Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
I, FERDINAND JOHANN MESSING, of 14, Heinrichstrasse, Laar, in the Empire of
Germany, Painter, 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 has for its object to provide a new or improved collapsible trestle for
supporting table tops.
One mode of carrying out this invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing, in
which
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a side view at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of the trestle when folded up, and Figure 4 a second side
view of same, at right angles to Figure 3.
Figure 5 shews a detail of the trestle on an enlarged scale.
The trestle, according to this invention, completely collapsible, in which condi-
tion it is shewn in Figures 3 and 4.
The trestle consists of two legs a and b which stand crosswise when in use, and are
held together by, the horizontal bar d, in such a manner that they cannot spread
further apart than is necessary. This horizontal bar d is hinged to the leg a, in
order that it (d) may be laid parallel to a when in the closed position.
The bar is provided with a wide slit, closed at the bottom by means of a
metal plate z, which likewise is provided with a slit. Through this metal plate
a screw i passes into the upper end of the leg a, as will be seen from Figure 5. The
plate rests against the screw i, for the purpose of limiting the spreading of the
legs a b.
The top end of the other trestle leg b is provided with the pin h, (shewn in
dotted lines in Figure 2) which fits into a suitable hole in the bar d. The screw i
and pin, therefore, together with the bar d, secure the trestle against spreading too
far apart.
As will be seen from Figure 1, of the drawings, the two crossed legs a
of the trestle are in a somewhat slanting position; in order, however, to secure
them against toppling over, the third, short stay c is provided, the upper end
of which may be suitably kept in place by the screw, which also joins the two trestle
legs a b in such a manner as to form a movable joint. In the drawing, this screw is
marked f.
A wedge shaped block g is secured on one of the legs, as for instance, b, in
the manner shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and secures the prop c, when in the spread or
open position, as represented in Figure 1. A pin g¹, which is driven into the block g
secures the prop c against being swung too far on one side, and therefore, when
setting up the trestle, serves as a stopper, to indicate the correct position of the prop
or stay c.
When the trestle is to be folded together, the end of the bar d, which is shewn on
the right of Figure 2, is lifted off the pin h, so that the two legs ab of the trestle
may be brought from the spread or open position into the closed position, as shewn
in Figure 4; then dis also placed longitudinally upon the trestle leg a in the manner
shewn in Figure 5, and, lastly, c is turned round in the direction of the arrow y, until

page_text: it also lies parallel to, and alongside of d. k is a rest or stop which serves to
keep a &b together in a straight line when the trestle is folded down.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A collapsible trestle for supporting table tops, comprising a cross bar placed on
top of the trestle legs which are movable about their centre; said cross har pre-
venting the legs from spreading too far apart, and being connected with one leg, (b),
in an easily detachable manner, and loosely movable about the other leg (a), so that it
may be placed longitudinally upon said legs when the latter are folded together; a
third leg (c), kept in the spread and open position by means of a block or the like, and
loosely connected to the trestle legs alongside; for the purposes described.
2. The collapsible trestle for supporting table tops, substantially as shewn in and
described with reference to the several figures of the drawing.
Dated this 29th day of December 1899
FERDINAND JOHANN MESSING.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.