US1294378A - Multiform chair. - Google Patents

Description

C. E. BARNES.

MULTIFOHM CH'AIR. APELlcAxoN FILED APR.18.191B.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

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C. E. BARNES.

MULTIFORM CHAIR.

APPLICATION man APa.1.i918.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

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C. E. BARNES.

MULTIFORM CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED APPLIS. IQIa.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BARNES, OF NEW YORKJ N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 THEODORE G'. STRATER, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MULTIFORM CHAIR.

Application filed April 18, 1918.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BARNES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Multiform Chairs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to improvements in multiform chairs of the type disclosed in my prior application forPatent No. 169,665 filed May 19, 1917. rIhe present device like that disclosed in the preceding application comprises a chair having a rectangular, preferably square, frame provided with a seat pivotally secured to the frame and a back pivotally and adj ustably secured to the frame with means for adjusting the back from a substantially vertical position to a horizontal position in which it forms a continuation of the seat.

The chair also comprises a seat extension with means for so supporting the same as to permit it to be inclosed within the frame beneath the seat when the device is to be used as a chair or to be withdrawn from its inclosed position to form an extension lying in the plane of the seat when the device is to be used as a chaise longue or coach.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved means for adjustably securing" the back to the frame which'will permit the adjustment of the back as aforesaid and when the back is in horizontal position to form an extension of the seat will retain the back firmly against the seat thereby avoiding any space which otherwise might occur between the back and the seat particularly if the chair should be drawn from place to 'place by pulling upon the horizontally positioned back.

Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient means for` assembling and knocking down the chair for packing and shipping. In the present invention the back is provided with means adapted telescopically to receive side members which are pivotally connected to the frame. The socket portions of such telescoping members are countersunk in the frame of the back so that the upholstering will overlie them while the other portions of the telescoping members fit within the sockets and are secured thereto Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

serial No. 229,230.

by single screws which are hidden when the chair is assembled.

Another object of the invention isto provide means for so supporting the extension that the same may be supported in an inclined position as well as in a horizontal position in the plane of the seat.

Another feature of the invention consists in securing the arm Aportions of the chair to the frame by expansible dowel pins seated in sockets, thereby retaining the arms firmly in position but permitting their easy removal when it is desired to place the arms transversely of the chair to transform the same into a settee.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view mainly in side elevation but partly in section showing in full lines my invention adapted to form a chaise longue and in dotted lines, various positions illustrating the device prepared for other uses,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same showing the device when assembled to form a settee,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view on lines 3 3, Fig. 1 of a portion of one of the sides of the back showing the position of the telescoping pieces by which the back is secured to the frame,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of the arm and the upper portion of the post showing the eXpansible dowel pin and socket for connecting the same together,

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of a portion of the upper part of the sector,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism for connecting the back, seat and frame, on line 6 6 Fig. l, and,

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing a preferred means for supporting the front end of the seat extension when inclosed in the frame beneath the seat.

The device which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a chair having a frame consisting of vertical sides 1 2 and ends 3 4, the sides and ends being preferably mortised into the corner posts 5, 6, T and 8. The sides 1 and 2 are wider than f the ends 3, d and the upper surface of said sides lie flush with the top of the posts, Whereas the top edges of the ends 3 and l lie below the tops of the posts at such distance as to be in the horizontal plane of the under surface of the back and seat extension when these members are in the extended position in Which the device forms a couch.

The frame is rectangular in form, preferarbly square, so that the arms may be positionedeither at the sides to form a Morris chair or transversely of the device intermediate of its ends. The sea-t 9 Which preferably is upholstered is of rectangular' form to fit Within the frame and rests at its forward edge upon the end piece il. It is pivotally supported at its rear end upon the fra-me so that its front or free end may be raised to permit the extension to be inserted beneath it or Withdrawn therefrom to form an extension of the seat when the device is to be used as a chaise longue or couclL rl`he back also preferably is pivotally connected to the frame by the same device as that which pivotally supports the seat so that both the seat and the back are adapted to be moved about the same pivotal axis. The preferred means for thus supporting the seat from the back comprises a pair of sector plates ll which are secured to and preferably couutersunk in the sides l and 2 of the frame adjacent the rear posts 5 and 'i'. These sectors desirably are in the skeleton form illustrated in Figs. l and and are provided at their centers with journals to receive the pivots for the seat and t-he side members which support the back which will be hereinafter described.

