US1291737A

US1291737A - Folding chair.

Info

Publication number: US1291737A
Application number: US234391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Blando
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-07-12
Filing date: 1918-05-14
Publication date: 1919-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1936-01-21

Description

F. BLANDO.

FOLDING CHAIR. APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1918.

1,291,737, Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Inventor.

FRANK BLANDO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Original application filed July 12, 1916, Serial No. 108,871.

Specification of Letters-Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Divided and this application filed May 14, 1918.

Serial No. 234,391.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK BLANDO, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to folding chairs, and has for its object to provide an improved Structure which may be folded compactly and carried like a satchel or suitcase, and which may be unfolded and used as a chalr. A special object is to rovide improved and simplified means for 'olding the legs of the chair compactly when not in use, and for retaining them in unfolded position when used as a chair. This application is a division of application filed July 12, 1916, Ser. No. 108,871.

Theinvention will be first hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which constitute part of this specification, and then more specifically defined 1n the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device folded into approximately the compass of an ordinary suitcase.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device partly opened or unfolded.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device arranged as a steamer chair, and

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspectlve view of a means for locking the legs in unfolded position.

The structure comprises essentially a seat frame 1, a back frame 2 hinged at 3 to the rear edge of the seat frame, legs 4 foldably arried by the seat frame, a foot supporting frame 5 hinged to the front edge of the seatframe, and an inclosing frame 6 also hinged to the rear edge of the seat frame and designed to cover the legs when the structure 'is folded up into compact form as shown in Fig. 1.

The legs 4 are joined together in front and rear pairs, both pairs hinged at 7 to the under face of the seat frame, the two front legs swinging together and the two rear legs swinging together. The front legs are spaced farther apart than the rear legs in order to permit the latter to fold between the former as best shown in Fig. 2. A pair of

bracing links

8 and 9 connects each of the rear legs to the front leg on the same side, the link 8 being pivoted to the upper end of the rear leg, the link 9 pivoted to the lower end portion of the front leg and said

links

8 and 9 being pivoted together at their other extremities, as at 10. The link 8 is longer than the link 9 to permit the former to fold first against the bottom of the seat frame, and the link 9 to afterward swing about on the pivot 10 so as to overlap the adjacent end portion of the link 8. To further brace the legs in unfolded position a pair of

links

11 and 12 are arranged on each side, the link 11 being pivoted to the lower end portion of the rear leg, the link 12 being pivoted to the

links

8 and 9 at 10, and said

links

11 and 12 being pivoted together at their other ends as at 13. This pivoted connection 13 is preferably formed by a rod 14: extending across from one pair of

links

11 and 12 at one side of the chair to the corresponding pair of links on the other side of the chair, so thatboth sets of

links

11 and 12 may be folded or unfolded together.

Shoulders 15 on the lower end portions of the rear legs serve as stops for limiting the downward swing of the links 11 at a point where the pivotal connection 13 between said links 11 and the links 12 is below the line determined by the pivot point 10 and the point of connection of the link 11 to the rear leg. The

links

11 and 12 will thus be supported in a slight downwardly broken position when the legs are unfolded as shown in Fig. 3, in which position they will be normally held by gravity until it is desired to fold up the structure. To hold the

links

8 and 9 in extended position, a swinging frame 16 is pivoted to the upper ends of the front legs and carries a cross piece 17 having notches 18 adapted to snap into supplemental notches 19 in the links 8. When the

notches

18 and 19 are engaged, as shown in Fig. 3, the

bracing links

8 and 9 will be positively retained in extended position and the legs held rigidly open or 1111? folded.

The foot supporting frame 5 folds flat on top of the seat frame when not in use, as fully disclosed in application Ser. No. 108,871 above mentioned. When said foot supporting frame is swung out on its hinges 21, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the pillow 20 may be used either as a cushion or as a head rest, The free end of the frame 5 is equipped with folding supports 22 which may be retained in folded position by spring clips 23.

Arms 4-1 are hinged at 42 to the back frame 2, and are connected to the seat frame 1 by straps 43 hinged at 4. to the under faces of the arms, and at 4:5 to the upper face of the seat frame, said straps and arms forming parallelograms with the seat and back frames so that the arms will be automatically folded or unfolded when the back frame is swung upon its hinges 3. The front end portions of the side pieces of the frame 1 are beveled or inclined, as shown at 4 6, and the rear end portions of the arms are c0rrespondingly beveled, as at 47, to permit said arms to fold into the plane of theseat frame, thus making the. structure more compact when. folded.

