US2547754A

US2547754A - Combination typewriter box, desk, and seat

Info

Publication number: US2547754A
Application number: US572798A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert E Herrick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-01-15
Filing date: 1945-01-15
Publication date: 1951-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1968-04-03

Description

April 3, 1951 R. E. HERRICK 2,547,754

COMBINATION TYPEWRITER BOX, DESK, AND SEAT Filed Jan. 15, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FOBEeTEHEE/F/CK April 3, 1951 R. E. HERRICK COMBINATION TYPEWRITER BOX, DESK, AND SEAT s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1945 POEEETZYZEEE/CK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R. E. HERRICK COMBINATION TYPEWRITER BOX, DESK, AND SEA'I:

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April 3, 1951 Filed Jan. 15, 1945 Patented Apr. 3, 1951 attain umrsisrarss partn r orrics ooMBINA'rIoN TYPEWRITER BOX, nrsx, AND SEAT Robert E. Herrick, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application January 15, 1945, Serial No. 572,798

4; Claims. (01. 312-408) 1 the necessity of transporting accessory furniture 1 with a typewriter so that under any conditions and at any time, the typewriter may be made ready for efficient operation.

Still another object of. the invention is to provide a typewriter storage and transporting box wherein a removable wall of the box can be converted into a desk top for the typewriter and a fold'able portion of another wall of the box forms a seat.

Still afurther object oflthe invention is to provide a box of' this type which when converted Figure? is a view in partial section of one of the fastening means for securing an upright to the top; and

Figure 8 is an end elevation of the same.

The boxshown in Fig. 1 is of a somewhat greater overall dimension than a standard upright typewriter machine. It maybe formed of any desired material, preferably wood, and is so constructed to be strong enough to withstand extremely rough handling when a typewriter is positioned therein for transportation. The box 'is flat sided and for the purpose of describing the same is provided with a front end wall I, a

rearend wall 2, a base and side walls l and 5. A removable cover 6 closes the box. walls i and 5 are provided with reinforcing strips 1 that extend slightly above the end and side walls and the cover 6 is adapted to rest upon the upper edges of said walls within the extensions. The side walls A; and 5 are provided with handles 8.. The box may be internally reinforced by rear corner posts 9 and short front corner posts it.

into a desk and seat involves an arrangement wherein a maximum steadiness is obtained at a conservation of space and" material.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a simple hold down for the typewriter adjustable to fit any make of standard upright typewriter and easily shiftable from the base of the box to the desk top or vice versa.

Other and further objects of the'invention will be. apparentfrom a detail description thereof,

wherein only a preferred form of embodiment of the invention is shown and described, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1' is a perspective view of the box entirely closed;

Figiiregi's a verticalsection on the line 22' of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial vertical section of the box taken at right anglest'o Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the box partially converted with the cover removed and the uprights and seat'in position prior to placing the top on the uprights; 7 v v Figure 5 is a side elevation of the converted box fromthe opposite side of Figure 4, showing the top in position and a typewriter mountedthereon Figure 6 is a top plan view of'the'converte'd box in" us'e'as a typewriter desk and Seat;

This construction is merely a preferred form and may be varied provided a sufliciently sturdy constructionresults. I

The cover 6 is externally reinforced by strips it secured thereto by screw studs !2 which ex.-

tend through the cover as shown at It (Figured) for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described. When the box is used for transportation, the cover may be secured in position by hinged hasps I l and keepers l5 secured revers'ely to the

end walls

4 and 5, but this merely illustra'tes' a preferred embodiment of the-invention andany other suitable securingmean's may be provided. As the cover 6 i adapted to function as a desk top for the typewriter when the box is converted, it is provided with a pair of folding wings l6 and ll, hinged to opposite edges as shown at Hi. When folded as shown in Fig. 2', they support the cover on the upper edges of the end and side walls of the box. The wing I6 is larger than the wing ll and has secured thereto a pigeon holed compartment H9. The wings are provided with suitable spaced recesses 2i] to receive the projecting ends [3 of the screws l2 when the wings are folded.

