AN IMPROVED COMBINED SEAT AND DESK, CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINED SEAT AND DESK, CHIEFLY
DESIGNED FOR USE IN SCHOOLS."-A communication from abroad by
Henry Wheeler Curtis, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 16th May 1872, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.

page_text: petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad
by Henry Wheeler Curtis, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings forming:
a part of this Specification.
The object of this Invention is to provide a combined seat and desk
for schools and other similar places, and which shall combine strength
and durability and at the same time be capable of folding up when
required or of adjustment to serve as an easel.
The first part of the said Invention relates to an improved hinge joint,
composed of a metallic bracket containing the moveable parts of the
joint and arranged with a central socket sunk in the inner face of its
side flange, which receives the axis whereon the joint turns. The said
axis forms part of the side frame of the apparatus, and the bracket and
side frame are connected together by a bolt which goes through the
centre of the socketed part of the bracket and through the centre of the
axis, and thence through the side frame to its inner side flange, which
is socketed to contain a square nut that engages the end of the screw
bolt. The said bracket is provided with a stop, which works between
the shoulders formed on the side frame, the shoulders on the opposite
sides of the stop being cushioned to prevent noise or injury in working
the joint. The said joint is concealed from an observer on its sides and
front, being enclosed on one side by a flange, cast with the said frame,
and the recess of the joint in which the stop moves between the shoulder
is formed on the rear; the shoulder which limits the downward movement
of the hinge being over the axis concealed from view and overlapped by
a curtain of the bracket in all positions of the joint.
The said Invention relates secondly to pivoting the arms of the desk
board to the framing or standards in such manner that the desk board
may be turned over to lie along the back board or be supported at any

page_text: desired angle for use as a desk, or may be raised and retained in position
to be used as an easel.
The said Invention relates thirdly to pivoting the arms of the desk
board to the framing or standards in such a manner that the book board
may be turned up in the recess of the upper part of the frames` or
standards to receive books for reading or study and hold them in a
proper position for the occupant of the desk to read when sitting erect
in his seat, or may be supported in a position to be used as a desk.
Figure 4 is a detailed view of the said Invention.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the desk, and Figure 6 is a detailed
sectional view of the same.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A, A, are the standards or end frames, which by preference are formed
of cast iron, and are screwed or otherwise fastened to the floor of the
building. B is the seat board secured to a bracket A'. This bracket is
by preference formed of metal cast in one piece, the part on which the
hinge is constructed being cast in the proper shape to receive the bracket
which contains the moveable parts of the hinge. That part of the side
frame which supports the hinge is arranged over the front foot of the
frame and is rounded on top concentrically with the axis of the hinge.
A³ designates the apex of the hinge forming a permanent portion of the
side frame and projecting from its outer side, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The inner side of the frame is provided with a flange C whose diameter
or size in front is large enough to conceal the joint and which also forms
a permanent portion of the frame. The flange C is provided with a
square socket D for the purpose of receiving the nut o of the bolt or
pin A² which holds the bracket and side frame together. E represents
a recess formed in the frame behind the line of the axis to form a
chamber for the stop of the bracket to move in. This recess is closed
on the inner side by the stationary flange C of the side frame and on
the outer side by a flange on the bracket, and its ends consist of the
shoulders F, which limit the motion of the hinge.

