improvements in Folding Tables and Seats, Applicable also to other Articles of Furniture.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 28th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
improvements in Folding Tables and Seats, Applicable also to
other Articles of Furniture.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of 67, Strand,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention a communication to me from abroad by the firm of Simon and Vivenot,
of Ligny, in the Republic of France, Manufacturers, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to folding tables and other articles of furniture, and consists
in certain improvements having for their purpose the more compact and simple
folding of such articles of furniture
The surface of the table is according to this invention adapted to fold and enclose
the framing and legs folded up under the framing. For this purpose the surface of
the table may consist of five breadths or flaps hinged together at their edges and
adapted to extend into one table and secured by means of sliding plates adapted to be
brought under the hinged edges so as to support the flaps. When folded up the
centre flap remains in its position, the two flaps next thereto fall down vertically and
the two end flaps may be folded over the under part of the frame of the table and be
suitably secured.
The said frame consists of two transverse bars of suitable size and shape, one being
preferably deeper than the other, to these bars are hinged the legs, adapted to fold up
over each other under the centre breadth of the surface of the tables. When the legs
are folded down they may be secured in position by tie-rods adapted to be hooked
on to the inner surface of the legs at a suitable distance from the under surface of the
table to which latter the said rods are hinged at their opposite ends.
The legs may be of ordinary construction or may be themselves adapted to fold in
the following manner: each end of the table may be upheld by one suitably shaped
plate or frame to the lower end of which are pivoted two feet adapted to be folded
together either upwards against or under the sides of the supporting frame, or else
downwards so as to be brought together under the lower end of the frame. When the
table is to be set up, the said feet are pushed outward from each other and arrive
TD 027

page_text: against suitable abutments sliding or fixed on the frame which prevent their spreading
further than the requisite amount, or any other suitable device may be employed to
retain the said feet at their normal distance. The surface of the table may instead of
having five hinged flaps have only three, in which case, the centre flap is provided on
each side with downwardly extending flanges of preferably unequal depth, and each
side flap is provided with an equivalent flange, the two corresponding flanges being
hinged together below. The low flaps may still by this means be folded over on to
each other below the frame. If a seat is intended to be made, the upper surface is
made in two hinged breadths adapted to fold over, they may then according to their
position form a chair with back or a bench for two persons, the legs being hinged
and secured by the tie-rods in a similar manner to that described above.
Dh: 20th day of Ma 1007
HERBERT & Co.,
67, Strand, W.C.,
Agents to Applicant.

page_text: other Articles of Furniture.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invenion a communication to me from abroad by
the firm of Simon and Vivenot of Ligny, in the Republic of France, Manufacturers,
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to folding tables and other articles of furniture and consists in
certain improvements having for their purpose the more compact and simple folding
of such articles of furniture.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows a table (part elevation from the right side); the flap A supposed to
be in the rear, being folded down. The front plate B is raised and supported by two
iron draw plates which are moved out from under the table, where they are secured at
one end by means of a pivot. They move in two grooves in the two sides of the table
and of the flap, thus forming a solid support. The lègs C are joined by hinges with
the transverses E F.
Fig. 2 shows in longitudinal section the rear part of the table with the iron stay
which is fixed under the table by means of a hinge or joint H, the other end K thereof
having a notch, which engages on a pin passing through the leg of the table and is
secured thereon by an elastic catch D of steel (shown in Fig. 4 on an enlarged
scale).
By pressing back this catch the stay can be unhooked and folded back under the
table, the leg of the table can then be also folded back.
The same operation is performed for the right leg of the table, which is shorter than
the left leg, its transverse E F (Fig. 1) being higher than the transverse E¹ on the
left. By now folding first the front flap B and then the rear flap A, the latter covers
the former as shown in Fig. 3 and the table occupies but a small space.
case
Fig. 5 is an elevation of another table, which consists of a framing forming a
&H without bottom. Five flaps or breadths are joined by hinges, the middle.
one (A B) being united by hinges with the frame. This plate being folded back on
the frame and the four other plates raised and supported by hinged or pivoted iron
plates placed on the sides of the frame, the whole forms a horizontal surface which is
the table. Having folded the feet and their stays into the interior of this frame the
flaps of the table may be folded round the frame to enclose the same.
The seat is represented in end elevation in Fig. 7 and side view in Fig. 6, the right
leg being shown partly folded and its abutment folded up, the lower ends of the legs
are not shown.
The seat is formed of square rods A H the ends of which are connected and

page_text: supported by iron rods B the ends C of which are bent down square, the leg R of
the shape shown is connected to said ends C by bolts D'so that it may be folded up
under the seat. One of the legs is hinged in this manner to the seat at a greater
distance than the other leg so that the latter may fold up under the former.
The stays for supporting the legs are similar to those employed with the table, they
are hinged between two of the rods forming the seat, so as to fold up between said
rods and thus do not increase the space occupied by the seat when folded. The
manner of erecting the seat is similar to that employed for the table, the stays being
connected to the legs as heretofore described.
Fig. 8 shows a foot of a table consisting of two bars CM and D N pivoted between
two iron plates fixed on the lower end of the table-leg. The two pieces forming this
foot are near to each other (at C, D,) to save room, and separate at M, N, to enable
the table to be supported on a larger base than would otherwise be practicable.
Fig. 9 shows another table-foot or seat foot, which can also be folded and extended.
The iron plate ABKDCE and a like one opposite to it are united at A and B
so as to form a sheath into which slides the table leg shouldered at E and K and cut
as indicated by dotted line so as to form an abutment for the shoulders at E K on the
two bars C M, D N forming the legs and pivoted between the plates aforesaid
at C and D. To fold up this foot the upper part of the leg is removed from the
sheath so far as allowed by the groove F H and the pin F, so that the shoulders of
the feet at E, K, can be passed under the upper part of the leg by turning the feet
round their pivots C D, and the feet thus folded up, the point M describing the
arc M M¹.
The table foot shown in elevation in Fig. 10 consists of two feet D E and F H,
which, pivoted between two iron plates at D and F can be opened and closed for an
amount determined by the iron rods BE BH controlled by the rod BA. The
latter terminates above in a square shoulder A, which engages in a hole of the same
size in one of the plates and so maintains the feet in their separated position. To
close the latter the shoulder is removed by pressure from out of the hole, and by
approaching the feet to one another the latter and the separating branches assume the
position indicated by dotted lines, the point B rising to C and the shoulder A to A¹
where there may be a similar hole for its engagement.
The arrangement shown by Fig. 9 serves especially for a seat for two persons.
By fixing a plank over it by means of 4 screws passing through the 4 holes
(shown) in the hinged or pivoted plate P R and by raising this plank causing it
to describe a quarter of a circle about the pivots P and R, it takes a horizontal
position convenient for a seat; two elastic iron clicks being each provided with a
strong projection or shoulder, abut at this moment against the bottom of this plank
which may be covered with iron, and prevent the foot from folding thereunder. A
corresponding foot is fixed in a similar manner at the other end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The improved folding tables and seats substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The improved supports and expanding or folding legs for tables, seats and
other articles of furniture, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 28th day of December 1887
REGINALD HADDAN.
By Herbert & Co.,.
Agents to Applicant.