IMPROVEMENTS IN DESKS AND SEATS
Year: 1885

page_text: in Schools and other Places.
We JOHN BLEZARD and NORMAN BLEZARD both of Grove Lane, Padiham in
the County of Lancaster, Iron Founders, Machinists and School Furniture Manu-
facturers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
DESKS AND SEATS to be as follows:-
The application of a wheel or wheels attatched to the Desk or Seat stands, in
such a manner as to facilitate the moving of the same Desk or Seat from one place
to another without interfering with the stability of the Desk or Seat when in use,
also the application of the conjoint use of cast, malleable or wrought iron in the
construction of Desk or Seat Stands, (viz) commonly known as the Iron Bedstead
Principle, and improvements in the principle of fastening a moveable Desk top to
any desired position and locking the same.
Particulars of which improvements are briefly stated as follows:-
We attach a wheel or wheels having their centres at any convenient distance
outside that part of the Desk or Seat Stand that is in contact with the floor (or
may be said to be that part upon which the Desk or Seat rests,) and the diameter
of the wheel is of such a size that its circumference is not in contact with the floor
when the Desk or Seat is at rest, but is of such a convenient distance that by
lifting the Desk or Seat either end or sidewise it will bring the same wheel or
wheels in contact with the floor, thereby bearing the weight and enabling the Desk
to be wheeled about with ease, and preventing the Desk or Seat Stands from
dragging on the floor.
In that part of the combined Desk or Seat Stand that may be said to unite the
two, we make of malleable or wrought iron, or steel, in combination with cast iron,
either by placing the wrought iron or steel in the mould and running the cast iron
on to all or part of it, or so arranging those parts of the Stands that a wrought
iron or steel bar or bolt can be applied after the Stands are cast, so as to more
securely hold the two Stands together, the vertical parts of the Desk or Seat
Stands we make in the same manner and materials as the above named part that
unites the Desk and Seat Stands.
Hitherto the bracket of a reversible Desk top has had only one projecting part
in the centre opposite the grip pin to resist the pressure of the fastener. We now
make two projections, one on each side of the centre or grip pin where the pressure

page_text: is applied, thereby preventing the Desk top from moving, by the pressure being
brought to bear on three points instead of two. Also instead of having the end of
the grip pin square or flat or at right angles as heretofore, we make it of any
suitable angle that will cause it to act as a wedge, to draw or press the Desk top
bracket against the centre boss or stud upon which the Desk top bracket works or
radiates. Then again, it has been the practice to pass the fastening bolt or rod
through the centre of this same stud or boss, and through what is known as the
bolt lever, consequently the book board could not extend beyond the Desk Stand
towards the end of the Desk. We obviate this defect by putting the book board
below the stud or boss upon which the Desk top bracket works, and the fastening
bolt passes through.a groove at the under side of the book board, also through a
slide that is made to work in a slot in the book board, and which same slide is
made to operate on the bolt lever in place of the bolt as above named.
By this means we can extend the length of the book board beyond the Desk
Stand to any desired length.
Another way of accomplishing the same is by placing the bolt levers at about
right angles to a vertical line through the centre boss, and passing the bolt through
the same levers immediately under the Desk top, which lever is made to operate on
the grip pin as before, or in place of the grip pin a wedge pressing between the
bracket and the semicircle at the top of the Desk Stand, by means of this same
bolt lever or bolt.
Another way is to dispense with the bolt levers, and pass the bolt through a
wedge which will act as before mentioned, viz-pressing between the bracket and
the semicircle at the top of Desk Stand.
Hitherto the mode of manipulation has been by means of a screwed or threaded
bolt and wheel, which hand wheel acted as a nut that fits the same screwed bolt
and which wheel was turned round by the hand.
In place of this hand wheel we apply an eccentric lever, or a lever with joints
and pins arranged in such a way that they can draw and push the wedges or bolt
levers and grip pins at both ends of the Desk by one operation.
It has been the practice to lock the hand wheel by means of a check nut
screwed against the face or end of the boss. In place of this check nut we make
the bolt lever with two projections, one on each side of the hand wheel boss,
through the lower projection we put a set screw, by which we can screw the hand
wheel boss tight against the other projection, thereby preventing the possibility of
turning the hand wheel without having a key to unscrew the set screw.
Another improvement we make is by constructing the Desk and Seat stands s0
as to enable the Seat of the Desk to be lifted up to form a back rail and for the
Desk top to be used as a Seat.
Or in other terms, a Desk suitable for infants constructed so as to be convertible
into a backed seat suitable for adults.
DL: AL
. 1008

