US1287365A - Folding stool. - Google Patents

Description

B. F. LIVINGSTON.

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A PPLICATIQK( FILED NOV.3. |816.

1,287,365. Patented Dec. 10,

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UNTTED sTATEs PATENT carica.

BONAPARTE F. LIVINGSTON, 0F MAPLEWOOD, MISSOIRI.

FOLDING sTooL.

To allie/wm 1f/may concern:

Be it known that I, BONAPARTE F. LIV- 1NGsToN, a citizen of the United States, re siding' at Maplewood, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Stools, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a resilient folding stool adapted more particularly for use by motormen and conductors on` cars where shocks and sudden jars are frequent. It is equally useful for clerks behind counters, and in other places where it is desired'occasionally to fold the stool to get it out of the way.

A further object is to provide the seat of the stool with a 4handle or hook by means of which the stool may be carried or hung up and out of the way when folded.

' I attain the objects of my invention by means of the novel arrangement, construction and combination of parts as will be Clearly explained herein-after and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1, is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section, constructed in accordance with my invention, and set up ready for use as a stool.

Fig. 2, is a view showing the stool in its folded position.

Fig. 3, is a plan view of the stool ready Jfor use.

Fig. 4, is a side elevation of the seat and hook. Y

In Carrying out the aim of my invention, I employ a folding pedestal comprising a hollow-head 1 having a plurality of downwardly and outwardly projecting vbifurcated ears 2 arranged around the periphery of said head.

Pivotally connected as at 3 to each bifurcated ear 2 is the upper extremity of a supporting leg 4. The lower'end of each leg 4 is provided with a cap 5.

Centrally arranged between the legs 4 near the lower ends of the legs is a spider 6 having a central opening 7. The periphery of said spider 6 is provided with a plurality of outwardly projecting bifurcated ears 8. one to each leg 4. A spreader bracerod 9 is pivotally connected, as at 10,v at one Specification of Letters Patent.v Patented De@ 1()9 1918. Application filed November 3, 1916.

Serial No. 129,305,

end to each ear 8, and at its opposite end, as at 11, to a bifurcated ear 12 secured to each supporting leg 4. The legs 4 and bracerods 9 are preferably made from tubular material. v

4A tubular socket 13 has threaded connection at its upper end with the head 1 and is adapted to be supported thereby and depend therefrom.

The lower end of the tubular socket 13 is provided with a central opening 14 and a shoulder 15. The upper end of the socketl member 13 is open. The upper end of the head 1 is provided with a central opening 16.

A seat supporting stem 17 is provided at its upper end with a cross-head or T-head 18. The stem 17 is adapted to pass downwardly through opening 16 into the head 1 and socket 13, through opening 14 of the socket and finally through the opening 7 of the spider 6, as Vclearly shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the stem is provided with a shouldered head or cap 19 and slightly above the spider 6 with a stop pin 20, the object of which cap and stop-pin will be clearly understood hereinafter.

The stem 17 is provided with a fixed stop collar 21. This collar is adapted to be slidable within the upper end of the tubular socket 13. A suitable coiled compressing spring 22 is adapted to encircle the stem 17 between the collar 21 and the shoulder 15 of the socket 13, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. A suitable check spring 23 is adapted to encircle the stem 17 above the head 1 and below the collar 24 fixed to the stem `17.

'A suitable seat 25 is pivotally mounted upon the T-head 18, as will now be explained.

A suitable casting or stamping is suitably fixed to the bottom yof the seat 25. The casts ing consists of a plate 26 fixed to .the seat. The plateis reinforced by means of the three ribs 27. A central socket 28 is formed at the juncture yof these ribs for-.the reception of the stem 17 when the stool is ready for use. The plate 26 is further provided with a pair of opposed rib-plates 29 spacedA apart suficientlyV to permit` the stem to pass therebetween when the seat is folded. The T' head 18 is socketed at theupper part of the ribs adjacent the plate 26.

yA locking catch 30 is pivotally connected, as at 31, to one of the ribs 27 and the beveled head 32 thereof is adapted to span thel space between the spaced rib-plates 29 to lock the stem in the socket 28 when the seat is ready for use. The catch 30 is provided with the -operating handle 33 Vand the catch is normally held closed b y means of the spring 311. To fold the seat the operator lifts up on handle 33 moving the beveled-head from spanning the space between the rib-plates 29, thus allowing the stein to pass between the plates.

