Improvements in Extension Tables, Seats, Berths, and other Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
Improvements in Extension Tables, Seats, Berths, and other Articles.
I, GEORGE GARIBALDI TURRI, of Sun Building, Queen Street, Melbourne, in the
Colony of Victoria, Certificated Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the extension or reduction of the surfaces of various
articles by the addition or withdrawal of a leaf or leaves which is or are attached to
such articles, amongst which may be named tables, seats or benches, and berths,
although there are also others to which the invention may be obviously applied.
In steam-ship cabins and in passenger cars on railways and wherever the
utilization of space is of importance my invention will enable structures which at
one time are expanded for use as berths, to be reduced at other times, affording
more floor space.
Referring by way of example to tables. The tables would have the usual bed
consisting of two parts, and be also provided with a spare leaf or leaves permanently
connected with the table, but which by means of novel mechanism may, without
being touched by the operator be caused to emerge from beneath the table and fill up
the gaps between the beds when the latter are drawn apart, and may also be made
to disengage from the beds and retreat under the table when the beds are to be
closed together.
In the following description, although drawings are not attached, the following
letters will be used for greater clearness and brevity to indicate certain parts. A
and B will indicate the ordinary permanent beds of an extension table. C will
indicate a spare but movable leaf, usually stored under one of the beds. D will
indicate the usual screwed rod fixed under extension tables E the key or handle by
which said rod is operated and F the fixed screwed nut attached to the table, through
which D is worked. J J will here refer to the slides attached to one (for example the A)
part of the table and K K the slides attached to the part B of said table. The only
part handled by the operator to cause the table to extend and insert its spare leaf
firmly in place is the key or handle E which may be (as usual in extension tables)
engaged with the end of the screwed rod D). In order to cause the leaf to withdraw
and allow the beds to close together, the handle is again operated, and also a knob at
the end of a lowering rod which I provide.
F is secured to a part of the table which carries the leaf A, or to a cross rail which
connects the slides J. There is also a connecting bar between the slides K, K.
It is not new to provide tables with slides and with a screwed rod and a nut attached
to the framing for the purpose of opening and closing the beds, but my slides possess
novelty in that the upper edges of K K are at such a distance beneath the lower
surface of the bed B that the leaf C may move freely between K and B; and the
upper edges of J J at that part of each which is not under A are also low enough to
leave space for C between them and B when the table is closed.
I support the inner ends of the bed B at a proper fixed height above the slides
suitably as by a bracket at each side, and it will be obvious that this arrangement
of beds, slides and bracket supports may be used if desired simply for storage of one or
more loose leaves under the bed B the space between B and K being made greater
or less according to the number of leaves for which provision is to be inade.

page_text: The part C is connected on each side to the frame or slides J J by links so arranged
as to have a parallel motion.
Certain of the links are hinged at each end, and preserve the said parallel motion,
besides acting as supports when so required, but the other links have each an extension
or tail, said tail being used to enable the links to be swung on their pivots, and act
as levers.
The rod D is so fixed that the action of turning E forces the rod through the nut F
towards either end as the case may be, and with it connected parts B, K and a cross
bar. As the beds A B are being parted, the tails of certain levers or links are
ultimately met or struck by stops or retarding surfaces which may be affixed to the
slides K K. The tails of the levers are preferably curved or cranked to facilitate
their motion and will when the table is being extended gradually be turned on their
pivots until they have assumed an upright position and the leaf C has been brought
level with the bed A and fitting tightly against the same. In practice this motion
is so exactly attained that dowel pins in C will enter corresponding recesses in A
without difficulty. It will be found that upon the leaf C meeting A a gap exists
between B and C. This gap is eliminated by reversing the action of the screw D.
Such reversal does not cause C to be moved back and down again, but causes B to
meet C and the extension is then completely effected.
The mode of closing the table is almost equally simple. By operating E the bed B
is first brought away from C, thus giving sufficient clearance to enable C to be
swung away from A and downwards on its parallel pivots until the top C is below
the under level of B. C may thus be swung by handling it direct or by any
intermediate mechanism.
