Improvements in or relating to Cabinets or Tables.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1896-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Cabinets or Tables.
I WILLIAM HENRY BRAND, of the Firm of W. H. Brand and Sons, of
3 and 4 Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, in the County of Middlesex, Fancy Goods
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 improvements in cabinets or tables, and refers
particularly to that class of cabinet or table known as the "Eclipse table" described
in my Specification of Letters Patent No. 15398 of the year 1893 in which an
enclosed platform or inner case is concealed from view by the hinged flaps or covers
forming the top of the cabinet or table, and in which, by the mere opening of the
said hinged flaps or covers, the platform or case aforesaid is raised level with the
top of the cabinet or table.
In its open position the cabinet or table may be utilized as a writing-desk, card-
table, 5 o'clock tea table, spirit and smoking table, dressing table, toilet table,
dumb-waiter, or the like, whilst in its closed position it may have the ordinary
appearance of an occasional or other table.
In tables of this description the enclosed platform or inner case is connected
with the flaps in such manner that when the flaps are opened and turned back to
the horizontal position, said platform or inner case is raised and forms a continuous
surface with the flaps aforesaid, and when the flaps are closed the enclosed
platform or inner case is lowered within the outer casing or framing and
concealed from view.
To provide means whereby the automatic raising or lowering of the platform or
inner case is effected by the mere opening or closing of the hinged flaps aforesaid,
and that in a simple, convenient, and reliable manner, forms the object of this my
present invention. The drawback hitherto has been the necessity of raising the
two flaps simultaneously to avoid tilting the contents; the tilting was obviated by
my improvements for which I obtained Letters Patent 15398 of the year 1893.
I now further add to my invention, the possibility of being able to open or lower
the hinged flaps with one hand.
And in order that the same may be fully understood I will now describe same
with reference to the accompanying drawings and the letters and figures of
reference marked thereon,. that is to say:-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of one of the arms or bars connecting the hinged flaps to
the enclosed platform or inner case.
Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a face view of the plate attached to inner platform or case to which
the connecting-arm or bar aforesaid is connected. This plate is provided with
rollers or guide-pins which work in a slotted guide plate attached to the inner
side of the table casing or framing.
Fig. 4. is an end elevational view of the same.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation view of one of the slotted guide plates attached to the
inside of the table or cabinet.
Fig. 6 is a view in plan of the connecting-bar attachment plate, and slotted
guide bar, all in position as when the table or cabinet is opened out.
Fig. 7. is an elevational view of the reverse side of guide plate, shewing
connecting-arm and attachment plate of the inner platform in position as when

page_text: the table or cabinet is closed, and Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the position
of the parts when the table is opened out.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the figures.
a is the connecting-arm or bar hinged at one end 6 to the flaps.or cover c² of the
cabinet or table.
At the other end the arm or bar a is provided with a pin d' which passes right
through same. The pin d upon one side of the bar or arm a is furnished with the
friction roller e; the other end of pin d is screw-threaded and a nut f' is screwed
upon same. The screwed end of the pin d is passed through the slot g in attach-
ment plate h. This latter is screwed to the enclosed platform or inner case i and is
provided with one, two, or more, pins or rollers k which work in the slot of the
slotted guide plate m screwed or otherwise attached to the inside of the cabinet
or table.
In the closed position as shewn in Fig. 7, the flaps c form the top of the cabinet
or table; the connecting-bar a binged at end b to the flaps c holds the inner
platform in the lowered position as shewn, the rollers k k and d being held in the
guide slot of plate m. When opening the table the flap c is turned upon its
hinge (not shewn) which connects it to the table and as it is turned over to the
horizontal position shewn in Fig. 8, draws the connecting-bar and with it the inner
case or platform to a position flush with said hinged flap, thus forming a con-
tinuous flat surface. The hinge at end 6 of the connecting-arm a allows of the
necessary action, and the slot 7 of the guide plate m being enlarged at its upper
end n permits of the pin or roller d on end of the arm a being locked therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in cabinets or tables substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In mechanism for raising and lowering the inner cases or euclosed platforms
of cabinets or tables of the class or type hereinbefore referred to, the connecting-
arms or bars a hinged at b to flaps e and provided at their extremities with pins d,
friction rollers e and nuts f; the attachment plate h made with slot g therein and
provided with one, two, or more friction-rollers k; the guide plate m with guide
slot formed therein in which work the friction rollers d and k, all constructed,
combined, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn.
Dated this 14th day of July 1896.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.