US168459A - Improvement in office-desks - Google Patents

Description

F. H. CUTLER.

Unica-Desk.

' Patented Oct. 5,1875.

'ble lid or cover.

FREDERICK H. OUTLER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN OFFICE-DESKS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,459, dated October 5, 1875; application filed April 13, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. CUTLER, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Office-Desks, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates, more particularly, to that class of writing or oflice desks which are provided with an inolosed top portion which is closed at the front by means of a sliding liexi- These desks have also been constructed so that the closing and opening of the exible cover will automatically lock and unlock the different drawers.

Previous to my invention the sliding cover has been so constructed that in opening the desk it will slide upwardly under the top, and on the inner side of the back of the top portion of the desk. In these desks as heretofore constructed the inclosing-case of the top portion has been made of wood, which obstructs the light, and casts an objectionable shade upon the bed of the desk; and, if made of glass or other transparent material, the cover, by sliding upward and backward, as above described, would obstruct the light in a similar manner.

rlhe rst part of my invention consists in so arranging the ieXible cover that, in` openin g the desk, it will be withdrawn under the bed of the desk, so as not to obstruct the top portion thereof, whereby the latter, by bein g made of glass, permits an unobstructed access of light to the bed of the desk.

The second partv of my invention relates to a particular construction and arrangement of a device for lookin g or unlocking the drawers,

The third part of my invention relates to a means for automatically closing the cover and the fourth part of the invention to the construction of the flexible cover itself.

In the accompanying drawing', Figure lis a front elevation of an office-desk provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section thereof. Fig. 3 is a similar section through the side drawers. Fig. 4 is a detached front view of the bar by which the drawers are locked. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the flexible cover; and Fig. 6 a longitudinal section thereof.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in each of the figures.

A A represent the two lower side portions of the desk, each provided with a number of drawers, B, in a common manner. c represents the bed ofthe desk; and d a horizontal board or diaphragm, arranged underneath the same, so as to leave a space, d1, between them, forming a compartment for the reception of the sliding cover e. E E1 E2 are the side, back, and top walls of the upper portion of the desk, made of glass, and secured in suitable frames. f are grooves or ways formed ou the inner side of the curved front portion gof the upper side frames, and l1l continuations of said ways, arranged horizontally in the sides of the compartment' dl under the hed c. The slats of the sliding cover are preferably formed at their ends with round pins running in said grooves, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. J is a weight arranged in a vertical passage, J', at the back of the desk, and connected by a cord, j, passing over guide-pulleys j 1 j 2, with the lower end of the cover e.

The covercbeinginia closed position, as sh own in Fig. 2, is opened by pressing downward on the upper end, which causes it to slide in the ways f h down into the compartment d', below the bed of the deskfas clearly shown in Fig. 3, in which position it is secured by a suitable hutton, hook, or other fastening, i', arranged on the front end of the bed.

The guide-pulleysj 1j 2 and cordj are so arranged that, upon releasing the catch r, the weight J operates to draw or return the cover e to its former closed position, the weight being of the required gravity to overcome the weight and resistance of the cover. The upper end of the cover is preferably provided with a spring-lock, so that the cover is automatically locked as it is slid upward by the weight. m is a hook formed on the rear side of each of the series of drawers B and N a vertical locking-bar, arranged in the rear of each series of drawers, and provided with claws or projections n, engaging over the hooks m when the barNisin its lower position. ois a forwardlyprojecting arm or tooth, formed with the upper end of the bar N, and beveled on its under side, so that when the covercis opened the rear end thereof will engage under the arm o, and raise the same and the bar N, thereby unlocking the drawers, as shown in Fig'. 3. Upon closing the cover e the bar N, being released, descends by its own weight, thereby again locking the drawers.

rIhe exible cover as heretofore constructed has been composed of a series of semi-cylindrical slats, arranged sidel by side, and hinged and connected together by a sheet of canvas or other iexible material, glued or otherwise secured to the flat sides ofthe slats.v

My improved cover is formed by two series of slats, e1 e2, arranged in pairs, between which the canvas or other tlexible sheet e?, forming the hinged connection, is secured by gluing or in any other suitable manner, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. By my improved construction the line of draft and percussion between each pair of slats is midway, or nearly so, between the bearingsurfaces in contact with the ways, whereby a more easy and uniform movement is insured, and the sheet or other connection between the slats subjected to less strain, thereby rendering the connection more iirm and durable. By arranging the cover e so-as to slide underneath the bed of the desk in opening it, and by constructin g the inclosing-case of the top portion ofthe desk of glass, the light is freely admitted to the bed of the desk from either side, and

the person seated at the desk afforded an unobstructed view forward and sidewise.

I am aware of the exlstence of Letters Pat! ent No. 48,876, and do not wish to be understood as claiming anything therein shown 5 but What I claim as my invention is 1.In combination with the transparent sides, back, and top, the flexible cover e, adapted to be withdrawn into afcompartment, d,`under the bed c, whereby the top and back are left unobstructed, and a free access of light to the bed is permitted, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In combination with the drawers, provided with hooks m, and the locking-bar N, provided wifh claws n, and a beveled tooth or arm, o, the flexible cover c, adapted to slide under the tooth or arm o, substantially as and for the purpose described.

,3. The combination, with the sliding cover e and waysf h, ofthe weight J, cord and guidepulleys j l j for automatically closing the cover, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.l

4. The flexible cover e, composed of the cloth or iexible sheet e3, secured between slats or strips el e2, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore seti'orth. f

FRED. H. GUTLER. Witnesses:

JNO. J. BONNER, EDWARD WILHELM.

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