IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING DESKS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Glendenning, of Chalk Hill Works, Norwich, in the
County of Norfolk, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING
DESKS.
TO
Cooled the 25th March 1879, and dated the 4th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Glendenning at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1879.
JOHN GLENDENNING, of Chalk Hill Works, Norwich, in the County of Norfolk.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SCHOOL DESKS."
My Invention relates to school desks, and comprises various novel features of con-
struction and arrangement as hereinafter described.
According to one part of my said Invention I construct a desk which forms a
box or receptacle for books and other articles, and which is provided with means
for closing it by making the inner side, that is to say, the side nearest the occupant,
movable or adjustable, in such a manner that when opened or raised it forms a
writing board. This part of my Invention is carried into practice as follows:-
I mount on suitable standards a box or receptacle of any desired or convenient
length, width, and depth, and which is open at the inner or front side. The top of
the said box is made with any convenient slope or inclination, and has connected
to it a cover board or flap which can be adjusted to hang down perpendicularly,
in which position it forms a cover or door that effectually closes the box, or it can
adjusted to rest in a convenient position to serve as a desk or writing board or
table, or can be raised still further to serve as a book or music rest.
be
I
the box with a capability of the required adjustment, but I prefer to adopt the
may adopt various devices for securing the said board or flap to the top of
following, that is to say, I form the top of the said box double or of two thick-
nesses of wood, which are so secured together as to form at the ends of the desk L
shaped grooves or channels. In these grooves I fit flanged metal pieces which
25 metal pieces or slides I hinge or joint metal arms or bars, which are secured to the
slide freely in the said grooves toward and from the front of the desk. To these
ends of the said flaps or boards. I prefer that these arms should be formed with
flanges or ribs, and that the ends of the flaps should be grooved to receive the said
ribs, which give great strength and firmness to the said flaps when adjusted for
writing
or reading.

page_text: on
The hinges or joints by which the said flaps are attached to the slides are so
arranged that when the latter are pulled forward or inward to the edge of the box
the flap may be turned down to close the box. But when the said slides are
pushed back the flap may be adjusted to rest in the required sloping position
the front or inner edge of the said box, and will then form a very convenient
while in this position, I provide suitable devices such as small cups in the under-
side of the flap, and corresponding studs or projections on the top of the box to
enter the said small cups. When it is desired to adjust the said flap to serve as a
book or music rest it is turned back on its hinges, the edges of the arms being so
formed at this part that they rest in depressions in the slides and are thereby
firmly supported in the desired position.
The top of the desk is preferably provided with a longitudinal recess covered
by a hinged lid, which when closed tightly covers the ink holders and other
articles placed in the said recess.
Any desired number of these desks may be placed side by side in a row and
supported by a single pair of standards.
It will be obvious that by the above described improved construction I provide
very commodious receptacles for books and other articles, and very free accom-
modation for entering and leaving the desks, and for sitting or standing at the
And I am also enabled to ensure exactly the proper position of the board
when adjusted for writing.
same.
According to another part of my said Invention I provide for the arrangement of
a series of single or separate desks in a row, one behind the other, upon a board,
beam, or sleeper, extending in a direction at right angles to the back and front of
the desks. Also means for supporting each desk in a very advantageous manner
upon a single standard.
For effecting these objects I employ standards of a peculiar and novel form
which afford great strength and steadiness with a comparatively small weight of
metal. The lower part of the said standards is of an inverted V-shape, each leg
being provided with a suitable foot or flange to be screwed upon the said sleeper.
From a point at or near the apex of this inverted V-shaped portion of the said
standard, one arm extends out horizontally and is provided with a cross bar to
give it a convenient form for supporting the seat. And from the same point the
said standard is extended up with an inclination corresponding, or nearly so, with
one arm of the said V-shaped portion to the top which is provided with a horizontal
cross-shaped part on which the desk is fixed.
This construction and arrangement enables me to furnish in a very economical
manner school desks which will possess great strength, and will be very rigidly or
steadily supported on their standands, while at the same time they are very con-
venient with regard to their portability and adaptability to the purpose of
teaching.

