Improvements in Duplex Desks.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Duplex Desks.
I, WILLIAM ORDWAY PARTRIDGE, of Milton, in the County of Norfolk, and State
of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Sculptor, 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 furniture, particularly that class termed
desks. The object of my invention is to make a desk, which as an entirety is to all
intents and purposes a single article of furniture, but which may be separated to form
two desks; hence I have termed the completed article a "duplex-desk."
The primary features consist in connection with an inner desk proper, of a secondary
or outside desk, which is adapted to telescope about the other, and is further enabled
to move vertically, as well as horizontally with respect to the desk proper, thereby it
can be easily separated, and the single desk is converted into two distinct pieces of
furniture. Further it provides the outside desk with a movable cover, which can
be set at any anglo; thus, either surface can he used exteriorly for writing,
drawing, etc.; the under side, however, when this cover is thrown back, can be
utilized to suspend or rest designs or works of art from which a copy is to be made,
using the top of the outer desk beneath said cover, as the surface of the desk at such
times.
Other features of novelty contained in my invention, such as adjusting the outside
desk in any vertical position, or the device by which it is held in engagement with or
disengaged from the desk proper to form a desk by itself will be fully hereinafter
described.
The drawings accompanying this Specification represent in
Fig. 1 a view of a duplex-desk embodying my invention; and
Fig. 2 a view of the desk proper, as a single piece of furniture with the outer desk
raised;
Fig. 3 an end elevation of the desk proper with the outer desk rolled off.
Figure 4 is an end elevation of the desk with the outer desk off and with the pivoted
top folded back and laid on the desk proper, making a table.
Figure 5 is a vertical section through the desk proper, showing T-piece and weights
in elevation.
Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section in part of the same.
Figuro 7 is a horizontal section through the desk proper and the outer desk, showing
the slot in which the T-shaped piece engages.
Figure 8 is a section through the latching device that holds the outer desk in
position, when it is not desired as a separate piece of furniture, and also serves as a
positive support to the outer desk when it is drawn up.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section in part of the same.
Figure 10 is a section showing the latches engaged with the T-pioce which holds
the weights up.
Figure 11 is an enlarged detail section of the ball and rod joints for adjusting the
leaf of the outer desk.
In the above drawings 1 represents a duplex desk embodying my invention,
composed of two complete pieces of furniture adapted to telescope and form a single
piece, when desired; the inner desk proper, 2, so called, serves as a standard for the
outer desk, 3, when the two are used in combination. Thus when the duplex desk is
employed as a single piece of furniture, the top of the outer desk serves as a writing
or drawing surface, while the inner desk supplies the drawers. To enable the height
of the desk to be changed, the outer desk is adapted to move vertically, and is provided
with maskaniem to look and firmly bold it at any desired height.

page_text: I will premise by saying that the inner desk is an ordinary office desk and one
of the simplest ways to effect the above adjustment is to provide a series of holes
similarly in the ends of the inner desk, likewise a single hole or aperture in the
lower part of the outer desk end, and by means of removable bolts enable the
outer desk to be raised or lowered at pleasure. A second way, and one which I
propose to use is as follows: two vertical slots 4 are cut in the centre panel at
each end and in these travel T shaped blocks 5, the latter extending through the
inner desk and engage the lower bars 6, 6, of the outer desk. Thus the latter,
when in an upraised position, is held by said blocks. To counter balance the
desk, weights 7, 7, interconnected by cords are suspended interiorly of the desk
proper, see Figure 6. The outer desk at the front corners, see Figs. 8 and 9; is
furnished with toothed bars or racks 8 co-operating with spring bolts 9. The
latter are actuated simultaneously by means of cords 10, which extend to the front
and centre of the desk proper, where they are attached to a ring 12 playing in
a vertical slot 13 in the desk. By pulling on said ring and then turning it
ninety degrees, the bolts are held disengaged from the toothed bars, the ring now
bearing transversely across its slot. The outer desk is then free to be raised or
lowered as desired, the corner posts of said desk, fitting about the corners of the
desk proper, hold the outer desk in position, and permit of easy movement without
sticking or becoming jammed. The outer desk is made with a solid top 14 to which
is hinged or pivotally connected a folding cover 15, which, when the two desks are
closed together serves as the top of the duplex-desk. Said cover 15 is adapted to be
inclined in any position, and for this purpose I have secured at each end rods 16, see
Figs. 2 and 11, pivotally connected to the cover, and which pass through guides 17
similarly mounted and furnished with holding screws. Thus if desired the said cover
may be positioned upright and serve as an casel or support upon which to hang designs
or other work from which copies are to be made, since this duplex-dosk is particularly
adapted to studios and art work. As in Fig. 4 the cover 15 may be thrown far back
after separating the two desks, when it may be made to rest upon the edge of the desk
proper, and a large table is formed.
