Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
I, CHARLES BENNET of the Bennet Furnishing Company, 29 Dalmarnock Road,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, School Furniture Manufacturer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction of certain parts
of school-desks, has for its object in the first place to enable the backs and seats of
such desks to be firmly secured to the castings on which they are carried, whilst at
the same time, dispensing with the use of screws or equivalent attachinents and
rendering the joints close and tight so that they shall not constitute receptacles for
vermin or insect-life or dust or dirt as is the case with the open joint sometimes used
in such manufacture.
The Invention has for its object in the second place to prevent the turning or
moveable upper part of such desk from striking hard when it is folded for reading
or other purposes, whilst at the same time the desk is efficiently and firmly
supported.
In carrying out the first part of the Invention the edges of the castings to which
the wooden backs and seats are, or are to be attached are formed with combined
longitudinal and transverse dovetails. The longitudinal dovetail is formed with a
continuous taper for nearly the whole of its length. The dovetails in the wood are
also cut both transversely and longitudinally so as to fit tightly on the dovetails of
the castings when drawn closely together for forming the joint.
The pieces of wood of which the backs and seats are formed are driven pressed or
otherwise forced tight over the dovetails in the castings and when in this position,
wedges of wood with glue or other adhesive are driven either at one or both ends
(but always at the broader ends) in between the wood and the casting which when the
glue or other adhesive maintains the backs and seats firmly in their position.
In carrying out the second part of the Invention there is fitted into the back of
the desk a pair of tubes with a slot formed therein through which a pin passes

page_text: transversely so that the tube may be moved upwards and downwards in the hole in the
woodwork which contains it. The tube is provided with a cushion of India-rubber
or with a spiral spring to make it elastic under the weight or pressure of the desk-
board thereon.
ご
J. H. JOHNSON, DAY & JOHNSON,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Petitioner's Agent.
COME LETE DEMOFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Certain Parts of
School Desks.
I CHARLES BENNET of the Bennet Furnishing Company, 29 Dalmarnock Road,
Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain School Furniture 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:
This Invention which relates to improvements in the construction of certain parts
of school desks has for its object in the first place to enable the backs and seats of
such desks to be firmly secured to the castings on which they are carried whilst at
the same time dispensing with the use of screws or equivalent attachments and
rendering the joints close and tight so that they shall not constitute receptacles for
vermin or insect-life or dust or dirt as is the case with the open joints sometimes used
in such manufacture.
The Invention has for its object in the second place to prevent the turning or
movable upper part of such desk from striking hard when it is folded for reading
or other purposes, whilst at the same time the desk is efficiently and firmly
supported.
In carrying out the first part of the Invention the edges of the castings to which
the wooden backs and seats are, or are to be attached are formed with combined
longitudinal and transverse dovetails. The longitudinal dovetail is formed with a
continuous taper for nearly the whole of its length. The dovetails in the wood are
also cut both transversely and longitudinally so as to fit tightly on the dovetails of the
castings when drawn closely together for forming the joint.
The pieces of wood of which the backs and seats are formed are driven pressed or
otherwise forced tight over the dovetails in the castings and when in this position,

