An Improved Table Waiter
Year: 1896

page_text: An Improved Table Waiter..
I, FRANCIS AUGUSTUS. CLAY, of Newfields, near Rockingham; New Hampshire,
U.S.A., Inventor; do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be us
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a table waiter which is capable of being
revolved so as. to bring, articles. upon it near. to the sitter....A further object. is to
provide a waiter. which is light and portable..
The invention comprises two rings having a disc or table top clamped..between.
then, and a central boss or hub from which spokes. radiate to and connect, the rings..
aforementioned. The hub is centrally pivoted to another hub, upon which it rests,
and which is supported by a tripod...
Dated this 20th day of July 1896
PERCY R. J. WILLIS,.
Agent for. Applicant..
I, FRANCIS AUGUSTUS CLAY, of Newfields near Rockingham, New Hampshire,
U.S.A., Inventor, 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 has for its object the production of an improved table waiter adapted
to be placed on a table and receive the dishes containing the food to be served, the
said waiter having as part of it a circular revoluble top of simple and peculiar
construction as will be hereinafter described, the central hub of the top resting on a
second hub sustained by a tripod, the latter readily adapting itself to and setting
firmly on an ordinary table without tipping or jarring notwithstanding the said table
may be uneven in its surface.
Figure 1 is a vertical cross section of my improved table-waiter, the section being
taken on the line x-x, Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is an under side view of the said waiter.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail to be referred to, and Fig. 4 a modification.
The waiter consists of two hubs a, b, one adapted to turn on the other about a centre
bolt c. The under hub a, receives three legs c¹ ce, which are extended radially and
downwardly making a tripod to rest firmly and evenly on the top of an ordinary
table A. The upper hub 6 is chambered internally and its wall is provided, as shewn,
with four screw threaded holes, in which are screwed the threaded ends of the spokes d,
the said spokes being conically pointed at their outer ends as best shewn in the
enlarged section Fig. 3, the said conical points entering conical seats made in a
metallic hoop e shewn as circular and composed of substantially half round iron, the

page_text: rotation of the threaded ends of the spokes in the hub b causing the spokes to be
moved longitudinally to enter to conical seats and hold the metallic hoop firmly and
evenly in place.
The waiter top f, preferably of sheet metal, is laid on the hoop e, and a second hoop e
is laid on the top just above the lower hoop e, and the two hoops and top are connected
together by any desired number of suitable screws e, and if desired, the upper ring
may be provided with handle pieces g the shanks of which may extend through the
top and into the lower ring. The annular space at the interior of both hubs may
contain oil or any lubricant.
The top may be made more or less ornamental by japan, paint, or the like, or it
may be ornamented in any manner commonly employed, in connection with tin, zinc,
or other metal.
To conceal the edge of the top, the ring e may be cut away at its outer edge and the
upper ring may have a lip to fit down over the outer edge of the lower ring and pinch
a flanged edge of the top between them, as seen in Fig. 3. The screws may be put
directly into the top and then into the under ring.
The hoops e, e', are not limited to the particular shape shewn in cross section as they
may be made in any other usual or suitable shape, and in some instances I might use
but one hoop, viz., the hoop e but I prefer to use two hoops. I may however form a
single hoop out of sheet metal to which, the periphery of the top fis secured in any
suitable way as will be readily understood.
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 :-
hub
(1) The hereindescribed table-waiter, consisting of a ring e, a top secured thereto, a
a series of threaded spokes, screwed into the said hub and engaging at their
outer ends the said ring to hold it firmly, and a second hub a, pivoted with relation to
the bub b, and having legs to support the said hub as described.
(2) In a table-waiter, a top, two rings e, between which the edges of the top are
clamped, a hub b, a series of threaded spokes screwed into said hub, and having their
outer ends engaged with the ring e, a hub a, pivotally connected with the hub b, and a
tripod to support said hub a, to operate substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1897.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.