The above mechanism provides for vertical adjustment of the outer desk, permitting it
to telescope upon the inner desk, and further provides for an adjustable top which may
be inclined at any angle. When the two desks are used as separate articles of
furniture, the said cover may then be placed in a horizontal position and serve as a
table.
To permit the two parts 2, 3, to be movably connected so that two distinct pieces of
furniture, desks so called, can be produced, and since it is preferable to move the
outer table horizontally when such act is to be accomplished I have cut horizontal
slots 18 in the lowermost horizontal end bars of the outer desk, see Fig. 7, and
covered them by plates 19, in order to give the desk a more finished appearance.
These slots are made to provide for the projecting piece on the T blocks, which
extends through and beyond the ends of the inner desk, and upon which the outer desk
rests. Since the counter-balance weights are connected with said blocks, it is evident
that there is nothing to support the weights when the outer desk is separated from the
inner desk. To hold the weights up I have accordingly arranged the following
mechanism, see Fig. 10; a lever 20 at the front lower part of the desk is connected
by cords 21 to spring-actuated locking bolts 23 secured upon the inner desk ends.
Said bolts normally engage in the T blocks, and when the outer desk is closed down
upon the inner one, said bolts spring into the T blocks, thus the two desks are inter-
locked and vertical adjustment cannot be made. By the engagement of these bolts
with the T blocks the weights are prevented from dropping when the outer desk is
disengaged and pulled away from the inner desk. The outer desk being furnished
with rollers it is an easy matter to pull the desk forward, the projecting parts of the
T blocks passing through the slots as the outer desk is drawn forward. The desks
are now separate and distinct as shown in Fig. 3, and can be employed independently
if desired.
In Figures 12 and 13 I have shown a horizontal section and perspective view of a

page_text: modified form of mechanism by which the outer desk can be vertically adjusted and
when so raised be held in place. To this end I have made use of the vertical slots in
the ends of the inner desk, and have dispensed with the T blocks before described.
Instead of said blocks I have substituted two cords 26 which are made fast to the
lowermost bar of the outer desk and are located in the slots 4, passing up over rollers
and terminate upon a horizontal shaft 27 suitably journaled beneath the top of the
desk proper and operated by a crank. By turning the latter the two cords extending
to the opposite ends of the outer desk are coiled about or uncoiled from the shaft and
the outer desk is readily changed into any desired position vertically.
From the above description of my duplex desk it will be seen that when the two
desks are used conjointly the top of the upper desk serves as the top for the duplex
desk as a single article of furniture. When the two desks are used separately the
lower desk has its own top, while the outer desk is provided with a fixed top and a
hinged cover, the latter serving as an easel or support, or for an extension of the top
of said desk. Thus a large surface is afforded for various purposes.
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 :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, a duplex desk composed of an inner, and an
outer desk, the latter adapted to telescope upon the former, each being capable of
independent use, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
2. As a new article of manufacture, a duplex desk, consisting of two desks, the
inner desk proper provided with a solid top and a series of drawers, and an outer desk
also with a top and adapted to telescope the inner one, being vertically adjustablo
therewith, the two being employed jointly as a single article of furniture, substantially
as specified.
3. The improvement in furniture consisting of two desks, an inner one provided
with a top and drawers, combined with an outer one, the lattor adapted to telescope
thereupon, and move horizontally to form a single desk, or two independent desks
substantially as herein stated.
4. In a duplex desk the combination with the inner desk as an entirety, provided
with vertical end slots and the T blocks which travel therein and extend beyond, of
an outer desk which rests upon said T blocks and the counter weights connected with
said blocks to permit the outer desk to telescope upon the inner in vertical paths,
substantially as described.
5. In a duplex desk in which two desks are adapted to telescope, the combination
with the inner desk slotted at the ends, the T blocks in said slots, and the weights
within said desk, and suitably connected with said blocks, of the outer desk which
engages with said blocks, and the spring-actuated bolts which lock said blocks to
prevent vertical adjustment, all substantially as and for purposes as specified.
6. In a duplex-desk the combination with an inner desk provided with a top and
drawers, the slotted ends, the T blocks, and the counter weights, of an outer telescoping
desk in engagement with said blocks, the toothed rack interiorly upon the outer desk,
and the similar locking bolts secured to the inner desk and oppositely movable
simultaneously, substantially as set forth and described.
7. A duplex desk composed of an inner stationary desk slotted at the ends and with
T blocks movable therein and projecting through said slots, combined with an outer
telescoping desk in engagement with said blocks, and the horizontal slot aligned with
said blocks to permit separation of the two desks for independent use, substantially as
herein stated and specified.
Dated this 30th day of June 1890
WILLIAM ORDWAY PARTRIDGE,