US2006603A - Desk - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1935. H. P. NORDMARK ET AL DESK 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 20, 1934 July 2, 193 H. P. NORDMARK ET AL.

DESK

Filed Aug. 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jame/whorl; Pal 0h K. Merrill enry A ordmark Mommy H. F. NORDMARK ET AL July 2, 1935.

' DESK Filed Aug. 20, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 arvbcwvbomi 7c al h fl. Merrill Henry 7 A OrdmrIr/r July 2, 1935. H. P. NORDMARK ET AL DESK Filed Aug. 20, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Henry 7 [Vbrdmark Patented July 2, 1935 PATENT OFFICE DESK Henry P. Nordmark and Ralph K. Merrill, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 20,

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to desks and more particularly to desks provided with a top having a portion thereof which is both forwardly and rearwardly slidableas well as upwardly and *6 downwardly tiltable to form an adjustable angular support or easel for books, papers and the like.

" The instant invention is a structure of the general character shown in United States'Letters Patent No. 1,851,906, issued March 29, 1932, to Olive G. Henderson and under which our assignee is exclusive licensee. The instant invention is likewise in the nature of a modification of the structure shown in the co-pending application, Serial Number 738,463, filed August 4, 1934 by Henry P. Nordmark. v

I The primary objects of the instant invention are to provide a structure of the character above indicated which is particularly well adapted for use in the school room; to provide such a structure whose use by the school pupil is designed to minimize eye strain; to provide such a structure having unitary means for simultaneously locking both-the slidable and tiltable portion of the desk top in adjusted position; and, to provide such a structure which is not only amply adjustable through less space than the adjustability of the structure of the above identified patent, but which is more economical in manufacture than is the structure of the patent above identified.

-An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of the structure, partly broken away, showing in full lines the desk top in one of its adjusted'slid and elevated positions and in dotted lines the desk top in an-- other of its adjusted slid and elevated positions;

Figure 2 is a reduced end elevational view showing the desk top when the same is folded downwardly and adaptable for use as a school desk;

" Figure 3 is another reduced end elevational view showing the desk top in one of its elevated or' angularly adjusted positions;

Figure 4 is another reduced end elevational view showing the desk top in one of its adjusted slid and angularly elevated positions;

j Figure 5 is likewise a reduced end elevational ;view,showing the desk top in still another slid and angularly adjusted position;

' Figure (3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view showing in fulllines a portion of the desk top in one adjusted elevated position and in dottedlines the desk top when in down- 1934, Serial No. 740,642

Wardly folded position adaptable for use as a desk; I

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the desk with its top in adjusted elevated position;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View on lines 8-8 of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a sectional View on lines Figure 8;

Figure. 10 is a modified construction showing means for frictionally adjusting the tilting movement of the desk top;

Figure 11 is a sectional View thereof on line IIIi of Figure 10; and

Figure 12 is a sectional view on of Figure 10. 7

Referring now to the drawings in which like parts of the structure shown are designated by the same numerals in the several views, a school desk having a wooden bottom It], upstanding formed sheet metal end walls II, I2, a formed metal front wall I3, and a metallic rear wall I4 is provided with a desk top portion I5 of wood mounted adjacent the upper edge of the end wall I2 and extending laterally toward the end wall I I. A guideway, preferably of stamped sheet metal and here shown as comprising a U-shaped portion I6, is secured below the stationary desk top portion I5 adjacent its free end as by screws I1 and an upwardly extending flange portion I8 contacts the stationary desk top portion adjacent its free end, as best shown in Figures 7 and 9. A second guideway I9, likewise preferably of stamped sheet metal, is here shown as secured to and depending from the upper edge of the upstanding end wall II on the outside thereof,

as best shown in Figures 7 and 9. 3 I

A supported platform likewise preferably formed of stamped sheet metal is provided at one end with a pair of oppositely disposed strips of rawhide 2| or the like, and itsother end is bent downwardly, then inwardly and again downwardly, outwardly and upwardly to form a trackway 22, all as best shown in Figure 9. This supported platform is slidably mounted within the guideways I6; I9 and its sliding movement is limited between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways by the stops 23, 24 in the guideway l9. V

A third guideway 25 depends from and is secured as by rivets 26 to the underside of the slidably mounted supported platform inside of the end wall II and has a portion 21 projecting laterally toward the end wall I I. A plate 28 disposed parallel with respect to the'guideway 25 is within the slot 3 I.

likewise secured to the under side of the slidably mounted supported platform as by'rivets above the laterally projecting portion 21 and a bearing plate 29, here shown as a channel bar, is slidably mounted interjacent the guideway 25 and the plate 28, as best shown in Figure 9. This channel bar bearing plate is of longer length than the length of guideway 25, and during the sliding movement of the supported platform 20, the channel bar plate likewise slides between the guideway 25, 21 and the plate 28 to prevent distortional sliding movements of the supported platform.