page_text: in Schools and other Places.
We, JOHN BLEZARD and NORMAN BLEZARD, both of Grove Lane, Padiham, in
the county of Lancaster, Ironfounders, Machinists, and School Furniture Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
SCHOOL DESKS AND SEATS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement (see
the accompanying illustrations) :-
The attaching of a wheel or wheels to the lower part of the Desk and Seat stand,
so placed that they are above the floor line when the Desk or Seat is at rest and in
use, but are brought into contact with the floor by raising the end or side, thereby
throwing the weight upon the wheels, and facilitating movement in any required
direction. The side and end elevations of a Desk and Seat stand are shown in
Figs. 1 and 2. F is the floor line; W, the wheels.
The application of what is called the "Iron Bedstead principle" to Desk and
Seat stands; viz. the conjoint use of cast iron with wrought iron bars or tubes, the
wrought iron being either placed in its proper position in the mould when casting,
or applied afterwards and affixed by means of screw nuts. In Fig. 1, the wrought
iron bar B B is shown by dotted lines.
The use of a bracket T (see Fig. 7) having two projections Z, Z, instead of one to
resist the pressure of the grip pin, P.
The making the end of the grip-pin, P, (see Figa. 4 and 6.) at any suitable
oblique angle, so that it may act as a wedge in pressing the lower part of the
bracket T against the stud S, upon which the bracket works.
Methods of fastening Desk tops, which permit the bookboard to extend beyond
the Desk stand at each end, by varying the position and connections of the
fastening bolt or rod which fastens both ends at once. Hitherto, as in Fig. 6, the
fastening bolt or rod R has passed through the stud S, which has prevented
the extension of the book board beyond the stand. (See Fig. 4, which is a vertical
sectional drawing of one end of Desk top, bookboard and fastening appliances: see
also Fig. 5, which shows the other end.) The defect is here obviated by putting
the bookboard B below the stud S, and passing the fastening bolt or rod R
through a groove on the under side of the bookboard, also through a slide A that
works in a slot O O in the bookboard. The fastening bolt or rod R. operates upon
the slide A at the shoulder K in Fig. 4, and at the screw nut N in Fig. 5.-The
alide A then acts upon the lever L in place of the rod. The fastening bolt or
rod R is turned by applying any convenient handle or screw at H, and the book-
board may be extended to any desired length. This extension may also be
accomplished as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. In Fig. 9 the lever L is placed about
parallel to the end of the Desk top D, and the fastening bolt or rod R passes
through it, and also through a hole in the projecting boss Z of the bracket T, so
that the rod lies immediately under the Desk top, and the lever L acts upon the
grip-pin P as it does in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of Fig. on the
line A A, C is the arc, R the fastening bolt or rod, passing through the boss Z and

