US1862953A - Seat suspension - Google Patents

Description

J. D. COUCH SEAT SUSPENSION une 14, 1932.

Filed Nov. 19. 1931 J19. 6235? BY QM;

ATTORNEYS l atented June 14, 1932,

UNITED STATES JEAN D. COUCH, OF EAST POINT, GEORGIA SEAT SUSPENSION Application filed November 19, 1931. Serial No. [76,149.

This invention relates to furniture and, among other objects, aims to provide an improved suspension for swinging seats commonly called gliders which are usually mounted on fabricated, metal supporting frames. The main idea is to produce improved and eflicient suspension elements and connections which permit free swinging movement of the seat and, at the same time,

prevent undue side sway.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in the specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

16 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a support and seat frame illustrating the preferred form of suspension;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the sus- 2 pension elements.

Ordinary gliding chairs and davenports having four-point suspensions and utilizing flexible suspension elements are subject to side sway which often causes dizziness.

Moreover, the swinging seat frames frequently strike the supporting frames and arrest the swinging movement at one or both sides. Also, the upholstery on covered seats and supports is often torn or damaged by such movements. This invention provides a relatively simple suspension for gliders wherein rigid suspension members are employed and are so connected with respect to the seat frame as to arrest swaying movement of the seat.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the preferred form of suspension is illustrated as being applied to the metal framework of a glider couch or davenport having the usual seat portion 10 mounted between spaced pairs of vertical standards or supports 11 which are conveniently made of structural angles secured at their lower ends to feet 12. Horizontal'suspending bars or rails 13 are riveted or otherwise secured to their upper ends. The supporting standards are preferably connected by horizontal frame members 14 above the feet and have short angle braces 15 at the corners to make the support rigid. Also, r the standards preferably have short angle braces 16 at the upper and lower ends conpending elements will be to overcome the nected to the top rails and the feet respectively to make the supports rigid.

The top rails or bars overhang horizontal arms 17 of Z-shaped brackets 18 projecting from and secured to the four corners of the 5 seat frame. These brackets are shown as extending well below the seat frame to provide for relatively long suspension elements or hangers and the arms 17 extend beyond the supporting standards 11 to provide adequate length for suspending each of them at two points spaced from a vertical plane through the rail 13 above. These brackets are shown as having angle braces 19 connected to the seat frame 10 and at the bent portions of the horizontal arms 17.

Inaccordance with the present invention, the seat frame is suspended from the ends of top rails 13 by means of Tshaped suspension elements or hangers 20 conveniently made of bar iron or strap metal. In this instance the suspension elements are each made of two pieces of strap metal riveted together as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It is obvious, however, that they may be made of one piece or may be otherwise rigidly secured together. Each suspension element or hanger is pivotally secured with respect to its supporting rail by means of a double hook 521- bent to perniit it to swing in the plane of the vertical rail flange. The lower end or cross piece of each element is connected at spaced points to one of the horizontal arms 17 also by means of S-shaped hooks 22 providing a flexible connection between the suspension element and the arms;

As will be noted in Fig. 1, the distance between the hooks 22 or points of suspension is such that, when the seat frame sways to one side or the other. the load is shifted to only one of the hooks. Since both points of suspension at each corner are spaced from a vertical line through the upper point of suspension, the natural tendency of the suso5 swaying movement of the seat frame and restore it to its normal position. Thus, it will be seen that the suspension elements or hangers normally hold the seat frame in its proper position to swing back and forth. Moremo over, the connections are such that the horizontal arms 17 to which the hangers are con nected, serve to limit the back and forth swinging movement of the seat by striking the uprights 11.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved suspension elements or hangers and their connections are especially useful on gliding davenports, couches, chairs and the like. Furthermore, when the frames and supports are made of metal, the hangers are very effective to prevent side sway and the consequent discomfort to occupants as well as damage to upholstery. Also, the construction of the hangers is such as to avoid the possibility of in ury to the hand of an occupant who happens to grip them while the seat is in motion. They are not easily stretched or distorted so as to require adjustments.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly,

since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

\Vhat is claimed is: v

1. In combination with a swinging seat of the character described, a supporting frame including uprights having horizontal rails; brackets rigidly connected to the seat portion and extending beyond the uprights at the corners of the seat; rigid T-shaped suspension elements having vertical arms pivotally connected with respect to said rails; and means connecting the ends of the horizontal arms of the T-shaped elements at spaced points to the extending ends of the said brackets whereby to prevent swaying movement of the seat.

2. An article of furniture comprising, in combination, a metal seat frame having sub stantially Z-shaped brackets at its corners each presenting a substantially horizontal suspending arm below the level of the seat portion; a supporting frame having pairs of uprights arranged between the suspending arms at the opposite sides of the seat frame;

each pivotally connected at its upper end to the overhanging end of a rail member and having a rigidly connected cross member at its lower end; and hook members connecting the opposite ends of each of said cross members to the respective arms on opposite sides of each hanger element and maintaining the arms substantially parallel with the cross members, said connections being such as to prevent side sway of the frame.

Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

JEAN D. COUCH.

a rail member on each pair of uprights overhanging said suspending arms; and rigid hanger elements each having a vertical bar suspended at one point from the end of one of the rails and a horizontal cross bar connected at spaced points on opposite sides of the vertical bar to one of said arms.

3. An article of furniture of the class described comprising, in combination, a metal seat frame having laterally projecting arms projecting from its corner portions; Vertical supporting frames arranged between said arms at the opposite sides of the seat frame and each having a rail member overhanging said arms; and rigid, metal hanger elements

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