IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CABINETS OR STANDS FOR SEWING MACHINES AND LIKE ARTICLES A
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 AND RELATING TO CABINETS OR STANDS FOR SEWING
MACHINES AND LIKE ARTICLES A communication from abroad by Amos
Fitz Gerald, of Fairfield, Maine, United States of America,
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CABINETS
OR STANDS FOR SEWING MACHINES AND LIKE ARTICLES [A communication from
abroad by Amos Fitz Gerald, of Fairfield, Maine, United States of America,]
"
This invention relates to that class of tables or stands for sewing machines and
like articles which have revolving top portions upon which the machines or other
articles are mounted, to afford means for concealing the machines or other articles
when desirable and the object of the said invention is to improve such tables or
stands in certain particulars.
The said invention comprises the combination with a table or stand having a
rail-like top-portion, of a revolving top-portion carrying a machine and pivoted
within the rail-like portion, a cover for this revolving portion hinged to the same,
a stop for supporting said cover when the revolving portion is turned to bring the
machine right side up, a wheel for transmitting motion to the machine so arranged
that it will guide the cover to the stop when the revolving portion is turned to
bring the machine right side up, and a catch for retaining the revolving portion in
position.
The said invention also comprises the combination with a table or stand having
a rail-like top portion and a revolving portion pivoted within the same, of a
machine or other article fitted in an opening in the revolving portion and hinges
or their equivalents and a catch for securing the machine to said portion so that
DC11

page_text: it may be dropped through the opening to facilitate the turning of the revolving
portion with it through the rail-like portion.
It also comprises certain novel details in the construction of the revolving top
portion and its cover whereby convenient provision is afforded for preventing the
driving belt from dropping through the revolving top portion when thrown off the
machine and for concealing the belt when the revolving top portion is inverted.
It also comprises the combination with a table or stand having a revolving top
portion carrying a machine, of an oil drip-cup which turns or revolves with said
revolving top portion, and has its edges reverted or turned inwards so that when
turned upside down they will catch and retain the oil contained within the cup.
In carrying the said invention into practice the body portion of the table or
stand is made in the form of a box or case so as to give to the table or stand the
appearance of a cabinet. The top consists of a rail-like portion affixed to the
upper end of the body portion and a revolving portion which is centrally pivoted
within the rail-like portion. This revolving portion carries a sewing machine and
is made to revolve so that the machine may be elevated above the table or stand
for use, or may be depressed within the same to conceal it and enable the table or
stand to be used for ordinary purposes. This revolving portion is provided with
an opening into which the machine is set, and other openings through which
passes a belt for transmitting motion to the machine, from driving mechanism
arranged below it. In order to conceal these openings when the revolving portion
is inverted there is combined with the revolving portion a cover which is hinged
to one of the longitudinal edges of the revolving portion. It is desirable that the
revolving portion when turned right side up so as to present the sewing machine
for use, shall be flush with the rail-like portion and that when inverted and
concealed by the cover the latter shall be flush with the rail-like portion. In order
to accomplish this the pivots of the revolving portion are arranged nearer the
under side than the upper side. The said portion is therefore raised and lowered
bodily when revolved. When the revolving portion is turned upside down the
cover falls over it and conceals it, and with the rail-like portion, forms a flush top.
On its free edge the cover is preferably provided with pins, which, when the
revolving portion is inverted, engage with recesses in the adjacent part of the rail-
like portion of the top and in that way the cover is held down. The edge of the
revolving portion to which the cover is hinged engages with catches on the rail-
like portion and is thereby held in position. The catches may be manipulated on
opening the doors forming the front of the body portion of the table or stand.
When the revolving portion is turned right side up the cover drops against a wheel
from which motion is imparted to the sewing machine and is thereby guided to a
stop arranged on the back of the body portion and rests on the same. The edge of
the revolving portion then brought forward is secured by the catches.
