Year: 1897

page_text: I, GEORGE HERBERT SHEPHERD, of the Rose and Crown Hotel, Trowbridge, in
the County of Wilts, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
-
In playing cards or other games where the use of counters or coins is necessary
it is found inconvenient to carry such in the pocket or to place them loose on the
table or in movable receptacles such as trays placed thereon, and my invention is
designed so as to provide a table provided with special receptacles secured to the
underside of the table top so as to be out of view and capable of being immediately
drawn or turned outwards ready to the hand of the player when required. I may
also provide slides or rests to be drawn or turned outwardly for use on which
glasses, pipes or other articles may be placed so as not to interfere with the cards
or other devices used in playing the game. My improved table is also constructed
so that the top may be removed from the legs for the purpose of storage or transit.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to construct my table with a circular top
which may be covered with baize or other material if desirable, or other shaped
top may be used, said top being supported by a central stem or shaft having its
upper portion screwed or threaded, the centre of the table top or boss attached
being correspondingly screwed or threaded to receive said stem. The lower
portion of stem has a boss or solid part in which at intervals are formed holes
into which engage the ends of the bent or curved arms of three or more legs or
claws so that the various parts may be taken to pieces or put together at will.
To the underside of the top I secure near the edge a number (say four for whist)
of metal quadrants or semicircular strips or bars of metal each being secured with
a small block at the ends or bent up so that the intermediate part of the quadrant
does not touch the underside of table. I may form also four pockets of wood or
metal or other suitable material having an arm projecting therefrom which I
pivot to the underside of the table at or near the centre of the semicircular strip
of metal and so that said arm which may be flattened for the purpose may rest on
and ride on said strip or bar, or I may form my pockets with a long flat arm
resting and travelling in a flat housing or channel secured to the underside of the
table so as to be drawn out or pushed in-in a direct line towards the centre. I
may also provide flat slides or rests to push in under table or draw out on which
glasses or other articles may be placed.
Square tables with four legs or more or less may be treated in a similar manner.
1004

page_text: Improved Table for use in Playing Cards or for analogous purposes.
I, GEORGE HERBERT SHEPHERD, of the Rose and Crown Hotel, Trowbridge, in
the County of Wilts, Licensed Victualler, 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:
In playing cards or other games where counters or coins are used it is inconvenient
to place such in the pocket of the dress, as this involves trouble in frequently
adding to or taking from one's store. Equally objectionable is the placing them
either loose on the table, or in movable receptacles, such as trays, placed thereon. Now
in my invention the table is provided with special receptacles which are secured
to the underside of the table top in such manner that while normally out of view
i.c. when not in use, they are capable of being quickly and easily drawn or turned
outwards into positions convenient for the hand of the player when required.
Instead of bowls or other receptacles for coins or counters I in some cases provide
slides, rests or shelves which may be attached to the underside of the table in the
same manner, and used for the purpose of supporting glasses, pipes or other
articles.
The table may be so constructed that the top may easily be detached from the
legs for the purpose of storage and transit.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood and ascertained I
append drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the underside of a table having four cups or
receptacles attached in such manner as to be capable of being turned outwards.
Fig. 2 is a plan of part of the underside of table shewing one receptacle turning
and one sliding outwards.
A indicates the table top, formed preferably of wood, which is fitted in such
manner that it may be easily and conveniently attached to, or detached from, the
legs or stand. The table top shewn is circular, and has fixed rigidly to its under
side five quadrantal fittings C preferably formed of metal which form guides for
arms D each of which is pivoted to the table at the point d; the outer ends of these
arms form rings d' which serve to support the bowls or receptacles E in which the
coins or tokens are placed. The arms D are made of such size as to turn freely
on their pivots d underneath the guides C so as either to occupy a position under-
neath the table, as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 2, or projecting from the table
as shewn in full lines, as ready for use. G indicates a drawer attached to the table.
It will be seen that by the use of this arrangement the cups can easily be swung
outwards for use, or inwards when not required.
The turning device is shewn in connection with one cup or receptacle on the
right hand side of Fig. 2, but on the left hand side an alternative method of attach-
ing the arm is shewn. In this case the ring d is attached to a straight arm H
which slides in guides I fixed to the underside of the table. In this case the arm
is capable of sliding longitudinally out and in, instead of turning out and in on
the pivot d; in other respects the operation is precisely similar.
I preferably employ a table having a circular, top which may be covered with
baize or other material if desired; but any other shaped top which is convenient
and suitable may be employed. It may be attached to the legs or stand by means
of the upper portion of the central stem screwed so as to fit a corresponding female
screw, which is rigidly attached to the table top. Or the positions may be reversed.
It is obvious that instead of cups or receptacles, slides, rests or shelves may be
attached to the ends of the arms in such manner as to either turn or slide in or
out from under the table.

page_text: Tables of any shape may be employed having any convenient number of legs.
In some cases I attach shelves B to the underside of the table by means of
hanging brackets b, which are fitted in such manner, by means of screws, that they
can easily be detached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. A table for use in playing cards or for other similar purposes, having cups,
receptacles, slides or shelves attached to it in such manner that they can either
be moved underneath the table top so as to be hidden thereby, or caused to pro-
trude therefrom when required for use, substantially as described and shewn.
2. A table for use in playing cards or for other similar purposes, in which one
or more receptacles or shelves are attached pivotally to the underside of the table
top in such manner that they can either be moved underneath the table top
so as to be hidden thereby, or caused to protrude therefrom when required for
use, substantially as described and shewn.
3. A table for use in playing cards or for other similar purposes, in which one or
more receptacles or shelves are attached to the underside of the table top in such
manner as to be capable of sliding either underneath, so as to be hidden thereby,
or caused to protrude therefrom when required for use, substantially as described
and shewn.
Dated this 20th day of April 1898.
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.