The inclosing frame 6 is, connected to the bottom of the seat frame by. double hinges 48 which permit it to be swung into folded position so that, blocks 49, carried by the hinged end of said frame and other blocks 50 carried by the free end thereof: may fill out the spaces. at opposite ends of the folded legs 4, see Fig. 1, and to also permit said frame 6 to be swung upward so as. to lie against the rear face of the back frame 2, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The frame 6 may be secured in the latter position by suitable fastening means indicated at 52, Fig. 2, and fully described in application Ser. No. 108,871 hereinbefore mentioned.

The extension frame 38 is rule-jointed to the free end of the back frame 2 by meansof the hinges 57 arranged on the inner faces of said frames. Thesehinges permit the extension'frame to be folded at right angles to the back frame when the device, is folded up, or to be extended in line with said back frame when the device is unfolded. When the device is folded up as shown in Fig. 1', the inclosing frame 6 covers the under side of the seat frame and conceals the folded legs, While the back frame 2 covers the top of the seat frame. The extension frame 38 connects the back frame 2 to the inclosing frame 6 and, covers the front edgeof the seat. frame. Said extension. frame is. fasr tened in folded position by means of keepers 56 thereon engaging the fastening devices indicated at 52 in Fig. 2. The

frames

2, 6 and 38 are preferablycovered on the outside by suitable waterproof material 61 which also extends along the double hinges 48so as to cover the rear edge of the seat frame. This waterproof covering may be made of one piece extending from the free end of-the frame 6 alongsaid frame, acrossthe rear edge of the seat frame, alongtheback frame and across the extension frame, so that when the device is folded. it will have the appear.- ance of a sultcas'e or traveling bag.

" o er nd port on o h first Pai f e A. handle 62 is secured to one side piece of the seat frame for carrying the device when folded; As an additional means of securing the structure in folded position, a strap 63 may be fastened around it, as shown in Fig. l, said strap being preferably passed below the handle 62. It will be understood, of course, that the backframe, seat frame'and foot supporting frame are covered on the inside with canvas or other suitable material 65. The free end of theframefi may be provided with av handlebar 69 for convenience in. foldingv orunf oldingi the device.

Having thus, described my invention, wha I claim asv new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of, the United; statesisre 1. In av folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of legs carried thereby, and adapted: to fold in. pairs, pivoted links connecting the. upper end, portions of one pair. of legswith. the lower end. portions. of the other pair, other links connecting the pivotal; points. of the first links, With the lower end. portionsof the first pair of legs, shoulders; on thefirst legs, to serve. as, stops for the second; links, and means for holding the, first links extended.

2. In a folding hai e com ination wi h e t. f m of legs. carr ed. the eby, and adapted to fold in pairs, pivoted, links connecting, the upper end; portions of; one pair of legswith. t e wer end pon ioesef the other pair, other. links, connecting the pivotal pointsof. the, first links, th lower end portions. Qf theiirst pai of,' legs, and means for holding the first, links, extended. v

n. a old ng ain the olnb eatien with a seat frame, of legs carried the b. and. adapted to fold; in. pairs, piyoted, links nn c ng. h upp r nd. POIEt QIls f .1 s pair of legs with the lower-end, portions of he the p r her. inks. nheet he the Pivotal p int f. the irst L ks. w th? h and a frame pivoted to theupperaendl portions of, the second pair. of legs-and adapted o 9 he r t nk t h a 4.. In a folding chair the combination with, a seat frame, of, legs carriedthereby, a pted 9. fo d n; Pa s. r et links n c nghe upp r, end Pa ts of ne Pair l With h e ies nd pe ionsio the other oair, other links connecting the pivotal points of the.- fi-r st links. with the lowerend portions ofgthe firstfpairnof legsl, shoulderson the first legs to s envefas stops r h o d nks and a fr me pivo o the upper end portions of the second pair of legsancl adapted. to hold the, first linkslex tended. f

n. a din hair h qmb nati with a seat frame, of legs carried, thereby, and adapted. to fold in pairs, pivoted links connecting the upper, end portions of; one 1,30

pair of legs with the lower end portions of the other pair, other links connecting the pivotal points of the first links with the lower end portions of the first pair of legs, a frame pivoted to the upper end portions of the second pair of legs and adapted to hold the first links extended, there being interengaging notches in said frame and first links for retaining said frame in operative position.

6. In a folding chair the combination with a seat frame, of legs carried thereby, and adapted to fold in pairs, pivoted links connecting the pivotal points of the first links with the lower end portions of the other pair, other links connecting the pivotal points of the first links with the lower end portions of the first pair of legs, a frame pivoted to the upper end portions of the second pair of legs, and adapted to hold the first links extended, and means for retaining said frame in engagement with the first links.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRANK BLANDO.

Copies of this pltent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patentl, Washington, D. 0."