Improvements in and relating to Portable Book-stands and Writing-desks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Portable Book-stands and
Writing-desks.
I, THOMAS ROBB, of the City Saw Mills, Port Dundas, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:
This invention consists of and has reference to a new or improved construction
of light portable open book-stand or case and writing desk or table combined, suitable
as an ornamental and useful piece of furniture with revolving book cases or shelves
in the centre, and folding out shelves or table leaves at the end for writing on when
the stand or case is drawn out from the wall of the apartment, being mounted on
casters for that purpose; and which will be more convenient and useful than portable
book-cases as heretofore constructed.
The frame of this case is of a rectangular construction in plan, formed of four strong
but light ornamental posts or columns at the outer corners, bound together by longi-
tudinal and transverse rails at the sides and ends to support platforms or trays especially
at the lower and upper parts. These rails and trays bind the whole firmly together,
but leave a wide space in the centre for the revolving horizontal book trays, as will
be hereinafter described. The lowest tray would be supported on the under edge of
the lower end rails, which might be made open and ornamental on the outside, and
about five or six inches deep, to support the lower of two platforms above them, also
bound and supported by two narrow longitudinal rails, or it might be end rails,
between which would be fitted narrow end sliding drawers, or front drawers when
supported on the end rails, for containing writing paper or other loose paper, pamphlets,
or drawing materials. While a central transverse web partition would be fitted.
between the lowest tray and the under platform of these drawers, to strengthen both
and leave the space on each side of it for books, magazines, or other equivalents to be
laid in from the front on the lower tray. Immediately above the said central space
left for the rotating book cases or shelves, a tray would be mounted similar to the
lower one described, on end and side ornamental rails between the corner columns;
and above this tray and space left also for the inserting of books either from the sides
or ends, a top tray or table part would be mounted at the top of the columns, with
upward and outward projecting edges or mouldings to be able to lay or stand loose
books or other articles upon. This projecting edge moulding for retaining the
objects on the top, would form an ornamental entablature to the whole stand, and the
capitals of the columns would be carved over or under it to give architectural and
ornamental finish to the whole. In the central space between the top shelves and
drawers, a central vertical rotating spindle would be mounted to swivel on a bush
plate below, in the platform above the drawers and the tray above the open space.
This central spindle would have a broad collar or disc secured on it to support the
upper swivelling tray by a strong central ornamental boss to which the tray would be
secured by two light vertical longitudinal webs and ornamental open rail ends,
forming double book shelves, one on each side, which would rotate or swivel with
the spindle. Another or lower double book-case or shelf, similar to the top one
described but preferably larger, would be mounted by its central boss on a tube and
supporting disc rotating loose on the lower part of the central spindle of the upper
book shelves. A further improvement consists in mounting at each end between the
columns, a writing desk or shelf swivelling or folding down in two parts jointed
together, so as to fold in under the tray immediately above the book shelves at a proper
The inner part
height for writing on and clear of the upper rotating book shelves.
of this shelt would be hinged by its inner edge to the posts by brass swivelling
trunnions or other equivalent, and the two parts would be hinged at their central
joint to each other, so that the inner part would fold in upwards and the outer
part fold close to it downwards parallel to the posts at the ends. The outer

page_text: edge ends of this outer division of the shelf would be hinged to the outer ends of
angular stay levers having their inner ends fulcrummed to the posts at a very con-
siderable angle down below the fulcra of the shelf, and these stay levers would
each be formed in two parts jointed to each other as an elbow joint with abutting
or stop joints above, so that the two parts of the lever can fold upwards and inwards
with the two parts of the shelf, which when folded out straight also straighten the
levers to retain the shelf in horizontal or angled position for writing or laying papers
on.
On the ends of the upper rotating book-case, which are nearly level with these
folding desks, hollow curved trays would be mounted, formed out of either thin
sheet brass or wood for holding pens and pencils. At one corner post above one or
both desks, a swivelling plate would be hinged to or under the end rail with a recess
in it for holding a hanging glass or porcelain ink bottle or cup, which could be
swivelled in and out as the writing desk was to be used, and be protected and hid
under the ornamental front, and end rails clear of the rotating book shelves, when
'not in use.
Although each end writing desk or shelf has been described as folding in two parts,
with a joint in the centre, for the convenience of taking up less end space when folded
in parallel with the columns, it will be understood that each shelf or desk may be
made in one width without a joint, by mounting its inner edge fulcra in vertical
slots in the posts so as to rise when folded in, and have the stay levers jointed near
their centres, so that they would fold up and in vertically with the shelf parallel with
the posts as the fulcra rose in the slots. The fulcra rest on the bottom of the slots
when the desk is folded out horizontally. It will be further understood that the
arrangement of platforms and trays described, below and above the central rotating
book-cases, might be very materially altered, such as having more shelves or being
fitted with pigeon-holes or drawers for papers and other articles, without departing
from the essential features of this improve portable book case and writing desk.
Dated the 12th February 1890.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Portable Book-stands and
Writing-desks.
I, THOMAS ROBB, of the City Saw Mills, Port Dundas, Glasgow, Lanarkshire,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement in writing. reference being had to the accompanying sheet
of drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This invention consists of and has reference to a new or improved construction
of light portable open book-stand or case and writing desk or table combined,
suitable as an ornamental and useful piece of furniture with revolving book cases or
shelves in the centre, and folding out shelves or table leaves at the ends for writing
on when the stand or case is drawn out from the wall of the apartment, being mounted on
castors for that purpose; and which will be more convenient and useful than portable
book-cases as heretofore constructed.
And in order that my said invention, and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of
my new or improved combined portable open book-stand or case and writing desk
or table, and showing one of the end writing tables folded out and down ready for
use, and the other table on the left hand side as folded up within the frame.
Figure 2 is a se tional end elevation corresponding to Figure 1.
And
Referring to these drawings:-The frame of this case is of a rectangular construction
in plan, formed of four strong but light ornamental posts or columns A at the outer
"corners, bound together by longitudinal rails A³, A", A¹¹, and transverse rails or
!

