Improvements in Writing, Drawing, or Work Tables.
Year: 1890

page_text: * Date of Application, 30th May, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Writing, Drawing, or Work Tables.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the firm of G. F. Redfern & Co., The General
Patent Office, No. 4, South Street, Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication from
Johan Gotlieb Emil Sauer, of No. 20, Eisenbahnstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of
Germany, Cabinet Maker) and in what manner the same is to be performed to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to writing and drawing tables.
Such tables, as hitherto constructed, usually have their tops permanently fixed in
an inclined position, in which case the table can only be conveniently used for a
certain purpose. They are, however, sometimes made with adjustable tops but the
adjustment could not be readily or easily effected.
The object of this invention is to provide a table having a horizontal top which can
quickly and without trouble be placed and fixed in an inclined position by a person
seated at the table.
The invention consists in providing a table with lifting mechanism so arranged
that by merely pulling out a bar the table-top will be raised and held in an inclined
position.
In order to enable the invention to be fully understood I will describe how it can
be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figures 1 and 2 are cross sections of a writing and drawing table constructed
according to this invention shewing the top in the horizontal and inclined positions
respectively.
Figure 3 is a plan of figure 1 with the top removed.
Figures 4 and 5 are similar views to figures 2 and 3 but shewing a modified
arrangement of the table.
Figures 6 and 7 are similar views to figures 1 and 2 but illustrating a further
modification.
I will first describe the invention by reference to figures 1, 2 and 3.
A rod a fitted underneath the table-top has fastened to it at each end an angular
lever, one arm a² of which is rounded off to bear against the underside of the table-
top or preferably, against an inlaid iron plate b. The arm a' of one of the levers is
jointed to a bar B which works parallel with one of the sides of the frame (of the
table, figure 3, and is guided in a perforated plate g attached to the front part c of
the table-frame. The bar B is provided with a pin adapted to enter the holes in the
plate g to fix the bar when moved to the required position, and with a knob or
handle d. The guide-plate g has a slot at e to allow the passage of both the bar B
and a spring connected thereto, so that the latter shall press the bar against the
perforated plate g. By this arrangement the table-top can be placed in any required
inclined position, the pin on the bar B after the latter has been pulled out, entering
one of the holes in the plate g and thereby securing the bar B.
To alter the position of the table-top A the bar B is, by means of the knob or
handle d, pressed downwards so as to disengage the pin from the hole in the plate g
when the bar B can be operated.
By pulling the bar, the angular levers a', a² can be brought from the position shewn
in figure 1 to that shewn in figure 2, whereby the table-top A, which is hinged to the
front part of the frame, is raised as shewn.
Instead of the angular levers a', a², cams or eccentric-discs could be fixed to the
rod a.
The handle d of the bar B, when the latter is pulled out, can if desired be adapted

page_text: to allow of it being turned over to prevent it from being in the way of the person
working at the table.
Instead of raising the whole table-top, it may in some cases be desirable to raise
only a part of it, as is shewn in figures 4 and 5.
In this modification the mechanism for raising the adjustable part of the table-top
is the same as that hereinbefore described but the advantage of this arrangement is
that part of the table-top always remains horizontal, so that articles can be placed
thereon with safety instead of them being endangered by the inclined position of the
part A¹.
If the part A' is to be used when raised as a drawing board the T square can easily
slide along the side of it.
This arrangement in which only the part A' is raised is especially suitable for use
in large writing or work desks or tables such as those required for schools as each
person can be provided with an adjustable part so that, when working at the same
table with others, he can adjust his own part of the table to suit himself.
Similar mechanism can also be adapted for inclining two opposite parts of the same
table as shewn in figures 6 and 7, a horizontal part being at the same time lifted to
serve for standing lamps, inkstands and the like thereon.
The table-top is for this purpose composed of three parts, viz.: a narrow middle
part A2 and two wide side-parts A³ hinged thereto.
The two side parts A³ are not as in figures 1 to 4 connected by means of hinges to
the table-frame but are provided with angular pieces h, the horizontal arm of which
can slide to and fro as well as upward in guides attached to the table-frame.
The angular levers a', a jointed to the bar B are located near the middle part A²
of the table-top, and the arm a² is made longer and is bent as shewn at a³ in such a
manner that, the part a³ assumes a horizontal position when the bar B is fully pulled
out and thus formis a horizontal support for the middle part A of the table-top.
The middle part A2 is also provided with guide rods working in guides so that,
when the levers a¹, a² are being actuated, the middle part itself is lifted up
vertically.
The side parts A3 are at the same time raised but as the front edges are kept in
place by the angle-pieces guided in the guides i, the vertical movement of the
middle part A causes the two side parts A³, A³ to assume an inclined position.
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. A writing, drawing or work-table in which the whole top A, figures 1 and 3, or
apart thereof, figures 4 and 5, is adapted to be inclined by manipulating a bar B
which actuates lifting-mechanisin a', a².
2. The improved writing and drawing tables herein before described with reference
to figures 1 to 3, figures 4 and 5 and figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 20th
1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.