Improvements in Folding Tables.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
COME LEIE
DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Tables.
I, NICOLAS SCHUMACHER, residing at La Motte, in the County of Jackson and
State of Iowa, United States of America Carpenter 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 :-
My invention relates to folding tables which can be used for dining as well as
writing purposes and when not in use can be packed into a very small space, and it
consists in certain novel means for raising and lowering the leaves of the table, and
holding them at any desired position; means for turning the legs inward and
outward simultaneously and automatically in the operation of lowering and raising
the leaves of the table; in certain novel constructions and arrangements of drawer
compartments and in certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrange-
ments of parts as will be hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved table, the legs being shown turned
inward in dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the table showing in full lines one leaf of
the table raised, and the other lowered and also one of the drawer compartments
turned down and one of the feet turned outward; and by dotted lines one of the
leaves raised and a drawer compartment turned down and a foot turned outward.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in line a-x of Fig. 1 through the table below the
leaves and looking upward, the leaves being up, and Fig. 4 is a similar section
looking downward.
A in the drawings represents my improved table which, as heretofore stated, may
be used as a dining table for household and picnic purposes or a writing table, the
construction being such as to readily adapt it for both purposes.
B is a rectangular upright frame consisting of vertical side standards b, b to which
the journaled legs having rigid, laterally swinging feet are attached and also the
vertically swinging leaves of the table; a central vertical standard 6' and horizontal
upper and lower connecting bars 62, 63, the lower bar having movingly secured to it
the drawer compartments C, C' in a manner as will now be described.
One or both of the drawer compartments may be as represented by C which is
hinged or journaled at its lower end in suitable brackets c and is adapted to be
swung up and down and drawn out transversely by means of side guide rods c¹
which pass through eyes on the sides of the drawer and are journaled at their
lower ends in the brackets and provided at their upper or outer ends with
stops ³ which prevent the drawer being drawn outward too far and becoming
disconnected from the table. By having the drawers C journaled as shown they
can be lowered and raised from either side of the table, and by providing catches
or buttons c³ on each side of the upper horizontal bar 62 the drawers can be locked
from both sides of the table. The drawers C are made with removable tops
and bottoms so that convenient access can be had to the interior of the same
no matter on which side of the table a person may be sitting. The drawer if
hot constructed as represented by C might be as shown by C in which they
are shown as journaled at their rear edge at top and bottom so as to have a
aterally swinging movement and adapted to be operated from either side of the
able, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The central vertical standard 6' is provided
vith a notched guide D which consists of a metal strip or bar d secured to the
tandard and extending practically the entire length of the same and formed
with one or more notches d¹; (Fig. 2) and a strip or bar d² secured in front of

page_text: said bar dat bottom and top with a space between the two bars or strips which
forms a guide way for the passage of a support E secured on the under side of
the leaf of the table in such a manner so as to have its free end move up and down
in the guide as a leaf of the table is raised and lowered. A guide is placed
on each side of the vertical standard and the other leaf of the table similarly
connected therewith. When a leaf is raised to the desired plane, the free end
of the support E is placed in the proper notch and the leaf held and supported
in that position. I have shown two notches, the upper one located at such a
height that when the support is placed in the same the top surfaces of the leaves
of the table will be perfectly level and in a condition to be used for dining
purposes; and when placed in the lower notch the surface of the table will be
slightly inclined and can then be conveniently used for writing purposes.
AU shaped spring F is secured on the vertical standard just above the upper end
of the guide E and has a pressure upon the support E to hold it in one of the
notches of the guide.
When it is desired to incline a leaf or lower it entirely, it is simply necessary
to raise the free end of the support and pass it over the end of the notch
and allow it to move down between the two strips or bars d, d², and by reversing
the operation the leaves of the table can be raised and held in any position
desired.
The legs G are journaled at top and bottom in brackets 9, 9 on the side
standards b, band provided with transversely set rigid feet which are moved
inward and outward as the legs are turned. The legs are provided near their
tops with curved hooking arms g' and the under side of the leaves of the table
near where they are hinged are provided with downwardly projecting pieces 92
which are loosely socketed in base plates g³ while their lower ends are embraced
by the curved arms g¹. The turning of the feet inward and outward is done
simultaneously and automatically as the leaves of the table are raised and lowered.
When one or both of the leaves are lowered, the downwardly extending. pieces
connected therewith will be also lowered, and the leaf or leaves coming in contact
with the curved arms g' will force them and the feet connected therewith inward;
and in raising the leaves, the downwardly projecting pieces coming in contact.
with the curved arms will force them and the feet connected therewith outward.
The feet are turned at such an angle that the table will stand steadily whether one
or both of the leaves are raised or lowered. Where the underside of the leaves
come in contact with the upper curved portions of the legs a suitable metal wear
plate may be provided.
To prevent the feet being turned inward too far, suitable stops are provided at
the lower end of the vertical side standards b 6 of the frame B, as shown.
My table is simple in construction and operation, durable and when not in use
can be folded into a small space for shipment or storing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a folding table, the combination of a suitable, centrally located frame,
a hinged leaf or leaves, legs journaled on said frame and provided at their lower
ends with laterally projecting feet and at their upper ends with outwardly extending
arins, whereby when a leaf or leaves are lowered they will strike the outwardly
extending arms at the upper ends of the legs and force the feet connected to the
legs, inward, substantially as described.
2. In a folding table, the combination of a centrally arranged frame, hinged
leaves, downwardly and outwardly projecting bars secured to the underside of the
leaves of the table, legs journaled on the frame and provided at their lower ends
with laterally projecting feet and at their upper ends with outwardly extending
arms which engage the bars depending from the under side of the table and are
adapted to be struck by the leaves of the table in the act of lowering the same,

page_text: whereby the feet are simultaneously and automatically turned inward, substantially
as described.
3. In a table provided with a hinged leaf and folding feet, the combination of a
centrally and vertically arranged stationary frame, a notched space guide vertically
secured to said guide, a leaf support attached by one of its ends to the under side of
the leaf while its free end engages said guide and is adapted to operate in the same,
the guide being constructed of two flat spaced bars, one of which is provided with
notches; and a spring for holding the support in engagement with a notch,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a folding table, the combination of a centrally arranged frame, hinged
leaves provided on their under sides with supports, legs journaled on the frame
and provided at their lower ends with laterally projecting feet and at their upper
ends with outwardly extending arms, the feet being adapted to be turned inward
and outward in the act of lowering and raising the leaves of the table, and a
notched guide on the frame which is engaged by the support and adapted to operate
in the same, substantially as described.
5. A table provided with a centrally arranged frame to which a drawer com-
partment is journaled in such a manner as to be capable of being moved in and
outward and access had to the same from either side of the table and to be drawn
outward by means of rods extending along and attached to the side of the drawer
and forming at their lower ends journals for the drawer to swing upon, substantially
as described.
Sioned this 8th don of Iul. An 1002
NICOLAS SCHUMACHER.
Witnesses:
C. W. DICKINSON.
M. M. CAD.
Frederic Prince,
1, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for Applicant.