A New or Improved Portable Folding and Extensible Table for Dining and the like purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Dec., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
A New or Improved Portable Folding and Extensible Table for
Dining and the like purposes.
I GIOVANNI PIETRO BERTINI of 29 Angell Road Brixton in the County of Surrey
Restaurant Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows -
This invention relates to improvements in dining tables and tables for analogous
purposes and is designed to provide a folding and portable table which is besides
capable of being extended or contracted in size to a certain extent both in length and
in-width as may be required.
For this purpose 1 construct my table as follows
:-
The table top proper is mounted on a suitable frame or framework at each end of
which latter is mounted a pair of legs pivotted to the said framework each such pair of
legs (or the legs may be mounted singly and independently of one another) being held
rigidly in position by any suitable device such as a cross bar hinged to the underside
of the table or frame which cross har prevents the legs from collapsing but when this
cross bar is turned on its hinge or hinges flat against the underside of the table the
said legs can then be folded up so as to lay flat against the underside of the table and
within the frame-thus a number of such tables can readily be folded up and
"stacked" or piled up closely together so as to occupy a very little space and besides
thus folded are very convenient for carrying about.
Now in order to lengthen the table I hinge at each end one or more flaps or pieces
of the exact width of the table top proper and for the sake of example I will proceed
to describe the arrangement of two such flaps at each end.
The first or inside flap at each end is suitably hinged to the end of the table top
proper so as to be capable of folding under the said end when out of use and to this
first flap a second or outer flap is hinged again likewise capable of folding under the
said first flap when out of use in which position they are suitably held or secured by a'
spring catch or button or other suitable contrivance.
When it is desired to lengthen the table these said flaps are released and unfolded
and extended end ways of the table and then a supporting slide or slides (or other
suitable support) provided for that purpose in the framework of the table is drawn out
end ways and so holds these flaps rigidly on a level with the table top proper and so
the length of the table is extended.
To extend sideways one or more flaps the exact length of the table top are similarly
arranged to fold under at each side of the table-but I would remark that one such
flap will usually be found sufficient.
To increase the width of the table such flap at each side is released from its retaining
catch or button and is extended sideways so as to become level and equal with the
table top proper and is there held and retained in position by a similar supporting
slide or slides as used for the end flaps or by a button (or the like or other equivalent
contrivance) let into or arranged on the underside of the table top.
In order to also increase the width for the full length of the table when the folding
ends are also extended and in use a short piece or side flap (of the exact length of the
folding ends) is suitably binged to each end of each folding side piece in such a
manner that they can be readily folded up or extended and supported by any suitable
contrivance when required.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1800

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Portable Folding and Extensible Table for
Dining and the like purposes.
I GIOVANNI PIETRO BERTINI of 29 Angell Road Brixton in the County of Surrey
Restaurant Manager 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 :—
This invention relates to improvements in dining tables and tables for analogous
purposes and is designed to provide a folding and portable table which is besides
capable of being extended or contracted in size to a certain extent both in length and
in width as may be required.
For this purpose I construct my table as follows:-
The table top proper is mounted on a suitable frame or framework at each end of
which latter is mounted a pair of legs pivotted to the said framework each such pair
of legs (or the legs may be mounted singly and independently of one another) being
held rigidly in position by any suitable device and so that the said legs can be folded
up so as to lay flat against the underside of the table and within the frame-thus a
number of such tables can readily be folded пр and stacked or piled up closely
together so as to occupy a very little space and besides being--when thus folded-
very convenient for carrying about.
"
"
Now in order to lengthen the table 1 hinge at each end one or more flaps or pieces
of the exact width of the table top proper and for the sake of example I will proceed
to describe the arrangement of two such flaps at each end.
The first or inside flap at each end is suitably hinged to the end of the table top
proper so as to be capable of folding under the said end when out of use and to this
first flap a second or outer flap is hinged again likewise capable of folding under the
said first flap when out of use in which position they are suitably held or secured by a
spring catch or button or other suitable contrivance.
When it is desired to lengthen the table these said flaps are released and unfolded
and extended endways of the table and then a supporting slide or slides (or other
suitable support) provided for that purpose in the framework of the table is drawn out
end ways and so holds these flaps rigidly on a level with the table top proper and so
the length of the table is extended.
To extend sideways one or more side flaps are similarly arranged to fold under at
each side of the table-but I would remark that one such flap will usually be found
sufficient.
To increase the width of the table such flap at each side is released from its
retaining catch or button and is extended sideways so as to become level and equal
with the table top proper and is there held and retained in position by a similar
supporting slide or slides as used for the end flaps or by a bracket or the like or other
equivalent contrivance.
In order to also increase the width for the full length of the table when the folding
ends are also extended and in use a short piece or side flap (or it may be in several
pieces) is suitably hinged to each end of each folding side piece in such a manner that
they can be readily folded up or extended and supported by any suitable contrivance
when required.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice 1 will proceed to further describe my said invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dane