A desk top portion 3llhaving a slot 3| disposed parallel with all of the guideways is hingedly connected adjacent its forward side to the forward side of the slidably mounted supported platform as by the hinges 32.

A block generally designated 33, hereinafter more particularly described, is slidably mounted within the trackway 22 of the supported platform 20 and a shuttle 34 is slidably mounted A rawhide strip 35 cr -the like secured within the slot 3| in any suitable manner forms a bearing surface for the shuttle."

The'hinged desktop portion 30 is supported in angularly adjusted position by-a pair of supporting struts 36,31. The supporting'strut 36 is hingedly secured at one end to the under side of the desk top portion 30 and at its other end is pivotallysecured to the block 33 within the trackway 22 while the strut 31 is pivotally secured at one end to the shuttle 34' within the slot 3| and at its other end is hingedly secured to the upper side of the platform 20, all as best shown in Figure '7.

j 'It will thus be seen that thede'sk top portion 30 may not only be elevated to adjusted angular,

position to form a support for books; papers or the like, but may be likewise slid to a forwardly or rearwardly adjusted position as indicated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive.

The block generally designated 33 and slidably mounted within the traekway 22 of the supported platform 20 (Figures 1-9) and as best shown in Figure 9 comprises the bar 38, preferably; of metal, and the strips 39, 40 on opposite sides thereof, preferably of rawhide or the like. 'An outer bar 4| of metal has a depending portion 42 and these members 38, 39, 4B and 4| are here shown as secured together by rivets 43.

Unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the desk top in both slid and angularly adjusted positions is the lever 44 pivotally secured to the depending-portion 42- of the bar whose cammed head 45 is adapted to engage the under side of the guideway l9 when it is swung downwardly as best shown in Figures 6 and 9.

In the modified constructionshown in Figures i0 to 12, the supported platform 20 is provided 'with the additional element 46 which is secured to its upper side as by spot welding and which overhangs the end thereof in spaced relation therewith to form the guideway 22 for slidable block 1 as best shown in Figure 11. A depending arm 42 is secured to the block 41 interjacent the block and thewasher 48 of rawhide or the likeby the rivet 49 which passes through the block 41, the arm 42 and the washer 43. "The lever 44 whose cammed head 45 is adapted to engage the under side of the guideway I!) when swung downwardly is pivotally secured t'othe depending arm 42 and provides unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the desktop in both slid and angularly adjusted positions;

which is fastened to the under side of the desk top as by the screws 58., Thus it will be seen that the tilting movement of the desk top may be frictionall'y adjusted by the adjusting screw 52 which controls the pressure of the washers 48, 53 on the opposite sides of the web 55. I

It will likewise be seen that the supported platform 20 is limited in its rearward and forward movement by the stops 23 and 24 respectively and although the desk top 30 may extend in angularly adjustedposition beyond the rear side of the desk in instances where the supported platform has been slid rearwfardly as far .as it will go as shownfor example in Figure 5,

depressing of the angularly disposed top automatically cause the supported platform to move forwardly as soon as the slidable'blocks 33 or 41 engage the stop 23. Thus the desk top 30 which is hingedly and pivotally secured to the slidably supported platform and tojthe blocks 33 or 41 will likewise be moved rearwardly as the top is depressed and the pupil'seatedforwardly of the rear side of the deskwillrnevt be struck as the desk top is depressed in instances of careless manipulation int-lowering it. The cammed head 44 of the lever'45 which engages the under side of the guideway I9 will likewise be thrown out of engagement therewith when the top is depressed and its mechanism uninjured through failure to turn it before depressing the top. 1 I

While but several embodiments of this inven tion have-been herein shown anddescribed, it

willbe understood that numerous details was constructions shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit M this invention as defined by the following We claim:

1.In a structure of the class described, b V

,positely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted withinthe guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having a slot disposed arents with the guideways and hingedly connected tothe slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, and apair of struts for supporting the desktop in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top.

2. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway; means for limiting the sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to theslidably mountedsupported platform, a block slidable within the trackwayand a shuttle slidable withlnthe slot,

block and a and a pair of struts'for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mountedsupported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top.

3. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and ,hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting; the desk top in adjusted angular position,one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position.

4. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining the hingedly connected desk top in angularly adjusted position.

5. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjust ably slid position and the hingedly connected desk ..top in angularly adjusted position.

6. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means for limiting the sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position.

'7. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means for limiting the sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining the hingedly connected desk top in angularly adjusted position. i

3. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means for limiting the sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one endto the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position and the hingedly connected desk top in angularly adjusted position.

9. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supportedplatform adjacent its forward side, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, and a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top.

' 10. In a structure'of the class described, op-

pivotally secured at platform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel withthe guidewa'ys and hingedly connected to the 'slidably mounted supported platform adjacent its forward side, a block slidable withinthe traokway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, and a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hing'edly secured at one end to the siidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top. a

11. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each pro-- vided' with a guideway, a supported platform slldably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top having a-slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform adjacent its-forward side, a block slidable within the trackwayi and a. shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top' in adjusted'angular position, one of said strutsbeing hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and thenother strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining the s'lidably mounted supported platform, in adjustably slid position. 12. In a structure of the class described, oppo sitelydisposed supporting members each pro 'vided with a guideway, a supported platfonn slidably mounted within the guideways and hav 'ing a trackway, av desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guidewaysand hingedly. connected to the slidably mounted supported platform adjacent its forward side, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidablymounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its otherend to the desk top, and means for maintaining the hingedly connected desk top in angularly adjusted position. r 1 13. In a structure of the class described, oppo- Isitely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted Withinv the guideways and haw ing a trackway, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guidewa-ys and hingedly connected 'to the slidabiy mounted supported form adjacent its forward side, a block slidable within the trackwayand a shuttle slidable witlnn the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end tothe shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the'desk top, and unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the slidably mountedsupported platform in adjustably slid position and the hingedly connected desk top in angularlyadjusted position.

14. In a structureof the class described, sitely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platfonnslidably mounted within the-guideways and having a 'trackway, means for limiting the sliding "movement of the slidably mounted supported platform between the forward and rearward endsol the guideways, a desk top having a'slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly con} nected to the slidably mounted SUDDOPUGG'DINZ- form adjacent its forward side, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair ofstrusts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured atone end tothe block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and means for maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position.

' 15J'In a structure of the class described-Oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a Support-ed platform slidably mounted within the guideways and havinga trackway, means for limiting the: sliding movement of the slidablyi mounted supported platform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supportedplatform adjacent its forward side, a block-slidable within the trackway'and a'shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular pwition, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivot- H ally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut. being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other 'endto the desk top, and means for maintaining the hingedly connected desk top inangularly adjusted position. a

16. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members eachprovided with a 'guideway, a supported platform slid-i slot, a pair of struts-for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position; one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mo'unted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and theother' strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and unitary 'means for simultaneously maintainingthe slidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position and the .hingedlyi connected desk top in angularly adjusted position. v 17. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and havin a 7 trackway, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a

block slidable Within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position and the hingedly connected desk top in angularly adjusted position comprising a clamp pivotally secured to the block and adapted to frictionally engage one of the guideways.

18. In a structure of the class described, oppositely disposed supporting members each provided with a guideway, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, means for limiting the sliding movement of the slidably mounted supported platform between the forward and rearward ends of the guideways, a desk top having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected to the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, a pair of struts for supporting the desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the desk top, and unitary means for simultaneously maintaining the slidably mounted supported platform in adjustably slid position and the hingedly connected desk top in angularly adjusted position comprising a clamp pivotally secured to the block and adapted to frictionally engaged one of the guideways.

19. In a structure of the class described, a base having upstanding end walls, a stationary desk 7 top portion mounted adjacent the upper edge of one of the upstanding end walls and projecting laterally toward the other end wall, guideways disposed adjacent the free end of the stationary desk top portion and adjacent the upstanding end wall opposite said stationary desk top portion, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideways and having a trackway, a desk top portion having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected with the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, and a pair of struts for supporting the hinged desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supported platform and pivotally secured at its other end to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the hinged desk top.

20. In a structure of the class described, a base having upstanding end walls, a stationary desk top portion mounted adjacent the upper edge of one of the upstanding end Walls and projecting laterally toward the other end wall, a guideway disposed adjacent the free end of the stationary desk top portion and a pair of guideways disposed on opposite sides of the end wall opposite said stationary desk top portion, a supported platform slidably mounted within the guideway adjacent the stationary desk top portion and within one of said other guideways, said platform having a trackway, a bearing plate slidably mounted within the other of said guideways, a desk top portion having a slot disposed parallel with the guideways and hingedly connected with the slidably mounted supported platform, a block slidable Within the trackway and a shuttle slidable within the slot, and a pair of struts for supporting the hinged desk top in adjusted angular position, one of said struts being hingedly secured at one end to the slidably mounted supend to the shuttle and the other strut being pivotally secured at one end to the block and hingedly secured at its other end to the hinged desk top.

HENRY P. NORDMARK. RALPH K. MERRILL.

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