US2350340A - Drafting table - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 194 4.

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Patented June 6, 41944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRAFTING TABLE John J. Darby, Portland, Oreg.

Application January 24, 1942, Serial No. 428,082 1 claim. (o1. 454131) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Goverment for gOVeInmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to drafting tables, but more particularly to a drafting table having a translucent illuminated drawing surface adapted to facilitate the making of tracings of all types of photographic prints, as well as original drawings.

One object of the invention is to provide a drafting table having a uniformly illuminated drawing surface adapted to render the drawing to be traced thereon translucent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table having a drawing surface which is rendered translucent by fluorescent lamps to thus reduce the heating effect without diminishing the degree of illumination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a durable drafting table which is of simple construction, easily manufactured at a low cost, and one which is efficient in operation.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

Referring to the figures in which like parts are indicated by similar reference characters:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the improved drawing table, showing the translucent drawing surface beneath which are located a battery of fluorescent lamps;

Fig. 2 is a. front elevation of the drawing table showing the relative positions of the translucent drawing surface, the fluorescent lamps and the reflector;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the table; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the` line 4 4 of Fi 1.

rieily stated, the improved device which forms the subject matter of this invention comprises a drafting table provided with a translucent top which is illuminated with a battery of fluorescent lamps.

Referring to the drawing in which like parts are designated by similar reference characters, the numeral I designates the base or support, and the numeral I I a top member or frame into which is fitted a plate of translucent material I2 which functions as a drawing board, the whole structure forming a drafting table similar in outline to those most generally used.

The base is formed With four uprights or legs I3 braced longitudinally by cross members I 4, I4' and I5 and laterally by cross members I0 and IG. To the upper extremities of the legs I3 are attached longitudinal and lateral members I 1, Il' and I8, I8' which form a rectangular frame into which is removably fitted the rectangular plate of translucent glass or plastic material I2.

Beneath the frame member, the legs are drilled with equally spaced holes 20 to receive bolts 2I. These bolts support longitudinal cross members 22 and 22 upon which are mounted a battery of fluorescent lamp tubes 23, which bridge the cross members 22 and 22', and are adapted to illuminate the translucent plate I2. The degree of illumination of the fluorescent lamps is controlled through a switch box 24 attached to the forward longitudinal cross member 22. 'I'he cross members 22 and 22 which support the battery of lamps 23 may be adjusted vertically by placing the bolts 2I in any four of the holes 20 which will give the desired height.

Below the battery of fluorescent tubes 23 is placed a. reflector 25 which may consist of a ply- Wood board, the upper surface of which is painted white to produce a suitable reflecting surface.

The frame which supports the translucent plate or drawing board I2 is indented with thumb holes or nitches 26 to facilitate the removal of the fluorescent sheet for cleaning the same.

The cross members I6 and I6' and the center longitudinally extending member I5 may be utilized to support a shelf 2l as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The use of tubular fluorescent lamps prevents overheating of the translucent plate or drawing surface, and by arranging these lights in the manner shown and providing a reflector beneath them a uniform illumination of the drawing surface is effected.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and Wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

A drafting table of the class described comprising a top member consisting of a frame, a translucent plate removably mounted wthin said frame and disposed in a horizontal plane, a support for said frame having legs provided with equally spaced holes, an illuminating source including a battery of parallelly arranged laterally spaced fluorescent tubes, substantially coextensive with the area of the translucent plate, and mounted upon horizontal cross members beneath and parallel to said plate, means associated with said cross members adapted to selectively engage the holes in said legs to support the battery of fluorescent tubes parallel to said translucent plate at various distances beneath said plate to thereby effect the uniform illumination thereof and provide for the regulation of the intensity of said illumination with respect to said plate, and a horizontally disposed reflecting surface, corresponding in area to that of said frame, located beneath said illuminating source, and removably associated with its support.

JOHN J. DARBY.

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