The next movement after making the space between the parts B and C is to turn
the specially provided lowering rod hereafter called O to one side.
When so turned certain edges of the rod are in a peculiar position relative to the
surface which is the tail of a lever, said lever being connected by a pivot or hinge
at its other end to the under side of the leaf C or an attachment thereto and
pivoted medially to a bar or other suitable connection to the A part of the table.
The motion of the screw D is then reversed so as to advance D and its connected
parts towards A, and a part of the rod O then strikes the tail by reason of its
position, and the lever thereby swings round on its pivot the tail thus being raised
till it is above the bar O and the upper end of the lever being depressed and carrying
with it a leaf Cuntil the latter is below the lower level of B. The first effect of the
closing motion of the screw is thus to lower the leaf C and as the screw is continued
in motion the next effect is to draw the beds together. The rod is also canted
automatically by means of a bevelled canting block fixed on the A end of the table
in the line of motion of the end of the rod. The said canting block is also adjusted
as to meet with its bevel at one side of the pivot by which is secured in the
framing. If not otherwise canted the rod could be canted by hand at that stage in
the extension of the table when the leaf C has joined A and bed B has to be brought
against C.
The parts D E and F and others could be dispensed with if desired.
Improvements in Extension Tables, Seats, Berths, and other Articles.
I, GEORGE GARIBALDI TURRI, of Sun Building, Queen Street Melbourne, in the
Colony of Victoria, Certificated Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the extension or reduction of the surface of various
articles by the addition or withdrawal of a leaf or leaves which is or are attached to such
articles, amongst which may be nained tables, seats or benches, and berths, although
there are also others to which the invention may be obviously applied.
of
In steam-ship cabins and in passenger cars on railways and wherever the utilization
space is of importance my invention will enable structures which at one time
are expanded for use as berths, to be reduced at other times, affording inore floor space.
Referring by way of example to tables. The tables would have the usual bed
consisting of two parts, and be also provided with a spare leaf or leaves permanently
connected with the table, but which by means of novel mechanism may, without
being touched by the operator, be caused to form a connection between the beds
when the latter are drawn apart, and may also be made to disengage from the beds
and retreat under the table when the beds are to be closed together.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the application of my invention to extension
tables. Figure 1 shows a view of the table in inverted position, and illustrates the
position of the movable leaf just before it begins to lower itself (from the bed to
which it is joined) and retreat to the position shown in Figure 3. Figure 2 shows,
on a smaller scale, the same table in natural position, with the beds separated and
the spare leaf inoved out from below one of the beds, and in the position at which
it begins to rise up to the level of the beds and join one of them. Figure 3
represents, in perspective view, a table in inverted position, with the beds closed
together and the spare leaf stored underneath. Figure 4 shows a lowering bar used
in the lowering of the spare leaf, and the closing of the table. Figure 5 is a plan
view from beneath of a double leaf extension table, with one leaf in extended position
but with the gap unclosed between one of the beds and the spare leaf. Figures 6
and 7 show respectively a cross section on the line X X and a longitudinal section on
the line Y Y on the table shown in Figure 5.
In these drawings like parts are indicated by like letters of reference, and parts of
the figures are broken away, or shown in section, for greater clearness. The only part
handled by the operator to cause the table to extend and insert a spare leaf firmly in
place is a portable key or handle E which may be (as usual in extension tables)
engaged with the end of the screwed rod D). In order to cause the leaf to withdraw
and allow the beds to close together, the operator works the handle, and the end or
knob P of the lowering bar 0, when the said bar is provided.
Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 of these drawings A B are ordinary beds, Ca spare
but movable leaf, Fa screwed nut through which D works, the said nut being fixed
to framing under the table. As shown it is fixed to G which is merely a fixed bar
secured to the part of the table which carries the leaf A, but F might be secured
otherwise, as to the cross rail H which connects the slides J, J', which also are fixed on
the same part or end of the table as A or G.
KK are slides attached to the B part or end of the table and connected by a bar L.
