IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL DESKS AND FORMS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Stokoe, of North Shields, in the County
of Northumberland, Teacher, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SCHOOL DESKS AND FORMS,"
Sealed the 26th January 1872, and dated the 27th July 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Stokoe at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th July 1871.
I, ROBERT STOKOɛ, of North Shields, in the County of Northumber-
land, Teacher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL DESKS AND FORMS," to be as follows:-
The principal object of my Invention is the production of a superior
school desk and form with every convenience required for pupils.
A secondary object of my said Invention is to so construct and
arrange the several parts of the said desk and form that they may be
easily converted to other useful purposes.
The desk is mounted on metal standards, each with two legs, which
remain in the same position whatever the angle or slope of the desk
may be.

page_text: My improved desk consists of a sloping top, lid, or flap, which will be
called hereafter the flap, for writing, cyphering, drawing, and perform-
ing other school duties or purposes upon; this flap can be fixed at any
desired slope or angle by means of brackets or arms attached to the
standards, one at each end; each of these brackets has a pin or notch
on its upper end, which pin or notch works in a groove containing a
ratchet under the said flap in such a manner that it can only be put in
and taken out at one place, and is easily adjusted to any slope or angle.
At the back of this flap and opposite the pupil I form and firmly fix a
case or covered receptacle about three or four inches wide and about
ten inches deep, more or less, for holding books, drawing boards, slates,
pens, pencils, rulers, inkstands, and other similar articles required or
used by scolars. The lid of this roceptacle when closed is horizontal;
it is hinged to the back or outer vertical side thereof by stop hinges, or
other convenient means, so placed that when the said lid is opened it
stands at a suitable angle to form a rest for books, drawings, &c. from
which the pupil may be copying or be transcribing. The lid is held in
this position by means of a rule joint, or it may be so held by brackets,
quadrants, or other suitable means. A catch is also provided to secure
the lid when closed. The bottom part of this receptacle has a narrow
longitudinal opening in the inner side thereof, for the purpose of
abstracting any small articles that may have fallen down or dropped
in, and for receiving the outer edge of the shelf hereafter described.
On the inside board of this receptacle, next to the pupil, are fixed
small pegs or other similar means for hanging caps or other small
articles thereon.
Under the desk flap I provide a horizontal shelf about the same
length as the flap, and of any convenient width, the outer edge of the
under side of which shelf rests upon the bottom of the receptacle above
described. Near to the opposite or inner edge of the under side of
which shelf I fix two metal plates having each two flanges or ears
projecting therefrom, between which flanges or ears one end of a metal
bracket or arm is jointed, the other end of which bracket or arm is
jointed to the standards of the desk, so that the shelf can be moved out
of place, and stowed aside at pleasure.
This shelf is for the purpose of
holding books, knitting, needlework, and other articles required or used
by scolars.
The form is mounted on curved metal standards, to which is attached
by a joint and slot a metal upright or arm forked at its upper end to

page_text: receive the vertical board afterwards described. These standards are
designed for standing firmly on the floor without being screwed thereto;
the said form consists of a top board or seat of ordinary dimensions,
with or without a folding back rest. Under and to the seat, along its
entire length or thereabouts, a broad vertical board is fixed to act as a
support to the seat, and to attach pegs thereto for hanging satchels and
such like articles on; my intention being that the pupil shall have every-
thing belonging to him within his reach when sitting at his desk.
The flap, the shelf, the receptacle and the form may be made of deal,
mahogany, or other suitable wood, screwed or otherwise fixed or attached
to the metal standards or brackets.
Loops or eyes are cast on the standards of the desk for the purpose
of receiving metal rods or tubes, which rods or tubes form ties to the
standards, and can be used as foot or hat rests.
In constructing my improved desk and form I have so arranged the
several parts and their modes of junction that when not in use for
school duties they may be easily made available for other purposes,
the standards or legs and the foot or hat rests retaining their normal
positions.
The desk may be converted into a table by simply closing and
securing the lid of the receptacle and raising the sloping flap in a
horizontal position by means of the bracket and ratchet before described,
when the latter will be level or form one plane with the top of the said
receptacle, which receptacle always remains rigidly fixed in its original
vertical position. If required, two desks may be placed back to back in
order to make a larger table. The forms may be used as seats to the
tables, or may be moved away.
For concerts, public meetings, &c. the desk may be converted into a
seat, bench, or lounge with a sloping back, without interference with
the contents of the receptacle, by moving the shelf down to the level
or height required for the seat, the backets or arms which support the
shelf having pieces cast on them, the flat surfaces of which take the
horizontal plane when lowered, and thus form the bearings of the seat.
The desk flap is then let down and forms the back of the seat. The
top of the receptacle may be used for placing books upon and the like
uses.
The form can be removed to supply extra seats in other parts of the
room

