Improvements in or relating to Cabinets, Tables, or the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Cabinets, Tables, or the like.
1, LEONARD HAYWOOD ELLINGTON, trading as Ellington and Company, of
384, Broad Street, Golden Square, in the County of London, Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to improvements in, or relating to, cabinets, tables,
or the like, and is more particularly applicable to what are known as "surprise
tables, that is to say tables in which an inner case or tray is normally concealed
beneath two hinged flaps forming the cover, bat which flaps, on being opened,
cause the case or tray to rise automatically and expose its contents.
In tables of this kind, as usually constructed, care has to be taken to open the
two flaps at an equal rate, as otherwise one end of the case or tray is liable to be
tilted, so endangering the contents, or it may be that the tray becomes jammed and
suddenly checks the opening of the flaps.
Now my invention is designed to overcome this difficulty, and to ensure the even
movements of the various parts without requiring special care or attention in
opening the flaps.
For this purpose, I attach, to the inner case or tray, any suitable parallel motion
arrangement, so as to ensure such case or tray always remaining practically parallel
to its original position while being raised or opened.
According to one arrangement, the parallel motion may consist of a pair of
parallel bars arranged like those of a parallel ruler, but having the connecting
arms crossing each other like the arms of a lazy tongs. These connecting arms
are pivotted together where they cross, and at their extremities are provided pins
working in slots in the parallel bars to give the necessary play. In applying this
arrangement to a table, one parallel bar is secured to the stationary part of the
table, and the other to the inner case or tray, and, in this instance, the arrangement
may conveniently be placed centrally of the said inner case or tray. Obviously,
however, two or more such arrangements might be applied in any convenient
positions, say for example one at each end of the case or tray.
Or the parallel bars might be dispensed with, and the slots or grooves be formed
in the frame and in the tray.
The invention may be applied to existing cabinets, tables, or the like.
Dated this 3rd day of Tawan- 1900

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Cabinets, Tables, or the like.
I, LEONARD HAYWOOD ELLINGTON, trading as Ellington and Company, of
384 Broad Street, Golden Square, in the County of London, Manufacturers, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
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My invention has reference to improvements in, or relating to, cabinets, table, or
the like, and is more particularly applicable to what are known as "surprise"
tables, that is to say, tables in which an inner case or tray is normally concealed
beneath two hinged flaps forming the cover, but which flaps, on being opened, cause
the case or tray to rise automatically and expose its contents.
In tables of this kind, as usually constructed, care has to be taken to open the
two flaps at an equal rate, as otherwise one end of the case or tray is liable to be
tilted, so endangering the contents; or it may be that the tray becomes jammed
and suddenly checks the opening of the flaps.
Now, my invention is designed to overcome this difficulty and to ensure the even
movements of the various parts, without requiring special care or attention in
opening the flaps.
For this purpose, I attach to the inner case or tray, any suitable parallel motion
arrangement, so as to ensure such case or tray always remaining practically parallel
to its original position while being raised or lowered.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe the
same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a "surprise
table constructed according to my
invention, and provided with a parallel motion, the parts heing shown in the
positions they occupy when the table is closed.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding sectional view showing the parts in the positions they
occupy when the table is open, the flaps being broken away.
Figs. 3 and 4 are underside views of certain details hereinafter referred to, and
Fig. 5 shows the application of a spring to the parallel motion arrangement.
a is the body of the "surprise" table, b is its inner case or tray, and c, c, are the
flaps of the table top, which are connected, in the usual manner, with the inner case
or tray, by links or bars d, working in guides (not shown), the arrangement being
such that, when the flaps c, c, are turned back, the inner case or tray b is raised
into its highest position and rests there securely.
e, e, are a pair of connecting arms forming the parallel motion, which are arranged
centrally of the said inner case or tray, and by wbich the latter is controlled in its
ascending and descending movements, and its horizontality.preserved.
These arms are pivotted together at f, and are provided at their extremities with
pins g. h, h', are parallel slots in which the said pins work, these slots being of
sufficient length to allow of the pins sliding therein under the influence of the
radial motion of the arms e. The slots are formed in brass pieces i secured to the
under side of the inner case or tray b, while the slots ' are formed in brass pieces i
carried on the inner sides of a pair of bars k extending across underneath the table.
The arrangement of the parts i, i, aud k is shown in detail in underside view in
Figs. 3 and 4, the bars e being broken away in these figures for the sake of
clearness.
It will be readily understood that, owing to the arms being pivotted together a
their centres at f, the parts in which the slots h are formed can only move paralle
to the parts in which the slots ¹ are formed, and hence the horizontality of the
inner case or tray is preserved.

page_text: Obviously both of the slots h could be formed in a single bar secured to the
underside of the inner case or tray, and also both slots h¹ could be similarly formed
in a single bar corresponding in position with the bars k. Moreover, instead of
there being only one parallel motion arrangement, placed centrally of the inner
case or tray, as described, two such arrangements might be employed, and situated,
say, one at each side thereof, either in place of, or in addition to, the central one.
Furthermore, the slots in which the pins work might be formed in the body of the
table, and in the inner case or tray, instead of in separate parts attached to them.
In some cases I may provide a tension spring in order to make the inner case or
tray work more smoothly, and to balance the weight of the same. Such an
arrangement is indicated in Fig. 5, in which the lower parts of the arms e are
connected to the ends of a spiral spring 1, this spring tending to draw the said
lower parts of the arms together, and thereby to thrust up the inner case or tray
which is attached to the arms at their upper part, as above described. By
regulating the strength of the spring 1, it is therefore possible, in this manner, to
almost neutralize entirely the weight of the inner case or tray, and in cases where
such an arrangement is employed, suitable means may, if desired, be provided for
varying the tension of the spring.
The invention may be applied to existing cabinets, tables, or the like, having a
rising and falling portion such as the inner case or tray b.
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. In a cabinet, surprise-table, or like article, the means for ensuring the even
movements of the case or tray, and so preventing jamming of the same on opening
the flaps, substantially as described.
2. In a cabinet, surprise-table, or like article, the combination with the inner
case or tray, of a parallel motion arrangement, substantially as described and
shown, and for the purposes set forth.
3. In a cabinet, surprise-table, or like article, the combination with a parallel
motion arrangement, of a tension spring for counterbalancing the weight of the
inner case or tray, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 5 of the
annexed drawings.
4. My improvements in or relating to cabinets, tables, or the like, substantially
as hereinbefore described, and as shown in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 9th da Dah 1000
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 54, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.