Improvements in Writing Tables or Desks.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Writing Tables or Desks.
I, HEINRICH HEINE, of 12 Gr. Wall Strasse, Hannover, Germany, Furniture
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to a writing table or desk, which can be used as
advantageously, when standing, as when sitting upon a chair or stool of usual size.
Separate writing surfaces are used for these purposes, and both surfaces can be used
independently of each other. The leaf, which is used when sitting, can be slid into
the body of the desk or table so that all documents, &c., upon the same, can,
easily be hidden out of sight.
This improved writing table or desk has also the advantage that all the drawers
with the exception of the middle one, when the table is in use, are unlocked but are
simultaneously locked upon withdrawing the leaf which closes the entire table or
desk.
On the accompanying drawings representing this invention:—
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the table or desk; the half to the left of the centre
line showing the desk in the closed position and the half to the right showing the
same open and ready for use when sitting.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the table or desk.
Fig. 3 is a section upon the line x-x of Fig. 1 and
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show details of the invention.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the writing surface used when standing is represented by A,
this surface is, of course, arranged at a convenient height for this purpose.
The space beneath this writing surface A is closed by means of the leaf B. By
unlocking this leaf and turning it upon the hinge by which it is attached to the
plate or slide E it can be slid into the body of the desk upon the guides g. Above
this leaf B, when in its closed position, the slide D is arranged so as to slide upon
guides g on both sides.
When this slide D is pulled so far out of the body of the
desk that the sides of the writing surface C come into contact with the projecting
parts b, the leaf C is in a convenient position for writing when sitting.
"
The guides of the slides D and E are represented in section, on an enlarged
scale, at Fig. 4. A T-iron e is let in each side of the slides and engages the projection
which forms one member of a T-iron attached to the side of the desk. By this
means the slide is truly guided and can be also pulled in and out with the exercise of
but slight force.
The writing surface C is hinged at h to the slide D, (which latter is horizontal) and
is maintained in an inclined position by means of the projections i upon two springs k.
The writing surface C can be brought into a horizontal position by simultaneously
pushing back the springs & by which means the leaf C is disengaged and falls on
to the upper surface of the slide D, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5.
When it is no longer desired to use the desk in a sitting position, then the leaf D
is slid into the body of the desk and the leaf B can then be pulled out, turned
upwards, and pressed against the projecting parts b until the catch of the lock is
caught.

page_text: An arm of the lever (Fig. 3) is caught or rather depressed by the back end of the
slide E, when the leaf B is opened or unlocked and slid into the body of the desk.
This lever is loosely attached to the body of the desk by means of the screw 8 so that
it is capable of a certain amount of motion and can, when the end is depressed,
raise the rod m, which is arranged in guides upon the inner surface of the outer
sides of the desk or table, as shown in perspective to an enlarged scale in Fig. 6,
from which figure it will also be seen that the projections n engage in corresponding
recesses o in the drawers 2 and thus lock the same.
The raising of the rod m by the depression of the upwardly projecting end of the
lever simultaneously unlocks all the drawers with the exception of the middle one,
so that, when using the writing surface C, the drawers and indeed the whole table
can be used. To lock up the desk the leaf B is drawn out and turned into the
position shown on the left hand in Fig. 1, in which position it (the leaf) can be
locked. The slide E being attached to the leaf B is, upon the withdrawal of the
latter, drawn clear of the upwardly projecting arm of the lever and this allows the
rod m to fall and lock the drawers z. Of course, the drawers to be locked must
first be entirely closed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is :
1. A writing desk or table in which the leaf for closing the space designed to
receive the slides (D) and (E) is hinged to the slide (E) so that, upon lowering the
leaf (B) and sliding the same into the writing table, the slide (E) depresses one end
of the lever (1) and thus actuates the device for locking one or more of the drawers (Z),
substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings annexed.
2. In a writing desk or table in which the leaf for closing the space designed to
receive the slides (D) and (E) is hinged to the slide (E) so that, upon lowering the
leaf (B) and sliding the same into the writing table, the slide (E) depresses one end
of the lever (1) and thus actuates the bolt for locking one or more of the drawers (Z),
the hinging of the leaf (C), forming the writing surface, to the slide (D) and for the
purpose of obtaining the desired inclination of the leaf (C) the supporting of the
same upon the movable supports i, k, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the drawings annexed.
3. A writing table which, by the use of the upper surface (A), can be made to
serve as a desk for writing when standing, and which also by opening the leaf (B)
and drawing out the leaf (C) can be used when sitting substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 4th day of August 1897.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.