US147147A - Improvement in folding chairs - Google Patents

Description

B. F. LITTLE & R. B. PRINDLE.

Folding-Chairs.

Patented Feb. 3,1874.

BENJAMIN F. LITTLE AND RUSSEL PATENT OFFICE.

PRINDLE, OF N ORVICH, YNEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,147, dated February 3, 1874 application filed January 8, 1874.

A To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, BENJ. F. LITTLE and RUSSEL B. PRINDLE, of Norwich, in the county of Chenango and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Chairs; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this speciiication, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of our chair as arranged for use, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same as closed for storage.

Letters of like name and hind refer to like parts' in each of the figures.

p The design of our invention is to increase the comfort, strength, and durability of folding chairs, and to lessen the amount of space occupied by them when folded together; and to this end it consists in the peculiar construction and combination of the various parts of the chair, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

In the annexed drawing, A and A represent two bars, constructed in the form of double reverse curves, and connected together by means of two cross-bars, B and B, which extend between said parts near their ends. Two similar but shorter bars, C and C, are connected together near one end of each by means of a cross-bar, D, and at or near their longitudinal centers are pivoted to and between the bars A and A, in such a manner as to bring the lines of their curves directly vopposite to each other. Near the upper ends of the bars C and C, and from corresponding points upon the barsA and A, two cross-bars, E and E, extend between the same, and furnish attachments for the ends of a iiexible seat, F, which extends between said cross-bars, and when distended, as' seen in Fig. 1, performs the usual office. Pivoted upon the outer face of each bar C, at its upper end, is a reverse curved bar, G, which from thence extends rearward and upward, and rests upon the upper end of the corresponding bar A. One or more rails, H, extend between the upper ends of the bars G, and not only insure their relative positions, but also furnish a support for the back of the person who occupies the said bar A, in which position said bar I oper ates as a brace, and limits the outward motion of the upper ends of said bars A and C, and also insures the vertical position of the parts forming the chair-back.

As thus constructed, the chair sustains the weight of a person without reference to the tension of the seat, the office performed by the latter being simply that of a seat, and not, as is usually the case, that of a stop or brace for limiting the spread of the upper end of the pivoted bars, the result of which is that the durability of said seat and the usefulness of the chair are materially increased.

Then not in use, the chair may be caused to occupy a comparatively small space by turning the back forward and downward uutil its upper end rests against the lower ends of the bars A and C, by which operation said bars are closed together, and the whole caused to assume the form shown in Fig. 2.

By providing a stud, a., within the upper end of each bar A, and acorrespouding opening, g, within the contiguous portion of the back bar G, the stability of said parts will be materially increased.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of our' invention, what we claim as new The hereinbefore-described folding chair, consisting of the barsA, (j, and Gr, cross-bars B, l), E, and H, braces I, and seat F, all constructed and combined to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as specified.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing' we have hereunto set our hands this 19th day of December, 1873.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. THOMAS, A. SHErARDsoN.

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