page_text: wedges of
with glue of other aunesive
(but always at the broader ends) in between the wood and the casting which when
the glue or other adhesive becomes dry maintains the backs and seats firmly in their
position.
In carrying out the second part of the Invention there is fitted into the back of the
desk a pair of tubes with a slot formed therein through which a pin passes transversely
so that the tube may be moved upwards and downwards in the hole in the woodwork
which contains it. The tube is provided with a cushion of India-rubber or with a
spiral spring to make it elastic under the weight or pressure of the desk-board
thereon.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of a front and back desk respectively partly in
section constructed according to my said Invention.
Figure 3, is a front view of the back desk.
Figure 4, is a front elevation of a portion of the back desk showing the dovetail
projection, and
Figure 5, is a part horizontal section and part plan of the same taken on the dotted
line x, y, Figure 4 and hereinafter described.
The two upright standards marked A, and B, Figures 1, and 2, are constructed of
cast iron and are formed in the case of Figure 1, with a longitudinal vertical dovetail
projection c, for securing in position the front of the desk, which, as used in schools
in series or rows, constitutes the front row, and as shewn is not constructed with a
seat like that in Figure 2, whose back in place of being vertical is curved and inclined
and formed with a longitudinally curved and tapered dovetail d. The back e, has
cut in it a corresponding dovetail groove made taper the whole of its length, and the
back as is or may be found most convenient is made up either of two or more pieces
of wood to prevent the said back from fracture or splitting of the wood of which it is
composed as might be the case if one piece only was used, when being driven upon
the great length of curved dovetail projection d, as aforesaid. Each piece of the
back e, is, or may be, formed at its one edge with a groove or rebate and a corre-
sponding projection at its other edge which, when the pieces are driven together
unite the joint securely and strengthens the back as if made of one solid piece. The
broader or lower end of each projecting dovetail d, as seen in Figures 4 and 5, and in
dotted lines, Figure 3, is made up of a short taper running in an
opposite direction.
The object of this is as will be seen, by referring to the aforementioned Figures 4
and 5, that when the back e, is secured upon the dovetail projection d, a wedge-shape
space is left on either side and into these spaces corresponding wedges 1, with flue or
other adhesive, are driven and when the adhesive is dry all the parts are thus bound
closely together.
The mode of constructing the seats is similar to that herein before described with
reference to the construction of the backs, but in lieu of vertical or dovetail pro-
jections d, horizontal ones are employed which are cast upon bracket pieces g, pivoted
or hinged at their inner end to enable the seats being turned up when not in use as
represented in dotted lines Figure 2.
The desk proper, that is to say, the horizontal portions marked h, and i, used for
writing are made in two pieces, that marked i, being secured at either end to movable
brackets g, pivoted to the uprights A, and B, Figures 1, 2 and 3.
In these figures
they are shewn in their normal position with the portion i, turned down as occupied
for writing purposes. To ensure the said portions i, lying in the same plane or at
any desired angle with the portions h, projections m, are formed in the woodwork
which enter corresponding recesses or rebates similar to those hereinbefore described
in reference to the construction of the backs e, of the desks as aforesaid.
In the ordinary routine of schools in which my improved desks are employed it
would result unless provision be made against it that when they are not used for
writing upon and are, for the time being, required for reading or other like purposes
that considerable noise would be occasioned by the scholars throughout the whole of

page_text: a division or class or divisions or classes throwing back the desks into the position as
shewn in dot and pick lines, Figures 1 and 2. I have represented on an enlarged scale
in Figures 6 and 7 a device to prevent or minimise such noise and reduce the wear
and tear of the parts coming into contact. This I effect by forming a hole o, in either
end of the upper part of the desk's back e, and insert therein a cylindrical piece of
India rubber p, of sufficiently less diameter to allow of the India-rubber p, being
compressed which acts as a seat or cushion for a correspondingly shaped piece of
wood or peg 9, having an annular recess cut upon it into one or both sides of which
a pin or pins r, is or are driven transversely with the back of the desk e, and
which serve or serves as a guide or guides in the vertical range of motion of
the said piece of wood or peg q, and also prevents its being lifted out of its
position.
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
1st. The improvement in the construction of school desks consisting in forming the
cast iron or metallic frames with long and gradually tapered dovetail projections
upon which the backs and seats of the said desks which are formed with corresponding
dovetail hollows are fastened, and permanently retained, by means of tapered wedges
driven with glue or other adhesive into wedge-like spaces formed between the broader
and lower ends of the dovetail projections on the frames and the dovetail hollow in
the backs or seats substantially as herein before described and shewn on the annexed
sheets of drawings.
2nd. The contrivance for cushioning or lessening the noise consequent upon the
folding back of a number of desks substantially as hereinbefore described and more
particularly shewn at Figures 6 and 7.
Dated thi 041
1007
ST. JOHN V. DAY,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
Applicant's Agent.