IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES AND CABINETS FOR SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES AND INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES AND CABINETS FOR SEWING AND
OTHER MACHINES AND INSTRUMENTS." A communication from abroad by
Joseph Jorgensen, of Petersburg, in the State of Virginia, United States of
America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1881.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES AND
CABINETS FOR SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES AND INSTRUMENTS. [A commu-
nication from abroad by Joseph Jorgensen, of Petersburg, in the State of Virginia,
United States of America.]
The object of these improvements is to produce a table or cabinet which will
serve as a desirable support for a sewing machine or other machine or instrument,
and which may nevertheless be used as au ordinary table or cabinet when such
machine or instrument is not in use.
The table is formed of two parts, viz., a frame forming a portion of the top of a
table or cabinet, and supported by a case and a body or central portion. The case
may be of any desirable form, and provided with doors to afford access to its
interior. The frame may be made of ornamental appearance like the corresponding
portion of an ordinary library table.
The body or central portion of the top is secured by pivots or trunnions at
opposite sides or ends, so as to be free to be turned either side uppermost. The
side which is intended to be uppermost during the time that the table or cabinet
is used as an ordinary table or cabinet is covered with cloth or otherwise orna-
mented, but the, reverse side may be left plain if desirable. This body portion of
the top may be constructed in any suitable manner, but preferably will consist of
several thicknesses of veneer arranged with crossed grain, as when thus made it is
not likely to crack or warp.

page_text: Almost all library and other ornamental tables and cabinets have tops composed
of a frame or rail-like outer portion, and a body portion of a contrasting appearance,
such for instance as that produced by covering it with cloth. It is an important
feature of these improvements that the stationary portion of the table or cabinet
top shall correspond to the frame or rail portion of an ordinary library table top,
and that the pivotted body portion shall correspond to the body portion of such
ordinary table top, for then the line of junction will not be unsightly, and indeed
will be scarcely noticeable.
The pivotted body portion is preferably provided with means for preventing it
from being turned in but one direction in reversing it, and with a catch of some
sort for holding it securely in either of the positions to which it may be adjusted.
When the table is used with a sewing machine a fly wheel and treadle will be
provided under the table top, and the connection between the wheel and the
sewing machine will be by a belt in the ordinary way. This belt passes through
an aperture at the end of the body-portion of the top of the table or cabinet. The
aperture is formed by cutting away the body portion at one end for a portion of its
width, and by cutting a notch in rear of or at the end of the adjacent trunnion.
In order to close the aperture a flap is provided which extends entirely across
the top, and is hinged at its inner edge thereto by the cloth covering, or in any
other suitable manner. The flap fits into a rebate in the end of the body portion,
and when turned down into the rebate is flush with the cloth covered side of the
top, and also flush with the end thereof. It is intended that this flap shall be
automatically opened or turned down at an angle to the body portion when the
latter is turned to bring the machine uppermost into position for use, and also
automatically closed or folded into the rebate, as the body-portion is reversed to
bring the cloth covered side uppermost.
The means which may be employed for accomplishing these results are various,
but one arrangement may consist of a pin projecting inwards from the frame against
which the flap strikes, and as the turning of the top continues, is deflected or turned
back into a position at right angles to the body portion.
During the return movement of the body portion the pin releases the flap and
permits it to be folded or closed down into the rebate, in which position it is held
while the cloth covered side of the body portion is uppermost, by a pin projecting
from the edge of the flap, and extending under the edge of the frame or rail of the
top into a recess provided for its reception. To still further insure the automatic
closing of the flap, a spring connecting the flap with the body portion may be
employed.
To prevent the belt from being displaced or falling off the fly wheel when the
sewing machine is turned underneath, a guard composed of a bow shaped or forked
piece extending upon opposite sides of the wheel and belt, and attached to the case
is employed.
The guard which may be made in any desirable manner is fixed so that so that the
space between its two arms or sides is just below the wheel; hence when the belt
is slackened it drops down between the two arms of the guard. The guard also
serves to guide the belt to its proper position on the wheel during its return
movement, or while being raised.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1882.
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES AND
CABINETS FOR SEWING AND OTHER MACHINES AND INSTRUMENTS." A commu-
nication from abroad by Joseph Jorgensen, of Petersburg, in the State of Virginia,
United States of America.
The object of these improvements is to produce a table or cabinet which will
serve as a desirable support for a sewing machine or other machine or instrument,
and which may nevertheless be used as an ordinary table or cabinet when such
machine or instrument is not in use.
