Improvements in or relating to Trays or Tables.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
Improvements in or relating to Trays or Tables.
(A communication from RICHARD SCHOLZE, Merchant, of 24, Seminarstrasse, Dresden,
in the Empire of Germany.)
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 present invention relates to an improved tray or table having a soft top
surface, of velvet or the like such as may be used for money, cards or other articles
the said top surface being surrounded by a raised ledge or rim of metal wood or the
like.
Such trays and tables as used at the present time and made of glass, marble,
vulcanite, and the like are become worn out or unsightly very quickly, and do not
fully meet requirements. A very favourable result, however, is obtained, by covering
the top surface of such board or table with tight fitting velvet or similar long stapled
material and surrounding it with a rim of wood or metal. The velvet when soiled
may be chemically cleaned and when worn out replaced by a new piece.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of a tray according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a tray with pivotted catches and adjusting screws.
Fig. 3 is a plan view and
Fig. 4 is an under side view of part of the tray represented in Fig. 2.
These boards or trays are preferably made by fitting a circular oval or other shaped
board b into a frame a of metal, the board being covered on its upper surface with
velvet or the like secured by glue or in any other suitable manner.
But the plate
may also be loosely covered with the material and then secured by gripping it
between the surface of the board and the beaded frame. In the first case when the
top surface requires renewing a new covered board is required whilst in the second
case only a new cover is necessary.
The board b may be kept in position within the beaded frame a by means of
pins or screws as 8.
For securing a loose cover the following arrangement may be employed, which
greatly facilitates the work of replacing a cover.
The rim or frame a of circular, oval or rectangular or other shape is made of
metal wood or other hard material and is provided on the under side with a groove d
extending completely round the frame which groove is provided with teeth or
projections e tapering towards the bottom.
This groove serves for the reception of the board b on which the piece c of velvet
or the like is placed. On placing the frame a over the board b with its velvet cover
the teeth e will press with their tapering faces against the material c and draw it
evenly down on all sides of the board and by pressing it against the edge of the
board will secure it firmly in position.

page_text: On the under side of the board bare arranged several turn buttons or catches h
provided with adjusting screws f their ends being adapted to engage with the ledge g
of the frame a. By turning the adjusting screws it is possible to evenly stretch and
secure the cover c, the teeth e holding it whilst the board 6 is pressed
upwards.
These trays and tables can be used for all purposes for which ordinary trays or
small tables are used, such for instance, as receptacles for various articles, or, when of
larger size, for playing games upon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A tray or table for money cards and other articles comprising a cover of textile
fabric fitted over a board secured in a beaded frame of wood metal or the like
substantially as described.
2. A tray or table for money cards and other articles of the kind described in
which the inner side of the beaded frame is provided with tapering teeth e in
combination with pivotted catches h and adjusting screws f on the under side of the
board b substantially as described.