US670370A - Type-writing-machine table. - Google Patents

Description

No. 670,370.. l. Patented Mar. I9, 190i.

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TYPE WRITlNG MACHINE TABLE.

(Application led Aug. 16, 1900.)

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WILLIAM WHITWELL DEWHURST, OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA.

TYPE-WRITING-IVIACHINE TA-BLE.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,370, dated March 19, 1901.

Application filed August 16, 1900. Serial No. 27,097- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM WHITWELL DEWHURST, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Augustine, in the county of St. John and State of Florida, have invented a new and usefulType-Writing-Machine Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to type-writingma chine supports, and has special reference to the adapt-ation of a table of ordinary height for use iu the support of a type-writing machine.

To this end the invention primarily contemplates a simple and practical construction of table having means for the complete housin-g of a type-writing machine when not in use, while also permitting the same to be readily drawn out to a convenient position for manipulation by the operator. In the accomplishment of these objects the invention dispenses with the necessity for expensive type-writer cabinets or desks, while at the same time securing all of the advantages thereof in the way of supporting the machine in position for use and completely covering or housing` it when not in use. Besides, the invention provides for combining a table-surface at the ordinaryand convenient level with an inexpensive type-writer cabinet.

With these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter. more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention involved in the adaptation of an ordinary form of table to support type-writing machines are necessarily susceptible to some modification without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; but the preferred embodiment of the improvements is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a typewriting-machine table, illustrating the machine uncovered and drawn out to position for use. Fig.` 2 is a front elevation of the tab le, showing the covers for themachine pocket or compartment closed. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4

is a transverse sectional view on the line l 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the slidable supporting-shelf which carries the sponding drawings.

In carrying out the invention the saine may be embodied for use in connection with any form of desk or table, but is preferably associated with a table l of ordinary height and of the usual fiat-top type. As shown in the drawings, the table l is provided with the table-mp2, supported by the usual legs 3, and although the table maybe of the very simplest form and embody nothing but the legs and the fiat top 2, yet, as shown in the drawings; the same may be equippedvwith ordinary drawers 4, drawing out at the front thereof and arranged, respectively, at opposite sides of the central portion of the same. These are the usual parts of an ordinary flattop table and do not constitute essential features of the present invention; but the simplest embodiment of the latter consists in providing the table at the top thereof With a central transversely-arranged depressed machine-holding pocket or compartment 5, the iioor or base 6 of which compartment lies a sufficient distance below the plane of the table-top 2 to provide for holding the machine always at the proper elevation for operation without raising or lowering thereof, besides providing for the proper housing or covering of the type-writing machine by acover of minimum height. The said central transversely-arranged depressed pocket or compartment is of a general rectangular shape and essentially consists of the iioor or base 6 and the surrounding vertical walls 7, joined to the table-top and pendent therefrom in order to provide a well-defined compartment which receives therein the type-writing machine when not in use. The pocket or coin partment 5 is Open at the top and front end thereof and is provided upon opposite side walls thereof with parallel longitudinally-disposed guideways 8, lying contiguous to the iioor or base 6 of the pocketor compartment and slidably receiving the opposite side edges of the sliding supporting-shelf 9 for the typewriting machine, which machine is designated in the drawings bythe reference-number 10.

The sliding supporting-shelf 9 for the typeparts in the several figures of the IOO writing machine is substantially coextensive With the pocket or compartment 5, so as to be received entirely within the same when the type-writing machine is notin nse,and in order to permit of the machine being drawn well to the front of the pocket or compartment and clear thereof the said supporting-shelf 9 may be provided at the rear corners thereof with the holding-arm extensions 11, which hold within the guideways 8 when the body portion of the shelf is drawn out of the pocket or compartment 5.

To provide for properly housing or covering the machine when within the pocket or compartment 5 therefor, there is arranged upon the table a main box-cover 12, inverted upon the table-top overl the pocket or compartment- 5 and essentially consisting of a rear fixed section 13 and a front swinging or hinged section 11A, having the top thereof hinged at 15 to the front edge of the top of the rear fixed section 13. This manner of hinging the two cover- sections 13 and 14 together permits the front section 14 to he swung upward from the table-top and back upon the rear fixed section 13, as plainly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so as to completely uncover the pocket or compartment 5 and expose the machine to view.

When the hinged cover-section 14C is lowered in front of the rear fixed section 13, the pendent rim thereof rests directly upon the table-top, and the front portion 16 of the pendent rim Of the cover-section 14 is designed to register [insh with the top edge of the supplemental front cover-leaf 17, which is hinged at one edge, as at 1S, to the front edge of the floor or base 6 of the pocket or compartment 5. The said supplemental cover-leaf 17 is designed to be swung up to a vertical position in front of the front edge of the shelf 9 to hold the latter in the com partlnent and also so as to cover the open front end of the pocket or compartment 5 or Vthat portion thereof lying below the plane of the table-top 2, and when in such position the same is detachably connected with the front end of the hinged cover-section le by afastening 19, common to both of the covers, thus permitting of the single fastening 19 holding hoth covers in locked flush relation. The said fastening 19 may consist of a hook and pin or any equivalent means for accomplishing the result stated.

XVhen the two covers are unfastened and the main hinged cover-section 141- thrown back upon the rear fixed section 13, the supplemental front cover 17 will fall. to its lowered position, so as to uncover the front of the pocket or compartment 5. A stop-cord or equivalent connection 20, connecting the supplemental front cover 17 with the table, prevents the said front cover from falling entirely ont of convenient position for the operator at the table, besides holding the front cover 17 in such a position that the same will constitute an auxiliary brace or support for the shelf 9 when in its extended position. Vith the two covers open it is simply necessary for the operator to draw the shelf 9 ontward to provide for bringing the machine to a convenient position for use.

From the foregoing it is thought that the constrl'lction, operation, and many ad vantages of the herein-described type-writingmaehine table will he readily apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the form, proper-thm, and minor details of construction may loe resorted to without del'iarting from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the in- Vention. Y

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured. by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a type-writing-machine support, a table having a machine-receiving com partment which project-s above and below the table-top, a machine-supporting shelf slidably mounted within the compartment, and separate covers respectively for the top and front sides of said compartment, the front cover being hinged to swing up and conceal the front edge of the shelf and to hold the latter within the compartment, the two covers serving to com pletely house the machine and shelf.

2. In a type-writing-machine support, a ta ble having a machine-receiving compartment and guideways therein, a machinesupporting shelf slidably engaging said guideways and adapted to be housed within the compartment, and also slid outward to an ex tended position, and a cover for the front side of the, compartment having a limited downwardswinging movement, and arranged when open, to constitute an auxiliary hori Zontal support for the shelf when in its ex tended position, and means for limiting the downwartl-swinging movement of said fl'ont cover.

3. In a type\vritil1g machine support, a ta ble having a flat writing-top and provided with a centrally-located compartment depressed helow the plane of the top, a machine-supporting shelf slidably mounted in the bottom of the compartment, a box-cover inverted over the top of the compartment, and forming a portion thereof, and comprising a hinged front section with a pendent front side, a separate front cover hinged at the front of the base of the compartment and adapted to swing n p ward to a vertical position in front of the shelf to meet the edge of the box-cover, and common fastening means for the front and top covers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WlhhlAlll iflll'lll'lililr DEWllUltS'l.

l/Vitnesses:

D. L. DUNHAM, GEO. W. Glens, Jr.

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