IMPROVEMENTS IN DINING-ROOM, BILLIARD, AND BAGATELLE TABLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DINING-ROOM, BILLIARD, AND BAGATELLE TABLES."
A communication from abroad by Henry Upton Alcock, of Melbourne,
Victoria, Australia, Timber Merchant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN DINING ROOM, BILLIARD,
AND BAGATELLE TABLES." A communication from abroad by Henry Upton
Alcock, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Timber Merchant.
Dining room tables have been so constructed that on removing the leaves a
billiard or bagatelle table is disclosed which is capable of being raised to the proper
height and of being subsequently lowered again by certain contrivances. This
Invention relates, firstly and mainly, to improved contrivances for effecting this
raising and lowering of the said billiard or bagatelle table; and, secondly, to the
making of such tables with sliding extensions.
My improved contrivances for effecting the raising and lowering of such billiard
or bagatelle tables consist in each case of an excentric or cam arranged under each
end of the table, and formed of a wooden leaf pivotted at one end to the main
frame, and operated by means of screws and nuts. In some cases the nuts are
pivotted in the wooden leaves or cams, and the screw is carried by and travels up-
and down with the table, while in other cases the nuts are connected to the said
wooden leaves or cams by forked rods, and the screw is fixed to the frame and is
always stationary.
My improvement relating to the provision of such tables with sliding extensions
consists in making a frame around the outside of one or the other of the tables,
in which other frames with end legs slide and carry such extensions, and in such
11

page_text: case the leaves or tops are placed across the outside frame and across the sliding
frames.
I sometimes place a lifter or cam under the table in the centre in addition to the
end cams above referred to; and in some cases arrange one or two centro legs under
the frame.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn my two arrangements for raising
and lowering the billiard or bagatello table where the main table is not provided
with any extension, and I have also shewn in separato viows my improved method
of rendering the table oxtensible. In each case similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts.
Figure 1 shows a plan of a table arranged for uso as a billiard table, and
constructed with my first arrangement for raising and lowering the same; and
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section theroof.
Figure 2a is a longitudinal section of a portion of the table representing the
same as it appears when ready for the reception of the leaves or top of the dining
table, which are fastened in position by means of slips of wood on their underside
fitting either insido the cushion or outside the billiard table, and hold together by
the usual catches.
Figure 3 is an end view partly in section of Figure 2; and
Figure 4 is a view of the underside of the billiard table proper.
A is the billiard table provided with wings or guides A', which are arranged just
inside of the main frame B on legs B'. The right and left handed screw C works
in a thrust bearing C¹ fixed on the billiard table and in bearings at either end
thereof. On this screw are right and left handed nuts D', pivotted in excentric or
cam lifters D at their upper edge. These lifters consist simply of a piece of wood
planed and smoothed and swivelling on journals at D. D³, D³ are pivot pieces
fastened to the legs B' and main frame B, and carrying the journals D' of the
aforesaid lifters D. D³, D', aro rest pieces at opposite corners of the frame. If
desired, 1 attach a friction roller to each end of the lifter in such a manner as to
receive the thrust when the table is being lifted, and to be relieved of the same
when the lift is completed or very nearly completed.
It will be seen that if the screw be turned in one direction by a handle at its
end, the nuts D' will gradually approach each other, thereby lowering the lifters 1)
until they rest upon the pieces D', and the table appears as shewn in Figuro 2º.
By turning the handle in the other direction the said lifters will raise the table
until it appears as shewn in Figure 2. In this form the screw travels up and down
with the billiard table.
Figure 5 shows a plan of my second arrangement for raising and lowering such
inbles, in which the screw does not travel up and down with the billiard table, but
remains permanently attached to the framing. Figure 6 is longitudinal section
of the same as it appears when the billiard table is lowered and ready for the leaves
or top of the dining table to be placed thereon.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the said table as it appears
when the billiard table is raised into position for use; and
Figure 7 is an end view partly in section of Figure 6. It will be seen that in
this case the construction is substantially the same as that shewn in Figures 1 to 4,
with the exception that the thrust bearing C is fastoned not to the table, but to a
cross pieco B3 of the frame, which also carries the ends of it. In this case the
nuts D' are embraced by a forked rod D' connected with the upper edge of the
lifters D.
The adjustment of the billiard table is attained, as in the arrangement first herein
described, by turning a handle temporarily keyed on the end of the scrow C, so as
to lower the billiard table from the position shewn in Figuro G to that shewn in
Figure 6, where it is in such a position as to permit the loaves of the dining table
to be placed upon it, or vice versa. An extra leg may be placed in the centre under
the cross piece B* if preferred.
Figure 8 is a side elevation partly in section of a table which is similar in

page_text: construction to that shewn in Figures 5 to 7, but has in addition thereto sliding
extensions at either end.
Figure 9 is an end elevation, also partly in section, of the said table.
In this case the means for raising and lowering the billiard table are identical in
principle and construction with that last herein before described, but the extension
at each end is additional, and is made outside of the main frame B and inside of a
second frame BS by means of a sliding frame E supported on legs El, as shown. In
these Figures I have shewn the extra leg in the centre, herein before referred to
In Figure 10, which is an elevation partly in section, I have shewn a third lifter
placed under the billiard table; this lifter may be employed with or without a
centre leg; this lifter, which is shewn at Do, is the same in principle as those
hereinbefore described, motion being imparted to the same by means of links D7
connected with one of the other lifters D.
In every case the leaves of the table which form the dining table are placed over
the billiard table, and are kept in position by means of slips of wood on their
underside, which fit either inside the cushion or outside the billiard table, as above
described, such leaves being held together by the usual catches. In every case these
leaves have to be lifted off before the billiard table can be used.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I do not claim broadly the construction of tables which are convertible at
will into a billiard or dining table by raising and lowering parts of the same, but
I claim,―
First. The special contrivances herein described for raising and lowering dining
room, billiard, or bagatelle tables, the said contrivances consisting essentially of
excentrics or cams which serve as lifters (with or without piston rollers), and scrows
and nuts for operating the said lifters.
Second. The construction of dining room, billiard, or bagatelle tables with sliding
extensions, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ITM DADT TR