The driving mechanism may be of any suitable kind, consisting for instance of
treadles connected by a rod to a wrist or crank on the wheel. Oftentimes it is
desirable to use a very high sewing machine and if the machine is mounted rigidly
on a revolving top portion in a table or stand the latter must be made exceedingly
wide to enable the machine to pass through the rail-like portion. To enable the
use of a high machine without widening the revolving portion the machine is
arranged in the opening therein, and secured to arms which extend rearwards of
the machine and at the extreme ends are hinged to the revolving top portion or
made resilient to permit of the movement of the machine independently of the
revolving top portion. The machine may then be depressed in the revolving top
portion before the latter is turned over, The machine is retained in position for
use by a bolt which may be made to project from the revolving top portions so as
to engage with the bed plate of the machine. By withdrawing this bolt the
machine is allowed to sink through the opening and then it will easily pass
through the rail-like portion. As the revolving portion is turned right side up
the machine by gravity stays behind in a depressed condition and passes easily
through the rail-like portion. It has to be raised and the bolt engaged with it

page_text: before it can be used. The driving belt has then to be slipped over the pulley of
the machine. When the revolving portion is turned upside down the machine
falls away so as to withdraw its base plate from the opening and this is advan-
tageous because it provides for the use of a machine having a very thick base-plate
with a revolving top portion of very thin material. The driving belt works
through openings and the partition between said openings forms a base upon which
the belt is sustained when thrown off the machine. When the revolving portion
is inverted the portion of the belt which is brought above the same is concealed
by the cover and in said revolving portion. Preferably there is between it and the
said cover a groove which receives the belt, so that it will permit the cover to be
closed down tightly upon the revolving portion.
To the lower side of the base plate of the machine, or to the revolving top
portion below the machine, there is preferably attached an oil drip cup which is
concaved and has its edges reverted or turned inwards so that they will catch and
retain the oil which is within the drip-cup when the latter is turned upside down
with the machine and revolving top portion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO CABINETS
OR STANDS FOR SEWING MACHINES AND LIKE ARTICLES A communication from
abroad by Amos Fitz Gerald, of Fairfield, Maine, United States of America.
"
This invention relates to that class of cabinet tables or stands for sewing
machines and like articles, which have revolving top portions (upon which the
machines or other articles are mounted) to afford means for concealing the machines
or other articles when desirable, and the object of the said invention is to improve
such tables or stands in certain particulars.
The said invention comprises the combination with a table or stand having a
rail-like top-portion, of a revolving portion carrying a machine and pivotted
within the rail like portion, a cover for this revolving portion hinged to the same,
a stop for supporting the said cover when the revolving portion is turned to bring
the machine right side up, a wheel for transmitting motion to the machine so
arrrnged that it will guide the cover to the stop when the revolving portion is
turned to bring the machine right side up, and a catch for retaining the revolving
portion in position.
The said invention also comprises the combination with a table or stand having
a rail-like top portion and a revolving portion pivotted within the same, of a
machine or other article fitted in an opening in the revolving portion, and hinges
or their equivalents, and a catch for securing the machine to the said portion, so
that it may be dropped through the opening to facilitate the turning of the
revolving portion with it through the rail-like portion.
It also comprises certain novel details in the construction of the revolving
portion and its cover whereby convenient provision is afforded for preventing the
driving belt from dropping through the said revolving portion when thrown off the
machine, and for concealing the belt when the revolving portion is inverted.
It also combines the combination with a table or stand having a revolving
portion carrying a machine, of an oil drip cup which turns or revolves with the
said revolving portion and has its edges reverted or turned inwards so that when
turned upside down they will catch and retain the oil contained within the cup
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a table or stand provided with a
sewing-machine and embodying this invention
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same taken close to the sewing machine;
and
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same taken close to one of the pivots of
the revolving portion
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
A, is the body portion of the table or stand. As shown it is made in the form
of a box or case so as to give to it the appearance of a cabinet. The top consists
of a rail-like portion B affixed to the upper end of the body portion A and,
a revolving portion B' which is centrally pivotted within the rail-like portion B.
This portion B' carries a sewing machine or the like C and is made to revolve so
that the machine may be elevated above the table or stand for use, or may be
depressed within the same to conceal it and enable the table or stand to be used
for ordinary purposes. This revolving portion is provided with an opening a into
which the machine is set and other openings b, b' through which passes a belt for
transmitting motion to the machine from driving mechanism arranged below it.
In order to conceal these openings when the revolving portion B¹ is inverted there

page_text: is combined with the said revolving portion a cover D which is hinged to one of
the longitudinal edges of the revolving portion B'. It is desirable that the
revolving portion when turned right side up so as to present the sewing machine
for use shall be flush with the rail-like portion, and that when inverted and
concealed by the cover, the latter shall be flush with the rail-like portion. In
order to accomplish this the pivots c of the revolving portion are arranged nearer
the underside than the upper side. The said portion is therefore raised and lowered
bodily when revolved. When the revolving portion is turned upside down the
cover falls over it and conceals it, and, with the rail-like portion, forms a level top.
On its free edge the cover is preferably provided with pins d which, when the
revolving portion is inverted engage with recesses in the adjacent part of the rail-
like portion of the top and in that way the cover is held down. The edge of the
revolving portion to which the cover is hinged engages with catches F on the rail-
like portion and is thereby held in position. The catches may be manipulated on
opening the doors forming the front of the body portion of the table or stand.
