IMPROVEMENTS IN ARTED TADY TO
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Whiting, of Lewisham, in the County of
Kent, Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ARTED TADY TO "
Sealed the 29th November 1872, and dated the 30th May 1872.

page_text: objects, firstly, to fix the several leaves of a table securely together in
their respective places so as thereby to prevent their sliding or otherwise
moving; secondly, to form a long table into two or more shorter ones
with ease and expedition; and, thirdly, to provide a means of stowing
away the spare leaves within the framing and under the top of the table
entirely out of sight.
The means by which I propose to attain the said objects of my
Invention are as follows:-
-
Firstly. On the exterior of each side of the upper part of the frame of
the table, within a distance occupied by an end leaf or bed, I cut two or
more notches, and underneath the said; end leaf I fix two self-acting
springs, one on each side thereof, which are so situated that in placing
the said leaf on the frame and sliding it thereon the springs catch in the
said notches, and thus form a stop to this end leaf or bed; or, instead of
these notches and springs, I stop this end leaf or bed by means of an
ordinary spring bolt fixed to or through the end rail of the table frame
and into a hole or socket cut into the under side of the said leaf or bed.
I then place on the frame in succession the requisite number of inter-
mediate leaves, and complete the table top by adding the other end leaf
or bed. The whole top is then forced close together by means of a male
screw working in a female screw. The former operates or turns in a cir-
cular slot or collar fixed to the under side of the said leaf or bed, and the
latter is secured to the inside of the end rail of the table frame. They
are so placed that when the last leaf or bed is placed on the frame, and
the screws arranged by turning the male screw with a small ordinary
winder, the leaves are forced closely and firmly together.
Secondly. When it is required to shorten a long table or to divide it
into two or more short ones, in the case of a table 20 feet long and
having eight legs, I form it into two tables by taking out the two middle
side rails of the frame, having first removed the leaves therefrom, when
the two end divisions or bays of the long table become two distinct parts
or portions. To make them complete tables I add to each at their
divided ends a small end piece moulded and fashioned similarly to the
other ends or beds. This small end piece is held or secured in its place
by being keyed or wedged to a sliding metal stay projecting from the
under side of the next or adjoining table leaf.

page_text: Thirdly. When it is required to reduce a table or tables I place two
wood or metal rails or bearers across the table frame, resting in slots
formed therein near its lower edge, and lay the said spare leaves upon
them. When the top of the table is completed, the spare leaves thus
stowed away are completely out of sight, and form no inconvenience
whatever. In the same way I also stow the spare parts of the table
framing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Whiting in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WHITING, of Lewisham, in the County of Kent, Cabinet Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Charles Whiting, Her special licence that I, the
said Charles Whiting, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Charles Whiting, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE ELONGATING DINING AND OTHER
TABLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Whiting, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Whiting, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be.

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My present Invention relates to elongating dining and other tables
similar to those described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me,
and bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, and numbered 542,
and has for its objects, firstly, to fix the several leaves of the top of a
table securely together in their respective places, so as thereby to
prevent their sliding apart or otherwise moving upon the table frame;
secondly, to form or alter a long table into two or more shorter ones with
ease and expedition; and, thirdly, to stow away the spare leaves and side
rails within the table framing and under the top of the table entirely out
of sight.
The means by which I propose to attain or carry out in practice the
said objects of my Invention are as follows:-
In order that my said improvements may be more clearly and more
fully understood, and be more readily carried into practical effect, I now
proceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying Drawing,
which forms part of this Specification, reference being made thereto by
the letters and figures marked thereon, which reference applies to each
Figure of the said Drawing where the same index letters and figures
appear.
Figure 1 is a horizontal plan of the frame of a table of three bays or
divisions, twenty feet in length, and having eight legs. The outline of
the leaves or table top is shewn by the red lines. This Figure is drawn
to a scale of half an inch to the foot, or one-twenty-fourth the full size.
The other Figures of the Drawing are made to a scale of one-half the
full size.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a self-acting spring catch in two positions.
Figure 3 is a section of the table side frame and leaf or top, "upside
down" or inverted, and shewing the said self-acting catch in the same
positions as in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an elevation of the entrance of a female screw, which
screw is secured to the inside of an end rail of the table frame.