The improvements consist in the combination in a table or cabinet, of a top
composed of an outer frame or rail provided with a hole or opening, and a body
portion having a sewing or other machine or instrument mounted on one side, and
pivotted within the said hole or opening, so that it may be turned to bring the
side upon which the machine or instrument is arranged uppermost, or to bring the
other side uppermost so as to conceal the machine or instrument, and thereby
present the appearance of a library or other table or cabinet. When the body
portion of the top of the table is turned so as to bring ppermost a sewing machine,
an aperture is necessary in the top for the passage of the driving band, and the
improvements therefore further consist in the combination with the body portion
of the kind just specified, and provided with an aperture suitable for the accom-
modati of a belt, of a hinged flap for closing the aperture when said body
portion is turned so as to conceal the machine or instrument below the table.
The improvements further consist in the combination with the above of devices
for operating said flap when the body portion of the top is turned.
The improvements further consist in the combination with the pivotted body
portion having an aperture for the accommodation of the belt portion, and a
machine secured upon it, of a wheel arranged below the said body portion, a belt
for transmitting motion from it to the machine, and a guard for insuring the
maintaining of the belt in proper position, to enable it to be readily applied to the
wheel after being removed from contact therewith by turning over the said body
portion to conceal the machine or instrument which is mounted on it.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section through a
table or cabinet embodying the Invention with a sewing machine and appurtenances
applied thereto; Figure 2 represents a transverse section of the table or cabinet upon
the dotted line x, x, of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a plan of the table or cabinet
with the side of the pivotted body portion of the top to which the machine is
attached uppermost, but having the machine removed; Fig. 4 is a plan of the
table or cabinet with the covered side of the pivotted body portion of the top
uppermost, also shewing in dotted outline the position of the said top when turned
into a vertical position in the act of reversing it; and Fig. 5 represents a sectional
view of part of the pivotted body portion of the top, the adjacent part of the frame
and the hinged flap turned to close the aperture for the driving band. Similar
letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A is a frame or rail forming a portion of the top of a table or cabinet, and
supported by a case B, which may be of any desirable form, and provided with
doors to afford access to its interior. This frame or rail A is made of ornamental
appearance, like the corresponding portion of an ordinary library table. It is only
a few inches wide, and forms the marginal or outer portion of the top of the table
or cabinet.

page_text: The body or central portion C of the top instead of being rigidly fixed in the
frame A, is secured by pivots or trunnions a at opposite sides or ends, so as to be
free to be turned either side uppermost. The side which is intended to be upper-
most during the time that the table or cabinet is used as an ordinary table or
cabinet is covered with cloth or otherwise ornamented, but the reverse side may
be left plain if desirable. This body portion of the top may be constructed in any
suitable manner, but preferably will consist of several thicknesses of veneer
arranged with crossed grain, as when thus made it is not likely to crack or warp.
Almost all library and other ornamental tables and cabinets have tops composed
of a frame or rail like outer portion, and a body portion of a contrasting appear-
ance, such, for instance, as that produced by covering it with cloth. It is an
important feature of these improvements that the stationary portion of the table
or cabinet top shall correspond to the frame or rail portion of an ordinary library
table top, and that the pivotted body portion shall correspond to the body portion
of such ordinary table top, for then the line of junction will not be unsightly, and
indeed will be scarcely noticeable.
'
Though this table or cabinet is chiefly intended for a sewing machine, any other
similar light machine or instrument might be applied to the pivotted body portion C
of the top with the same advantages as a sewing machine.
The pivotted body portion C of the top is preferably provided with means for
preventing it from being turned in but one direction in reversing it, and with a
catch of some sort for holding it securely in either of the positions to which it may
be adjusted.
When the machine is uppermost the edge C of said body portion C is intended
to be turned downwards and over in reversing the body portion, and the stop here
represented consists of a pin or projection b upon the end of the said body portion,
which, when said side of the body portion is uppermost, projects in a recess b¹ on
the under side of the frame A, and prevents the body portion from being turned,
except in such a direction that its edge C¹ will be depressed. When the machine
is below the body portion, the pin b projects into a recess 6 in the under side of
the frame A. The pin b therefore prevents the pivotted body portion from being
turned in the wrong direction when reversing it, and also prevents it from being
turned too far in the right direction. The catch for holding the body portion in
either of the positions to which it may be adjusted, as here shown, is composed of
a socket D arranged in a recess in the front of the frame or rail portion A of the
table or cabinet top, and a bolt fitting and adapted to be moved longitudinally in
the said socket. The bolt may be drawn out by a hand piece i to release the
pivotted body portion C of the table or cabinet top, and is impelled into engage-
ment therewith by a spring.
F designates a sewing machine attached to the pivotted body portion C a little
nearer the right hand end of the top than the left hand thereof.
G designates a wheel mounted in a suitable support below the top of the table
or cabinet, and provided with a crank G³, which is connected by a rod G³ to a
treadle G².
