Improvements in and relating to Tables.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tables.
We, JAMES REID, Cabinetmaker, of 466 Springburn Road, and WILLIAM
PARKER DODDS, Foreman Saw Miller, of Mansfield Terrace, Springburn, both in
Glasgow, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to be as
follows:
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction or
arrangement and combination of the parts and mechanical motions of portable
tables, specially suitable for use in schools and colleges as drawing tables or boards
which can be raised and lowered and adjusted at will to any desired suitable
position to suit the pupil, and the models to be drawn.
Under one arrangement the table would be formed of a horizontal flat. rectangular
or square shape for its top surface to suit as a drawing or model board. Vertical
webs or flanges would be fitted or formed on the under surface of table at each
longitudinal side, and these webs would be formed with horizontal slots or grooves.
The table would be fitted with four legs two on each longitudinal side placed
diagonally to swivel round loose jointing fulcrum pins at their crossing centre, and
each diagonal pair would preferably be laced together by transverse stay rails at
their lower and upper parts as separate oscillating frames. The heads or top ends
of the legs would each be fitted with pins or bolts inserted through the slot in the
web of table and passing through an eye in the head of leg and adjustably secured
by a thumb nut, and washers may be fitted between the leg and slot all so that the
screw pins on the legs shall be free to slide in the longitudinal slots or by
tightening up the thumb nuts be securely fixed in any desired position. Lever
plates formed with a series of serrated or notched teeth would be hinged or
fulcrumed on one of the legs above the jointing fulcrum pin on each side of the
table, and the teeth of these plates would engage with projecting pins preferably
screwed to blocks on the adjacent legs, so that by moving these plates for the teeth
to engage with the pins the table can be adjusted to any desired height to suit the
pupil. The table can also be adjusted horizontally by the upper screw pins sliding
in the slots to bring the part desired in line with pupil. The teeth in the lever
plates would preferably extend beyond the entering gap in a curved form, so that
the notch when it encircles the pins cannot be shaken out until drawn out by
pulling the handle end of lever and the table can then be adjusted to the height
desired. These lever notched plates may be fitted on either the outer or inner
sides of or between the legs. The inner surface of the horizontal slots in webs of
table would be coated or lined with black lead or like material to make the
adjustable pins on table legs slide more smoothly or with less friction therein.
The pupil can sit either at the side or end of the table, and if at the latter, he
will not have the table legs in the way of his knees and can adjust the table board
to bring it towards or place it away from him. Instead of having the table board
horizontally it may be placed at a slight inclination to make it more convenient for
drawing on.
Dated the 20th April 1893.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tables.
We, JAMES REID, Cabinetmaker, of 466 Springburn Road, and WILLIAM
PARKER DODDS, Foreman Saw Miller, of Mansefield Terrace, Springburn, both
in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of our invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
or arrangement and combination of the parts and mechanical motions of portable
tables, specially suitable for use in schools and colleges as drawing tables or boards
which can be raised and lowered and adjusted at will to any desired suitable
position to suit the pupil, and the models to be drawn.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of carrying same into
practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto appended an explanatory
sheet of drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a table having our improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a plan view with half of the table top removed to show our improved
fittings; and
Figure 3 is an end elevation at right angles and corresponding to the view shown
in Figure 1. While
Figure 4 is a detached sectional view of the table legs, and showing an alternative
way of raising and lowering the table.
Referring to these drawings:-Under one arrangement the table would be
formed of a horizontal flat rectangular or square shape for its top surface A, to
suit as a drawing or model board. Vertical webs or flanges A' would be fitted or
formed on the under surface of table top A at each longitudinal side, and these
webs A¹ would be formed with horizontal slots or grooves a. The table would be
fitted with four legs, two A2, A3, on each longitudinal side, placed diagonally to.
swivel round loose jointing fulcrum pins at their crossing centres A" and each
diagonal pair A2 or A³ would preferably be braced together by transverse stay
rails A at their lower and upper parts as separate oscillating frames A² and A³.
The heads or top ends of the legs would each be fitted with screw pins or bolts a¹
inserted through the slot a in the web A' of table top A and passing through an
eye in the head of leg, and adjustably secured by a thumb nut a², and washers a³
may be fitted between the leg A² or A³ and slotted web A' all so that the screw
pins a¹ on the legs shall be free to slide in the longitudinal slots a or by tightening
up the thumb nuts a² be securely fixed in any desired position. Lever plates B
formed with a series of serrated or notched teeth B', would be hinged or fulcrumed
at B2 on one of the legs above the jointing fulcrum pin A" on each side of the
table, and the teeth B¹ of these plates would engage with projecting pins b
preferably screwed to blocks b' on the adjacent legs, so that by moving these
plates B for the teeth B' to engage with the pins 6, the table top A can be adjusted
to any desired height to suit the pupil. The table can also be adjusted horizontally
by the upper screw pins a sliding in the slots a to bring the part desired in line
with pupil, where it can be fixed by tightening up the screw nuts a². The teeth B'
in the lever plates B, as shown in Figure 1, would preferably extend beyond the
entering gab in a curved form, so that the notch when it encircles the pin b cannot
be shaken out until drawn out by pulling the handle end of lever, and the table
can then be adjusted to the height desired. These lever notched plates B may be
fitted on either the outer or inner sides of or between the legs A2, A³. The inner
surface of the horizontal slots a in webs A¹ of table top A would preferably be
coated or lined with black lead or like material to make the adjustable pins a¹ on
table legs slide.more smoothly or with less friction therein.

page_text: By an alternative arrangement instead of varying the height of the table top.
by toothed lever plates B, this may be effected, as shown in Figure 4, by a spindle C,
formed with right and left handed screws C¹, C³, working through screwed nuts or
eyes C in an oscillating rail between each pair of the legs A2, A³, and operated
by a crank handle C³.
The pupil can sit either at the side or end of the table, and if at the latter, he
will not have the table legs in the way of his knees and can adjust the table board
to bring it towards or place it away from him. Instead of having the table board
horizontal it may be placed at a slight inclination to make it more convenient for
drawing on.
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. The constructing of tables so that they may have an adjustable combined
horizontal or longitudinal movement and a raising and lowering motion, substantially
as herein described, in reference to and by way of application shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Second. The constructing of tables with slotted or recessed webs on their under
surface so as to slide over screw pins or supports on the top of the legs, and be
capable of being secured in any desired position, substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. The constructing of tables with notched or toothed lever plates or
equivalent devices, for adjustably securing the table at any desired height
substantially as set forth.
Dated the 11th January 1894.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.