It is a known arrangement to provide tables with slides as aforesaid and with a
screwed rod and a nut attached to the framing for the purpose of opening or closing
the beds, but my slides possess novelty in that the upper edges of K K are at such a
distance beneath the lower surface of the bed B that the leaf C may move freely,
between K and B; and the upper edges (see J¹ Figures 1 and 2) of J J in that part of
each which is not under bed A are also low enough to leave sufficient space for C
between them and B when the table is closed.
I support the inner ends of the bed B at a proper fixed height above the slides by
a bracket X at each side, and this arrangement of beds, slides and bracket supports
is in some cases used by me simply for storage of one or more loose leaves under the
bed B the space between B and K being made such as will receive the number of leaves
to be stored.
The leaf is connected (or strips C¹ attached to part are connected) on each side
to the frame or slides J J by links T, U, so arranged as to have a parallel motion. The

page_text: links U are pivotally connected at each of their ends, and besides having the said
parallel motion, act as supports to the leaf C when required, whilst each link T has, in
addition, an extension or tail beyond one of the pivots, said tails being used to enable
the links to be (by means of pressure) swung on their pivots, and act as levers.
As the rod D is so arranged as to work against the usual extension rod fitting Y,
the action of turning the rod by handle E, causes the rod to travel through the nut F
(towards either the end at which is Y¹, or the opposite end of the table Z, as the case
may be), those connected parts shown by B, K and L, travelling also correspondingly
to the travel of said rod. In this manner the beds A, B are parted or closed together.
The parts G, A, J, U, T, C, being all connected, when the beds A, B become sufficiently
parted the tails of the levers or links T meet or strike the stops or retarding
surfaces T T on framing connected with or projections from slides K K. The position
is shown in Figure 2. The tails of the pivoted levers T are preferably curved or
cranked to facilitate their motion, and as the table continues to extend, the surfaces
TT continue to be forced against the levers, turning the latter gradually on their
pivots until they have assumed an upright position, bringing the leaf Clevel with the
bed A and fitting tightly against the same. In practice this motion is so exactly
attained that dowel pins in Center corresponding recesses in A without difficulty.
It will be found that when the leaf C has joined A that a gap remains between B and C.
This gap
is eliminated by reversing the action of the screw D. Such reversal does
not cause C to be moved away from A but carries the parts D, B, K in the direction
shown by arrow marked 2 in Figure 1, until B meets C; the extension operation is
then completed.
The mode of closing the table is almost equally simple. By operating handle E
the leaf B is first brought away from Cas shown by arrow marked 1 in Figure 1, thus
giving sufficient clearance to enable C to be swung away from A and downwards on its
parallel pivots until the top C is below the under level of B. C may be thus swung down
by handling it direct, that is without using mechanism such as a rod O. When the
rod O is used, as I prefer, the leaf C should not be handled. Assuming O is used
the next movement after producing the gap marked 8 in Figure 1 between the
parts B and C is to turn the rod O to one side, by means of the end or knob P, from
the positions shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 1. When so turned
a surface R on the rod O is closed or carried in front of the surface W1 which is the
tail of a lever W, said lever being connected pivotally at its other end to the under
side of leaf C, or to an attachment thereto W as shown, and pivoted medially to
the bar G or other suitable connection to the A part of the table.
The motion of the screw D (vide Figure 1) is then reversed so as to advance D and
its connected parts towards A (as shown by arrow marked 2) until part R of rod O
strikes tail W, and swings W round on its pivot, the said tail thus being raised and
the upper end of lever W depressed, (carrying with it the leaf C) until the upper
surface of leaf C is below the lower surface of B. The first part of the closing
operation viz. the lowering of leaf C, having been effected, the screw is continued
in motion, drawing beds A, B together, until they assume the position shown in
Figure 3. It will be observed that in this figure the bar O appears canted to a
different position from that shown in Figure 1. This canting is done
automatically by means of a bevelled canting block N fixed on the A end of
the table in the line of motion of the end S of rod O. N. is so adjusted
as to strike with its bevel, the end S not centrally in line with the pivot M
by which is secured in the framing, but at one side thereof.
The impact
of N being one side causes the rod O to be canted as shown. If not canted as by
dispensing with N the rod would require to be canted by hand at that stage in the
extension of the table when the leaf C has joined A and bed B has to be brought
against C. The rod O need not be broad, as shown in Figure 4 but may be narrow
as at Q, provided there are projecting striking or friction surfaces as S and R for the
purposes stated. I find the broad part Q¹ (Figures 3 and 4) useful as the end of
tail W must then slide along resting in contact with such part and thereby tends
to keep the leaf C well down away from B.

page_text: It is not necessary to have two surfaces as S and R as one alone would suffice by
suitably adjusting the position of such surface in relation to N and W¹. To reduce
friction, rollers may be employed where desired as at those surfaces T and R by
which the tails of the pivoted levers are struck and caused to swing round as the
surfaces advance.
It will be obvious that without departing from the spirit of this invention sundry
modifications might be made in addition to those indicated. For example the
parts D, E and F could be dispensed with if desired, and the motion of the beds to
and fro be effected by other well-known means as manual pressure.
Referring to Figures 5 to 7 it will be seen that these show a modified arrange-
ment of the slides and frame, and a duplication of the various essential parts already
described in reference to Figures 1 to 4. The duplicate parts are generally similarly
lettered on Figures 5 to 7, but the second spare leaf in these figures is marked C³,
and is operated from the opposite end of the table to that from which leaf C is
operated. D¹ shows a sheath usual in extension table fittings by which screw D is
covered. In the arrangement of the framing and slides for a double leaf extension
table I use intermediate slides II with which both J J and K K engage, the said slides
being connected to a small central bed 12 which is always on the level of beds A B.
The cross pieces against which the levers T strike are marked L, and the operation
and construction of this form will be readily understood from the drawings in
conjunction with the foregoing description.
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. In expanding articles as indicated, beds, framing or parts as A B adapted to
be joined or separated, having slides, space being left between slide upper surfaces
and bed lower surface so as to allow storage of a leaf or leaves substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
2. In expanding articles as indicated a bed or part B, slides or supports as K, at
a distance beneath such bed, and brackets as X' for supporting said bed substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
3. In expanding articles as indicated the combination with a bed or part A to
which is attached framing of a leaf connected to said framing and so movable (as
by means of links T U) as to be adapted to take the level of and join (or retreat
beneath) A substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In expanding articles the combination with a raisable part or leaf of links as T
and U adapted to move in parallelism, the links as T having tails or projections
adapted when pressed to cause the raisable leaf to assume its upper position
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In expanding articles the combination of parts as J T and C with parts as K and T¹
whereby the parts T¹ acting upon the tails of T are adapted to actuate C substantially
as set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 3.
6. In expanding articles a canting piece as N substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
7. In expanding articles a rod as O having a striking surface as R substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
8. In expanding articles a pivoted bar O having parts R S and Q₁ substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
9. The combination with a raisable leaf of the parts W W G and A whereby, when W1
is actuated the raisable leaf will be drawn from and stored below A substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
10. The combination and arrangement with a raisable leaf of parts W₁ OR and A
whereby w be moved towards A substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
11. The beds A B 12 in combination with framing J K and I substantially as set
forth with reference to Figures 5 to 7.

page_text: 12. The combination of bed B, frame K I, bed I2 and leaf Cas set forth with reference
to Figures 5 to 7.
13. In expanding articles the general arrangements and combinations of parts for
the extension and insertion of a leaf in such articles substantially as and for the
purposes set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 4.
14. In expanding articles the general arrangements and combinations of parts for
the extension and insertion of two leaves in such articles substantially as and for the
purposes set forth with reference to Figures 5 to 7.
"
15. In expanding articles the general arrangements and combinations of parts for
the withdrawal from the surface and the storage of a leaf and the contraction of such
articles substantially as and for the purposes set forth, with reference to Figures
1 to 4..
16. In expanding articles of the class referred to the general arrangements and
combinations of parts for the withdrawal from the surface and the storage of two
leaves and the contraction of such articles substantially as and for the purposes set
forth with reference to Figures 5 to 7.