US1744666A - Bench - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 21, 1930. L. w. NEWSOM 1,744,666

BENCH Filed Jan. 22, 1929 V/ZZ. if; 2.? 04 -2 /lnllll/ )2 2 3nventor Lewzlsi WJfl-waom a 13 2' l q- E I attorneys:

50 line 4-4 in Figure 3, and "tatably within the bearing23.

Patented Jan. 21, 1930 I 1,744,555

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEWIS W. NEWSOM, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA BENCH Application filed January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,217.

The present invention relates to improve- Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the ments in benches, and has for an object to line 5-5 also in Figure 3. provide an improved seat or bench prlma- Referring more particularly to the drawrily designed to be used in dining alcoves ings 6 and 7 designate the end pieces and 8 5 or booths in private homes, apartments and and 9 the backs of a double bench construc- 55 restaurants. tion. Although the invention is shown in Dining alcoves as now built are small and the drawings as applied to a double bench, on this account difficult to get into and out it will be understood that it is equally apof and they are quite generally uncomfort plicable to a single type of bench. 10 able to sit in. In Figure 2 the alcove table, with which 60.

It is another objectof the invention to benches of this type are usually associated, provide an improved seat or bench, which is indicated at 10. The space between the will aflord ease in getting into and out of bench and table is usually very narrow. It the seat and to provide comfort for the 00- is diificult to get into and out of this space, cupant of the seat. I and for this reason I provide a slidable A further object of the invention resides bench seat 11. Two such bench seats are in providing an improved seat or bench conshown in Figure 2 as cooperating respectively structed so as to avoid imposing any serious with the two backs 8 and 9. limitations on the architect who designs the Each bench seat or board 11 is preferably 20 benches and tables; and to provide an improvided with an identical mechanism at opproved seat or bench that will be devoid of posite sides thereof, the mechanism being sitthat factory appearance, the mechanism uated beneath the bench so as to be substanbeing almost entirely hidden from view. tially concealed. The two mechanisms are A still further object of the invention recoupled for conjoint movement by a shaft 25 sides in providing an improved sliding seat 12. This shaft is square or is provided with or bench in which provision is made for square end portionswhere it enters the square simultaneously causing both ends of the socket 13 of the pinion 14. Although it is bench to partake of thesliding movement not important that the shaft or socket be to avoid jamming of the parts or any diffisquare, it is important that the pinion 14 at 30 culty in the operation; each end of the shaft be fixed thereto so that so Vith the foregoin and other objects in the motion of one pinion shall be communiview, the invention will be more fully de-' cated to the other. The pinion 145 is also scribed hereinafter, and will be more parpreferably provided with a shouldered part ticularly pointed out in the claims appended 15 for receiving the end shoulder of the shaft hereto. 12 and with a tapered recess 16 for receiving In the drawings, whereinlike symbols refer the tapered tenon 17 on the end of the shaft to like or corresponding parts throughout 12. At its smaller end the tapered recess is the several views closed by an end wall or diaphragm l8 and Figure 1 is a front elevation of an imbeyond thediaphragm is a bendable flange proved seat constructed in accordance with 19, adapted to be expanded, upset or riveted so the present invention. against a shoulder 20 on a plate 21 that is Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substanaffixed as by screws or other fastenings 22 tially centrally therethrough, with one of the to the end pieces of the furniture. benches in the retracted, and the other in the The plate is formed with a substantially extended position. cylindrical bearing 23 extending out from Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary secthe furniture end piece and acting as a beartion taken through a portion of one of the ing for the pinion 14, said pinion having a benches with the seat retired. cylindricalportion external of the recess 16 Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the and diaphragm 18 for being received r0 The shoulder 20 is made internally of the bearing 23 and spaced from the adjacent surface of the end piece 6, as shown in Figure 4, leaving an annular chamber 24 in which to receive the upset rim portion of the flange 19. The end of the bearing 23 abuts against one side of the pinion M and it is disposed in substantial alinement with the socketwall 13. The end of the bearing 23 supports the pinion at one side and the shouldered end 15 of the shaft 12 supports the pinion at the opposite side. Moreover, the engagement of the socket 13 and recess 16 form elongated bearing surfaces for the pinion which will prevent any sidewise motion or wabbling thereof. 1 ej Each pinion ll is arranged to engage rack teetli These teeth are carried by the rack bar 26 having the clown-turned rib 27 at one side thereof between the pinion 14 and the plate 21. The rack bar 26 is carried by a flange 28 depending from one side of a bar 29 which fits against the underside of the bench board 11 at or near each end thereof.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the rack bar assembly, including the rib 27, flange 28 and bar 29, is secured to the bench by the screws or other fastenings 30, which pass through bosses 31 on the end portions of the rack bar assembly.

The rack bar assembly, as shown in Figure 5, is also provided with the end stops 32 projecting across the space between the bars 26 and 29 and the flange 28. This space is open at the side adjacent the end piece of the furniture to receive the guide flange 33 projecting from the upper edge of the plate 21 and entering between the bars 26 and 29. This flange has an extended bearing on the bars, and it will insure the proper support for the bench 11 in its sliding movement and will avoid the weight from devolving upon the teeth of the pinion 14 and the rack teeth 25.

In the operation of the device, the seat 11 is simply pushed back and forth to the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Fig ure 2. hen the seat 11 occupies the dotted line position in Figure 2, or the full line posit-ion, shown for the seat at the right, then the seat is retired out of the way and it does not obstruct the small space between the bench and the table 10, but leaves this space open and free for the occupant to walk into and out of in going to and leaving a place at the table. Once the occupant has arrived opposite the assigned place at the table the bench 11 is simply pulled out to the full line position, shown for the left seat in Figure 2, whereupon ample seating room is afforded and a comfortable seat provided.

In moving, the seat 11 will be supported mainly po t tationary fi ed flange .3 o the plate 21 which may be made substantial for this purpose- This will avoid undue wear on the teeth of the pinion and rack and it will constantly keep the teeth in good condition so that they will not be apt to jam.

end of the seat through the shaft 12. Any

canting of the seat or movement of one end relative to the other will be thus avoided and the easy sliding movement of the seat at all times will be assured. The construction of the parts will allow for easy manufacture and ready assembly. The rib 27 will keep the parts of the unit from coming apart after the pivot portion 19 is riveted in the bearing.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

Vhat is claimed is 1. In a bench, a sliding seat, a rack bar assembly aflixed to said seat and having a space therein, a plate secured to the bench and having a guide flange entering said space, a hollow bearing projecting out from said plate and having a space and a shoulder at its inner portion, a pinion meshing with said rack bar and having a socket at one side and a bearing portion at the opposite side with a flange adapted to be over-turned against the shoulder of said bearing, and a shaft fitted in said socket of the pinion.

2. In a bench, a slidable seat, a rack bar assembly secured to each end of the seat and having a space, a fixed plate on each end of the bench having a. guide flange for entering the space in the rack bar assembly, said plate also having a hollow bearing extending outwardly therefrom with an internal annular space and a shoulder, a pinion meshing with the teeth of said rack bar and having a socket at one side and a reduced cylindrical bearing at the opposite side for fitting within said plate bearing, said plate bearing engaging the side .of the pinion opposite the socket, said pinion also having a shoulder and having an internal tapered recess within said bearing, a diaphragm closing said recess, an upsettable flange beyond said diaphragm, and a shaft fitted in said pinion socket with a reduced tenion fitting in the recess.

LEWIS NEWSOM.

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