US1832676A - Folding chair - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1931.

c. w. WHITE ET AL FOLDING CHAIR Filed Feb 21. 1929 fPatented Nov. 17, 1931 the drawings.

- I E STATES PATENT-OFFICE -CLARENCE WATSON WHITE AND VOILEY AGUSTUS MITCHELL, OF NORTH BENNING- TON, VERMONT, ASSIGNORS TO H. C. WHITE COMPANY, OF NORTH BENNI NGTON, VER- MONT, A CORPORATION OF VERMONT FOLDING CHAIR Application filed February 21, 1929.

This invention refers to certain new and useful improvements in folding chairs or stools, especially of the camp, lawn, or porch variety, though we are not restrlcted as to the purpose of their use or their class; a leading and paramount object being to cheapen and promote the ease of their manufacture, and produce a strong and rigid combination, adapted more particularly for an arm chalr, which can be folded and unfolded a great number of times without wearing out or weakening or becoming unserviceable through any deterioration in the relative integrity of the parts. The general combination mav be adapted if desired for use with roc ers to furnish a rocking chair.

The invention may therefore be said to consist essential y in the eneral combinat on of the mechanical folding features: and also in numerous details and peculiarities in the construction. combination and arrangement of parts. substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustratinn our invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of our improved folding arm chair. when in its open and unfolded position and ready for ordinarv use.

Figure 2 is an edge e evation of the same when folded to ether to occupy as small a compass as possible for convenience in trans portation or storage, certain parts being sectioned on a vertical line to bring out details of construction and arrangementmore clearly and especially to show the rear parts in gre ter detail.

Figure 3 is a partial hori -ontal sectional plan view on the line-3. 3, of Figure 1.

F ure 4 is a detail horizontal section on the l ne 4. 4, of Figure 1.

Like characters of reference denote like parts throughout all the different figures of between these side frames is a folding seat frame hinged to the side frames and supporting a flexible folding seat or stool.

Serial No. 341,743.

The side frameseach consist of a taller or longer rear post 4 and a shorter front post 1. The front and rear posts of each side frame are rigidly connected by one or more horizontal lower rails 8 and an upper wide or flat strip 2, serving as an arm for the cha r. Between the arms 2 and the lower rails 8 are series of round rods 9 secured to arms 2 and rails 8, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The rods 9 strengthen the sides, besides giving a finished appearance thereto, and afford a light open construction of strength and durability. Obviously these details of the side frames may vary widely, but it is desirable that each side frame should consist of an integral strongly built combinat on of-parts so that the chhir as a whole may have upstanding and un hakable qualities for service.

The arms 2 are at a convenient distance below the upper ends of the rear posts 4, and are so placed as to constitute suitab e arm rests for the occupant of the chair. The rear posts 4 are connected by a folding sheet of canvas or other material 3, tacked to the posts if desired. whose vertical opposite edges are formed with loops or pockets 5 calculated to 'looselv contain the posts; Further. the

looped opposite edges of back 5 are slotted at 6 to accommodate the joints of the rear en of arms 2 with posts 4.

When the chair is open or extended. and the s de frames are in the position where they are normally widest apart, as shown in Figure 1. the back 3 will be stretched taut across the chair in a vertical position and will furnish an eff ctive back rest for the sitter in the chair, besides serving as a strap to connect the rear posts of the chair. On the other, hand when the chair is colla sed and folded, the side frames will be brought close together as shown in Figure 2, with the seat and its frame folded between them. in which position the back 3 will naturally infold itself between the frames so as to be out of the way The loose pockets 5 enables the back 3 to easily adjust itself in the folding and unfolding of the chair. The canvas, leather, or cloth fabric of the back 3 may be heavy or light in weight or otherwise, accordingly as .may be desired, and may be in one or more pieces and colored or decorated or figured to embellish the appearance of the chair.

Between the side frames, which are anljusrtable towards and away from each other as we 5 have described, is a stool or seat frame for supporting a flexible canvas, leather, or other seat 7, which occupies a normal horizontal position when in use, as in Figure 1, and is infolded between the frame members carrying it when the chair is closed up for non-use, as portrayed in Figin-e 2.

The seat frame is composed of two front cross bars and 11 pivoted together centrally at 12. These bars 10 and 11 lie in a vertical plane, and are movable into different positions on a central pivot 12. Opposite to these front cross bars is a pair of similar rear cross bars 10a and 110. which are pivoted together centrally at 1%, the front and rear cross bars being similar in all respects in form and function. The lower outer ends of the front bars 10 and 11 and of the rear bars 10!: and 11a are respectivelv connected rigidly together by horizontal side bars 15, which in turn are hinged by means of hinges 17 at two or more points to the lower rails S of the side frames. see Figure 3. And the upper outer ends of the front bars 10 and 11 and of the rear bars 10a and 11a are also connected rigidly together bv the horizontal bars 16. To these bars 16. 16. the opposite ed es of canvas seat 7 are tightlv fastened. -When this seat frame is unfolded the bars 16 abutauainst the side frames and the seat 7 reaches from one side frame to the other in a taut horizontal position. When the bars of the seat frame are brought nearer together by turning them on their pivots until the bars are more nearly parallel with each other and in a vertical position. the seat frame accommod ates itself comfortably between the closed up side framesms in Figure 2. Viewine. these front and rear interpivoted bars and their connections from above, instead of from front and rear, it will be seen that the seat frame is composed of two rectangular centrally pivoted frames, which can be raised on their pivots into an approximately vertical position or spread out into an approximately horizontal position, carrying with them the flexible seat member, which is horizontal at one time, reaching from one side frame to the other, and serving then in its seat flmction, a d at another time dropping easily into its id e nosition when not in use.

