Improvements in Portable Reading Desks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1891-Accepted 15th Aug., 1851
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Reading Desks.
I, CHARLES HENRY HARE, of High Street, Aston, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to portable desks for supporting books, music, or papers, and
it has for its object a novel method of making such desks so that when not in use
they can be folded up into a very small space and are very light and portable,
whilst when required they can be quickly opened out, and then afford a steady and
convenient support for a book or other such articles.
In order to put my invention in operation, I take a strip preferably of sheet iron,
of sufficient length and width, and to the lower end of this strip I pivot side by
side the ends of two angle irons, which when extended horizontally form a ledge
upon which the book is supported. Tongues or holders may be pivotted to the
front edge of these angle irons, for the purpose of keeping the book properly open.
To the upper edge of the vertical strip, I pivot side by side the ends of two light
metal strips, which when extended horizontally are parallel with the lower angle
irons, and their outer ends are connected to the outer ends of the angle irons by
vertical strips, the lower ends of which are pivotted to the angle irons whilst their
upper ends are provided with studs having heads which pass through corresponding
holes in the outer ends of the upper horizontal strips, the holes having short slots
of suitable shape leading from them, along which the stems of the studs pass, so
that the whole frame is pivotted and held securely together. Diagonal stays formed
of strips of metal are also pivotted to the upper end of the vertical centre strips and
the outer ends of the lower angle irons, and each of these diagonal stays is formed
of two pieces the ends of which are pivotted together, so that they will not interfere
with the proper folding up of the desk.
In a convenient position upon one or both of the end vertical strips, I form
sockets or attachments to receive an adjustable bracket carrying a candle or lamp.
In order to fold up the desk, the two studs are withdrawn from the holes
described, the diagonal stays being slightly turned on their central connecting
pivots to allow this to be done, and the upper horizontal strips, the bottom angle
irons, the outer vertical strips, and the diagonal stays, are folded upon and parallel
with the central vertical plate, and the whole then occupies very little space and is
very compact.
Leather or other straps or cords may be attached to the sides of the desk, and
held or passed round the neck of the person using it, and additional folding stays
may be pivotted to the outer ends of the lower angle irons, and when turned down
can be used to support and steady the desk.
The improved desk described is very useful in travelling, and in other
circumstances where lightness, compactness, and portability, are required.
I do not confine myself to any particular size or proportions of the parts of the
improved desk, which may be varied as found desirable, and it may be made of any
suitable metal or material.
Dated the 18th day of September 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portable Reading Desks.
I, CHARLES HENRY HARE, of High Street, Aston, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
My invention relates to portable desks for supporting books, music, or papers,
and it has for its object a novel method of making such desks so that when not in
use they can be folded up into a very small space and are very light and portable,
whilst when required they can be quickly opened out, and then afford a steady and
convenient support for a book or other such article.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention.
Figure 1 shews my improved reading desk opened for use.
Figure 2 shews the same partly closed, and
Figure 3 shews the desk entirely shut up.
Figure 4 shews a slightly modified form of the desk opened.
In order to put my invention in operation, I take a strip a, preferably of sheet
iron, of sufficient length and width, and to the lower end of this strip I pivot side
by side the ends of two angle irons b, 61, which when extended horizontally form a
ledge at c upon which the book is supported. Tongues or holders d may be pivotted
to the front edge of these angle irons, for the purpose of keeping the book properly
open in the usual way.
To the upper edge of the vertical strip a, I pivot side by side the ends of two
light metal strips e, e¹, which when extended horizontally, as shewn, are parallel
with the lower angle irons b, b¹, and their outer ends are connected to the outer
ends of the angle irons b, b¹, by vertical strips f, f¹, the lower ends of which are
pivotted to the angle irons b, b', whilst their upper ends are provided with studs
having heads g, g', which pass through corresponding holes in the outer ends of the
upper horizontal strips e, e', the holes having short slots of suitable shape as shewn
leading from them, along which the stems of the studs pass, so that the whole frame
is pivotted and held securely together. Diagonal stays h, h', formed of strips of
metal are also pivotted to the upper end of the vertical centre strip a and the outer
ends of the lower angle irons 6, 6', and each of these diagonal stays is formed of
two pieces the ends of which are pivotted together at i, i, so that they will not
interfere with the proper folding up of the desk.
In a convenient position upon one or both of the end vertical strips f, f¹, I form
sockets or attachments to receive a moveable bracket carrying a candle or lamp, as
shewn at k in Figure 4.
In order to fold up the desk (as illustrated in Figure 2) the two studs g, gl, are
withdrawn from the holes described in the strips e, el, the diagonal stays h, h¹, being
slightly turned on their central connecting pivots i, ¹, to allow this to be done, and
the upper horizontal strips e, e¹, the bottom angle irons 6, 64, the outer vertical
strips f, f, and the diagonal stays h, h', are folded upon and parallel with the
central vertical plate a, and the whole 'then occupies very little space and is very
compact (as shewn in Figure 3).
Leather or other straps or silk or other cords may be attached to the sides of
the desk, as shewn at 1, P, in Figure 1, the ends of the strips being connected to
another (not shewn in the drawing) held or passed round the neck of the person
using it, and the length of which can be adjusted by a buckle, and additional
folding stays m, ml may be pivotted to the outer ends of the lower angle irons b, b¹,
and when turned down can be used if required to support and steady the desk.
In Figure 4, a folding desk similar to that shewn in Figure 1 is illustrated, but
in this case the outer ends of the strips e, e¹, are not provided with holes which can
be released from the upper ends of the side strips f, f¹, but they are pivotted

page_text: permanently together. In order to facilitate the folding together of the desk, the
holes through which some of the pivots pass may be elongated so as to allow a
small amount of play.
The improved desk described is very useful in travelling and in other circumstances
where lightness, compactness, and portability, are required.
I do not confine myself to any particular size or proportions of the parts of the
improved desk, which may be varied as found desirable, and it may be made of any
suitable metal or material.
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
1. The combination of the vertical strip a, the angle irons b, b1, top strips e, e¹,
side strips ff, and jointed stays h, ', all pivotted and connected together
substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
2. In combination with the portable desk formed of angle irons and strips
pivotted and connected together as described, the adjustable strap or cord 1, l,
substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
3. In combination with the portable desks formed of angle irons and strips
pivotted and connected together as described, the moveable bracket for a candle
or lamp, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 18th day of June 1891.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.