US1325302A - Folding stool and step. - Google Patents

Description

W. W. LINCOLN.

FOLDING SIOOL AND STEP. 'APPucAnou FILED MAR. 21. 1916.

1,325,302. I Patented Dec16,1919.'

UNITED STATES PATNT FFIC ii:

WARD w. LINooLN, or ROCK FALLS, ILLINOIS, essIGNoIt' To LINcoLN-rOn'rEB. MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, or s'rERLING, ILLINOIS.

' FOLDING STOOL AND STEP.

Specification of Letters iatent.

Patented Dec. 16,1919.

Application area March 27, 1916. SeriaI No. 86,879.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVARD lVJ LINCOLN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rock Falls, in the county of \Vhiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Stools and Steps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to folding stools and steps, of that character which are more specially designed for use in kitchens offices and other places where it is occasionally desired to reach articles which are located at such a height from the floor as not to be readily attainable therefrom, and Where on account of the'limited amount of space in the room it is preferable to have the stool so constructed as to be capable of being reduced to a compact space when not in use. In devices of this class it is important that they shall possess a maximum amount of rigidity when in use, and that at such times there shall be no possibility of their accidental collapse, and it is particularly along the line of these requirements that my invention pertains, one of the purposes thereof being toautomatically lock the parts of the stool in operable position, against any possible chance of a casual closing of the parts thereof.

My invention is also of simple construction, and can be produced at a cost little above that of an ordinary wooden stool of the non-folding type.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows my invention in position when in use, in side elevation, with a portion of one of the legs broken away to better disclose some of the other parts. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the device in folded position. Fig. 3 is a detail of the upper part of my invention, in partially closed position. Fig. at shows the brace 12, detached.

1 represents a top or seat, hingedly connected with the lower face of which, as at 2, is a pair of front legs 3, united by one or more steps a. A rear pair of legs 5 1s hingedly connected with the seat 1, as at 6, the front and rear pairs of legs being united by a pair of braces 7 pivoted at their lower ends to the legs 5, as at a, and at their upper ends to the legs 3, as at Z). By reason of the disposition of the hlnges 2 and 6 on the rear faces of the legs 3 and 5, and the particular arrangement of the brace 7 it is possible for the seat 1 and legs 5 to be folded downwardly into a compact position against the legs 3, as shown in Fig. 2. The braces 7 are preferably provided with bent portions 8 to permit them to lie snugly against the legs 5 when folded.

Secured to the lower face of the seat 1 1s a bar 9, provided with an opening 10, terminating at its forward end in a recess 11, and pivoted to the legs 5 as at c is an arched brace 12 having a bar 13 capable of engaging the recess 11 to hold the stool from closing. This results from the fact that in order to fold the hinged parts of the stool the angle between the seat 1 and legs 5 is necessarily increased, and the brace 12 prevents any change in the relative position of such parts. Said brace also assists the brace 7 in preventing the legs 3 and 5 from spreading when in use, and also aids in rendering the parts of the stool more rigid, not only from a spreading action, but against any side torsion or twisting thereof.

T o operate: When the device is opened the bar 13 of the brace 12 slides along the bar 9 until it drops into the recess 11 by force of gravity, all that is necessary in this Operation being to grasp the rear edge of the seat 1 with one hand and draw the same upwardly, causing the legs to separate and the bar 9 to automatically lock the same when fully opened. To close the stool the bar 13 is raised until it is disengaged by the recess 11, whereupon the parts can be readily collapsed. By reason of the bar 13 being near the front edge of'the seat 1, it is in a position to be naturally engaged by the hand of the operator in grasping the seat to raise the stool, the one operation thereby resulting in raising the stool for the purpose of moving or storing it, releasing the locking devices, and folding the stool into compact space.

It is obvious that when in use as a step, or short step-ladder, the seat 1 comprises the upper step thereof. It will also be apparent that the metal parts of the device are few in number and simple, and can be easily formed and put in place.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A device of the character described, comprising a seat, a front pair of legs hingedly connected with said seat and united at interrals by step members; a rear pair of legs hingedly attached to said seat and foldably connected with said pair of legs; a bar on the lower face er said seat, provided at its forward end with a locking means; and a brace pivotally connected with said rear legs and provided with a member adapted to slide forwardly on said bar and engage the locking means thereof to hold said cle- 10 vice with the parts thereof in open position,

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 in the presence of two witnesses.

WARD W. LINCOLN. Witnesses:

N. I-IAsKELL, FRANK W. HASKELL.

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