page_text: Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 with the table fully extended lengthwise
only the side extensions being folded up and secured in position.
Figure 3 is an end view of the table with the sides only extended and the end
extensions folded up and secured in position.
Figure 4 is an end view of same table with the sides folded up and not extended.
Figure 5 is an end view of the table (with legs removed) showing both sides and
ends folded up.
Figure 6 is an enlarged local sectional view on line 3-3 Figure 12.
On Sheet 2 :-
Figure 7 is an underside plan and
Figure 8.1 side elevation of table with both sides extended only-both ends being
folded up.
Figure 9 is a side view (in elevation) of the table with both sides and both ends
folded and showing-in dotted lines-the position the legs occupy when folded.
Figure 10 is an underside plan of the table with both sides and both ends folded up
and the legs also folded up-the table now being in its smallest compass.
Figure 11 is a side view of the table folded as in Figure 10.
On Sheet 3
Figure 12 is an underside plan and
Figure 13 an end view of the table fully extended at both ends and both sides-
as in Figure 1.
Figure 14 is an underside plan and
Figure 15 is an end view of the table with both ends fully extended but having the
sides folded up.
On Sheet 4-
Figure 16 is an enlarged cross sectional view on line 2-2 Figure 12.
Figure 17 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view on line 1-1 Figure 12.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
a is the table top proper-that is the fixed top mounted on a suitable frame b.
cc and d d are two pairs of legs each pair connected by a cross bar c¹ and d'
respectively (see Figure 10) which cross bars are each hinged at e (see Figures 16
and 17) or suitably mounted so as to turn in the frame and so fold each pair of legs
close up against the underside of the table and within the frame where they are
secured by suitable catches..
To give additional stability to the table each pair of legs are (or may be) arranged
as follows:-
Referring to Figures 16 and 17 it will be seen that each leg c (of the pair of
legs c c) is hinged on the side opposite the other leg c to the cross bar e¹ by hinge ex
and the top edge bevelled off at c² (Figure 16) so that the legs can open outward to
about the position shown in Figure 16 and they are then rigidly fixed in such
position by the cross bar c3 which is hinged to one leg and forced down into the
rack e on the other leg. Catches such as c on the inside of the frame b (see Figure 17)
prevent the pair of legs from folding up until such catches are released.
The table is extended endways as follows:-
At each end of the fixed top a of the table flaps are hinged viz. the flap e hinged
to fixed top a and flap f hinged to e so that when folded up they are secured in
the position shown in Figures 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings by suitable catches
such as Figure 17.
An additional catch such as f* Figure 3 is provided to further secure e and f
together in their folded condition.
To extend the table at one end-the catch fis released and the flap e and flap f
are extended as in Figure 17-two supports 9 9 (which are bars or rods sliding in or

page_text: on the frame 6 or on the underside of the table top a) are then drawn out (by the
rings g¹) to about the position shown in Figure 17 and thus form an efficient support
for the two flaps e and f
The opposite end of the table is extended in like manner.
The supports g g are suitably arranged to slide right in so as to lie flush with the 5
frame when not in use-as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10.
".
The table is enlarged or extended sideways as follows:-
At each side is hinged a flap i supported when extended by the thin metal
brackets kk which latter when out of use lie close against the frame see Figures 1
and 2.
At each end of each side flap i are mounted the longitudinally extending short flaps
viz. m hinged. to i, n hinged to m, and o hinged to n-so that these will fold up close
against the underside of i when is itself folded up and occupy the position shown in
dotted lines in Figure 6 and as shown in Figures 2, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15 of
the drawings.
To extend these short side flaps that is when it is desired to widen the table as well
as lengthen said table--the flaps are each extended and supported by the brackets k―
the short flaps m n and o are then extended end ways as shown in dotted lines at
Figure 6 and are then supported in this extended position as shown in Figure 12.
The outside flap o is secured to the end flap by a fixing such as shown at æ in
Figure 12 and a long supporting bar or rod p let into the underside of flap i (see
Figure 16) is drawn out so as to support the three said flaps (into which it is also let
in) as indicated in Figure 12.
Or these side flaps m n and o may be supported in any other equivalent suitable and
convenient manner.
When it is desired to extend the side or sides only (without the end extension) as
in Figures 3, 7 and 8 such side flaps i are extended and the short flap m is also
extended lengthwise-the two flaps and o being folded up against the underside
of m and secured there by the same fastenings a on the underside of end flap
which the underside of flap o again lies in the same plane.
with
It will be obvious that in carrying out my invention the above described and
illustrated table may be modified without departing from the true nature of my
invention as for instance for some purposes the side extension flap i may have only
one flap at each end thereof in place of the three short flaps m n and o; while in some
cases the side extensions may be dispensed with altogether if desired.
The advantages (amongst others) of my table are that all the folding parts thereof
are hinged or secured to the body of the table so that no parts are detachable and
thus it is impossible for any of the parts to get mislaid or lost. Further the spacé
within the frame and between the folded legs can be utilised for packing in articles
or stores if desired and this latter advantage will be found of great service when the
tables are used as portable tables for pic-nic or the like purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would remark that I am
aware that Patents have been granted for tables with folding ends and also for tables
with folding legs and to any such parts which are old in themselves I make no separate
claim whatever but what I do claim is :-
A portable dining or the like table having folding legs such as c c and d d in com-
bination with the fixed table top a having one or more folding ends such as e, f
thereon and a folding flap at each side such as i the latter having flaps such as m n o
attached to each end thereof the whole table being arranged constructed and acting

page_text: substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 3rd day of December 1890.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Patentee.