US1271636A

US1271636A - Adjustable chair.

Info

Publication number: US1271636A
Application number: US3936515A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jerrold F Walton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1915-07-12
Filing date: 1915-07-12
Publication date: 1918-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 1935-07-09

Description

1. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULYIZ, 1915.

1 ,271,636. Patented July 9, 1918..

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES: v INVENTOR- A ITORHE Y3 J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2. 1915.

1 ,271,636. Patented July 9, 1918.v

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: l/VI/E/VTOR Jerrold I? Wa/fan AWM Y 5 M fi /1% J. F. WALTON.

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRe APPLICATION FILED Jun/12. 19x5.

Patented July 9, 1918.

fir 4/ -mmmm lA/VE/VTOR derra/dfi' Wa/fon $45 By ATTORNEYS "of the Morris chair type,

JERROLD IF. WALTON, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE GI-IAIR.

Z7 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JERROLD F. WALTON, a citizen ef the United States, residing at Sturgis, county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable chairs.

My improvements are especially designed by me for embodiment in adjustable chairs although readily adapted for usein Other types of chairs.

The main objects of this invention are:

,First,to provide. an improved adjustable chair having an adjustable back and means for retaining it in any adjusted position and one inwhich the movement of the back to whether occupied or unoccupied, is-steady and gradual. Second, to provide an improved adjustable 'chair embodying these advantages which is :simple and economical in structure and very and from its vertical position,

easy to operate and at the same time one which is strong and durble and not likely tofget out of repair;

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which: Figure I is a detail side view of a structure embodying the features of my invention, one side of the chair frame being removed to better show the arrangement of the parts, the adjustable back and s'eatbeing shown'in one position by full lines and in another by'dotted lines. 45 1 Fig. II is an inverted view.

Fig.- III isa detail vertical section on a 1ine corresponding to the broken line 3+3 of Fig. II. j j

F-Fig. IV isa'n enlarged detallhorlzontal section on a lineicorresponding to line 4. -4:

0f Fig.:I,-showing details of the adjusting means. T 1 I a Fig. V is an enlarged detail verticaltransversei sectionzon a line correspondingtolme Specification of Letters Patent.

. line corresponding to clearly shown in 0 .the seat is supported for tilting ad ustment Patented July 9, 1918.

Application filed. July 12, 1915. Serial No. 39,365.

5-5 of Figs. I, II, III and IV, showing further details of the adjusting means.

Fig. VI is an'enlarged detail vertical section showing the seat actuating spring. Fig. VII is a detail perspective View of the rack of the back adjusting mechanism.

Fig. VIII is a detail vertical section through the hinge or pivot for the back on a line 8-8 of Fig. II. Fig. IX is a detail side elevation of a modified structure, one side of the chair being removed, the adjustable back and seat being shown in one position by full lines 1 and in another by dotted lines.

Fig. X is a detail inverted view of the structure appearing in Fig. IX.

In the drawing similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the framework of the chair comprises the usual rear and front posts 1 and 2 respectively, and the rails 4: connecting, the front post to the rear post and the front and rear cross bars 5 and 6 respectively.

In the modified structure shown in Figs.

the sectional views are,

the arms 3, i

IX and X the frame is alsopreferably pro-.

vided with a horizontally disposed bottom piece 7 on which the locking mechanism is mounted.

The seat, designated generally by the numeral 8, consists, in the embodiments illustrated, of a rectangular frame made up of side rails or bars 9 and front bar 10 and a rear bar 11. 4

The coiled cushion springs 12 are carried by spring supports 13. The springs are covered with a suitable upholstery 14. I

The side bars 9 are notched at 15 to engage the front bar 5 of the frame. The front bar 10 of the seat rests on the front bar 5 to permit Fig. 'III. The rear end of as will appear as the description proceeds.

The back, designated generally by the numeral 16, is formed of suitable-side bars:

17 connected by cross bars 18 and provided with suitable springs 19 and upholstery 20. At the lower end of the back I mount a pair of forwardly and downwardly projecting arms-21 having rollers 22 on which the rear the tilting of the seat, as

' the back.

The hinge pintles 26 project from the".

