US1267290A - Seat. - Google Patents

Description

F. M. TUBBS.

SEAT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 19H.

1 326K296, Patented May 21,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR WIITNESSES v v v F] M. TUBES.

SEAT.

' APPLICATION HLEDJUNEZT. 1917- 1,67,29.; Yatented May 21,1918. v 2 EEEEEEEEEEEE 2.

FRANK MHJPUBIBS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

SEAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1918.

Application filed June 27, 1917; Serial No. 177,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK M. Tomas, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Seats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to seats, especially adapted for use in theaters, halls, churches and the like.

In the present arrangement of seats in theaters and other places where large audiences assemble, it is customary to provide one or more entrance aisles for the purpose of seating and emptying the auditorium. In order that the greatest possible seating capacity may be provided, the number of these aisles is necessarily limited, so that there is a great number of seats between each of the aisles. This compels late arrivals to climb over those already seated, to the discomforture of all parties and it is especially annoying in theaters where there is a continuous performance, such as moving picture houses and the like. The present arrangment also retards the emptying of the auditorium in the event of fire or other disaster, as the occupants must pass between the rows of seats to reach the aisles, which obstructs the passage and sometimes results in loss of life.

In order the overcome these disadvantages, the invention contemplates the improvement of an automatic folding seat or seats, which are secured to stationary seats and so arranged as to provide additional entrance and exit aisles, the seats being constructed so as to automatically fold Within and against the stationary seats 1n a manner to offer no obstructing surfaces to catch upon the clothing of persons passing along said aisles.

A further objectis to provide a folding seat of the above description which is operated by gravity so that there are no springs or other mechanism to become broken or disarranged, thereby impairing the usefulness of the invention, v

A still further object is to provide a seat of this description which is of exceedingly simple construction, so that itmay be manufactured at a minimum cost, at the same Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the folding seats raised so as to form the additional aisle;

Fig. 3 is a sectional "iew on the line 38 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a similar view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of the folding seat in position for use, also showing a fragmentary portion of its supporting or stationary seat, the latter being broken away todisclose the hollow back, within which ghlelback' of the movable seat is adapted to Fig. 6 is a similar view with the seat raised; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 1

In the drawings there are illustrated'a plurality of seats arranged side by side, after the manner of seats in theaters, halls or other places where large audiences assemble. These seats are designated by the reference character 10 and may be of any suitable form or design, the ones shown being for the purpose of illustrating and explaining the uses of the invention. The seats 10 are secured to the floor in any manner desired, and are provided with hollow backs 11, so as to provide upon the inner end seat a pocket which is adapted to receive the back of a folding seat to be later described. While the seats 10 may be of any form suitable for the purpose, they are preferably provided with partitions 12,

which are located along one edge of the arms 13, for the purpose of providing one arm rest for each of the seats and prohibiting the-occupant of the adjacent seat from crowding,

In the arrangement; shown in Figs, 1 and 2, there are provided three of the stationary seats 10, one of which is located on the main.- aisle A. Hingedly secured to the seat uponthe opposite end is: a movable seat leathe weight of the seat and serve to normallyretain: it in aposition, folded againstmthe end. or side of theadjacent seat and when in this position the entire backwill be concealed Within the pocket formed. in the back 11 of the. said. stationary seat. In order to support a movable seat in position for use,

there ishingedly secured theretoas shown t, at 18, legs 19, the said legs being designed to automatically fold against the bottom of the seat 14; when the said seatis in its. raised position. The legs 19 are hinged to the seat ina. manner to limit their'movement in one direction, and in order to prevent their movement in an: oppositedirection when the seat is in an operative position, there is provided an inclined member 30, which is rig-idly secured to the, side of the stationary seat at a point -to: ermit of the engagement of the lower-end ot the leg 19therewith. In order to provide for. this engagement the lower end of the leg carries a laterally extending engaging lug 31, which is adapted to engage the inclined surface of the member 30 in the upward and downward movement of the leg 19 and when this leg rests upon the floor the contact of the member 3D with the member 30lprevents an inward movement,v while'its manner of hinging prevents any movement inv an opposite directiOII. Y

If desired, suitable rubber buttons may be secured to the bottom of the legs'19 as shown at 20; or at other contacting-points of the movable seat, so as to eliminate noise in the operation of these seats.-

The arrangement shown 1n Figs. 1 andv 2 provides three stationary seats adjacent the main aisle- A and two movable seats, which are adapted to be folded againststationary seats to provide an auxiliary aisle -B,- as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the number of these auxiliary aislesof course depending upon the distance between the main aisles- If desired, one of=these folding seats may be secured to eaclr'of-the-end seats adjacent the main'aisle so thatin emptying the auditorium they are automatically folded within and against the stationary seat so as to not decrease the width of this aisle.

The arrangen'ient shown and described is especially suitable for moving picture theaters; or-other theaters having a continual performance ,the stationary seats being first filled, before the movable seats are used, so that it is unnecessary for late arrivals to climb over and obstruct the view of persons alreadyseated, or to otherwise discom o e h m a .c

It is believed that the foregoing description when taken in connection-with the accompanying drawings} will be sufficient to enable persons [skilled in the 7 art, to understand lt'he construction;operation and advantages ,of the invention and that a further description.isunnecessary. The right isjrejserved to make, such; changes as fall within the scope of the appended claims. p

Having described the invention, what-is claimed is:

1., The combination with ofa movable seat secured thereto and means whereby said movable seat maybe swung upward within and against the stationary seat.

of avmovable seat secured thereto andinea'ns whereby said, movable seat may be automatically swung upward within and against the stationary seat.

a stationary seat",

2, The combination withaf stationary seat,

3. The comblnationwith a, stationary seat,

of a movable seat hinged thereto: and means whereby said movable seat may be folded within and against the stationary. seat. o

4:. The'combinationwith astationary seat e provided with ahollow back,a movable seat secured to said: stationary seat and means whereby the movable seat 'may be swung upwardagainst the stationaryseat and withini he; 0 9? b k-- v I 5. The combinati 0'11 wane static naryv seat provided1 with, a hollow back,v a, movable seatsecuned to said stationary seat and means whereby the back of the movable seat maybe folded ,within-theback of a stationary seat, and the seat and the support ing legs of the movable seat folded agains the stationary seat t 6. The comb1nat1onwitli, stationary'seat vprovidedwith. ahollow back, a. movable seat having thelseat portion hinged to the, side of the stationary seat, a back rigidly 'secured tothe stationary seat and adapted to automatically fold within the hollow. back of the stationary seat. I my 7 Theeombination with .afstationary seat" providediwith a hollow back, a movable seat having its seat portion hinged to the side ofthe-stationary seat, aback rigidly: secured to t1'1e movable seat. and ada pted to fold withinthe-back ofthe stationary, seat-{and a weight carriedby the back of the folding seat. v

8. The combination with a support, of a seat hinged thereto and adapted to be folded against said support, a supporting leg hinged to said seat in a manner to limit its movement in one direction and means carried by the support for preventing movement of the leg in an opposite direction, When the seat is in an operative position.

9. The combination with a support, of a 10 seat hinged thereto and adapted to be folded against said support, a supporting leg hinged to said seat in a manner to limit its movement in one direction and an inclined member hingedly secured to said support for preventing movement of the leg in an opposite direction When the seat is in an operative position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANK M. TUBBS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

Images