The seat is pivotally supported l.- shaped brackets l2 Which are attached to the bottoni of the seat and have outwardly extending studs M which are seated in tire journals of thesectors ll. The back l0 preferably isr pivotally supported upon the same studs 14.

j desirable means for mounting the back ,tirely overlie these socket mem-bero.

which is illustrated in the present drawing, oomnrises detachably telescoping members connected respectively to the sides of the back and to the frame. Each socket member l5, which is connected to the back, is formed of a Vflat piece of metal folded upon itself so as to present tivo parallel leaves 16, 17 having a'space between' them to receive the other member, one or both of said leaves being provided `With lateral extensions 18, 19 which are countersunk in and secured to the edge of the frame of the back. The construction preferably is such that the upholsteringof the back Will en- The other members of the telescoping side pieces comprise flat plates 20 which are provided t nediate their ends vri h oset portions ich bring the outer faces of the re* maining portions 22 of said members flush with the outer falls of the s ocket members. This arrangement also provides a rigid support for the bottom of the socket members. T he lower portions 22 of the fiat plates are provided with slots 23 through which the pivots le extend so that the side pieces Which support the back are pivotallyand slidably mounted upon said pivot 14e.

rit their lo-iver ends the members 22 of the side pieces are provided With laterally extending studs 2l which are adapted to engage the teeth A25 of the sector plates ll.A

'if' he sector may be provided with any number of teeth to permit the adjustment of the back to desirable positions. VThe sector also desirably is provided with a guard 26 Which is formed integral with it adapted to. limit the movement of the stud 2d when the back is moved from one adjustment to another. The sectorv plates ll are provided at their upper ends With upwardly extending reversely curved recesses 27, the curvature being` such that when the back is lowered to horizontalv position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. l the studsQel Will .ride upwardly in said recess and dravv the inner end of the back lirmlyagainst thev rear end of the seat. rllhis is an essential feature of the present invention as it insures the closest union of the back and seat When the back is moved into lhorizontal position, thus avoiding .an uncomfortable recess to a person ylyingupon the same. Furthermore, it prevents the separation of the back'and seat if the device is draivn about the'room by pulling .upon the back after the device is extended.

The telescoping seetions'ofthe side pieces may be secured together Aby screws 2.8 `which pass through the plates'l, 17 of the socket member and the intermediate member :20 of theside plate. .By reason of the construction aforesaid the back can be removed from the assembled position illustrated in Fig. l for ythe purpose ofV packing the chair by merely withdrawing the screws 28 and rais.- ing the back upwardlyimtil the socket members are disengaged from the inclosed plates 20. V'lhe back can then be laid vupon the seat and secured in the'usual manner. lt will be noted that vin this construction the loiver sections ,2O of the sidev platesfd'o not extend above the level of the arms lof the chair so that When the back is laid upon 4the seat for packing there Will be no projections outside of the normal space occupied by the tenons 33 at its ends slidably mounted in guides 34 secured to the inner walls of the sides 1 2. These guides 34 desirably are of curved form and extend diagonally the length of the sides 1 and 2, the curvature being such that when the supporting member 32 is in forward position (illustrated in Fig. l) the upper surface thereof, and consequently the leaf 31 of the hinge` will be in horizontal position. l

By reason of this construction the seat extension 29 may be inserted in the space beneath the seat 9 and concealed from view. The seat extension and the back may each be supported in horizontal position as illustrated in Figs. l and 2 by suitable legs pivotally secured within their outer ends. A desirable means comprises legs 35 which are supported upon pivots 36 in the frame of the seat extension and back in such a manner that when the legs are folded they will lie within suitable recesses above the end pieces of said seat extension or back.

The legs 35 are provided at their upper ends with pins 37 and 38 adapted to be engaged by spring plates 39 which are secured to cross pieces 40. The device preferably is provided with detachable arm sections 41, 42 each like those illustrated in my application aforesaid which are adapted to be positioned either at the sides of the frame to form chair arms or transversely thereof when the device is in the form of a settee, to divide it into three seats. These arms desirably are of skeleton form comprising end posts 44, 45 and side rails 46 and a top 47 connected by slats 4S. The posts 44 and 45 extend downwardly below the side rail 46 sufficiently to permit said rail to escape contact with the upholstered cushions of the device when the arms are placed transversely thereof. The posts 44, 45 desirably have at their lower ends dowel pins 49 slotted at their lower ends 50 and expanded slightly, and the tops of the posts 5, 6, 7 and 8 are provided with sockets 51 lined with metallic bushings 52 to receive the ends of the dowel pins, as illustrated in detail in Fig. 4.

