US1754303A - Typewriter desk - Google Patents

Description

April l5, 1930. J. BoDENsTEIN TYPEWRITER DESK Filed Feb. 12, 192'? Patented Apr. 15, 1939 UNITED s TA res PATENT oFFl-fcn JACOB BODENSTEIN, 0F HERKIMER, NEW`YORK TYPEWRITER DESK Application :tiled February 12, 1927. ASerial No. 7167;6'277.

`This invention relates to improvements in `typewriter `desks of that kind `having a typewriter platform on which a typewriting or other machine is supported, said platform `.Ii being movable rearwardlyand downwardly f applicable to desks of `this kind in which the w15 platform moves `from a isubstantiallyhorizon tal, operativeposition to an inclined inoperative, position, extending downwardly and rearwardly, inwardlybeyondthe front of the desk to provide leg room for the user.

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved desk of thecharacter` described, having stop means whereby the machine plat-` form and the ,desk top arepositively arrested asfthey assume theirrespective operative and inoperative positions; also to provide means coacting with said stop `means for rigidly locking or holding themachine platform in operative position; alsoV to provide improved operative connections between the desktop and the platform for `actuating the latter through movement Iof the former; also to provide guidevand support means or parts of improved `and simplified construction for guiding and supporting the ,platform when moving to and from operative and inoperative positions and supporting the same in such positions, `and also to improve the construction oftypewriter desksin the other respects hereinafterset forth.

.In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is va longitudinal, sectional elevation'of atypewriter desk embodying the invention, showing the machine platform in lowered or inoperative position. l

Fig. 2 is a similar `view with the platform in open or operative position.

Fig. `3 is a transverse, vertical section on an enlarged scale,"of the connections between oneendof the platform and the adgacentside panel or stationary part of the desk, on line 3-3, Fig. 2. r

Fig. 4 is a side elevation ofthe lever and link connections :between the machine platform andthe movable desk top or section, showing these parts in locking relation'to the` platform for holding the same rigidly inopen position.'

Fig. .5 is a side elevation of oneof the fixed guide plateslzor members for guidingtheplatform in its movements'to` and from operative and inoperative'position.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of `one cfa pair of supporting brackets on which are Vmounted the platform supporting studs or rollers and Vto which the connections between said platform and desk top are attached.

The desk in whichthe-inventionis"used can be of any suitable construction adapted for use as a typewriter desk, or desk on which any other similar machine is mounted to move to and from operativeor inoperative position in the manner described. The `desk shown 1n the drawings comprises `the usual upright, opposed `and spaced ,side

panels, pedestals or members 10 rigidly `connected at the `rearby averti'cal back wall 11, and `also preferably by a "fiXed,hori:zontal rear top member 12. In'frontof `the member 12 is a movable desktop or section 13, which in the position shown inFig.` 1 extendshorizontally between the top edges or portions i of the side members 10 and above a typewriter platform `14, which, in said position of the desk top, occupies a downwardly and `rearwardly inclined or inoperative position.

The top section llhasits'rear ends pivoted to downwardly and forwardly extending links 16 which `are connected `at their lower ends to the adjacent Aside members 10 ofthe desk by pivots 17. yBy anupward and rear ward movement of the front of the top sec tion 13, said top, through its links 16, can swing about the pivots 17 to an upstanding position at the'back of the desk in rear ofthe platform 14, with its 4rear edge preferably engaging suitable fixed rests or stops 18 o n the side panels 10. This movement of the top 13 causes the platform 14 to move toits operativeposition `shown in Fig. 2, through connections between said top and platform, in a well known manner.

In accordance with the present invention, Said connections are constructed and arranged to coact with guides and stop means on the desk to support said platform and said desk top rigidly in their respective operative po- ;itions. For this purpose, the platform 14 is provided at each side with two laterally projecting spaced roller studs or followers 2O and 21. The studs 20 are arranged to travel in substantially horizontal slots or fixed guide ways 23, while the other studs 21 engage and travel in downwardly extending, preferably curved slots or guides 24. The guide waysV or slots 23, 24 at opposite sides of the desk are disposed in planes extending from front to rear of the desk, and can be formed in the side panel 10, if desired. Preferably, however, said slots areV formed in sheet metal brackets or stampings 25, having offset lugs 26 for securing them to the side panels 10 of the desk, see Fig. 5.

Stop means are provided against which the studs 20 and 21 canabut for positively arresting the movement of the platform as it assumes its operative position, said stops in the construction shown comprising the closed ends 27, 28 respectively of said slots 23 and Y Likewise, in the inoperative position of said platform, Fig. 1, these studs engage stops 29 and 30 comprising'respectively the opposite ends of the slots 23 and 24. By the rovision of the angularly related slots or gui es 23, 24,

disposed as shown, the platform is enabled to move from` its horizontal, operative position t0 a downwardly `and rearwardly inclined inoperative one, by the movement of the studs 21 along the depending slots 24, which causes a pivotal movement of the platform about the other studs 20, during the travel of the latter in said slots 23.