The front wall I when the box is in upright position is formed in two sections. The lower section 2| is rigidly secured to the adjacent side Walls and. base of the box and the u per section 22 is hinged thereto as shown at 23 so that it may be swung or folded over the rigid section. It is secured in normal position by a stud 24 carried by the swinging portion 22 and a 00'- The side operating spring fastener 25 on the inner face of the side wall 4 as best shown in Figure 4. However, any desired releasable securing means may be employed for this purpose.

To support the cover 6 for use as a desk top for the typewriter when the box is converted, there is provided a plurality of uprights 26 best shown in Figure 4 having inclined edges adapted to fit in corresponding sockets 2'! secured to the inner faces of the

side walls

4 and 5. Three of these uprights are provided, two on the wall and one on the wall 4. Two of the uprights are parallel and inclined upwardly and outwardly from the box. The upper ends of the uprights are all in a single plane. When the removable cover 6 is used as a desk top, it is reversed and rests on the uprights with the ends of the same fitting in corresponding notches 28 in the strips H.

To removably secure the cover in position for use as a desk top, each upright 26 is provided adjacent its upper end with a sliding and rotatable pin 29 having a handle 30 which carries the latch 3| adapted to engage behind a keeper element 32 when the pin is pushed through the upright into a socket 33 formed in the notched portion of the strip I I and is rotated. This fastening means is clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8. Upon rotation of the handle 30 to disengage the latch from the keeper 32, the pin 29 may be withdrawn from the socket 33.

To securely but releasably fasten the typewriter to either the base 3 or inverted cover 6, there is. provided a simple and efficient hold down. This hold down comprises a pair of angle bars 33 having holes 35, adjacent each end. Secured to the base of the typewriter, by any suitable means such as for instance by the screws for the feet, are a pair of cross or transversely extending flat metal strips 36 having longitudinally extending slots 31 through which the fastening means pass. The position of the fastening means varies both longitudinally and transversely on different types of standard typewriters so the fact that the cross strips are free to be moved longitudinally either forward or backward with respect to the typewriter base and that slots are provided through which the fastening means pass permits a range of adjustment so that the cross strips may be securely fastened to the base of any standard typewriter. The outer ends of the strips 36 are offset downwardly as at 38 to lie flat on the supporting base. This elevates the main portion of the strips on which the typewriter is secured so heads of 7 any fastening elements projecting through the slots 31 are above the base.

The angle bars 34 extend longitudinally of the typewriter and their fiat sides overlie the offset extension 38 of the cross strips 36. The holes 35 of the angle bars are in this fiat side and are so arranged that the bars may be inserted over a plurality of .permanently base attached screws. These screws are numbered I3 and their arrangement on the inverted cover 6 when the same is used as a desk top is clearly shown in Figure 6. An exactly similar arrangement of upwardly projecting screws I3 is provided on the base 3. The angle bars are clamped in position by wing nuts 39.

For transporting or shipping a standard typewriter, the same is secured to the base 3 by the hold down means just described. The cover 6 is then secured in position and the assembly as shown in Figure l, affords a strong and sturdy box for the typewriter that permits it to be transported, shipped or stored with no danger of injury to the typewriter.

When it is desired to use the typewriter, the hasps are released and the cover 6 with attached wings l6 and I1 removed. The hinged section 22 of the front wall I is released and swung down. Upon removal of the wing nuts 39, the angle bars 34 may be removed and the typewriter with the cross strips 36 attached thereto removed from the box.

The box is then turned over on the rear wall 2. The section 22 of the wall I swings down over the rigid section 2| as shown in Figures 4 and 5 and forms a seat. As the section 22 is approximately as large again as the section 2|, it will extend beyond the box and is of a size to form a suitable seat for the operator. are normally carried in the box are then positioned in the sockets 21 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. If desired, the seat may be reinforced by metal strips 40.

