US1099521A - Desk. - Google Patents

Description

A. SPRUNG.

v DESK. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912.

Patented June 9, 1914.

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DESK.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912.

Patented June 9, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ABM BQR'UNG, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DESK.

Specification of Letters I'atent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed December 5, 1912. Serial No. 735,077.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anne SPRUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and A useful Improvements in Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to desks, particularly oflice desks in which it is desirable to have a pigeon hole rack connected therewith and at the same time have a maximum amount of desk space.

In an office desk, it is desirable to have a .pigeon hole rack in which letters and other papers may be quickly filed and are readily accessible. However, often it is necessary to have as much desk space as possible and a pigeon hole rack is at such times objectionable on the desk. Also very often a person may sit on the other side of the-deskland the rack at that time offers an obstruction.

One object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a desk of the character above described which normally is flat like an ordinary flat top desk but which may be readily converted with a slight movement of a rod or lever into a type of desk having a pigeon hole rack thereon.

Another object is to provide means which automatically raises a pigeon hole rack from the body of the desk when said means is re leased by a slight movement of a trip element actuated by the operator.

Still another object is to provide means whereby the pigeon hole rack will rise automatically to any desired height.

In carrying out my invention, I provides chamber within the body of the desk into which the pigeon hole rack may be depressed and the top thereof be rendered flush with the top of the desk. A shaft is provided, running substantially the length of the desk, having arms which are connected with the bottom of the rack. A spring exerts a tension upon the shaft-tending to raise the rack. This tension is sufficient to more than countel-balance the weight of the rack with its contents, so that when the shaft is released, the rack is automatically raised by the spring. Tripping means is provided for the rack so that the latter may rise to any height desired by the operator. If the rack has three rows of pigeon holes, one over the other, the rack may be raised to three difierent heights.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiments of this invention Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of construction in which the invention may be carried out. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 and Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is an end view illustrating the pigeon hole rack depressed. Fig. 5 is a plan of the hollow shaft within which the spring is preferably mounted. Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 illustrates a form of spring which is preferably used. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively elevation and plan views of the actuating and tripping levers. Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are respectively front, side and rear views of the fulcrum block for the levers. Fig. 13 is a transverse vertical section of a desk provided with a modified form of mechanism 1n which my invention may be embodied. Fig. 14 is a fragmental view illustrating another modification. Fig. 15 is a fragmental view on a reduced scale illustrating still another modification.

The desk has a top 1 and the usual vertical tiers-of drawers 2 on either side. Arranged forwardly of the drawers is a chamber 3 in which seats a pigeon hole rack 4 having a top 5. When the rack is thus seated as illustrated in Fig. 4, its top 5 is flush with the top 2 of the desk, thus forming an ordinary flat top desk.

To raise the rack into the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, I provide means which is tripped by the operator to automatically move the rack upward. J ournaled within the chamber 3, preferably adjacent to the rear wall 6 thereof, is a hollow shaft 7 having a pair of arms 8 connected by links 9 to the bottom of the rack. A spring 10 is disposed within the shaft, one end of this spring being fastened to the shaft as within an aperture 11 therein, and the other end of the spring being fastened to an adjustable member 12 held to the side wall of the cham her in any suitable manner, and adjusted by means of a key or like tool engaging a stem 13 projecting outwardly therefrom.

the shaft, tending to raise therack, which tension is sufficient to more than counterbalance the weight of the rack together with its contents. The adjustment of the spring This spring contlnuously exerts a tension upon to the proper tension insures that there shall always be sufficient force in the spring to raise the rack when containing vvarious weights of material filed therein. The key may be formed of a convenient shape to be manipulated by the person using the deslc, so that he may readily adjust the spring if he should desire to store very heavy matter in the rack. The tripping means for releasing the shaft so as to permit it to raise the rack is as follows: A lever 14 is provided having a handle 15 projecting through a slot 16 disposed preferably below the middle drawer in position to be engaged by the op erator. This lever is fulcrumed ona pivot 17 formed on a fulcrum block 18 attached to the wall 6 and is held in various positions of adjustment by the engagement of the short end thereof within notches 19 formed in the plate 20 integral with the block. The short end of the lever is connected through a pin and slot connection 21 to a lever 22 fulcrumed on a pivot 23 preferably formed also on the fulcrum block 18. The lower end of this lever 22 acts as a stop which may be brought into engagement with upstanding lugs 24, 25 and 26 formed upon the shaft 7. These lugs are spaced from each other both radially and longitudinally of the shaft.

