Year: 1897

page_text: I, KARL ABEL, of 122B Potsdamerstrasse, Berlin, W., Germany, Doctor of Medicine,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a table which can be folded together in such a manner as
to be capable of being easily carried by means of a shawl-strap or the like. The new
table is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 being a side elevation showing it folded up and held together by a shawl-
strap,
Fig. 2 a plan,
Fig. 3 a section according to the line xx of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 an end elevation.
The main components of the table are two hollow longitudinal rods a, which are
connected together by means of transverse rods 6 and rest on four legs e. The
transverse rods bare hinged to the longitudinal rods and each of them consists of
two halves which are connected in the middle by means of a movable joint.
Over each of the joints there is slipped, when the table is erected, a sleeve c
which then keeps the transverse rods 6 extended. To the lower part of the sleeve c
there are pivoted, by means of a stud-like projection, struts d on whose ends are
collars adapted to clasp the legs of the table and to be fastened by means of screws
or other devices. These struts d serve to ensure the stability of the table. The
legs e are screwed into suitable lugs on the longitudinal rods a. At the lowermost
ends of the legs are provided plugs f of rubber or other material, which prevent the
table from slipping during use and also close the longitudinal rods a when the legs e
have been slipped therein for transport. On one of the longitudinal rods a there is
held-e.g. by means of hooks h, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4-a cover of waterproof
canvas or the like, which can he laid over the table and stretched, there being provided
at the edges of the cloth perforated straps or the like adapted to be passed upon
knobs secured on the second longitudinal rod a and on the end rods b. The several
parts of the table are preferably hollow and made of light metal or other material, in
order that the weight may be as light as possible. The longitudinal rods a are of
such a width that the table-legs e, when they are loosened, can be pushed into them
for this purpose one table-leg is pushed into another and then these two are inserted
into one of the longitudinal rods a, so that in each longitudinal rod there will be two
legs e.
The table is folded up and erected in the following manner :-
If the table is erected (as shown in Figs. 2 and 4) and is to be folded up for transport,
the cover g is first of all unfastened. Then the collars on the struts & are loosened
and the legs e screwed off. The sleeve c is now slightly rotated and pushed sidewise
and the end rods & folded together, which brings the longitudinal rods a close
together, between them being the rods 6 and the struts d. After the legs e have been
pushed into the hollow longitudinal rods a so that only the rubber plugs project and
close the longitudinal rods, the cover g is wrapped round and strapped up by means
of a shawl-strap or the like. Thus strapped together, the table possesses a perfectly
good appearance, has altogether only a weight of a few pounds, and is extremely

page_text: convenient for transport. In consequence of this the table is particularly adapted
for use as an operating table and will undoubtedly be of good service to physicians
who are frequently required to perform operations on a totally inadequate support.
It will also avoid the occupation of a comparatively large space in the consulting-
room, which is required by the hitherto used rigid types. In consequence of this it
is also, independently of the circumstances of space, preferably to be employed as an
examination chair or couch for doctors for the diseases of women and other purposes.
Further its great portability renders it very advantageous for use as an operating-
table for military field-hospitals and as a stretcher for use in war. The dimensions
of the table are such as to allow of its being conveniently placed in a cab.
The erection of the table is effected as follows:-
The shawl-strap is undone, the cover is unrolled, and it is then fastened without
tension to the oppositely situated longitudinal rod a. Then the legs of the table are
drawn out of the longitudinal rods a, and the transverse rods bare stretched out, so
that the longitudinal rods a are moved away from each other and automatically stretch
the cover.
The sleeve c is then, by gentle turning, slipped over the joint, and the
struts d are fixed to the legs by means of the collars. The table is now quite ready
for use as an operating-table or the like,
Whilst the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is intended more particularly
for use as an operating-table for gynaecological purposes etc., in which the thighs of
the person operated on are strapped to the oppositely situated table-legs, the table
may equally well be used for surgical operations, since for this purpose the table can
be extended to any desired or necessary length. The table can also be readily
converted into a stretcher or litter, by inserting the legs into the longitudinal rods a
and allowing them to project out therefrom to such an extent that they can be used
as handles.
I, KARL ABEL, of 122 Potsdamerstrasse, Berlin, W., Germany, Doctor of Medicine,
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
This invention relates to a table which can be folded together in such a manner
as to be capable of being easily carried by means of a shawl-strap or the like.
new table is illustrated in the drawings filed with my provisional specification,
Fig. 1 being a side elevation showing it folded up and held together by a
shawl-strap,
Fig. 2 a plan,
Fig. 3 a section according to the line X-X of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 4 an end elevation.
The main components of the table are two hollow longitudinal rods a, which are
connected together by means of transverse rods b and rest on four legs e. The
transverse roils b are hinged to the longitudinal rods and each of thein consists
of two halves which are connected in the middle by means of a movable joint. Over
each of the joints there is slipped, when the table is erected, a sleeve c which then
keeps the transverse rods 6 extended. To the lower part of the sleeve c there are
pivoted, by means of a stud-like projection, struts à on whose ends are collars
adapted to clasp the legs of the table and to be fastened by means of screws or other
devices. These struts d serve to ensure the stability of the table. The legs c are
screwed into suitable lugs on the longitudinal rods a. At the lowermost ends of the

