US1421357A - Flat-top roll-cover desk - Google Patents

Description

R. H. ALLWORK.

FLAT TOF ROLL COVER DESK.'

l APPLICATION FILED OCI. 24, I92I. L421357Q Patented July 4, 1922.,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Figi.

R.-H. ALLWORK. im Tol non com DESK. APPLICATION FILED OCT.' 24. 1921. 1,421,357 l Patented July 4, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. ROBERT H. ALLWORK, or NEW YORK, N.y Y. v

FLAT-Tor ROLL-COVER DESK.

Specification of letters PatentY Patented Juiyaieza.

Application filed ctober 24,1921. Serial No. 509,944,

New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flat-Top Roll-Cover Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to desks, and my improvements are directed to means in conjunction with flat top desks whereby they may be convertible into roll top desks for closure purposes, while possessing the, advantage of having` an unincumbered, )lain top surface, for all useful purposes.

The flat top desk has so largely superseded the roll top desk mainly because it provides a greater available surface area, besides having no superstructure to obstruct the view; but it is deficient in that no means have been provided to cover up or .enclose the papers and other articles which may be left upon its surface at night or when the user is away.

Therefore my invention consists in the provision of a disappearing cover for flat top desks which is of articulate form and may be conveniently operated to cover up and enclose the desk top surface, and, when out of use, may be completely hidden from view.

My invention further consists in counterbalancing the weight of the disappearing cover in such manner that it can be drawn from its place of concealment within the desk structure, for enclosing purposes, with a minimum of effort, and return with equal facility.

Other features and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

1n the drawing Figure 1 is an end, sectional elevation of a desk provided with my improved disappearing top closure means.

Fig. 2 is a front sectional elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 isa side elevation of my improved desk, with the roll cover closed, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the pivotal mount for a gear.

1n said views let 1 indicate the legs of a desk, 2 its flattop, 3 the rear panel, 4, 4, the side or end panels,5, 5. lower stringers or frame members extended between front and rear legs, and 6, 6, upper frame members.

A shaft 7 extends lengthwise of the desk, beneath top 2, centrally thereof9 and is vcaps being secured to the outer mounted in Vopposite end supports, here` -shown as-bushings or bearings 8 in the respective end frame portions 6, 6, of the desk. 1`he shaft ends each have a disk 9 secured thereto of larger diameter than the shaft,

to lie against the end of bushing 8 and'vprevent withdrawal of the shaft, and caps 10 are provided to enclose the shaft ends, these surface of the desk ends.

y Fast upon the shaft 7, near its respectiv `v ends, are pinions 11, 11, to which are respectively secured, as by bolts 12, the cover end segments 13, 13, that each lie just inside anvend panel 4, being entered respectively within vertical slots 14, 14, in the desk top. The segments 13 serve as side walls for a desk cover whose upperportion is inthe form of a flexible apron composed of the slats 15 mounted on canvas 16 which bridges,A

the segments andis secured tothe edges thereof. Y e

1n Fig.'2 the vsegments 13, 13, are shown in full lines as sunk or disappeared within the desk, in which position' they present per surface of the desk top. It will further bev seen, in Fig. 1, that the HeXible aproneis secured to the segments 13 only about a 'their straight, flatedges flush with the uplimited rearward extent thereof, as down.,

to the point 17, the slack of the apron hangdesk top when the segments are sunk within -the desk, the edge 21ay of portion 21 then lying flush with the upper surface of the desk top. But when the segments 13 are V21 whichV lies within a rear slot 22 in the ,.7

rocked through a half revolution, to bringk them to a position above the desk, as end closure menfibers` then the apron, including the slack portion, is carried over the desk top, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1,

and then the edge 21a of portion 21 closes` against the upper surface of the desk top, at its forward portion, thereby constituting a semi-circular cover for the desk top.