page_text: In order to make a comparatively noiseless joint and prevent injury
from sudden shocks in folding and unfolding the seat I cushion the joint
by means of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material. In the
arrangement shewn I accomplish this object by casting or forming
small recesses G in the faces of the said shoulders and securing
therein the ends of pieces of india-rubber H so that a portion will
project above the face of the shoulder to receive the impact of the
stop on the bracket. The cushions H may be secured on the faces of the
stop instead of to the shoulders. The seat B is secured to the bracket A'
as shewn. The bracket is cast in one piece, and connected to the side
frame in such manner as to complete the hinge on which the seat turns
as well as support the seat. The bracket A¹ is wide enough to cover the
limb of the side frame on which the joint is formed, and its under side at
the rear is formed with a recess K of sufficient size to work over the
flange C and the adjacent part of the side frame. One side of the recess K
is closed by a side flange L, which is cast with the bracket and encloses
the hinge on the outer side as the flange C of the side frame encloses it
on the inner side. The inner face of the flange L has a socket M which
receives the axis or pin A² of the hinge where the bracket is brought to
the side frame, and in this position they are held together by means of a
screw bolt or pin A², which goes through the flange of the bracket from
the outside through the centre of the axis A* and through the frame and
its flange C into the nut o. The socket M of the bracket contains a
stop P, which has a double face so as to operate against each of the fixed
shoulders as described. The stop is of such a height as to form a bearing
for the bracket against the inner surface Q of the frame, and the joint is
thereby steadied and supported.
It will be observed that the joint is not exposed to an observer
standing in front when the seat is thrown up as represented in Figure 3,
because the curtains X of the brackets overlap the edges of the upper
shoulder of the side frame and thereby conceal the recess E, and prevent
the entanglement in the joint of the apparel or dress of persons who may
come near the desk.
The joint shewn and described is applicable to desks as well as seats.
The upper shoulder F is placed above the centre of the axis of the joint
in contradistinction to being placed below or in a horizontal line there-
with, and by this arrangement the construction is simplified and the joint
is more conveniently concealed from view. R is the desk board, the

page_text: ends of which are attached to the arms R¹, whose forward ends are
pivotted to the upper part of the standards or frames A, so that the desk
top may be turned down to lie along the desk back S, as shewn in red
lines in Figure 2, in which position it may serve as a seat back when
required. R³, R³, are stops or projections attached to or formed upon the
arms or supports R', which rest against the rear edges of the standards
or frames A to support the desk top in proper position for use as a desk.
T is the upper or horizontal part of the desk top, which is stationary,
being securely attached to the frame A and the desk back S.
When it is desired to use the desk board R as an easel for drawing or
other similar purposes the desk board R may be supported in proper
position by supports U, which have a hook formed upon their upper ends
to hook over the edges of the stationary part T of the desk top. In
some cases the supports U may be formed in two parts sliding upon each
other so that their length may be increased or diminished to support the
desk board R at any required angle. R is the desk board, which is
attached to the bracket R¹, whose under parts are pivoted to the upper
rear part or end of the standards or frames A, so that the desk top may
be turned up to form a study desk, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 5
and in full lines in Figure 6, or may be used as a desk, as shewn in
Figure 5. T is the stationary part of the desk board, which consists of
a narrow board attached to the upper end of the forward part of the
frame A. The lower corner of the rear edge of the board T and the
upper corner of the forward edge of the desk board R are bevelled off,
as shown in Figure 5, to relieve the check pins or stops P from having
to sustain the whole weight of the desk board when turned down. V is
a board the outer edge of which fits against the outer edge of the under
side of the desk board R, and to its inner edge is attached a shouldered
flange or edge board W. The flanged board V, W, is secured in proper
position by being attached to wedge-shaped blocks Y interposed between
the desk board R and the book or reading board V. The board V is
designed to receive books for reading or study, and to hold them in
proper position for the scholar to read them when sitting erect in his
seat, the shouldered flange W receiving and holding the ends of the
leaves. The flange board V, W, may also be used for holding drawing
papers and the like. Z is the book box, which is attached to the frames
A in the ordinary manner, except that it is extended downward to give
more space for the books and at the same time leave more space between
it and the desk board R.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, and the means by
which the same may be carried into effect, I wish it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details herein shewn and described, as
the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of
my Invention, but I claim,-
First. Forming a hinge joint for seats and desks composed of a
bracket A¹ with a joint socket M and stop P in combination with a side
frame, a recess E, two shoulders F, and a socket D for the nut O of the
fastening bolt, substantially as described.
Secondly. The curtain X and cushions H in combination with the 1
various parts forming the hinge joint, substantially as described.
Thirdly. The arrangement of the desk board and parts connected
therewith in such a manner that the same may be supported or placed in
different positions, substantially as described.
Fourthly. The flanged reading or book board V, W, attached to the
under part of the pivoted desk board R, substantially as herein described.
and for the purposes set forth.
Fifthly. A desk R, pivoted brackets A¹, with stops P, and the circular
ends X¹ of the frame having recesses with shoulders F, F, thereon, all
combined with the reading board V, W, and constructed and arranged
as herein described for the purposes set forth.
Sixthly. The general combination of the parts forming a desk board,
reading board, and seat, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
E
Witness,
EDWARD C. JACKSON.
W". ROBT. LAKE. (L.s.)