When the operator desires to raise the rack for a distance of one row of pigeon holes, he grasps the handle 15, actuating the lever 14 and thereby the lever 22, to move the latter out of engagement with the stop 24 and place it in alinement with the stop 25. As soon as the stop 24 is so released, the spring actuates the shaft to move the rack upward until the shaft is brought to a stop by the engagement of the lug 25 with the stop lever 22. The rack is thus raised the height of one row of pigeon holes, whereas if it is desired to raise the rack higher, the lever 22 is moved into position to, engage the lug 26 or some succeeding lug by a greater movement of the lever 14.

The operator can tell when the lever is properly positioned for the required height of rack by the snapping of the lever 14 into the notches 19 of the plate 20. Other indicating means may be used if so desired. A cushioning arrangement 27 consisting of a dash pot or some such device may be used for preventing undue shock when the rack reaches the top of its travel. It is desirable, preferably, that the cushioning member be fastened to the inner wall 6 of the chamber 3, and that the engaging member for the same be fastened substantially at the midlength of the arm 8. By this arrangement the cushioning means as a Whole is entirely out of the way of any surrounding parts and performs its function efficiently. The lever 14 may be locked in any of its adjusted positions by a lock 28 disposed preferably within the handle This lock may conveniently'engage the walls of the slot 16. Thus the lower row of pigeon holes may be used for holding more valuable matter which is not often referred, to. A bracket 29 is preferably disposed adjacent to the projections 24, 25 and 26 to assist in supporting the shaft at the point where it receives the thrust of the stop lever. When it is desired to lower the rack, the operator presses down on the top thereof to push the same downward, the slight effort thus exerted being sufficient to counterbalance the tension of the sprin tending to keep the rack raised.

In the orm illustrated in Fig. 13, a modified form of trip arrangement is provided consisting of a swinging arm 30 located within the chamber at each end of the rack. Each of these arms has graduated projections 31 and 32 adapted to be engaged by a movable stop 33 mounted upon the downwardly projecting side 34 of the rack. A spring 35 normally tends to hold the stop against the-arm 30. When it is desired to raise the rack, 'a handle 36 is pulled bythe operator, drawing a rod 37 against the tension of a spring 38 to actuate a bar 37 connecting the arms 30 so as to swing the latter rearward and thus release the stops 33 from projections 31. Ifthe handle 36 is pulled a short distance, the projection 32 will still be in position to engage the stop 33 after the latter has been released from the project-ion 31, and the rack is thus raised to an intermediate position. If the handle 36 is pulled still farther, all of the projections upon each arm 30 may be withdrawn out of alinement with the stop 33 and the rack may thus rise to its highest position. A turned-over portion 39 is preferably formed at the upper end of the arm 30, so as to determine the extreme upward position of the rack. When it is desired to lower the rack, the operator merely presses down on the top thereof and the stop 33 slides past the projections 32 and 31, the stop being moved laterally against the tension of the spring 35 through the engagement of its inclined face 40 with the inclined faces 42 and 41 of the stops 32 and 31 respectively.- When the middle drawer is looked, it also looks the actuating mechanism for the rack through a pivoted stop a having a downward projection b, engaging a shoulder a, formed on the rod 37. A spring of normally tends to raise the projection 7) out of engagement with the shoulder a to free the actuating mechanism when the middle drawer is pulled out, whereas the rear wall 6 of the middle drawer engages the pivoted stop to throw the latter into engagement with the shoulder a when the drawer is shoved into position to be locked.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 14, the stops 44, 45 and 46 are formed in the same plane upon the shaft and are of graduated heights. A pivoted stop 47 is located in position to engage said stops 44, 45 and 46 and is actuated by suitable mechanism such as a link 48 having a handle 49 engaged by the operator and connected to the pivoted stop by a bell crank 50 and link 51. When the handle 49 is moved the proper distance the rack will rise to a position corresponding to such movement of the handle.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 15, the graduated stops 53, 54 and 55 are formed upon a bar or frame 52 projecting downwardly from the rack. A movable bolt 56 is suitably mounted to slide into position to be engaged by these stops and is held against the bar or frame by a spring 57. Suitable mechanism such as a rod 58 engaged by the operator and any suitable lever mechanism such as a bell crank 59 and a rod 60 connected to another bell crank 61 engaging the bolt 56 may be used for retracting the bolt to the required position for allowing the rack to rise to the desired height.