To bring the seat back to its non-folded position, the operator merely raises the lower edge of the seat and the stem automatically moves the catch back by striking the beveled head 32. After the stem has passed the head 32 the spring closes the catch "thereby locking the stem 17 in the socket 28.

A suitable curved handle 35 is secured to one edge of the seat upon the under side. By means of this handle the seat may be carried when folded, or it may be hung up thereby.

Then pressure is brought to bear upon the compression spring 22 by depressing the stem 1T. the pin 20 is adapted to strike the top of the spider 6 and cause the brace-rods 9 to expand4 the legs 4 by the rods assuming a practically horizontal position under the extreme load strain due usually to jars when a person is seated upon the stool. This arrangement. adds rigidity to the pedestal under heavy dead load strain as shock strains by further stiffening and bracing the lpedestal by expanding the lower part of the legs above set forth.

When folding the pedestal, it will be observed, thatthe supporting legs #L are automatically folded by means of the cap 19 coming in contact with the lower face of the spreader 6 when an upward lifting movement is imparted to the seat supporting stem 17. It will be observed, that cap 19 raises the spreader 6, which inturn raises the inner ends of the'bra'ce-members 9 thereby drawing outer ends thereof and the lower ends of the supporting legs it inwardly ,toward the center of the pedestal, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.' The legs can be automatically folded by merely pulling upwardly upon the seat or the handle thereof.

Wfhat I claim is:

1. In a stool of the class described comprising a foldable pedestal, a foldable seat, resilient means for supporting said seat` and means for stiffeningsaid pedestal when excessive pressure is exerted upon the seat.

2. In a stool ofthe classjdescrib'ed'comprising a 'foldabple' pedestah a seat, resilient means for supportingsaid"seat, means for stiffening said pedestal when excessive pressure is exerted upon the seat. A

3.'In a stool ofthe class described comprising a foldablepedestal, a foldable seat, resilient means for supporting said seat,

means for stiffening said pedestal when excessive pressure is exerted upon the seat, means for automatically folding said pedestal by pulling up upon the seat and seat supporting means.

4. A stool comprising a pedestal having a yplurality of foldable supporting legs, a springsupported seat support, a seat hingedly connected to the upper end of said seat support, a spring catch for locking said seat in its open position, lsaid spring catch being selfactuating when changing said seat from a folded position to its open locked position, bracing members for said foldable supporting legs, mea-ns actuated by said seat-supi'iort when excessive pressure is brought to bear upon the seat for spreading said supporting legs to add rigidity to the pedestal, means for automatically folding the supporting legs upon upwardly movement of the seat and seat support.

folding stool comprising a foldable pedestal, consisting of a plurality of supporting legs, a head from which said legs depend and are hingedly connected, a relatively short socket depending from and removably secured to said head, a seat support adapted to pass through said head and said socket, a resilient means encircling said seat support within said socket and adapted to normally hold said support in its extreme upper-most position, a foldable seat hingedly connected to the upper end of said seat support, a spring-catch for holding said seat in its' open position, said catch adapted to be selfactuating in returning the seat from its folded position to its open position, a spreader 'encircling the seat support near its lower end, brace-members pivotally connected at their inner ends to said spreader and at their outer ends to said supporting legs, a stop-pin fixed to said seat support above said spreader adapted to engage said spreader and move itk downwardly when excessive pressure is brought to bear upon the seat for spreading said supporting-legs at their lower ends, a cap fixed to the lower face of said spreader when folding the stool for drawing the supporting legs'ftogether by lifting on the seat.

6. A stool comprising a seat, a pedestal including movable legs and a spreading member connected with the legs, a connection between the seat and the spreading member to spread theulegs under pressure on the seat, and spring means to operate the spreading member to yfold the legs uponV relief of pressure on the seat.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

Bonarnnrn r. Livnvesfrou.

Copies of'this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, By 'addresengithe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

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