US1318439A

US1318439A - Ments

Info

Publication number: US1318439A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1919-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1936-10-14

Description

E. ERICKSON.

OPERATORS CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1911.

Patented Oct. 14, 1919.

EDWARD roxsoN, OFBEVERLY, MAssAcrrusE'rrs, Ass'IenoE, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY ooEroEA'rIoE, 0E PATERSON, NEW JERSEY,

A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

OPEQRATORS CHAIR.

s ecification of Letters ratezit.

Patented. Oct. 14, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Operators Chairs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a speci fication, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to chairs and particularly to improvements in chairs for the use of the operators of machines in factories.

An object of this invention is to improve chairs for the above purpose so that they will be more comfortable, convenient, durable and safe although inexpensive to manufacture.

WVith a view to increasing the safety of chairs for this purpose, one feature of the invention consists in improving the folding mechanism of chairs designed to leave the aisles clear when the chairs are unoccupied so as to allow the operators to leave the room hurriedly in case of panic, fire or other accident.

With the object in mind of producing a comfortable and convenient chair, an important feature of the invention consists in providing simple means for adjusting the height of the chair and in also providing means for permitting the chair to turn to a limited extent when the operator wishes to occupy it or to rise therefrom while, at the same time, providing means for automatically locking the chair in position as soon as it receives the weight of the operator. Thus, the advantage of a swivel chair is secured when the operator starts to occupy it or rises therefrom, while it also has the advantage that it will remain in fixed relation to the machine during the time that the operator is at work. Therefore the chair can not move inadvertently and cause the operator to become injured or spoilfthe work. Furthermore, means are provided for adjusting the chair on the floor and then looking it in the position best suited to meet the requirements of the operator.

\Vith the object of durability in mind, the chair is made principally of metal in order to withstand the hard usage to which factory' chairs are subjected.-

connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Flgure 1 1s a slde elevation of the chalr in folded position, dotted lines showing the chair in position for occupancy;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the chair in folded position, and Fig. 3 is a detail of the means for adusting the height of the chair and providing for a limited turning thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

The base portion 6 of the chair consists of a casting having an upwardly extending socket 10 to receive the upright which supports the chair, as will be described in detail later. In order to permit the position of the chair upon the floor to be adjusted, a T-slot casting 4 is provided which is fastened to the floor by means of screws. Be-

fore this piece is secured to the floor, a screw is placed with its head located in the wide portion of the slot and with the threaded portion extending upright to pass through a slot provided in the base portion 6, which slot is located substantially at right angles to the T-slot in the casting l. A nut S on the screw fastens the base portion securely against the" floor after the chair has been located to meet the requirements of the operator. This construction increases the usefulness of the chair when combined with the other features of construction of the present invention.

In the socket 10 is slidingly located the seat supporting upright 12. This is prefer-.

ably made of tubing to economize in material and to lessen the weight. T 0 this tube is pivotally connected at 14 a spider frame 22 to which the seat 13 is secured. A coil spring 16, coaxial with the pivot 14:, has its two

straight ends

18 and 20 bear respectively against the inside of the upright 12 and against the under side of the seat 13. This spring causes the chair-to assume the full line position of Fig. 1 when it is unoccupied but allows it to readily assumethe dotted line position when the chair receives the weight of the operator, as will be better understood after the chair has been more fully described.

To the spider frame 22 is pivotally connected a back-rest support holder 24 on which the back-rest support 28 is clamped in any desired adjusted position by means of the binding screw 29 and clamp 30. The back-rest support28 is composed of a unitary piece of tubing in the form' of an in:

will thus be seen that the

parts

22, 24 andv 26 form a link-motion for allowing thechair tolopen or to fold up, the lengths of the links being so chosen that the part 24 main tains the back-rest support and the back rest at substantially the same angle relatively to the floor in both positions. By such a design the back-rest is folded close to the bench when the chair is unoccupied, leaving the aisle clear for the purpose above set forth.

A convenient and novel construction for adjusting the height of the seat, and at the same time for permitting limited angular movement of the seat so as to make it easy for the operator to occupy the chair or rise therefrom, is shown in detail in Fig. 3 and consists. ofv the loose sleeve 32 and the parts cooperating therewith. This sleeve loosely surrounds the upright 12 in the illustrated embodiment of the invention and is pro-. vided at its upper end with three pairs of

vertical notches

34, 36 and 38. The notches of each pair are diametrically opposite each other and are of equal depth but each pair is of different depth than that of the other pairs. When the chair is lifted somewhat in the socket 10, the sleeve may be freely turned around upon the upright until the desired pair of notches is in position to engage the bolt 40 which pivotally connects the brace 26 and the upright 12. When the chair is dropped back in its socket, the bolt 40 rests in the bottom of thepair of notches then engaged, the particular pair of notches with whichit is engaged determining the height of the chair. At the lower end of the sleeve 32 are a series of notches 42 which are of equal width, one pair of which will be engaged with the raised stops 44 upon the top of the socket .10, according to which pair of upper notches is engaged with the bolt 40. As the notches 42 are Wider than the stops 44, a limited amount of angular movement is permitted between the notches and stops. This allows limited angular movement of the chair, which movement is the sameforeach of the adjusted positions of the sleeve 32, for the reason that the upper and lower notches of the sleeve are symmetrically located relatively to each other. 7

This sleeve 32 thus provides a very simple and effective means for adjusting the height of'the seat and permitting limited rotation thereof, no tools whatever being required to make the adjustment for height.