page_text: On occaissions of public worship or during Divine service my improved
form can be used as a kneeling form on folding down the back of the
seat, and turning the said seat into the vertical position, when the
strengthening piece becomes the kneeling form by means of a joint and
slot by which the upper parts are attached to the standards.
When it is desired to restore the form to its original position the slot
at the joint allows the lower end of the metal upright to fall into a
socket, where it remains firmly fixed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Stokoe in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 27th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
STOKOE, of North Shields, in the County of Northumberland, Teacher,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Stokoe, Her special licence
that I, the said Robert Stokoe, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert Stokoe, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and v erd
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SCHOOL
DESKS AND FORMS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Robert Stokoe, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
moaths next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent,

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Stokoe, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
The principal object of my said Invention is the production of a
superior or improved school desk and form, with every convenience
required for pupils.
A secondary object of my said Invention is to so construct and arrange
the several parts of the said desk and form that they may be easily
converted to other useful purposes.
My improved desk is mounted on metal standards, each having two
legs, which remain in the same position whatever the angle or slope of
the desk may be.
In order that my said Invention may be more fully comprehended,
and be more easily understood, I now proceed to explain the same with
the aid of the accompanying Drawing, wherein the same letters apply
to the same parts in the several Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved school desk; Fig. 2 is an
elevation of either side (both presenting the same appearance) of my
improved school form; Fig. 3 is a plan view of both form and desk,
the latter having the lid or cover of the receptacle at the back raised
so as to shew a plan view of the said receptacle for receiving such
articles as are required or used by scholars; Fig. 4 is an end view of
the desk and form, shewing the metal standards and brackets or arms
which support the flap and shelf of the desk and the seat of the form ;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged section of the said standards taken on the
lines A, B; Fig. 6 is a plan view (looking upward) of the under side
of the upper part of the ratchet; and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section
thereof.
My improved desk consists of a sloping top, lid, or flap a, herein-
after called the flap, for writing, cyphering, drawing, or performing
other school duties or purposes upon; this flap can be set or fixed at
any desired slope or angle by means of the brackets or arms 6 as shewn
in Fig. 4; each of these brackets has a pin or notch at its upper end,
which pin or notch works in a groove c, Fig. 6, containing a ratchet d
under the Hap a, in such a manner that it can only be put in and

