US1731293A - Folding writing arm - Google Patents

Description

Filed April 20, 1928 Fig I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Mfies u aw? Patented Oct. 15, 1929 I NI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD W. CHAPMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,-ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SEAT- ING COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY FOLDING WRITING ARM Application filed April 20,

which can be readily and quickly moved from its normal usable position to a position where it will be out of the way and not obstruct the passageway in front of the seat; toprovide a writing arm which may be posltlvely and securely locked in usable position and the weight of the arm of the user will tend to hold the arm in locked position; and to provide a writing arm which can be pivotally swung to a position whereby the major portion of the arm will be housed underneath the seat portion of the chair to which it is attached.

The illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a chair with the improved writing arm attached thereto, said writing arm being shown in full lines in its normal usable position and by dotted lines in its folded position; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail in perspective showing the writing arm tilted edgewise preparatory to being lowered to its folded position. c

As is well understood'in the art, writing arms on chairs ordinarily protrude out a considerable distance in front of the seat and obstruct the passageway, to more or less extent, between the seat and the row of seats in front thereof.

Although desirable to have the writing arm arranged so that it can be swung out of the way, it is very difficult to provide a suitable mounting for the writing arm which will hold it rigidly and steadily when in the writing position. i

In the present invention, the writing arm is pivotally mounted on a vertically swingable bracket arm so as to be tiltable on an axis at right angles to the axis of the bracket arm and inter-locking releasable securing means are provided on the chair seat end and writing arm so that when the writing arm is in a horizontal plane, it is rigidly secured 1928. Serial No. 271,454.

in that position but may be readily released by tilting it on its pivotal mounting.

In the construction shown in the drawings,

a chair having the usual back 1 and seat ends 2 and 3 is provided with the usual seat 4:. A bracket arm 5 is pivotally mounted at 5A to the inside front edge of the chair seat'end 3' so as to be vertically swingable thereon. The outer end of the bracket arm 5 is provided with spaced bearings 6 and 7 which support a pintle pin 8. p

v writing arm 9 of the usual shape is provided on its underside with a strap 10 securedthereto. by screws or the like 11. The

strap extends transversely across the arm 9 for the purpose of adding rigidity to the arm and prevent splitting thereof. One end of the strap 10 is provided with a lug 12 through which the forward end of the pintle pin 8 projects and is thus carried thereby.

The under side of the writing arm 9 is also provided with a bracket 13 secured thereto by screws or the like 14. The bracket I 13 is provided with a pair of depending integrally formed lugs 15 and 16, positioned in spaced relation to each other so as to receive the upstanding trunnion 7 therebetween. The lugs 15 and 16 are bored in alignment to receive the rear end of the pintle pin 8, thus providing a rotatable or tiltable pivotal connection for the writing arm 9 closely adjacent its outer longitudinal edge.

Atorsion spring 17 is mounted on the pintle pin 8 between the lug 15 and the lug 12 of bracket 10. One end of the spring bears against the writing arm 9 and the other end thereof bears against the bracket 5 for normally urging the writing arm 9 into a horizontal plane, that is, to a plane disposed at right angles tothe plane of the bracket arm 5'.

Means are provided for detachably or releasably securing the writing arm 9 in a horizontal plane, and comprise an upstanding hook 18, integrally formed at the upper front edge of theseat end 3, and a depending integrally formedlug 19 on the inner end of the bracket 18. The lug 19 is offset inwardly with respect to the axis of the pivotal mounting of the writing arm 9 so that the lug travels in an are when the arm 9 is rotated on its ing and bracket arms are in a vertical posipivotal mounting.

. In the use of this writing arm, the bracket arm 5 is swung upwardly with the writing my hand at Grand Rapids, Michigan, this 17th arm 9 held in an edgewise position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. After being raised to this position, the arm 9 is rocked on its pintle 8 to a horizontal plane, thus causing the lug 19 to engage back of the hook 18 thereby rigidly securing the arm 9 in a usable horizontal position.

The hook 18 being curved inwardly from the seat end 3, any weight placed upon the writing arm when in use tends to hold the lug and hook securely in interlocked relation.

l/Vhen it is desired to fold the Writing an 9 out of the way, the inner edge thereof is grasped and the arm rocked up-edgewise on its pintle pin 8. This rocking movement of the arm disengages the lug 19 from the hook 18 and permits the bracket arm 5 and writing arm 9 to be swung downwardly through a Vertical plane until the arm 9 is below the seat 4: of the chair to which it is attached. At this time the arm 9 is released and the torsion spring 17 causes the arm 9 to rotate on its pivotal connection to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In this manner, the major portion of the writing arm 9 is housed underneath the seat 4 out of the users way.

When it is again desired to use the writing arm, it is first rotated a quarter turn on its pivot, thus bringing the arm into a plane parallel with the plane of the bracket 5. The bracket arm is then raised to the position 7 shown in full lines in Fig. 1, at which time the writing arm 9 is again rocked back on its pivotal connection, aided by the torsion spring 17 to cause the lug 19 to again engage with the upstanding hook 18.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and de scribed, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the folallel with the plane of the bracket 5. The lowing claim.

The combination with a chair having a back, seat end and a seat, of a bracket arm pivoted to said seat end so as to be vertically swingable from a horizontal to a vertical position, a writing arm movably mounted on said bracket arm and swingable therewith c0- operating means on saidseat end and writing arm for releasably securing said writing arm in a horizontal plane, said releasable securing means being controlled by the movement of said writing arm relative to said bracket arm and a torsion spring bearing between said bracket arm and said writing arm for rotating said writing arm inwardly toward and substan ially, under said seat when said writ.--

tion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto se day of April, 1928. o

EDWARD W. CHAPMAN.

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