US843719A - Desk. - Google Patents

Description

No. 843,719. PATENYTED FEB. 12; 1907.

B. L. UMBERGER DESK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1906.

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WITNESSES.- Z/VVENTOR.

A ZTORNE Y5 W/JWESSES No. 843,719. PATENTED FEB. 12,1907.

, B. L. UMBBRGER.

DESK.

.APIIIIGATION FILED AUG. 20, 1906.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907.

Application filed August 20.1906. erial No. 331,865.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BASCOM L. UMBERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Concord, in the county of Cabarrus and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Desk, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined walldesks and blackboards; and its object is to provide an article of this character having a closure which is easily reversible and which can be utilized as a desk-leaf or as a black board.

Another object is to provide means for holding this closure at an angle to the desk or suspended therefrom, so as to meet the various requirements of the users.

A still further object is to provide an article of furniture of this character having combined therewith a chart-holder which is so located that the charts therein are plainly visible to persons using the blackboard.

A still further object is to provide an ar ticle of this character the back of which is utilized as an educational chart.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a casing adapted to be suspended in any desired manner and closed at the back, the outer surface of said back being preferably provided with a chart containing useful information on various subiects.

The interior of the casing is subdivided into various compartments for stationery, letters, valuables, &c., and a rack is provided in the upper part of the casing for holding detachable charts. The front of the casing is provided with a closure, one face of which is finished in any desired manner, while the other face constitutes a blackboard. This closure is so mounted as to be capable of longitudinal movement, and the same is also capable of being reversed, so as to bring either of the faces thereof on the outside. Catches are provided for locking the closure in raised or closing position.

The invention also consists of certain other novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is shown the preferred form of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the desk, the lid being in position for Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 1 are the sides of a casing, the front and rear edges thereof converging at the upper ends and said edges being connected by a back 2, on the rear or outer face of which is located a chart 2 of useful infor mation on various subjects, such as are likely to be of daily service to the user of the desk. The desk is adapted to be connected to a wall by flexible cords or wires secured to hooks 4 upon the sides thereof, or, if pre ferred, these hooks may be placed in direct engagement with some holding device 3 upon the wall. The bottom 5 of the casing does not extend to the front edges of the sides and has partitions 6 extending upward from it. The space between one of these partitions and. one side of the casing is subdivided by a shelf 7 into an upper receptac e 8 for a pencil-box and into a lower receptacle 9 for the reception of an inkwell. The space at the other side of this partition is subdivided by an inclined shelf 10 into upper and lower compartments 11 and 12 for the reception of answered and unanswered letters.

in the upper compartment, and in r the letters may be properly coni. the lower compartment an elastic band 15 is stretched across the front thereof, as shown. The space between the two central partitions 6 constitutes a receptacle 14 for valuables and is provided with a metal door 15, having a suitable lock 16. It is of course understood that instead of providing a single receptacle 14 between these lastmentioned partitions the space may be subdivided by shelves, and a drawer may be placed therebetween. The space 17 adjoining the other side 1 of the casing has a pen-rack 18, and an elastic strip 19 is stretched across the upper portion of the space 18 for the purpose of holding sheets of stationery in place. The top 20 of the casing is disposed at a suitable distance below the upper ends of the side and has a flange 21 extending along the front edge thereof. This top constitutes the base of a chart-rack. A cross-strip 22 connects the upper portions of the sides and is disposed above the flange 21.

The inclined shelf is sufficient to hold This strip is adapted to hold the charts in sition upon the top 20. The charts used in connection with the rack are preferably in the form of strips 23 of cardboard or other material shaped so as to fit easily within the rack. A desired number of these strips may be placed within the rack, and each strip is provided on its two faces with drawings or data relating to any subject which is to be pursued by the user of the desk. Flaps 24 extend upward from the charts, so that they can be readily removed from or placed in posltion.

