IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Halstead at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th March 1880.
HENRY HALSTEAD, of Leeds, in the County of York.
TABLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in tables for domestic and public uses,
and consists in constructing and arranging the table in such a manner and pro-
viding such devices in connection therewith as to enable the upper part or table
proper to be raised or lowered so as to adjust it to any required height, and to be
turned to an angle at will, the table thus constructed being rendered particularly
adapted for the service of invalids, and for use in restaurants, schools, offices, and
other similar places.
In carrying out my Invention as applied, for example, to the construction of a
table intended more particularly for the use of invalids, the table proper is made
separate from its supporting frame, and connected thereto so as to be capable of
being adjusted in height and to any required angle in the following manner:-The
table is provided with a nut which is adapted to a vertical screw supported in a
frame so as to be free to turn without vertical motion, and the said frame also
carries suitable shafting and gearing for imparting rotary motion to the screw. By
the act of turning a handle in one direction or the other the screw is rotated, and
the nut being thus either raised or lowered according to the direction of motion
the table (which works in suitable_guides) is adjusted to the requisite height.;.
or the arrangement of the screw action may be modified so long as a similar effect
is obtained. In order to enable the table to be turned to an angle with a hori-
zontal plane, it is connected with the traversing nut by means of a shaft and
pinion engaging with an internal spur wheel or rack carried by the said nut, or by
an equivalent arrangement, in such a manner that by the act of operating a handle
the pinion may be caused to describe an arc round the said wheel or rack, and
the table be thus tilted to the requisite angle according to the extent of such
motion

page_text: The operating devices are arranged so as to be easily within reach of an invalid
or other person reclining upon a bed or upon a couch when the table is situate
opposite or over the same, in order that such person may be enabled without
assistance to readily adjust the table to the necessary height and angle over the
bed or couch to suit his own convenience or requirements. When tables of
increased length are required, as, for example, in the case of tables for use in
restaurants and other public places, the table may be supported at both ends,
and duplicate sets of gearing may be provided for effecting the necessary adjust-
ments. Additional folding pieces to be used for writing purposes may also be
provided when desirable, as, for example, in the case of tables for schools, offices,
and other like places.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Halstead in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1880.
HENRY HALSTEAD, of Leeds, in the County of York.
TABLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My said Invention relates to improvements in tables for domestic and public
uses, and consists in constructing and arranging the table in such a manner and
providing such devices in connection therewith as to enable the upper part or table
proper to be raised or lowered with facility, so as to adjust it to any required
height, and to be readily turned to an angle at will, the table thus constructed
being rendered particularly adapted for the service of invalids, and for use in
restaurants, schools, offices, and other similar places.
In carrying out my said Invention as applied, for example, to the construction
of a table intended more particularly for the use of invalids, the table proper is
made separate from its supporting frame and connected thereto, so as to be capable
of being adjusted in height and to any required angle in the following manner:-
The table is provided with a nut which is adapted to a vertical screw supported
in a frame, so as to be free to turn without vertical motion, and the said frame
also carries suitable shafting and gearing for imparting rotary motion to the screw.
By the act of turning a handle in one direction or the other the screw is rotated,
and the nut being thus either raised or lowered according to the direction of
motion, the table (which works in suitable guides) is adjusted to the requisite
beight, or the arrangement of the screw action may be modified so long as a
similar effect is obtained. In order to enable the table to be turned to an angle
with a horizontal plane, it is connected with the traversing nut by means of a
shaft and pinion engaging with an internal spur wheel or rack carried by the said
nut, in such a manner that by the act of operating a handle the pinion may
be caused to describe an arc round the said wheel or rack, or an equivalent
arrangement may be adopted, the table in either case being thus tilted to the
requisite angle according to the extent of the motion imparted.
The operating devices are arranged so as to be easily within reach of an invalid
or other person reclining upon a bed or upon a couch. When the table is situate
opposite or over the same, in order that such person may be enabled without
assistance to readily adjust the table to the necessary height and angle over the
bed or couch to suit his own convenience or requirements. When tables of
increased length are required, as, for example, in the case of tables for use in
restaurants and other public places, the table may be supported at both ends, and
duplicate sets of gearing may be provided for effecting the necessary adjustments.
Additional folding pieces to be used for writing purposes may also be provided
when desirable, as, for example, in the case of tables for schools, offices, and other
like places.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to
the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side elevation of a table
constructed according to one mode of carrying out my said Invention, and designed
more particularly for the use of invalids; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the said
table corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a detail elevation, illustrating a
modification in the method of tilting the table or adjusting it to an angle;
Figures 4, 5, and 6, are respectively a side elevation, end elevation, and plan,
illustrating another modification of apparatus for tilting the table; Figure 7
represents a side elevation of a table intended for use in restaurants and other like

