US498842A - Adjustable desk - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. BRYANT. ADJUSTABLE DESK.

Patented June 6, 1893.

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R; BRYANT.

ADJUSTABLE DESK.

No. 498,842. Patented June 6, 1893.

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REUBEN BRYANT, OF ADRIAN, MISSOURI.

ADJUSTABLE DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 498,842, dated June 6, 1893. Application filed December 22, 1892- Serial No. 456,013- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, REUBEN BRYANT, of Adrian, Bates county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Desks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in adjustable desks or book supports for desks, and the object of the invention is to provide a vertically adjustable support, which may form a part of a desk as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or which may be provided with supporting legs of its own, upon which are designed to be placed, record or other large books, when an entry or record therein, is necessary to be made.

A further object of the invention is to provide an independent support for each side of the book when opened, so that the uppersurface of the leaves may be at all times flush with, each other and with the hinged arm rest, to provide an even surface upon which to write; and furthermore, to provide a desk which is of simple and durable construction.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as will be hereinafter fully specified and claimed.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1, represents a perspective view of a desk, constructed in accordance with my invcntion. Fig. 2, represents an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view, taken on the line X-X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3, represents an enlarged inverted plan-view, of the adjustable leaf supporting sections detached from the desk. Fig. 4:, represents an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on the line y-y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5, represents an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on the line zz of Fig. 2. Fig. 6, represents an enlarged vertical sectional view, taken on the lineww of Fig. 4.

Before entering on a detailed description of this invention I will state (as is Well known) that it is very inconvenient to enter matter in the large record books used in banks, and

otherlarge places of business, especially when the book is first opened for use, when resting upon a desk of the ordinary construction,because the thickness of such books requires the elevation of the hand to such a degree, that the arm can not easily rest upon the desk, therefore tiring the hand and arm to such a degree that the work is affected thereby. My present invention obviates this difficulty, by providing a frame work, of suitable depth, having a hinged arm rest at the upper edge of the frame-work, and. a pair of independent leaf supporting sections, which are vertically adjustable, and upon which the opened book is adapted to rest so as to bring the upper writing surface even with the upper surface of the arm support, and with the upper surface of the remaining portion of the desk.

In the drawings, 1 designates the body-portion of a desk, having the usual supporting legs 2. The desk is provided with an opening 3, preferably rectangular and which is located preferably about the middle of the bodyportion of the desk. A rectangular framework, constructed of the front and rear bars a and 5, and the side bars 6 and 7, is secured permanently and horizontally a suitable distance below, and in vertical alignment with the opening 3 of the body-portion of the desk. This frame-work may be secured to the bodyportion of the desk in any suitable manner, or an opening may be made in the lower partition or bottom of the desk. At any rate there must be a support or frame-work of some kind, horizontally secured a suitable distance below the top-board of the desk. A bar 8, is arranged centrally of the side bars 6 and 7, and is secured at its opposite ends to the inner edges of the front and rear bars 5 and 6, or from front to rear of an opening in the'bottom of the desk, as stated above. The

front bar, of the rectangular frame work, is

secured to the lower .edge of the vertical and longitudinally extending bar 9 of the desk.

jacent to each other and longitudinally and near the center of the under side of each sup port or leaf 10. The front and rear ends of these rock-shafts, are bent downward and outward at 13-13, and pivotally engage at 14,

the longitudinally extending and parallel distance apart are the rock-shafts 19-20 which have their opposite ends bent respectively, forward and rearward at 21-22, and pivotally engage at 23, the transversely arranged andparallel rock-shafts 24-24, which have their opposite ends bent downward and inward at 25, and from the lower ends of said portions 25-25, the ends are again bent horizontally and transversely outward, and are journaled in the inner edges of the side and middle bars 6 and 7 and 8 at 26.

The transverse rock- shafts 19 and 20, are

' each provided midway of their length, with recess 34, in the said bar 9.

the depending U-bend 27, which bends are connected together by a longitudinally arranged and coiled retracting spring 28, and a metal strap hook 29. The spring is bent at one end to engage the cross-bar of the U -bend of one of the transverse rock-shafts, and has its opposite end bent vertically at 30 and engaging one or the other of a number of holes 31 of the strap-hook 29, the said holes being arranged in longitudinal series as shown, so that the spring 28, may have its tension regulated when necessary, to accommodate books of diflferent weights.

From the construction described, it will be seen that an approximately solid support is produced, the depression of the leaves or supports 10, causing the expansion of the tension spring, and therefore the operation of the transverse rock-shafts 2 l-2et, which bear firmly upon the longitudinal rock-shafts 15- 15, causing said longitudinally extending rock-shafts to be depressed. To retain the said leaves or supports 10, in any desired position, a locking device is provided, which consists of a rod 32 adapted to slide longitudinally in a bearing in the front bar 9 of the desk, and carries opposite the front end of the leaves or supports 10, the vertically arranged rack-plates 33, which rest each in a One end of the rod 32 projects beyond the end of the desk, and is provided thereon with a knob or handle 35. The front edges of the leaves of supports 10, are'provided each with a projecting pin or stud 36, which passing through the'vertical grooves 37, project into the recesses 34: of the bar 9, and are adapted to be engaged by the rack plates, as the rod 32 is pushed former position.

inward; thus holding the leaves or supports firmly in any desired position. When the rod 32 is withdrawn, the contraction of the tension springs 28, causes the transverse rockshafts 19 and 20 to resume their normal position, and the upward movement of the leaves or supports causes by reason of the pivotal connection of the arms 21-22 thereof, the longitudinal rock-shafts 15-15 to resume their To limit the upward movement of the said leaves or supports, a retaining strip or flange 38, is secured upon the upper edge of the front bar 9 of the desk, and projects inwardly therefrom a suitable distance, and against the under side of which the leaves are designed to stop.

