US3140135A - Typewriter supporting shelf - Google Patents

Description

ly 1954 T. STOHLBERG TYPEWRITER SUPPORTING SHELF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 6, 1961 INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 7, 1954 T. STOHLBERG 3,140,135

TYPEWRITER SUPPORTING SHELF Filed Oct. 6, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 7742/62: .mwe

ATTORNEY United States Patent York Filed Oct. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 143,471 2 Claims. (Cl. 312--208) This invention relates to improvements in a typewriter supporting shelf and more particularly to one designed to be applied to the side or edge of a desk or table.

Heretofore accommodations for typewriters intended to be associated with desks have taken the form of a pedestal mounted shelf that was contained in a compartment vacated by the usual two or three drawer area of a desk. Such a shelf would support a typewriter and was movable from a position of concealment within a desk pedestal to a position of use at a desk end. Acceptance by the public of this type of typewriter support has been somewhat mixed if for no other reason than the fact that a desk arranged to accommodate a typewriter lost approximately half its intended storage or filing space and, furthermore, the movable supporting shelf could not have the firmness and rigidity normally required in the customary use of a typewriter. It is here mentioned that typing errors frequently occur as a result of an unsteady shelf or other typewriter support.

The present invention is directed to and has for one of its objects the provision of a typewriter shelf that is of sufiicient rigidity to withstand and be unaffected by the vibration inherent in the normal use of a typewriter.

Further, it is an important object of the invention to provide a shelf that may be conveniently attached to a desk or table, thereby enabling adaptation of various pieces of oflice furniture to typewriter use.

It is also of importance to note that the present shelf not only readily attaches at one end to a desk or table, but includes floor engaging structure that assists in rendering it sufficiently rigid for useful purposes as to practically become a part of the article to which it is joined.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective View of a desk to which is attached one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on theline 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket by means of which a typewriter shelf is attached to an article of office furniture such as the desk shown; a

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the shelf bracket partially engaged with the conventional front of a desk pedestal;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing the bracket fully engaged with the desk pedestal and the shelf in position of use. (Seeline 55 of FIG. 2); and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially as indicated by the line 6- -6 of FIG. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 is employed to generally designate a desk to which the invention is presently applied. The desk, for purposes of illustration, consists of two spaced pedestals 11 supported on suitable bases orlegs 12. A conventional top 13 overlies and connects the pedestals and, since they are spaced apart, adequate knee-area is provided. Referring to FIG. 4, it will be noted that directly beneath thefront edge 14 of thetop 13 the forward end 16 of awork slide 17 is shown. Beneath this slide is atop rail 18 which, in conjunction with sides 19 and sill 21, forms a front opening to the pedestal to receive theusual drawers 22. As may be seen, therail 18 includes an inturnedflange 23. The structure of that portion of a desk pedestal above the drawer opening is substantially the same in all desks and, consequently, the invention may be considered as applicable to pedestal desks in general.

The subject of the invention, as stated, concerns the provision of a typewriter table or shelf attachable to a conventional pedestal desk. To this end, attention is directed to the structure thereof as disclosed in the various figures of the drawings. In FIG. 1, ashelf 24 is shown to extend forwardly from the front end of one of the pedestals 11. This shelf, in general, includes a work or typewriter receiving top. The unattached end of the shelf is supported uponsuitable legs 26. Although a so-calledmodesty panel 27 is shown, the use of such a panel is optional and forms no part of the invention.

