US2558209A

US2558209A - Knockdown desk

Info

Publication number: US2558209A
Application number: US790523A
Authority: US
Inventors: Derman Harry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-12-09
Filing date: 1947-12-09
Publication date: 1951-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 1968-06-26

Description

Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE KNOCKDOWN DESK Harry Derman, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application December 9, 1947, Serial No. 790,523

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to knockdown articles of furniture. More particularly, the invention deals with the knockdown desk comprising three primary parts and a shelf member, the parts being detachably related to facilitate compact packaging of the article for shipment and transportation. The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the desk in assembled relationship showing the desk top in raised position to give access to the upper compartment.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

a with the desk top in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a partial section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with parts of the construction broken away.

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective View showing the structure of upper corner portions of two parts of the desk preparatory to assemblage of said parts; and

Fig. 5 is an exploded view showing two rail structures of the front part of the desk.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing, three primary parts, namely a back and side wall part 10, a front part i! and a top cover or table part [2. The complete assemblage also includes a partitioning or shelf part 13 which forms at the top of the assembled article of furniture, such for example, as a desk, a compartment l4 for the reception of articles to be stored.

The part comprisesa back wall IS with which are foldably or hingedly related, side walls l6 and I1, both of which are of the same general construction. The back wall has top and

bottom strips

18 and 19 which terminate short of the folded corners 20-2l, as clearly indicated by the end 22 of the bottom strip 19, in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Both ends of this strip as well as the ends of the strip I 8 are adapted to abut inner surfaces of top and bottom strips 23-24 and 23-24 on the end walls iE-l'l. This abutment between the strip l9 and the strip 24 is indicated clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawing. All of the strips l8-l9, 23-23 and 24-24 are grooved to receive the wall panels, as will be apparent,

the strips being secured to the panels by any suitable fastener which are not shown, as they form no part of the present invention.

In collapsing the part It, the walls 16 and I1 fold onto the rear surface of the wall and the corners 20-21 are preferably reinforced adjacent the top and bottom strips by reinforcing tapes, two of which are shown at 25-25, in Fig. 1 of the drawing, between the

walls

15 and 16, it being understood that similar reinforcements are provided between the walls 15 and 11.

The top and bottom strips 23-24 and 23-24' are all of the same construction. Therefore, the brief description of one will apply to all, and here attention is directed to the upper strip 23' of the wall l1, and it will be noted that the forward end of the strip is cut out to form a projecting tongue 28 centrally thereof, the tongue 26 having an aperture 21 therein adapted to receive a short nail or similar fastener 28 in assembling the parts, as later described.

The front part il comprises what may be termed and inverted U-frame formed by a long top strip 29, a somewhat shorter shelf supporting strip 30, corner rails 3l-32 and

inner rails

33 and 34, the latter defining the leg openings 35 of the desk. The rails 31-33 and 32-35 are joined at the lower ends thereof in short trips 36-31. All the strips and rails 23-31 are grooved on inner adjacent surfaces in support of wall panels 38-39-49- 31 and 42, arranged between the strips and rails in the manner clearly seen in Fig. l of the drawing.

The strip 29 is recessed, as seen at 43-43 to receive upper ends of the rails 33-34. Upper and lower ends of the rails 31-32 are grooved, as seen at 44-44 and 45-45 to receive the ends of the strip 29 and strips 35-31, inner ends of the strips 35-31 seating in corresponding grooves 46-41 in the lower ends of the rails 33-34.

Again considering Fig. 4 of the drawing, it will appear that the ends of the strip 29, and in fact this also applies to the outer ends of the strips 36-31, is grooved, as seen, for example, at 48 to receive the tongue 26 and the outer rails, for example, the rail 32, as seen at 49, to register with the aperture 21 when the parts are assembled, to facilitate attachment of the nail or other fastener 28 in retaining the parts together. Only one corner portion is specifically described, but all four front corners will be of the same construction. This fastening or coupling retains the parts l0 and I! in assembled relationship to each other.