When the seat frame unfolds from its idle vertical position in Figure- 2 to its active horizontal position in Figure 1, the cross pieces 16 that hold canvas seat 7 strike against the side frames, but for the sake of firmness in the chair it is necessary that the weight on the seat should not cause the seat to be depressed too much as this would cause the V pieces 16 to travel outwardly too far and strain the side frames. This is prevented to some extent by the rigidity of the side frames, but actually under the weight of a person there is a tendency to spread the frame unevenly and also to put a greater tension on the cloth seat. We avoid this too great strain by using supporting members or stops on the side frames on which the seat frame is brought to a stop and may temporarily rest when the chair is unfolded and the seat 7 is in its horizontal active position supporting' a person.

T he supporting members or stops thus referred to may have many forms- One form used in order to carry the seat frame in its extended position when the seat proper 7 is stretched out horizontally for use, and enables seat- 7 to sustain the weight of the sitter. a function which is so essential. provides that the posts 1 and 4 should have stopping projections or rests thereon, upon which the seat frame rails 16 mav come to rest and lie when the seat frame is thus extended. These supporting members or stopping projections may take many convenient suitahle forms, but we preferably use angular hoohs or steps 13 that are screwed or driven into the inside faces of the posts. These hook; or stops 13 are usually right angled when the rails 16 are square, and may be secured at an angle so as to receive the eyes of the rails. the right angle of the hook or stop in this angular position receiving neatly the somewhat inclined edge of the rails 16 when the latter are in this position, as seen in Figure 1. Of course the rails 100 16 may have an shape. and the books or stops 13 any corresponding or other shape.

Of course these details of stop or rest devices on the side frames for sustaining the weight of the scat frame and the occupant of 195 the seat may vary widely, and as it is quite emential to prevent. any undue spread in the ide frames we reserve the liberty of creating and placing these stops or supports in the most approved and effective way.

The use and function of the chair are evident from the foregoing without the necessity of giving much additional detail. The invention provides a substantial arm chair, or camp stool, when unfolded. It stands firmly and the parts brace each other so as to prevent lateral vibration and crushing. An important feature is the seat frame that is hinged or movably connected permanently to the side frames. at the. bottom of the chair 199 but not at the top, the upper part of the seat frame being entirely free from any connection with the side frames except as it temporarily rests in service on certain supports on the side frames: and it will be seen that the 195 upper portion of the seat frame when the seat is unfolded into service position will brace between the side frames and rest solidi thereon or on certain stops. supports or hooks projecting from said side frames so that the 139 the flexible seat when level can uphold a considerable burden without flinchin When the chair is to be folded the custo ian may take hold of the seat 7 near its middle or at the end and lift it far enough to disengage the rails 16 from the rests or hooks 13. Then if the side frames be pressed together and the seat 7 allowed to drop between or over the folded seat frame, all as shown in Figure 2, the parts of the chair will be caused to occupy a small space and compass, and in this condition may be easily moved about and put awa Mzuiy changes in the details may be made without departing from the substance of the invention; and we therefore reserve the liberty of varying from the precise embodiment offered with quite a range of changes embraced under the terms of the claims.

What we claim is: V

1. In a folding chair, the combination of side frames, a back loosely connected therewith, a seat-carrying frame composed of two rectangular interpivoted frames hinged to the side frames, hooks on the side frames adapted to engage and support the rectangular frames in open position, together with a flexible seat that is foldably secured to said rectangular frames.

2. In a folding arm chair of the class described, the comb nation with side frames having arms, a flexible back loosely connected to said side frames, of a seat frame composed essentially of a pair of interpivoted rectangular frames hinged to the side frames, a flexible seat secured on said seat frame, and hooks fastened in the side frames to be temporarily engaged by the extended seat frame lower portions hinged to said side frames, and fixedframe-engaging abutment stops on the side frames cooperating with the seat to support the seat in its active stretched position. v

3. In a folding chair, the combination of side frames, a seat-carrying frame composed of interpivoted frames hinged at the bottom to the side frames, angular hooks on the side frames adapted to engage and support the said seat frames in open position, together with a flexible seat that is foldably secured to the said seat frames.

4. In a folding chair, the combination of side frames, a back secured thereto, a seatcarrying frame composed essentially of interpivoted frames, means for hinging the lower portion of these frames to the bottom of the side frames but leaving the upper portion of the seat-carrying frame without any connection with the side frames, angular inclined hooks on the side frames adapted to engage and support the .seat frames in their unfolded position, together with a flexilple seat that is foldably secured to said seat rames.

5. In a folding chair, the combination of a tangular inter-pivoted frames having their

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