It will be noted that in all of these forms, the rack rises automatically and no effort is required to be exercised by the operator other than that required to trip the shaft so as to release the spring. Moreover, the rack can be caused to rise to any desired height merely by moving the trip the required distance. When it is desired to lower the rack, it can be done by pressing down against the top thereof with sufiicient force to counteract the tension of the spring. When the drawers are locked, the actuating mechanism for the trip is also locked and it will. therefore, be impossible for any unauthorized person to raise the rack. The desk as a Whole readily lends itself to a construction of a combined safe and desk inasmuch as it is clear that the pigeon holes might be readily constructed so as to form strong boxes which will be hidden from View and the existence of which will be unsuspected by unauthorized persons.

Owing to the easy adjustment of the actuating spring for the rack, various weights of material may be stored within the rack without interfering with the proper operation of the spring in automatically raising the rack.

The desk as a whole may be made of metal and as thus made, it combines together with the other advantages of the convertible desk, the advantages of a safe for keeping valuable records.

I have illustrated locking devices for the pigeon hole rack in certain of the embodiments of this invention. However, it-may be understood that similar locking devices may be used in the other embodiments of the invention above disclosed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new:

1. A convertible desk comprising a fiat top, a chamber formed in the body of the desk at the forward end thereof, a rack movable within said chamber from a position in which the top thereof is flush with the top of the desk so as to form a flat top desk to a completely raised position and various intermediate positions, a rotatable member having means for engaging the rack to support the same, a spring connected to said rotatable member so as to more than counter balance the rack together with its contents, and means located under the middle drawer of the desk for engagement by the operator to trip the spring so as to allow the rack to rise to variouspositions, said means comprising a movable stop and a plurality of graduated projections engaged by said stop;

2. A convertible desk comprising a flat top, a chamber formed in the body of the desk at the forward end thereof, a rack movable within said chamber from a position in which the top thereof is flush with the top a of the desk so as to form a flat top desk to a completely raised position and various intermediate positions, a rotatable member having means for engaging the rack to support the same, a spring connected to said rotatable member so as to more than counterbalance the rack together with its contents, means located under the middle drawer of the desk for engagement by the operator for tripping the spring so as to allow the rack to rise to various positions, said means comprising a movable stop and a plurality of graduated project-ions engaged by said stop,

and means for locking the actuating means when the middle drawer is in position to be locked.

3. A convertible desk having a flat top, a chamber formed in the body of the desk at} the forward end thereof, a rack movable within said chamber from a position in which the top thereof is flush with the top of the desk to a raised position, a rotatable member having means for engaging the rack, a spring for actuating the rotatable member to automatically raise the rack, tripping means for said rotatable member including a series of graduated projections, and means extending exteriorly of the desk for adjusting the tension of the spring to the varying weights of the rack and its contents.

Signed at New York on the 2nd day of December, 1912.

ABBE SPRUNG.

Witnesses:

HERMANN H. FRIEDER, BENJ. Dawson.

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