By reason of this construction the arms will be firmly held in place upon the insertion of the dowel pins into the sockets and can be readily removed when desired.

In order to prevent the front end of the seat extension from dropping down, when inclosed within the frame beneath the seat, a strap 53 may be secured to the under surface of the forward end of the seat and detachably connected to a button 54 projecting downwardly from the under face of the front end of said extension. In order to provide for the easy insertion ofthe seat extension beneath the seat 9 I have provided a leg 55 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 56 upon the side of the seat, the lower end of the leg having a laterally extending foot 58 adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the guide 34l so that when the seat is raised as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. it will support the same in the raised position and permit the extension to be inserted or withdrawn. By reason of its pivotal connection however, this leg and foot may be turned to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. l to permit the seat to return to horizontal position.

It will be understood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is illustrative and not restrictive and that various changes in construction, form and relation of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

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

1. A multiform chair comprising a frame having legs, a back, a movable seat, guiding means within said frame, a seat extension, supporting means for said seat extension carried by said guiding means and having a pivotal connection with said guiding extension adapted to project beyond said` frame whereby the outer end of said seat eX- tension may be inclined downwardly.

A multiform chair comprising a frame having legs, a back, a movable seat, guiding means within said frame, a seat eXtension, supporting means for said seat eXtension carried by said guiding means and having` a pivotal connection with said guiding extension adapted to project beyond said frame whereby the outer end of said seat extension may be inclined downwardly and al leg pivotally supported upon said seat extension adapted to hold the seat extension in horizontal position.

3. A multiform chair comprising a frame having legs, a back, a seat pivoted at its rear end, curved guideways within said frame beneath said seat, a seat extension, supporting means for said seat extension slidably mounted in said guideway comprising a hinge connecting said supporting means to said extension, said hinge being adapted to rest upon said frame and to project beyond the same to permit the outer end of said seat extension to be inclined downwardly.

4. In a chair comprising a frame having legs, a seat, a back and means for adjustably connecting said back to said frame including side members pivotally connected to said frame and extending upwardly along the sides of said back and brackets connected to the sides of said back and countersunk therein consisting of metallic pla-tes folded to embrace telescopically said side members and adapted to be covered by the upholstering of said back and means' for locking said side members in said brackets.

5. A multiform chair comprising a frame sides of said Vframe Coperating pivotal means looatediat the centers of said sectors, a bac-k having side pieces pivotally and slidably mounted on said pivotal members and having means adapted adjustably to engage the teeth of said sectors wherebg7 the position of said back may be adjusted and means Afor preventing sliding movement of said side pieces when the `back ,is in substantially hori zontal position whereby separation of the back and seat will be prevented.

6. A inultii'orm Chair comprising a frame having legs, a pair of internally toothed seefrors connected oppositely to the inner sides of said frame, Vcooperating pivotal means located at the Centers of said sectors, a back having side pieces pivotally and slidably mounted on said pivotal members and having means adapted adjustably to engage the te-etho1 said sectors whereby the position of said back may be adjusted, said sectors being provided with an upwardly extending reversely curved restricted slot adapted to receive the means engaging the teeth of said sectors to prevent separation of said back and seal when the back is in substantiel-ll;T horizontal position.

maaar@ for said seat, guiding means within said Y frame forsaidextension adapted to permit said extension to be positioned beneath said seat and means :Eoldably Connected l'to said seat operable to hold the lforward end of said seat in elevated position towpermit said extension to be withdrawn'and replaced.

8. ln a multiform chair comprising a frame having legs, a seat pivotally mounted at its `rear end on said lframe,an extension for said seat, Uuideways in said frame, stipporting means for. said extension slidably mounted in said guideways adapted to permit the seat extension to be eonoealedbeneath said seat or withdrawn beyondy the ln testimony whereof7 I have signed myV name to this speeiiioation.

CHARLES E. BARNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by adressing Ythe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

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