AN IMPROVED TABLE OR EASEL FOR THE USE OF INVALIDS AND OTHERS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM LICHFIELD of 15 New Broad Street in the City of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for AN IMPROVED
TABLE OR EASEL FOR THE USE OF INVALIDS AND OTHERS to be as follows:-
--
My Invention relates to an improved table desk, or reading easel which is
capable of vertical, horizontal, oscillating, and rotary adjustments so that it may be
readily brought to and firmly supported at any desired height and position whether
horizontal or inclined, and rotated upon a vertical axis or held firmly fixed as may
be required. The invention consists mainly in the means by which the various
adjustments necessary to adapt it for the different purposes for which it is designed
are provided for.
The top of the table desk or easel is supported on a tubular pillar which is a
casting of circular section supported on a claw formed of four feet hinged in pairs
to the lower part of the pillar, the two feet of each pair being thus adapted to fold
together in order to pack the table away in a small compass.
When in use these
feet are kept apart by stretchers each hinged at one end to one foot of the pair and
connected to the other by a spring bolt the hinge of the two legs being so formed
as to limit the spreading of the feet to the length of the stretcher whereby the feet
are held rigidly in the splayed position. The pillar is closed at bottom and contains
a spiral spring by which the weight of the table top and its appurtenances is nearly
counterbalanced to facilitate the adjustment of the height of the table. The said
spring is guided by a central rod rising from the bottom of the pillar and is
compressed by a tubular stem also of circular section sliding telescopically in the
annular space between the pillar and rod in which the spring is contained. The
pillar has a longitudinal slit formed in its top end flanked by lugs through which
passes a binding screw whereby the pillar may be clamped firmly around the stem
to hold it firmly at any height and prevent it turning in the pillar, the fit between
the stem and the pillar being sufficiently close to enable this clamping to be effected
by the elasticity of the metal. A split collar is placed upon the stem and is capable
of being clamped upon it by means of a binding screw at any point of its length so
that by slackening the screw which binds the pillar to the stem and tightening the
collar the latter may rest on the top of the pillar and thereby support the table at
the required height at same time leaving the stem free to turn within the pillar.
The table top is connected to the stem by means of guides which permit of the

page_text: sliding adjustment of the table top, and by means of a serrated or clutch joint
which permits. of the oscillating adjustment of the table top for reading or writing
purposes. This joint is formed of a circular head cast on the stem and a
corresponding circular casting formed on a slide block which is fitted to slide in or
on the guides affixed to the underside of the top, the two parts being provided with
corresponding radial serrations which interlock and enable a firm joint to be made
when they are tightened up by a central screw which forms the joint pin. The
slide block is provided with gibs which embrace or fit in the guides and with a set
screw which bears against the underside of the guide plate and locks the table top
firmly in position on the slide block.
By means of this sliding adjustment of the top it may be brought over a bed
into convenient position for the occupant. When used as a reading easel the top
may be provided with a removable ledge at its lower edge for a book to rest on.
201

