Improvements in Collapsible Tables for Railway Carriages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Collapsible Tables for Railway Carriages.
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL LAYCOCK, of Victoria Street, in the City of Sheffield,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of a collapsible table affixed to the
inside of the door of Railway Carriages for the convenience of passengers, and
which will not interfere with the opening of the door when the table is raised and
in position for use.
I propose to hinge the part which forms the table, to the door frame just below
the sash opening in such a manner that when not in use it can hang vertically
against the inside of the door, and when raised it will extend horizontally and
centrally between the seats of the compartment, but at a higher level.
To a forward part of the table on the underside, I pin-joint one end of a
supporting stay, which is hinged near its centre, its lower end being similarly
jointed to the door frame in such a position that the stay when opened out straight
will be at a suitable angle for supporting the table.
The formation of the hinge prevents any farther movement.
A short bar which I call a retainer is hinged to the underside of the table near
the door frame, and engages with the part of the stay above the hinge.
This retainer finds its lowest point by gravity and locks the two parts of the
stay, and when raised by the hand it causes the two parts of the stay to move out
of a straight line at the hinge and permits the table to descend.
Instead of the table being separate and fixed to the side of the door, it may form
part of the door casing when closed.
Dated the 4th day of November 1896.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL LAYCOCK of Victoria Street in the City of Sheffield,
Manufacturer 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 the construction of a collapsible or let-down tab'e
affixed to the inside of the door of railway Carriages, or made to form a part
thereof, for the convenience of passengers, and which when the table itself is

page_text: short will not interfere with the opening of the door when the table is raised
for use.
It also refers to an extensible part of the said table which may be added thereto
if desired...
The drawing hereto annexed illustrates the manner in which the invention is
carried into practice.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of such a table, and
Fig. 2, represents the same table closed.
I make the table A, of any kind of wood or other material, and hinge it at A³,
to the door frame B, or to a fixture thereto in such a manner that when not in use
it can hang vertically against or near to the door as shown in Fig. 2, and when
raised it will extend horizontally and centrally between the seats of the compart-
ment at a convenient height for use.
To a forward part upon the underside of the table A, I fix a bracket C³, to
which I pinjoint one arm C, of a supporting stay, and to the door frame I fix
another bracket D2, to which I pin joint another arm D, connecting the two by a
central joint having a stop piece 13, which prevents the two arms C & D, moving
beyond a straight line as shown in Fig. 1.
To retain the arms in the open position and prevent the return movement of the
arms C&D, and the accidental collapse of the table by an upward movement of a
passengers knee or the like, I pivot to the bracket E a swing bar or retainer E,
with a slot, opening, or bifurcation at its lower end through which the arm C,
can easily slide.
It is proveded on each side with a ring F, or other convenient means by which
it can be raised by the hand, which action causes the parts C & D, to move out of
a straight line and permits the table to descend.
When the table is raised the retainer falls into position by gravity, and thus
automatically locks the stay in position.
In some cases I make an extending end piece to the table; this extension G,
I prefer to secure to the table by hinges having bracket shaped projections H, to
give additional support to the extension, and when the said tables are constructed
to meet in the centre of the compartment I clamp or bolt them together by any
convenient means or device.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
clair is:-
1. A collapsible or folding table consisting of two parts A and G hinged
together at H, with hinges having extended supports, and supported by a jointed
stay C, D, provided with a locking arm E, constructed and acting as hereinbefore
described and shown..
2. In the mechanism for sustaining a fall-down or collapsible table, a combined
bracket C, and hinge H, to which the extension piece G is attached, as herein-
before described and shown.
3. The combination with a railway carriage door of a collapsible table con-
structed substantially as herein before described.
Dated the 4th day of August 1897
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.