IMPROVE- MENTS IN TABLES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Walton, of Styal, near Wilmslow, in the
County of Chester, Licensed Victualler, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TABLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Walton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
December 1856.
I, JOSEPH WALTON, of Styal, near Wilmslow, in the County of Chester,
Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TABLES," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the construction of a table which may be used for
any ordinary or ornamental purposes, and at the same time made available as
a writing or work table, containing requisites for various occupations. To
effect this I so construct the table that its surface or a portion thereof is
capable of sliding outward, in order to expose the writing or other materials
previously concealed; these I arrange in a framework containing suitable
fittings up, which framework is mounted so as to be capable of being raised
above the level of the table top. I also apply counterbalance weights to the
said frame to facilitate the raising, and these I conceal within the legs or
other enclosing parts of the table.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Walton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th June 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPO
WALTON, of Styal, near Wilmslow, in the County of Chester, Licensed
Victualler, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Walton, Her especial license that I, the said Joseph Walton, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Walton, 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 TABLES," upon
the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Joseph Walton, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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, tho said Joseph Walton, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to the construction of a table which may be used for
any ordinary or ornamental purposes, and at the same time made available as
a writing or work table, containing requisities for various occupations.
The method which I adopt for carrying the above into effect will be illus-
trated by the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end view of the
table as it would appear when used as an ordinary article of furniture, not
differing therefore in any respect as to outward appearance from tables of
usual construction. Fig. 2 is a cross section, shewing the situation of the
fittings for writing materials, the top of the table being moved outward; and
Fig. 3 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 2, shewing the said fittings
up elevated above the level of the table top, and in a situation for use. The

page_text: top a of the table is made to slide outward, and beneath this is a chamber b,
in which is placed a framework c, fitted with paper racks, drawers, receptacles
for writing materials, and other conveniencies usually adopted. The frame c
and its fittings are pressed upward by two spiral springs d, but when in the
position shewn at Fig. 2 it is kept down by a spring bolt e passing through
an aperture formed in a metal plate f. The table being as shewn at Fig. 1,
and it being desired to use the writing materials, the top a is drawn outward,
as in Fig. 2, the bolt e is then withdrawn from the plate f, so as to allow the
springs d to force the apparatus upward; this they do for a certain distance,
and the motion is then continued by pairs of levers g, g, hinged to centres
at h, h, and drawn together by an india-rubber ring i. Upon arrival at the
proper elevation the frame c and its contents are arrested by stops k, k, coming
in contact with the top a, the outward motion of which top is also determined
by stops. When it is desired to restore the table to the appearance shewn at
Fig. 1 the frame c is pressed downward, whereby the levers 9, 9, will be
caused to turn downward upon their centres, and the springs d collapsed and
kept in that position by the spring bolt e passing through the plate f, after
which the lid a may be pushed backward. I have above alluded to a writing
table only, but the frame c may be constructed with suitable fittings for
needlework, for drawing materials, or requisites for other such occupations.
I would also observe, that instead of the springs and levers described, other
means, as weights, for instance, concealed in the legs may be used for the
same purpose. The table may also contain ordinary drawers, as at 7.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be understood
that I claim, as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,
the adaptation to tables, which may be used for ornamental or useful purposes,
of a sliding top for the purpose of allowing apparatus, as aforesaid, to be
elevated and exposed for use.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Walton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JOSEPH WALTON. (L.S.)