An Improved Collapsible Reading Desk and Music Stand.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Collapsible Reading Desk and Music Stand.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES HUGHES, of Brewster House, 82 Mortimer Road,
Kingsland, N., in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturing Optician, 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 an improved collapsible desk or stand as employed by
lecturers for holding their reference notes, manuscripts, or books, or by violinists
and other musicians for holding the copy of music during recital, and by invalids
and other persons for holding a book while being read, the object of which is to
provide by the novel and particular manner in which it is constructed, a method of
folding or collapsing the same almost within its own dimensions, as a handy means
by which the whole may be easily carried from place to place.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood reference is made to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are top, bottom and end views respectively of the top or table
of said book or music stand opened to its full extent.
Fig. 4 is an end view of same as it would appear when fixed upon the adjustable
and collapsible stand.
Fig. 5 is a view of said top or table as it appears when the book or music fall is
folded back thereon, and collapsed into its smallest dimensions.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the entire apparatus as it would appear when in
actual use.
Fig. 7 is a view shewing how Fig. 6 would appear when folded or collapsed into
its narrowest limits.
The table or top consists of a flat surface A, which may be of any shape, but
preferably as shewn in the drawings, and made of mahogany or other wood, and
polished or finished in any desired manner, the upper surface of which is provided
with a circular or other shaped cavity or recess B, for receiving and holding a
lamp or other illuminant as at Fig. 4. To one edge of A is hinged or otherwise
connected a metallic or wooden skeleton frame C, constructed similarly to that of
the ordinary music fall of a piano or similar instrument, and capable of being
folded back upon A as at Figs. 5 and 7, or depending therefrom at any desired
angle, as at Figs. 4 and 6, and retained in that position by the means of a crescented
button D or other suitable contrivance.
The adjustable stand upon which the said table is mounted as at Figs. 4 and 7
consists of two or more metallic tubes telescoped one within the other, but 1 prefer
to use two such tubes E and F, the former being the smaller and of a length not
in excess of the latter, so that Ẹ may be slid entirely within F as at Fig. 7. Upon
the outer tube F I provide a sliding collar G, fitted with a thumb screw H, or any
suitable equivalent therefor by which G may be retained at any desired part of the
length of F, but in most cases this will only need to be fixed when at the bottom
of F as at Fig. 6. Upon the outer surface of G I provide three split lugs to each
of which is pivotted one of the legs J, the pivotted ends of which are angled in
such a manner as to press closely against F when spread out as at Fig. 6 for the
purpose of steadying the stand. The upper end of F is provided with a fixed
split collar K, fitted with a thumb screw L, the tightening of which grasps the
tube E and retains this at any height when withdrawn from F. The open end
of E is provided with either an internal or external screw thread in order that the
same may be screwed into or onto a plate M, fixed upon the bottom surface of A.
Fig. 6 fully illustrates the apparatus when fixed together as described.

page_text: The apparatus when not in use may be folded or collapsed so that the whole
may be easily carried from place to place. To attain this the table A is unscrewed
from E, and the frame C may then be folded upon the under surface of A, as at
Fig. 5, or if viewed edgewise, as at Fig. 7. The collar K is then slackened and
the tube E pushed home into F. The collar G, being released by the screw H, is
slipped along F and the legs J folded thereto as at Fig. 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
The herein described combination of parts constituting an adjustable collapsible
reading desk or music stand, consisting of a table A, with recess B, and having
hinged or otherwise connected thereto a collapsible metallic or wooden skeleton.
frame C. The adjustable stand consisting of tubes E and F, the former capable
of screwing into or onto a plate M upon A, and rendered adjustable in height by
a screw collar K, with collar G carrying legs J, and the manner of collapsing the
said apparatus to facilitate carrying the same from place to place, the whole con-
nected, combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes described and
shewn by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of September 1892.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.