Improvements in Collapsable and Convertible Tables.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Collapsable and Convertible Tables.
JOHN SAMUEL HOOPER of 17a Upper George Street, Bryanston Square, London,
in the County of Middlesex, Carpenter, and MAXWELL WILLIAMS of 35 Queen Victoria
Street, London, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer 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:-
The object of this invention is the application to tables of a link or a pair of links
in combination with a moveable leg. or pair of moveable legs in such a manner that the
top or leaf may without disconnecting any part be placed in various positions in any of
which positions it will remain & without additional means of locking or fastening being
necessary. In these various positions the table can be used either as a table, or stand
for inusic, books, pictures, or other like articles or as a fire screen. The top or leaf A
is formed by a single piece of wood metal or other suitable material & of any con-
venient form. To the underside of this top or leaf near or at the edge is attached &
hinged a pair of legs B of wood metal or other suitable material parallel with & spaced
a sufficient distance from each other to insure stability. The form of these legs may
be either straight or curved. This pair of legs is connected at or near the centre by
a bar C which also passes through and forms a fulcrum on which a similar pair of legs
can turn. This second pair of legs D is also spaced at a sufficient distance apart to
insure stability. For distinction these latter legs will herein after be called the loose
legs. Instead of being directly attached to the top or leaf these loose legs are
connected by short links E to the top or leaf one end of each link being attached to
the upper end of each loose leg so that it is free to move around the point of
attachment. The other end of the link is attached to the underside of the top or leaf
at or near the centre & in such a manner that it is also free to move about the point
of attachment. A single loose leg & link may be substituted for the pair of loose legs
& links fitted & attached in other respects in a similar manner to the pair of loose
legs & links as above described.
When used as a table the legs are separated & the top or leaf is drawn down by the
links until the top rests on the upper end of the loose legs & the links-the links
preventing the further separation of the legs-When required to form a book or

page_text: music rest that edge towards the loose legs is raised until a suitable inclination is
reached. The links at the same time drawing in the loose legs which the weight of
the table will prevent from again separating & the top or leaf will remain in the
desired position. To pack up the table it is merely necessary to continue the last
operation until the top or leaf is vertical & the legs are closed nearly together. In
this position it can also be utilized as a fire screen or by turning the links over until
they lie against the underside of the top or leaf but in the opposite position to
that occupied when the top or leaf was horizontal. This latter movement will again
bring the top or leaf to a vertical position & close the legs nearly together but the top
or leaf will be lower & the whole structure therefore less liable to be overturned.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The application of a loose leg or legs & link or links in combination & attached as
explained & for the purposes herein before described.
MAXWELL WILLIAMS,
Agent for Applicants.