page_text: divisions A³, Aª, at the sides and ends to support platforms or trays B, C, D, E,
especially at the upper and lower parts. These rails A² to. A' and trays or
shelves B, C, D, E, bind the whole firmly together, but leave a wide space S, S,
in the centre between the platforms C and D for two revolving horizontal book
trays F and G as will be hereinafter described. The lowest tray E is supported on
the under edge of the lower end rails and divisions A, which might be made open and
ornamental on the outside, and about five or six inches deep, as shown at A³ in
Figure 2 to support the lower frame D¹ of the platforms D above them, also bound
and supported by the two narrow longitudinal rails A, or it might be end rails,
between which are fitted narrow end sliding drawers D2, or it might be front drawers
when supported on the end rails, for containing writing paper or other loose paper,
pamphlets, or drawing materials. While the central transverse web partition A, is
fitted between the lowest tray E, and the under platform D₁ of these drawers to
strengthen both and leave the space on each side of it open at A6 for books, magazines,
or other equivalents to be laid in from either side on the lower tray E. Immediately
above the said central spaces S left for the rotating book cases or shelves F, G, the
tray or shelf C is mounted similar to the lower one E described, on side and end
ornamental rails A" A³ between the corner columns A ; and above this tray C and
spaces A left over it for the inserting of books either from the sides or ends, the
top tray or table part B is mounted at the top of the columns A on the rails A² with
upward and outward projecting edges or mouldings B₁ formed on the upper part of
the rails A2 all round, to be able to lay or stand loose books or other articles upon.
This projecting edge moulding B', for retaining the objects on the top, forms an
ornamental entablature to the whole stand, and the capitals a of the columns A are
carved over or under it to give architectural and ornamental finish to the whole. In
the central space S, S, between the top shelf C and shelf D of the drawers, a central
vertical internal rotating spindle f is mounted to swivel on a bush and footstep plate c,
and d, in the platform D above the drawers, and under the tray C, above the open
space. This central spindle f is preferably made tubular of brass and has a broad
collar or disc¹ secured on it to support the upper swivelling tray F by a strong
central ornamental boss F1 to which the tray F is secured by two light vertical
longitudinal webs F1, and ornamental open rail ends F, forming double book shelves,
one on each side, which would rotate or swivel with the spindle f, f¹. Another or
lower double book-case or shelf G similar to the top one F described but preferably
longer, is mounted by its central boss G₁, and longitudinal rails G" on an outer
tubular spindle g, and supporting disc g¹ rotating loose on the lower part of the central
spindle ff of the upper book shelves, and having ornamental ends G2 similar to F²
of the upper book shelf F. A further improvement consists in mounting at each end
between the columns A a writing desk or shelf H H swivelling or folding down in
one piece (or it might be two parts jointed together in the centre) at a proper height
for writing on, as shown on the right hand of Figure 1, and so as to fold or slide in
from either end under the tray C immediately above the book shelves, as shown dotted
in on the left of Figure 1. The inner end of this shelf H are hinged to the posts A
by brass swivelling trunnions or other equivalents at H2 which slide up in vertical
curved and longitudinal grooves H" formed on the inside of the columns A and side
rails A as shown dotted in in Figure 1, and when folded out as shown, the fulcrum H*
resting in the bottom of the grooves H". The outer edge ends of the outer division
or transverse rail H¹ of the shelf H are hinged at h¹ to the outer and upper ends of
angular stay levers h having their lower and inner ends fulcrumed at. ² to the
inside of the columns or posts A at a very considerable angle down below the fulcra H³
of the shelf H, H'. These two levers h, h, thus stay the shelf H when folded out
straight and retain it in horizontal or slightly angled position outwards for writing or
laying papers on, as in icated on the right of Figure 1. On the ends F2 of the upper
rotating book-case F, which are nearly level with these folding desks H hollow
curved trays F3 are mounted, formed out of either wood or thin sheet brass for
holding pens and pencils, and having holes in their ends for the insertion of glass or
metal ink bottles F' which would rotate clear of the posts A and lower ends of the

page_text: rails A". It will be understood that the end tables H, H¹, might be mounted to
fold out in other ways, as by having the shelf H jointed in the centre in two parts as
also the stays near the centre with stop hinges which would form single shelves and
stays when folded out, although the arrangement shown is preferred; and that the
arrangement of platforms and trays B, C, D, E, described, below and above the
central rotating book-cases F and G might be very materially altered, such as having
more shelves or being fitted with pigeon-holes or drawers for papers and other
articles in the spaces A°, A7, without departing from the essential features of this
improved portable hook-case and writing-desk combined.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The construction or arrangement and combination of the parts of a portable
standard frame or case carrying platforms or trays and drawers, and with revolving
or swivelling book stands or shelves in the centre, and sliding or folding out writing
desks or tables at the ends, substantially as herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In a portable book stand or case the combination of revolving or swivelling
book stands or shelves in the centre, each revolving independently of each other,
substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
Third. In a portable book stand or case the construction and combination of
revolving or swivelling book stands or shelves in the centre, and sliding or folding out
desks or tables at the ends, substantially as herein described, in reference to and
shown in the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. The construction and combination of a portable book stand or case
carrying platforms or trays, and drawers, with sliding or folding out writing desks or
tables and supporting stays at the ends, substantially as herein described, in reference
to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 12th November 1890.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.