US1893458A

US1893458A - Car seat

Info

Publication number: US1893458A
Application number: US480547A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Tatum
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-09-08
Filing date: 1930-09-08
Publication date: 1933-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1950-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1933. J J TATUM 1,893,458

CAR SEAT Filed Sept. 8. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 3, 1933.

J. J. TATUM 4 1,893,458

CAR SEAT Filed Sept. 8, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheei 2 gwuzntoc Jan. 3, 1933. I J T M 1,893,458

CAR SEAT Filed Sept. 8, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES JOHN J. TATUM, OF BALTDIORE, MARYLAND CAR SEAT Application filed September This invention relates to improvements in chair seats for railway coaches or other coaches or public transportation vehicles, and preferably to coach seats of that type provided with adjustable seat backs adjustable to different reclining positions, and also preferably to seats which are rotatably supported so that the seats may be arranged to face different portions of the car. While the 1nvention may be employed in connection with a chair comprising a base carrying a single seat cushion and single adjustable seat back, it is preferred to employ the same in connection with a chair comprising a plurality of individual seat cushions each having its own indivdual adjustable seat back.

The main object of my invention is to provide upon each seat back a hinged table adapted to fold into a recess flush with the surface of the back when not in use, and

adapted to be let down for the use and convenience of a passenger occupying a seat in rear thereof; and which folding table'is of manifold or sectional t pe and adapted to be used as a service tabfe on which to serve lunch, as a game table on Which to play games, as awriting or similar table, and as a dressing or toilet table on which to place toilet or dressing articles, in connection with which table a mirror may be employed and which is arranged for ready and convenient use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a hinged table of the character set :5 forth which may be let down to different degrees and supported at difierent angular positions with relation to theseat back, so that the table may be always disposed in a truly horizontal or other suitable position for con- LO venient use, irrespective of the degree of inclination of the seat back.

With these and other objects in view, myinvention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of i" parts, hereinafter fully described and 8, 1930. Serial No. 480,547.

claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a portion of the interior of a railroad coach equipped with seats embodying my invenso tion, and illustrating the use of the table attachment.

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of one of the seats.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of a seat showing the table attachment of one of the seat backs in folded position and the table attachment of the other seat back unfolded and arranged for use as a dressing table.

Fig. 5 is a View in side elevation of one of the seat backs and showing the table attachanent thereof let down for use, a portion of the back and the table attachment appearing in section.

The reference numeral 1 designates a pedestal of suitable construction which is securely fixed to the car floor, and adapted to support the seat structure, whichomay be either fixed to the pedestal or rotatably mounted on the pedestal so that the seat may be turned to face toward the aisle or toward the Window of the car, as desired.

The seat structure has a frame which includes a seat bottom 2, fixed side arms 3 and backs 4, together with fixed or removable bottom cushions 5 and top or seat cushions 6. Backs 4: are of separate or independent construction to provide with each set of

cushions

5 and 6 separate seat sections on opposite sides of the seat. Each back 4 is provided with a suitable covering 7, preferably deep upholstery, and may be adjustable independently of the other back, so as to permit either back to be adjusted or set at any-reclining angle the passenger elects to make himself comfortable. While seats of the construction herein disclosed may be used in day coaches, they are especially designed for what are known as night chair cars used by passengers who prefer to sit up and sleep rather than travel in Pullman cars and lie down and sleep, and the seat construction embodying my invention affords maximum comfort and convenience in such use. The seat back shown is one of a well known type used in B. & O. R. R. so-called night coaches, such back being adjustable to allowthe passenger to sit up straight or to recline in a more or less recumbent posture for restful relaxation or sleeping purposes. I may, however, apply the folding table to any desired type of adjustable or reclining seat back.

Each seat may be provided at its rear with foot rests 9 of individual type, one for each passenger in the seat sections of the seat in rear thereof.

Each seat back 4 is provided therein or thereon at the rear thereof, with a chamber recess or compartment-10 designed to receive a multiple or sectional lid or table 11. This lid or table comprises an outer or rear member or lid proper 12 carrying on its inner face a polished bright metal table top section comprising a plate having an upstanding flange around its margins and forming a shallow pan-shaped service tra or receptacle 13.

. The chamber or recess 0 this tray is adapted to receive a table top section proper 14 made of wood or metal, or of a composite structure, and having its surface covered with a layer of felt or other suitable material 15.

The lid or tray carrying member 12 is hinged at its lower edge, as indicated at 16, to the back 4 at the base of the recess 10 so as to swing into and out of said recess and to lie therein, when the table attachment is closed or folded, flush with the rear surface of the back 4. The outer face of the member 12 may have a covering 15 continuous with or conforming to the upholstery material of the seat back. The table top section 14 is hinged to the member 12 or to the bottom wall of the recess 10, as indicated at 17 so that it may swing outwardly from the recess 10 independently of the lid and tray section and upwardly into the recess 10 therewith, or may be swung upwardly into or arranged to lie within said recess independently of the lid and tray section and while the latter is in open or let down osition. The table top section 14 is of a little less length than the tray 13 and of somewhat greater depth and so positioned that when disposed in the tray its outer or top edge will be spaced, as at 18 sufficiently from the outer or top marginal flange of the tray to permit of the thumb or finger of a passenger being inserted to enga e and separate the table top section from t e tray section and swing said table top section out-of the tray section and into closed position.

Figs. 1, 4 and 5 show the complete table attachment let down or unfolded for use, so

as to serve as a writing desk or table, or as a game table or as a dressing or toilet table on which to place toilet or dressing articles. By, however, swinging the table top section 14 upwardly into the recess 10 independently of the tray or bottom table section, the latter may be left in let down position to serve as a service table on which to serve lunch or other refreshments.

