Improvements in and relating to Tables.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
We,
Improvements in and relating to Tables.
CHARLES DURNING Certificated Teacher 6 Hopetoun Terrace Springburn
and DAVID HUTCHISON, Joiner 528 Springburn Road both in Glasgow Lanark-
shire 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of tables which may
be used for ordinary purposes, but specially to improvements in the construction of
such tables as are used in schools and colleges for technical demonstration in
science and art, and in order that our said invention may be carried into practical
effect we have hereunto appended explanatory drawings.
Two frames are required and it is preferred that the one should be heavier than
the other; the heavier one may be made of heavier material, or of the same
material as the other, but either conveniently loaded or conveniently more massive.
For the sake of stability the heavier frame forms the lower or ground one, and
consists of two sides with transverse stay rails between and near the ends of these
sides, and these sides should stand on edge. The upper and lighter frame is
similar to the other, but with this exception, that its sides are stayed by a centre
piece which receives and holds the table-top as hereafter described.
The top is made of any ordinary material, of any ordinary shape, and of
dimensions corresponding to those of the frames. To the underside of the top is
fixed a wooden or metal screw for the purpose of raising and supporting the table-
top above the upper frame and of lowering again to the same at will. The nut
for this screw is fixed on the aforementioned centre piece which stays the sides of
the upper frame.
Four legs of ordinary materials and dimensions are required, but instead of being
rigidly fixed, they are swivelled at head and foot by bolts near the adjacent ends
of the sides of the upper and lower frames respectively. The legs may swivel
beside the frames as in (Fig. 2), or being slotted at head and foot they may swivel
astride the frames as in (Fig. 3) of the accompanying drawings.
The desired effect will be secured, when, on account of the parallel swivelling of
the legs on and between the two frames, the table-top along with the upper frame
can be carried to lower horizontal planes, either to right or left of the perpendicular
position as exemplified in (Fig. 1.) of the accompanying drawings.
In order to support or check the table-top, along with the upper frame at various
heights, the following arrangement is made.
The upper frame being supported temporarily in the perpendicular position, a
check-hole, say, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter is pierced through the
leg, a few inches, say, about three inches underneath the bolt upon which the head
of the leg swivels: this check hole enters the side of the upper frame to a depth,
say, of about half an inch. Then lowering the table-top along with the upper
frame through an angle, say, of about fifteen degrees, another check hole is pierced
in the upper frame exactly opposite and equal to the check-hole already pierced in
the leg. This operation is repeated a convenient number of times to each side of
the perpendicular position, then, the swivelling motion of the legs can be checked
by the introduction of a neat and strong metal pin through the check hole in the
leg into a check hole in the upper frame.
This check pin is in construction and method of application fully described and
ascertained as follows, with reference to (Fig. 4) of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: The check pin is made with a rigid collar C, which, when the pin is in the
checking position, lies against and overlaps the mouth of the check hole in the leg.
Outside of this collar the pin is continued about an inch. Round this part is
placed a short coil of spiral spring wire S to act as a spring, and which is closed
between the rigid collar aforesaid and an outside guard or box B: the spiral
spring and the closing space should be sufficient to allow the check pin to be
withdrawn from the check hole in the upper frame. The pin then passes through
a hole in the box and terminates in a ring, hook, or trigger T. A handle,
preferably a T-shaped one, is fixed on the leg that has been check-holed as already
described, and in such proximity to the trigger T, as to allow the operator to
support the table-top, when it is unchecked and free to swivel, and to shoot the
check pin into its required place with one hand. This same checking arrangement
may be applied at all four corners of the upper frame, but ordinary stability and
security will be procured if two corners, preferably those diagonally opposite, are
so checked.
These extra or assistant check pins need not have handles with them, but instead,
they should be provided with a ridge R by and upon which the trigger could be
held back or snibbed out when not required to check as in (Fig. 5) of the
accompanying drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
First. A new or improved construction of tables, having a lower as well as an
upper frame with the legs swivelling thereon and between, for the purpose of
raising and lowering the table-top as herein before substantially described.
Second. A new or improved method of checking or supporting table-tops and
the like at various heights by means of a spring shooting pin, or equivalent
devices, in construction and by way of application as hereinbefore substantially
described.
Dated this Second day of February 1895.
CHARLES DURNING.
DAVID HUTCHISON.