*Of the seat at 4a to urge the seat normally way 33 extending end of the seat rests. The rollers are carried by the inwardly projecting journals23 on the arms. The seat is providedwith flat bearing strips or ways 2% secured on the under sides of its side rails so'th'at the rollers. travel thereon as the back is tilted and the seat raised and lowered owing to the arms projecting below the hinge pivots of plates or arms 21 to coact with the hinge members27 secured on the inner sides of-the posts-1.' The hinge members are slotted at 28 to receive the headed pintles.

Theback is provided with a-downwardly projecting ro'd like arm 29 which ispreferably secured thereto by arranging in bores in the crosspieces thereof. The'lower end of the arm projects below the seat andis connected by the link 30 to" the ratchet bar 31 having forwardlyfacing teeth- 32 thereon. This bar 31 is arranged ina channel-shaped from the front and rear crosspieces 5*and 6 of the frame of the chair. The ratchet bar has a sliding" fit in this way (see'Fi'g. IV). The locking bar or pawl 34 is arranged through a slot in on'esideof the way to engage'the ratchet teeth. The pawl '34 is pivoted 'at-36 to the lever 37 which is pivotally mounted at-38 on the cross bar 89, the inner endof which is secured to the way 33 andthe outer end to the side of the ch'air frame.

A'spring 40 holds the pawl 34 yieldingly in engagement-with the ratchet bar, one end of the spring being secured to the bar 39 and the other to the lever 37.

A push rod 41 is provided for releasing the pawl. A coiled spring 42 is' secured to an ear43 on the way 38 and to the rear end downward and forward.

When the chair 1s be adjusted rearwardly by releasing the looking meansby pressing down on the button of the push rod 11 and pressing on the i back, the back moving with the body of the occupant.

Should the occupant of the chair move his bodyforward the back automatically follows, the ratchet bar sliding under the pawl. This is ofverygreat' advantage as the back is always left in its forward' position when -theoccupantleavesthe chair and, as stated,

automatically follows the body 'tO a11y posi- 7 'tion'withinits' scope of, adjustment when the occupant moves forward,-the just intent being-automatic except for the disengaging of the pawl.

In thejmodified structure shown in Figs. is supported in its ad a lo'cll'ring *mechanism, in the patent to arm on the back of e The clutch ball mechanism, deslgnatedgenmechanism occupied the back may 7 In that structure a clutch mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 15, is mounted onthe horizontal'frame piece 7 below the seat. This clutch mechanism comprises a s'lide46 having aseries of clutch ball holes 17 therein. This slide is connected to the the chair by the link 30.

erally by the numeral 48, coacts'with the slide" to lock the back in any adjusted position against either forward or rearward movement. This clutch 1 mechanism is controlled by the'p'ush rod 41, the same as the of the structure first described. In this structure the back does not-fa'utomatically follow the b'ody of the occi'ipant' to its forward position u'nles's'the lock is released, in which eyentu't qnoves forward the same asth'at ofthe preferred con'struction.

common practice to provide a spring connected directly to the backfor' moving" it forward to its upright position. *In: such an: arrangement when the look i is 1''e'leased In chairs 'of this type it has been quite" 'i 7 the ba'ck swings to its forwardpositionwith 5 a jerk-which is-a'strain on the mechanism and also usi'ially-startles the occupant. improvements effectively overcome this objection. In the preferred construction 'the back moves forward with the modified construction when-thechair is unoccupied and the locking meansTeleased the back also moves forward gradually. =If, however, the occupant swings to fanupright the occupant. 'In I position without releasing the back and the back is released while the oc pant ison the seat the back will move quicklytoits upright position. For that-reason the structure shown in Figs'LVIII isof substantial advantage over that shown in Figs. IX 5? and X. v v

In the modification shown "ini'Figsu IX and 'X- the back is provided with-forwardly projecting arms 4E9' engagi-ng pins; 50 projecting laterally from 'the "seat. have slots 51 therein to receive th'epins. The pintle mem'be1-s,52 are,in thisgstruoture, mounted on separate=platesf53l The stop members 15 on the "seat are arranged so that a slight SlidlllgihOtlOIL'Qf the} seat is possible although very slight sliding move ment is required. I

I have illustrated and described 1 my improvements in detail -the}forn1 in whi'chl have embodied the same: tempted to illustrate for describe various modifications which might desirable in embodying my improvements in: other forms ofchairs, as I believe the-dis- The arms I have not atbe necessary 11 or closure made'willenable those skilled'in the "art to which my invention relates 'to embody .9 adapt e same as conditionsinay "-I'equire. e. 7.

