IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE AND COMBINED SCHOOL DESK SEAT AND TABLE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Thomas, clerk in Holy Orders of
St Marys Vicarage, Peterborough in the County of Northampton for an
invantin.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Thomas at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT THOMAS, Clerk in Holy orders of St. Marys Vicarage
Peterborough in the county of Northampton. IMPROVEMENTS IN REVERSIBLE AND
COMBINED SCHOOL DESK SEAT AND TABLE,
The object of my Invention is to provide an improved School Desk, seat and
table combined which shall afford an increased facility and convenience in
furnishing schools, Mission Rooms, or Lecture halls and other similar buildings.
In carrying out my Invention I propose to construct the seat with a moveable
back, so arranged as to be readily adapted to form either a desk board, or table as
required
For this purpose I provide in the upper portion of the end standards suitable
slots within which are secured binding screws or other equivalent device and upon
these screws I arrange the desk board to travel and revolve, slots being formed at
either end of the same or in metal plates attached thereunto. I also provide a
book board of convenient form and size furnished with a hinged bead at its outer
edge whereby the angle of the desk or table can be regulated, and provision made
for the stowage of books &c. In the centre of this board is fixed a plate and
screw for the purpose of locking the table when in position.
By the above arrangements the back of the seat in being raised to form a desk
board turns upon the binding screws or studs until its under surface rests upon the
head of the book board.
When it is required to arrange the same as a table the screws in the end
standards are released and caused to move in a downward direction so as to reduce
the height of the table to the required extent, the hinged bead being then lowered
the table can at once be secured in position by means of the thumb screw or other
suitable device above described.
In addition to the above the Invention further provides for forming a support
for the back of children or adults when required. This is effected by forming one
side of the desk board with a hinged flap so arranged as to be capable of being
turned forward for the above purpose.

page_text: L Ink well.
By the above arrangements the back of the seat in being raised to form a desk
board C. turns upon the screws or studs. F. until its under surface. C. rests upon
the hinged bead K on the book board H. as shewn in Fig. 2.
When it is required to adapt the desk for the use of girls, the flap I. together
with the hinged bead. K. are turned over so as to fall within a corresponding recess
formed within the book board H as shewn in Fig. 3.
To arrange the same as a table, the flap I. alone is turned up so as to form a
support for the underside. C. of the desk board C. as will be seen upon reference
to Fig. 4.

page_text: This method of construction also provides for forming a support for the backs of
children or adults as shewn in Fig. 1.
I also arrange the ink wells or founts, in such a manner that the above
operations can readily be effected without their contents being thereby lost,
whilst at the same time a much greater and more efficient reservoir for the ink is
provided, as will be seen in Fig. 5.
And having now fully described and ascertained the nature and objects of my
Invention and the manner in which it is to be performed or carried into effect, I
would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein
set forth nor to the particular shape or configuration of the standards shewn but
what I do claim as novel and useful and desire to protect by my Letters Patent is,
1st. In the construction of reversible school desks the arrangement of the slotted
plate D. in combination with the slide. E. and Stud. F. substantially as and for
the purpose described
2nd. In the construction of reversible school desks the arrangement of the book
board H. together with the hinged bead. K. and flap. I. substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Thomas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord 1882.
MITAU