IMPROVED MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF SEATS, STOOLS, CHAIRS, TABLES, AND DESKS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Corani, of Regent's Park Road, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS FOR
ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF SEATS, STOOLS, CHAIRS, TABLES, AND DESKS."
A communication from abroad by Jay Ess, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
Sealed the 12th May 1870, and dated the 8th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Corani at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the Sth March 1876.
EDWARD CORANI, of Regent's Park Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman.
IMPROVED MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF SEATS, STOOLS, CHAIRS, TABLES,
AND DESKS."
'
The object of this Invention is to provide a facile means for adjusting the height
of seats of various kinds; also of tables and desks to suit varying requirements.
In the many applications of which this Invention is susceptible, substantially the
same mechanical arrangement is employed.
In constructing a small table suitable for an invalid's bed or couch side, according to
this Invention the frame of the table is fitted with bearings to receive the transverso
axle of a rocking lever, and the table top is similarly provided with bearings to
receive the axle of a lever that is the counterpart of that attached to the frame of
the table. The frame and table top are also each fitted with a pair of horizontal
slotted guides which severally receive the ends of guide rods carried by the free
ends of the levers. These rocking levers are connected together by a pivot pin
from which depends a segment rack, and against this rack bears a spring bolt which
serves as a stop for retaining the table top at any desired height, but leaving it free
to be raised to its utmost limit.
A tendency may be given to the table top to rise by connecting the two levers
together by a tension spring. In order to depress the table top it will only be
necessary to draw back the spring bolt, and the top will then fall by its own
weight.
When applying this contrivance to chairs or other seats there should be interposed
between the frame of the chair and the frame of the stuffed or other seat, and
connected securely to the edges thereof, a frame of stiff canvas or other cloth which
Price Edi

page_text: is folded or creased so as to expand as the seat is raised, and collapse as it is
depressed. This will prevent the mechanism from being brought into view and
protect it from dust or from being tampered with.
In adapting the Invention to reading and writing desks the incline desired for
the desk top may be obtained by setting the mechanism at a corresponding incline;
or instead of this the desk top may be hinged at its front edge to a rising frame,
and held in an inclined position by any of the well known contrivances employed
for the purpose.
A great advantage of this adaptation of the Invention is that a school table with
a flat top may be readily converted into a single or double range of writing desks,
each one of which when required to be used may be adjusted to a height suited to
-individual scholars.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Corani in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th September
1876.
_EDWARD CORANI, of Regent's Park Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman.
"IMPROVED MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF SEATS, STOOLS, CHAIRS, TABLES,
AND DESKS."
A communication from abroad by Jay Ess, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.
The object of this Invention is to provide a facile means for adjusting the heights
of seats of various kinds; also of tables and desks to suit varying requirements.
In the many applications of which. the Invention is susceptible, substantially the
same mechanical arrangement is employed.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shewn the Invention as applied to a music
stool, to a twin stool, to an invalid's table, an occasional table, to writing desks, and
school desks or tables, and also to a music table or stand for four instrumentalists,
and in all these illustrations it will be seen that substantially the same mechanical
device is used for adjusting the height of the several articles of furniture.
In Sheet I. of the Drawings, Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a small pedestal table
'suitable for being placed beside the bed or couch of an invalid. This table is
adjusted to the greatest height requisite for the convenience of the patient.
Fig. 2 shews the table top at its lowest position.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mechanism used for adjusting the height of the table
top; and Fig. 4 is a section of the table taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 3.
In these Figures A is the pedestal of the table carried by tripod legs, and having
fixed to its upper end a rectangular box or frame B. C is a similar frame, but of
rather larger diameter, fitting telescopically over the frame B. To the frame C the
table top D is secured. The frame B is fitted with bearings a, a, to receive the
transverse axle b of a rocking lever c, and the frame C of the table top is similarly
provided with bearings a to receive the axle b1 of a lover c¹ that is the counterpart
of that attached to the frame B. The frames B and C are also fitted with a pair of
horizontal slotted guides d, d', which severally receive the ends of guide rods e, e¹,
carried respectively by the free ends of the levers c, c¹. The rocking levers are
connected together by a pivot pin f from which depends a segment rack g which
slides in a guide formed to receive it in the bottom of the frame B. Against this
rack g bears a spring bolt h which serves as a stop for retaining the table top at
any desired height, but leaving it free to be raised to its utmost limit.
A tendency may be given to the table top to rise by connecting the two levers c, c¹,
together by a tension spring, as shewn at Fig. 3, and by dots in Fig. 2.
In order to depress the table top from the raised position of Fig. 1, it will only
be necessary to draw back the spring bolt h, and the top will then fall by its own
weight, either to the position shewn in Fig. 2, or to any position intermediate of
that and the position shewn in Fig. 1. The segment rack g is furnished with

