Clark's Patent Extension Table

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This table, simple as it is, is yet a piece of ingenuity from the compactness and strength of its construction. In our illustrations, Fig. 1 is a "representation of the table extended without the extra leaves being inserted in their proper place, and Fig. 2 is a view of the table folded up and turned upside-down to show the arrangement of the parts when it is closed. A are the legs on which are mounted side, B, these sides are mortised into the legs to afford the strongest possible joint ; when the table is closed, the pieces, F, attached to B, slide in corresponding grooves on the opposite halves of B, which render the table firm when closed, tind the tablets held together by the common atch, E, one on each side. C are four stretchers, each hinged to the end rail underneath the fixed top, and also hinged together at D ; it will be seen that there are two different lengths of stretchers, the long and short ones being placed alternately, so that when closed they will fold or overlap each other, as seen in Fig. 2, which, if they were of equal length, they would not do. The stretchers, C are also provided with dowels, (not shown) which fit into corresponding holes on the inside of B, and this simple contrivance adds much to the rigidity of the table when expanded. One of the portable or extra leaves, H, is provided with two pieces, G, one on each end, that exactly fits the space between the stretchers and prevents them from collapsing or folding while they are in. There are two hinged leaves, I, at the ends, each supported in the usual way by a hinged bracket seen in Fig. 2. A series of these stretchers can be ; employed, although the table represented in our engraving has only one. This table, with a bed three and a half feet long and 20 inches wide, can, by this device of unequal hinged stretchers, be extended seven or eight feet. Such a table can be afforded nearly as cheap as the heavy, six-legged dining table, which spreads but five feet. This mode of extension is applicable to any table. It is the invention of Charles B. Clark, of Oriskany Falls, New York, and was patented by him 1st Dec, 1857. All farther information respecting State or Territory rights can be had by addressing as above, or to E. L Ferguson, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, or to George P. Clark, Guyandotte, Cabell Co., Va. Sa m-ples may be seen at J. Skarren's, 652 Broadway, New York.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 13 Issue 22This article was published with the title “Clark's Patent Extension Table” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 13 No. 22 (), p. 172
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican02061858-172d

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