From said wheel G motion is imparted to the pulley ; of the sewing machine by
a belt k passing through an aperture at the end of the body portion C of the top
of the table or cabinet. The aperture is formed by cutting away the said body
portion C at one end for a portion of its width, and by cutting a notch in rear
of or at the end of the adjacent trunnion a.
In order to close the aperture a flap H is provided, which extends entirely
across the top C, and is hinged at its inner edge thereto by the cloth covering of
the said top, or in any other suitable manner. The flap H is fitted in a rebate m
in the end of the said body portion C, and when turned down into said rebate is
flush with the cloth covered side of the top, and also flush with the end thereof.
It is intended that this flap shall be automatically opened or turned down at an
angle to the said body portion C, when the latter is turned to bring the machine F
uppermost into position for use, and also automatically closed or folded into the

page_text: rebate m as the body-portion C is reversed to bring the cloth covered side upper-
most. The means which may be employed for accomplishing these results are
various, but those here represented consist of a pin n projecting inwards from the
frame A at one side of and somewhat below the right hand pivot or trunnion a.
When the said body portion C is turned from the position shown in Fig. 4 with its
cloth-covered side uppermost, the end thereof being cut away to form the aperture
clears the pin n, but the flap H covering said aperture strikes said pin, and as the
turning of the top continues, is deflected or turned back by said pin into a position
at right angles to the said body portion C, as shown in dotted outline in Figure 4,
and more clearly in Fig. 1, and is held in such position while the turning of the
top is completed, and when the machine is uppermost.
During the return movement of the said body portion C the pin n releases said
flap and permits it to be folded or closed down into the rebate m, in which position
it is held while the cloth-covered side of the said body portion C is uppermost by
a pin o projecting from the edge of the flap H, and extending under the edge of
the frame or rail A of the top into a recess o' provided for its reception. To still
further insure the automatic closing of the flap a spring p connecting said flap with
the said body portion C may be employed.
When the body portion C is turned over to conceal the machine the belt k will
be loosened upon the wheel G and pulley j, and to prevent it from being displaced
or falling off said wheel G a guard I composed of a bow shaped or forked piece
extending upon opposite sides of the said wheel and belt, and attached to the
case B of the table or cabinet is employed.
The guard which may be made in any desirable manner and of any suitable
material is fixed so that the space between its two arms or sides is just below the
wheel G, hence when the belt is slackened by the turning of the pivotted body
portion C it drops down between the two arms of the guard. The guard also
serves to guide the belt to its proper position on the wheel G during its return
movement or while being raised.
Having now described this Invention of "Improvements in Tables and Cabinets
for Sewing and other Machines and Instruments," as communicated to me from
abroad, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim, -
First. The combination in a table or cabinet of a top composed of an outer
frame or rail provided with a hole or opening, and a body portion having a sewing
or other machine or instrument, mounted on one side and pivotted within the said
hole or opening, so that it may be turned to bring uppermost either the side upon
which the machine or instrument is mounted, or the other side, so as to conceal the
machine or instrument and present the appearance of an ordinary table or cabinet,
substantially as shown and herein set forth.
Second. The combination in a table or cabinet having a top consisting of an
outer frame or rail and a pivotted body portion, on which is mounted a machine
or instrument, and which comprises an aperture for the passage of a belt for
driving said machine or instrument, of a hinged flap for closing said aperture
when the body portion is turned to conceal the machine or instrument, substantially
as specified.
Third. The combination in a table or cabinet having a top consisting of an outer
frame or rail, a body portion pivotted within the same, so that it may be turned
upside down, of an aperture formed by cutting away one end of the body portion,
a flap for closing said aperture, and a pin or projection extending from said frame
or rail, and with which the said flap engages as the said body portion is turned
in one direction, whereby said aperture is automatically opened, substantially as
specified.
Fourth. The combination of the frame or rail A, the pivotted body portion C,
adapted to be turned upside down, and having one end cut away to form an
aperture 1, a hinged flap H upon said body portion, the pin n for holding said flap
to open said aperture, and the pin o for holding said flap to close said aperture,
substantially as specified.

page_text: Fifth. The combination of the frame or rail A, the pivotted body portion C,
adapted to be turned upside down, and having one end cut away to form an
aperture, a hinged flap H, a pin n, for acting upon said flap to open said
aperture, and a spring for actuating the flap to close said aperture, substantially
as specified.
Sixth. The combination in a table or cabinet having a top consisting of a frame
or rail, and a pivotted body portion adapted to be turned upside down, of a sewing
machine attached to said body portion, a driving wheel below said body portion,
a belt passing through an aperture in said body portion, and a forked or slotted
guard for retaining said belt upon the driving wheel, or in position to be applied
thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Edward Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
H. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)