page_text: legs are provided plugs of rubber or other material, which prevent the table from
slipping during use and also close the longitudinal rods a when the legs e have been
slipped therein for transport. On one of the longitudinal rods a there is held-e.g., by
means of hooks h, as shown in Figs 2 and 3-a cover of waterproof canvas or the
like, which can be laid over the table and stretched, there being provided at the edges
of the cloth perforated straps or the like adapted to be passed upon knobs secured on
the second longitudinal rod a and on the end rods b. The several parts of the table
are preferably hollow and made of light metal or other material, in order that the
weight may be as light as possible. The longitudinal rods a are of such a width that
the table-legs e, when they are loosened, can be pushed into them for this purpose
one leg is pushed into another and then these two are inserted into one of the
longitudinal rods a, so that in each longitudinal rod there will be two legs c.
The table is folded up and erected in the following manner: -
If the table is erected (as shown in Figs. 2 and 4) and is to be folded up
for transport, the cover g is first of all unfastened. Then the collars on the struts a
are loosened and the legs e screwed off. The sleeve is now slightly rotated and
pushed sidewise, and the end rods 6 folded together, which brings the longitudinal
rods a close together, between them being the rods b and the struts d. After the
legs e have been pushed into the hollow longitudinal rods a so that only the rubber
plugs project and close the longitudinal rods, the cover g is wrapped round and
strapped up by means of a shawl-strap or the like. Thus strapped together, the
table possesses a perfectly good appearance, has altogether only a weight of a few
pounds, and is extremely convenient for transport. In consequence of this the table
is particularly adapted for use as an operating-table and will undoubtedly be of good
service to physicians who are frequently required to perform operations on a totally
inadequate support. It will also avoid the occupation of a comparatively large space
in the consulting room, which is required by the hitherto used rigid types. In
consequence of this it is also, independently of the circumstances of space, preferably
to be employed as an examination chair or couch for doctors for the diseases of women
and other purposes. Further its great portability renders it very advantageous for
use as an operating table for military field-hospitals and as a stretcher for use in
war. The dimensions of the table are such as to allow of its being conveniently
placed in a cab.
The erection of the table is effected as follows :—
The shawl-strap is undone, the cover is unrolled, it is then fastened without tension
to the oppositely situated longitudinal rod a. Then the legs of the table are drawn
out of the longitudinal rods a, and the transverse rods 6 are stretched out, so that
the longitudinal rods a are moved away from each other and automatically stretch the
cover. The sleeve c is then, by gentle turning, slipped over the joint, and the
struts d are fixed to the legs by means of the collars. The table is now quite ready
for use as an operating-table or the like.
Whilst the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is intended more particularly
for use as an operating-table for gynaecological purposes, etc., in which the thighs
of the person operated on are strapped to the oppositely situated table-legs, the table
may equally well be used for surgical operations, since for this purpose the table can
be extended to any desired or necessary length. The table can also be readily
converted into a stretcher or litter, by inserting the legs into the longitudinal rods a
and allowing them to project out therefrom to such an extent that they can be used
as handles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. A table which can be used as an operating-table or as a stretcher or litter and
can be readily folded for transport consisting of hollow longitudinal rods and hollow
legs, which latter, when they are loosened, can be pushed one into another and
inserted into the said longitudinal rods, and of transverse rods that are hinged to

page_text: the longitudinal rods and each of which consists of two halves connected in the
middle by means of a moveable joint, the transverse rods being folded together, when
the table is to be folded up, substantially as above described and shown in the
accompanying drawing.
2. A table of the kind referred to in the preceding claim provided with a cover
of waterproof canvas or other suitable material that is fastened to the longitudinal
rods of the table while the transverse rods are in a folded condition and so when
that the said transverse rods are stretched out or straightened the cover will be
automatically stretched, substantially as set forth and as shown in the accompanying
drawing.
3. Providing the legs of a table of the kind specified in first claim with plugs
of rubber or other suitable material for preventing the table from slipping and
which also serve the purpose of closing the longitudinal rods when the table is
folded together substantially as set forth and as shown in the accompanying
drawing.
.
4. In a table of the kind specified in the first claim the arrangement, on the
jointed transverse rods, of sleeves carrying struts adapted to be fastened to the legs
by means of collars and which sleeves when slipped over the joints keep the
transverse rods in their extended attitude substantially as set forth and shown in
the accompanying drawing.
5. The improved folding table capable of being used as a stretcher or litter
'substantially as shewn in and described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 17th day of Januar 1908
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.