IMPROVEMENTS IN DINING AND OTHER TABLES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Dressler, of Nassau Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DINING AND OTHER TABLES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
ARTICLES OF FURNITURE."
Sealed the 26th June 1860, and dated the 28th December 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Dressler at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
December 1859.
I, FREDERICK DRESSLER, of Nassau Street, in the County of Middlesex,
Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN DINING AND OTHER TABLES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO OTHER ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in. tables or other articles of furniture
relates to a peculiar manner of making such articles so as readily to extend or
contract as may be desired in reducing or increasing the size of such articles.
It is perhaps principally adapted for dining tables, and is intended as a
substitute for such tables in which more or less inconvenience is experienced
in applying or removing the extra leaves or parts. According to my Invention
I place and retain in the table all the leaves or top parts of its surface, and
which slide one under the other when the table is collapsed. I form a table
with a permanent top, in appearance and size like an ordinary table top,
mounted on a permanent or fixed frame supported on four legs, one at each
corner. I attach to the top at the middle of its length two tennons (one on

page_text: either side), which enter mortices in the sides of the table frame, in which
they are free to slide up and down, except when fixed by a pin or otherwise;
these tennons are hinged to the under side of the top. In the frame are fitted.
bars which slide in the direction of the length of the table, but so fitted as to
slide in an inclined direction. These bars carry the extra flaps or parts which
slide out from beneath the permanent top, which rises a little at same time to
permit of the inclined rise of the extra pieces; these on emerging entirely
from under the permanent top are on the same level with it (at same time
this part again descends to its original level). The extra flaps or parts are
thus drawn from each end. A further extension may take place by fitting
inclined slides with their flaps under and in connection with the bars of the
first extra flaps, and so on, the slides all being inclined, and the top so fitted
as to insure and permit of their rising to a uniform level; extra legs may be
attached to the slide bars of the extra flaps if required. When the edges are
moulded, I attach springs to draw the extra flaps back on such mouldings,
which are received in hollows formed in such extra flaps, and so present a
smooth table top.
Other kinds of tables or other articles of furniture may be similarly fitted in
which it is desired to extend the top or surface, in such manner that when
extended the whole is on a level. Chairs may also be constructed on the same
principle, and so as to extend or convert into sofas or couches, in which case I
prefer to construct the frames only so as to draw out, and afterwards apply the
cushion or cushions thereto; but the cushions or stuffed surfaces may be
arranged to draw out and assume a uniform level if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Frederick Dressler in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th June 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
DRESSLER, of Nassau Street, in 'the County of Middlesex, Cabinet Maker,
send greeting.
$
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, thio
said Frederick Dressler; Her speciál licence that I, the said Frederick Dressler, &
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or sucli others as I, the said

page_text: Frederick Dressler, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,.an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DINING AND OTHER TABLES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
ARTICLES OF FURNITURE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Frederick-Dressler, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their; or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick Dressler, do hereby declare the
nature of said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the figures.
and letters marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of improvements in tables relates to a peculiar manner of
making such tables, so as readily to extend or contract as may be desired in
reducing or increasing the size of the same. The improvements are prin-
cipally adapted to dining tables, and intended to obviate the inconvenience
hitherto experienced in applying or removing the extra leaves or parts of such
tables. According to my Invention I place and retain in the table all the
5 leaves or top parts of its surface so arranged as to slide one under the other
when the table is collapsed. I form a table with a permanent top to be in ap-
pearance and size like an ordinary table top, mounted on a permanent or fixed
frame, supported on four legs, one at each corner, or on a pillar and claws.
To the under side of the top at the middle of its length two tennons are hinged
0 (one on either side), which enter mortices in the side of the table frame, in
which they are free to slide up and down. In the frame are fitted bars, which
slide in the direction of the length of the table, but so fitted as to slide in au
inclined direction. These bars carry the extra leaves or parts which slide out
from beneath the permanent top, which rises a little at the same time to
5 permit of the inclined rise of the extra leaves, these on emerging entirely
from under the permanent top are on the same level with it, when at the same
time this part again descends to its original level; the extra leaves or parts
are thus drawn out from each end. A further extension may take place by
fitting-inclined slides with their leaves under and in connection with the bars