In Fig. 5 of the drawing, I have shown an exploded view of the strip 30 and rail 33, at

' ing.

that portion of both the strip and rails where they intersect. It will apcar that the strip 3% is recessed on its front surface, as at 9 to receive the rail 33 and the rail 33 is recessed at its rear surface as at 5? to receive the strip 36. A nail or similar fastener, as at ii is passed through the strip 36 and into the rail 33 in securing the parts together. This mortise joint coupling rigidly supports the front frame and prevents weaving movement of the frame parts.

In Fig. 5, upper and

lower grooves

52 and 53 are shown on the strip 30 for reception of the panels 38-39 and the panel 4!, the other unshown end of this strip also receiving the

panels

43 and 42. The rail 39 has a short groove at at its inner surface to receive the panel 39 and a long groove 55 at its opposed surface for receiving the panels 334l. It will be understood that the rail 3 is of identical construction to the rail 33 and the brief description of one will apply to both.

Secured to the inner surface of the back wall by suitable fasteners, as at 56 and by gluing, if desired, is'a shelf supporting strip 51, the outer surface of which is recessed, preferably at two.

positions adjacent the ends of the strip, one recess being shown at 58 in Fig. 3 of the draw- The recesses 58 are adapted to receive tongue portions 59 on the shelf l3. The forward end of the shelf is cut out to receive the rails (ii-Aid, one of the corner cut-outs being indicated at Gil, and one of the cut-outs for the rails 33.35 being shown at 6|, in Fig. 3 of the drawing, The edge of the shelf rests upon the strip 3i), as most clearly seen at 62 in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Various articles of stationery, or otherwise, can be stored within the compartment i4 and resting upon the shelf 13. Access to the compartment is accomplished by simply raising the forward end portion of the desk top or cover part I2, in the manner illustrated in the open position thereof, as seen in Fig, l of the drawing.

The desk top or cover part l2 comprises two ply 63-54 of corrugated or paper-board of any type or kind, secured together and faced with a suitable facing material, as is known in the art. In this connection, it will be understood that the wall panels of the other desk parts are also of the same construction. No attempt is made to illustrate the complete structure of the walls or panels or the ply 5364 in the present small size showing.

Secured to the lower surface of the ply 6364 forming the desk top, is a reinforcing frame 65 adapted to fit snugly but freely within the strips i82323' and 29, the frame being braced centrally by a cross strip 65', as clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawing. It is also preferred that the corner portions of the desk top or cover have triangular corner-pieces, as at 66, to reinforce the corners and these corner-pieces may also be utilized to support additional facings upon the table top, such for example, as a blotter. In fact, the entire table top will simulate conventional forms of blotter pads, as used on desks, as will be apparent.

Considering Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the outer edges of the desk top or cover part l2 extend beyond the front, back and sides of the desk body. It will be noted in Fig; 2, however, that the rear edge portion [2' of the top protrudes less than the front and side edges so as to enable the desk to be placed rea- Sonably close to the Wall of a room, and allover the top to swing freely into open position in a hinge-like manner. The rear extension l2 will be no greater than the average extension of the base molding of a wall.

The various walls or panels of the respective parts, including the top, may be furnished in any desired color or characterized in any desired manner to represent furniture or to fit or blend the furniture in the intended room where it is to be used and the wood strips forming the reinforcing frame structure of the parts may be of the same, or a suitable contrasting color, to produce a neat and finished appearance.

-It will be understood that in setting up the normally knockdown parts, the back and side walls are placed under a slight tension by engagement of the ends of the strips IS and IS with inner surfaces of the top and bottom strips In this way, the rear portion of the desk is firmly supported against relative movement and this dispenses with the need of having a vertical rear corner rail. The front part ll will hold the side walls lfil'l in this tensioned position when said walls are coupled with the front part H and the fasteners 28 are secured in position. In this connection it will be understood that a complete assemblage of the desk is accomplished through the medium of four fasteners, such as the nails or other devices 23, one at each of the front corner portions of the desk. The position of the strip 30 is such as to provide ample room from a standpoint of height for a person to position the legs in the leg opening 35. The desks may be produced in sizes suitable for small or large children, or as a service or utility desk for any grown person. A desk of this type and kind may be well used as a writing desk, or may be used as a sewing desk or table and in any use, the upper compartment M may be utilized for the storage of such articles as may be used from time to time in the use of the desk for writing, drawing or other purposes, such as writing and drawing implements and supplies may be stored. Whereas, when used as a sewing desk, sewing articles can be stored in the compartment and the same would be true of any other uses.

