US1882176A - Reclining chair - Google Patents

Description

N. N. BROWN RECLINING CHAIR Oct. 11, 1932.

Filed May 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Sn newton WIMMQUMM 1 WW L WQLL Patented Oct. 11, 1932 unirno STATES PATENT oFFicu NEWTON N. BROWN, OF RAGINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GOLD MEDAL FOLDING FURNITURE COMPANY, OF ,IRAO'INE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN RECLINING GHAIR Application filed May 4, 1929. Serial No. 360,338.

This invention relates to foldable chairs and more particularly to those of the reclining type.

Foldable reclining chairs are well known in the art. In one generally known type the frame work is made up of wooden bars pivoted to each other, certain of the bars being provided with slotsfor receiving a rung carried by certain other bars which control the angle of inclination ofthe back of the chair. In this type, fabric such as canvas is loosely hung between upper and lower rungs of the frame so as to constitute boththe back and the seat of the chair.

' than those heretofore devised.

lit-further object is to provide a foldable chair with a foot rest so constructed as to fold up compactly with the remainder of the chair to protect the fabric thereof.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, ar-

7 rangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to vthe accompanying' drawings forminga part of this specification, and in which:

Figural is a vertical cross sectional view of a foldable reclining chair embodying the principles of the present invention, the cross section being taken lengthwise thereof;

Figure 2 is a plan view of-the chair of Figure 1 with a portion of the fabric cover cut away; and

Figure 3is a side view of the chair in folded position, certain of'the side pieces being partly cut away to better show the construction. v

As shown in the drawings, the frame structure is. made up of side sections and transversely extending rungs for connecting the I side sections together and for maintaining complementarymembers thereof in the same angular positions with respect to other members. This frame work is preferably made of air dried northernhard wood although the use of other material is contemplated.

The essential parts of each side section are a long bar 1 adapted to rest on the ground Y to form a front leg of the chair and a support for the back, a shorter bar 2 pivoted on a bolt or rivet 3 near the lower end of the bar 1. and extending rearwardly, and downwardly therefrom to form arear leg of the chair, a spacing link 4 pivoted at -5 to the bar 1 slightly above its midpoint and a forwardly projecting rail '6 with its supporting leg 7. The rail 6 forms a support for a combined seat and foot rest. This rail is pivotallywconnected to the bar 1 by the bolt 3 and is also pivotally connected to the supporting leg 7.

In addition to these parts, each-side section is also preferably providedwith an arm rest 8 and a link 9, the rear end of the arm rest being pivoted to the link 4: near its upper end asshownat 11 and the forward portion being pivoted at 12 to the link 9 which is in turn pivotally -mounted on the bolt 3.

' In the construction shown, the two side sections are connected by five transversely extending circular rungs. Two of these rungs, designated at =13 and 14;, connect'the main side bars 1 togethenbeing disposedat the upper and lower ends thereof. Another rung 15 connects the forward ends of the side rails 6. As shown at 16, another rung connects the lower ends of the pivoted legs 7, whil-ethe rung 17 connects the lower ends of the links 4:. The'rung 17 is'desig'ned to engage spaced slots 18 in the rearwardlyextending legs 2 to cause the links 4; to hold the .bars 1 in various reclining positions, this construction being similar to that ofwell known chairs now on the'market.

The rearwardly extending legs 2 are. also connected together, the means for this purpose preferably consisting of a transversely extending piece 21 and crossed braces 23.

The chair is provided with a flexible .cover 23 of fabric, such as canvas, this cover forming both the seat and the back of the chair. Cushions may be incorporated in this fabric to form a comfortable seat and head rest as shown. An unusual feature of the construction resides in the manner in which the flexible cover is secured to the frame work. As

best shown in Figure l, the cover is provid-- ed with loops 24 and 25 at its ends, these 7 loops surrounding the rungs 13 and 15 and constituting the only means for securing the cover to the frame. The fabric is of such a length that it hangs loosely between these two rungs but is supported by a novel construction of the frame work which will now be described. j

' As has been previously stated the side'rails 6 constitute a support for 'a combined seat and foot rest. In addition to the rung 15' mentioned above, these rails are secured together by transversely extending bars 'or cross pieces 26, 27 and 28 which are nailed cause ofthe'oifsetting relation ofthe piece 28 with respect to the pieces 26 and 'A spacer 31 may be placed above the cross piece 27 to increase the extent of the bowing, if desired. "It will readily be seen that these cross piecesand slats constitute a combined seat and foot rest and prevent the occurren'c'e of excessive strains on the cover 23'. V

For supporting the back upper portion .of the body of anoccupaint of the chair and the portion of the cover, fabric strips32 and 33 are provided, these strips extending transversely of the sidebars 1 and being nailed or otherwise secured thereto.

