IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE TABLES
Year: 1868

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by David Lewis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
March 1868.
I, DAVID LEWIS, of Ranelagh Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE TABLES," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
My Invention has reference to the construction of portable tables
(suitable for being employed by railway and other travellers, such as
for dice, chess, draught, or card tables), which admit of being folded
or packed up in the form of an umbrella, tubular case, or walking cane;
and consists in forming the tops of the said tables of strips or laths
of wood or other suitable substance glued or cemented superficially
together in longitudinal joints through the medium of a flexible back
of cloth, leather, or other textile fabrics, so as to enable the same to
be rolled up when not in use, and at the same time present when
opened or extended " by means of bars or stretchers secured to the
underneath surface thereof," a smooth and uniformly finished appearance
as if of one piece of wood, and suitable for being held upon the knees
whilst travelling, employing in connection with the above for excur-
tionists, picnic parties, camp or other purposes, a stand or pole "furnished

page_text: with metallic ribs sliding upon the same in like manner to an umbrella,"
upon the top of which the scroll table is screwed so as to rest upon
the ribs when opened, feet being also fitted to the lower portion of the
said stand; thus in putting the table together for use the scroll is
unrolled and screwed to the top of the pole or stand. The feet are
next taken from a recess in the pole and screwed to the lower portion
thereof. The frame is then opened, forming a rest for the table top,
and when required the whole can be packed away and reconstructed at
pleasure.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by David Lewis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
Petition, on the 24th
March 1868.
I, DAVID LEWIS, of Ranelagh Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE TABLES," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
My Invention has reference to the construction of portable tables
(suitable for being employed by railway and other travellers, such as
for dice, chess, draught, or card tables), which admit of being folded
or packed up in the form of an umbrella, tubular case, or walking cane;
and consists in forming the tops of the said tables of strips or laths
of wood or other suitable substance glued or cemented superficially
together in longitudinal joints through the medium of a flexible back
of cloth, leather, or other textile fabrics, so as to enable the same to
be rolled up when not in use, and at the same time present when
opened or extended "by means of bars or stretchers secured to the
underneath surface thereof," a smooth and uniformly finished appearance
as if of one piece of wood, and suitable for being held upon the knees
whilst travelling, employing in connection with the above for excur-
tionists, picnic parties, camp or other purposes, a stand or pole "furnished

page_text: with metallic ribs sliding upon the same in like manner to an umbrella,"
upon the top of which the scroll table is screwed so as to rest upon
the ribs when opened, feet being also fitted to the lower portion of the
said stand; thus in putting the table together for use the scroll is
unrolled and screwed to the top of the pole or stand. The feet are
next taken from a recess in the pole and screwed to the lower portion
thereof. The frame is then opened, forming a rest for the table top,
and when required the whole can be packed away and reconstructed at
pleasure.