page_text: places; Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 represent a table constructed generally as
shewn in Figure 7, but with additions to adapt it for the use of schools and other
like places, Figures 8, 9, and 10, being respectively.a side elevation, horizontal
section, and transverse section, shewing the folding pieces or flaps in one position
and Figures 11 and 12 being respectively a side and an end elevation, shewing the
folding pieces or flaps in another position.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is a screw for raising or lowering the tablo
proper, the said screw being mounted in bearings carried by upright supports e, e¹;
b is a shaft which gives motion to the screw by means of small bevel wheels c;
this shaft is supported in bearings in attachments a¹ to the uprights e, e¹, and carries
a small band wheel d for the facility of turning the shaft, the wheel being by
preference made of wood so as not to be cold to the. touch; f, f¹, are slides
which fit within the uprights e, e¹, and are bound together by means of the
plate g, and rise or fall according to the motion given to the screw a, the bottom
slide being tapped out to receive the screw a; h is the table proper, which is
mounted so as to be capable of oscillating on a pin i attached to the top slide f, so
that the table in addition to being raised or lowered with the slides f, f¹, may be
tilted to any required angle by turning on the pin i. This tilting motion is
obtained by the following means:-To the plate g is rigidly secured a toothed
segment, the pitch line of which is described from the centre of the pin ¿ on which
the table oscillates; in the teeth of this segment gears a pinion / fast on the shaft l,
which is supported by brackets m, m², firmly attached to the under side of the
table, and carries a worm n gearing into a worm o on a shaft p which is also
attached to the table by means of the brackets q, q'. Motion is imparted to the
shaft by the aid of small hand wheels 7, 71, similar to d. Balance weights 8, s', are
provided, attached to the top slide f by means of a cord or chain carried round
pulleys t, t, attached to the uprights e, e¹.
The table is operated in the following manner:-If it is required to raise or
lower the table the wheel d is turned in the required direction, thereby imparting
rotary motion to the screw a until the desired height is attained. The tilting of
the table is effected by turning either of the handles, ¹, thereby giving motion
to the worm wheel n and pinion k, which, working round the segment j, carries
the table to any required angle.
In order to afford additional support to the table h, render its motion easier
when being turned to an angle, and at the same time relieve the pin i of strain and
friction, a radius plate 11 is appended to the table, which plate is in contact with
an antifriction roller 12 carried by the plate g, the said radius plate being supported
by a rod 13 and bracket 14, the latter of which is attached to the table. (The
radius plate is shewn in dotted lines in Figure 2, so as to render the parts at the
rear of the same visible.)
Figure 3 shews an internal segment, marked j', which may be used in lieu of
the segment 1, represented in Figures 1 and 2.
บ
Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate a modification of apparatus for tilting the table
which may be substituted for the toothed gear represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
In this case the plate connecting the slides ff, forms a radius plate u having peg-
holes, the object of which is hereinafter described. The table h is attached to a
bracket oscillating on the pin i, in the lower portion of which bracket is bored a
hole which coincides with the peg holes in the radius plate u; w is a rod which is
supported under the table at one end by a bracket x, and at its opposite end passes
through the bracket and into the peg holes in the radius plate, a lever y having a
its fulcrum at z being attached to the rod w at a¹. This apparatus operates in the
following manner, videlicet:-By the act of moving the lever y the rod w attached
to it is drawn in or out of the radius plate, according to the direction in which the
lever is turned; when the rod w is disengaged from the radius plate the table is
free to oscillate to any angle, and on the described angle being attained the rod w
is forced into the radius plate by the lever y, and the table is secured in its adjusted
position.

page_text: When tables of increased length are required, as, for example, in the case of tables
for use in restaurants and other public places, the table proper h may be supported.
at both ends, and duplicate sets of gearing be provided for effecting its adjustment
in height, as shewn in Figure 7. In this example the radius plate u is employed
inverted, and the angular adjustment is effected by hand, pegs 1 being provided for
securing it in any adjusted position by inserting the pegs through that one of the
peg holes of each radius plate which may be then opposite a hole provided in
an attachment to each pair of uprights e, e¹.
In the case of tables to be used for writing purposes in schools, offices, and other like
purposes, flaps or folding pieces 2, 2, (Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) may be provided,
binged to the table h. When the table is required to be used as a desk the flaps
rest upon supports 3, 3, which are hinged to the table so as to be capable of turning
up, and are connected together by a bar 4. This position of the parts is shown in
Figures 8, 9, and 10. When it is required that the entire surface of the table
should be horizontal the bar 4 is moved lengthwise in the 'direction of the arrow
(Figure 8), whereby the two supports 3, 3, are simultaneously turned upon their
hinges, thus raising the table to the horizontal position, as indicated in Figures 11
and 12. Holes 5, 6, are formed in the bar 4, and other holes 7, 8, are also formed
in a pendent guide 9 for the reception of a peg 10 for securing the bar, and
consequently the flaps in either position.
Any one of the modifications of the tilting devices may be applied to any other
of the modifications of tables, hereinbefore described, than that with which it is
shewn combined in the particular example given.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
-
The combination in or with a table of means whereby the table proper may be
adjusted to any required height and to any desired angle, the whole of the parts
being constructed and arranged and combined together so as to operate substantially
in the manner hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Halstead, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.