The cover is thus adequately supported at all times so that there is no tendency for it to stretch out of shape or tear at itsendsw i Infolding the chair'the'parts are swung inthe direction of the arrows shown in'Figure 1, the links f folding up into'the' plane of the side bars 1- and in so doing also bringing the a-rm'rests 8 and links 9 into the plane of the bars'l. The rear legs 2 and side rails 6 may then be-fswungupwardly, the -legs '2 swinginginto the plane of the side bars 1, while the slats 23 'carriedby the side rails engage the cover andhold it firmly in place ainst' the back supporting strips 32'and 33. V

T li'e supporting'legs 7 are folded intothe plane of the rails 6 so that the chair-is then in the compact position shown in and may be'easily handled. a V

A unique advantage 0f he present construction results from the fact that the rails *6 and slats 28 may be folded up against the Figure 3 bars 1 even though the remainder of the chair is not folded. In this position the chair will stand by itself, but the cushions of the chair are protected against rain or the like, the canvas portion of the cover completelyenclosing them.

' While only one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein,

it is obvious that many changes may be made in'the arrangementfandconstruction of the chair without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

The invention claimed is: 4 1. A reclining chair comprising a back including side bars, and supporting means between the side bars positioned to confine the upper portion of the body ofan occupant of the chair substantially within the plane defined by said side bars; rearwardly extending legs secured'to said bars, a unitary seat and foot rest pivoted. intermediate its ends to said sidebars, the inner end of saidunitary element 1 extending rearwardly and free of support beyond the plane of theback as .defined by saidside bars, said-unitary seat and foot rest providing a broad and, substantially-rigid supporting surface for the occupant of the chair, means for maintaining the 'seat and-foot rest in operative position with respect tofthe back, and a flexible coversecured to said bars at a point a substantial "distance above the point of connection between jthe' seat and foot rest unit and said sidebars, said cover extending downwardly onto said seat and thence outwardly in superposed relation to theseat, said seat serving to support the juxtaposed portions of said cover, said flexible-cover being slack whereby when the chair is occupied that portion of the seat extending rearwardly of the side bars functions-to support that portion of the cover and the body of the occupant which due to said slackness of the cover extend rearwardly beyond the plane of said side bars between saidsupporting means and the seat. 2. A reclining chair comprising side bars,

rearwardly extending legs adjustably secured thereto,la unitary seat and foot rest pivoted intermediate its ends tosaid side bars, the

inner end of said unitary element extending rearwardly free ofsupport beyond the plane defined by said sidebars, said unitary seat and foot rest comprising side rails andend bars, and "a plurality of upwardly bowed slats secured'at their ends to the'end bars of said unit whereby to provide a continuous and substantiallyrigid supporting'surface for the occupant of the chair, means for maintaining -theside-baralegs'and seat in operative'position, and a flexiblecover secured to said slde bars-at a point a substantial distance above the point of connection between the. seat and foot rest unit and said side bars, said cover extending downwardly onto said seat and thence outwardly in superposed relation to the seat, said seat serving to support the juxtaposed portions of said cover, a trans verse support for said cover secured to the said side bars intermediate the point of connectionof the cover to said bars and the seat to said bars, said flexible cover being slack whereby when the chair is occupied that portion of the seat extending rearwardly of the side bars functions to support that portion of the cover and the body of the occupant which due to said slackness of the cover extend rearwardly beyond the plane of said side bars between the seat and said transverse support.

3. A reclining chair comprising a back including side bars, and supporting means between the side bars positioned to confine the upper portion of the body of an occupant of the chair substantially within the plane defined by said side bars; rearwardly extending legs secured to the side bars, means for holding said legs in operative position, a unitary seat and foot rest pivoted intermediate its ends to said side bars, the inner end of said unitary element extending rearwardly and free of support beyond the plane of the back as defined by said side bars, said unitary seat and foot rest comprising side rails, front, rear and intermediate cross pieces connecting the side rails, and a plurality of longitudinally extending slats secured adjacent the forward and rear ends thereof to the front and rear cross pieces respectively, and passing over the intermediate cross piece, said rear cross piece lying substantially below the level of the intermediate cross piece whereby to provide a broad and substantially rigid supporting surface for the occupant of the chair having a substantial downward inclination from the intermediate support rearwardly to the projecting free end of the seat, means for maintaining the seat and foot rest in operative position with respect to the back, and a flexible cover secured to said bars at a point a substantial distance above the point of connection between the seat and foot rest unit and said bars, said cover extending downwardly onto said seat and thence outwardly in superposed relation to the seat, said seat serving to support the juxtaposed portions of said cover, said flexible cover being slack whereby when the chair is occupied that portion of the seat extending rearwardly of the side bars functions to support that portion of the cover and the body of the occupant which, due to said slackness of the cover, extend rearwardly beyond the plane of said side bars between said supporting means and the seat.

In witness whereof, I hereto affix'my signature.

NEWTON N. BROWN.

' CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,882,176. October 11, 1932.

NEWTON N. BROWN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 39, strike out the word "back" and insert the same before "portion" in line 41; page 3, line 47, claim 3, before "bars" insert the word "side and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of November, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

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