The operative connections between the platform 14 and top 13 comprises a. link 31 connected at one end as by a pivot 32 to the l front portion of the platform 14 andV at its other end by a pivot 33 to one end of a` lever 34 supported between its ends on the side wall or panel 10 by a stationary pivot 35 and having its opposite end pivoted in turn to the front portion of the desk top 13.

The drawings shown only the left hand side f of the desk, but preferably similar link and lever mechanism is also arranged at the opposite side of the desk.

When the platform moves from its inclined position to its horizontal operative position, the pivot 33 passes slightly beyond a dead center position, or across a line connecting the stationary pivot 35 and the vpivot 32 see Fig. 4. This relative arrangement and movement of the parts forms a lock joint and causes the Vrollers20 and 21 to be forced and held firmly against the stops 27 and 28 respectively. By

this construction the platform is rigidly supported in horizontal operative position, and will not shift or become displaced under normal conditions of use, as the platform caunot be shifted except by lifting the desk top and breaking said lock joint.

If, however, the desk top is lifted upwardly and forwardly from its inoperative position, Fig. 2, the lever 34 will turn about its pivot 35 thus causing the pivotal connection between the same and the link 31 to pass back across said dead center line and break the lock joint. A continuation of the movement of the desk top to closed position will shift the rollers 2() rearwardly along the slots 23 and the rollers 21 downwardly in the slots 24 to the respectiveY rear and lower ends of the slots where said rollers will rest against the stops 29 and 30. In this manner the platform is supported in inoperative position and the desk top is moved to and held securely in its desk closing position, Fig. 1. The front portion of the top is thus supported'through the link and lever connections with the platform` while its rear portion is adequately supported by the links 16.

The studs or supporting rollers 20, 21 can be mounted on the platform in any suitable way, but each pair is preferably secured to a longitudinally extending flange 40 of a sheet metal stamping or supporting bracket 41, see Fig. 6. These brackets engage the respective adjacent edges of the platform and are attached to the platform by screws or other fastenings passing through horizontal flanges 42, 43 extending laterally from said brackets upon opposite faces of said platform. Each bracket 41 is also preferably provided with an upstanding lug 45 through which the pivot 32 for the lilik 31 passes.

Another important result obtained by the construction described is that the platform 14, while moving to its inclined, inoperative position, also moves rearwardly the length of the guides or slots 23 by reason of the studs 20 engaging therein, thus locating the inoperative position well back of the front edges of the side panels 10 and providing more kn oo space for the operator than is usually provided in desks of this type.

The supporting brackets 25 and attaching brackets 41 are inexpensive to produce and are strong andv rugged, whilenthe link and lever connections between the desk top and platform are simple and coact with the guide and supporting meansto produce a desk construction wherein the platform and desk top are firmly held in their respective operative positions.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a typewriter desk, a frame having an opening in its top extending 1earwar :ll \v from the forward edge, a closure for said opening carried by said frame for movement toward and from closed position in said openllO nacemos ing, a platformfdisposedinsaid framebelow said opening, vayliorizontal"ignidemon :said frame :at reach side .oif said opening :and ei:- tending` `in directions .from 'fiont` to rear, -a second guidecarried ubyvsaid `frame also at eachside `of saidopening and at the rear of said horizontal guides, `said second rguides extending in directions crosswiseofthehorizontal guides `:and from adjacent fthe longitudinalaXes ofisaid horizontal guides downwardly and ithen rearwardly in an iinclined direction,zsoithattlie guides at-ieach sideof the frame iform an1'obtus`ef` angle with one another at their outer ends and approximately a right angle at their adjacent ends, followers carried by said platform and cooperating with said guides to support the platform in an approximately horizontal position when the followers cooperating with the second d20 guides are at the upper ends of those guides, and the followers cooperating when the horizontal guides are well forward on those guides, whereby said platform may be first tilted downwardly at its rear end and then the entire platform` shifted rearwardly in saidframe, and means connecting said clo sure to said platform, whereby movement of the closure into closed position causes a tilting` of the platform and its rearward movement in the frame to increase the knee space.

2. In a typewriter desk, a frame having an opening` in the top thereof, a. platform disposed in said frame below said opening, guides carried by said frame at opposite sides thereof, and extending in directions from front to rear, additional guides at the rear of said first named guides and extending therefrom first in a direction crosswise of the length of the first mentioned guides and then rearwardly in a direction oblique to the first named guides, and followers carried by said platform and cosoperating with each `guide at each side of the frame for mounting the platform in a horizontal position when the followers cosoperating with the additional guides are nearest the first named guides, and the followers of the first named guides are well in advance on said first named guides, whereby said platform may be tilted vertically at its rear end and then shifted bodily rearwardly in the frame, and means for moving the platform in either direction on said guides and locking it releasably in its approximately horizontal position.