page_text: the lever L. Another plan which permits the extension of the bookboard is shown
in Fig. 8. Here the fastening bolt or rod R is passed through a wedge W, which
is pressed between the arc C and the upper part of the bracket T by the eccentric
lever X, thus entirely dispensing with the lever L as used in Figs. 4 and 9.
The operating upon the fastening bolt or rod by an eccentric lever, in place of
handwheel or winged nut, as X in Figs. 8 and 11.
The operating upon the fastening bolt or rod by a lever with joints and pins, sO
arranged as to push or draw the wedges or levers at both ends of the Desk by one
operation. This arrangement is used only when the rods are immediately under
the Desk top or bookboard. See Fig. 12,-and Fig. 13, which is a plan of the
elevation of Fig. 12. D is the Desk top, R, R, rods connected with the bolt levers
or wedges, H the handle of joint lever. The dotted lines in Fig. 13 show the mode
of action.
The locking of Desk fasteners by a set screw. Hitherto the mode of locking
the handwheel G (see Fig. 6) has been by means of a check-nut screwed against
the face at Q. In place of this, we make two projections J, J, on the lever L, and
through the end projection we put a set screw E, which screws the boss of the
handwheel tightly against the opposite projection, so that it cannot be moved
without a key. In Figs. 9 and 10, a winged nut N is used instead of the hand-
wheel, and locked in the same manner.
An improvement in Desk and Seat stands as shown in Fig. 3. By lifting the
seat A and its attachments into the position shown by the dotted plan, a bracket
Seat is formed. The pin connecting the arm B with the Desk stand runs in the
slot S, and the whole is kept in place by a bolt at D. The support C of the Seat
can be turned by means of the pins and slot into the position shown in the
dotted plan.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The application of permanently attached wheels to Desk and Seat stands,
which wheels are not in contact with the floor when the Desk and Seat are in use.
2. The application of what is termed the "Iron Bedstead principle" to Desk and
Seat stands, as previously defined.
3. The use of grip pins having one end oblique angled, in Desk top fastening
appliances.
4. The extension of the bookboard beyond the Desk stands by means of any
arrangement of fastening bolts or rods that fasten both ends of Desk top by one
operation.
5. The use of wedges in Desk top fastening, which are acted upon by fastening
bolts or rods, and fasten both ends by one operation.
6. The use of the set screw for operating on the boss of the hand wheel or
winged nut.
7. The use of an eccentric lever, or a joint lever with centre pins, operating
upon the fastening bolts or rods.
8. The construction of a Desk suitable for children, so made that it may be
converted into a backed Seat for adults, the Desk top becoming the Seat, and the
Desk Seat becoming the back rail.
3
2
L
1
2000
JOHN BLEZARD.
NORMAN BLEZARD.

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 4th day of April 1891, Amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks Act, 1883.
in Schools and other Places.
We JOHN BLEZARD and NORMAN BLEZARD both of Grove Lane, Padiham in
the County of Lancaster, Iron Founders, Machinists and School Furniture Manu-
facturers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS in
DESKS AND SEATS to be as follows:-
The application of a wheel or wheels attatched to the Desk or Seat stands, in
such a manner as to facilitate the moving of the same Desk or Seat from one place
to another without interfering with the stability of the Desk or Seat when in use,
also the application of the conjoint use of cast, malleable or wrought iron in the
construction of Desk or Seat Stands, (viz) commonly known as the Iron Bedstead
Principle, and improvements in the principle of fastening a moveable Desk top to
any desired position and locking the same.
Particulars of which improvements are briefly stated as follows:-
We attach a wheel or wheels having their centres at any convenient distance
outside that part of the Desk or Seat Stand that is in contact with the floor (or
may be said to be that part upon which the Desk or Seat rests,) and the diameter
of the wheel is of such a size that its circumference is not in contact with the floor
when the Desk or Seat is at rest, but is of such a convenient distance that by
lifting the Desk or Seat either end or sidewise it will bring the same wheel or
wheels in contact with the floor, thereby bearing the weight and enabling the Desk
to be wheeled about with ease, and preventing the Desk or Seat Stands from
dragging on the floor.
In that part of the combined Desk or Seat Stand that may be said to unite the
two, we make of malleable or wrought iron, or steel, in combination with cast iron,
either by placing the wrought iron or steel in the mould and running the cast iron
on to all or part of it, or so arranging those parts of the Stands that a wrought
iron or steel bar or bolt can be applied after the Stands are cast, so as to more
securely hold the two Stands together, the vertical parts of the Desk or Seat
Stands we make in the same manner and materials as the above named part that
unites the Desk and Seat Stands.

