Improvements in and relating to Tables for Attachment to Bedsteads and other Articles of Furniture.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec.,
1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tables for Attachment to Bedsteads
and other Articles of Furniture.
I, CHARLES C. ELSTON, of Elmira, in the County of Chemung, and State of
New York, United States of America, Inventor, 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 has relation to that class of devices known as table attach-
ments to bedsteads and other articles of furniture so that the person lying in the
bed or reclining in a chair or upon a sofa will have the convenience of a table or
support for any purpose which may be found desirable.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective clamping device
that may be readily connected to the object to which the table is to be attached
and will effectually retain the standard for supporting the table in a perfectly
upright position and prevent the clamping device from having any lateral movement
or any strain thereon in a lateral direction.
The clamping device which forms the subject of my invention is substantially
shown in the drawings and will be hereinafter described and claimed.
Referring to the drawings :-
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved table attachment to
bedsteads or other articles of furniture.
Figure 2, is a detail view, partly in section showing a portion of the standard and
clamping device.
Figure 3, is a view in detail of the clamping device.
A represents the standard having at its upper end a shouldered axial piu a, as
shown in dotted lines, which pin enters a correspondingly formed hole or mortise in
a bracket B, and to this bracket is suitably and rigidly connected the table C, of
any preferred shape and size.
The bracket B forms a strengthening cleat for the inner end of the table and
renders it at this point less liable to warp or get out of shape.
The outer or larger portion of the table is strengthened by a metal strap D
which is connected to the under side of the table by screws or other well known
means.
Although the clamping device, which will be hereinafter described is considered
the essential feature of the invention, there is a decided advantage attained by the
shouldered axial pin a, and the bracket B, from the fact that any weight placed
upon the table will be better supported in the lower or under side of the bracket as
it bears upon the shoulder at the base of the pin a, and consequently the attach-
ment is rendered more durable and the table more perfectly supported.
The metal strap D also prevents the table from warping and is so shaped so as to
extend around the outer curve of the table. The lower end of the standard A is of
increased thickness and has a mortise c, and the inner face of the standard or the
side which is to come against the article of furniture is provided with a facing
strip E of felt or rubber so as to prevent the marring of the polished surface against
which it comes in contact.
The clamp F is in the form of an inverted U and has spurs d, and a horizontal
screw rod
which passes through a hole f, in the lower end of the standard A, as
shown in Figure 2.
e,
A thumb-nut g engages with the screw threads of the rod e, so as to move the
clamp horizontally to bring it firmly against that portion of the article of furniture
to which the device is to be attached or to move the clamp in the opposite direction
to release it from its connection.

page_text: This peculiar form of clamping device together with the mortised end of the
standard is considered of material value in that the mortise holds the clamp from
moving laterally and consequently any side-wise movement of the standard.
The peculiar attachment of the clamping device enables the ready attachment of
it to the article of furniture without injuring the same by the working loose of the
clamp, as previously stated, by the mortise in the end of the standard.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
A bracket comprising a standard having a longitudinal recess in its inner face
and a transverse opening extending from the rear wall of the recess to the opposite
side of the standard from the said recess, a depending clamping jaw having a
horizontal arm which extends into the said recess a depending vert al arm made
integral with the inner end of the longitudinal arm the said vertical arm being the
same width as the said recess, a screw threaded rod connected at its inner end to
the lower end of the said vertical arm and which extends outward through the rod
opening, and a clamping button for the outer end of the rol, substantially as shown
and described.
Dated this 11th day of October 1892.
CHARLES C. ELSTON,
By L. W., per F. B.