3. In a typewriter desk, a frame having an opening in the top thereof, a platform disposed in said frame below said opening, guides carried by said frame at opposite sides thereof, and extending in directions from front to rear, additional guides at the rear of said first named guides and extending therefrom first in a direction crosswise of the length of the first mentioned guides and then rearwardly in a direction oblique to the first named guides, and followers carriedby, said platform and cooperating with each 4guide ateaoh side-of :the frame `for mounting `the platform in a horizontal position when the followers 4co-operatingr with the additional 7U@ guides arenearestithe firstnamed guides, and the Afollowers ofthe first named `guidesif-ire well `inadvance on said `first named guides,` whereby said platform may fbe tilted vvertically ,at'iitszrear endland then shifted bodily "g rearwardly in the frame, a closure for said opening above the platform carried by said frame for movement `between closed position in :said opening land fan approximately Aiipstanding position within `the rear-of said frame, .and means .connecting said closure and said ,platform for hoiding said platform iii-horizontal position whenifsaid closnreis in open position i andinoving said `platform into inclinedfposit-ionand rearwardly inithe frame when the iclosure is moved into closed position. i

T4. .In a typewriter desk, a frame, a platfornna pairiofifollowers at each side ofsaid platform, the followersiofieach `pair being spaced .forwardly and rearwardly ofione another, nan i approximately horizontal guide on said -framefatfeachiside of saidplatform and each guidehaving aipivotal and slidable connection withlthe adjacent forward follower, i

a-second-giiide carried by saidifraine ateach `sideof said platform and each havingfa `piv- `guides,saidplatform having a pivotbea-ring `spaced `from one ofthe forward followers and .laterally from `,the ad] acent horizontal guide,`

a desk top mounted on said frame for move Lmentbetween aiclosed position above said `platform andan open `position at the rear i of said platform, said `mounting includingl a `lever pivote'd'toisaid fframaand a link connected yto said lever andtosaid `pivot bearing on Asaid platform, the pivot of said lever be @forming a toggle which slightly passes straightened position when said platform reachesits forward 'horizontal position and said top `its `open position, Awhereby said toggle connection will lock said platform in horizontal position when saidtop is in open lposition,and whereby movement of said top ftowardsclosed `position will first break said togglarock saidiplatform i about its forward i' ingdisposed 'rearwardly of said pivot bear- "I `ing of said snpport,and said leverandlink lig followers, and then shift both followers along their guides to place said platform in an inclined position when said top is in closed position,

5. In a typewriter desk, a frame, a platform. approximately L-shaped brackets secured to said frame at opposite sides of said platform with one arm of each bracket eX- tending approximately horizontally and forwardly, and the other arms of the brackets depending from the rear ends of the approximately horizontal arms and then rearwardly in a direction oblique to the forwardly extending arms, each arm of each bracket having a slot running in a direction lengthwise therein` a pair of followers at each side of said platform spaced forwardly and rearwardly, the forward follower of each pair engaging in the slot of the horizontal arm and the other follower of the same pair engaging in the slot of the depending arm, each follower providing a pivotal mounting for said platform. the upper ends of the slots in the depending arms being crosswise of the lengths of the approximately horizontal arms, and the rear followers being in engagement with the upper endsof their slots when the forward followers are well forward in their slots. with the platform in horizontal position, said platform having a bearing pivot spaced from the forward followers, a top mounted for swinging movement-between a closed position above said platform, and an open position at the rear of the platform, the mounting of the top including a lever, and a link connecting said lever and the bearing pivot of said platform and forming with said lever a toggle connection having a position slightly past dead center when said top is in open position and moving through straightened position at the beginning-of a closing movement of said top, the pivot of said lever being so spaced from said pivot bearing of the platform, when the platform is in horizontal position. that movements of the Vtop in either direction between open and closed positions will urge said platform forwardly or rearwardly in the frame.

6. In a typewriter desk, the combination of a frame, a platform for supporting a typewriter or the like, a movable desk top, a lever pivoted between its ends to said frame, a pivotal connection between one end of said lever and said desk top, a link, a pivotal connection between one cnd thereof and said platform, a pivotal connection between the other end of said link Vand the other end of said lever, a guide member on said desk frame having a substantially horizontal slot and a second slot extending downwardly and rearwardly in angular relation thereto, a pair of spaced studs on said platform, one sliding lengthwise in each slot and supporting the platform for movement from inoperative to operative position, a. stop at the upper end of

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