An Improved Combined Sitting and Standing Desk.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Combined Sitting and Standing Desk.
I, ARCHIBALD HOPKINS of 1826 Massachusetts Avenue in the City of
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, Clerk U.S. Court
of Claims, 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 :-
The desk in which my invention is embodied is one in which the open and
hitherto practically unused space below the top of a standing desk is utilized to
receive an additional desk, which while contained within the compass of the
standing desk can be pulled out from the front of the latter whenever desired to be
used as a sitting desk.
My invention consists, for the purpose above indicated, of certain details in the
construction and arrangement of the parts composing the combination desk, which
will first be described by reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then be
specifically pointed out in the claim.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the desk with the sitting desk pulled out and in
position for use.
Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on enlarged seale, of a portion of the desk,
representing the sitting desk closed.
Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of one of the slides used for the purpose of supporting
and guiding the sitting desk in its movements.
A, is the standing desk containing suitable drawers etc. a, and having a central
space b from front to rear at a proper distance below its top. In the space bis
located the sliding auxiliary desk B. This desk consists of a rectangular frame or
body having a top e fitted for writing purposes, and below the top a drawer d; and
it is located at such height above the base of the main desk, as to fit it for use as a
sitting desk.
Upon each side and extending lengthwise of the body of the sitting desk is
secured a flanged guide rail e which fits and engages and is adapted to slide back
and forth in the grooved channel rail f, on the adjoining side of the main desk A ;
The
and a suitable stop is provided to limit the outward movement of the same.
sides of the sitting desk at their base rest upon shoulders or guideways formed by
the top of the side panels g which constitute auxiliary supports, acting in con-
nection with the guide rails e and channel rails fto securely uphold the sitting desk
and to prevent it from sagging when drawn out. In lieu of this arrangement the
body of the sitting desk B can be extended downward until it nearly meets the
floor, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, and as also there indicated can be
provided with roller castors upon which it will run when moved in or out.
prefer however the arrangement first above described. There is sufficient clearance /
between the top of the sitting desk and the top of the space b to allow the desk
I

page_text: with whatever papers etc. that may happen to be thereon to be pushed back into
the space without disturbing the papers. Above the clearance space / are
side channels upon the main desk extending from front to rear thereof, in which
runs a sliding skeleton frame; upon the front end of which is hung by hinges ka
flap by which the space above the sitting desk is closed and the said desk itself
can be secured in place when pushed back into the standing desk. The abutting
edges of the frame j and the flap l are made, the one convex and the other concave
in cross section, as shown more plainly in Fig. 3, where the flap is shown as drawn
out, lowered and closed, so that when the flap is lifted it will form in effect a con-
tinuation of the frame, and with it can be pushed back into the guide channels i
and within the compass of the main desk. When the flap is turned down in the
position shown in Fig. 3, it brings up against stops m on the desk which limit its
further movement, and it is provided with a lock n by which it can be locked in this
position to the sitting desk B. In this way I am enabled to combine in one compact
structure and without any waste of room, both a sitting and standing desk, the
combination article thus produced being simple, durable and economical to make,
and most convenient of use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed in the best way now
known to me, I declare that what I claim is :-
As an improved article of manufacture the combination desk, consisting of the
standing desk A, provided with the central space open at the front, the sitting
desk B located in said space and mounted in and supported by guides in which it
can slide so as to be pulled out from the front of the standing desk or pushed back
therein, the sliding frame j and the locking flap / hinged to said frame, all constructed
and arranged as hereinbefore shown and described.
Dated the 30th day of November 1893.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agent for the Applicant.