In the knockdown state, it will be apparent that the complete desk or article of furniture will be of a thickness equivalent to the thickness of the part H, the part (5 including the wall thickness l5|'l and the part I2 and of a size substantially equivalent to the size of the front section or part II, except for the added length of the part 12. In other words, the entire package would represent a rectangular package slightly larger than the rectangular form of the part H and of the combined thicknesses stated above.

Again considering Fig. 5 of the drawing, it will appear that the grooves 52-53-54 and 55 are disposed nearer the front surfaces of the strips and rails so as to produce at the front of the cabinet relatively thin facing strips which produces a neat and finished appearance. At the same time, this arrangement forms a relatively wide supporting shelf on the strip 38 for the forward edge of the shelf part l3, as indicated at 62.

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

1. A knockdown. article of furniture of the character described comprising a back and side wall part, a front wall part and a top wall part, the back .and side wall parts comprising a back wall with side walls foldably joined to the ends of the back wall, all of said walls having top and bottom reinforcing and finishing strips throughout the full length thereof, the front Wall part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame comprising two pair of vertically arranged rails joined by horizontal strips, with panels intermediate the rails and strips, adjacent vertical rails of said pairs being spaced to form a leg opening, the top wall part comprising a ply paper-board sheeting, means on the under-face of the sheeting for reinforcing the same and for positioning the top wall part against displacement from upper ends of the first named parts, and means at upper and lower corners of the strips of the front wall part and forward end portions of the upper and lower strips of the side wall parts for coupling'the first two parts together in forming a desk-like structure.

2. A knockdown article of furniture of the character described comprising a back and side wall part, a front wall part and a top wall part, the back and side wall parts comprising a back wall with side walls foldably joined to the ends of the back wall, all of said walls having top and bottom reinforcing and finishing strips throughout the full length thereof, the front wall part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame comprising two pair of vertically arranged rails joined by horizontal strips, with panels intermediate the rails and strips, adjacent vertical rails of said pairs being spaced to form a leg opening, the top 'wall part comprising a ply paper-board sheeting, means on the under-face of the sheeting for reinforcing the same and for positioning the top wall part against displacement from upper ends of the first named parts, means at upper and lower corners of the strips of the front wall part and forward end portions of the upper and lower strips of the side wall parts for coupling the first two parts together in forming a desk-like structure, said last named means comprising a tongue and groove assemblage between the strips of said parts, and a fastener device passed through each tongue and groove assemblage.

3. A knockdown article of furniture of the character described comprising a back and side wall part, a front wall part and a top wall part, the back and side wall parts comprising a back wall with side walls foldably joined to the ends of the back wall, all of said walls having top and bottom reinforcing and finishing strips throughout the full length thereof, the front wall part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame comprising two pair of vertically arranged rails joined by horizontal strips, with panels intermediate the rails and strips, adjacent vertical rails of said pairs being spaced to form a leg opening, the top wall part comprising a ply paper-board sheeting, means on the under-face of the sheeting for reinforcing the same and for positioning the top wall part against displacement from upper ends of the first named parts, means at upper and lower corners of the strips of the front wall part and forward end portions of the upper and lower strips of the side wall parts for coupling the first two parts together in forming a desk-like structure, said last named means comprising a tongue and groove assemblage between the strips of said parts, a fastener device passed through each tongue and groove assemblage, and the ends of the top and bottom strips of the back wall of the first part bearing upon inner surfaces of the top and bottom strips of the end walls in firmly maintaining the back and end walls against relative movement when in assembled relationship.