page_text: 1879.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Glendenning in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd July
JOHN GLENDENNING, of Chalk Hill Works, Norwich, in the County of Norfolk.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SCHOOL DESKS."
construction and arrangement of the parts of such desks as hereinafter described.
My Invention relates to school desks, and comprises various novel features of
The object of the said Invention is the manufacture of these desks with great
durability, and steadiness or rigidity, while increasing their convenience for the
economy and simplicity, without sacrificing any of the requirements of strength,
purposes of school teaching under conditions highly favorable to the hygienic
My Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which,—
requirements of the pupils.
Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a desk.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, and
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the same with the seat removed.
Figure 4 is a side view of the upper part of the said desk showing its hinged
part turned up.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line x, x, Figure 1, showing the said hinged
part turned down.
Figure 6 is a plan, and
Figure 7 is a side elevation of a series of single or separate desks supported upon
a beam or sleeper.
The same letters indicate similar parts throughout the Drawings.
In the
5 According to one part of my Invention I construct a desk with a box or recep-
tacle for books and other articles and with movable parts, whereby the said desk
may be readily adjusted into various positions to adapt it conveniently for writing,
reading, or other exercises. This part of my Invention is carried into practice as
follows, that is to say:-The top of the said box is made with any convenient
0 slope or inclination, and has connected to it a cover board or flap. This cover
may be adjusted to hang down perpendicularly, in which position it forms a cover
or door that effectually closes the box, or it can be adjusted to rest in a convenient
position to serve as a desk or writing board or table, or can be raised still further
to serve as a book or music rest. But I prefer to adopt the construction illustrated
35 in Figures 1 to 5 of the Drawings, in which the table or desk proper a and seat b
are supported immovably with regard to each other on the standard c.
desk illustrated in these Figures the desk proper or part a and the seat b are both
supported by and upon a single standard. I thereby obtain very cheaply a rigid
and steady construction of school desks. The part à forms a box or receptacle for
4 books and other articles, and is provided with a hinged cover a¹ which may be
turned back to open the box as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, the said cover
then forming a rest for drawings or writings to be copied ; a* is a chain for holding
the said cover when so turned back. This desk is also constructed with an adjust-
45 1,2, and 5 forms in combination with the cover a¹ an ample and conveniently
able part a² hinged at d; this hinged part when turned down as shown in Figures
sloping surface for books or other articles used by the pupils, and when this part
a² is turned up as shewn in Figure 4 it leaves space for the pupil to stand con-
veniently and comfortably between the desk and seat.
rest on a pin on
50 of the cover, for the purpose of supporting the same in a convenient position to
hold a book when the pupil is reading or learning therefrom. This part a³ forms a
convenient receptacle for a slate or other article, and is open at its front edge to
permit the same to be conveniently placed therein or removed therofrom. The
part a has slots or grooves e in its sides to receive and support a thin flat bar or

page_text: strip f of wood or other material, which assists in retaining the books in the proper
position in the said box and which may be used as a ruler. This improved con-
desks wherein the desk proper either with or without the seat is supported upon
struction of the part a with its hinged and adjustable parts is applicable to school
a single standard or upon two or more standards.
seat.
5
It will be seen by reference to Figures 1 and 2 that the seat 6 is constructed of
pieces b', 62, of wood of convenient form screwed upon the standard c which has an
extension c¹, to which I secure the piece or pieces b² forming the back of an
with regard to the health of the pupils, as it supports the back of the occupant of
The shape of the seat back as shewn in the Drawings is highly advantageous 1
the desk in writing or drawing, and prevents the acquirement of a habit of stooping
or lounging as in other seats, which allow the pupils useless space for leaning back
when not at work.
It will be observed that these desks although they have the desk proper and 1
seat fixed immovably with regard to each other are as a whole portable and may
be readily moved to any part of the school.
According to another part of my said Invention which is illustrated in Figures 6
and 7 I provide for the arrangement of a series of single or separate desks in a
row, one behind the other, upon a board, beam, or sleeper g. Also for supporting
each desk in a very advantageous manner upon a single standard.
In these Figures 6 and 7 I have shewn a series of three desks which are
numbered 1, 2, 3. For Nos. 2 and 3 I provide a peculiar and novel form of stan-
dard c* which affords great strength and steadiness with a comparatively small
weight of metal. The lower part c² of the said standard is of an inverted V-shape 2
as clearly shewn in Figure 7, each leg c³ being provided with a suitable foot or
flange c¹ to be screwed upon the said sleeper g. From a point at or near the
apex of this inverted V-shaped portion of the said standard an arm c³ extends out
horizontally, and is provided with a cross bar c to give it a convenient form for
supporting the seat b. And from the same point the part of the standard is
extended up, forming a continuation of one leg to the top of the standard
which is provided with a horizontal cross-shaped part cs whereon the part a of the
desk is fixed. Any desired number of these desks may be placed in a row or line upon
the beam, board, or sleeper g, and it will be seen by reference to the Drawing
that one of the said standards c* supports one desk a and the seat b for the desk
next in front of it. The desk No. 1 is supported upon a single standard c³ whose
construction as shewn in Figure 7 renders it very strong and steady, and capable
of being very cheaply manufactured, and the seat for the desk No. 3 is also sup-
ported upon a single separate standard c¹o.
This construction and arrangement enable me to furnish in a very economical
manner school desks which will possess great strength and will have the necessary
rigid or steady support on their standards, while at the same time they are very
convenient with regard to their portability and adaptability to the purpose of
teaching. It will be understood that I may use a similar arrangement of desks and
seats without the sleeper, that is to say, the standards shown in Figures 6 and 7
may be secured to the floor.
Having thus fully described my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A school-desk constructed with a box or receptacle for books and other
articles, and provided with a sloping hinged cover and an adjustable folding piece
arranged and operating as shewn in Figures 1 to 5 of the Drawings, or arranged
forth, and
for the purposes specified.
Second. The novel and peculiar construction of the standard for supporting the
desk and seat as described, and shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings, for the
purposes specified.
Third, A desk without a seat supported upon a single iron standard constructed

page_text: as shewn in Fig
for the purpose specified.
wise suitably constructed
Fourth. The combination of a series of school-desks in a line or row one behind
the other upon a portable plank, beam, or sleeper, or upon the floor, in such a manner
that the seat for each desk is supported by the standard which supports the next
adjacent desk, as above described, and as shewn in Figures 6 and 7 of the Drawings,
and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Glendenning, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN GLENDENNING. (L.S.)