US2110338A

US2110338A - Folding chair

Info

Publication number: US2110338A
Application number: US69616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl H Oermann
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-03-19
Filing date: 1936-03-19
Publication date: 1938-03-08
Anticipated expiration: 1955-03-08

Description

arch 8, 19. I c OERMANN 2,110,338

FOLDING CHA'IR I Filed March 19, 195g 2 Shets-Sheet 1- INVENTOR H. Oermann ATTORN EY March 8;, 1938. g OERMANN 2,110,338

FOLDING CHAIR Filed March 19, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEINITLOR Carl H. Oermann ATTORNEY I Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to chairs, particularly to folding chairs of the type commonly used on steamers, beaches, lawns, porches, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved chair of the above type which is easily folded into a very compact condition when not in use or for transportation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved folding chair of the above type which may be provided with rockers.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved folding chair of the above type with which are incorporated means for enabling the chair to be either folded or unfolded with a minimum amount of effort.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved chair of the character mentioned, which is simple in construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service.

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:--

Figure 1 is a perspective of a chair constructed according ,to my invention and having rockers attached to the legs;

.Fig. 2 is a perspective of a chair similar to the ,chair shown in Fig. 1, constructed without rockers; and

Fig. 3 is avertical longitudinalsection of the chair shownin Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the chair comprises front legs II, positioned parallel to each other andconnected by-a rod I2 near the bottom, saidv I'Odi being; rigidly fixed in any suitable manner to brace the legs as is customary.

A pair of rear legs I4 are pivotally connected, as at I3, at their forward ends, to the front legs II, at a point intermediate the front legs, said front legs extending a suitable distance above the point where the rear legs are connected thereto. When the chair is set up, the rear legs I4 extend rearwardly and downwardly at a suitable angle.

Spreading or relative movement of the rear legs I4 with respect to each other, is prevented by a tie rod I5, which is mounted in the outer end portions of the rear legs, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Pivoted by pins I6 mounted in the upper end of the front legs II, are the front ends of arm rests IT. The arm rests extend rearwardly, and the rear end of said arm rests are pivotally connected by pins I8 to uprights I9 constituting the back frame pieces of the chair.

The uprights orback frame pieces II] are connected, at spaced intervals below the pivotpins I8, by'rods 20, 2| and 22. 5

The rod 20is secured to the rear of the back frame pieces I9 and is shaped to fit or conform to the back of a person sitting in the chair, said rod ZIP-constituting aback brace.

The rods 2| and22 may be in the form of 10- rounds, rod 22 being rigidly secured to the back frame pieces I9 near the lower end thereof, and the rod 2| being tightly fixed to the backframe pieces I9 at a point intermediate the pivots I8 and the rod 22. 15

The lower ends of the uprights or back frame pieces l9 are connected to the rear legs I I by links 23. One end of each link 23 is pivotally connected to upright I9 by a pin 24, and the opposite end of each link is pivotally connected 0 to the rear leg M by a pin25. The links 23 have a suitable length and the purpose of said links will be hereinafter more fully described.

The seat is formed of side rails 26 connected at their front ends by a rod 2?. Therear ends of the side rails 26 are mounted on the rod 2|, so that the seat frame is pivotally connected at one end to the back frame constituted by the uprights l9. Pivot pins I3 extend through the front end portions of the side rails 26 so that said side rails, as well as the rear legs I4, are pivotally connected to the front legs II at the same point.

As shown in Fig. 1, spanning the space between the uprights or back frame pieces I9, isa strip of suitable fabric 28, such as canvas, duck, or the like. The fabric 28 provides a back support for an occupant of the chair. I

Two pieces of

fabric

29 and 30, may be used for the seat, the piece of fabric 29 extending 40 from rod 21 at the front of the seat to the rear rod 2 I, and the fabric 30 spanning the space between the side rails 26 and underlying the fabric 29, as shown in Fig. 3.

If so desired, the above described chair may be provided with rockers 3|, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Each rocker 3| comprises a curved piece of material, pivotally mounted on extensions of the lower tie rod l5 of the rear legs I4. 50

Near their front ends, the rockers 3| are connected by a tie rod 32, each end of which is fixed to the rockers.

