Improvements in or relating to Folding or Portable Furniture or the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
Improvements in or relating to Folding or Portable Furniture
or the like.
We, THE X CHAIR PATENTS COMPANY LIMITED, of No. 17, Devonshire Street,
Bishopsgate, E.C., and ANTON EDWIN ANDERSON, Cabinet Maker, of 4, Berry
Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to improvements in, or relating to folding or portable
furniture, or the like, and has for its object to provide a means whereby tables or
similar articles of furniture may be quickly and easily folded, or otherwise caused
to assume a size convenient for carrying.
In the following specification, a folding table is described, but it is obvious that
this invention may be applied to various articles of furniture, for instance chairs,
stools, and the like.
A table constructed according to this invention preferably comprises two por-
tions; a stand capable of folding, or shutting up, into a small space, and a flat, top-
portion, which is so jointed or otherwise arranged that it may be folded or rolled
round the stand, when the latter is shut up.
Means are provided by which the top portion, when in use may be stiffened and
prevented from collapsing. This may, preferably, be done by means of pivotted
battens or the like, crossing underneath the top when it is to be placed in position
on the stand.
The principal members or legs of the stand may be connected by suitable ties
or hinged connecting pieces which give rigidity to it when open.
When in use the top portion of the table is engaged with the stand in any
suitable manner for instance,-notches, slots or openings may be made in the
top portion into which the top of the legs of the stand may fit.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one construction of complete table according
to this invention, as seen from below the level of the table top;
Figures 2 and 3 shew a stand closed, the two views being taken at right angles
to each other, and,
Figure 4 shows a complete table, closed and folded ready for transport, the
top being rolled around the closed stand.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A are supports or legs which form the principal part of the stand They are
jointed in pairs as at A¹. The legs forming each pair are also connected by means
of cross-ties B, which are pivotally connected to them at B. The cross-ties them-
selves are jointed at B2. One of the cross-ties in each pair, is provided with a small

page_text: projection 133, which, when the ties are in line, that is, when the legs are fully
open, engages with a hole B, in the other tie, and thus tends to prevent the ties B
from turning on their joint B, and causes them to act after the manner of a rigid
stay, in holding the legs at their proper distance apart.
The two pairs of legs A are joined diagonally by thin bars C, which are
attached to the legs by hinges C. Each bar C is pivotally joined at C² to the
hinge the joint of the hinge itself being at C3. Thus, the bars C are joined
to the legs A by a compound hinge or joint so that they are capable of movement
in two planes at right angles to one another. The connecting bars C are pivoted
at the points where they cross one another as at C-in such a manner that each
pair can be opened and closed, after the manner of a pair of scissors.
The purpose of these hinged bars C is to so connect the legs A of the stand,
that, when closed, they lie close together and parallel to one another, as illustrated
in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
The stand may be opened or closed by operating the ends of either of the pairs
of legs.
The top of the table is formed of a number of strips of wood or other suitable
material D, which are fastened at each end to a strip of flexible material E. On
the underside of the strips are two cross pieces or battens F pivoted as at F' to
diagonally opposite corners of the top, and provided with slots F2 which engage
with studs G upon the two remaining corners.
The battens Fare of such a length that when in position they extend the
flexible strips E on which the strips are mounted to their full length thus
making the whole top rigid. When placed upon the stand the top of the table
may be engaged with the legs in any convenient manner. In the case illustrated
in the accompanying drawings this is effected by forming recesses F3 in the
battens F, into which the ends A² of the legs A fit being suitably shaped for the
purpose.
To arrange the complete table so that it can be easily carried the stand is
first disengaged from the top, and closed in the manner previously described into
the form illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The battens of the top portion are
then turned so as to lie parallel with the strips D) instead of at right angles to
them, and the top is rolled round the stand, as illustrated in Figure 4, the
whole arrangement being secured by the strap H which is fastened at its centre
to one of the strips 1). A handle J is provided, also fixed to one of the strips,
by which the table may be carried when folded.
It is obvious that various articles may be made according to this invention,
also that a closing stand as herein described may be used with different kinds of
top-portions, which, may again be either capable of being entirely detached from
the stand, as in the table berein described, or may be attached to it in such a
manner that the top also folds up with the stand.
Again there may be more than two connecting bars, or the connecting pieces
may he round rods, or of any other suitable shape.
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:
1. A folding stand, the legs of which are connected by bars and compound
hinges for the purpose described.
2. In a folding stand cross-ties such as B substantially as and for the purpose
described or illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In folding furniture a flexible top portion, which can be made rigid by means of
battens such as F pivoted to it substantially as described.
4. The complete folding stand substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
5. The complete table-top or the like, substantially as described or illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
.

page_text: 6. The combination of folding stand and table top mutually engaged sub-
stantially as described.
7. The complete folding-table substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
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