US638032A - Detachable trunk-desk. - Google Patents

Description

No. 638,032. Patented Nov. 28, |899.

W. H. SCULLY.

DETACHABLE` TRUNK DESK.

(Application file d Feb. 21, 1899.)

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W. H. SCULLY. DETACHABLE TRUNK DESK.

(Applicution led Feb. 21, 1899.)

No. 633,032. Y Patented Nov. 28,4899.

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WADE H. SCULLY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY;

DETACHABLE TRUNK-DESK;

SPECIFICATION refining pere ef Lettere Patent ive. 638,032, dated November 2s, 189e.

Application iiled February 2l, 1899. Serial No. 706,312. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LVVADE H. SCULLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and ,useful Improvements in Detachable Trunk-Desks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The objects of this invention are to provide a desk or writing-table which may be attached to the top of a trunk and furnish a conven-V ient place for writing, studying, or the like; to provide such a desk capable of being readily detached and removed from the trunk, and, furthermore, one which may be easily taken apart or knocked down when desired; to enable the desk to be compactly packed in the trunk, if desired, and occupy a very small space; to thus provide for travelers, students,or others having limited facilities or occupying rooms too small to admit a regular desk a cheap and convenient substitute which will enable them to Write, study, or do other work with facility, and to secure other advantages and results, some of which may be referred to hereinafter in connection with the description of the working parts.

The invention consists in the improved students trunk-desk and in the arrangements and combinations of parts of the same, all substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and iinally embraced in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure l is an end view of a trunk to which my improved desk is applied, and Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. Sis an enlarged detail of the desk-top in end view, and Fig. 4 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 5 is a detail side view'of a certain supportingbracket or side piece, and Fig. 6 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 7 is a rear view of a certain cross-brace, and Fig. 8 is a plan of the same. Figs. 9 and l0 are side and front views, respectively, of a clamp for securing the desk to the trunk; and Fig. ll shows a modified form of clamp which may sometimes be preferred.

In said drawings, d indicates a trunk of ordinary construction having a flat top and the usual cleats a thereon, and Z7 indicates my improved desk adapted to be att-ached to said trunk. Said desk comprises a top c, preferably of somewhat less width and length than the trunk, held in an inclined position convenient for writing and projecting forwardly beyond the front of the trunk to provide space for the knees of a person sitting at the desk. pieces or brackets d near each end, each of said brackets having a rearwardly-extending arm d' lying across the top of the trunk and held thereto by clamps c near each end of the arm d. Said clamps each comprise a vertical loop or clasp c', closed at the top and adapted to receive an arm d' of the brackets. The arms of said clasp, at their lower ends adjacent to the trunk, are bent horizontally outward apart, as at e2, and each provided with Y integral clamping-jaws f, adapted to engage a cleat. Said jaws are adapted to extend across the cleat as the clamp stands thereon and are each provided at opposite ends with feet f2, engaging the cleat at opposite edges. One of said feet is fixed at the end of the body portion f' of the clamp, While the other slides upon the opposite end of the body portion and may be pressed against the cleat by a thumb-screw g, working upon the threaded outer end of the body portion f. Said feet are preferably provided with sharpened toes f3, adapted to enter beneath the cleat and prevent the clamp from slipping off upwardly.

When the clamps are arranged in proper position on the cleats, the clasps or loops c are open toward the front and back of the trunk, as will be understood, and the arm d. of the supporting-brackets d can be slid into said loops, which thus reach over the upper edge of the arm and holdit down against the trunk-top.

Instead of making the clamp double, as described, with clamping-jaws on each side of the clasp, I may sometimes use only one clamping-jaw, and instead of acomplete loop Said top is supported by side e TOO c form the body portion of the clamp into a hook fi, as shown in Fig. 1l.

From the body part of each supportingbracket or side piece d two standards d2 extend upward to receive the desk-top c. Evideutly this body portion of the side pieces may be made' of anyshape or design which will give the desired strength and rigidity.

The supporting-brackets or side pieces are preferably of thin material,as a wooden board, so as to occupy little space when packed, and to prevent lateralsway orspring of said brackets a cross-brace h is provided. Said crossbrace comprises two strips crossing each other in the form of an X and adapted to engage at their opposite ends the rear edges of the side pieces at upper and lower points. The strips forming said cross-brace are preferably pivotally joined at the point where they cross, as at h', so as to fold together into superposed position, and the ends of said strips are secured to the edges of the side pieces d by thumb-screws j, so as to be readily detachable. Instead of having said thumb-screws screwed directlyinto the wood I prefer to secure a more rm and durable socket by nuts 7c, let into the edge of the bracket and interiorlythreaded to receive the screws.

The desk-top c consists of a plane board provided on its under side with cleats c to hold the parts together and prevent warping. One edge of said cleats, preferably the outer edge, engages the inner sides of the brackets d when the desk-top is laid in position upon the said brackets, as will bel clearly understood upon reference to the drawings. Screws m, preferably thumb-screws, pass through the upper ends of said brackets into the edges of the cleats, nuts n being insert-ed iu said cleats to receive the screws, as before described in connection with the cross-brace.

At the upper or rear edge of the desk-top I may, if desired, provide an auxiliary shelf ov for pens, bottles of ink, dac.

Said shelf 0 comprises simply a small board pivotally secured at one corner to the under side of the desk-top, as at o', and thus adapted to be swung in under said top when not in use. A small independent frame 19 may be placed on the shelf o to provide a level surface for the bottles, pens, (lac.

It will be noted that the desk-top, brackets, and brace, being fastened together by the A thumb-screws, can be quickly and easily separated, and when so separated said parts can be packed atwise together in very small compass. I thus provide for travelers, students, &c., a very convenient and effective desk, and one which can be readily disposed of when not in use.

In the case of an oval-topped trunk the arms or extensions d of the side pieces may be suitably curved to conform thereto.

It is evident that various small changes and modifications may be made from what I have positively described Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wish, therefore, to be understood as limiting myself to the exact details of construction shown.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new isl. In a desk attachment for trunks, the combination of a top, brackets supporting said top and having arms adapted to lie upon the trunk-top in contact therewith at their lower edges, and means for securing said arms to the cleats upon the trunk-top, substantially as set forth.

2. In adesk attachment for trunks, the combination of a top providing a writing-surface, brackets supporting said top in a forwardlyinclined position, arms projecting rearwardly from said brackets and adapted to rest across the top of the trunk-cover, and clamps for engaging the cleats on said trunk-cover, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein-described desk attachment for trunks, comprising a top, vertical side pieces supporting at their upper edges said top, a 'cross-brace holding said side pieces parallel to each other,integral arms extending rearwardly from said side pieces and adapted to engage the upper surface of the trunkcover, and clamps on the arms for securing said arms to said cover, substantially as set forth.

4. In the herein-described trunk-desk, the combination with rearwardly-extending arms adapted to lie across the top of the trunkcover, of clamps for detachably securing said arms to said cover, said clamps each having adjustable jaws for engaging the cleats on the cover, and a body portion extending over the arm, substantially as set forth.

5. The herein-described trunk-desk, comprising a top, vertical brackets supporting at their upper edges said top and being detachably secured thereto, a detachable brace holding said brackets in parallel position, arms extending rearwardly from the lower part of each bracket and adapted to lie across the top of a trunk-cover, and clamps for detachably fastening said arms to the cleats on said cover, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of February, 1899.

WADE H. SCULLY.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, C. B. PITNEY.

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