page_text: The
Taken out at one place or opening e. At the Dack ΟΙ LOIS Dap, and
opposite the pupil, I form and firmly fix a case or covered receptacle f.
three inches wide and ten inches deep (more or less), the upper side
.of which is perforated as shewn in Fig. 3 for holding books, drawing
boards, and slates at g, rulers, ink wells, and similar articles at ; in
the said upper side of the said case I form a semicircular groove i; and
also a similar semicircular groove in the under side of the lid ƒ', so
placed that when the lid is closed a circular groove is formed the
whole length of the case, as shown at 22, Fig. 4, for holding pens,
pencils, and other small articles. The lid of this case when closed
is horizontal; it is hinged to the back or outer side f² thereof by stop
hinges or the said lid may be made to project half an inch (more or
less) beyond the desk, and thereby stop itself when raised upright, as
shewn in Fig. 4, and may then be used as a rest for books, drawings,
.&c. from which the pupil may be copying or be transcribing.
lid is held in this position by means of a rule joint j, bracket or
quadrant at each end, or by a catch in the centre. A catch is also
provided to secure the lid in place when closed. In the bottom part
of the inner side of this case is a longitudinal opening 13 for the
purpose of abstracting small articles that may have fallen through
the perforations g, h, and also for receiving the outer edge of the
shelf. On the inside board of this case, next to the pupil, are fixed
small pegs for hanging caps or other small articles thereon. Under
the flap and about the same length I provide a shelf k. the outer
edge of which rests upon and is attached (by a hasp and eye at each
end) to the bottom of the said case.
said shelf I fix two metal plates
projecting therefrom, between which
of the metal brackets m is jointed, the
jointed to the standards n of the desk, so that the shelf & can be moved
out of place and stowed aside at pleasure. This shelf is for the purpose of
holding books, knitting, needlework, and other articles required or used
by scholars. Loops or eyes o are cast on the standards of the desk,
for the purpose of receiving the ends of metal rods or tubes p, which
rods or tubes form ties to the standards, and can be used as foot or hat
rests.
Near the opposite edge of the
having each two flanges or ears
flanges or ears one end of each
other end of which bracket is
My improved school form consists of a top board or seat s of ordinary
dimensions, with or without a folding back rest. Under and to the
seat along its entire length or thereabouts a broad vertical board s¹ is

page_text: fixed to act as a support to the seat and to attach pegs thereto for
hanging satchels and such like articles on, my intention being that
the pupil shall have everything belonging to him within his reach
when sitting at his desk. This form is mounted on curved metal
standards 7, to each of which is attached by a pin and slot a metal
upright or arm forked at its upper end, as shewn in Fig. 6, to receive
the said vertical board s'. The standards of both desk and form are
cast in one piece, as shewn, or the parts which unite the two
standards may be made separately, and be fastened to the feet of the
standards by any ordinary means; or the said parts t may be dispensed
with altogether, the said standards being designed so as to stand alone
firmly on the floor without being fastened thereto. The flap, the shelf,
the case or receptacle, and the form may be made of deal, mahogany,
or other suitable wood screwed or otherwise fixed or attached to the
metal standards or brackets.
In constructing my improved desk and form I have so arranged the
several parts and their modes of junction that when not in use for
school duties they may be easily made available for other purposes,
the standards and the foot and hat rests retaining their normal
positions.
The desk may be converted into a table by simply closing and
securing the lid f¹ of the receptacle, and raising the flap a to the same
horizontal plane as the said lid by means of the bracket b and ratchet d.
If required two desks may be placed back to back in order to make a
larger table.
The forms may be used as seats to the tables, or they may
be moved away when made separate.
For concerts, public meetings, &c. the desk may be converted into
a seat, bench, or lounge with a sloping back, without interference with
the contents of the receptacle, by moving the shelf down to the
level or height required for the seat, the brackets m which support
the said shelf having pieces m¹ cast on them, the flat surfaces of which
nearly take the horizontal plane when lowered, and thus form the
bearings of the seat, as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 4. The flap a is
then let down to a sloping position, and thus forms the back of the
The top f¹ of the receptacle may be used for placing books upon
and the like uses.
seat.
When separately constructed the form can be removed to supply
f

page_text: On occasions of public worship, &c. my improved form can be used
as a kneeling form on folding down the back of the seat and turning
the seats into a nearly vertical position by means of a joint and slot
at u, by which the upper parts are attached to the standards, when the
strengthening board s¹ becomes the kneeling form, as shewn by dotted
lines in Fig. 4.
When it is desired to restore the form to its original position, the
slot at the joint u allows the lower end of the upright r to fall into a
socket formed in the upper part of the standard 9, where it remains
firmly fixed.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim
as my Invention, and desire to secure by the aforesaid in part recited
Letters Patent,—
Firstly. A complete and convenient school desk, substantially as
herein described, and the arrangements by which it is converted into
a table or a backed seat without removing any of the books, ink wells,
pens, rulers, slates, &c., or in any way interfering with its completeness
as a desk.
Secondly. The form or seat, and the arrangement by which it is
converted into a kneeling form.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Stokoe, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
ROBERT STOKOE. (L.S.)