IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID OR BED TABLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harper, of the Firm of Dyer, Harper, and Dyer,
Wholesale Cabinet Makers, of Number 2, Northampton Street, Islington, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID
OR BED TABLES."
Sealed the 2nd March 1877, and dated the 5th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1876.
JOHN HARPER, of the Firm of Dyer, Harper, and Dyer, Wholesale Cabinet
Makers, of No. 2, Northampton Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID OR BED TABLES."
The Invention relates to invalid or bed tables, in which the legs are arranged to
fold up when the table is not in use, so as to render it more portable and less cumber-
some, and has special reference to the means of securing the legs of such tables in
position whether opened out for use or folded up. It consists partly in arranging a
spring or springs on the under side of the table, and so adapting the folding legs
thereto that whether the legs are opened out or folded up the spring or springs acts
or act to maintain them firmly in either position.
According to another arrangement instead of the legs being held in position
by a spring or springs a button or cam of suitable shape turning on a centre
beneath the table and between the legs may be employed, such button or cam being
so arranged and adapted that when the legs are folded up the said button or cam
can be turned so as to hold and maintain them in that position, and when the legs
are opened out the said button or cam can be turned so as to hold or maintain
them open.
Instead of a single button or cam to act upon both pair of legs separate buttons
or cams of suitable shape may be employed for each pair of legs.
The table may be adapted with an adjustable slope for writing or reading, or
with other appurtenances, as may be found convenient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Harper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th March
1877.
JOHN HARPER, of the Firm of Dyer, Harper, and Dyer, Wholesale Cabinet
Makers, of No 2, Northampton Street, Islington, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN INVALID OR BED TABLES."
The Invention relates to invalid or bed tables, in which the legs are arranged to
fold up when the table is not in use, so as to render it more portable and less
cumbersome, and has special reference to the means of securing the legs of such
tables in position, whether opened out for use or folded up. It consists partly in
arranging a spring or springs on the under side of the table, and adapting the legs
thereto, so that whether the legs are opened out or folded up the spring or springs
acts or act to maintain them firmly in either position.
In the Drawing Figures 1 and 2 represent respectively back and side elevations
of a bed table with the foregoing arrangements applied thereto, Figures 3 and 4
respectively longitudinal and transverse sections; and Figure 5, an under side view
of the same, shewing one pair of legs B opened out, and the other pair B¹ folded up
Similar letters refer to like parts in each of the Figures.
A is the table top, to the under side of which are hinged the two pairs of folding
legs B and B, C, C, are the free ends of a spring fixed to, the under side of the
table top A between the said two pans of legs, and so adapted that when the
legs B and B are opened out the corresponding free ends C, C¹, of the spring pass
inside the rails D, D', connecting each pair of legs (as shewn at C₁ in Figures 3 and
5) so as to hold them open and prevent them from folding up until the ends of the
spring are raised above the edges of the rails D, D', (as shewn in dotted lines,
Figure 3), when the legs B, B¹, or either of them, can be folded up. When this is
done the free ends of the spring bear upon the flat surfaces of the rails D and D¹,
and hold the legs folded against the table top, as shewn clearly at C in Figures 3
and 5.
If preferied a separate spring may be employed for each pair of legs instead of
single springs fixed in the middle, as shewn. The spring may be made of any
suitable material.
According to another arrangement instead of the logs being held in position by a
spring or springs a button or cam of suitable shape turning on a centre beneath
the table and between the legs may be employed, such button or cam being so
arranged and adapted that when the legs are folded up the said button or cam can
be turned so as to hold and maintain them in that position, and when the legs are
opened out the said button or cam can be turned so as to hold or maintain them
open.
Figure 6 illustrates this arrangement. A the table top, and B, B', the folding
legs, as before; E, the button centred at F, one end of the said button being shown
as holding the legs B opened out, and the other end as holding the legs B¹ folded up;
the position of the button shewn in dotted lines being that into which it is to be
placed while the legs B, B', are to be opened out or folded up.
Instead of a single button or cam to act upon both pairs of legs separate buttons
or cams of suitable shape may be employed for each pair of legs, as illustrated in
Figure 7.
The table may be adapted with an adjustable slope for writing or reading, as illus-
trated in Figures 1 and 2, or with other appurtenances as may be found convenient.
Having now described the nature of ny said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to or may be performed, I would have it understood that what I claim
as my Invention is, the employment of a spring, button, or cam, or of springs,
buttons, or cams arranged and adapted so as to hold and maintain in position,

page_text: whether opened or closed, the folding legs of bed tables, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harper, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven.
JNO. HARPER. (L.S.)