page_text: Hitherto the bracket of a reversible Desk top has had only one projecting part
in the centre opposite the grip pin to resist the pressure of the fastener. We now
make two projections, one on each side of the centre or grip pin where the pressure
is applied, thereby preventing the Desk top from moving, by the pressure being
brought to bear on three points instead of two. Also instead of having the end of
the grip pin square or flat or at right angles as heretofore, we make it of any
suitable angle that will cause it to act as a wedge, to draw or press the Desk top
bracket against the centre boss or stnd upon which the Desk top bracket works or
radiates. Then again, it has been the practice to pass the fastening bolt or rod
through the centre of this same stud or boss, and through what is known as the
bolt lever, consequently the book board could not extend beyond the Desk Stand
towards the end of the Desk. We obviate this defect by putting the book board
below the stud or boss upon which the Desk top bracket works, and the fastening
bolt passes through a groove at the under side of the book board, also through a
slide that is made to work in a slot in the book board, and which same slide is
made to operate on the bolt lever in place of the bolt as above named.
By this means we can extend the length of the book board beyond the Desk
Stand to any desired length.
Another way of accomplishing the same is by placing the bolt levers at about
right angles to a vertical line through the centre boss, and passing the bolt through
the same levers immediately under the Desk top, which lever is made to operate on
the grip pin as before, or in place of the grip pin a wedge pressing between the
bracket and the semicircle at the top of the Desk Stand, by means of this same
bolt lever or bolt.
Another way is to dispense with the bolt levers, and pass the bolt through a
wedge which will act as before mentioned, viz :-pressing between the bracket and
the semicircle at the top of Desk Stand.
Hitherto the mode of manipulation has been by means of a screwed or threaded
bolt and wheel, which hand wheel acted as a nut that fits the same screwed bolt
and which wheel was turned round by the hand.
In place of this hand wheel we apply an eccentric lever, or a lever with joints
and pins arranged in such a way that they can draw and push the wedges or bolt
levers and grip pins at both ends of the Desk by one operation.
It has been the practice to lock the hand wheel by means of a check nut
screwed against the face or end of the boss. In place of this check nut we make
the bolt lever with two projections, one on each side of the hand wheel boss,
through the lower projection we put a set screw, by which we can screw the hand
wheel boss tight against the other projection, thereby preventing the possibility of
turning the hand wheel without having a key to unscrew the set screw.
Another improvement we make is by constructing the Desk and Seat stands so
as to enable the Seat of the Desk to be lifted up to form a back rail and for the
Desk top to be used as a Seat.
Or in other terms, a Desk suitable for infants constructed so as to be convertible
into a backed seat suitable for adults.
Dated this tenth day of December 1885
JOHN BLEZARD.
NORMAN BLEZARD.

page_text: in Schools and other Places.
We, JOHN BLEZARD and NORMAN BLEZARD, both of Grove Lane, Padiham, in
the county of Lancaster, Ironfounders, Machinists, and School Furniture Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
SCHOOL DESKS AND SEATS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement (see
the accompanying illustrations) :-
The We attaching of a wheel or wheels to the lower part of the Desk and Seat
stand wheels, so placed that they are above the floor line when the Desk or Seat is at
rest and in use, but are brought into contact with the floor by raising the end or side,
thereby throwing the weight upon the wheels, and facilitating movement in any
required directions forward, backward and endwise. The side and end elevations of a
Desk and Seat stand are-shown provided with such wheels appear in Figs. 1 and 2 of
the accompanying Drawings. In the said figs. F is the floor line and W are the wheels
two wheels being applied at the back of the desk and two at the end of the same.
The application of what is called the "Iron Bedstead-principle" to Desk and
Seat stands; viz. the conjoint use of cast iron with wrought iron burs or tubes, the
wrought-iron being either placed in its proper position in the mould when casting,
or applied afterwards and affixed by means of screw nuts. In Fig. 1, the wrought
iron bar BB is shown by dotted lines.
The use of a bracket T (see Fig. 7) having two projections Z, Z, instead of one to
resist the pressure of the grip pin, P.
The making the end of the For tocking the desk top we use a grip-pin, haring an
inclined face at one end as represented by Pin P, (see Figs. 4 and 6.) at any suitable
oblique angle, so that it may act as a wedge in pressing When the grip pin is pressed
against the arc C of the stand by the lever L. the said inclined face acts upon the beveled
face of such arc as a wedge and presses the lower part of the bracket T against the
stud S, upon which the bracket works.
We employ methods of fastening Desk tops, which permit the bookboard to extend
beyond the Desk stand at each end, by varying the position and connections of the
fastening bolt or rod which fastens both ends at once. Hitherto, as in Fig. 6, the
fastening bolt or rod R has passed through the stud S, which has prevented
the extension of the book board beyond the stand. (See Our improved method is
illustrated by Fig. 4, which is a vertical sectional drawing of one end of the Desk top,
book board and fastening appliances: see also and by Fig. 5, which shows the other
end. The defect is here obviated by putting the hookboard B below the stud S, and
passing the fastening bolt or rod R through a groove on the under side of the
bookboard, also and through a slide A that works in a slot OO in the bookboard.
The fastening bolt or rod R operates upon the slide A at the shoulder K in Fig. 4,
and at the screw nut N in Fig. 5.-The slide A then acts upon the lever L in place
of the red which forces the grip-pin P against the arc C and locks the desk top. The