An arm rest 39, is hinged at 40 to the upper edge of the front bar 9 of the desk, and a supporting brace 41 is pivoted at its upper and lower ends at 42 and 4:3 to the bar 9, and is adapted to be swung to the position shown in Fig. 2, to support the arm rest in its horizontal position. A stud or plate 44, projects a slight distance above the upper surface of the leaves, a slight distance from the front end thereof, and prevents the adjacent ends of the cover of the book, from coming in contact with and rubbing against the rear side of the bar 9 of the desk.

When the book is placed inposition, upon the adjustable support or desk, the back thereof rests within the space 45, shown clearly in Fig. 1, between the leaves or supports 10, and is thus out of contact with any portion of the desk, and in this position,the leaves of the book may be turned, or the leaves or supports. 10 of the desk, may be raisedor lowered without affecting the position of the back of the book.

It is to be understood that I do not confine myself tothe construction in desks. alone of this principle, but that I may apply it with equal facility and convenience, in, the building of buggy-seats, adjustable foot rests, and in fact in a variety of other ways.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have produced a simple, comparatively inexpensive, and efficient adjustable desk or book-support, that will be found of great convenience to all book-keepers, &c.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, ina desk or book support, of a frame-work, the vertically adjustable leaves, rockshafts journaled transversely of said leaves, transverse rock-shafts journaled in said frame-work, and arranged parallel to the first mentioned rock-shafts and pivotally connected to the rock-shafts carried by the leaves, and a longitudinally arranged and adjustable tension spring connecting the rock-shafts carried by the said leaves, substantially as set forth.

2. In an adjustable desk or book support, the combination of a stationary frame-work, the vertically adjustable leaves above said frame -work, rock-shafts journaled transversely of the under side of said leaves, transverse rock-shaft-s j ournaled in the frame-work and arranged parallel to the first mentioned rock-shafts, and pivotally connected to the rock-shafts carried by the leaves, and a longitudinally adjustable tension spring connecting the rock-shafts carried by the said leaves, with a pair of rock-shafts journaled longitudinally of said leaves, and a pair of longitudinal rock-shafts journaled in the framework and arranged parallel to the first mentioned longitudinal rock-shafts, and pivotally connected to the longitudinal rock-shafts carried by the said leaves, substantially as set forth.

3. In an adjustable desk or book support, the combination of a permanent or stationary frame-work, leaves Vertically adjustable above said frame-work, rock-shafts having crank-arms at each end, journaled transversely of the said leaves, and having, depending U-bends at their middle, rock-shafts, having crank-arms at each end, journaled transversely of said leaves in the said frame-work, and pivotally connected to the rock-shafts carried by the said leaves, and a tension spring, connected to the U-bend of one of said shafts, and a strap-hook engaging the opposite U-bend, and connected to the free tend of the tension spring, substantially as set orth.

4. In an adjustable desk or book support, the combination of a stationary frame-work, leaves verticallyadjustable above said framework, rock-shafts having crank-arms at each end, journaled transversely of said leaves, and having depending U-bends at their middle, rock-shafts having crank-arms at each end, journaled transversely of said leaves in the frame-work, and pivotally connected to the rock-shafts carried by the said leaves, and a tension spring connected to one of said U bends and a strap-hook engaging the opposite U-bend, and connected to the free end of the tension spring, with a pair of rockshafts j ournaled longitudinally of said leaves, and having crank-arms at their opposite ends, and a pair of longitudinal rock-shafts arranged parallel with and pivotally connected to the crank-arms of the longitudinal rockshafts carried by said leaves and having crank-arms at their opposite ends, journaled to the frame-work, substantially as described.

5. In an adjustable desk or book support, the combination with a permanent or stationary frame-work, of leaves or supports vertically adjustable above said framework, rockshafts having crank-arms at each end, journaled transversely of said leaves, and having depending U-bends at their middle, rockshafts having crank-arms at each end, arranged parallel with the first mentioned rockshafts and journaled in the frame-work, and pivotally connected to the rock-shafts carried by said leaves, and a tension-spring connected to the U-bend of one of said rock-shafts and a strap-hook arranged longitudinally of said leaves and connected to the U-bend of the companion rock-shaft, and provided with a longitudinally arranged series of holes, adapted to be engaged by the free end of said tension-spring, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. a

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

, REUBEN BRYANT.

\Vitnesses:

J ScUDDER, L. R. ALLEN.

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