US162707A - Improvement in settees - Google Patents

Description

WILLIAM F. SPENCER, OF RICHMOND,- INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SETTEEIS. y

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l62,707, dated April 27, 1875; application filed January 19, 1875.

To all whom it may concern: Y,

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. SPENcER, of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State ot' Indiana, have invented certain Improvements in Settees, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the 'accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of a series of the sectional settees connected together so asto form a continuous seat, with one section turned at right angles to the others. Fig. 2 is a plan view, the full lines of which show the settees arranged in the arc of a circle or curved line, and the dotted lines show one arranged at right angles and one turned around so as to face the adjacent section, without in either case becoming disconnected. Fig. 3 is a rear view of two of the sections connected together for convenience in handling; and Fig. ais a detached view, showing the device by means of which the sections are connected or hihged together in front.

My inventionrelates to settees or seating for schools, halls, theaters, lecture-rooms, Sac.; andthe invention consists in making such seats or settees in sections so as to form a continuous seat when arranged in a straight line, and in hinging or pivoting these sections together at or near the forward edges or corners of the seats, so that they may be freely adjusted or arranged to assume any desired continuous curve or be set at any desired angle with relation to each other, without becoming disconnected. It also consists in a new and improved combination of devices, whereby the sections are readily connected the one with the other, and kept from coming apart, without interfering with their arrangement with relation to each other. And further it consists in anew and improved combination of devices whereby the sections may be united and held with 'sufficient rigidity to permit of a number of sections being moved or conveniently handled at once, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Referring to the parts by letters, A A A A represent sectional settees or seat-s. These seats lnay be made of any approved form, and of any suitable material, but I prefer to have them without arms, -because when so made they iit closely together, both as regards the backs and seats, and form a continuous seat every portion of which may be utilized, it being immaterial whether the occupant sits entirely on one or partly on two ot' the sections, thereby permitting each individual of an audience to adjust his position with comfort to himself and hisneighbor. Each sectionA is provided on one side with a plate, B, pivoted at or near the forward corner or edge of the seat, and to the under side of the same, and also on its other forward corner with a button or pivot-bolt, C, the head of which projects slightly downward. These pivoted plates and buttons have the same relative position on each of the sections, so that when two sections are brought together the plate on one will be adjacent to the button or pivotbolt on the other. The plates B have a slot, b, one end of which is made circular, and of sufficient size to permit of the button or head of the pivot-bolt C on the adjacent section passing easily through it. The other portion ofthe slot is made smaller, and of elongated shape, so that after the head of the bolt is passed through the enlarged portion, the stem or shaft of the bolt will slide along the narrow part ofthe slot, leaving the head outside. In this way the sections are united or hinged together, and as the plates B are pivoted and the bolts C may freely turn in the slots, it will be obvious that the sections may be arranged close together, or in the form of a curve, or at any desired angle with relation to each other, without becoming disconnected, and as the pivot-al pointis at or near the adjacent front corners of the seats, the front line is always maintained intact, whether the sections are arranged in straight or curved lines. d represents hooks, and e eyes, secured, respectively, one on each side ofthe back of each section A, for the purpose of connecting them together in rear when it is desired to move the settees from place to place, the hook-and-eye connection operating in combination with the plates B and bolts C to render a series of the sections sufficiently rigid to be conveniently handled or'moved together. Any other suitable device may, however, be used instead of the hook-and-eye connection, such fastening devices not being themselves novel When sep-- arately considered, and I contemplate conneeting them in rear by means of rubber or like fastening, which will have a tendency to bring the series of sections into a straight line when relieved of the Weight of the persons sitting therein.

I am aware that chairs have been united together by means of couplings such as are shown and described in Letters Patent No. 123,131, dated January 30, 1872, and by other devices, and I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as claiming broadly such device;

What I claim is- 1. A settee made in sections A A, so as to form a continuous seat when placed in a straight line, the sect-ions being pivoted or hinged together at or near their forward edges, only so that they may be freely adjusted to assume any desired continuous curve, or be set at any desired angle with relation to each other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The pivoted plates B, having slots b and the buttons or pivot-bolts C attached to the settee sections A A, at or near the front edge of the seat-frames, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my signature.

WILLIAM F. SPENCER.

Witnesses:

D. G. STUART, P. HANNAY.

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