Improvements in Extensible Counters, Tables, and Desks.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extensible Counters, Tables, and Desks.
I, JULES LOUIS VICTOR ROUGEAUX of Rue des Acacias, Paris, France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of extensible counter table or
desk capable of being extended or contracted at will by the insertion or removal of
one or more of a series of leaves which are so connected together and with the
operative mechanism that their insertion and removal and stowage away when not
in position for use are effected by mechanical means without necessitating any
handling of the leaves in the operation.
The top of the counter, table, or desk, is supported on pedestals, preferably three
in number, the leaves not in use being stowed within the two end ones whilst the
operating mechanism is mounted in the middle one. The intermediate parts of the
top are formed by series of leaves supported on pairs of guide rails fixed to
the extreme pedestals, the two pairs of rails being fitted to slide through guides
beneath the top of the middle pedestal and each rail being composed of two sections
working telescopically within each other so as to admit of the three pedestals being
brought up close together side by side when the article is in its most contracted
form. The motion of these supporting rails and end pedestals in opposite directions
at opposite sides of the middle pedestal is effected by a winch handle turning
through bevel gear a pinion mounted in the middle pedestal and gearing at opposite
sides with two rack rods fixed to the two end pedestals.
The leaves of each series are all connected to a pair of chains made fast at one
end to the middle pedestal and at the other to the last leaf of the series, so that as
the frame-work is extended the leaves are successively drawn into position. The
leaves which are not in use are contained within the upper part of the end pedestal
which has a hinged flap in its top, to allow of the ingress and egress of the series of
leaves, and the guiding and supporting rails above mentioned are inclined down-
wards within the upper part of the pedestal so that the leaves rest thereon and
when the framing is extending they are caused to ride up the inclined guide rails
and so brought up in succession to the level of the top. The leaves fit together by
dowelled joints, and, to further prevent their displacement when pressed into close
contact, each leaf is provided with a pair of spring latches at the underside adapted
to engage beneath and bear against the inner faces of the guide rails, for which
purpose the latter are cranked in the lateral direction near the top of the inclined
portion so that on reaching the level of the top the leaves will be truly aligned and
held down by such engagement of the latches with the rails, but when stowed away
within the pedestal they will become detached from the rails and rest loosely on
one another.
I have described the invention as it would be applied to a long counter supported
on three pedestals, the parts being duplicated at opposite sides of the middle
pedestal, but it will be obvious that one set would be dispensed with when applying
the invention to a table or desk supported on two pedestals only.
10.נ..מ
1
1 1000
J. L. V. ROUGEAUX,
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
İmprovements in Extensible Counters, Tables, and Desks.
I, JULES LOUIS VICTOR ROUGEAUX of 32 Avenue de la Grande Armée, Paris
formerly of 8 Rue des Acacias, Paris in the Republic of France, 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 shops, for example, counters occupy much space which is not always utilized,
resulting in considerable hindrance and inconvenience in the handling and delivery
of goods.
To obviate this difficulty I have invented a new and improved system of furniture
by allowing of the optional extension or elongation by successive insertion of a
series of lengthening-pieces or leaves connected together.
The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example only, the application
of my invention to an article of furniture, such as a counter, it being clearly under-
stood that I am in no way limited to the same, in point of details accessory appliances,
or applications.
In the said drawing
-
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, giving a general view of the
application of my system to a counter, prior to its elongation.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same, viewed from underneath, part being shown in
horizontal section.
Figure 3 shows the same in elevation, partly in section, after the elongation has
been effected.
Figure 4 is a plan partly in horizontal section, viewed from underneath.
In all these figures the same letters of reference indicate the same parts.
In the example illustrated, the counter consists of a central portion a and two
end portions 6 the latter fitted with suitable hinged flaps c; the spaces intervening
between the centre and two end portions respectively, as they are gradually enlarged
during the elongation of the counter receive and are filled up by the leaves or
lengthening-pieces e as they successively come into position on the sliding longi
tudinal bearers d; the simultaneous outward displacement, of the end portions b
being brought about by the racks and pinions operated by the crank-handle f
Figure 1.