The lower ends of the front legs II are formed with notches 33 for engagement with the tie rod 32, and in order to connect the lower ends of the front legs H to the rockers 3| when the chair is set up, I utilize a pair of hooks 34. These hooks may be formed from a suitable length of stiff wire, one end of which is provided with an eye 35 for the reception of a pin 36 which is driven into'the front leg H, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to pivotally mount the hook on said leg.

The parts of the frame of the chair are so arranged and positioned relatively to each other as to permit the chair to be easily folded. The front legs H and the back frame pieces l9 are disposed in substantially the same plane. The rockers 3| are disposed outside of the plane of the front legs II and the back frame pieces I9, and the rear legs l4 inside thereof. The side rails 25 of the seat are disposed inside of the plane occupied by the rear legs I4.

When it is desired to fold the chair, the hooks 34are first detached from the tie rod 32, thereby permitting the front legs to be moved upwardly and rearwardly to detach the notched portions 33 thereof from the tie rod 32. The frame of the chair is moved about the pivot provided by rod I5, and during such movement the rear legs I4 swing upwardly and the lower ends of the back frame pieces l9 move outwardly from the rear legs 14. I g

The outward swinging movement of the back frame pieces 19, is limited, due to the fact that the lower ends of said back frame pieces are connected to the rear legs l4 by the links 23. By so connecting theback frame pieces l9 and the rear legs 14 together, the distance the ends of said back frame pieces can move or swing outwardly will be limited, and, therefore this construction permits ready and easy shifting of the parts of the chair frame during the folding operation, whereby the back frame pieces 19 can be moved towards the rear legs I4 and the front legs II can also be swung inwardly towards the rear legs.

When completely folded, the several parts of the frame of the chair are nested together compactly, so that the chair can be easily carried or transported in a minimum amount of space.

Dueto the provision of the links 23, when the chair is folded, the back frame pieces l9 will be retained in position with respect to the rear legs l4, since both ends will be joined together.

When it is desired to unfold and set-up the chair, the back is first pulled upwardly, and during such movement the back swings around the fulcrum provided by the pins 24 of the links 23.

Due to the pivotal connection of the arm rests I'Iwith the back providedby pivots [8, the pivotal connection of the seat side rails 26 with the back provided by rod 2|, when the back is pulled upwardly and outwardly, as has been described, the front legs II will also be, moved. The lower ends of the front legs'l I can next be moved over and the notches 33 inserted on tie rod 32. During such movement of the front legs I I, the back frame pieces l9 can be manipulated so as to move the rod 22 so that said rod rests upon the rear legs l4. This action also moves the links 23 to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the chair will be completely unfolded and ready for occupancy, after the hooks 34 are applied to the tie rod 32. The above operation can be readily accomplished by an inexperienced person, due to the fact that the several parts of the chair frame are so connected together, as to permit easy movement thereof in the manner heretofore described.

When the rockers 3| are omitted, the cross rod I5 is so made as to terminate with the rear legs l4, and the notches 33 and hooks 34 are omitted from the front legs H. Otherwise the plain or straight chair, is similar in construction to. the chair having the rockers.

Changes may be made in the details of construction and in the arrangement of the parts above described within certain limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim is: 1

In a chair of the type described, front legs connected near their lower ends by a transverse rod, rear legs pivotally connected to the front legs at an intermediate point below the upper ends of said front legs, a transverse bar connecting the outer ends of said rear legs, back frame pieces connected by a pair of cross rods disposed, respectively, adjacent the lower end and the midpoint of said back frame pieces, arm rests pivotally connected at their front ends to the upper ends of said front legs and at their rear ends to said back framepieces at an intermediate point between the upper back frame cross rod and the upper end of said back frame pieces, a seat frame comprising side rails connected at their front ends to the pivots connecting the rear legsand the front legs, the rearends of said seat rails being pivotally mounted on the midpoint cross rod of the back frame, means connecting the lower ends of the back frame pieces with said rear legs for permitting limited movement'of the back frame with respect to said rear legs, a pair of rockers pivoted to the transverse bar at the outer end of said rear legs, and means for detachably connecting the lower ends of the front legs with the front portion of said rockers.

, CARL H. OERMANN.