When it is desired to raise the chair to a height greater than is permitted by the sleeve 32, a longer sleeve may conveniently be substitutedtherefor or the chair may be clamped in raised position, if the turning feature is not desired, by means of the bolt .48 which draws the socket together into clamping position, the socket being split at v5O to allow it to spring together.

Besides the function already mentioned, the lug 46 bears firmly against the socket 10 when the chair is occupied, so that the chair is clamped in the desired angular position. However, as soon as the operator starts to rise and the chair starts to fold up, the clamping action is released and the chair may then be turned so that there will be plenty of space for the operator to rise.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States 1s: 1

1. 'A folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat pivotally connected to said upright, a back rest support holder, a back rest support secured to said holder, a back rest on said support and a brace pivotally connected to, the upright, said holder being pivotally connected to the seat and to the brace.

2. A folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged a seat and to the brace, and said pivotally connected members forming a link-motion so constructed and arranged that the back rest support holder maintains the back rest support at substantially the same angle relatively to the floor in both the open and fold ed positions of the chair.

3. A folding chair, having, incombina tion, abase portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an uprlght mounted on sald base portion, a seat pivotally connected to said upright, a back rest support holder, a back rest support, aback rest on said support, and a brace pivotally connected to the uprlght, sald holder being pivotally connected to the seat andto the brace, and said pivotally connected members being constructed and arranged to cause the back rest support to rise and simultaneously to move forward toward the front of the chair when it is being folded.

LA folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be adjustably secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat pivotally connected to said upright, a back rest support holder, a back rest support comprising a unitary member adj ustably secured to said holder, a back rest on said support, a brace pivotally connected to the upright, said holder being pivotally connected to the seat and to the brace and a spring for causing the chair to fold up when the occupant rises therefrom.

5. An adjustable chair, having, in combi nation, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat supported by said upright, stops on the base portion and the upright and a loose sleeve constructed and arranged to cooperate with the stops in any one of a plurality of different positions to adjust the height of the seat and permit limited rotation thereof.

6. An adjustable chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat supported by said upright, one set of stops on the base portion and another set on the upright and a loose sleeve having in one end a plurality of notches of equal size to cooperate with one set of stops and having in the other end a plurality of pairs of notches to cooperate with the other set of stops, the notches of each pair being diametrically opposite each other and of equal depth but the notches of each pair being of different depth from those of the other pairs.

7 An adjustable chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat supported by said upright, one set of stops on the base portion and another set on the upright and a loose sleeve having, in one end, a plurality of notches to engage one set of stops, said notches being wider than the stops to permit limited relative angular movement between the notches and stops, and said loose sleeve having, in the other end, a plurality of pairs of notches, each pair of a different depth, and any pair being adapted to be engaged selectively with the other set of stops to permit the height of the seat to be adjusted.

8. A folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat pivotally connected to said upright, a back rest support holder, a back rest support secured to said holder, a back rest on said support, a brace pivotally connected to the upright, said holder being pivotally connected to the'seat and to the brace, means for causing the chair to fold up when the occupant arises therefrom, stops on the base portion and on the upright and a loose sleeve constructed and arranged to cooperate with the stops in any one of a plurality of different positions to adjust the height of the seat and permit limited rotation thereof.

9. A folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat pivotally connected to said upright, a link member, a brace, a bolt pivotally connecting the brace and the upright, said link member being pivotally connected to the seat and to the brace, means for causing the chair to fold up when the occupant arises therefrom, a stop on the base portion and a loose sleeve having, in one end, a plurality of notches of equal size to cooperate with the stop and having, in the other end, a plurality of pairs of notches to engage with the pivot connecting the brace and the upright, the notches of each pair being diametrically opposite each other and of equal depth but the notches of each pair being of different depth from those of the other pairs.

10. A folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat pivotally connected to said upright, a link member, a brace pivotally connected to the upright, said link member being pivotally connected to the seat and to the brace, means for permitting limited angular movement of the chair and means for maintaining the chair in fixed angular position when it is occupied.

11. A folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to a floor, an upright mounted on said base portion, a seat pivotally connected to said upright, a link member, a brace pivotally connected to the upright, said link member being pivotally connected to the seat and to the brace, a stop on the base portion, a loose sleeve having in one end a plurality of notches to engage the stop, said notches being wider than the stops to permit limited relative angular movement between the notches and stop, and a lug on the brace constructed and arranged to engage the base portion when the chair is occupied and maintain the chair against angular movement.

12. A mechanism for adjusting the height of a chair, having, in combination, a member connected tothe chair, a member connected to the floor, and means cooperating between them comprising a stop and a plurality of notches of different depths, any notch being adapted to be engaged selectively With said stop to permit the height of the chair to be adjusted.

13. A folding chair, having, in combination, a base portion constructed and arranged to be secured to' a floor, an upright ally connected to said upright, a link inemher, a brace pivotally connected to the upright, said link member being pivotally connected to the seat and to the brace, and means for causing the chair to fold up When the occupant rises therefrom.

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

EDWARD ERIGKSON.

10 mounted on said base portion, a seat pivot- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents eaeh, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 11.10. 4