4. A knockdown article of furniture of the character described comprising a back and side wall part, a front wall part and a top Wall part, the

back and side wall parts comprising a back wall with side walls foldably joined to the ends of the back wall, all of said walls having top and bottom reinforcing and finishing strips throughout the full length thereof, the front wall part comprising an inverted U-sha'ped frame comprising two pair of vertically arranged rails joined by horizontal strips, with panels intermediate the rails and strips, adjacent vertical rails of said pairs being spaced to form a leg opening, the top wall part comprising a ply paper-board sheeting, means on the under-face of the sheeting for reinforcing the same and for positioning the top wall part against displacement from upper ends of the first named parts, means at upper and lower corners of the strips of the front wall part and forward end portions of the upper and lower strips of the side wall parts for coupling the first two parts together in forming a desk-like structure, said last named means comprising a tongue and groove assemblage between the strips of said parts, a fastener device passed through each tongue and groove assemblage, the ends of the top and bottom strips of the back wall of the first part bearing upon inner surfaces of the top and bottom strips of the end walls in firmly maintaining the back and end walls against relative movement when in assembled relationship, and the reinforcing means of the top wall part comprising a rectangular frame fitting snugly but freely within the upper strips of the first and second named parts when assembled.

5. A knockdown article of furniture of the character described comprising a back and side wall part, a front wall part and a top wall part, the back and side wall parts comprising a back wall with side walls foldably joined to the ends of the back wall, all of said walls having top and bottom reinforcing and finishing strips throughout the full length thereof, the front wall part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame comprising two pair of vertically arranged rails joined by horizontal strips, with panels intermediate the rails and strips, adjacent vertical rails of said pairs being spaced to form .a leg opening, the top wall part comprising a ply paper-board sheeting, means on the under-face of the sheeting for reinforcing the same and for positioning the top wall part against displacement from upper ends of the first named parts,

means at upper and lower cornersof the strips of the front wall part and forward end portions of the upper and lower strips of the side wall parts for coupling the first two parts together in forming a desk-like structure, said last named means comprising a tongue and groove assemblage between the strips of said parts, a fastener device passed through each tongue and groove assemblage, the ends of the top and bottom strips of the back wall of the first part bearing upon inner surfaces of the top and bottom strips of the end walls in firmly maintaining the back and end walls against relative movement when in assembled relationship, the reinforcing means of the top wall part comprising a rectangular frame fitting snugly but freely within the upper strips of the first and second named parts when assembled, and means reinforcing corner portions of the top wall part.

6. In knockdown furniture of the character described, a desk-like body comprising two detachably coupled parts, one part comprising a back wall having side walls hingedly coupled therewith, the other part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame forming a front wall to said body with a leg opening centrally of the front wall, strips extending longitudinally of upper and lower edges of the back and side walls, means firmly engaging said strips at intersecting corners thereof when the walls are in assembled relationship, the front wall part having pairs of vertical rails joined by horizontal rails, outer vertical rails forming front corner portions of said desk body, interengaging portions between the top and bottom rails of the side walls and upper and lower corner portions of the rails of the front wall for coupling said walls and fasteners passed through said interengaging means in securing the walls in assembled relation to form said desk body.

7. In knockdown furniture of the character described, a desk-like body comprising two detachably coupled parts, one part comprising a back wall having side walls hingedly coupled therewith, the other part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame forming a front wall to said body with a leg opening centrally of the front wall, strips extending longitudinally of upper and lower edges of the back and side walls, means firmly engaging said strips at intersecting corners thereof when the walls are in assembled relationship, the front wall part having pairs of vertical rails joined by horizontal rails, outer vertical rails forming front corner portions of said desk body, interengaging portions between the top and bottom rails of the side walls and upper and lower corner portions of the rails of the front wall for coupling said walls and fasteners passed through said interengaging means insecuring the walls in assembled relation to form said desk body, two of the horizontal strips of said front wall extending between the outer vertical rails of said wall, and the inner vertical rails of the front wall having a tongue and groove connection with one of said last named horizontal rails.