page_text: ratchet teeth to receive the bevilled end of the spring bolt h. When therefore the
table top is lifted to raise it to a higher position the spring bolt will yield to the
lateral pressure of the ratchet teeth, and permit of the rise of the table top to the
desired position.
In Sheet II. of the Drawings I have shewn the adaptation of the above described
mechanism to a music stool or seat.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the seat raised to its highest position; Fig. 2 is a
similar section of the seat depressed to its lowest position.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the supporting levers, and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing
the spring bolt in connection with the segment rack,
As the same letters of reference are used in these Figures and in all others
hereafter referred to, as in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, of Sheet I. for the like parts, no
further description of this mechanism will be required.
Fig. 5 shews in side elevation a twin stool or seat suitable for two performers on
a pianoforte or organ, requiring different heights of seat. In this Figure the scats
are shewn, the one at its highest elevation and the other at its most depressed
position, the adjustment of each being independent of the other by means of their
being fitted with independent elevating mechanism.
It will be understood that backs may be applied to the stool or twin seat when
thought desirable.
I would remark that when applying the mechanical adjustment to chairs or other
seats, I interpose between the frame of the chair and the frame of the stuffed or
other seat, and connected securely to the edges thereof a frame i, i, of stiff canvas
or other cloth. This canvas frame is folded or creased so as to expand as the seat
is raised, and collapse as it is depressed, and it will prevent the mechanism from
being brought into view, and protect it from dust or from being tampered with.
To break the jar of the falling top on the depression of the seat, I provide blocks of
rubber as at h, k, attaching the same to the frame of the stool.
In adapting the Invention to reading and writing desks, the incline desired for
the desk top inay be obtained by setting the mechanism at a corresponding incline,
as shewn in the sectional Figures 6 and 7, Sheet II. of the Drawings.
Instead of this arrangement the desk top may be hinged at its front edge to a
rising frame, as shewn at Figures 8 and 9, and it may be held in an inclined
position by any of the well known contrivances for the purpose.
A great advantage of this adaptation of the Invention is, that a school table with
a flat top may be readily converted into a single or double range of writing desks,
cacli one of which when required to be used may be adjusted to a height suited
to individual scholars.
This is illustrated by Figures 10 and 11, Sheet II., Fig. 10 being a front view of
a range of three school desks; and Fig. 11, a plan view thereof. The centre desk
in Fig. 10 is shewn as elevated to suit requirements of an elder scholar, and those
on either side are depressed to their lower position, the desk tops being slightly
slanted. When the desk tops are all depressed they form a level surface, as shewn
at Fig. 11.
Figures 12 and 13, Sheet II., shew the adaptation of the Invention to an
occasional table, the construction of which is substantially the same, so far as the
Invention is concerned, as that shewn in Sheet I. of the Drawings.
The manner of adapting the Invention to a music table suitable for a quartett
party is shewn at Figures 5, 6, 7, Sheet I. of the Drawings, Fig. 5 being a side
elevation shewing the music stands in their raised position; and Fig. 6, a similar
view with the stands depressed; Fig. 7 is a plan view of the table.. The table..is.
constructed with a rectangular frame E fitted with drawers F, and having a flat
top G, which is recessed to receive the music stands H, H, when depressed.
The corners of the table top occupying the angles between the music stands will
conveniently support lamps or candlesticks for the musicians, and when the table is
not required for performers, the stands may be lowered and the table then presenting
a flat surface may be used for ordinary purposes.
i

page_text: Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improved. Means for
adjusting the Height of Seats, Stools, Chairs, Tables, and Desks," as communicated
to me from abroad, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
wish it to be understood that under the abovo in part recited Letters Patent, I
claim, the mechanical arrangements above described with reference to Sheets I.
and II. of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I, the said Edward Corani, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
EDWARD CORANI. (L.S.)