A bolt or latch device 19 is provided to engage and hold the multiple table top in folded position and, in practice, this may be used to separately engage and hold either the table section 14 or tray section 12 in folded position, although, or course, separate and independent means for holding the table section 14 is folded position may be employed, if desire Folding bracket or link arms 20 are pro vided to support the table in let down position. These arms are arranged at opposite sides of the table and each arm is pivotally connected at its lower end to the sides of the member 12 or side flanges of the tray 13, and the upper ends of the arms are provided with guide and locking pins 21 for engagement with guide slots 22 in keeper plates 23 arranged at the sides of the recess 10, each keeper plate having one of its slot Walls recessed to provide rack teeth 24 in which the pin 21 is engageable to hold the table at a desired elevation. The table section 14 of the table may be folded up independently of the sup porting arms, as will be readily understood, and the pins 21 at the free ends of the arms are movable in the slots 22 to permit the tray section of the table alone or both the tray and table top sections to be swung from folded to unfolded and from unfolded to folded positions in a ready and convenient manner. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the adjustable engagement of the locking pins 21 with the keeper recesses or rack teeth 24 adapts the table top to be let down to different degrees and supported at different angles with relation to the seat back 4. Thus the table on a seat back may be adjusted to a level position for use regardless of the degree of angularity or reclining angle of the back of the seat on which it is arranged.

I preferably provide the seat back with a mirror 25 which is hinged at its upper edge to the seat back within the recess so as to be swung outwardly to a position'for use, as indicated in Fig. 1, or swung inwardly, as indicated in Figs. 4 and5, to lie within the recess and be protected thereby when not in use and covered and protected by the table top section 14 when the table is in folded position. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the let down table and swung out mirror will provide a novel and convenient mirrored dressing table for the convenience of a passenger in performing various toilet operations.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my.

invention provides a coach seat which, while seating two or more passengers, gives substantially all the advantages of separate or single seats, and at the same time permits of a passenger assuming a comfortable attitude for resting and sleeping purposes, and further provides means affording writing, toilet and other conveniences which customarily and generally are not afforded in ordinary day or night coaches.

I am aware that changes may be made in the details of construction within the spirit of my invention without departing'from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a seat for passenger coaches and the like, a seat back having a compartment at the rear thereof, a dished service tray hinged to the seat back for swinging movement into and out of said compartment, a desk top hinged to the seat back for movement into and out of said compartment and adapted when in open position to lie within the space bounded by the rim of the dished service tray, means for supporting the tray and table top in open osition, and means for fastening the same in closed position.

2. A passenger coach seat having a seat back, a folding table carried by the seat back and comprising a bottom member or tray section hinged thereto for movement to open and closed positions, said bottom member being provided with a marginal flange forming a recess therein, and a table top section hinged to the back for movement to open and closed positions and adapted in open position to fit within the chamber of the tray. and means for supporting said parts in open and closed positions.

3. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back, a hinged service table member hinged to the seat back so as to fold upward to an inoperative position parallel with said seat back and to swing downward to an operative position at an angle to the seat back, said service table member having upon its face which is upwardly disposed when in operative position an upstanding marginal retaining ange to prevent displacement therefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-top member hinged to the seat back to swing relatively thereto in a similar manner to the table member and adapted when in let down position to seat upon the service table member in the space bounded by the said upstanding marginal retaining flange thereof, and means for retaining said members in folded and open positions.

at. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back, a hinged service table member hinged to the seat back so as to fold upward to an inoperative position parallel with said seat back and to swing downward to an operative position at an angle to the seat back, said service table member having uppn its face which is upwardly disposed W en in operative position an upstanding marginal retaining flange to prevent displacement therefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-top member hinged to the seat back to swing relatively thereto in a similar manner to the table member and adapted when in let down position to seat upon the service table member in the space bounded by the said upstanding marginal retaining flange thereof, the said desk-top member having an edge portion spaced from an opposed portion of the flange when said desk top member is seated on the table member to adapt the former to be engaged by the user to swing said desk top member upward to folded position, and means for retaining said members in folded and open positions.

5. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back provided with a recess in its rear face, a hinged service table member hinged to the seat back so as to fold upward to an inoperative position within said recess and parallel with said seat back and to swing downward to an operativeposition at an angle to the seat back, said service table member having upon its face which is upwardly disposed when in operative position an upstanding marginalretaining flange to prevent displacement therefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-top member arranged between the seat back and service table member and hinged to the seat back to swing relatively thereto into and out of said recess in a simllar manner to the table membar and adapted when in let down position to seat upon the service table member in the space bounded b the said upstanding marginal retaining ange thereof, means for securing the table-top member in folded position, and means for securing the service table member in folded position and securing it when let down at different angles with respect to the seat back.

6. A passenger railway car seat or chair having a seat back provided with a recess in its rear face, a hinged service table member hinged to the seat back so as to fold upward to an inoperative position within said recess and parallel with said seat back and to swing downward to an operative position at an angle to the seat back, said service table member having upon its face which is upwardly disposed when in operative position an upstanding marginal retaining fiange to prevent displacement therefrom of articles being supported thereon, a desk-top member arranged between the seat back and service table member and hinged to the seat back to swing relatively thereto into and out of said space bounded b the said upstanding marginal retaining ange thereof, means for securin the table-top member in folded position, racket plates at the sides of the recess in the seat back having longitudinal guide slots and notches at intervals intersecting the same, and links pivoted at one end to the service table at opposite sides thereof and provided at their opposite ends with pins for travel in said slots and locking engagement with said notches in the bracket plates.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN J. TATUM.