Improvements in Convertible School Desks.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Convertible School Desks.
I, GEORGE CLARK BENNET, of the Bennet Furnishing Company, 40 Tennant
Street, in the City of Glasgow, School Furnisher, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to convertible school desks which are adapted to be used
as desks or tables or to be turned or folded over so that the desk part serves as the
back support for a seat; and the improvements have for their object to provide
for readily securing and maintaining the brackets carrying the desk at any of the
several positions to which it may be placed.
The improved desk is carried as usual by two or more end standards which are
or may be combined with seat supports and the upper ends of these standards
terminate in disc like parts adapted to fit corresponding socket parts and form
swivel joints with bracket pieces which support the wooden top or board of
the desk.
In
The desk supporting bracket pieces are bound to the standards by means of a
long bolt passed through eyes formed in the brackets and standards at the
swivelling centre the said bolt passing centrally through a stay tube connecting
the end standards and being secured at the end by lock nuts or like means.
the disc ends of the standards notches or catches are formed to engage with
corresponding catches or notches in the desk supporting bracket pieces such that
upon unloosening the securing bolt the desk top may be swung to lie at an angle
suitable for writing or may be set horizontally so that two or more desks may be
placed alongside each other to form a table the notches and catches serving to
maintain the desk tops in the desired position when the bolt is again secured.
Stops are also formed on the disc parts of the standards and upon the socket parts
of the desk supporting brackets these stops being suitably placed to limit the
swivelling movement of the desk top and serve to support it when folded over to
an approximately vertical position on either side of the standards when it is desired
to use the desk top as a back board or back support for the seat.
Dated thie 27th dox of Sentember 1895
Improvements in Convertible School Desks.
I, GEORGE CLARK BENNET, of the Bennet Furnishing Company, 40 Tennant
Street, in the City of Glasgow, School Furnisher, 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 convertible school desks which are adapted to be used
as desks or tables or to be turned or folded over so that the desk part serves as the
back support for a seat; and the improvements have for their object to provide for

page_text: readily securing and maintaining the brackets carrying the desk at any of the
several positions to which it may be placed.
The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 of which is a side view of the improved school desk when used as a
table,
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view partly in section of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shewing the top part of the desk turned
over to form a back support,
Fig. 4 shews the top part of the desk in writing position, and
Figs. 5 and 6 shew the disc ends of the standards and top respectively with the
notches and catches for securing the top of the desk in either of the positions
mentioned.
с
The improved desk is carried as usual by two or more end standards A which
are or may be combined with seat supports A¹ and the upper ends of these
standards terminate in disc like parts B adapted to fit corresponding socket parts C
and form swivel joints with bracket pieces D which support the wooden top or
board E of the desk. The desk supporting bracket pieces D are bound to the
standards A by means of a long bolt F passed through eyes G, H, formed in the
brackets D and standards A at the swivelling centre, the said bolt F passing
centrally through a stay tube I connecting the end standards A and being secured
at the end by lock nuts or like means. In the disc ends B of the standards A
notches 6 shewn at Fig. 5 are formed to engage with catches c shewn at Fig. 6 in
the disc ends C of the desk supporting bracket pieces D such that upon loosening
the securing bolt F the desk top E may be swung to lie at an angle suitable for
writing as shewn at Fig. 4, or may be set horizontally as shewn at Fig. 1, so that
two or more desks may be placed alongside each other to form a table, the notches
and catches serving to maintain the desk tops E in the desired position when the
bolt F is again secured. Stops 6' and c¹ shewn at Figs. 5 and 6 are also formed on
the disc parts B of the standards and upon the socket parts C of the desk
supporting brackets D these stops being suitably placed to limit the swivelling
movement of the desk top and serve to support it when folded over to an
approximately vertical position on either side of the standards when it is
desired to use the desk top as a back board or back support for the seat shewn
at Fig. 3.
Having now particularly described and 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 :-
:
A convertible school desk, the standards and desk brackets of which are connected
by discs and sockets secured together by a tightening bolt and admitting of the
desk top being maintained at any desired inclination, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of June 1896.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Chartered Patent Agent,
62 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant