AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF OFFICE TABLE
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Lascelles, of Bunhill Row,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Joinery Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF OFFICE TABLE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Las-
celles at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 14th December 1870.
I, WILLIAM HENRY LASCELLES, of Bunhill Row, Finsbury, in the
County of Middlesex, Joinery Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "Ax IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF OFFICE
TABLE," to be as follows:-
-
The chief object of this Invention is so to construct an office table
that the space contained within the frame may be utilized for the
reception of pens, ink, paper, documents of various kinds, and other
articles (without the use of drawers) the same being readily brought
within reach of the writer using the table and capable of being secured
under lock and key.

page_text: In carrying out this Invention I construct say a rectangular frame
and support the same on legs at the angles or on pedestals. This frame
I close at bottom, and thus form a receptacle of a depth about equal to
that of the frame. The space thus enclosed I divide by transverse bars
into three compartments, the centre compartment being of a width
corresponding to that of a writing desk. The top of the table I form of
three independent hinged pieces, the hinged portions of the two side
pieces are made capable of folding back for the purpose of giving access
to the space below, and the parts to which these hinged picces are
attached are mado to slide over guides formed by the framing of the
table. Thus if access is required to the space below the sliding pieces
these parts of the table top are drawn forward to open up that portion
of the space which these sliding pieces cover. The compartments may
be divided up in any desired manner, but towards the back of the
middle compartment I propose in general to fit up a row or rows of
pigeon holes to receive bundles of documents. This part also of the
table will be covered by a 'sliding pieco which is hinged to a portion
of the table top that is intended to form an incline like a desk lid
for writing on. Provision is made for the sliding piece which is hinged
to this desk portion to rise up vertically from its guides in order that
it may form a support for the inclined desk lid. By raising the lid
(whether inclined or not) on its hinges access may be had to the space
below and to the pigeon holes in the rear. The centre or desk portion
of the table top is secured by a desk lock, and the side piecos are secured
by neck bolts which enter into sockets or staples fitted to the hinged
portions of the side pieces. These neck bolts are so situate that when
drawn back they will prevent the inclined portion of the table top from
shutting down close, and thus will afford an effectual check against the
central part being inadvertently locked until the side compartments
have been secured.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said William Henry Lascelles, Her
special licence that I, the said William Henry Lascelles, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Henry
Lascelles, 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 mako,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF OFFICE TABLE," upon the condition. (amongst
others) that I, the said William Henry Lascelles, 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 William Henry Lascelles, 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, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
•
The chief object of this Invention is so to construct an office table
that the space contained within the frame may be utilized for the
reception of pens, ink, paper, documents of various kinds, and other
articles (without the use of drawers), the same being readily brought
within reach of the writer using the table, and capable of being secured
under lock and key.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews my improved office table
-in front elevation; and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof shewing the table
top as divided up into three moveable portions; Fig. 3 is a plan view
shewing the internal arrangements of the table, the parts forming the top
of the table being removed; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken in the
line 1, 2, of Figures 2 and 3, and showing the middle portion of the table

page_text: top raised as if for inspecting the contents of the compartment D';
Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken in the line 3, 1, of Figures 2 and 3,
and shewing the same portion of the table top raised to a different
position to form a sloping support for a writing pad.
The table consists of a rectangular frame A supported on legs B {
screwed into the angles thereof, or it may be supported upon pedestals.
This frame is closed in at bottom and thus forms a receptacle of a depth
nearly equal to that of the frame. The enclosed space is divided by
transverse bars C, C, into three compartments D, D', D³, the central
compartment D' being by preference of a width corresponding to that:
of a writing desk. The top of the table is formed of three independent
compound moveablo picces, the portions E, F, G, of which are hinged
respectively to the portions E, F, G', which slide in guides for the
purpose to be presently explained. The hinged portions of the two
side pieces are made capable of folding back flat upon their respective
sliding picces E, G, for the purpose of giving access to the space below,
and the parts to which these hinged pieces are attached are made to slide
over guides formed by the end pieces of the framing A. and transverse
bars O of the table, thus if access is required to the space below the
sliding pieces these parts of the table top are drawn forward to open up
that portion of the space which these sliding pieces cover. The several
compartments D, D', D³, may be divided up in any desired manner, but
towards the back of the middle compartment I propose in general to
fit up a row or rows of pigeon holes to receive bundles of documents.
This arrangement is best shewn in the cross section at Fig. 5. The
central hinged portion F of the table is connected to a sliding piece F",
which is so arranged as to allow of its rising up vertically from its guides
in order that it may form a support for the inclined desk lid, as shewn
at Fig. 5. Fitted to the transverse pieces C are curved metal slotted
guides c, Fig. 5, into the slots of which project pins from the sides of
the sliding piece F, these guides thus serve to attach the sliding piece
F' to the table, while at the same time it is left free to slide horizontally
and to be moved up into a vertical position. The turning of this sliding
piece F upwards into the position shewn at Fig. 5 is caused by first
drawing forward the lid F, until the pins of the sliding piece F have
passed beyond the straight portion of the guide c, and then pushing
back the lid. This back thrust of the lid will cause the sliding piece
to stand on end, it being assisted to that position by the curve in the
guides c, and in this position it will act as a support for the elevated

page_text: end of the desk lid. A ledge c' is provided for this sliding piece to butt
against and enable it to maintain its vertical position. By raising the
lid F (whether its hinges be elevated or not) access may be had to the
space below, and to the pigeon holes at the rear of the compartment. The
central or desk portion of the table top may be secured by an ordinary
desk lock H, Fig. 3, but the side pieces will be secured by neck bolts H³,
which will enter into sockets or staples fitted to the hinged portions E, G,
of the table top. These neck bolts are so situate that when drawn
back they will prevent the lid F from shutting down close, and thus
will afford an effectual check against the central part being inadvertently
locked until the side compartments have been secured. To ensure the
side picces taking a proper position to receive the bolts H; and to give
a further protection to the hinged pieces E, G, and prevent them from
being prized open, they are fitted on their inner face with a transverse
rebated piece (see Fig. 4), which by butting against the front bar of
the framing will act as a stop to the slides, and by interlocking with a
projection on the inner face thereof will necessitate the sliding back of
the end pieces of the table top after their bolts are withdrawn before
their hinged portions can be raised.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved
Construction of Office Table," and explained the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent I claim, constructing the top of an office
table of sliding hinged pieces in the manner and for the purpose above
5 described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Lascelles, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, the Fourteenth day of June, in
the year of our Lord 'One thousand eight hundred and seventy-