page_text: Figure 5 is a longitudinal view of a male screw turning in a collar
fixed to the end leaf or "bed" of the table top, and which male screw
works in the said female screw to force the leaves or separate parts of
the table top closely together.
Figure 6 is an inverted section (on the red line A, B, Figure 1) of a
small end piece or bed of a table top, and shewing secured thereto two
wood or metal sockets or slots coloured yellow, in and to which the
slides or projections, shewn in Figure 7, are keyed.
Figure 7 is an inverted side elevation of a sliding metal stay secured
to and projecting from a timber slide batten fixed to the under side of
the table leaf next to or adjoining the said end piece or bed.
Firstly. In the case of a table with four or six legs, on the exterior
of the upper part of each of the side rails a of the frame of a table, and
within the distance occupied by an end leaf or bed b, b', I cut two or
more notches a¹, and underneath the said end leaf I fix two self-acting
spring catches c, one on each side thereof, which catches are so situated
that in placing the said end leaf on the table frame and sliding it thereon
the catches c, pivoted at c³, are forced by their springs into the
notches a, and thus form a "stop" to this end leaf or bed. These
catches are held back when required by the small button i, Figure 3,
fixed to the slide batten k. Or, instead of these notches and catches, I
"stop" this end leaf or bed by means of an ordinary spring bolt fixed
vertically to or through the end rail a' of the table frame, and passing
into a hole or socket cut into the under side of the said leaf or bed. I
then place on the frame in succession the requisite number of inter-
mediate leaves 1, and complete the top of the table by adding the other
end leaf or bed b. These several leaves, forming the entire table top, are
then forced closely together by turning with an ordinary winder or
otherwise the male screw d in the female screw e. The male screw turns
in a circular metal slot or collar f, fixed to the under side of the said leaf
or bed, as shewn in Figure 5, and the female screw is secured to the
inside of the end rail at of the table frame, as shewn in Figure 4. They
are so placed that when the last or end leaf or bed is placed on the
frame, and the screws properly arranged or fitted the one within the
other, on turning the male screw d, as previously described, the said
several leaves or parts of the table top are thereby forced closely and
firmly together.

page_text: When a long table with eight legs is to be divided into two tables a
tightening screw will be required at each end.
Secondly. When it is required to shorten a long table or to divide it
into two or more short ones, in the case of a table whose frame is
twenty feet long and having eight legs (as shewn in plan in Figure 1),
I form it into two tables by taking out or removing therefrom the two
middle side rails a³ of the frame, having previously removed the leaves
therefrom, when the two end divisions, M. and N, of the said long table
become two distinct parts or portions. To make them complete tables I
add to each such part at their divided ends a³ a small end piece or bed
(as shewn in section in Figure 6), moulded and fashioned similarly to
the other ends or beds 6, 6¹. This small end piece is provided with a
groove or wood or metal slot or trough 1, pierced through both its sides
with a hole or eye ³, and is held or secured in its place by the said metal
slot being keyed or wedged to a sliding or projecting metal stay S, pro-
jecting from the under side of the next or adjoining table leaf, which
stay is similarly pierced, as shewn at 1, Figure 6 (see Figures 6 and 7).
Thirdly. When a table is thus shortened I place two or more wood or
metal rails or bearers across the interior of the table frame (as shewn by
the dotted lines at g, Figure 1), resting in slots or grooves formed therein
or attached thereto near the lower edges of the sides a of the said frame,
and lay upon these bearers g the said spare leaves. When the top of the
table is completed, the spare leaves thus stowed away are entirely out of
sight, and form no inconvenience whatever. In the same way I also
stow the spare parts a³ of the table framing.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature and objects of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the precise
dimensions and forms of the details herein specified, but I claim as my
Invention and desire to secure by the before-mentioned in part recited
Letters Patent,―
Firstly. The mode of firmly securing the leaves or separate parts of a
table top in their respective places.
Secondly. The method of altering a long table into two or more

page_text: And thirdly. The mode of stowing away out of sight and conveniently
the spare leaves and side rails of a shortened or divided table.
All substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn in
the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Whiting, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
CHARLES WHITING. (L.S.)