US141457A - Improvement in folding-chairs - Google Patents

Description

P. W. NOLAN.

Folding-Chairs.

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AM PIIOTO 'LITHOGRAPHIC C0 N Y. USED/7175 s ERG UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFIGE.

PATRICK W. NOLAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO J. H. CAMPBELL, OF WILLIMANTIC, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 141,457, dated August 5, 1873; application filed J une 25, 1873. A

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK W. NOLAN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding-Chair, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference bein g had to the accompanying drawings makin g part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of two of my improved chairs with single intervening standard. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the seats detached.

Similar letters of reference denote corre sponding parts in all the figures. My invention relates to a novel construction and arrangement of the folding-arms relative to the folding-seats, whereby a single intervenin g arm used between two adjoining seats will be thrown up and retained in proper position for use when either of said seats is in position for occupancy and folded out of. the way only when both seats are folded or unoccupied. The invention relates, second, to a novel means for connecting the folding-seat and pivoted back, whereby a positive movement in either direction is imparted to one by the movement of the other, as will be hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, Arepresents an upright or standard of any suitable configuration, but, by preference, cast open, with front and rear upright bars a a connected at the lower ends with a horizontal flange or footpiece, a adapting it to be firmly secured to the floor or platform, with the forward leg a extending to about the required height for the pivot of the seat B and there connected by a transverse web or bar, a with the rear or main upright, which extends upward to form a pivotal support at c for the pivoted back 0, at or near which point said standard A is provided with a forward projection, A, to which the arm D is pivoted at d, as shown. The seat B is provided on each side with straps B armed with pivots I), through which said seat is pivoted in the standards A at a point indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 2, and these straps, extending in rear of the seat, are curved upward and forward, forming arms eccentric to pivot b, which are provided with the curved eccentric slots 1). The pivoted backs C are also provided with side straps C, which extend below the back and are provided with pins or spurs c, which enter the eccentric slots 1), as shown in Fig. 2, the arrangement being such that when the seat is folded upward to a vertical position the pins 0 are moved outward, traversing the slot b, and cause the back also to assume a vertical position, and when the seat is thrown down for use a reverse movement of the back takes place, causing it to assume an inclined position for use. The same result is attained by moving the top of the back forward or back, a positive movement being imparted, through the pin 0 and slot I), for either'folding the seat or bringing it into position for use.

The relation of thepin and slot are such that when the seat is in position for use the pin rests in the lower end of the slot and serves to lock the seat and back against further movement; but as a further safeguard, and to prevent any straining of the parts, other stops may be used, such as an extension of the back-strap, provided with a pin (indicated by dotted lines at c m, Fig. 1) adapted to rest against the forward leg to, when the seat is in position for use, or a similar stop applied to the seat-straps and so located as to rest against the web a or a spur formed thereon.

The arms 1) are pivoted loosely in the lugs A, as explained, and, when not upheld by one or the other of the eccentrics on the adjacent sides of adjoining seats, drop either from their own gravity or may be forced downward by springs, if preferred, into a vertical or folded position out of the way; but when either of two adjoining seats is thrown down into position for use the cam-projection on the seat strap forces the intervening arm D upward into position for use and retains it until both the adjoining seats are again folded, when the arm again drops out of the way into its folded position.

Where, from any cause, it may be necessary to shorten the cam-straps, or the relative arrangement of the seat and back is such that the length of the cam would be so great as to interfere with the seat, a slide-rod may be piv oted to the under side of the arm D, provided at its lower end with spurs or pins, one on each side, so arranged as to be operated by either arm or cam, when either seat is thrown down into position for use, and so retained until both are folded, as before.

The folding-chair described is particularly designed for opera-houses and public halls, where economy of space is desirable and the capability described of folding seat, back, and arms permits the rows"of chairs to be placed in closer proximity than would be practicable where less than all of these parts of the seat folded, and at the same time, by folding into the compact form shown and described, afiord ample room for ingress and egress between the rows.

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

1. A single pivoted or folding arm between two adjoining seats, in combination with independent cams, or an equivalent device, on the adjacent sides or straps of said seats for operating said arm, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the pivoted back with the pivoted seat, provided with curved slotted straps or plates, whereby a positive movement is imparted to the back in both directions by the movement of the seat, and also to the seat by the movement of the back, substantially as described.

3. The slotted cam-shaped straps B, in combination with the pivoted back and arm for operating said back and arm, substantially as described.

PATRICK W. NOLAN.

Witnesses:

J. T. THOMAS,

ALEXR.'MAHON.

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