For the reverse action, the crank-handle is turned in the opposite direction,
whereupon the leaves e successively, but in reversed order, drop and are withdrawn
to their original positions, one above the other, within the end portions, wherein
they lie concealed; while simultaneously the end portions bare drawn gradually
inwards towards the centre portion, the longitudinal bearers d at the same time
sliding back to their primary place in the interior of the central portion a of the
counter.
Assuming the counter to be in its original or contracted position and form, as
shown in Figures 1 and 2, the first part of the elongating operation consists in the
application of the crank-handle f to the square end of the shaft / commanding the
geared pinions & and racks g.
The handle is then turned in the proper direction so that by means of the bevel-
gear and spur-pinion k, enclosed in a suitable casing the racks 9 are moved
outwards and cause the two end portions 6 to move away from the central portion a
simultaneously. When the portions 6 have been moved slightly outwards from a
the flaps e are turned back on the top of . At the same time as the parts b are
moved outwards the longitudinal bearers d are drawn also outwards through the
slides din centre part a and by their form and action, cause the first or uppermost
of the leaves or lengthening-pieces e and the others in succession as they pass
beneath them, to rise into position at the top of the counter. When the last or
lowest of the leaves e is brought up into the horizontal position, completing the

page_text: extension of the counter, the hinged flaps c must be closed down, and the crank-
handle turned slightly in the reverse direction, sufficient to tighten up the leaves
and bring the tongues of the leaves home to their seats in the corresponding
mortices terminating the operation and producing an elongated counter with a close
and solidly fitting top, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.
In order that the extension-pieces or leaves e thus successively laid in juxta-
position should be evenly and solidly joined together as well as with the central
and end portions of the counter-top, they are each provided with a tongue on the
side nearest the centre piece a and groove on the other side, the side edges of the
top of the centre part a being grooved and the edges of the hinged flaps nearest
the centre part a tongued, as shown in Figure 1, so that the whole shall fit together
on the tongue and groove principle, and prevent the leaves from buckling; further
also a spring stop m fixed, on the underside of each leaf, presses against the
longitudinal bearers d so as to prevent lateral displacement of the leaf.
Small chains, fixed at one end to the central part a of the counter and at the
other end to the last or outermost of the leaves e pass through guides o fixed on the
underside of each leaf, and thus draw each successive leaf of the series into position,
during the extending operation.
To bring back the counter to its original contracted form and condition, as shown
in Figures 1 and 2, the hinged flaps, having first been released by a reverse or
extension turn of the crank-handle, are raised; and by turning the crank-handle in
the opposite direction to that employed for the elongation, the racks 9 are drawn
inwards causing the simultaneous approach to the central part a of the two end
portions while, at the same time, the longitudinal bearers d, the outward move-
ment of which is limited by the stops p, slide back within the central body a,
causing the successive lowering, on to the bearers of the leaves e in due order, one
below the other, as shown at the right hand end of Figure 1. The closing of the
hinged flaps and tightening of the contracted counter top, through the medium of
the crank handle completes the operation of restoring the counter to its smaller
size.
In the drawings I have illustrated my invention as applied to a counter, by way
of example; and it must be understood that I can equally well apply it to other
kinds of furniture, such as desks, tables, and the like, without departing from the
spirit of the invention also that instead of constructing the table or counter so as to
be extended on both sides of the central part a may construct it so as to be
extended on one side only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An extensible shop-counter desk table or other article of furniture which
when extended has a series of flexibly connected leaves or lengthening-pieces
jointed together in firm connection with the body of the article of furniture auto-
matically and successively inserted in the top substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In extensible furniture the combination with two parts such as a b adjustable
in relation to each other of a series of flexibly connected leaves such as e and
extensible guides and bearers such as d substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
3. In extensible furniture the combination with two parts such as a badjustable
in relation to each other and a series of leaves such as e flexibly connected to them
and to each other of a flap such as c forming part of the top of one of the parts
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In extensible furniture the combination with two parts such as a badjustable
in relation to each other and a series of leaves such as e flexibly connected to them
and to each other of a rack and pinion extending device such as gk substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
extensible shop counter or table substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of October 1893.
JULES LOUIS VICTOR ROUGEAUX,
32, Avenue de la Grande Armée.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.
JULES LOUIS VICTOR ROUGEAUX,
32, Avenue de la Grande Armée.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.