US42859A - Improved school desk and seat - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES ROBERT CRUIKSHANK, OF POTTSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED SCHOGL DESK AND SEAT.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,859, dated May 24, 1864.

To all whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, ROBERT CRUIKsI-IANK, ot" Pottstown, Montgomery county, and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in School-Desks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, Inaking part of this specification, and to the letters ot' reference thereon.

The drawing represents a view of nIy desk in isometrical perspective.

It is the object of my invention to place the desks in a school-room, so that the back of e tch desk shall support the seat for the pupil occupying the desk immediately in front, while the seatis so supported that it can be turned up and be held by its support to leave a free, passage between the desks when not occupied.

My invention consists in hinging the seat to the back of the desk and supporting' it on a horizontal position to be occupied by the pupil, or in a vertical one to leave a free passage between the desks by a slide-bar so curved and sustained as to secure both results.

I arrange my desks in the school-room, one behind the other, from front to rear, with suitable spaces between them, and on parallel aisles.

In the accompanying drawing', the desk A, with its curved back B and hinged seat C, is shown supported on cast metal legs D, secured to the door E by screws c, and rendered rigid by braces F and G, secured by one end to the desk, and by the other to the floor, and by the braces H, extending from the front to the rear legs, cast with them and carrying a slot, l). The back of the desk is so curved as to give the pupil an easy support in aslightly reclining position, and the seat is pivoted to the legs at its inner edge. I attach beneath,

and at each end, near the front edge of the seat, cast brackets c c, that receive the forward ends of my curved supports J, and allow them a free vibration on pivots passing through them and the brackets. The opposite ends of the curved supports J carry studs d, that vibrate in the slots b of the crossbraces H. lhe curvature of the supporting rod or bar J and its length are such that when the seat is down and occupied by the pupil the studs d rest at the extreme rear ends of the slots b, and the arms rest on lugs e, and thus hold the seat securely in a horizontal position, leaving a free space beneath it, while when the seat is turned up it passes beyond the center of gravity, and the studs resting loosely in the slots, the curved support tends to hold land lock the seat in this position without touching the curved back, so as to leave a free passage-way between the desks.

It is obvious that this Inode of supporting the pupils seat'on school-desks prevents it from obstructing his entrance to or exit from his desk, without presenting projections of any kind to bruise his limbs, and it also leaves the floor at all timesl easily accessible to be cleansed. It is also obvious that the desk may be furnished with drawers, or in any way desired.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, i;-

The combination, with a schooldesk, ot' a hinged seat supported by curved bars, eithrr in a horizontal or a vertical position, when arranged and operating substantially in the manner described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereot l have'hereunto subscribed my name.

ROBERT CRUIKSHANK. IVitnesscs:

WM. L. WILLIAMSON, WILLIAM J. BINDER.

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