Improvements in Tables and like Supports.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by AUGUSTUS HOWARD JONES, of Meriden, New Haven,
Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Tables and like Supports.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex 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 that class of tables which are constructed of metal, that
is, with metal legs, and a metal top, which top sometimes adapted to receive a plate
or covering of other material.
In the more general construction of this class of tables the top is small and the
lower ends of the legs are turned outward so as to project a considerable distance
beyond the edge of the table, to give a firm support for the table.
In transportation, because of this turned out form of the legs, the tables occupy
a very large space in proportion to actual bulk, so that the expense of packing and
transportation is very much increased over what would be the case were the packages
less bulky.
The object of this invention is to construct the table so that the legs may be
turned inward in packing but readily turned outward when the table is set up, and
the invention consists in connecting the legs at the upper end with the table, so as to
form a pivot in axial line with the upper portion of the leg, the said pivot is
constructed to permit the legs to be withdrawn from the top, the lowers ends of the
legs are turned outward, and the said legs pass through a support at some distance
below the table, by which the spread of the legs may be prevented, the said support
being stationary with reference to the top of the table, but the legs are movable
vertically through the said support, and the support is constructed with a recess at
the opening, through which the legs pass, and the legs are constructed with corre-
sponding studs which will engage with the said recesses in the support when the legs
are turned outward and prevent the rotation of the legs, but so that when the legs
are withdrawn a short distance from the top, the said studs will pass out of said
recesses and their rotation be permitted, so that the turned out portion of the legs
may be reversed in position and brought into a contracted space, as hereinafter
described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side view of a table embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section through a portion of the top showing the extensible
connection between the leg and top.
Figure 3 is a modification in the extensible connection between the leg and top.
Figure 4 is a side view of the table as employed for a lamp standard.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the top shewing a modification in the
extensible connection between the top and legs.
Figure 6 is a vertical section through the support, and shewing a portion of one
leg illustrating the engagement of the leg with the supports.
Figure 7 is an underside view of a portion of the support at the leg shewing the
parts in the position seen in Figure 6.
A represents the table-top, which may be of any of the usual constructions or
material. B B represent the legs, which are also of the usual form, generally cylin-
drical in shape, attached by their upper end to the top, and their lower end curved
outward, as clearly seen in Figure 1. Crepresents a support, which is attached to
the table top, so as to be stationary with relation thereto, said support being in a
horizontal plane, and so that the legs B run through a corresponding opening in the

page_text: supports, as seen in Fig. 6. The top is constructed upon its under side with recesses a,
into which the upper end of the legs is adapted to enter as a pivot upon which the
legs may rotate. The legs are secured to the top by a screw or bolt, say as 6 Fig. 2
introduced through the top of the table, and screwed into the upper end of the leg,
so that the legs will be drawn into the recess in the top of the table, and be there
firmly seated.
The legs usually diverge somewhat from the table to the support C, the outward
curve commencing below the said support, as represented.
At the openings in the support through which the legs run, a notch d is made,
preferably upon the inner and under side so as not to be exposed, and into the legs
a stud e is introduced, here represented as a common screw, which corresponds to the
said recesses, and so that when a leg is drawn to its place, its stud will stand in said
recess, as seen in Figure 6, the position of the stud and recess being such that when
the interlocking has taken place, the leg will stand in its normal position, that is, with
the curve outward.
The table thus constructed stands firm, as in the usual construction.
When it is desired to pack the table, or to prepare the table for storage. the screw b
is withdrawn from each leg, as indicated in broken lines Figure 2, which will permit
the legs to be drawn away from the table-top until the studs e are out of the notches,
as seen in broken lines Figure 6, then the legs may be rotated until the curve is
inward, as represented in broken lines Figure 1, when the screw may be again reset,
so as to substantially hold the legs in that position.
It is not necessary to provide a notch for the stud in this contracted position, as
the stud may simply rest against the under side of the support, and the leg drawn
up by the screw sufficient to simply confine the leg, then when it is required for use,
the operation is reversed, and the parts brought to their normal condition.
In the construction as seen in Figure 2 a detachable top D is provided, which
covers the heads of the screws.
The devices for attaching the legs to the top may be various, as for illustration as
seen in Figure 3, where a screw-threaded sleeve E is arranged to slide over the end
of the leg, and the leg constructed with an annular flange, which will set into the
recess, the recess threaded corresponding to the sleeve, and so that screwing the
sleeve into the recess, will draw the leg to a bearing on the table-top; in this case
there need be no opening through the top of the table.
Or, it may be as seen in Figure 5, the leg B constructed with a screw-shank
which extends through the top of the table, and an ornamental nut, as F, set
thereon.
This last construction is particularly adapted for tables or supports for standard
lamps, as seen in Figure 4, in this case the top is of small area, and the standard
passes through the table top to the support below, and makes the connection between
the support and the top. This is a class of lamps well known, and of a table like
character, embodying this invention.
This illustration will be sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to apply it to
various purposes for which it is adapted, therefore while describing the invention as
a table, lables or like supports for any purpose are to be understood as included.
It will also be understood that the invention is not to be understood as limited
to any particular connection between the legs and the table-top, it only being
essential that that connection shall be extensible for the purposes which have been
described.
Having now particularly, described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my Foreign Correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
The herein described improvement in metal tables, consisting of a top, combined
with several legs, a support below the table top, and through which the legs pass, the
legs curved outward below the said supports, and rotatable in said supports, the legs
connected to the table at their upper ends by an extensible pivot, and the supports

page_text: corre-
below constructed with a notch upon their under side, and the legs with a
sponding stud, the said studs and notches adapted to interlock when the legs are in
the turned out position substantially as described and whereby the said legs upon
being withdrawn from the top may be turned to bring the curve inward.
Dated this 30th day of July 1889.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.