.1 I; desire,- however, to :be u nderstood as arms, said seat claiming my improvements specifically in the form illustrated as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new-and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front end on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly and forwardly projecting arms at the lower end of said back, rollers on the lower ends of said arms, said seat being provided with ways resting on said rollers whereby the.

rear end of the seat is raised and lowered with the adjustment of the back, a spring connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly, a downwardly on said back, a channeled slide way d1sposed below said seat, a rack having forwardly facing teeth arranged in said slide way, a link connecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back, a pawl arranged through one side of said channeled slide way to coact with said rack teeth, a spring for holding said pawl yieldingly in engagement with said teeth, and means for retracting said pawl.

2. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front end on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly and forwardly projecting arms at the lower end of said back, rollers on the lower ends of said arms, said seat being provided with ways resting on said rollers whereby the rear end of the seat is raised and lowered with the adjustment of the back, a downwardly projecting supporting arm on said back, a channeled slide way disposed below said seat, a rack having forwardly facing teeth arranged in said slide wa a link connecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back, a pawl arranged through one side of said channeled slide way to coact with said rack teeth, a spring for holding said pawl yieldingly in engagement with said teeth, and means for retracting said pawl.

3. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mount- L ed at its front end on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly and forwardly projecting arms at the lower'end of said back, rollers on the lower ends of said being provided with fiat ways resting on said rollers whereby the rear end of the seat is raised and lowered with the adjustment of the back, a spring connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly, a down wardly projecting supporting arm on said pro ecting supporting arm back, a slidable rack having forwardly facing teeth, a link connecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back, a pawl coacting with said rack, a spring for said pawl, and means for retracting said pawl.

41:. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, aseat mounted at its front end on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, downwardly and forwardly projecting arms at the lower end of said back, rollers on the lower ends of said arms, said seat being provided with flat ways resting on said rollers whereby the rear end of the seat is raised and lowered with the adjustment of the back, a downwardly projecting supporting arm on said back, a slidable rack having forwardly facing teeth, a link connecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back,'a pawl coacting with said rack, a spring for said pawl, and means for retracting said pawl.

5. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front end on said frame for tilting adj ustment thereon, an arm on said back supporting the rear endof said seat, a spring connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly, a downwardly projecting supporting arm on said back, a channeled slide way disposed below said seat, a rack having forwardly facing teeth arra ged in said slide way, a link connecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back, a pawl arranged through one side of said channeled slide way to coact with said rack teeth, a spring for holding said pawl yieldingly in engagement with said teeth, and means for retracting said pawl.

6. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front end on said justment thereon, an arm on said back supporting the rear end of said seat, a spring. connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly, a downwardly projecting supporting arm on said back, a slidable rack having forwardly facing teeth, a link connecting said rack to said supporting arm on said back, a pawl coacting with said rack, a spring for said pawl,and means for retracting said pawl.

'7. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame, of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, mounted at its front end on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, an arm on said back supporting the rear end of said seat, a spring connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly and forwardly, and a ratchet means for supporting said back.

frame for tilting ada seat loosely projecting back supporting 8. In a chair, the combination with a chair frame of an adjustable back pivotally mounted on said chair frame, a seat mounted at its front end on said frame for tilting adjustment thereon, arms supporting the rear end of said seat projecting forwardly at the lower end of said back, a spring connected to said frame and to said seat urging the rear end of the seat downwardly, a downwardly arm on said back, and a locking means mounted on said frame and connected to said back support- In witness whereof, 'I have hereunto set 15 my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JERROLD F. WALTON. [1 8.]

Witnesses:

, THOS. J. COLLINS, H. A. KR FT,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of iatents,

Washington, C.