Theshelf 24 includes ametal sheet 28 to which asuitable surface material 29 is applied. Conventional edge binders 31 frame thematerial 29 and, of course, the shelf edges are defined by downwardly extendingflanges 30, such as suggested in FIGS. 2 and 5. By way of further rigidifying the shelf, at least twochannels 32 are provided, which, as suggested in FIG. 2, extend lengthwise and are secured, as by welding, along theirbase walls 33 to the under surface of themetal sheet 28. Thechannel side walls 34 terminate in inwardly turnedflanges 36 which serve to restrict the channel opening. The present shelf, or a similar well constructed member, is attached to one of the pedestals 11 by means of abracket 37. This bracket (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) consists of a series of integral flanges that provide a stepped down end support as between the desk pedestal and the shelf.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bracket will include alip flange 38 which is of a length slightly less than the width of the pedestal opening. Should a particular pedestal opening be of less width than the lip flange, it is proposed to notch this flange, as at 39, to enable ready removal of a thus formed tab flange 41. From theflange 38, aright angle flange 42 continues which then extends downwardly as aflange 43 which is parallel to, but horizontally offset from, the lip flange. From theflange 43, ahorizontal flange 44 extends downwardly and is offset from aterminal flange 46 by anangle flange 47. Theflange 46 is fitted with bolts 48 that extend upwardly from beneath this flange and are engaged by elongated nuts 49. Two or morecompressible pads 51 of corklike material are secured to one face offlange 43, whereas the other face of this flange carries asimilar pads 52. It will be appreciated that thebracket 37 is first attached to one end of the shelf. This is accomplished by abutting thepadded flange 43 against theshelf end flange 30. This bringsflange 44 into abutment with the inturned portion of theshelf flange 30. In fact,flanges 43, 44 and 47 form a channel in which this inturned portion is fitted. Due to the width offlange 47, theterminal flange 46 is caused to abut the inturnedflanges 36 of thechannels 32. The nuts 49, being of a lateral size greater than the restricted openings in the channels, have been turned to permit their entry. They may then be rotated on the bolts 48 to occupy a position transverse to the channel length and in so doing they bridge the channel openings with the ends resting on the inner surfaces offlanges 36. Rotating the bolts 48 draws down the nuts 49 and causes theterminal flange 46 to be rigidly secured to the channels. Of course, thepads 51 are somewhat compressed between theflanges 43 and 30, thus making a tight, non-noise transmitting connection between the bracket and the shelf.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 4 wherein thebrack et 37 is shown in a partially assembled position. For space and simplicity of disclosure, the bracket in this figure is shown without theshelf 24. However, it is to be assumed that the bracket and shelf may, as one, be

joined to the desk or removed in the following manner. As mentioned, it is common practice to provide a rail, such as indicated at 18, which is stiffened by the usual inturnedflange 23. Thetop drawer 22 is moved to a slightly opened position, such as shown in FIG. 4. This gives enough space between the drawer front andrail 18 to permit the angled insertion of thebracket tongue flange 33. By swinging the bracket and shelf downwardly toward a horizontal position,flange 38 moves upwardly behindflange 23 and, simultaneously,flange 42 assumes a horizontal position asflange 43 urges thedrawer 22 into fully closed position. The completed assembly is shown in FIG. 5. It will be noted that when the bracket is fully assembled, thepads 52 are caused to bear against the sides 19 that in part define the pedestal opening. It will be observed that the weight of the shelf, especially with a typewriter on it, Will continually urge the bracket into and hold it in tight engagement with the pedestal. Not only will the shelf and typewriter weight assure securement of the bracket, but thelegs 26 will also be caused to rest firmly on a floor or comparable surface. Any vibration resulting from typewriter or other use will be absorbed by the pads, thus eliminating transmission of any vibration to the desk. This could be of importance when it is considered that a typist could be producing a transcript of a message from a recording machine located on a desk to a typewriter mounted on the desk attached shelf.

Although themodesty panel 27 mentioned above constitutes no direct part of the invention, it is pointed out that thechannels 32, as seen in FIG. 2, are relatively close to theside flanges 30 that define the sides of the shelf. In showing this panel, it is intended to disclose that one or the other of these reinforcing channels may serve an added purpose by providing the same structure for attaching thepanel 27 as is used to secure thebracket 37 to the shelf.

Referring to FIG. 6, thepanel 27 is shown to include ahorizontal flange 52 that terminates in an upstanding flange 53. The width offlange 52 enables flange 53 to engage one of thechannel side walls 34 with the body of the panel flush with the other channel side wall. This relationship brings thepanel 27 suitably close to the side of the shelf and does not in any way decrease the leg room for a typist. A pair ofbrackets 51 are considered adequate to locate and support this panel. Each bracket includes a perpendicular flange 54 joined at its upper end to ahorizontal flange 55, this last mentioned flange abutting the under surface ofpanel flange 52. To rigidify the bracket, integral webs orwings 56 are provided. It will be understood that each bracket is nested into the upper portion of the panel and permanently joined thereto.

