US197290A - Improvement in desks - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. L. RANSOM.

Desk.

No. 197,290 Patented Nov. 20, 1877.

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D. L. RANS OM.

Desk. No. 197,290. Patented Nov. 20, 1877.

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DAVID L. RANSOM, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IM PROVEMENT [N D'ESKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,290, dated November 20, 1877; application filed April 24, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID L. RANSOM, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Business-Cabinets, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, aplan view of the machinery for raising or lowering the back or main desk. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation; and Fig. 4, a cross section through the center of the cabinet, showing a side elevation of the machinery for operating the several parts. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the desk, and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of Fig.5.

The object of my invention is to construct a business-cabinet composed of two adjustable parts, that can be easily adjiisted to form a writing-desk, either level or inclined, to sit down by while writing, or a standingdesk, having either a level or an inclined top, and also capable of being readily converted into a broad, fiat drawingtable, or conveniently adjusted so as to form an'inclosed business-cabinet.

My invention consists, first, in the combination of two vertically-adjustable tables, one forming afront writing-desk, the other a cabinet for holding books, &c., both of which are separately adjustable, so that a flat drawing-table may be formed, or the back desk elevated so as to bring the books,papers, &c.,.within easy reach when required.

Second, my inventionfurther consists in the arrangement and combination of a Windlass, a pawl and ratchet-wheel, and aroller and cords, or their equivalents, for the purpose of adjusting the back desk or cabinet vertically.

Ain saiddrawings represents the back desk or cabinet. It is made vertically adjustable by means of the Windlass O, which is prevented from turning backward, except when;

required, by thevpawl O and ratchet-wheel D. E is a cord or chain (or belt) connected to the Windlass G, and extendingtherefrom over a friction-roller, D, and from thence down to the roller E, around which it is wound several times, and fastened thereto. At each end of, the roller E is connected a cord, or its equivalent, F, which is wound around it several times, and passed upward and over afriction-roller, F (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4,) from which it passes down, and is firmly fastened to the bottom of A, at F, one at each s1 e.

The operation of this part of my invention is as follows: When it is necessary to lift the desk or cabinet A, the Windlass O is turned so as to wind up the cord or chain E, which turns the roller E by unwinding the cord or belt E therefrom. This operation, as will be easily seen by reference to Fig. 4, winds up the cords or belts F on roller E, and consequently draws them over the rollers F and the ends F upward, thereby elevating the desk. In letting it down, the pawl G (which is kept in place in the usual way by a spring) is pushed back out of the way, or from the teeth of the ratchetwheel, thereby releasing the Windlass, and allowing the desk to move down by its own weight as far as may be required, after which the pawl is allowed to spring back to its place.

If it is designed to use the cabinet having the parts adjusted as shown in Fig. 3, the part A is raised up high enough to allow the side pieces Gr to be turned out, as shown in Fig. 3.

They are shown as turned back into the desk A, in Fig. 4, to which they are fastened bythe pins G. When turned out, as shown in Fig.,

3, they assist in holding A up firmly in position. The inner sides of G are grooved, as shown at H, Fig. 4, and by the dotted lines H, Fig. 3, so that the ordinary flexible cover I, Fig. 4, may be made to slide therein, and close the. desk in the usual way, while: adjusted, as shown in Figs. 1 and B represents the front desk; B an adjustable top, which may be inclined to any angle desired by means of the pawls B and racks J. Two of such pawls should be arranged on a shaft placed lengthwise of the desk. J is a handle, (shown in Fig. 3,) connected to one end of the shaft for lifting or operating said pawl or pawls, so as to catch in the teeth of the racks J.

The front desk B, being light, is easilylifted by the hands, and adjusted to the height required by means of the pawl K and rack K.

It will be readily seen that both desks may be adjusted so as to be in the same plane, thereby forming a broad, flat table, for drawing or other purposes, by combining the tops of the two desks.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of two vertically adj ustable tables, operated by means substantially as specified,one forming afront adjustable writing-desk, the other a cabinet for holding books, papers, &c., both of which are separately adjustable, so that a flat drawing-table, adjustable to the height desired, may be formed, or the back and front tables adjusted to form a convenient cabinet and writing-desk, as described.

2. The combination of the table A, side pieces G, and table B, arranged substantially as specified, for holding and supporting the (Il esk or cabinet A, when elevated, as shown in In a verticallyadjustable desk, A, the combination of the side pieces G, pins G, and curtaifi or flexible cover I, for the purposes describe DAVID L. RANSOM.

Witnesses Amos W. SANGSTER, JAMES SANGSTER.

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