Improvements in Reading Desks.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reading Desks.
I JOSEPH ROBERT MCVOY, of 2, Cheltenham Crescent, Harrogate, in the
County of York, Hosier Glover and Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in reading desks or book or paper rests
and has for object the construction of such articles in suchwise that they are more
easily and readily adjusted to a required position than heretofore has been usual.
My improved desk comprises a portable pillar or upright, hollow or otherwise in
or on which is mounted a rod or tube free to turn on the axis thereof if desired and
for vertical adjustment. On the top of this rod or tube may be placed a small
table
upon which books or papers may be placed till wanted, but at the same time
permitting of access to the said rod or tube, on or into which I mount a horizontal
radial and tubular arm or its equivalent capable of moving around the axis of the
aforesaid pillar or the rod or tube in connection therewith to any required position.
This horizontal arm I make telescopic in two or more parts so as to be capable of
elongation. To the extreme end of this arm and free to turn on a vertical axis, I
mount a piece of mechanism comprising a worm journalled between bearings and
whose periphery is milled so as to be easily turned by thumb and finger, this takes
into a toothed segment that turns around a horizontal axis and capable of moving
through a suitable number of degrees. The reading desk on which is placed a
book or paper, being attached to the said toothed segment it will be obvious that
it can, by turning the said worm, be placed at any desired angle for the convenient
reading of such book or paper.
Dated this 28th day of March 1891
JOSEPH ROBERT MCVOY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Reading Desks.
I, JOSEPH ROBERT MCVOY, of 2, Cheltenham Crescent, Harrogate, in the
County of York Hosier, Glover and Outfitter, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in reading desks or book or paper rests
and has for object the construction of such articles in suchwise that they are more
easily and readily adjusted to a required position than heretofore has been usual
with such articles.
My improved desk comprises a portable pillar or upright, hollow or otherwise in
or on which is mounted a rod or tube free to turn on the axis thereof if desired
and also arranged for vertical adjustment. On the top of this rod or tube may be
placed a small table upon which books or papers may be placed till wanted while
at the same time access can be had to the said rod or tube upon or into which I
mount a horizontal radial arm either tubular or its equivalent capable of moving
around the axis of the aforesaid pillar or the rod or tube in connection therewith
to any required position.
This horizontal arm I make either telescopic or in suchwise as to be capable of
elongation thus placing the desk nearer or farther from the main pillar and either
fix at the extreme end of such arm or free to slide thereon a piece of mechanism
comprising a worm journalled between bearings and whose periphery is milled to
Price 8d1

page_text: facilitate its being easily turned by thumb and finger, or a handle may be placed
on the axis of the worm for the same purpose, the worm takes into a toothed
sector that turns around a horizontal axis and is capable of moving through a
suitable number of degrees. The reading desk for carrying a book or paper being
attached to the said toothed sector it will be obvious that it can, by turning the
said worm, be placed, say from the horizontal position (a stop being provided for
ensuring this,) at any convenient angle for the reading such hook or paper.
In the annexed drawings,
Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the improved reading desk, (partly in section)
according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation in part and partly in section.
Figs. 3 and 4, show in sectional elevations to an enlarged scale, the mechanism
for regulating the angle of the reading desk.
Similar letters and numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.
a, is the principal upright or pillar upon which I place a rectangular or other form
of table .. is a rod or tube mounted in the pillar a, and if desired is free to turn
around the axis thereof and can be moved up and down therein for vertical
adjustment and fixed by the set screw c 1. The top of the rod or tube receives
the part d, capable of an angular adjustment around the common axis of the
pillar and rod or tube c, and of being fixed by the set screw c 2. Through the
part d, is passed the horizontal radial arm e, either solid or tubular capable of
sliding through the part d. for elongation when required to place the desk j, a
suitable distance from the pillar a. Upon the arm e. for minor adjustments is the
part f, which slides easily thereon and into which is pivoted the mechanism g. h. i.
for carrying the desk jg, is the framework of the said mechanism, shown in
section. g, is the pivot received by and free to turn in the part -h, is the
worm milled on its periphery, mounted on its axis 1; on the same axis may be
placed the handle 2, the worm may be turned as previously referred to or by the
handle 2.-i, is the toothed sector mounted upon its axis i 1.-i2, is a stop or
shoulder for preventing the desk j, from being moved beyond the horizontal plane
in the backward direction,-j1 shows in dotted lines the extreme angular position
to which it can be placed to face the reader.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have
it understood that the general arrangement of reading desks being well known I
lay no claim thereto, but what I consider to be novel, original and useful and
therefore claim is :-
e,
In reading desks the use of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and to
an enlarged scale in Figs. 3 and 4, all sectionally, in its combination with reading
desks to which it may be applicable, comprising a part, capable of sliding on the
bar and the frame gy, mounted in said f, and having a horizontal swivelling
movement; a worm h, mounted in the frame g. milled on its periphery to facilitate
being turned by thumb and finger or which may be turned by a handle h 2; a
toothed sector i, carried by the said frame g, and actuated by the worm h, partly
around its axis i 1. Upon this sector the mounting of the reading desk j, capable
of being placed as desired, also a stop i2, on the said sector to prevent the desk
during its backward movement from being placed beyond the horizontal position,
substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 18th day of December 1891. .