8. In knockdown furniture of the character described, a desk-like body comprising two detachably coupled parts, one part comprising a back wall having side walls hingedly coupled therewith, the other part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame forming a front wall to said body with a leg opening centrally of the front wall, strips extending longitudinally of upper and lower edges of the back and side walls, means firmly engaging said strips at intersecting corners thereof when the walls are in assembled relationship, the front wall part having pairs of vertical rails joined by horizontal rails, outer vertical rails forming front corner portions of said desk body, interengaging portions between the top and bottom rails of the side walls and upper and lower corner portions of the rails of the front wall for coupling said walls and fasteners passed through said interengaging means in securing the walls in assembled relation to form said desk body, two of the horizontal strips of said front wall extending between the outer vertical rails of said wall, the inner vertical rails of the front wall having a tongue and groove connection with one of said last named horizontal rails, a shelf member arranged within the upper portion of said desk body with the forward edge thereof seating on said last named horizontal rail, and means supporting the rear edge portion of the shelf on said back wall.

9. In knockdown furniture of the character described, a. desk-like body comprising two detachably coupled parts, one part comprising a back wall having side Walls hingedly coupled therewith, the other part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame forming a front wall to said body with a leg opening centrally of the front Wall, strips extending longitudinally of upper and lower edges of the back and side walls, means firmly engaging said strips at intersecting corners thereof when the walls are in assembled relationship, the front wall part having pairs of vertical rails joined by horizontal rails, outer vertical rails forming front corner portions of said desk body, interengaging portions between the top and bottom rails of the side walls and upper and lower corner portions of the rails of th front wall for coupling said walls and fasteners passed through said interengaging means in securing the walls in assembled relation to form said desk body, two of the horizontal strips of said front wall extending between the outer vertical rails of said wall, the inner vertical rails of the front wall having a tongue and groove connection with one of said last named horizontal rails, a shelf member arranged within the upper portion of said desk body with the forward edge thereof seating on said last named horizontal rail, means supporting the rear edge portion of the shelf on said back wall, said last named means comprising a strip secured to the back Wall, and the shelf having flange portions interlocking with said strip.

10. In knockdown furniture of the character described, a desk-like body comprising two detachably coupled parts, one part comprising a back wall having side walls hingedly coupled therewith, the other part comprising an inverted U-shaped frame forming a front wall to said body with a leg opening centrally of the front wall, strips extending longitudinally of upper and lower edges of the back and side walls, means firmly engaging said strips at intersecting corners thereof when the walls are in assembled relationship, the front wall part having pairs of vertical rails joined by horizontal rails, outer vertical rails forming front corner portions of said desk body, interengaging portions between the top and bottom rails of the side walls and upper and lower corner portions of the rails of the front wall for coupling said Walls and fasteners passed through said interengaging means in securing the walls in assembled relation to form said desk body, two of th horizontal strips of said front wall extending between the outer vertical rails of said wall, the inner vertical rails of the front wall having a tongue and groove connection with one of said last named horizontal rails, a shelf member arranged within the upper portion of said desk body with the forward edge thereof seating on said last named horizontal rail, means supporting the rear edge portion of the shelf on said back wall, said last named means comprising a strip secured to the back wall, the shelf having flange portions interlocking with said strip, a top wall arranged upon the upper ends of the back, side and front walls, and means on the under-surface of the top wall fitting within the stripe at the upper edges of said back, side and front walls for retaining the top wall against displacement.

11, In knockdown furniture of the character described, comprising three primary detachably and collapsibly related parts, one of said parts comprising back and side walls, the other part an inverted U-shaped front wall part and the third a top or cover part, means coupling the two short horizontal rails joining lower ends of I each pair of vertical rails, the vertical rails having a notched engagement with said horizontal rails, and the panel grooves in all of said vertical and horizontal rails being disposed in closer prox- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 242,355 Nicholas May 31, 1881 1,072,280 Walker Sept. 2, 1913 2,152,609 Stevenson et a1. Mar. 28, 1939 2,240,767 Friedel May 6, 1941 2,333,585 Rosenfeld et a1. Nov. 2, 1943 2,360,451 Stone Oct. 17, 1944 imity to the front outer surfaces thereof than 15 the rear surfaces thereof.

HARRY DERMAN.