A New or Improved Invalid's Table or Reading Desk and Stand.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Invalid's Table or Reading Desk and Stand.
I WILLIAM JAMES SMITH of 16 Sedgwick Road Leyton in the County of
Essex Compositor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a new or improved invalid's table or reading desk and
stand and consists of an apparatus adaptable to the longitudinal rail or bar of a
bedstead and furnished with a movable arm carrying a small adjustable and
removable plate forming a table or desk.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a hollow vertical rod tapped at
the top to receive the screw threaded lower end of another vertical rod the upper
end of which carries a small wooden or other tray the first rod being furnished with
a clip or fastener for attachment to the above mentioned bedstead rail or bar. The
upper vertical rod is fitted at the top and underneath the tray with a union whereby
it is fixed to a horizontal rod the outer end of which is connected by a universal or
other joint to a movable rod designed to be placed across the invalid's bed. Upon
this movable rod is secured by means of two screw staples a wooden plate furnished
with a ledge upon its front edge and serving as a table desk or the like.
As my improvements are capable of some modification without departing from
the principle thereof I do not restrict myself to the material or the precise form of
the parts thereof.
Dated this 1st day of February 1892.
F. G. CASSELL,
Of Cassell & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Invalid's Table or Reading Desk and Stand.
I, WILLIAM JAMES SMITH of 16 Sedgwick Road Leyton in the County of
Essex Compositor 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 :-
My invention relates to a new or improved invalid's table or reading desk and
stand and consists of an apparatus adaptable to the longitudinal rail of a bedstead
and furnished with a moveable arm carrying a small adjustable and removeable
plate forming a table or desk.
In carrying my invention into practice I provide a hollow vertical rod tapped at
the top to receive the screw threaded lower end of another vertical rod the upper
end of which carries a small wooden or other tray, the first rod being furnished
with a clip or fastener for attachment to the above mentioned bedstead rail or bar.
The upper vertical rod is fitted at the top and underneath the tray with a union
whereby it is fixed to a horizontal rod the outer end of which is connected by a
universal or other joint to a moveable rod designed to be placed across the invalid's
bed, upon this moveable rod is secured by means of two screw staples a wooden
plate furnished with a ledge upon its front edge and serving as a table or desk.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved table or
reading desk and stand, Fig. 2 being a plan thereof. Figures 3 and 4 are details
drawn at an enlarged scale. Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
throughout the figures.

page_text: As applied to the side rail R of a bedstead Fig. 1 my improved apparatus
consists of a tubular upright rod a terminated with a cap provided with a central
spike (which bears on the floor) and serves to steady the apparatus, this lower
rod carrying a moveable clip secured to the rail R aforesaid which is placed
between the plate of the said clip and the tubular rod a this clip is fixed to the
rod a by the strap or band k which is tightened to the plate k¹ by the nuts k² fixed
upon the shanks of the screw threaded bolts k³ (Figs. 3 and 4).
The upper part of the rod a is screw threaded to receive the union i wherein
enters the lower end of the upright rod b which is screwed into the top of the rod a.
The upper and reduced end of the said rod b is secured within the T union e by
a pin passing through suitable perforations formed in the said union and body.
In the horizontal branch of the Tunion e is screwed the horizontal rod c which is
connected at its free end to an ordinary gas bracket or swivel joint to which is
f
likewise secured the rod d passing through two straps or bands 7 g¹ and secured
thereto by the screws r. These straps or bands are screwed upon the two
transverse and strengthening bars s fixed to the underside of the table or desk n
which is furnished on the top with a ledge o and two fasteners p serving to hold
books or the like in an open position.
The rod b is screw threaded upon the greater part of its length so as to be raised
or lowered according to requirements, the table or desk being moved on the joint f
across the top of the invalid's bed and adjusted at will on the rod d.
Having now fully 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 :-
The improved invalid's table or reading desk and stand arranged and constructed
substantially as herein described, and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th low of Annil 1900
F. G. CASSELL,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, Agent for the Applicant.