IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING TABLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PÅTENT to Francis Forbes Atkinson, a subject of the Queen of Great
Britain residing in the City, County, and State of New York United States of
America for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING TABLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Forbes Atkinson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October 1882.
FRANCIS FORBES ATKINSON, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in
the City County and State of New York United States of America, IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FOLDING TABLES,
This invention relates to tables of the class in which the legs and top are adapted
to be folded closely together, whenever desired, for the purpose of economizing
space in storage and transportation. The objects of the invention are to simplify
and perfect the means for adjusting, folding, and securing the table in position, and
to provide convenient stowage receptacles in the table.
The table top is supported by an outer and an inner pair of legs, each connected
by an upper and a lower cross bar. The outer pair of legs is hinged to the table
top, near one of its ends, by staples, and the legs of the inner pair are free at each
end, and are connected at or near their contres to the legs of the outer pair by
pivots. A pair of spring clasps is secured to the under side of the table top, and
are adapted to enter countersinks or recesses in the upper cross bar of the inner
pair of legs, and thereby retain the legs in position when the table is set up for
use. Each spring clasp is sustained by a stout metal supporter or backing piece.
When folded, the legs are held to the table top by a spring catch. One or more
drawers is fitted to slide in cleats or grooves transversely to the legs, being retained
in position by the legs when folded.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Forbes Atkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th April 1883.
FRANCIS FORBES ATKINSON & Subject of the Queen of Great Britain residing in
the City, County and State of New York United States of America IMPROVE- 5
MENTS IN FOLDING TABLES
This invention relates to tables of the class in which the legs and top are
connected in such manner as to be folded closely together whenever desired for the
purpose of economizing space in storage or transportation; and the objects of the
invention are to simplify and perfect the means for adjusting folding, and securing 1
the table in position, as hereinafter more fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through
a table embodying my invention; as adjusted in position for use; Figs. 2 and 3,
similar sections, as partially and entirely folded, respectively; and Fig. 4, a bottom
plan, folded.
•
The table-top A, is supported by an outer and an inner pair of legs B and C each
of which pairs is connected by an upper and a lower cross-bar b b' and c c¹
respectively. The outer pair of legs, B, is hinged to the table-top A, adjacent to
one of the ends thereof, by staples a, which embrace its upper cross-bar 6 with
sufficient freedom to admit of the vibration of the same within them, the cross-
bar b being preferably shouldered or turned down at its bearings in the staples a
to prevent end motion therein. The legs C of the inner pair are free at each end,
and are connected at or near their centers to the legs B of the outer pair by pivots D,
which except in the case where two drawers are used, may be extended so as to
forn a continuous cross-bar. A pair of spring-clasps E, each of which is a plate 2
of suitable elastic metal of segmental form, are secured each at one of its ends to
the under side of the table-top A, adjacent to the end opposite that to which the
legs Bare hinged, said spring-clasps serving to receive and retain the upper cross-
bar o, of the legs C when the table is set up for use, and by their elusticity
admitting of the ready withdrawal of the cross-bar for the folding of the table. 3
Recesses or countersinks c³ are formed in the cross-bar c in position to be engaged
by the spring-clasps E, which prevents end motion of the cross-bar and corre-
spondingly enhances the firmness of the connection of the legs C with the table
and the strain upon the spring-clasps is sustained by two stout metal supporters or
backing pieces e, each secured to the top A on the outer side of one of the spring- 8
clasps. When folded, as in Figs 3 and 4 the legs are held in such adjusted relation
by a spring-catch F, secured to the top A and engaging a pin, f, on one of the
legs C, with the capacity of ready withdrawal therefrom when the table is to be
set up.
For the purpose of providing convenient stowage room in the table I attach 4
thereto one or more drawers, G, each fitting and moving freely in grooves formed
in transverse cleats g, placed between and in such relation to the staples a, and
spring-catches E as to admit of the unobstructed insertion and withdrawal of the
drawers when the table is in position for use, and to insure the retention of the
drawers within the cleats by the legs C when the table is folded.
I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent-
The combination of a table-top, a pair of legs hinged or pivoted at one end
thereto, a second pair of legs pivoted at or near their centers to the first pair, a
pair of spring-clasps, a pair of metal supporters backing said clasps and a recessed

page_text: or countersunk cross-bar connecting the upper ends of the second pair of legs, the
spring-clasps being adapted to enter the recesses or countersinks of said bar and
prevent end movement of the same, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Francis Forbes Atkinson have hereunto set
my hand and seal this ninth day of March, A.D. 1883.
A
ARUNGAN