IM- PROVEMENTS IN SLIDING-TABLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, Civil Engineer and
66
Patent Agent, in the City of Hamburg, Germany, for the Invention of IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SLIDING-TABLES." A communication from Alfred Theodor
Heymann, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix
Engel at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th November
1878.
"
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING-TABLES.
A com-
munication from Alfred Theodor Heymann, of Hamburg, in the German
Empire.
This Invention relates to expanding or sliding tables, and consists of the
application of one or more rows of boards or leaves inside the frame under the table
top of such sliding tables, which rows of boards are suspended on rods on which
they can be turned and brought in a position level with the table top. When the
table is closed these rows of boards rest one below the other underneath the table
top. Each board consists of two parts connected to each other by means of hinges
which when folded up and turned inside of the frame of the table, rest on crossbars
and allow of a perfect closing or opening of the table top. For lengthening the
table, the divisions of the table top are drawn one from the other, and as required,
one or more of the inner rows of boards is or are turned out from their position
between the table frame; the two parts of each board are then unfolded and the
ends placed upon the slides of the table frame. The divisions of the table board
are then pushed towards each other, and the different rows of boards that have been
unfolded rest between.
The table top can also be divided into three or more parts instead of two, or the
table top and frame can be opened on one end instead of in the middle.

page_text: Another part of this Invention relates to regulators applied to the slides of the
frame of the table, by means of which one pair of slides after the other fully opens
when the table is drawn out. These regulators are moved by hand, but they may
be constructed to act automatically with tables with which the table top divides on
one end. The hand moved regulators consist of spring hooks fastened to the inner
side of the frame under the table top, which hooks catch into corresponding eyes
fastened to the fronts of the slides. By a pressure of the hand on two corresponding
hooks of a pair of slides the latter are allowed to open.
The automatic regulator consists of an iron or brass hinge of which one plate is
by means of screws fastened to the under side of the table top, while the upper
smaller and movable plate is furnished with two projections of which the one
nearest to the hinge joint moves in a slot or groove of the upper face of the
corresponding slide, and the outer projection catches in a boring of the next slide,
which is by this means kept fast to the table board as long as the first projection
moves freely in the slot. Near the end of the first slide this slot or groove rises
to the level of the upper surface of the slide, and in consequence the bottom of the
slot engages the inner projection and lifts the upper hinge plate. When the first
slide is fully drawn out, the outer projection is fully lifted out from the boring of
the second slide, and disengages the latter from the table board. The second slide
can now be drawn out, and by a similar regulator applied to the second and third
slide, the latter is kept in closed position until the second slide is fully drawn out,
and so on.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th May 1879.
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, in the
City of Hamburg, Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDING-TABLES." A communi-
cation from Alfred Theodor Heymann, of Hamburg, in the German Empire.
This Invention relates to so called expanding or sliding tables, and consists of
the construction of such sliding tables with one or more rows of boards or leaves
placed inside the frame under the table top, which leaves are suspended on rods, on
which they can be turned and brought into a position level with the table top.
When the table is closed, the leaves are placed directly one underneath the other
as is shown in Figs 2 and 3 of the annexed Drawings, A, B, C, being the leaves
each constructed of two parts connected to each other by hinges.
The upper part
of each leaf is suspended by means of eyes or hinges n, n, n, to a wrought iron rod
or rods o, o, o, which is or are fastened to end cross bars r, r, placed between two
corresponding slides formed in the sides of the table. The lower part of each leaf
rests upon a supporting cross bar 8, 8. Each leaf is in two parts which are hinged
together.
The leaves may be arranged singly or in couples, the latter arrangement being
that shown in the Drawings, Fig. 1, in which two leaves are always placed level
one near the other.
Fig. 1 shows the table top opened, that is, with the slides drawn out and the
table expanded, but the leaves still within the frame of and below the top of the
table. For bringing the leaves level with the table-top each leaf is turned on its
rod o, and the parts forming the leaf are then unfolded across the width of the
table. The outer ends of the leaves then rest ou the top of the slides in the same
manner the loose boards have hitherto done, and the slides and the table top can
now be closed, and thus hold the opened leaves fast between the permanent parts
of the table top.
Instead of three rows of leaves as shown in the Drawings more or less can be
applied as required. The table-top can either be formed out of two parts, or
it can be divided into three or more parts. The inner parts of the table top inust
in the latter case be fastened to intermediate supporting legs, as indicated at x,
Figs. 1 and 2.
The opening or extension of the table as well as the closing may be executed by
being drawn apart on its slides, as is the case with the table shown in the accom-
panying Drawings; or the table may be furnished with one or more set screws and
nuts for this purpose for extending the table in manner as commonly in use.
Another part of this Invention relates to regulators applied to the slides of the
side frame of the table, by means of which one pair of slides after the other fully
opens successively when the table is being extended. These regulators may be
moved by hand, or may be constructed to act automatically.
The hand moved regulator is shown in Fig. 4, and consists of spring hooks K
fastened to the inner side of the frame F underneath the table top. These hooks K
catch into corresponding eyes H fastened to the ends of the slides G. By a
pressure of the hand against two corresponding hooks of one pair of slides, that
particular slide can be extended.
The automatic regulator is shown in two different constructions, Figs. 5 and 6
representing one construction, and Figs. 7 and 8 the other. The former of these
two constructions consists of an iron or brass hinge L, P, of which one plate L is
by means of screws fastened to the underside of the table top M, while the upper
movable plate P is furnished with two projections S, R, of which the one nearest
to the hinge joint moves within a slot or groove of the upper face of the corre-
sponding slide A, and the outer projection R catches in a boring n of the next

page_text: slide B, which is by this means kept fast to the table-top M as long as the first
projection moves freely in the slot. Near the end of the first slide, this slot rises
level to the upper surface of the slide, and in consequence the bottom of the slot
engages the inner projections and lifts the upper hinge plate P. When the first
slide A is fully extended, the outer projection R has been fully lifted out from
the boring of the second slide, and disengages the latter from the table-top. The
second slide can now be drawn out and by a similar arrangement applied between
the second and the third pair of slides, the latter pair are kept in closed position
until the second pair are fully extended, and so forth.
Figs. 7 and 8 show the other automatic regulator; A, B, C, are the different
slides. One part of the table-top is fastened to A, whilst the other part is fastened
to slide C. When the parts of the table-top are extended from one another, slide C
must part from slides A and B, as the two latter are connected to each other by
a plate a fastened to A, and by spring b fastened to B. As soon as slide C is nearly
fully extended, a plate c fastened to the end of C pushes against spring b and
presses the projecting hook underneath the surface of the slide, while c moves under
the bent part of plate.a. Slide B is thus freed from slide A and parts from A when
the table is further extended.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention in such
wise that the same may be readily understood and carried into practical effect
I claim,―
1st. The construction of sliding or extension tables with leaves placed in rows
one above the other when the table is closed, which leaves are separated from each
other when the table is extended, and which are turnable on rods placed within the
frame underneath the table top, and which can be unfolded for the purpose and in
the manner as herein described, and shown in the annexed Sheet of Drawings;
and
2nd. The slide regulators for such tables, for the purpose and in the manner as
herein described and shown in Fig. 4, and in Figs. 5 and 6, and in Figs. 7 and 8 of
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of May, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy ninc.
F. H. F. ENGEL. (L.S.)