page_text: of the before extra leaves, and so on in succession, the slides all being inclined
and the top so fitted as to permit and insure of their rising to an uniform
level; extra legs may be attached to the slide bars of the extra leaves, if
required.
Other applications of the Invention above described may be made; one of
these is to construct a table, the frame of which shall be in two parts, ar-
ranged to separate in the middle of its length, having the permanent top in
two parts, each of which are hinged by their ends to end bars of the framing;
the extra top is then supported on a bridge or on rails, so as to be under the
permanent top when the table is closed. On the under of the extra-top
inclined slides are fitted provided with tennons, which slide in grooves cut on
an incline in the sides of other inclined slides fitted on the inside of the side
bars of framing; a table thus constructed is expanded by drawing out the
same by its opposite ends, and when fully drawn out the extra leaf is brought
up on the same level with the permanent top.
Another application of the Invention is to the construction of a military
chest, so as to enable its conversion into use as a camp table, a camp bed, or
a writing desk, as may be required.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will now proceed
more fully to described the manner of performing the same, reference being
made to the several Figures on the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed,
on which the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout
each set of the Figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is an end elevation of a table constructed according to
my Invention as it would appear when closed; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the
same when extended, the permanent top being taken off to show the con-
struction; Fig. 8 is a section of Fig. 2 taken on the line A, B; and Fig. 4 is
an end view of the permanent top detached. (a) is the permanent top;
(6), the tennons hinged on its under side; (c), the extra leaves or parts;
(d), the slide bar on which they rest; (e), mortices for the tennons on the
permanent top; (f) are guides for the slide bars; (9), rollers, on which the
slide bars run; (h) are stops to prevent over extension; and he is a groove
(through which a tennon is passed) used for the same purpose.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of an expanding table when fully drawn out,
the frame of which is constructed in two parts, so as to separate in its middle;
and Figure 6 is a plan view of the same, with permanent top or parts removed
to show the arrangement of the silos · is the vermanent ton (k) the

page_text: end rail, to which it is hinged; (2) is the extra leaf or part; (m), the slides;
(2), inclined grooves, in which the tennons slide; (o), the tennons; (p) is a
lift to elevate the permanent top to the position shown by dotted lines at Fig. 5
previous to closing the table.
On Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a table fully
drawn out; and Figure 8 is a plan view of the same, with the permanent top
removed. (9) is the permanent top; (r), the rail to which it is hinged; (s) is
the extra leaf; (t) are the slides; (u), the inclined grooves in the same;
(w) are the tennons; and (a) the lift.
Figure 9 is a top part, side elevation, of a military chest fitted up according
to this Invention so as to extend and be used as a camp table, camp bed or
writing desk, as required; Fig. 10 is a part longitudinal section on the line
C, D; and Fig. 11 is a plan view of chest, as extended for use as a camp bed,
the lid being removed to show the construction. (a¹) is the chest; (6¹), the lid
of same; (c) are the extra leaves or parts; (d¹) are the slides of metal,
supported at an inclination as shown at (e¹).
Figure 10 and Figure 12 shows one of the extra parts in position for use as
a writing desk, supported on the slide (d¹) by a rest (f¹).
.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention for "Improvements
in Dining and other Tables, which Improvements are applicable to other
Articles of Furniture," and also the manner of carrying the same into practical
effect, I hereby wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited
Letters Patent, I claim,-
'
Firstly, the use of extra leaves or parts in the construction of dining and
other tables, such extra parts being free to slide in and out on inclines, as
herein particularly described, and shewn in the Drawings, so as to permit such
tables being easily extended or reduced in size, as required.
Secondly, the use of extra parts in the construction of military chests, such
extra parts being free to slide in and out on inclines, as herein set forth and
described.
In witness whereof I, the said Frederick Dressler, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixte
FREDERICK DRESSLER. (L.S.)