When the panel is positioned as indicated in FIG. 6, coincidingopenings 57 inflanges 52 and 55 enable projecting the threaded shaft of a wing bolt 58 into the space between thechannel flanges 36.Elongated nuts 59, similar to nuts 49, rest on thechannel flanges 36 and are engaged by the shafts of bolts 58. Tightening these bolts secures thebrackets 51 and theflange 52 to a selectedchannel 32 in exactly the manner and with the 4 same effectiveness as stated about the joining ofbracket 37 to theshelf 24.

Although applicant has shown and described only one particular form of bracket by which to enable attaching a typewriter shelf to a desk or other pedestal, it will be understood that in view of the differences in desk sizes, it is contemplated to modify one or more of the bracket flanges for this purpose and such modification is considered as being within the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent 1. A typewriter shelf in combination with a bracket for attaching said shelf to a desk or the like, said shelf including a work receiving member marginally reinforced by a depending flange, downwardly opening channels secured to the under surface of said member, said channels extending substantially the full length of said member and being within the vertical confines thereof as determined by said marginal depending flange, said bracket having opposite marginal flanges in stepped relation, one of said flanges abutting said channels adjacent one end of said member, clamping means carried by said one flange engaged with said channels and locating the other bracket flange above and beyond the one end of said member, said last named bracket flange being interfitted with a rail of said desk that defines the top of a drawer opening, an intermediate portion of said bracket being interposed between said desk and the referred to end of said member.

2. A typewriter shelf in combination with a bracket for attaching said shelf to a desk or the like, said shelf including a work receiving member marginally reinforced by a depending flange, downwardly opening channels secured to the under surface of said member, said channels extending substantially the full length of said member and being within the vertical confines thereof, inturned flanges on the sides of said channels restricting the width of the openings therein, said bracket having opposite marginal flanges in stepped relation, one of said flanges abutting said channels adjacent one end of said member, clamping means carried by said one flange securing it to said channels, an intermediate portion of said bracket engaging and enclosing one end of the depending flange of said member, said portion serving to locate the other marginal flange of said bracket above and beyond said member, said other bracket flange being capable of interfitting engagement with a rail that defines the top of a drawer opening in said desk through a hooking and downwardly swinging movement to a position to cause abutment of said intermediate portion with further desk parts that cooperate in defining a drawer opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,297,647 Chason Sept. 29, 1942 2,324,247 Ullman July 13, 1943 2,906,574 Bullock Sept. 29, 1959 2,987,362 Bernath June 6, 1961

Claims (1)

1. A TYPEWRITER SHELF IN COMBINATION WITH A BRACKET FOR ATTACHING SAID SHELF TO A DESK OR THE LIKE, SAID SHELF INCLUDING A WORK RECEIVING MEMBER MARGINALLY REINFORCED BY A DEPENDING FLANGE, DOWNWARDLY OPENING CHANNELS SECURED TO THE UNDER SURFACE OF SAID MEMBER, SAID CHANNELS EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGTH OF SAID MEMBER AND BEING WITHIN THE VERTICAL CONFINES THEREOF AS DETERMINED BY SAID MARGINAL DEPENDING FLANGE, SAID BRACKET HAVING OPPOSITE MARGINAL FLANGED IN STEPPED RELATION, ONE OF SAID FLANGES ABUTTING SAID CHANNELS ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID MEMBER, CLAMPING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID ONE FLANGE ENGAGED WITH SAID CHANNELS AND LOCATING THE OTHER BRACKET FLANGE ABOVE AND BEYOND THE ONE END OF SAID MEMBER, SAID LAST NAMED BRACKET FLANGE BEING INTERFITTED WITH A RAIL OF SAID DESK THAT DEFINES THE TOP OF A DRAWER OPENING, AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID BRACKET BEING INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID DESK AND THE REFERRED TO END OF SAID MEMBER.

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