US473060A

US473060A - Half to orren

Info

Publication number: US473060A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1892-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 1909-04-19

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F. P. GOBHAM. EXTENSION TABLE.

No. 473,060. I PatentedApr. 19, 1892;.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. P. COBHAM. EXTENSION TABLE.

Patented Apr 19, 1892.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

r. P. COBHAM. EXTENSION TABLE.

No. 473,060. x Patented Apr. 19, 18 92.

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UNTTE' STATES PATENT OFFICE.v

FREDERICK P. COBHAM, on WARREN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE- HALF TO GREEN-:0. ALLEN AND GEORGE H. HIGGINS, on SAME PLACE.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 473,060, dated April 19, 1892.

Application filed June 25, 1891.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK P. OoBHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Varren, in the county of lVarren and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension-Tables; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in extension-tables; and it consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved table with one of the extension-frames drawn out. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing both of the extension-frames shoved in. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of my improved table. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the extension-frames. Fig. 6 is a detail of a portion of the flexible end portions of the table-top. Figs. 7 and 8 show a slightly-modified construction.

The main feature of my present invention is to provide an extension-table in which the extension portion of the table-top are flexible and formed of an integral portion of flexible material, thereby avoiding the difficulties and inconveniences offered by the use of slotted flexible tops and doing away with the necessity of hinge-joints in the constructio of the flexible table-top.

Among the advantages obtained by the use of my invention it may be noted that with the slatted construction it is exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to obtain a perfectlyeven' top, which is obtained by my construction. Furthermore, at the ends of the tables using slatted construction the slats are separated by wide cracks, in which dirt quickly accumulates, especially if the table is left in one position for some time, as is usual, and

Serial No. 397,509 (No model.)

when the top is moved into position where the cracks are closed the dirt prevents the slats from coming together neatly and strains the joins connecting adjacent slats. In using the slatted construction it is not possible to make the ends of the table anything like a sharp corner; but the slats must'be carried around in a gradual curve. Thus it is impossible to place dishes orother articles very near the end of the table. flexible material can be carried around a tolerably-sharp corner and the ends of the table will be very nearly rectangular, as indicated in the drawings.

Reference being had to the drawings, A represents the main table-top, supported by suitable legs B in any preferred manner. I have shown in this instance a cross-bar A, interposed between the top Aand legs B, said cross-bar being provided with guide-rails a at, extending on either side of the same and forming the guides for the sliding extensionframes. It will be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to this construction for guiding the sliding frames, as they may be supported and guided in their movements in any other desired manner.

The sliding extension-frames consist of the side pieces or rails O 0, connected by the cross-bar O and the end rail 0. The said extension-frames are also provided with top portions 0, which are flush with the sides and are in substantially the plane of the lower face of the table-top A. The cross-bars O O are shown as provided with suitable recesses or apertures to engage the guide-rails a a and guide the frames in their outward and in ward movements. The cross-bars O G are also provided with suitable supplemental supports 0 for the extension-frames.

To the ends a of the table-top A are socured the integral flexible extension portions D D of the table-top. These extension portions are made of suitable material of the same thickness as the table-top and neatly united thereto along the edge a, and said portions consist of integral portions of the said flexible material, so that no slots or joints are necessary. The said extension portions D D of the table-top are bent around the end of the extension-frames and preferably en By my construction the gage one, two, or more rollers E, mounted in the said frames, extending across the full width of the same, and having their peripheries in substantially the plane of the end rail and top and bottom portions of the extensionframes, thus guiding the flexible portions D around the angles offered by said frame and enabling the frame to be drawn out and the flexible material to slide over the end of the same with very slight friction or wear. Rollers might also be provided along the'top of the extension-frame, as shown in dotted-lines, Fig. 5; but this it is not thought will be necessary.