The cover 6 is then inverted and placed on the flat upper ends of the uprights 26. The ends of the uprights fit in corresponding notches 28 in the strips ll of the cover 6 which are then under the same. The pins 29 are pushed in the recesses in the notches and upon rotation of the handle 30, the latch 3| engages behind the keeper 32 to prevent withdrawal. This securely fastens the cover to the uprights and provides an elevated desk top to receive the typewriter. The wings l6 and I! are swung outwardly to increase the width of the top. The igeon hole compartment I9 is thus disposed below the wing 16 and surface of the table.

The typewriter with the cross strips 36 attached is then .placed upon the top. The angle bars 34 are placed over the ofiset ends 38 of the strips and the projecting screws l3 passed through the holes 35. The wing nuts 39 are then applied to the projecting portions of the screws and the typewriter is securely held in position. When it is desired to reconvert, the operations just described are reversed.

This invention is particularly designed for use by the military forces for field work. Under such conditions, it is often impractical to transport accessory furniture for comfortable and eflicient operation of a typewriter. Haphazard structures are often resorted to which retards the efficiency of the operator. When used as a box, a standard typewriter may be safely and easily transported under abnormal conditions. By a very simple series of operations requiring no skill, the box may be converted into a compact and steady desk and seat and the necessity of accessory furniture eliminated. The structure of the box itself is mainly utilized for the conversion of the same and the only additional parts are three uprights which may be easily stored in the box when not in use.

When used as a desk, the assembly is so balanced that the typewriter may be mounted on the top without danger of tilting in spite of the fact the top projects from above one end of the box. As the seat also projects from the other end of the box, when an operator is seated at the desk the steadiness of the assembly is increased. By eliminating one of the uprights adjacent the seat, an operator has no trouble stepping into the desk to take his seat. The fact the open end of the box is in front of the seat increases the leg space and prevents the operator being cramped.

It is within the scope of this invention to change The uprights 26 which the specific mounting of such details as the uprights, wings of the cover, or fastening or mounting means, as these merely are shown primarily for tlge purpose of illustrating an operative structure. i

The specific form of hold down shown is how and seat comprising a flat sided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and aremovable top Wall, said top wall including hinged extensions on the opposite edges thereof, said front wall comprising a fixed portion and a swingable portion hingedly secured to said fixed portion and adapted to be positioned thereover to form aseat when the case rests on the back Wall thereof, opposed guide members secured to the side walls of said case, supports removably mounted in said guide members and extending upwardly above the plane of said seat, and means for removably mounting said top wall in reversed position upon the extremities of said supports whereby said top wall and said hinged extensions form a typewriter desk.

2. A combined typewriter carrying case, desk and seat comprising a flat sided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and a removable top wall, a portion of said front wall being adapted to be positioned over the remaining portion to form a, seat when the case rests on the back wall, opposed guidemembers secured to the side walls of said case, supports removably mountedin said guide members and extending upwardly above the plane of said seat, and means 'for removably mounting said top wall upon the extremities of said supports to provide a typewriter desk. I

3. A combined typewriter carrying case, desk and seat comprising a flat sided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and a removable top wall, a portion of said front wall being adapted to be positioned over the remaining portion to form a seat when the ease rests on the back wall, a plurality of supports removably mounted on said side walls and extending upwardly above the plane of said seat, and means for removably mounting said top wall upon the extremities of said supports to provide a typewriter desk.

4. A combined typewriter carrying case, desk and seat comprising a flat sided box including front, back, side and bottom walls and a removable top wall, said front wall comprising a fixed portion and a swingable portion hingedly secured to said fixed portion and adapted to be positioned thereover to form a seat when the case rests on the back wall thereof, a plurality of supports removably mounted on said side walls and extending upwardly above the plane of said seat, and means for removably mounting said top wall 7 .upon the extremities of said supports to provide a typewriter desk.

ROBERT E. HERRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS