Improvements in Light Folding Tables.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1890-Accepted, 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Light Folding Tables.
I ARTHUR PAGET Mechanical Engineer of Radmoor Loughborough in the County
of Leicester do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of this invention is the production of very light tables which have great
strength combined with a minimum of weight and which will fold up into a very
small space.
My invention consists of the construction and use of tables, having tops made of
very thin boards of wood which may be placed close together or with gaps between
them.
Under these boards are battens of thin wood placed across the grain of the boards
and fastened to them by many fine copper (or other suitable) nails which are
"clenched."
I use these table tops in combination with legs, which are held together in pairs by
light diagonal ties or strips of thin wood. The said pairs of legs are hinged together
in such a manner that they will be in one plane and fold flat against or near to the
under side of the table-top when the table is closed up, or they can be spread out at
the top and bottom so as to form suitable & very strong legs for the table to stand
upon when it is opened.
One pair of legs is hinged to the under side of the table-top and from them strings
or wires are suitably stretched to form guides for the other pair of legs while they
are being opened or closed. I also use spring-catches in these folding-tables, such
spring-catches being attached to the under side of the table top. Suitable pins, or
studs, are fixed in the legs in such positions that when the legs are fully open one
pair of pins are caught by the catches and when the legs are close shut up the other
pair of pins are caught by the same catches and thus the legs are held firm in place
both when open and when close shut up.
A suitable cord is attached to the said latches in such a manner that when the cord
is pulled the latches are released from the pair of pins to which the latches are
attached and the table can then be opened or closed as the case may be.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1889.
ARTHUR PAGET.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Light Folding Tables.
1 ARTHUR PAGET Mechanical Engineer of Radmoor Loughborough in the County
of Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of this invention is the production of very light tables which have great
strength combined with a minimum of weight and which will fold up into a very,
small space.
My invention consists of the construction and use of tables, having tops made of
very thin boards of wood which may be placed close together or with gaps between
them.
Under these boards are battens of thin wood placed across the grain of the boards
and fastened to them by many fine copper (or other suitable) nails which are

page_text: I use these table tops in combination with legs, which are held together in pairs by
light diagonal ties or strips of thin wood. The said pairs of legs are hinged together
in such a manner that they will lie in one plane and fold flat against or near to the
under side of the table-top when the table is closed up, or they can be spread out at
the top and bottom so as to form suitable and very strong legs for the table to stand
upon when it is opened.
One pair of legs is hinged to the under side of the table-top and from them strings
or wires are suitably stretched to form guides for the other pair of legs while they
are being opened or closed. I also use spring-catches in these folding-tables, such
spring catches being attached to the under side of the table top. Suitable pins, or
studs, are fixed in the legs in such positions that when the legs are fully open one
pair of pins are caught by the catches and when the legs are close shut up the other
pairs of pins are caught by the same catches and thus the legs are held firm in place
both when open and when close shut up.
A suitable cord is attached to the said latches in such a manner that when the cord
is pulled the latches are released from the pair of pins to which the latches are
attached and the table can then be opened or closed as the case may be.
Figs. 1 to 6 sheets 1 and 2 in the accompanying drawings shew such a table.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the table open. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the
same. Fig. 3 is a plan looking from above the table. Fig. 4 is a plan looking
upwards from below the table. Figs. 5 and 6 are two views of the table when
folded up.
The construction of the tops of these tables is shown in Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 4,
where A A are thin boards which in this case are shewn with "open-joints" i.e. with
gaps between them. Under these boards are battens A 1. A 1 of thin wood placed
across the grain of the boards A. A. and fastened to them by many fine copper, or
other suitable nails which are 18 clenched."
B. B Figs. 1. 2. 4 and 5 are a pair of legs which are held together by the light
diagonal ties B 1. B 1. C. C are a second pair of legs held together by the light
diagonal ties C1. C1. These two pairs of legs are hinged together by the pins D. D.
in such a manner that when they are closed together the pair of legs B. B lie flat
between (or in the same plane with) the pair of legs C. C. as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6
and when they are opened out as shewn in Figs. 1. 2 and 4 they form very strong
legs for the table to stand upon.
The pair of legs C. C. are hinged to the underside of the table top at E. To the
top ends of the legs C. C. are fastened two strings or wires F. Figs. 1. 2. 4 and 5
one to each leg, the other ends of these two said strings, or wires, are fastened to
convenient parts F 1. F 1 (Figs. 1 and 4) of the table top A. At the top ends of the
two legs B. B. are suitable eyes F 2. F 2. through which the strings, or wires F pass,
and thus it will be seen that the strings or wires F F. act as guides for the top ends
of the pair of legs B. B. as they are opened and closed.
G. G. Figs. 1. 2. 4 and 5 are two suitable spring catches which are attached to the
under side of the table top A. G1 G1 Figs. 1. 4 and 5 are suitable pins, or studs
fixed in the legs B. B. in such a manner that when the legs are opened out the said
pins, or studs G 1. G 1 are brought opposite to suitable holes in the said spring-
catches G G which enables the said spring-catches G G to spring on to and hold the
said studs G 1. G1 and so to fasten and hold the legs open, another pair of
studs G 2. G 2, are fastened to the legs B. B in such a position that when the legs are
close shut up these studs are caught by the spring-catches G. G and held fast until
released. A suitable cord H (Figs. 1. 2. 4 and 5) is fastened to the ends of the
spring-catches G G in such a manner that when the said cord is pulled in the
direction of the arrow H 1. Figs. 4 and 5 the two spring-catches G G are pulled
towards each other and the studs G 1 G 1 or G 2 G2 are thereby released and the legs
are free to be closed or opened as desired.
Having

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I desire it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth as such
may be varied or modified without departing from the principle thereof but what I
claim as my improvements in Light Folding Tables are :-
The construction and use of tables, having tops made of very thin boards of wood
which may be placed close together or with gaps between them. Under these boards
are battens of thin wood placed across the grain of the boards and fastened to them
by many fine copper (or other suitable) nails which are " clenched." I use these
table tops in combination with legs, which are held together in pairs by light diagonal
ties or strips of thin wood. The said pairs of legs are hinged together in such a
manner that they will lie in one plane and fold flat against or near to the under side
of the table-top when the table is closed up, or they can be spread out at the top and
bottom so as to form suitable and very strong legs for the table to stand upon when
it is opened. One pair of legs is hinged to the under side of the table top and from
them strings or wires are suitably stretched to form guides for the other pair of legs
while they are being opened or closed. I also use spring-catches in these folding-
tables, such spring-catches being attached to the under side of the table top. Suitable
pins, or studs are fixed in the legs in such positions that when the legs are fully open
one pair of pins are caught by the catches and when the legs are close shut up the
other pairs of pins are caught by the same catches and thus the legs are held firm in
place, both when open and when close shut up. A suitable cord is attached to the
said catches in such a manner that when the cord is pulled the catches are released
from the pair of pins to which the latches are attached and the table can then be
opened or closed as the case may be.
Substantially as hereinbefore described with
drawings.
D
2011
A 1000
reference to the accompanying
ARTHUR PAGET.