When the revolving portion is turned right side up the cover drops against the
wheel G from which motion is imparted to the sewing machine and is thereby
guided to a stop H arranged on the back of the body portion B and rests on the
same. The edge of the revolving portion then brought forward is secured by the
catches F.
The driving mechanism may be of any suitable kind consisting for instance of
treadles G connected by a rod G2 to a wrist or crank on the wheel G It is
sometimes desirable to use a very high sewing machine, and if the machine is
mounted rigidly on a revolving portion in a table or stand the latter must be made
exceedingly wide to enable the machine to pass through the rail-like portion. To
enable the use of a high machine without widening the revolving portion, the
machine is arranged in the opening a therein, and secured to arms f, which extend
to the rear of the machine and at the extreme ends are hinged to the revolving
portion or made resilient to perinit of the movement of the machine independently
of the revolving portion. The machine may then be depressed in the revolving
portion before the latter is turned over. The machine is retained in position for
use, by a bolt I which may be made to project from the revolving portion so as to
engage with the bed-plate of the machine By withdrawing this bolt the machine
is allowed to sink through the opening a and then it will easily pass through the
rail-like portion. As the revolving portion is turned right side up the machine
by gravity stays behind in a depressed condition and passes easily through the
rail-like portion. It has to be raised and the bolt engaged with it before it can
be used; the driving belt has then to slipped over the pulley of the machine.
When the revolving portion is turned upside down the machine falls away so as
to withdraw its base plate from the opening a and this is advantageous because it
provides for the use of a machine having a very thick base-plate with a revolving
portion of very thin material. The driving belt works through the openings b. bi
and the partition between the said openings forms a bar upon which the belt is
sustained when thrown off the machine When the revolving portion B¹ is inverted
the portion of the belt which is brought above the same is concealed by the cover D
and in the said revolving portion-Preferably there is between it and the said
cover a groove which receives the belt as shown in Figure 3 so that it will permit
the cover D to be closed down tightly upon the revolving portion.
To the lower side of the base-plate of the machine, or to the revolving portion B¹,
below the machine, there is preferably attached an oil-drip-cup K, see Figure 2,
which is concaved, and has its edges reverted or turned inwards so that they will
catch and retain the oil which is within the drip cup when the latter is turned
apside down with the machine and the revolving portion.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
oreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
hat I claim
First. The combination with a table or stand having a rail-like top-portion of a

page_text: revolving portion carrying a machine and pivotted within the said rail-like top
portion, a cover for the revolving portion hinged to the same, a stop for supporting
the cover when the revolving portion is turned to bring the machine right side up,
a wheel for transmitting motion to the machine arranged as described whereby it
will guide the cover to the stop when the revolving portion is turned to bring the
machine right side up, and a catch for retaining the revolving portion in position,
substantially as specified.
Second The combination with a table or stand having a rail-like top portion
and a revolving portion pivotted within the same, of a machine or other article
fitted in an opening in the revolving portion, and hinges or their equivalents and
a catch for securing the machine to the said portion, so that it may be dropped
through the opening to enable the revolving portion to be turned and to carry it
through the rail-like portion, substantially as specified.
Third The combination of a table having a rail-like top-portion, of a revolving
portion pivotted within the same carrying a machine, and provided with two
openings through which a driving belt may pass, and which form between them
a bar on which the belt is supported when thrown off the machine, and a cover
hinged to the said revolving portion and adapted to conceal it, the said revolving
portion being constructed with or without a groove in its under surface for
receiving the belt when the said revolving portion is inverted, substantially as
specified.
Fourth. The combination with a table having a rail-like top portion and a
revolving portion provided with two openings for the passage of a driving belt,
forming between them an intermediate bar on which the belt may be supported
when not in use, of a machine or other article fitting in an opening in the
revolving portion, and hinges and a catch for securing the machine to the said
portion, so that it may be dropped down through the opening to enable the
revolving portion to be turned to carry the machine through the said rail-like
portion, and a hinged cover for concealing the revolving portion when inverted;
the said revolving portion having a groove in its under surface in which the belt
is received when the said portion is inverted, substantially as specified.
Fifth. The combination with a table or stand having a revolving portion
carrying a machine, of an oil drip cup which turns or revolves with the said
portion, and has its edges reverted or turned inwards, so that when turned upside
down they will catch and retain the oil contained within the said cup, substantially
as specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Sixteenth day of November in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two