I also provide suitable tension devices for the flexible material, in order to keep it taut and firm in all positions of the extensionframes. For this purpose I may employ coiled springs, as shown in Fig. 3, or other suitable tension devices. I prefer, however, to employ the form of tension device shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, in which each extensionframe is provided with -a roller suitably mounted in the side rails of the frame and having a springf coiled thereon, one end of the spring being secured to a portion of the frame, as the cross-bar C',.and the other end secured to the roller F. A cord, rope, or other flexible connection G is secured to each end of roller F and extends around a pulley or guide H, secured to cross-bar '0, and thence to the under edge of the flexible end portion D. The portion of the roller F engaged by the cord G is preferably of less diameter than the portion engaged by the spring; but this is not essential. It will be seen that when one of the extension-frames is drawn out the flexible end portion D will be drawn up upon the top of the said frame and will form a continuation of the table-top A. As the flexible portion is drawn up the cord G is drawn off. of the roller F and the springf will be wound up. NVhen the extension-frame is pushed in,-the spring will wind up the cord D upon the roller F and draw the flexible end portion D of the table-top around the end of the frame, keeping it always taut. The extension-frames will remain inthe position into which they are moved without the necessity for any catches or other retaining devices, and they will ordinarily be drawn out by hand, although devices could be provided for drawing out the frames and retracting them, if desired, as is common in devices of this class.

I prefer to form the integral flexible end portions of the table-top of a strip L of thickfelt or similar material, provided with an outer coating of thin papier mach, leather, oilcloth, rubber fabric, or other suitable material, which may be painted andgrained torepresent any desired kind ofv wood, if pre- -ferred, and the flexible end portions of the top will be joined to the main top A so neatly that they will form uninterrupted continuations of the same. I do not limit myself to the use of any particularmaterial in this connection, as I may employ any integral flexiblematerial which will answer'the purpose.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a slightlymoditied form of table-top, in which the flexible material is somewhat thinner and is supported on slats or supports K, which extend "across the table and engage the extensionframes. In this case I may employ a top layer of leather or any other suitable material glued or otherwise secured upon canvas or a thin strip of felt, which is secured to and supported by the slats K. If desired, the top layer of flexible material may extend from one end shown the under layer of flexible material secured in the above manner to the tabletop A and the upper layer passing entirely over the table-top, as before described. I might, however, carry both layers of the flexible top over the main table-topA if found desirable. The flexible end portions of the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 are provided with tension devices, as heretofore described, and will operate in the manner before described with reference to the other figures of the drawings.

The slats K form no part of the table-top, but merely serve to support the said flexible top and enable me to use flexible material of less thickness.

I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, as variations may be made in the same -without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An extension-table provided with an extension portion adapted to form a continuation of the table-top, consisting of an integral portion of flexible material, substantially as described. 7

2. In an extension-table, the combination,

with the main table-top and supports-for the I same, of the extension-frames and the extension portions of the table-top, consisting of integral portions of flexible material, adapted to form a continuation of said main top, substantially as described.

3. In an extension-table, the combination, with the main table-top and supports for the same, of the sliding extension-frames provided with rollers, said table-top being provided with integral portions of flexible material adapted to engage said rollers and to form continuations of the table-top when said frames are drawn out, substantially as described.

4. In an extension-table, the combination, with the main tabletop and supports for the same, of the integral end portions of flexible material adapted to form continuations of said tabletop, the sliding extension-frames adapted to support the said integral flexible end portions, and tension devices for said flexible integral portions, substantially as described.

5. In an extension-table, the combination, with the main table-top and supports for the same, of the flexible integral end portions adapted to form contin'uations of said main top, the sliding frames adapted to support said end portions and provided with the spring rollers, and flexible connections between said spring-rollers and said end portions, substantially as described.

6. In an extension-table, the combination, with the main table-top and supports for the same, of the sliding extension-frames, the extension portions of the table-top, consisting of integral portions of flexible lnaterials,adapted to form a continuation of said table-top, and the slatted supports for said integral flexible portions.

7. In an extension-table, the combination, with the main table-top and supports for the same, of the sliding extension-frames, and the extension portions of the table-top, consisting of two or more thicknesses of integral flexible material, one or more ofsaid thicknesses of flexible material passing over the main table-top and forming one integral piece from one end of the table to the other, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK P. OOBI-IAM.

Vitn esses:

J OHN SAGER, M. MEAD.