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM LICHFIELD of 15 New Broad Street in the City of London,
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
TABLE OR EASEL FOR THE USE OF INVALIDS AND OTHERS and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My Invention relates to an improved table, desk, or reading easel which is
capable of vertical, horizontal, oscillating, and rotary adjustments so that it may be
readily brought to and firmly supported at any desired height and position whether
horizontal or inclined, and rotated upon a vertical axis or held firmly fixeu as may
be required. The invention consists mainly in the means by which the various
adjustments necessary to adapt it for the different purposes for which it is designed
are provided for as hereafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings forming part of this Specification wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of
the table, the top being represented in the horizontal position. Figure 2. is a
vertical section of the supporting pillar. Figure 3 is a side view of the top in an
inclined position as when used for supporting a book. Figures 4, 5 &° show details
hereafter referred to.
The pillar a is a tubular casting of circular section supported on a claw formed
of four feet hinged in pairs at b to the lower part of the pillar a, the two feet of
each pair being thus adapted to fold together in order to pack the table away in a
small compass: When in use, these feet are kept apart by stretchers c, each hinged
at one end to one foot of the pair and connected to the other by a spring bolt, cl
(as seen in figure 8) the hinge of the two legs being so formed as to limit the
spreading of the feet to the length of the stretcher, whereby the feet are held
rigidly in the splayed position. The pillar a is closed at bottom and contains a spiral
spring 'd, by which the weight of the table top and its appurtenances is nearly
counterbalanced to facilitate the adjustment of the height of the table. The said
spring is guided by a central rod e rising from the bottoin of the pillar a and is
compressed by a tubular stem also of circular section of sliding telescopically in the
annular space between a and e in which the spring is contained. The pillar a has
a longitudinal slit g, formed in its top end flanked by lugs h, through which passes
a binding screw i whereby the pillar may be clamped firmly around the stem ƒ to
hold it firmly at any height and prevent it turning in the pillar, the fit between
the stem and the pillar being sufficiently close to enable this clamping to be
effected by the elasticity of the metal-A split collar k is placed upon the stem f
and is capable of being clamped upon it by means of a binding screw l, at any point
of its length, so that by slackening the screw i and tightening the collar, the latter
may rest on the top of the pillar a, and thereby support the table at the required
height, at same time leaving the stem f free to turn within the pillar a.
table top m is connected to this stem f by means of guides n which permit of the
sliding adjustment of the table top, and by means of a serrated or clutch joint
which permits of the oscillating adjustment of the table top for reading or writing
purposes. This joint is formed of a circular head o cast on the stem f and a
corresponding circular casting p formed on the slide block q which is fitted to slide
in or on the guides n, affixed to the underside of the top m, the two parts o and p
The

page_text: being provided with corresponding radial serrations which interlock and enable a
firm joint to be made when they are tightened up by the central screws which
forms the joint pin. The slide block q is provided with gibs q¹ which embrace or
fit in the guides n, and with a set screw t which bears against the underside of the
guide plate n and locks the table top firmly in position on the slide block.
By means of this sliding adjustment of the top m as indicated in dotted lines in
figure 1 it may be brought over a bed into convenient position for the occupant.
When used as a reading easel the top m may be provided with a removable ledge
at its lower edge for a book to rest on.
Having now particularly descibed and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
•
1. The improved adjustable table or easel constructed substantially as herein
described and shown in the drawings.
2. In an adjustable table or easel, the combination of the table top m, the 1
guides n fixed to the underside thereof, the slide block q, the clutch joint formed of
the serrated discs o. p and their binding screw 8, the stem f, the hollow pillar a, and
the spiral spring d, substantially as shown and described whereby the various
adjustments are effected as specified.
3. In an adjustable table or easel, the combination of a tubular pillar, a spiral
spring contained therein, and a stem supporting the table top and fitted to slide
and turn in the pillar substantially as shown and described.
4. In an adjustable table or easel the combination with the telescopically sliding
stem on which the table top is adjustably supported, of a tubular pillar constructed
with a longitudinal slit at top and a binding screw whereby the pillar is adapted
to grip the stem and hold it firmly at any height and prevent it from turning,
substantially as shown and described.
5. In an adjustable table or easel, the combination of a tubular pillar, a spiral
spring, a stem carrying the table top and fitted to slide and turn in the pillar, and
an adjustable collar capable of being clamped at any point of the stem for
supporting the stem at any height with freedom to rotate in the pillar, substantially
as described and shown in the drawings.
6. In an adjustable table or easel, the combination with the table top and its
supporting stem of a clutch joint formed of two radially serrated interlocking discs
and their centre clamping screw substantially as described and shown in the :
drawings.
7. In an adjustable table or easel, the combination of the guides n fixed to the
underside of the table top, the slide block q and the set screw substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
8. In an adjustable table or easel, the combination with the table top and its
supporting stem, of the guides n, the slide block q, the clutch joint formed of the
serrated discs o, p, and screw 8, for effecting the horizontal and oscillating adjust-
ments of the table top, substantially as specified.
9. The claw or pedestal constructed of two pairs of feet hinged to a central stem
as described, and combined with stretcher bars hinged at one end to one foot of the
pair and engaging with the other substantially as shown and described.