Pivot-bolts 25 extend inward from the lower portions of the sides 1 adjacent the front edges thereof, and on each of these bolts is mounted a rotatable head 26, preferably provided with ball-bearings 27, so that the same will easily rotate. These bolts extend into T-shaped grooves 28, formed longitudinally within side strips 29, arranged along the side edges of a closure 30. This closure is constructed of any preferred material, and one side thereof is of the ordinary finish, while the other side 31 constitutes a blackboard. The ends of the grooves 28 are closed, so as to prevent the withdrawal of the heads 26 therefrom, and stop-blocks 32 are secured upon the inner faces of the sides 1 above the bottom 5. Suitable catches 33 are located within the edges of the closure 30, and either of these catches is adapted to engage one side of the casing for the purpose of holding the closure in raised position whether or notthe blackboard be arranged upon the outside or inside of the casing. Notches 34 are formed in the walls of the grooves 28 adjacent the centers thereof for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

It will be understood that the closure is normally in a raised position and disposed entirely between the sides 1. When it is in this position, one of the catches 33 will engage one of the side walls, and thereby lock the closure in raised position.

If it is desired to use the blackboard or inner face of the closure, said closure is unlocked by releasing the catch and is; swung downward upon the bolts 25, and after it has assumed a substantially horizontal position the closureis pushed inward until its rear edge comes under the stopdolocks 32, which will serve to support said closure, so as to permit it to be used like the leaf or shelf of a desk.

By lowering the closure in the manner described the chart will be exposed and the subj ects indicated thereon can be readily seen by the person using them. Should it be desired to use a hanging blackboard, the closure is pulled forward out of engagement with the blocks 32 and permitted to swing downward upon the bolts 25. By moving the closure upward the suspended blackboard can be held farther from the floor by placing the pobolts within the notches 34. Ifit should not be desired to use the blackboard when the closure is in a horizontal position, said closure can be moved vertically with the blackboard outward until the bolts 25 come in contact with the lower ends of the grooves 28, whereupon the closure can be swung forward with the blackboard down, and by pushing it 1nward it can be replaced in engagement with the blocks 32. The outer face of the closure will thus be brought upward.

The opening of the desk will of course expose all of the compartments therein, and access can be conveniently had to any of them. By using a catch 33 on each edge of the closure said closure can be locked in raised position whether or not the blackboard is exposed to view. A map or chart 35 may be attached to the upper portion of the desk in any preferred manner.

It will be understood that by mounting the closure in the manner described there are no parts to get out of order, said closure cannot Q be scratched by coming into contact with any parts of the desk, and, moreover, the same can be easily manipulated by a child, because no ingenuity is required in order to open or close it or to place it in any position desired.

The preferred form of the invention has been set forth in the foregoing description; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is.

1, In a desk the combination with a casing having connectingidevices fixedly disposed upon the lower portion thereof and in alinement; of a closure interposed between and rotatably and slidably mounted on said devices whereby said closure may be suspended from the casing with either face thereof outward.

2. In a desk the combination with a casing; of a closure having longitudinally-extending grooves in opposite edges thereof, said closure adapted to overlap the bottom of the casing, stops upon the casing adapted to be engaged IIF by the closure, and connecting devices extending from the'casing and into the grooves, said closure being slidably and rotatably mounted upon said devices.

3. In a desk the combination with a casing; of a closure having longitudinal grooves in opposite edges thereof, the walls of said grooves being notched, connecting devices extending from the disk and into the grooves,v said. devices adapted to be seated in the notches, and said closure being slidably and rotatably mounted on the devices, and means for supporting the closure at an angle to the casing.

4. In a desk the combination With a casing l angle to the casing, and a lock for securing having compartments therein, a chart upon the closure in closed position. its rear Wall, and a chart-rack above the corni In testimony that I claim the foregoing as partnients; of a closure having longitudinal my own I have hereto a'ffixed my signature in grooves in opposite edges thereof, pivot-bolts l the presence of two Witnesses. extending from the casing and into the grooves, heads rotatably mounted on said BASCOM UMBERGER' bolts and Within the grooves, said closure l Witnesses: being adapted to slide and rotate upon the i S. R. DAGUE, 1 0 heads, means for supporting the closure at an 1 J. W. GOSSMAN.

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