page_text: fastening bolt or rod R is turned by applying any convenient handle or-serow at H, R
and the book-board may be extended to any desired length. This extension may also be
accomplished as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In Fig. 9 the lever L is placed about
parallel to the end of the Desk top D, and the fastening bolt or rod R passes
through it, and also through a hole in the projecting boss Z of the bracket T, so
that the rod lies immediately under the Desk top, and the lever I acts upon the
grip-pin P as it does in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a sectional plan of Fig. 9 on the
line A A. C is the arc, R the fastening bolt or rod, passing through the boss Z and
the lever L. Another plan which perinits the extension of the bookboard is shown
in Fig. 8. Here the fastening bolt or rod R is passed through a wedge W, which
is pressed between the are and the upper part of the bracket T by the eccentric
lever thus entirely dispensing with the lever Las used in Figs. 4 and 9.
The For operating upon the fastening bolt or rod by we sometimes use an eccentric
lever, in place of a handwheel or winged nut, as such a lever is shown at X in
Figs. 8 and 11.
The operating upon In some cases we operate the fastening bolts or rods by a lever
with excentrically situated joints and pins, so arranged as to push or draw the wedges
or lovers at both ends of the Desk by one operation. This arrangement is used only
when the rods are immediately under the Desk top or bookboard, See and is
illustrated by Figs. 12, and Fig. 13, in which is a plan of the elevation of Fig, 12,
D is the Desk top, R, R, are rods connected with bolt levers or wedges, which lock the
desk top and H is the handle of joint the lever H₁ to which the ends of the rods are
jointed and which lever is mounted upon a fulcrum at H2. The dotted lines in Fig. 13
show the mode of action.
The locking of Desk fasteners by a set screw. Hitherto the mode of locking
the handwheel - (see Fig. 3) has been by means of a check nut screwed against
the face at Q. In place of this, we make two projection J, J, on the lever L, and
through the end projection we put a set serer E, which screws the boss of the
handwheel tightly against the opposite projection, so that it cannot-be-moved
without a key-In Figs. 9 and 10, a winged nut N is used instead of the hand-
wheel, and locked in the same manner.
An improvement in Desk and Seat stands as is shown in Fig. 3. The seat A is
connected with each desk stand by means of an arm B to which a support C is jointed.
By lifting the seat A and its attachments into the position shown by the dotted plan,
a Seat is formed backed seat for adults is formed. The pin connecting the arm B with
the Desk stand runs in the slot S, and the whole is kept in place by a bolt at D.
The support C of the Seat can be turned by means of the pins and slot into the
position shown in by the dotted plan lines.
We are aware that two wheels have been applied to a sewing machine stand previously
to the date of our Invention but such wheels although only coming into use when the
stand would be tilted did not facilitate the movement in directions at right angles to one
another as when two sets of wheels are applied in accordance with our Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
-
1. The application of permanently attached in the manner set forth of the wheels W
to the backs and ends of Desk and Seat stan is of the indicated nature which wheels are
not in contact with the floor when the Desk and Seat are in use.
2. The application of what is termed the "Iron Bedstead principle" to Desk and
Seat stands, as previously defined.
3. 2. The use of grip pins P each having one end oblique angled, in Desk top
fastening appliances applied in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
4. 3. The extension of the book board extended beyond the Desk stands by means
of any in combination with the arrangement of fastening bolts or rods that fasten both
ends of Desk top by one operation, as set forth with reference to Figs. 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10
of the Drawings.

page_text: 5. 4. The use of wedges in Desk top fastening of the wedges W which are acted
upon by fastening bolts or rods, and fasten both ends by one operation as set forth.
6. The use of the set screw for operating on the boss of the hand wheel or
winged nut.
5. The use of an eccentric lever, or a joint lever with centre pine, operating
upon H in combination with the fastening bolts or rods R as set forth with reference
to Figs. 12 and 13 of the Drawings.
8. 6. The construction of a Desk suitable for children, so made that it may to be
converted convertible into a backed Seat for adults, the Desk top becoming the Seat,
and the Desk Seat becoming the back rail as set forth with reference to Fig. 3 of the
Drawings.
Dated this 7th day of September 1886.
Dated this 10th day of February 1891.
JOHN-BLEZARD.
NORMAN BLEZARD.
DUTTON & Fulton,
Agents for the Patentees.