IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING OR PIC-NIC TABLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ALBERT MORRIS WOOLF, of 119 New Bond Street in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN FOLDING OR PIC-NIC TABLES, to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in folding or picnic tables, and it consists
in constructing the table in such a manner that great stability is obtained, an
advantage not possessed in those hitherto used.
According to my Invention, the case or box, carrying the provisions or other
articles, is provided with four legs, two on each end of the said case or box. These
legs are pivoted, at their upper ends, to the lower part of the said case or box, and
these upper ends are furnished with a shoulder which abuts against a stop fixed to
the ends of the case or box, when the legs are in standing position on the ground.
A locking bar, pivoted to one of the legs at each end of the case or box, and taking
on to a stud fixed on the opposite leg maintains these legs in their open position.
In the centre of the top of the case or box is a pivot, upon which the table itself
turns, and which table is formed in three portions hinged together.
On raising
the side portions or leaves to the level of the central portion, and by giving a half
turn to these three portions forming the table proper I bring them in a position
cross-wise to the top of the case or box, thereby obtaining great stability for the
same, and dispensing with the use of brackets.
When the table is to be packed for the purpose of being carried, the portions
forming the table proper are turned to their original position, and the leaves are
let down, the locking bars are then disengaged and the legs are turned upwards on
their pivots and lie close against the ends of the case or box.

page_text: I, ALBERT MORRIS WOOLF, of 119 New Bond Street in the County of Middlesex,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN FOLDING OR PIC-NIC TABLES, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say:—
My Invention relates to improvements in folding or picnic tables, and it consists
in constructing the table in such a manner that great stability is obtained, an
advantage not possessed in those hitherto used.
I proceed with reference to the accompanying drawings to fully describe my
invention.
Fig. 1, is a side view of the table, in its packed form. Fig. 2 a side view of the
table unfolded and placed on the ground for use. Fig. 3, a front view of Fig. 2,
shewing the interior of the case or box, when open.
A, is the case or box provided with compartments A¹, for carrying the provisions,
or other articles. I furnish this case or box with four legs a, a, a, a, two at each
end thereof. These legs are pivotted at a¹, at their upper ends, to the lower part
of the said case or box, their upper ends being formed with a shoulder a³, which
abuts against stops b, fixed to the ends of the case or box, when the legs are in
standing position on the ground, as shewn in fig. 2.
A locking bar e, pivotted to one of the legs, at each end of the case or box, takes
on to a stud f, fixed on the opposite leg, and maintains these legs in their open
position.
In the centre of the top of the case or box is a pivot d, upon which the table
itself turns, and which table is formed in three portions c, c², c³, hinged together.
On raising the side portions or flaps c¹, c², to the level of the central portion and
by giving a half turn in the direction of the arrows (fig. 4) to these three portions
forming the table proper, I bring them in a position crosswise to the top of the
case or box, and by allowing them to rest upon the upper part of said case or box,
thereby obtain great, stability for the table, and am able to dispense with the
use of brackets or springs for maintaining the flaps in their raised position.
This arrangement is clearly shewn in fig. 4, which is on a reduced scale, and in
which the dotted lines indicate the flaps in their raised position, prior to their
being turned crosswise to the top of the case or box; the full lines indicate the
flaps c, c, and the central portion c, turned, and in the position they would occupy
when set for use.
In fig. 5, is shewn a removeable strap handle G, provided with loops g, which,
when the table is to be carried, as in the manner of a carpet bag, are inserted in
the slots h, contrived in the portion c, of the top of the table, and are retained in
place by sliding bolts g¹, entering eyes 9², contrived in the loops g.
When the table is to be packed, for the purpose of being carried, the portions c,
c, c, forming the table proper, are turned to their original position, and the
flaps c, c', are let down, the locking bars e, are then disengaged and the legs are
turned upwards on their pivots, as shewn in fig. 1, and lie close against the ends of
the case or box.
Owing to the construction of this folding or picnic table it can be used even with
the legs folded up, in which case it would be simply placed on the ground with its
flaps open, so that persons may sit around it, on the ground.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,
1. The construction and arrangement of the folding legs, together with means
for securing the same in their unfolded position, as described and shewn.
2. The arrangement of pivotted table top whereby the portions constituting the
same, when in use, lie cross-wise over the box or case, whereby great stability is
obtained for the table, substantially as described.
3. The improved construction and arrangement of folding or picnic table,
whereby the same can be used either with the legs unfolded or folded up,
substantially as described.