In order to counterbalance the weight of the cover and thus facilitate the operation of :rocking the segments 13 and drawing i gears 23, to maintain their meshed relation. Thus, the pinions 11 are each shown as havinga hub 25 in thrust bearing relation `with a bar 24,` and the gears are held in alignment by the Ifollowing means. A stud 26, which serves as a pivotal axis for a gear 23, has a reduced end portion 27 which is `engaged with a bar 24, the gear` and bar being laterally confined by means of a screw 28 entered axially within stud 26,'the head of the screw being the confining means at one side, and the` head of the stud being the confining means at the other side.

Intermediate the gear 23 and bar 24 the stud 26 carries an arm 29, which is secured to the gear 23 as by screws 30. The purpose of the arms` 29 is to carry weights 31 which `balancethe `weight of the flexible cover; and

in order that the balancing may be accurate each weight 31 is adjustablev lengthwise of its arm 29, `and provided with a set screw 32 for securing itin its adjusted position.

The gear 23 is provided with opposite arcuate slots 23a, in which are respectively entered headed studs 24a that extend from the bar 24; the slots 23a permitting oscillatory movement of gear 23 over the studs 24a, and the stud heads serving to maintain the gear 23 in meshed alignment with pinion 11. i The shaft `'7 may be adjustable vas to its length, for use with desks of different sizes, and is here shown as composedV of two sections, with a connecting sleeve 33. Near `each end, the shaft 7 is provided with a collar 34, with securing means, enabling the collar to be adjustedto form a thrust bearingcoacting with a shaft-end disk 9, to localize the `pinion 11, with segment 13, and bar 24, in their operative positions. The weights 31 are elevated when the apron is sunk within the desk structure, and are `adapted to balance its weight. In the example illustrated, gears 23 have a two to one Variations within the spirit `and scope of my invention are equally comprehendedby the foregoing disclosure.

I claim:V 1

1. The combination, with a flat top desk, whose top is provided with slots near each side edge and a rear slot, of a shaft journalled below the desk top, segmental walls respectively operable through the side slots and carried by the shaft, the segments each exceeding a half circle, and a flexible apron secured at one end to the segmental walls, the apron adapted to be drawn through the rear slot and over the segmental walls in their rotation, to cover the desk top.

2. The combination, with a flat top desk whose top is provided withslots near each side edge and a rear slot, of a shaft journalled below `the desk top, segmental walls, each exceeding a half circle, respectively operable through the side slots and carried by the shaft, and a .flexible apron fastened at one end to the segmental walls and at its other end to the desk structure, the apron adapted to be drawn over the segmental walls in their rotation, to cover the desk top.

3. The combination, with Aa flat top desk whose top is provided with slots near each side edge and a rear slot, of a shaft journalled below the desk top, segmental walls, cach exceeding'a half circle, respectively operable through the side slots and carried by the shaft, a flexible apronsecured at one end to the segmental wallsand adapted to bc drawn through the rear slot and over the segmental walls, and means for counterbalancing the weight of the walls and cover, to facilitate their operation.

4. The combination, with ay fiat top desk, of a disappearing roll cover therefor having segmental side walls, a shaft engaging the side walls,"fixed brackets revolubly support ing the shaft, pinions fastened to the shaft,

gear wheels of greater diameter than the pinions mounted on the brackets and meshed with the pinions, arms extended from the gear wheels, and weights carried by the arms to counterbalance the cover.

5. The combination, with a flat top desk whose topiis provided with slots. near each side edge and a rear slot, of segmental walls, each exceeding a half circle, pivotally mounted respectively near the desk sides, below the top, and operable through the side slots, and a l'iexible apron secured at one end to the segmental walls, the apron adapted to be drawn through the rear slot and over the segmental walls in their rotation, to cover the desk top, and the bases of the segmental walls, with the forward end of the apron, respectively lying within and filling the side and rear slots, flush with the desk top, when the latter is exposed.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this 20th day of October, 1921.

ROBERT H; ALLWOR-K. [Ls]

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