IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING TABLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Vaughan and Samuel George Vaughan,
both of Old Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING TABLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Vaughan and
Samuel George Vaughan at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
14th February 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY VAUGHAN and SAMUEL GEORGE VAUGHAN, both of Old Street,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOLDING
TABLES."
This Invention consists in improvements in the construction of folding tables,
whereby the same while in use present a level and strong surface, and when not in.
use can be folded into a small, secure, and portable form.
The legs or supports of the table are four in number, and are pivoted together in
pairs connected by a cross bar in such a manner that each leg or support in one.
pair when extended is parallel to the corresponding leg of the other pair. One
side of the top or head of the table is connected by means of a bar and staples or
any other suitable or known contrivance to the upper ends of the legs supporting
the same in such a manner that when the four legs are closed into a position
parallel to each other the top or head of the table will turn on the above mentioned.
connection and fall into a position against the sides of the legs.
The ends of the legs to which the top of the table is connected, as before described,
are bevilled, so that in arranging the table for use the top thereof is slightly inclined
below the desired horizontal position. The opposite legs are then brought to bear
against the inclined surfaces of a wedge shaped projection or projections on the
underside of the top, and passing over the said wedge shaped projection or pro-
jections spring into position against the enlarged ends thereof. The top of the
table is thereby raised to and firmly secured in the desired horizontal position.
By preference in order to more securely maintain the table in position for use the
enlarged ends of the wedge shaped projection or projections are made concave, the
rail at the ends of the legs being so formed as to correspond therewith.

page_text: Our said Invention.consists in improvements in the construct
whereby-the-same-while-in-use are caused to present a level and firm surface, whilst
when not in use they can be folded into a small and conveniently portable form.
The legs or supports of the table are four in number, and are pivoted together in
pairs connected by a cross bar, in such a manner that each leg or support in one
pair when extended is parallel to the corresponding leg or support of the other pair,
and the upper ends thereof are connected by a bar or rail. One side of the top of
the table is connected by means of loops or staples to one of the last mentioned
rails, or it is otherwise attached to the upper ends of the legs supporting it, in such
a manner that when the four legs are closed into a position parallel to each other
the top of the table will turn by means of the above mentioned connection or
attachment, and fall into a position against the sides of the legs.
The ends of the legs to which the top of the table is connected, as before described,
are bevilled, so that in arranging the table for use the top thereof is slightly inclined
below the desired horizontal position. The opposite legs or the bar or rail con-
necting the same are or is then brought to bear against the inclined surface of a
wedge shaped projection or projections on the underside of the top of the table,
and passing over the said wedge shaped projection or projections spring or springs
into position against the enlarged end or ends thereof. The top of the table is
thereby raised to and firmly secured in the desired horizontal position. By pre-
ference in order to more securely maintain the table in position for use the enlarged
end or ends of the wedge shaped projection or projections is or are made concave,
the rail connecting the ends of the legs being so formed as to correspond therewith.
We will now proceed to refer to the accompanying Drawings, from which the
nature of our said Invention will be more clearly understood. Figure 1 is a view
of the under side of the top of the table with the legs folded, and Figure 2 is a per-
The same letters of reference
spective view of the table fixed in position for use.
indicate like parts in both Figures.
A is the top of the table; B, the cross bar connecting the legs; C are the loops
for connecting the rail D to the top of the table; E is the wedge shaped projection;
and F, the rail, which when the legs are extended spring into position against the
wedge shaped projection E, as shown in Figure 2.
.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention and the
manner in which it is to be performed, we would observe in conclusion that what
we consider novel and original and therefore-claim-as constituting the Invention
secured to us by the said herein before in part recited Letters Patent are,-
The improvements in the construction of folding tables, substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described and set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Henry Vaughan and Samuel
George Vaughan, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirteenth
day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and