catch or stops may be dispensed with if
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In writing desks or slopes. A writing desk or slope having rest or supports
carried in sockets one socket on each side having a square or angular aperture
engaging on a square or angular portion of the rest or support flat springs for
retaining said rests in position a book rest engaging in apertures in the desk and
having bent pieces with square or angular apertures engaging on square or angular
portions on the rest and bearing against collars substantially as described and shown
therein.
(2) The means of preventing children from stooping when writing etc. consisting
of a head or chin rest such as described and shown herein with or without a spring
clip, as shown in Figure 4.
Dated this Ofth dor of Tano 1901